sand-and-ash/matter/miwafu.html

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---
title: Miwāfu
---
<p>
This novel has characters who come from the Mifuno Desert where the native
language is Miwāfu. Names in this language are significantly different from
English, so here is a short guide on pronunciation and usage.
</p>
<p>
The biggest difference is that every name is gendered, which is identified
by the accent on the penultimate syllable. There are three types of accents:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
<em>Grave</em> (as in hèru for stallion) is a tiny tick that goes down
to the right. The grave accent indicates a masculine aspect, either in
physical gender, size, or power. Names with grave accents either end in
a lower pitch or the entire word is spoken in a lower tone.
</li>
<li>
<em>Macron</em> (for example, hēru for colt) is a bar over the vowel.
This is a neuter term, used for many gender-free words or expressions
within the language. It is also used for mechanical devices, abstract
concepts, and children—both human and beast. Macrons are spoken as a
long vowel or drawing out the word just a beat longer than normal.
</li>
<li>
<em>Acute</em> (héru for mare) is a tiny tick that goes to the upper
right. The acute indicates feminine aspects of the word. It can
represent control without power or precision. These words end on a high
note or the entire word is spoken in a higher pitch.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
The only instances where accents arent used is adjectives or indication of
ownership. So, if a valley is owned by the clan Shimusògo, it is known as
Shimusogo Valley.
</p>
<p>
The names themselves are phonetic. A syllable is always from a consonant
cluster to the vowel. For examples: Mi.wā.fu (IPA
<span class="ipa">/mi.waː.ɸɯ̥/</span>), Shi.mu.sò.go (<span class="ipa"
>/ɕi.mɯ.ꜜso.ɡo/</span
>), and De.sò.chu (<span class="ipa">/de.ꜜso.tɕɯ̥/</span>). The only
exception is the letter “n” which is considered part of the syllable before
it when not followed by a vowel. For example, ga.n.ré.ko (<span class="ipa"
>/ɡa.ŋꜛɾe.ko/</span
>) and ka.né.ko (<span class="ipa">/ka.ꜛne.ko/</span>).
</p>
<p>
Miwāfu has no capital letters, they are added to satisfy English
conventions.
</p>