(Note that the consonants surrounded by square brackets are not actual phonemes, but only possible phonetic realizations.)
Vowels
Front
Central
Back
High
/i/ [I]
/u/ [U]
Mid
/e/ [E]
[@]
/o/ [O]
Low
/a/ [{]
(Note that the vowels surrounded by square brackets are not actual phonemes, but only possible phonetic realizations.)
Syllable Structure
Syllables are generally in the form CV(C), except that /?/, /h/, /w/, and /j/ are not allowed in the coda position.
Allophony
/n/ > [N] / _/(velar)/
/i/ > [I] / _C. (
Exception:
/i/ > [i] / _/r/)
/e/ > [E] / _C. (
Exception:
/e/ > [e] / _/r/)
/a/ > [{] / _C. (
Exception:
/a/ > [a] / _/r/)
/u/ > [U] / _C. (
Exception:
/u/ > [u] / _/r/)
/o/ > [O] / _C. (
Exception:
/o/ > [o] / _/r/)
C > C' / _/j/
C > [@]C / C.C.
(Note that this phonetic change can only occur with the addition of a grammatical ending, because normally, all syllables must contain a vowel.)
Morphology
Syntax
Semantics
Orthography
Romanization
Bilabial
Labiodental
Dental
Alveolar
Palatal
Velar
Labiovelar
Glottal
Stop
p b
t d
k g
'
Tap
r
Fricative
f
s
h
Lateral
l
Nasal
m
n
Glide
y
w
Front
Central
Back
High
i
u
Mid
e
o
Low
a
Keltari
Phonology
Consonants
Bilabial
Labiodental
Dental
Alveolar
Palatal
Velar
Labiovelar
Glottal
Stop
/p/ /b/
/t_d/ /d_d/
/k/ /g/
[?]
Tap
/4/
Fricative
/f/
/s/
/h/
Lateral
/l/ [5]
Nasal
/m/
/n_d/
[N]
Glide
/j/
/w/
(Note that the consonants surrounded by square brackets are not actual phonemes, but only possible phonetic realizations.)
Vowels
Front
Central
Back
High
/i/ [I]
/u/ [U]
Mid
/e/ [E]
[@]
/o/ [O]
Low
/a/ [{]
(Note that the vowels surrounded by square brackets are not actual phonemes, but only possible phonetic realizations.)
Historical Sound Change
The systematic sound changes that occurred in Old Keltari are as follows (assume phonetic representation; capitals indicate a phonetic category).
? > 0
wu > u
w > 0 / u_
j > 0 / i_
ji > i / V_
r > 0 / _r
Syllable Structure
Syllables are generally in the form (C)(glide)V(C), except that /h/, /w/, and /j/ are not allowed in the coda position and two glides may not appear in the same onset. Complex onsets only occur in loanwords, such as dye.da.i, ‘Jedi’.
Allophony
/n/ > [N] / _[(velar)]
/l/ > [5] / _#
(More common among younger speakers.)
/(stop)/ > [(stop)_}] / _#
(More common among younger female speakers. If the next word begins with a vowel, the stop is usually released anyway.)
C > C' / _/j/
/i/ > [I] / _C. (
Exception:
/i/ > [i] / _/r/)
/e/ > [E] / _C. (
Exception:
/e/ > [e] / _/r/)
/a/ > [{] / _C.
(Older speakers only.)
(
Exception:
/a/ > [a] / _/r/)
/u/ > [U] / _C. (
Exception:
/u/ > [u] / _/r/)
/o/ > [O] / _C.
(Older speakers only.)
(
Exception:
/o/ > [o] / _/r/)
V > [?]V / #_
(More common among older speakers and younger male speakers.)
V > [?]V / V.V
(Older speakers only.)
C > [@]C / C.C.
(Note that this phonetic change can only occur with the addition of a grammatical ending, because normally, all syllables must contain a vowel.)
Among younger female speakers, there is occasional free variation between tense and lax vowels.
Morphology
Syntax
Semantics
Orthography
Romanization
Bilabial
Labiodental
Dental
Alveolar
Palatal
Velar
Labiovelar
Glottal
Stop
p b
t d
k g
Tap
r
Fricative
f
s
h
Lateral
l
Nasal
m
n
Glide
y
w
Front
Central
Back
High
i
u
Mid
e
o
Low
a
In phonetic transcription, syllable boundaries are marked with a period. Otherwise, lax vowels are explicitly marked using a circumflex, in order to suggest the syllable boundaries, i.e. î, ê, â, û, and ô.
Grammar
Gender
Keltari nouns are gendered based on their properties.
Animate entities (AE):
This includes animals and plants, essentially anything living.
Physical entities (PE):
This includes inanimate objects that can be physically manipulated, either by hand or through the Force.
Intangible entities (IE):
This includes entities that cannot be physically manipulated, either by hand or through the Force. Something that could possibly be manipulated, even if no one can do so due to its size, is considered a physical entity instead. Some poets will place emotions in the PE gender because they can be affected using the Force, but this is generally considered improper usage.
Translations
The Jedi Code
There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force.
