Falamu

Falamu (native: [fælǽˑmʉ]) is a creole language based on Somali and Portuguese.

Introduction

Etymology

From early Falamu (nu) falâmu "we (incl.) speak" (= modern Falamu nu fâla) < Portuguese (nós) falamos.

Phonology

Orthography

Phonetic script

Note that in this article, accents are used for clarity. They are normally omitted in writing.

Consonants

Letter	IPA	Remarks
b	b
d	d
f	f
g	ɡ
h	h
j	dʒ
k	k
l	l
m	m
n	n	non-final
	ŋ	final
ny	ɲ
r	r
s	s
t	t
w	w
x	ʃ
y	j

Vowels

Letter	IPA		Remarks
	"Front"	"Back"
a	æ	ɑ
e	e	ɛ
i	i	ɪ
o	ɞ	ɔ
u	ʉ	ʊ

Vowels

• A word cannot begin in a vowel. Instead, a glottal stop is inserted.
• Each vowel has a "front" and "back" variety. This is the basis of vowel harmony.

Prosody

Accent

• Pitch accent

Phonotactics

• No consonant clusters except at syllable boundaries.

Sample Texts

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 1)

Regular: Adamis ses tod e lis nase kan lis se hor i nibrad na orra i deretus. E si daba rason i damir, ma e ki biso otu biso kuli li axi komu irmon.

Phonetic: Âdamis ses tôd é lis náse kán lis sê hór i nibrád na órra i derêtus. É si dába rasón i damír, ma é ki bisó ôtu bisó kûli li âxi kómu irmón.

Etymological: Âdamis ses tôd é lis násce cã lis sê hór i nibrád na órra i derêtus. É si dába razõ i damír, ma é qui pissó ôtu pissó cûli li âji cómu irmõ.

IPA: /ǽðæmis ses tɞ́d ɛ́ lɪs nɑ́sɛ kɑ́ŋ lis sé hɔ́r i nɪbrɑ́d nɑ ʔɔ́rːɑ i derétʉs || ɛ́ si dɑ́bɑ rɑsɔ́ŋ ɪ dɑmɪ́r | mɑ ʔɛ́ kɪ bɪsɔ́ ɞ́tʉ bɪsɔ́ kʉ́li li ʔǽʃi kɔ́mu ʔɪrmɔ́ŋ/

Gloss: human-PL 3P.POSS all FOC 3P be_born while 3P be free and level in dignity and rights. FOC IMPRS give-PST reason and conscience, and FOC that person other person with 3S act like brother.