Newwang

General information
Newwang (/nuˈ(w)aŋ/ natively Nèuwảŋ [n̪əʊ̯˥˧wæ̰̃˨˩]) is the most spoken language of Manjinga ([manˈdʒiŋa], exonym). It is also widely spoken and taught in several other nations and by the Manjingan (Manwảryìŋ) diaspora, making it one of the most spoken languages on Patrona.

It is a descendant of Proto-Manjingan.

Consonants

 * The retroflex consonants /ɳ/, /ʈ/, and /ʂ/ are neutralized with their dentialveolar counterparts when syllable final, in free variation and tending to shift to either one or the other depending on the surrounding consonants.
 * The palatal nasal /ɲ/ may only be found in the coda, and tends to be reduced to nasalization of the preceding vowel in educated speech.
 * The labial fricative [f] only appears in the coda, and the labial plosive [p] only syllable initially, thus classifying them as one archiphoneme /p/ is most useful.
 * Whether or not the glottal stop [ʔ] exists as its own phoneme is very unclear. It tends to appear in between adjacent vowels, suggesting it only appears syllable-initially. Yet to some speakers (particularly those in the Northwest of the country) it appears at the end of clauses (perhaps explaining the Northwests distinct dialectal lack of Newwang’s affirmation particle), suggesting it acts a suprasegmental feature.

Monophthongs

 * The merger of /u/ and /ɯ/ as [ʊ] and an unrhotasized /ɜ/ are particular indicators of southern to central-southwestern “rural” speech.

Diphthongs
All diphthongs are closing and most of the first parts to the diphthongs cannot be vowels on their own.

Case
An unmarked noun is the patient of the sentence. Particles and postpositions can be added to show other cases.

particles: "na" is for the agentive, "nrî" for the topic.

Syntax
Unmarked word order is SXVO (the X referring to an indirect object). When objects are topicalized, they are moved to the beginning of the sentence and lose any particles.
 * ex. Srî̀ trủ nrî wảs trwî.
 * gloss: DIST book TOP inspire.awe EMPH
 * English: That book was awesome!

Relative clauses are indicated with the relative pronoun sli.

Comparison
Neutral comparison is achieved using the comparative copula ' srak ' and the essive postposition ' kwè ' in the following formula:
 * subject na object kwè srak adjective.
 * ex. Tả na kìm kwè srak wảs.
 * gloss: 2.ORD NOM 3.PEJ ESS COMP.COP inspire.awe
 * English: You are just as awesome as her.

Conjunctions
Newwang has two sets of conjunctions, one for within phrases ("an arm and a leg"), and one to connect independent phrases or clauses ("I ran and I jumped").

Negation
The negative adverb maŋ is placed before a verb to indicate negation.

Questions
A yes-no question take the form of a normal sentence ended with the interrogative particle ké.

To answer affirmatively, simply repeat the verb or adjective. To answer negatively, use the negative adverb maŋ.

Verbs of Motion
Verbs of motion distinguish two things: whether the movement is towards or away from the direct object, and whether the movement is a reversal of a previous movement or not.


 * rî̀m "go/come towards"
 * sé "go/come away from"
 * yà "return towards"
 * sût "return from"

Directions
Intermediate directions are compounds: pàtren "southeast"

Body parts

 * body: tras
 * iris/pupil: û̀mũr
 * hair: srwû̀
 * cap/forehead: ziksrwà
 * eye: mũr
 * head/face: zik
 * ear: hẽ
 * nose: lar
 * mouth: nlả
 * chin: cảy
 * chest/neck: pá
 * belly: slả
 * back: nĩs
 * arm: lès
 * elbow: haf
 * hand: twî̉k
 * back of the hand: pwef
 * fist/knuckles: mèy
 * fingers: pehẽn
 * thumb: zlar
 * leg: pezû́
 * knee: kyú
 * foot: rìf
 * toes: û̀rìf

Kinship

 * parents: hyár
 * mother: penrû́s
 * younger sibling (same mother): hẻu
 * older sibling (same mother): trãt
 * younger sibling (different mother): tahẻu
 * older sibling (different mother): tatrãt
 * parent’s younger sibling: hyárhẻu
 * parent’s older sibling: hyártrãt
 * child: súm
 * nibling (younger sibling’s child): trãtsúm
 * nibling (older sibling’s child): hẻusúm
 * grandparent: hû̀hyár
 * half: wáŋ
 * great: cî̀
 * in-law: pwî
 * cousin: cèn
 * step: maŋè
 * twin: pelî́