Sarràno

An Iberian language spoken by the inhabitants of Sarranna.

General information
An important note : this conlang began as an entry to the romlang challenge that took place from April to July 2015. There is a page dedicated to the version submitted to voting, called Xarrano. Thus, further updates to the language will be presented on this page from now on.

. Sarran (endonym Sarràno /sæ'ræno/) is a romlang mainly inspired by Iberian Romance languages at their earliest times, also showing influence from Neapolitan. The goal is that it resemble a language of the Iberian family while having a vowel alternating plural system due to specific sound changes.

Its family tree can be traced as Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Western Romance, Ibero-Romance, Sarran.

Its speakers live in Sarrany (endonym: Sarranna /sɑ'rɑɲɑ/, "land of the Sierra"), a country that lies on a fictitious peninsula stretching from the southeastern part of Spain, as seen on the map.

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Extnal history
There is a belief among the Sarran people that their homeland would have been originated after an ancient volcano emerged from the sea and rose a piece of land with it. This volcano is called Ezgo, from a Celtic source meaning "elder", and has had brief periods of activity through the centuries.

The first Latin settlers came from a region around Campania in Italy, including citizens of the extinct city of Pompei, which founded the capital city of POMPĒIA NOVA (now Nuàva Pompegha) at the foot of the volcano. The whole region was called SERRĀNIA because of its characteristic sierras and tall coasts, being important as strategic places to build fortresses to keep control over the southwestern part of the Mediterrean Sea.

When the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula, the Sarrans sought help from their Italian trade partners. The difficult access to the region by land together with well guarded fortresses and a joint navy allowed them to resist the constant Moorish attacks. The local citizens organized themselves into the Kingdom of Sarrany (Rrenno rela Sarranna) under the command of Plinno I and his descendants, but, by the time of the Reconquista, the eastern side of the Kingdom refused to get involved in the successive battles to repel the invaders out of Iberia and split off as the Kingdom of Sarra Vaxa, while the western side changed its name to Kingdom of Sarra Alta. Shortly after the Reconquista had been completed, the two Kingdoms reunited under the modern name of Sarranna. The new country slowly opened its gates to a common Iberian market and served as an important bridge between its neighbors on land and its allies from nearby islands and Italy.

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Historical sound changes
When compared to other Iberian languages, Sarran shows some conservative features, such as distinction between voiceless and voiced fricatives, while having innovated in other areas like its six-vowel system, the coalescence of alveolar consonants with /j/ and palatalization of final /s/, eventually causing the loss of distinction between masculine and feminine in most plural forms.

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General sound changes
a) Loss or lenition of final consonants:

AMAT, VĪTAM (polysyllables) > àma, vida

AUT, QUEM, SĪC (monosyllables) > o, quiàn (< *quene?), xi

b) Loss of /h/:

/h/ ADHAESIONEM,HABĒRE,PREHENDERE > /-/ adeson (learned), aver, prenner

c) Monophthongization of AE and OE:

/ai, oi/ CAELUM, GRAECUM, POENAM > /ɛ, e/ > /(j)æ, e/ zàlo, gràgo, pena

d) Minor changes:

/VnsV/ MENSEM, PREHENSUM > /VzV/ mes, preso

/CCC/ ASSŪMPTUM, FUNCTIONEM > /CC/ assunto, funzon

/lle#/ ILLĒ, MĪLLE, PELLEM > /l#/ el, mil, piàl

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Changes related to Western Romance
a) Monophthongization of AU (also in Italo-Western):

/au/ AURICULAM, *autoricare, PAUCUM, TAURUM > /o/ oregha, otorgàr, poco, toro

b) Assimilation processes (also in Italo-Western):

/bt, pt/ OBTENĒRE, SEPTEM > /tt/ > /t/ otener, sete

/bs, ps/ ABSOLŪTUM, PSALMUM > /ss/ > /s/ assoluto, salmo

c) Lenition of intervocalic plosives (not including semivowels):

/b, d, g/ BIBERE, NŪDUM, *vagativu > [β, ð, ɣ] > /v, -, -/ bever, nuo, vadio

/p, t, k/ capitia, RECIPERE, PRĀTUM, FOCUM > /v (< β < b), d, g/ cavezza, rrecever, prado, fuàgo

/pp, tt, kk/ STUPPAM, GUTTAM, PECCĀTUM > /p, t, k/ estopa, gota, pecado

d) Early process of syncope (between sonorants and plosives, and the sequence /sVt/):

/VCVCV/ COLAPHUM, OPERAM, COMITEM, POSITUM > /VCCV/ golpo, obra, conde, posto

/VCVCV/ *cosutura, NŌBILEM, LEPOREM, OCULUM, VIRIDEM > /VCCV/ costura, noble, lebre, ogho, verde

e) Palatalization processes:

/eV, iV/ FORTIAM, VĪNEAM > [jV] > /*V/ forza, vinna

/#j, VjV/ IAM, IEIŪNUM, IŪSTUM, MĀIOREM > /#ʒ, V(j/ʒ)V/ > /#ʒ, V(ɟ/ʒ)V/ ja, gejuno, justo, maghor

/ki, ke/ ACCEPTUM, CIRCĀ, CĪVĪLEM > [(c)cV] > /(t)tsV/ > /θV/ accecho, cerca, civil

- /Vki, Vke/ > ACĒTUM, COCĪNAM, LŪCEM > [VcV] > /VtsV/ > [VdzV] > /VðV/ acedo, cocina, luz

/gi, ge/ GENERUM, *pagense, VIGINTI > /jV/ > /ʒV/ or /-V/ gendro, país, vinte

/ski, ske/ PISCEM, CRĒSCERE > [scV] > /ʃʃV/ > /ʃV/ pexe, crexer

/tj, kj/ ALTIĀRE, BRA(C)CHIUM, FACIEM, LINTEOLUM > [(t)ts, (c)c] > /ts/ > /θ/ alzàr, brazzo, acce, lenzuàlo

/dj, gj/ *gaudia, INVIDIAM, RADIUM > /ʒ/ or /j/ goja, enveja, rraio > /ʒ/ or /ɟ/ goja, enveja, rragho

- /V(d/g)(i/e)#/ HŌDIE, LEGEM, MAGIS > /Vj#/ > oi, lei, mai > /*/ güe, lé, mai

/stj, skj/ BESTIAM, FASCIAM, QUAESITIONEM, SCIENTIAM > /st, ʃ/ vesta, axa, queston, xenza

/ptj, ktj/ ACTIONEM, OPTIONEM, *ruptia > /Cts/ > (C)θ/ azzon, ozzon, rrozza

/#sj, ssj/ *bassiu, MANSIONEM, PASSIONEM, RUSSEUM > /Vʃ/ vaxo, paxon, rroxo

/VsjV/ BĀSIUM, ECCLĒSIAM, *grisiu, PENSIONEM > /V(¨)ʒ/ bejo, egleja, grijo, pejon

/rj/ AREAM, CORIUM, DĒNĀRIUM, GLORIAM > /jr/ > /(¨)r/ era, qüero, denero, glera (< gloira)

/nj, lj/ FOLIAM, IŪNIUM, *maneana > /ɲ, ʎ/ folla, Junno, mannana > /ɲ, ɟ/ fogha, Junno, mannàna

f) Development of /kt/:

/kt/ FACTUM, FRUCTAM, NOCTEM, OCTŌ > /jt/ > /(¨)c/ echo, prucha, noche, ocho

g) Prothesis of initial /sC/:

/#sC/ SCĀLAM, SPATIUM, SPHINGEM, STĀRE > /#esC/ escàla, espazzo, esfinge (learned), tàr (< estàre)

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Changes related to Iberian Romance
a) Loss of final front vowels after single, dental/alveolar, voiced consonant:

/e#, i#/ FĒCĪ, MENSEM, PĀNEM, VĒRITĀTEM > eci, mese, pane, verdade > /#, (¨)#/ iz, mes, pàn, verdàz

b) Palatalization of geminated N and L:

/nn, gn, mn/ ANNUM, AUTUMNUM, DOMINAM, PUGNUM > [nn] > /ɲ/ anno, otonno, ronna, punno

/ll/ CASTELLUM, COLLĀREM, ILLAM > /ʎ/ castello, collar, ella > /ɟ/ castegho, coghàr, egha

c) Development of /kʷ/ and /gʷ/ (also in Gallo-Romance):

/gʷ/ *guadaniare, *guerra, *guidare, LINGUAM, SANGUINEM > /g/ gannàr, garra, guiàr, lenga, sangre

/kʷ/ LIQUOREM, QUANDŌ, QUINTUM, SQUĀMAM > /k, kw/ licor, quan, quinto, escàma

- /Vkʷ/ AEQUALITĀTEM, ANTĪQUUM, AQUAM > [Vgw] > /Vg(w)/ egualdàz, antigo, água

- (some) /kʷi, kʷe/ LAQUEUS, QUĪNQUE, TORQUERE > [ki, ke] > [(c)cV] > /tsV/ > /θV/ lazzo, cinque, torcer

d) fragmentaion of X:

/ksC/ DEXTERUM, EXPRESSIONEM, EXTENSUM > /(¨)sC/ destro, espresson (learned), esteso

- /kske, kski/ EXCELSUM, EXCEPTUM, EXCITĀRE > /kkV/ > [ccV] > /tsV/ > /θV/ eccelso, ecceto, eccitàr (learned)

/VksV/ COXAM, EXSŪCĀRE, FLUXUM, VEXĀMEN > /VʃʃV/ > /VʃV/ coxa, exugàr, ploxo, vexambre

/VksV/ AUXILIUM, EXAGIUM, MAXIMUM, PROXIMUM > /VssV/ > /VsV/ ossegho, essagho, mássimo, próssimo

/VksV/ EXHAURĪRE, EXŌTICUM, EXSULTĀTIONEM > /VzV/ esaurir (l.), esótico (l.), esultazzon

e) Evolution of consonant groups with /l, r/:

/Vbr, Vdr, Vgr/ CATHEDRAM, *libretto, NIGRUM > /Vbr, V(¨)r, V(¨)r/ cadera, libreto, nero

/Vpr, Vtr, Vkr/ SACRĀRE, MACRUM, OPERA, PETRAM > /Vbr, Vdr, Vgr/ sagràr, màgro, obra, piàdra

/Vppr, Vttr, Vkkr/ LETTERAM, QUATTUOR > /Vpr, Vtr, Vkr/ letra, quatro

/#fl, #pl, #kl/ CLĀMĀRE, FLŪMEN, PLŌRĀRE > /#c/ chamàr, chumbre, choràr

/#fl, #pl, #kl/ CLĒMENTIA, FLUXUM, PLATEAM, *subflare > /#pl, #kl/ clemenza, ploxo, plazza, soplàr

/Vp(V)l, Vt(V)l, Vk(V)l/ ARTICULUM, POPULUM, ROTULUM > /Vbl, Vʎ/ > /Vbl, Vɟ/ artegho, puàblo, rrogho

/bl, dl, gl/ *blanco, COĀGULĀRE > /bl, ʎ/ > /bl, ɟ/ blanco, quaghàr

MASCULUM, MŪSCULUM, UNGULAM, VINCULUM > maxo, buxo, unna, vencho

f) Later processes of syncope:

/nVr, mVr/ GENERUM, *nomine, HONŌRĀRE > [mr, nr] > /mbr, ndr/ gendro, nombre, ondràr

/inV/ DOMINAM, SĒMINAM, SŌLITŪDINEM, TERMINUM > /*/ ronna, sembra, soltuz, tarmo

/V/ ARBOREM, MŪSCULUM, SIMILĀRE, UNGULAM > /-/ arble, buxo, semblàr, unna

/CVC/ ADVĒRIFICĀRE, CAPITĀLEM, CUBITUM, DŪBITAM > /*C/ averiguàr, caduàl, codo, ruda

/CVC/ DECIMUM, FATIGĀRE, HOSPITĀLEM, PORTATICUM > /*C/ rezmo, azgàr, ostàl, portazgo

/CVC/ *quassicare, RECITĀRE, TRĪTICUM, UNDECIM, VINDICĀRE > /*C/ cascàr, rrezàr, trizgo, once, vengàr

g) Interactions between /l/ and /r/:

/l...l, r...r/ ARBOREM, *lusciniolu, MARMOREM, RŌBOR(EM) > /r...l/ arble, ruxinguàlo, marble, rroble

/l...l, r...r/ LOCĀLEM > /l...r/ logàr

/r...l/ MĪRACULUM, PARABOLAM, PERĪCULUM > /l...r/ milagro, palabra, paligro

/r/ BURSAM, PAPYRUM, TENEBRĀS > /l/ bolsa, papel, tenneble

h) Minor or incomplete changes:

GAUDIUM, RATIONEM, TRAHERE > [VtsV, VdzV] > /VdzV > /VðV gozo, rrazon, tracer

/l, n, r/ ANIMAM, LAMPADAM, LĀXĀRE, LIBELLUM, -MEN > alma, lampra, dexàr, nivegho, -mbre

/k/ *cocchleariu, NĒC ŪNUM, PECTEN > [ŋ] > /n, ng/ conchero, nennuno, prente (< pentre)

/j, r/ CRĪBRA, PARIĒTEM > /-/ criva, parede

/ls, rs/ *ad traversu, INSULSUM, PERSŌNAM, VERSICUM > /s/ atravas, insosso, passona, vesco

CAPSAM, CAPULUM, CRYPTAM, MĀTTIANA, PULSĀRE > caxa, cacho, grota, mazzàna, puxàr

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Specific changes in Sarran
a) Semivocalization of final /s/ with posterior changes:

(stressed) /s#/ MAGIS, DVŌS, NŌS, TRĒS > /j#/ mai, roi, noi, trei > /*/ mai, rue, nue, tre

(unstressed) /as#, es#, os#/ > [aj#, ej#, oj#] > /e#, i#, u#/ > [e#, (¨)e#, (¨)o#] > (analogy) /(¨)e#/

b) Evolution of the vowel system:

Stage 1: Shift from vowel quantity to vowel quality (also in Italo-Western):

/iː, i, eː, e, a(ː), o, oː, u, uː/ > /i, e, e, ɛ, a, ɔ, o, o, u/, with long allophones on stressed open syllables

Stage 2: First open vowel shift and rise of new diphthongs:

(stressed open syllable) [ɛː, aː, ɔː] CAELUM, CANEM, BONUM > [eə, aə, oə] > /iə, əː, uə/ cialo, cane, buano

(other syllables) /ɛ, a, ɔ/ SEMPER, PARTEM, NOSTRAM > /e, a, o/ sempre, parte, nostra

(before coda /r/) /ɛ/ CERTUM, ERVILIAM, SERPENS, *versoria > [æ] > /a/ > zarto, arvella, sarpe, vassura

CŌGITĀRE, FACTUM, GLORIAM, MAGIS, NŌS, LEGEM > /aj, ej, oj, uj/ cuidar, eito, gloira, mai, noi, lei

CASĀS, MANŪS, PONTĒS > [aj#, ej#, oj#] > /e#, i#, u#/ case, manu, ponti

CAPITĀLEM, CĪVITĀTEM, CUBITUM, EQUAM, VIDUUM > /aw, ew, iw, ow/ caudale, ciudade, coudo, euga, veudo

Stage 3: New loss of vowel quantity and shift from decrescent to crescent diphthongs:

/iə, əː, uə/ cialo, cane, buano > /jɛ, ɛ, wɛ/ ciàlo, càne, buàno

/aj, ej, oj, uj/ cuidar, eito, gloira, mai, noi, lei > /aj, e, we, wi/ or /VCʲ/ cughar, echo, gluera, mai, nue, lé

(final unstressed) /e, i, u/ case, manu, ponti > [e, (¨)e, (¨)o] > (analogy) /(¨)e/ càse, mene, punte

/e.(')V, i.(')V, o.(')V, u.(')V/ coallare, coerente, leone > /jV, wV/ quallàr, qüerente, lion

/aw, ew, iw, ow/ caudale, ciudade, coudo, euga, veudo > /aw/wa, jo/ju, ju, o/u/ caduàl, ciudàz, codo, ioga, viuda

Stage 4: Second open vowel shift and decrease of diphthongs:

/tj, jt, dj, jd/ cuidàr > /c, ɟ/ cughàr

/sj, js, zj, jz/ eglesia > /ʃ, ʒ/ egleja

/nj, jn, lj, jl/ colonia, liàve, lion, niàbla > /ɲ, ɟ/ colonna, gheve, ghon, nnàbla

/θj, ðj, rj/ ciudàz, eccion/faccion (learned), riàz, vigario (learned) > /θ, ð, r/ zudàz, ezzon/fazzon, ràz, vigaro

(other) /Cj/ quiedo, principio (learned), rra(b)bia, vision (l.) > /C(j)/ quiedo, principo, rraba, vison

/Cw/ arduo, guarra, individuo (learned) > /C(w)/ ardo, garra, individo

/Clj, Clw, Crj, Crw/ cliente (learned), gluera, griàgo, pruàva > /Cl, Cw/ clente, glera, gràgo, pràva

(stressed) /ɛ, a/ buàno, ciàlo, càn, danza, ha > /æ, ɑ/ buàno, zàlo, càn, danza, ha

(unstressed) /a/ casca, danzàr, mazzàna > /æ ~ ɑ/ casca, danzàr, mazzàna (*vowel harmony with stressed vowel)

c) Rhotacism of /d/ (at the time of general plosive lenition):

/d/ CAUDAM, DĒ, DECEM, DUPLUM, DVŌS > /ɾ/ cora, re, ràz (< riàz), roblo, rue

/d/ DĀRE, DEXTERUM, DĪRECTUM, DORMĪRE = /d/ dàr, destro, drecho, dormir (blocked by a near /ɾ/)

d) Assimilation of ND and related processes:

/nd/ CANDIDUM, FACIENDA, MUNDUM, PREHENDERE > /nn/ > /ɲ/ cando (<*cánnido), acenna, monno, prenner

(some) /nde#, ntV#/ *ad onde, CENTUM, GRANDEM, QUANTUM, SANCTUM > /n/ ron, cen, gran, quan, san

/mb/ LAMBERE, PLUMBUM > /mm/ > /m/ lamer, chomo

e) Fragmentation of F and analogous processes (also in Iberian):

(before back vowels) [Φ] FOCUM, FUNDUM, FŪMUM > /f/ fuàgo, fonno, fumo

(before non-back vowels) [Φ] FACTUM, FABAM, FĪCUM > [h] > /-/ echo, àva, igo

/fl, fr/ FLOREM, *flumine, FLFRĪGIDUM, SUFFLĀRE > /c, pl, pr/ > plor, chumbre, prio, soplàr

/vl, vr/ *haver hemos > /bl, br/ abremo

f) Merging of /j/ and /ʎ/ to become a voiced counterpart to /c/:

EGŌ, AD HERĪ, MEDIUM > /j/ io, aier, meio > /ɟ/ gho, agher, megho

CUBICULUM, FAMILIAM > /ʎ/ covello, amella > /ɟ/ covegho, amegha

g) Fortition of initial /w/:

AUDĪRE, HODIĒ, HOMŌ, OVUM > /#oV, #oj, #we/ oir, oi, huàmo, huàvo > /gwV/ güir, güe, guàmo, guàvo

h) Loss of final unstressed /n/:

ILLŌS AMANT, IUVENEM, VIRGINEM > /n#/ ellu àman, joven, vergen > /#/ eghe àma, jove, verge

(some) NŌN, *ad sic, HABENT > /n#/ non, axin, han > /#/ no, axí, ha (the latter is by analogy)

i) Minor changes:

* ad si, LĪLIUM, QUASĪ, SĪC, SŪCUM, VENĪRE, VESĪCAM > axí, ghigho, quàge, xi, xugo, vennir, vexiga

/b/ *barone, *bassiu, BUCCAM, EPISCOPUM > /v/ varon (sir, lord) / baron (baron) (borrowed), vaxo, voca, vispo

/Cr, Cs/ ABROGĀRE, EXAGIUM > /r, s/ arrogàr (*abrrogàr), essagho (< *ensagho)

QUATERNUM, *muliera, PECTEN, PIGNORAM > cardano, mughara, prente, prenda (< pendra)

PLUVIAM, QUAERERE, RECEPTAM > chuva (< chouva < choiva), queder, rrececha

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Consonants
- /n/ has many allophones that are homorganic with a following consonant.

- The phonemes /c, ɟ/ were conventioned in transcriptions because they are perceived as plosives by native speakers, They are realized as palatalized alveolars [tʲ, dʲ], with little frication but less frication in comparison to [tʃ, dʒ].

- A dental or alveolar fricative in coda position does not present voice distinction. That means, their voice parameter depends on the next sound (e. g. they assimilate). When before pause, they are devoiced.

- /r/ is fully contrastive with /ɾ/ even in word initial position. It is realized as a patalized [rʲ] that sounds like a combination of a trill and a voiced palatal fricative /ʝ/.

- /x/ is only used in some loanwords to convey the sound /h/ or any other back fricative. It is oftentimes not pronounced at all.

- /ʎ/ and /j/ have become rare in Sarran as independent consonants, since they historically merged and became /ɟ/. They appear in proper names and some loanwords. Some people tend to pronounce them as [ɟ] word initially, even though it is considered inappropriate.

- Similarly, the foreign phoneme /w/ has gained acceptance through borrowing from English, but it is sometimes mispronounced as [gw] word initially. It is gradually replacing the plain /v/ pronunciation on the letter W.

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Vowels
- The open phoneme /æ/ started as an allophone and became a partially independent phoneme. The unstressed archiphoneme /A/ varies between /æ/ and /ɑ/ through vowel harmony with the stressed vowel. The resulting vowel is usually notated in general transcriptions, even though some dialects merge final A into an unstressed [ɐ].

- The mid vowels are realized as close-mid vowels, but sometimes they can be a bit more open when they are in closed stressed syllables.

- When the final unstressed vowels /A, e, o/ are followed by an initial unstressed vowel, they are dropped. This also happens with weak monosyllables: in that case, they must have their vowel replaced by an apostrophe (') in orthography.

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Alphabet
Officially, all the 26 letters of modern Latin alphabet are taught, but K, W and Y don't appear in Sarran native vocabulary. Also, there are vowels with an acute accent to mark unpredictable stress and the vowel À to represent the stressed front open vowel. The letters C, N, R, S and Z (as well as L in proper names and loanwords) can be doubled. The additional characters are collated together with their simpler counterparts, and the double consonants are treated as simple sequences.

The letters are treated as feminine nouns and their names are as follows:

A - a /ɑ/, and À - a prontera /ˌɑ pɾon'teɾæ/ or just À - à /æ/

B - be /be/

C - ce /'θe/

D - de /de/

E - e /e/

F - efe /'efe/

G - ge /ʒe/

H - acha /'ɑcɑ/

I - i /i/

J - joda /'ʒodɑ/

K - kapa /'kɑpɑ/

L - ele /'ele/

M - eme /'eme/

N - ene /'ene/

O - o /o/

P - pe /pe/

Q - cu /ku/

R - arre /'ɑre/

S - esse /'ese/

T - te /te/

U - u /u/

V - ve /ve/

W - ve alemàna /ve æle'mænæ/, or less commonly ve robla /ve 'ɾoblɑ/

X - xe /ʃe/, former ics /iks/

Y - i gràga /i 'gɾægæ/

Z - zàda /'θædæ/

* The double consonants are called by their basic letter plus robla /'ɾoblɑ/ (double).

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Phonotactics
Most natively, Sarran phonotactics is composed of relatively simple syllables, in which the only mandatory part is a nucleus formed by at least one vowel sound. The basic Sarran syllable structure can be demonstrated as follows:

(C)(C)V(C): where the fist (C) can be any consonant; the second (C) can be L, R, I or U (as semivowels); and the last (C) can be L, N, R, S, I or U (as semivowels), or Z.

Post-aleveolar consonants (/ɲ, c, ɟ, ʃ, ʒ, r, ʎ/) don't appear in coda position for historical reasons, and sometimes they can be preceded by consonants. There is also a native Sarran restriction: if the second (C) is /l/ or /ɾ/, then the first (C) must be a plosive.

Beside that basic model, some more complex syllables may appear due to borrowing or preservation of original words in Latin, Greek or others.

Here go some examples:

V - a /ɑ/

CV - lé /le/

VC - en /en/

CCV - tre /tɾe/

CVC - sàl /sæl/

V.CV - anno /'ɑ.ɲo/

CV.CV.CV - cavagho /kɑ'vɑ.ɟo/

CVC.CCVC - mostràr /mos'tɾær/

A distinctive feature in Sarran, as in most other Romance languages, is syllable stress. It can be placed in the last, second or third to last syllable on a word and it usually don't affect its phonotactics, except for one active restriction on post-tonic syllables: they tend to be reduced to a simple CV structure. For instance, when learning English, a native Sarran speaker tends to pronounce the English word shopping (/ˈʃɑːpɪŋ/) as xape, and dollar becomes dala.

Since most syllables are of the type CV, the overall utterance usually happens at a faster pace.

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Orthography
Sarran orthography is considered to be shallow. However, some traditions have been preserved. One feature preserved from older texts is the doubling of the consonants N, R and S (and also L in proper names and loanwords), even in word initial position, even though this is not as remarkable as doubling of C and Z.

The letters B, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, T, U, V represent their basic phonemic values.

Other representations in writing are presented below:

/ɑ/ and /æ/: A and À when stressed; A when unstressed. Á is used when /ɑ/ is on an unpredictable stressed syllable.

/ɲ/: NN. (* Ñ can be seen in some texts from the past four centuries until recent times by Spanish influence)

/c/ and /ɟ/: CH and GH.

/k/: C before A, O, U; QU before E, I.

/g/: G before A, O, U; GU before E, I.

/kw/: QU before A, O; QÜ before E, I.

/gw/: GU before A, O; GÜ before E, I.

/θ/: Z before A, O, U; C before E, I; doubled when intervocalic.

/ð/: Z before A, O, U; C before E, I in intervocalic position.

/s/: S; doubled when intervocalic.

/z/: S in intervocalic position.

/ʃ/: X.

/ʒ/: J before A, O, U; G before E, I.

/ɾ/: R.

/r/: RR.

/x/ (or not pronounced at all): H, only in proper names and loanwords.

/ʎ/: LL, only in proper names and loanwords.

/j/: Y, only in proper names and loanwords; written as I in diphthongs.

/w/ (or /v/): W, only in proper names and loanwords; written as U in diphthongs.

The letters C and Z represent their "hard" sound when they are in coda position.

As for diacritics, the diaresis is used over U to keep it pronounceable before a front vowel. The acute accent marks a stressed syllable under the following conditions: a) open oxytone; b) paroxytone with a closed last syllable; c) proparoxytone; d) stressed open monosyllable if not using it may cause confusion. For /æ/, not only does the grave accent mark quality, but also any stressed circumstance.

An apostrophe is used when an unstressed vowel in a monosyllable is followed by another unstressed vowel. In that case, the first unstressed vowel is replaced. For instance, te in te amaró (I will love you) becomes t'amaró, but te in te àmo (I love you) is still pronounced and therefore remains. Similarly, the final a in ala is not dropped in orthography even if followed by an unstressed vowel such as in egleja (church) because the word is not a monosyllable.

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Sample texts
Below are some examples of texts and excerpts from common sources used by conlangers.

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 Declarazzon Universal rele Dreche Umane  (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

"Tode passone naxe libre e egüele en rennidàz e dreche. Pue sende rotàde re rrazon e coxenza, eghe se reve trechàr con espírito re jarmandàz."

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 Pàdre nostro  (Lord's Prayer)

Pàdre nostro que é nel zàlo:

se santifique lo tu nombre,

ca venna lo tu rrenno,

se azza la tu voluntàz

nela tarra e tambiàn nel zàlo.

Ne da güe lo nostro pàn jornàl,

e ne pardona le nostre ghode,

axí como pardonàmo le nostre ghodure,

e no ne dexa cair en tentazzon,

mai ne libra rel màlo.

(Pue son tue lo rrenno, lo poder e la glera par sempre. Amen.)

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 El Vento Norde e el Sol  (The North Wind and the Sun)

''El Vento Norde e el Sol tàva contennende quàl era mai forte, quan ghen vinna un viagero envolto en un manto caldo. Eghe ha exàde que quiàn exisse àr primo lo viagero togher lo manto reva ser consideràdo mai forte quel altro.''

Repué el Vento Norde ha soplàdo lo mai forte que podia, paro quan mai el soplàva, mai vecino lo viagero roblàva lo manto entorno; e, parin el Vento Norde ha rrenunzàdo al entento.

''Repué ta brighàdo calorosamente el Sol, e re soto lo viagero ha tolto lo manto. E axí el Vento Norde se ta obligàdo a confessàr quel Sol era el mai forte rele rue.''

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