Reverse Romanization Challenge Thread

[finlay]

I think that's normal, especially when you're starting out. I certainly did. Then later I'm willing to bet you'll have a minimalist phase where you try and use as few letters as possible.

Anyway as an intellectual challenge we once tried to work out how many vowel phonemes a language could have and still theoretically distinguish them, and including tones we were up to 56,000... but you have to include a probably too fine level of distinction on the vowels and all sorts of phonations, many of which aren't on the IPA or actually used in any languages. And it's all theoretical, because such a system would be too complicated to actually exist.

The other thing I want/need to point out to you is that most real world orthographies don't have a 1:1 correspondence between phonemes and graphemes, and you seem to be working on that assumption. Or they'll have weird irregularities. I know of very few languages that don't have such a thing.

[Birdlang]

Actually, I will do minimalist.
a ā c e ē f g h i ī k l n o ō q r s ś t u ū x z ź ć (ä ë ï ö ü â ê î ô û)
Āććīnōhāra nīnōttūkā vāśnīn xāx kuälē aênī kïāra nīnxwā kīpīcīks.

[StrangerCoug]

/t~d k ɡ kʷ/ <t k g q>
/n~ŋ/ <n>
/f s ʃ z ʒ ts tʃ x h/ f s ś z ź c ć x h
/l ɾ/ l r
/a e i o u/ a e i o u
/æ ɛ ɪ ɔ ʊ/ ä ë ï ö ü

The two letters I see in your sample <v w> that are not in the alphabet are used in foreign words and are pronounced /f u/.

Macrons and circumflexes both indicate length, with macrons being used over the tense vowels <a e i o u> and circumflexes being used over the lax vowels <ä ë ï ö ü>.

Āććīnōhāra nīnōttūkā vāśnīn xāx kuälē aênī kïāra nīnxwā kīpīcīks.
/aːtʃtʃiːnoːhaːɾa niːnoːttuːkaː faːʃniːn xaːx kuæleː aɛːniː kɪaːɾa niːŋxuaː kiːpiːtsiːks/

Next:
a ą b d e ę g h i į j k l m n o ǫ p r s t u ų w y y̨ z

Y̨den kwojek gemennǫ adze piledenjǫ.
Kų mazel hębeni makorda zęt iljų?

[Birdlang]

Next:
a ą b d e ę g h i į j k l m n o ǫ p r s t u ų w y y̨ z

Y̨den kwojek gemennǫ adze piledenjǫ. Y~d.En kvojek gemeNo~ aZe piledeJo~
Kų mazel hębeni makorda zęt iljų? ku~ mazel he~beni makorda ze~t iLu~
/a e i o u y/ a e i o u y
Ogonek indicates nasalization
/b d g p t k/ as in IPA
/v s z h/ w s z h
/r l j/ as in IPA
Dz is Z, lj is L, Nj is J.
Next
a ā c č ç ć d e ē f g h i ī j k l n o ō q r s š ş ś u ū w x z ž ƶ ź ɨ

[Birdlang]

/t~d k ɡ kʷ/ <t k g q>
/n~ŋ/ <n>
/f s ʃ z ʒ ts tʃ x h/ f s ś z ź c ć x h
/l ɾ/ l r
/a e i o u/ a e i o u
/æ ɛ ɪ ɔ ʊ/ ä ë ï ö ü

The two letters I see in your sample <v w> that are not in the alphabet are used in foreign words and are pronounced /f u/.

Macrons and circumflexes both indicate length, with macrons being used over the tense vowels <a e i o u> and circumflexes being used over the lax vowels <ä ë ï ö ü>.

Āććīnōhāra nīnōttūkā vāśnīn xāx kuälē aênī kïāra nīnxwā kīpīcīks.
/aːtʃtʃiːnoːhaːɾa niːnoːttuːkaː faːʃniːn xaːx kuæleː aɛːniː kɪaːɾa niːŋxuaː kiːpiːtsiːks/

Next:
a ą b d e ę g h i į j k l m n o ǫ p r s t u ų w y y̨ z

Y̨den kwojek gemennǫ adze piledenjǫ.
Kų mazel hębeni makorda zęt iljų?

OK, those were loanwords. First was Lizardman. Second was Plymouth, spoken by ALIEN PILGRIMS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Yaali Annar]

Xlai has a moderate amount of phonemes. But I don't think anyone will ever figure out all the phonemes of this language.

It uses digraphs for some consonants.

<n ṇ>
<t ṭ ḳ k>
<p c ċ ẋ x>
<f s ṣ ḥ h>
<r l>
<i ı u>
<ë e o>
<ä a å>

Sample roots:

sıeṛç- ṭuuṛx̣- ḥaat- ṣlååsl- ẋiiṛṇ- ṭëëḷḥḷ- ṭëëḥḳ- ċiäḷx̣ḷ- ḥlooḷṭ- ẋuuṛç-

[StrangerCoug]

a ā c č ç ć d e ē f g h i ī j k l n o ō q r s š ş ś u ū w x z ž ƶ ź ɨ

/t~d c~ɟ~k~ɡ q/ <d k q>
/f s z š ž ś ź ç ʝ x ɣ/ <f s~ş z ʂ ʐ ɕ ʑ ç j x g>
/ts dz ʈʂ ɖʐ tɕ dʑ/ <c ƶ č dž ć dź>
The rest as in IPA; macrons indicate length.

Xlai has a moderate amount of phonemes. But I don't think anyone will ever figure out all the phonemes of this language.

It uses digraphs for some consonants.

<n ṇ>
<t ṭ ḳ k>
<p c ċ ẋ x>
<f s ṣ ḥ h>
<r l>
<i ı u>
<ë e o>
<ä a å>

Sample roots:

sıeṛç- ṭuuṛx̣- ḥaat- ṣlååsl- ẋiiṛṇ- ṭëëḷḥḷ- ṭëëḥḳ- ċiäḷx̣ḷ- ḥlooḷṭ- ẋuuṛç-

/n ɲ~ŋ/ <n ṇ>
/t ʈ c k/ <t ṭ ḳ k>
/p ts ʈʂ ç x/ <p c ċ ẋ~x̣ x>
/f s ʂ ç h/ <f s ṣ ḥ h>
/ɾ l/ <r~ṛ l~ḷ>
/i ī u/ <i ı u>
/e ə o/ <ë e o>
/æ~ɛ a ɑ~ɔ/ <ä a å>

For the digraphs you want:
/θ tɕ ɕ/ <th ci~ċi si~ṣi>
/ɬ/ <ḥḷ~ẋḷ~x̣ḷ>

sıeṛç- /sıəɾç/
ṭuuṛx̣- /ʈuːɾx̣/
ḥaat- /çaːt/
ṣlååsl- /ʂlɑɑsl/
ẋiiṛṇ- /çiːɾŋ/
ṭëëḷḥḷ- /ʈeːlɬ/
ṭëëḥḳ- /ʈeːçc/
ċiäḷx̣ḷ- /tɕælɬ/
ḥlooḷṭ- /çloːlʈ/
ẋuuṛç- /çuːɾç/

A Hellenization (with a letter swiped from Coptic, for the picky):
α ά β γ δ ε έ ϝ ι ί ϳ κ λ μ ν ο ό π ϙ ρ σ/ς τ υ ύ φ χ ϣ

Ϙοντάν φαϳλός γόϝα μιδίν λε.
Καϣ αμόϝ γαμάνι ϳόμανο;

[Yaali Annar]

Almost close.

<ẋ x̣> is interchangable and <l> signifies lateralization when it comes between an africate/fricative and a vowel.

It's one of the reason I never bothered to do IPA for Xlai. There's just no simple way to write all those velar/palatal/retroflex laterals.

[finlay]

i might as well submit mine:

Yaufulti
a e i u f g k l n p t s y z

Nuputiseutiputetuu naigul luputinaite. Tuntuuzale sutuupun nankusazi sintasiunante. Kezeze sinlaitetuu yalgusetapete. Sinpuukiusinaseutite.

[Yaali Annar]

<a e i u f g k l n p t s y z>

/a ə i u f ŋ k l n p t s j ts/

<eu np nt nk> /o b d g/

nuputisotiputətuː naiŋul luputinaitə
tuduːtsalə sutuːpun nagusatsi sidasjunadə
kətsətsə sinlaitətuː yalŋusətapətə
sibuːkjusinasotitə.

[Birdlang]

You usually post your own romanization after you post someone else's
I will post one then
a ā c e ē f h i ī k o ō q r s t u ū v y z

[Zju]

You usually post your own romanization after you post someone else's
I will post one then
a ā c e ē f h i ī k o ō q r s t u ū v y z

/a a: e e: i i: o o: u u: y/ <a ā e ē i ī o ō u ū y>
/s t v/ <s t v>
/r/ <r z>
/k/ <k c q>
/p/ <tf kf tv qv>
Some phonemes are spelled differently due to historical reasons. <h> is silent, as is <f> when not in a digraph.

Next:
<a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p r q s t v u w x y z>

[StrangerCoug]

<a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p r q s t v u w x y z>

/p b t d k ɡ~dʒ/ <p b t d c~k~q g>
/f v θ ð s z x ɣ h/ <f v th dh c~s s~z kh gh>
/tʃ dʒ ks~gz/ <ch g~j x>
/m n ŋ/ m n ng
/l r j w/ l r y w
/a e i o u/ a e i o u

...What? All you really did was repost the English alphabet and change the order of a few letters.

A Hellenization (with a letter swiped from Coptic, for the picky):
α ά β γ δ ε έ ϝ ι ί ϳ κ λ μ ν ο ό π ϙ ρ σ/ς τ υ ύ φ χ ϣ

Ϙοντάν φαϳλός γόϝα μιδίν λε.
Καϣ αμόϝ γαμάνι ϳόμανο;

This one's still outstanding.

[Birdlang]

A Hellenization (with a letter swiped from Coptic, for the picky):
α ά β γ δ ε έ ϝ ι ί ϳ κ λ μ ν ο ό π ϙ ρ σ/ς τ υ ύ φ χ ϣ
Tonos indicates stress
/p b t d k g q/ π τ κ β δ γ ϙ
/f s j\ S x/ φ σ/ς ϳ ϣ χ
/r l w/ ρ λ ϝ
Vowels as in Greek
Ϙοντάν φαϳλός γόϝα μιδίν λε. qontan" faj\los" go"wa midin" le
Καϣ αμόϝ γαμάνι ϳόμανο; kaS amo:" gana"mi j\o"mano
next
A cyrillization
А б в г д е ж щ з і ј к ќ л м н њ љ о п р с ѕ т у ф х ц ч џ ш ь я є ю ї ъ ђ ћ ў ѥ ҍ ҋ ҏ ғ ҕ җ ҙ ҟ ң ҥ ҩ ү ұ ҵ ҽ ҿ ӄ ӈ ә ӛ ө ӫ ӭ й э

[Birdlang]

You usually post your own romanization after you post someone else's
I will post one then
a ā c e ē f h i ī k o ō q r s t u ū v y z

/a a: e e: i i: o o: u u: y/ <a ā e ē i ī o ō u ū y>
/s t v/ <s t v>
/r/ <r z>
/k/ <k c q>
/p/ <tf kf tv qv>
Some phonemes are spelled differently due to historical reasons. <h> is silent, as is <f> when not in a digraph.

Next:
<a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p r q s t v u w x y z>

Cool. I like how it is really minimalist phonology and how z/r/_

[Birdlang]

Actual new Romanization
a b ƀ c d đ e g ǥ i j ɉ l ƚ m n o q ꝗ/q with stroke r ɍ u v ꝟ/v with diagonal stroke z ƶ ɂ
all vowels can have a macron, umlaut, or both.

[netzakh]

Actual new Romanization
a b ƀ c d đ e g ǥ i j ɉ l ƚ m n o q ꝗ/q with stroke r ɍ u v ꝟ/v with diagonal stroke z ƶ ɂ
all vowels can have a macron, umlaut, or both.

/ ɑ ɤ ɯ o u / < a e i o u >
/ æ e i ø y / < ä ë ï ö ü >
Macrons indicate long vowels
/ b d dɮ ʣ ɖ ɟ ɡ ɡʷ ɢ/ < b d l z r j g v q >
Stroke indicates a murmured (voiced aspirate) consonant
/ ɦ / < c >
< m > makes the preceding vowel nasal
< n > is a nasal consonant homorganic with the following stop, / ɴ / if before a vowel

I suggest that any challenge includes a sample containing all letters, or can be considered a bonus and skipped.

Here is my bonus challenge:
a e i o q u w y
a e i o q u w y
a e i o q u w y
a e i o q u w y
a e i o q u w y
a e i o q u w y
a e i o q u w y
a e i o q u w y
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç
♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ ☠ ☠ ☠

(All letters have different sounds.)
(No non-bonus challenge at this point.)

[Birdlang]

a e i o q u w y a e i o U u M I
a e i o q u w y long vowels
a e i o q u w y extra short
a e i o q u w y nasal
a e i o q u w y breathy voice
a e i o q u w y creaky voice
a e i o q u w y strident voice
a e i o q u w y high tone, all other vowels low tone
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç v f m D T n Z S J G x N l r j j_0
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç long
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç over long
v f m ð þ n ź ś ń ğ x ŋ l r j ç ejective stops, implosive stops
♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ ☠ ☠ ☠ b p M\ ls vs kS nZ dZ nj N\ J\ J_0 N_0 m_0

(All letters have different sounds.)
(No non-bonus challenge at this point.)
Next
a ⱥ b ƀ c ȼ d đ e ɇ f ɸ g ǥ h ħ i ɨ j ɉ k (k with stroke) l ł ⱡ ƚ m ɱ n ɲ ŋ ꞥ/n with oblique stroke o ɵ ø p (p with stroke) q ꝗ/q with stroke through descender ꝙ/q with diagonal stroke r ɍ ꞧ/r with oblique stroke s ꞩ/s with oblique stroke t ⱦ ŧ u ʉ v ꝟ/v with oblique stroke w ⱳ/w with hook x ẍ y ɏ z ƶ ǀ ǂ
All vowels can have a macron.
Each letter is pronounced differently.

[KathTheDragon]

a ⱥ b ƀ c ȼ d đ e ɇ f ɸ g ǥ h ħ i ɨ j ɉ k (k with stroke) l ł ⱡ ƚ m ɱ n ɲ ŋ ꞥ/n with oblique stroke o ɵ ø p (p with stroke) q ꝗ/q with stroke through descender ꝙ/q with diagonal stroke r ɍ ꞧ/r with oblique stroke s ꞩ/s with oblique stroke t ⱦ ŧ u ʉ v ꝟ/v with oblique stroke w ⱳ/w with hook x ẍ y ɏ z ƶ ǀ ǂ
All vowels can have a macron.
Each letter is pronounced differently.

I'm sensing a theme with you...

[Birdlang]

What is it. Diacritic mania or KITCHEN SINK FUN TIME.

[Hallow XIII]

monomania

[ObsequiousNewt]

What is it. Diacritic mania or KITCHEN SINK FUN TIME.

Yes.

Hey, why don't you try and make the BIGGEST KITCHEN SINK LANGUAGE EVAR!!!eleven! I bet you can't beat what I came up with a year ago.

[Dezinaa]

Are we always going to do one at a time? Maybe this thread should be like the Romanization Challenge thread, and we could do more than one at the same time.

Anyways, here's one:
a à c e f g i ì j k l m n nn o ò p s t v w z

[finlay]

Yeah i wanna see what more than one person thinks my conlang would sound like. And none of you are posting any samples, you're just posting alphabets. Alphabets are boring.

[Birdlang]

What DID you come up with a year ago?