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Jihoug- Prefixation & Morphophonological Adaptation Rule

1 min read · 289 words

When Jihoug- (/ji.xɔu̯ɡ-/) prefixes onto an interrogative base, two systematic shifts occur to maintain harmonic flow and fluid syllabification across the compound boundary:

  1. Labial Flattening ($Wv \to V$): The heavy, double-friction onset $Wv-$ at the start of base pronouns (Wvekjet, Wvgotja, Wvÿoja) flattens into a singular, voiced labiodental fricative $v-$. This softens the transition after the voiced velar coda $-g$ of Jihoug-.

  2. Cluster Degemination / Softening: Heavy geminated stops in selective bases (such as the $-kk-$ cluster in Hviwokkta) soften into a single stop ($-kt-$ / $-k-$) to keep the total length of the compound balanced.

Adapted Animate & Selective Free Relative Forms

1. Jihougvekjet (Free Relative Pronoun — "Whoever")

  • Formula: Jihoug- + v- + ekjet (adapted from Wvekjet)

  • IPA: /ji.xɔu̯ɡ.vɛ.kjɛt/ (syllabified as Ji-houg-ve-kjet)

  • Script: 𐌑𐌉7𐌏𐌖𐌵𐌖𐌞𐌵𐌉𐌞𐌕

  • Meaning: "whoever / any person who"

  • Note: Drops the heavy initial $Wv-$ cluster in favor of a smooth single fricative $v-$.

2. Jihougvogotja (Free Relative Pronoun — "Whomever")

  • Formula: Jihoug- + vo- + gotja (adapted from Wvgotja)

  • IPA: /ji.xɔu̯ɡ.vɔ.ɡɔt.ja/ (syllabified as Ji-houg-vo-got-ja)

  • Script: 𐌑𐌉7𐌏𐌖𐌵𐌖𐌏𐌵𐌏𐌕𐌑𐌀

  • Meaning: "whomever / to/for any person whom"

  • Note: Adapts the objective base to preserve the rhythm across five syllables.

3. Jihougvÿoja (Free Relative Pronoun — "Whosever")

  • Formula: Jihoug- + v- + ÿoja (adapted from Wvÿoja)

  • IPA: /ji.xɔu̯ɡ.vʏ.jɔ.ja/ (syllabified as Ji-houg-vÿ-o-ja)

  • Script: 𐌑𐌉7𐌏𐌖𐌵𐌖𐌞𐌏𐌑𐌀

  • Meaning: "whosever / belonging to whomever"

  • Note: Retains the high front-rounded vowel $\ddot{y}$ while softening the initial onset.

4. Jihoughviwokta (Free Relative Selective Pronoun — "Whichever")

  • Formula: Jihoug- + hviwokta (adapted from Hviwokkta)

  • IPA: /ji.xɔu̯ɡ.xvi.vɔk.ta/ (syllabified as Ji-houg-hvi-wok-ta)

  • Script: 𐌑𐌉7𐌏𐌖𐌵7𐌖𐌉𐌖𐌏𐌂𐌕𐌀

  • Meaning: "whichever / whichever one among..."

  • Note: Simplifies the double geminate $-kk-$ from Hviwokkta into a single stop $-k-$ to keep the long compound pronounceable.