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--- "�lvard J. te Kraamlep" <kraamlep@hidden.email> wrote: > First, apologies for crossposting, but this is > applicable to both the > germaniconlang and romconlang lists. I'm > looking for a bit of guidance. No worries. Not everyone inhabits both lists. > Capraian is my Mediterranean Germanic conlang, > with Italian influences. One > of its distinctive features is the Early > Capraian Vowel Shift (courtesy of > Thomas Leigh), such that the Germanic vowels > shuffled round one: i > e > a > > o > u > y. However, only the first vowel of > diphthongs is so affected. > > This leaves a problem. While the diphthongs > /au/ and /eu/ neatly turn into > /ou/ and /au/ respectively, /ai/ and /ei/ are > left as /oi/ and /ai/, with > the vowel /i/ which no longer exists in > Capraian. I guess if /i/ disappeared bef�re the shift, /ai/ would have first become /a/ (perhaps with compensatory lengthening) and then you might be left with a plain vowel /o:/. /ei/ > /e:/ > /a:/ What happened to the /i/ - did it simply disappear in all environments or did it affect neighbouring vowels? You might have an opportunity to introduce a system of ablaut (like man/men). A word like *tameinar might become *tem�nar and then *tem�nar after the final shift. Padraic. ===== N' pozont pass feaire pissoir 'ne ncawdr�n sanq' baccionte y vos e-z-y chuni�n. [They can't do anything without a song and a dance! -- Kemrese maxim] -- Ill Bethisad -- <http://www.geocities.com/elemtilas/ill_bethisad> Come visit The World! -- <http://www.geocities.com/hawessos/> .