9

About
"9" is just a placeholder name until I come up with an actual name. I know English and am studying Japanese. We have too many conlangs based off of Western European languages, so I will make this language closer to Japanese, though I will attempt to create word roots completely from scratch.

This is a work in progress. Everything is subject to change.

Alphabet
There are no capital letters. However, to transliterate <ŋ>, <∫>, and <ʒ>, the capital letters , , and  are used respectively.

The pronunciation of the consonants by themselves, such as when spelling something out, is formed by taking the letter and combining it with the vowel /e/.

The order for collation starts at the top-left of the grid, going left to right, then up to down.

Sounds

 *  can be pronounced anywhere from [e] to [ɛ], but must be [ɛ] before [j]
 *  can be pronounced anywhere from [o] to [ɔ], but must be [ɔ] before [w]
 *  can be pronounced anywhere from [a] to [ɑ]
 *  is a schwa and may be rhotic. [ə] or [ɚ]
 *  can represent a lateral approximant or flap. [l] or [ɺ]
 * All other letters represent their IPA equivalents.

The penultimate syllable of each word is stressed.

Syllable Structure
The syllable structure is (C)V(N), where
 * (C) is an optional consonant.
 * V is a vowel (or diphthong).
 * (N) is an optional nasal.

There are rules for which nasal can be used. Taking a sample word with structure C1V1(N1)C2V2N2,


 * If C2 is /t/, /d/, /s/, or /z/, N1 must be /n/.
 * If C2 is /p/, /b/, /f/, or /v/, N1 must be /m/.
 * If C2 is /k/ or /g/, N1 must be /ŋ/.
 * If C2 is /n/, /m/, /ŋ/, /l/, /∫/, or /ʒ/, then there is no N1.
 * (word final) If V2 is /i/ or /e/, N2 must be /n/.
 * (word final) If V2 is /u/ or /o/, N2 must be /m/.
 * (word final) If V2 is /a/ or /r/, N2 must be /ŋ/.

Other rules are as follows:


 * /i/ may not be followed by another vowel or /j/.
 * /i/ may not follow /e/ or /j/.
 * /u/ may not be followed by another vowel or /w/.
 * /u/ may not follow /o/ or /w/.

Sentence Structure
The unmarked word order of the language is (S)(O)V. A sentence only needs a verb to be grammatically correct. In these cases, the subject (and object, if applicable) is determined by context.

Basic Numbers
This language will use a dozenal base.

The symbols for the numerals use an underlined letter. Reading out a string of digits is as simple as reading out the letter with the vowel /o/. The word for "zero" has two possible pronunciations. It is normally /o/, but if an ambiguity can occur between the number < o > and the letter , then  is used instead.

Larger Numbers
<∫i> is "dozen" and <∫u> is "gross". You need to explicitly say "one dozen" and "one gross" instead of simply "dozen" and "gross".

Nouns
Nouns do not decline. A noun can represent one of any number, gender, or definiteness.

Case Particles
Particles will be used to indicate the case of nouns. They are placed after the noun they modify.

Noun Classes
Every noun falls into one of five main classes.

Of course, the classes themselves are nouns in their own right. One thing that classes are used for is counting nouns. Each of these classes have sub-classes for extra precision, but there is nothing wrong with using the main class.

Determiners
Note that the determiner for non-existance uses the word for "zero", so that <?> literally means "zero people".

Personal Pronouns
The most general way to refer to a person is by using their name, even when talking directly to them. A second-person pronoun exists, but it is mainly to be used if you don't know the name of who you are speaking to. However, using your own name to speak about yourself is considered childish or egotistic, so only the first-person pronoun sees general use.

Note that there is no third person pronoun. Again, the name of who you are talking about is to be used if it is known. Otherwise, use the phrase <?>; "that person".

The suffix <?> is added to indicate a group including the person you are talking about. This can be used to pluralize the pronouns, but it is not limited to being added to pronouns. e.g.  = we,  = you (plural), <"person X"-?> = "person x" and his/her group.