Deni (also Dení, Dani) is an Arawan language spoken in Brazil. Deni is very similar to the other languages of the Arawan language family, but is especially similar to the Jamamadi language.

Phonology

Vowels

FrontBack
Highiu
Lowɛa
  • /ɛ/ can be heard as [e] in unstressed syllables.
  • /a/ can be heard as [ɐ] in both stressed and unstressed positions when preceded or followed by a nasal in the same syllable, or in the onset position of the following syllable.

Consonants

LabialAlveolarVelarGlottal
Nasalmn
Plosivevoicelessptk(ʔ)
aspirated
voicedbd
Affricatevoicelesst͡s
aspiratedt͡sʰ
voicedd͡z
Fricativevh
Approximant(l)
Tapɾ
  • /ɾ/ is in free variation with [l] among speakers.
  • Affricate sounds /t͡s, d͡z/ may also be heard as fricative sounds [s, z] in free variation.
  • A glottal stop [ʔ] is heard phonetically in syllable-coda position when the onset of the syllable is a voiced stop, or in a mid word-onset position followed by a vowel.

External links