The BG Language Creation Guide

Canish #1 {b} and {m}

"bawuf" (I'd like to eat that cat) and "mawuf" (a cry of exultation) are a minimal pair showing that {b} and {m} contrast; they are separate phonemes. The minimal pair is highlighted in the data below.

Canish Data

{R} denotes a uvular trill. Note that Doggish is a tone language. For the sake of simplicity however, tone is not indicated in these examples.

{maw} moon
{bu} my tummy
{mR} my master, alfa dog
{haf} Hello, I greet you
{vro} stick
{avof} You must be kidding
{vrawaw} I see something terrific!
{avawf} look at that!
{vraf} I scratch
{vavro} let's play!
{muof} I disagree
* {bawuf} I'd like to eat that cat
{mra:wf} I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it.
{wuouf} I'd like to eat that bird
{abuvraf} you want to scratch my tummy
* {mawuf} a cry of exultation
{hof} I'll just rest a minute
{amR} You win, I surrender

Back to Language Creation Homepage | Back to "How to Do Phonology Problems"

Updated 7/25/2008