Sorvian

Vowels

 * Any vowel can be lengthened.
 * All possible diphthongs are allowed keeping in mind vowel harmony.

Phonotactics
Onset: Nucleus: Coda: With these rules in mind, Sorvian spelling is phonetic.
 * Anything
 * j can be used to palatize any consonant except the laterals
 * Laterals never appear at the beginning of a cluster
 * /χ/, affricates, and /h/ never cluster
 * Other than this, consonants can geminate freely
 * Any vowel or diphthong
 * j can be used, but it's pronounced /i/
 * Same rules as the onset, but clustering is reversed
 * Other than this, consonants can geminate freely

Vowel Harmony
A word with only neutral vowels is considered front.

Consonant Gradation
When endings are added, causing a open syllable to become closed, some consonants change. The changed sound is weak, whereas the unchanged is strong. (c) = consonant, (v) = vowel.

Stress
Stress always falls on the initial syllable in Sorvian.

Nouns
Nouns in Sorvian decline according to number, definiteness, and case, in that order. Note that the vowel of a suffix will change to fit vowel harmony.

Number
There are five grammatical numbers in Sorvian. They are made by attaching a suffix to the weak stem of a noun.

Definiteness
The only article in Sorvian is the negative article, meaning none of the item. It is represented by attaching the suffix -dää to the weak stem of a noun, AFTER the number.
 * sözedää - no man
 * sözejdää - no men
 * sözejädää - no groups of men
 * sözejödää - no total of men (rarely used)
 * sözejäydää - no total of groups of men (rarely used)

Case
There are eleven noun cases in Sorvian. They are represented by attaching a suffix to the weak stem of a noun, AFTER the number and article. Note that the negative article -dää does not undergo consonant gradation. (r) = repeat last letter. So all together, the word "laaimjaudaansi" would mean: via no total of groups of cars.