Yami Language - Phonology

Phonology

Yami has 20 consonants and 4 vowels:

Consonants (in Yami script)

• Stops: ⟨p, b, t, d, k, g, '⟩
• Fricatives: ⟨v, s, h⟩ (⟨s⟩ is a retroflex)
• Nasals: ⟨m, n, ng⟩
• Liquids: ⟨l, r⟩
• Affricates: ⟨c, j⟩ (palatal affricates)
• Trills: ⟨z⟩ (alveolar trill)
• Glides: ⟨w, y⟩

Vowels

• ⟨a, e, i, o⟩ (e is a mid-central vowel)

Iraralay Yami, spoken on the north coast, distinguishes between long and short consonants (e.g., opa 'thigh' vs. oppa 'hen' form one such minimal pair).