Sound Changes

Core Structural Rules Rule 1: Consonant clusters break into a sesquisyllable format, taking a minor syllable and a root consonant, except Cw clusters which coalesce by dropping the glide. Rule 2: Diphthongs collapse onto their initial element (e.g., iə -> i, ɯə -> ư, uə -> u, aɰ -> a). Rule 3: Liquid codas merge into the liquid coda l (e.g., -r -> -l). Rule 4: Tones are assigned deterministically based on the native onset's assigned class and the Proto-Tai tone category.

Onset Shifts

Voiced stops devoice: b -> p, d -> t, dʑ/ɟ -> c, g -> k, q/ɢ -> k

Glottalized stops pre-nasalize: ˀb/ɓ -> m̩p, ˀd/ɗ -> n̩t

Fricatives and affricates shift: χ/x -> kh, ɣ -> h, f -> ph, v -> w, z -> s

Voiceless sonorants become h-minor sesquisyllables: hm -> həm, hn -> hən, hɲ -> həny, hŋ -> həng, hl -> həl, hr -> həl, hw -> həw, hj -> həy

Standard liquid clusters form minor syllables: pr/pl -> pəl, tr/tl -> təl, kr/kl -> kəl, br/bl -> pəl, mr/ml -> m̩l

Glottalized clusters form complex sesquisyllables: ˀbr/ˀbl -> m̩pl, ˀdr/ˀdl -> n̩tl

Vowel Shifts

ɯ, ɤ -> ư ɔ -> ô ɛ -> ê

Coda Shifts

Palatals: -c -> -t

Glottals: -ʔ -> -k

Glides: -w -> u offglide, -j -> i offglide