Wessisc

Note: This site is completely a work of fiction, a background for my fictional language Wessisc. For real information on tourism on the Isle of Wight, a site we may suggest is http://www.iwight.com/.

Wight Tourist Information
Wessisc Language
Primer
Phonology

PHONOLOGY

Pronuciation usually puts the stress on the penultimate syllable of a word, when a word finishes with a vowel. When a word finishes with a dipthong or a consonant, stress is on the ultimate (final) syllable.

The following is intended as a guide only. For further details, the author suggests you consult "The New Comprehensive Guide to Wessisc Phonology, Second Edition" by Gwillam Dunn from the Wessisc Language Board, available from:

Gwillam Dunn
Wessisc Language Board
Faculty of Wessisc Studies
Newhythe University
Newhythe
Isle of Wight.

The sounds are as follows, with approximate English examples. Please note that the notation method here does not necessarily represent that of actual use or spelling by any of the orthographies in use for writing Wessisc:

Vowel Length Approx. English Example Vowel Length Approx. English Example

V short hut a: long father

æ short cat æ: long bad

e short get e: long as in German 'See'

i short bit i: long seen

o short got o: long as in German 'so'

u short pull u: long pool

y short as in French 'tu' (obsolete) y: long as in French 'ruse' (obsolete)

@ short ago

Vowel	Length	Approx. English Example	Vowel	Length	Approx. English Example
V	short	hut	a:	long	father
æ	short	cat	æ:	long	bad
e	short	get	e:	long	as in German 'See'
i	short	bit	i:	long	seen
o	short	got	o:	long	as in German 'so'
u	short	pull	u:	long	pool
y	short	as in French 'tu' (obsolete)	y:	long	as in French 'ruse' (obsolete)
@	short	ago

It should be noted that /y/ and /y:/ fell out of use in the 7th Century A.D.

Dipthong Approx. English Example

ai sky

au cow

ei day

eo Beowulf

ie yen

oi boy

ui Screw you!
(Sorry! I can't think of a better example in English!)

Dipthong	Approx. English Example
ai	sky
au	cow
ei	day
eo	Beowulf
ie	yen
oi	boy
ui	Screw you! (Sorry! I can't think of a better example in English!)

Note that although the mother language Anglo-Saxon did not contain several sounds such as the 'boy' dipthong, they have entered into standard Wessisc through dialectical differences and contact with other Celtic and Italic languages.

Consonant Approx. English Example Consonant Approx. English Example Consonant Approx. English Example

b ball n no dZ edge

d dog p pot þ thank

f fish r red ð that

g get s son N sing

h he t tin x loch

j yes v van ç as in German 'ich'

k kick w wet tS chapel

l leg z zoo L as in Welsh 'Llanelli'

m man S she hr aspirated r, as in Welsh 'Rhys'

hw as in some pronunciations of 'wheel' Z decision

Consonant	Approx. English Example	Consonant	Approx. English Example	Consonant	Approx. English Example
b	ball	n	no	dZ	edge
d	dog	p	pot	þ	thank
f	fish	r	red	ð	that
g	get	s	son	N	sing
h	he	t	tin	x	loch
j	yes	v	van	ç	as in German 'ich'
k	kick	w	wet	tS	chapel
l	leg	z	zoo	L	as in Welsh 'Llanelli'
m	man	S	she	hr	aspirated r, as in Welsh 'Rhys'
		hw	as in some pronunciations of 'wheel'	Z	decision