Proto Kivian

Proto Kivian (Reska: Ealke Tanlausend [ˈealkə ˈtɑnlausənd], Proto Kivian *tanlausē₁ndi, tanlausenti (ˈtɑnlɑuseːndi)) is the common ancestor of the Kivian Languages. It was spoken by the Kivian People in the Reskan Peninsula from -2150 to -1500. Proto Kivian is attested through thousands of runic inscriptions that provide linguists a near-complete understanding of the language.

Phonology

Proto Kivian’s phonology is largely speculative, but linguists are able to get a relatively accurate level 2 (low-allophonic) reconstruction of the language’s sounds through analysis of the phonology of modern dialects of Kivian languages.

Consonants

	Bilabial		Dental		Alveolar		Palatal		Velar				Glottal
									Plain		Labialised
Nasal		m				n				(ŋ)		(ŋʷ)
Plosive	p	b	t	d					k	(g)	xʷ	(gʷ)
Fricative	ɸ	(β)	θ	(ð)	s	z			x	ɣ		ɣʷ	h
Trill						r
Approximant					(l̥)?	l		j				w

Transcription Notes:

1. /ɸ/ is transcribed as f.
2. /x/ and /ɣ/ are transcribed as h₂ and g respectively.
3. /h/ is transcribed as h₁.
4. Labialised consonants are written as a consonant with a w following it.

Allophone Notes:

1. /b/ was (β) medially unless after /m/.
2. /d/ was (ð) medially unless after /n/ or /l/.
3. /ɣ/ was (g) after /n/.
4. /ɣʷ/ was (gʷ) after /n/.
5. /n/ was (ŋ) before /ɣ/ or /k/.
6. /n/ was (ŋʷ) before /ɣʷ/ or /kʷ/
7. The existence of (l̥) is strongly debated. It is hypothesised to have occurred when /l/ was adjacent to a voiceless fricative but there is no evidence of the allophone in modern descendants of Kivian languages.

Vowels

	Oral					Nasal
	Front		Back			Front		Back
	Short	Long	Short	Long	Overlong	Short	Long	Short	Long	Overlong
Close	i	iː	u	uː		ĩ	ĩː	ũ	ũː
Mid	e	eː æː		oː	oːː				õː	õːː
Open			ɑ	ɑː				ɑ̃	ɑ̃ː

Transcription Notes:

1. Long vowels are represented by a macron (ā).
2. Nasal vowels are represented by an ogonek (ą).
3. /æː/ is represented by ē while /eː/ is represented by ē₁.
4. Overlong vowels are represented by a circumflex (ô).

The existence of overlong /oːː/ and /õːː/ are debated; most evidence of them comes through the occasional doubling of vowels in runic inscriptions.