This is a page for constructing vocabulary for language in Usiren. Approximations are provided for English and Dutch to give phonetically sufficient approximations for natural speaking and intelligibility (e.g. we map Usirenic /a/ onto Dutch /ɑ/ and English /æ/ so as not to ask phonetic gymnastics of the Dutch or English speaker, requesting them to say a shorter version of the vowel in "baat" or the first vowel of the diphthong in "mouth" respectively, even though that would be a more accurate way to learn Usirenic /a/; one seeking a more natural accent can use the IPA directly.)

Usirenic

Vowels and diphthongs:

Diphthongs:

Consontants:

*Dialectical Scottish pronunciations; not found in American English.

**Dialectical Limburgs pronunciation, maybe, internet says so but I haven't got the time to track down a video of someone talking about their city in Limburgish to check. However one chooses to say it, this sound should be distinct from [ɕ] as in "sjaals" [ɕaːɫs] because in Usirenic [ɕ] would be heard as /h/ and not /ʃ/. The Usirenic /ʃ/ is the same sound as German "Schnitzel."

Renredeshi

Vowels and diphthongs:

*Only pronouncing the first vowel of the dipthong.

**Except the vowel should be short in length, same as the vowels in the other words.

Diphthongs:

*This is a particularly loose approximation but should serve since there is nothing similar to contrast with.

Consontants:

*This sound enjoys only a very marginal existence in some dialects of English or Dutch. Best of luck.

**Dialectical Limburgs pronunciation, maybe, internet says so but I haven't got the time to track down a video of someone talking about their city in Limburgish to check. However one chooses to say it, this sound should be distinct from [ɕ] as in "sjaals" [ɕaːɫs] because in Usirenic [ɕ] would be heard as /h/ and not /ʃ/. The Usirenic /ʃ/ is the same sound as German "Schnitzel."

†Dialectical Scottish pronunciations; not found in American English.

Unicornic

Vowels and diphthongs:

Diphthongs: None

Consontants:

Hornsounds:

Laryngeal tones: The laryngeal tone is the fundamental frequency that the unicorn's voice box (larynx) produces. The laryngeal tone is analyzed with respect to its interval with hornsound.

Phonology: Syllables consist of an initial, vowel and optional hornsound, and optional final. Any consonant can be an initial. Finals are /ð ð̪ z n ʝ ɲ ɣ ŋ ʁ/.

Examples of Occidental Unicornic words:

Eloidenic

Vowels:

Diphthongs:

Consontants:

Shunhaurati

Vowels:

Diphthongs:

Consontants:

Montanic

Vowels:

Diphthongs: None

Consontants:

Serene Language

Vowels:

Diphthongs:

Consontants:

*IPA has here been extended for unicorn hornsounds, see the page about unicorn languages.