Ngiemboon language

The alphabet is based on the General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages^[1]

Anderson (2008)^[2] states the language allows roots of C(S)V(C)(V), with the above consonants being the underlying consonants allowed. /ɥ ɰ/ do not occur naturally in the role of C, but are allowed as semivowels (S) where they are distinct from /j w/. As well, there is a possible syllabic nasal prefix, which assimilates to following consonants, and can carry a high or low tone. It is spelled as ⟨m⟩ before labial consonants and ⟨n⟩ otherwise.

Phonemes /b d g k/ are pronounced [p l ɣ k] when word initial, [β l ʁ ʔ] intervocalically, and [p t q ʔ] before the -te suffix and word finally. When word final, those are unreleased, as well as /m ŋ/.^{[clarification needed]} /s z ts/ are pronounced [ʃ ʒ tʃ] before [u ɯ]. The other coronals, /t d n/ are normally dental, but become retroflex [ʈ ɖ~ɭ ɳ] in that environment.^[2]

Obstruents become "aspirated" before both a semivowel and either /e/ or /o/ in an open syllable.^[2] This is realized as a "homorganic voiceless fricative offglide", causing the voiceless fricatives and affricates to become geminate, as well as voiced sounds to form a cluster with the unvoiced sound; for example, [ts] becomes [ts:], and [dz] becomes [dzs]. However, a number of words also show this "aspiration" in positions without a following semivowel, all with the previous sounds being [bv], [f], [v], [dz], [s], or [z].

/ɥ ɰ/ are spelled as ⟨ẅ ÿ⟩. [ɾ h] are only present in loanwords. Additionally, certain allophones have separate letters assigned to them, namely [ʔ] ⟨'⟩, [p] ⟨p⟩, [l~ɭ] ⟨l⟩, [tʃ] ⟨c⟩, [ʃ] ⟨sh⟩, [ʒ~dʒ] ⟨j⟩. Consonants are otherwise spelled as in IPA, except [j] spelled as ⟨y⟩.

Vowels are also distinguished by length and nasalization. Nasalization is present when before /ŋ/, but also sometimes without a following consonant, with the vowel always being long; this is analyzed as a following /n/ being fused with the vowel, since [n] is never found word-finally where it would be expected.^[2] Additionally, the sounds [y ɯ] are present, and analyzed as /ɥi ju/;^[2] the first can vary, [ɥi~y], while the second cannot, always being [ɯ]; it is spelled as ⟨ʉ⟩.^[1] Long vowels are simply marked with two of the vowel.

Diphthongs /ie iε ia oe ʉe ʉa ue ua uɔ/ occur and are spelled as sequences of the two vowels would be.^[1] Nasalized vowels are not marked; they are simply implied by the following ⟨ŋ⟩, or by the long vowel spelling followed by ⟨n⟩, consistent with the analyses of these being from a phonemic /n/.

Ngiembɔɔn is a tonal language, and uses the high tone /˦/, the low tone /˨/, the falling tone /˥˩/, and the rising tone /˩˥/.^[3] Anderson suggests a fifth tone/˨˩/,^[1] low falling. These are marked (using <a> as an example) as <á a â ǎ ȁ>. It is marked on the first letter of long vowels and diphthongs.

• Database of audio recordings in Ngiemboon - basic Catholic prayers