Naikaumi Language

Naikaumi (/nai̯.ka.u.mi/) is an analytic OSV language with a syllable template of up to (C)(C)V(C)(C)(C). Its endonym is traditionally linked to an older expression meaning roughly “we who roam”. It has 11 consonants and 8 vowel nuclei: four monomoraic vowels /a i o u/ and four contour nuclei /oi oa ui ja/. Naikaumi also features a vestigial tonal system; however, only monomoraic vowels carry high/low tone. Mora count matters for rhythm and phonotactics, but not as word length. Grammatical relations are expressed mainly through constituent order, clitic pronouns, and preverbal particles. The Naikaumi script is a featural two-tier segmental system: graphemes sit on a horizontal baseline, with vowel nuclei written above and consonants below. Consonant clusters, especially codas, may often be ligatured, although this is not a rule. In rapid or space-restrictive writing, vowels may be reduced to positional markers on the consonants or be completely omitted.