Kpanu

=Phonology=

Vowels
Syllable structure (C)V

Allophony

Labial obstruents or nasals [m k͡p p ...] assimilate in labiodentality to a following labial obstruent or nasal.

Non-labial consonants other than [w], i.e. [n̻ t̻ k ...], become rounded [nʷ̻ tʷ̻ kʷ ...] before a rounded semivowel.

Velar consonants other than [w], i.e. [k͡pʰ k͡pʰ̪ k ...], become uvular [q͡pʰ q͡pʰ̪ q ...] after a pharyngealised vowel.

[i] become [y] after a rounded semivowel.

Semivowels [w] persistently become voiceless [w̥] after a non-nasal phone except for a semivowel.

Unaspirated stops [k͡p p k ...] persistently become ejective [k͡pʼ pʼ kʼ ...] before a non-nasal glottal stop.

Stops [k͡pʰ pʰ kʰ ...] assimilate in aspiration to a following consonant other than semivowel. Before an aspirated stop, ejective stops become non-ejective.

Vowels [u i y aˤ] persistently become nasal [ũ ĩ ỹ aˤ̃] before a nasal.

Non-sibilant coronal alveolar nasals [n̻ nʷ̻] become nasals and assimilate in place of articulation to a following obstruent or nasal.

Voiced vowels [i y ũ ...] become creaky-voiced [ḭ y̰ ṵ̃ ...] before a glottal stop.

Central pharyngealised vowels [aˤ aˤ̰ aˤ̃ aˤ̰̃] become back [ɑˤ ɑˤ̰ ɑˤ̃ ɑˤ̰̃] after an uvular stop or nasal.

Alveolar stops [tʰ̻ tʼ̻ tʷ̻ ...] become non-affricate and assimilate in place of articulation to a following obstruent or nasal and become no phones word-finally.