Phinian

Phonotactics
Phinian possesses a highly complex syllable structure, with six onset and three coda positions, around a single vowel. Phonetic analysis reveals that epenthentic vowels, usually resembling [ə] but can vary between [ə~i~u], may be inserted into consonant clusters involving prefix h- and m-. This epenthentic vowel is non-phonemic and non-contrastive; as such, it is not reflected in orthography.

It should be noted that much of the complexity in syllable structure is due to derivational morphology, and lexical items are usually restricted to the form C(C)V(C). The root may begin with any phonemic consonant; then, a glide /r l j/ is optional, plus a compulsory vowel. Open syllables are permitted, and codas are restricted to liquids or bilabial, alveolar, and velar nasals and plosives. In coda position, there is no contrast between voicedness and aspiration.

Nouns
Phinian nouns are not inflected for case, gender, and number; however, there exists a system of deverbial, denominal, and de-adjectival derivation, by morphological affixes, that produces nouns.

Verbs
Phinian verbs are not inflected for mood, voice, person, number, tense, or aspect. Like nouns, there also exists a system of denominal, deverbial, de-adjectival verbs. Furthermore, factatives, resultatives, and causatives are regularly derived morphologically.

Derivation

 * Suffix -s derives agentives nouns from transitive verbs and reflexive objects from intransitive ones.
 * Suffix -ʔ derives intransitive verbs from nouns and dimunutives.
 * Infix -r- is an intensive, forming adjedtives in the comparative degree; the -r- infix must be distinguished from lexical -r-, which are part of many roots.
 * Infix -j- changes transitive verbs into intransitive verbs and vice versa, creates relative verbs, imparts reflexive value, and possesess a range of other meanings; however, it rarely appears as a analyzable affix, and -j- is usually considered lexical.
 * Prefix m- has an intransitivizing and stativizing function on verbs and marks inherent components when applied to living things, e.g. tsjek "foot" contra m-tsjek "root, foundation".
 * Prefix n- has an introvertive/extrovertive alternation value, changing introvertive verbs (which imply a change in the state in the direct or indirect object) to extrovertive verbs (which create an observable effect).
 * Prefix s- derives causative verbs.
 * Prefix h- derives resultative verbs and stative adjectives from verbs.

Syntax
Since nouns are not marked for case, and there is no verbal and adjectival agreement, word order is key to conveyance of meaning. Phinian has a predominantly SVO order, though the object may be fronted for emphasis. The verb may under no circumstance precede the subject in prose. Phinian permits both head-initial and head-final constructions, particularly in simple modifiers. Subordinate clauses that modify a single term may also occur on both sides, but head-final is the usual and unmarked construction; where head-initial constructions occur, the subordinate clause or phrase is usually interpreted as postpositive.