I am thinking of making a descendent of Old Zlang that is tonal, combining attributes of onsets, codas, and pharyngealization to generate tone.
The variables to consider are: voiced versus voiceless unaspirated versus voiceless aspirated onsets, pharyngealized versus non-pharyngealized vowels, coda /ɻ/, and glottal (both /ʔ/ and /h/) codas.
I plan on doing a three-way split of tone between unaspirated, voiceless unaspirated, and voiceless aspirated onsets, corresponding to basic low, middle, and high tones. Also, glottal codas will add rising tone to low and middle tones, resulting in low, low rising, middle, middle rising, and high tones. Furthermore, pharyngealization will lower middle or high tone that would otherwise be present. Coda /ɻ/ will result in falling tone on top of existing high or middle tones. This results in low, low rising, middle, middle rising, middle falling, high, and high falling tones.
Along with this there will be considerable simplification of possible syllables. For starters, glottal codas will be lost, leaving behind their influence on tone. Likewise, pharyngealization and coda /ɻ/ will be lost, leaving behind their influence on vowel quality and tone. Likewise, obstruent onsets will be simplified to a two-way distinction between voiceless and prenasalized voiced obstruents.
_________________ Dibotahamdn duthma jallni agaynni ra hgitn lakrhmi. Amuhawr jalla vowa vta hlakrhi hdm duthmi xaja. Irdro. Irdro. Irdro. Irdro. Irdro. Irdro. Irdro.
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