Phonology

[ ] Consonants: The consonants regularly used are /b/, /d/, /f/, /ɣ/, /ħ/, /x/, /d͡ʒ/, /χ/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /p/, /q/, /r/, /s/, /ʒ/, /ʃ/, /t/, /θ/, /v/, /j/, /z/, /d͡ʑ/, /d͡z/, /ᵐb/, /ᵐp/, /ⁿd/, /ⁿt/, /ⁿz/, /ⁿx/, /ⁿɣ/, /t͡ɕ/. At least two of these are used in every word. There are a few rarer ones used in only a few words or entirely unused but still allowed. These are /tʃ/, /ⁿq/, /g/, /ʔ/, /ɢ/, /ð/, and /ʟ/.

[ ] Vowels: The vowels regularly used are /a/, /aː/, /i/, /iː/, /o/, /oː/, /u/, /uː/, /ʊ/, /ɯ/, and /ʊː/. In any given word there should be two consonants for each vowel (again not an exact rule. This just a guideline to keep the sounds alike).

[ ] Diphthongs: There are very few diphthongs in Yambúrz. This is because the Dark Lord Sauron created Classical Black Speech to be the opposite of Elvish. Thus, many dipathongs are missing. The ones that do exist are /aʊ/, /jæə/, and /aɪ/. The sequence /jæə/ functions phonologically as a single diphthong unit, starting with a y-glide and ending with an a-schwa sound. These are used quite regularly. But they were not present in Classical Black Speech.

[ ] Consonants Not Present: The consonants x (pronounced as "ks") and w do not exist. Implosive consonants, ejective consonants, retroflex consonants, apicolabial consonants, and click consonants do not exist in Black Speech.

[ ] Consonant Cluster Rules: There are no rules. You can cluster up to 8 consonants and it is entirely permissible. It can begin and end with a large consonant cluster.

[ ] Pitch: Every sentence starts at a whisper and ends in a whisper. Unless the final part is a stop or is stressed, it is said in a hissing tone. The stress usually falls on the middle (e.g. xramp'uːm, nar'tʊːluːm) Generally there will be a stress marker in all words. Thus, it will be easier for the reader to pronounce if there is a change of the stress location.