Zazaca Öğren

Phonetic Inventory of the Genç Zazaki Recordings

This is a phone-level inventory of the currently reviewed Genç recordings in the Genç wordset. It is a descriptive inventory of the dataset, not a claim that every listed phone is contrastive in the language.

The inventory excludes recordings whose IPA still needs review in the current working data. Rows missing current orthography or IPA are also excluded, as are rows whose IPA still contains mixed practical-orthography symbols, parser artifacts, or word-initial/word-final double rr orthography that should be manually reviewed.

Dataset basis: 5178 Genç recordings in the export; 2361 recordings included in this inventory; 2817 recordings excluded from the inventory subset. The counts below are the number of occurrences of each segment in the included IPA transcriptions. Generated 2026-05-05 14:16 UTC.

Transcription policy applied here: all coronal stop phones in the current inventory are treated as dental. The reduced labialization-series coarticulated stop is represented as t̪͡p; extra-short bilabial-trill variants are not treated as separate inventory symbols in this draft. Modifier order is normalized to forms such as kʷʰ, t̪ʲʰ, and t̪ʷʰ. Stress marks, punctuation, and word boundaries are not counted as phonetic segments.

Vowels

Phone Occurrences Examples
[a] 3690 Çwa ˈt̪͡ʃʷaVay vajAşm aʃm̥
[o] 1395 Gow gowŞow ʃowDow d̪ow
[e] 1307 ê eÊr Şêy ʃej
[ɛ] 1096 Wel wɛlSer sɛɾKek c͡çɛkʰ
[ɨ] 951 Qwım qʷʰɨmMıx mɨχŞıq ʃɨqʰ
[i] 845 Kwi kʷʰiMwi mʷi‘Lwi ɭʷi
[u] 708 Cûm d̪͡ʒumŞûm ʃumDwûm d̪͡bum
[ɪ] 620 d̪ɪKwe kʷʰɪDwe d̪͡ʙɪ
[æ] 410 Qwâx qʷʰæχ‘Âm ʕæmFâk fækʰ
[ɨ̯] 22 Pırase pʰɨ̯ɾasɪGırıgıl gɨɾɨ̯gɨlGırıgil gɨɾɨ̯gil
[ɨ̆] 19 Sûng sʷɨ̆ŋgQırakêr qʰɨ̆ɾac͡çeɾtıraxtış t̪ʰɨ̆ɾaχt̪ʰøɾ̥
[aː] 10 Adır aːd̪ɨɾ̥Rar dow raːɾ d̪owRar lıngû raːɾ lɨŋgu
[y] 8 Bınê ra nişen otobys bɨne ɾa nɪʃɛn ot̪ʰobysGwazû kên sêr sytlacir gʷazu kʰen seɾ syt̪ʰlad̪͡ʒiɾÊy çylê hê vêyşên. ej t̪͡ʃyle he vejʃen
[eʲ] 5 Qêyf keri qʰeʲf ˈc͡çɛɾiÊya zamwıra. eʲa zamʷɨɾaÊyi qâz bı’hiki. ˈeʲi qʰæz bɨˈħic͡çi
[i̯] 4 Ğele sya ʁɛlɪ si̯jaIn yo çatio. ɨn jo t̪͡ʃat̪ʰi̯o̟Êyi ğele syay. eji ʁɛlɪ si̯jaj
[æː] 3 Ow yo râr dowo. ow jo ræːɾ d̪owoOw yo râr câ’htio. ow jo ræːɾ d̪͡ʒæħt̪ʰioRâr câ’hti ho ça da? ræːɾ d̪͡ʒæħt̪ʰi ho t̪͡ʃad̪a
[ø] 3 tıraxtış t̪ʰɨ̆ɾaχt̪ʰøɾ̥êya yo tıraxtıra eja jo t̪ʰɨ̆ɾaχt̪ʰøɾatıraxtır ha ça da t̪ʰɨ̆ɾaχt̪ʰøɾ ha t̪͡ʃad̪a
[ũ] 3 Munga mũŋgaIna yo mungawa. ɨna jo mũŋgawaMunga ha ça da? mũŋga ha t̪͡ʃad̪a
[ɛː] 3 Çerdek qa’hwi t̪͡ʃɛːɹd̪ɛc͡ç qʰaħʷiÊyi çerdek qa’hwûnê. eji t̪͡ʃɛːɹd̪ɛc͡ç qʰaħʷuneÇerdek qa’hwi hê ça da? t̪͡ʃɛːɹd̪ɛc͡ç qʰaħʷi he t̪͡ʃad̪a
[o̟] 2 In yo çatio. ɨn jo t̪͡ʃat̪ʰi̯o̟Ow yo bıroqolio. ow jo bɨ̯ɾoqʰolio̟

Labialization-Series Coarticulates

Phone Occurrences Examples
[t̪͡p] 34 Twale t̪͡palɪTwızbê t̪͡pɨzbetwıtın t̪͡pɨt̪ʰɨn
[d̪͡b] 14 Dwûm d̪͡bumDwyes d̪͡bijɛsDweşeg d̪͡bɛʃɛg
[t̪͡ʙ̥] 9 Twik t̪͡ʙ̥ic͡çTwışk t̪͡ʙ̥ɨʃkʰTwap gen t̪͡ʙ̥apʰ gɛn
[d̪͡ʙ] 4 Dwe d̪͡ʙɪDwımûn d̪͡ʙɨmunOw yo dwımûn. ow jo d̪͡ʙɨmun
[d̪͡ʙʲ] 2 Dwyaw d̪͡ʙʲawDwyaw ho ça da? d̪͡ʙʲaw ho ˈt̪͡ʃad̪a

Affricates And Other Tied Consonants

Phone Occurrences Examples
[t̪͡ʃ] 809 Çir t̪͡ʃiɾÇim t̪͡ʃɪmÇay t̪͡ʃaj
[d̪͡ʒ] 353 Cûm d̪͡ʒumLac lad̪͡ʒTic t̪ʰid̪͡ʒ
[c͡ç] 175 Kek c͡çɛkʰKel c͡çɛlKyê c͡çje
[d̪͡ʒʷ] 3 Mêrcwi meɹd̪͡ʒʷiÊya mêrcwya. eja meɹd̪͡ʒʷijaMêrcwi ha ça da? meɹd̪͡ʒʷi ha t̪͡ʃad̪a
[t̪͡ʃʷ] 3 Çwa ˈt̪͡ʃʷaÇwıli t̪͡ʃʷɨliÊya yo çwawa. ˈeja jo ˈt̪͡ʃʷawa

Secondary-Articulation Consonants

Phone Occurrences Examples
[mʷ] 82 Mwi mʷiMwiz mʷɪzMwış mʷɨʃ
[gʷ] 68 Gwin gʷinGwel gʷɛlGwêş gʷeʃ
[kʷʰ] 49 Kwi kʷʰiKwe kʷʰɪKwel kʷʰɛl
[qʷʰ] 42 Qwım qʷʰɨmQwâx qʷʰæχQwal qʷʰal
[χʷ] 33 Xwaz χʷazAxwır aχʷɨɾXwı qêdna χʷɨ qʰed̪na
[ʃʷ] 22 Şwışe ʃʷɨʃɪXâli şwên χæli ʃʷenŞwışê çay ʃʷɨʃe t̪͡ʃaj
[bʷ] 20 Bwez bʷɛzBweç bʷɛt̪͡ʃBweç bʷɛt̪͡ʃ
[pʷʰ] 20 Pwel pʷʰɛlPwer pʷʰɛɾPwıne pʷʰɨnɪ
[sʷ] 20 Swır sʷɨɾ̥Swal sʷalSwâte sʷæt̪ʰɪ
[ɭʷ] 10 ‘Lwi ɭʷi‘Lwecin ɭʷɛd̪͡ʒɪn‘Lwâq’lê ɭʷæqʰɭe
[pʰʲ] 8 Pyûnz pʰʲunzPyûnz tâze pʰʲunz t̪ʰæzɪCinyek ‘hılik pyeşt xwa. d̪͡ʒiɲɛkʰ ħɨlɪkʰ pʰʲɛʃt̪ʰ χʷa
[rʷ] 7 Rwec baş rʷɛd̪͡ʒ baʃTwap nûn rwe t̪͡ʙ̥apʰ nun rʷɪYo kerrawo yo çiçego yow rwewê jo c͡çɛrawo jo t̪͡ʃit̪͡ʃɛgo jow rʷɛwe
[ɾʷ] 7 Nûn rwe nun ɾʷɪHirı rwec vêr hiɾɨ ɾʷɛd̪͡ʒ veɾHirı rwec vêr pê hiɾɨ ɾʷɛd̪͡ʒ veɾ pʰe
[qʷ] 4 Qwapiç çaqû qʷapʰit̪͡ʃ t̪͡ʃaqʰuQweter ha ça da? qʷɛt̪ʰɛɾ ha t̪͡ʃad̪aQwâxê kergû ha ça da? qʷæχe c͡çɛɾgu ha t̪͡ʃad̪a
[t̪ʲʰ] 4 Tyow dayiş t̪ʲʰow d̪ajɪʃÊya yo cinya axtyara. eja jo d̪͡ʒinija aχt̪ʲʰaɾaHo tyo dûn. ho t̪ʲʰo d̪un
[ɢʷ] 4 Gwırâbi ɢʷɨɾæbiÊyi gwırebi. eji ɢʷɨɾɛbiÊyi dâ ‘hâb gwırâbi. eji d̪æ ħæb ɢʷɨɾæbi
[lʲ] 3 Faslyê wişk faslʲe wɪʃkʰÊyi faslyê wişkê. eji faslʲe wɪʃk̟ʰeFaslyê wişk hê ça da? faslʲe wɪʃkʰ he t̪͡ʃad̪a
[zʷ] 3 Bi zwa bɨ zʷaOw gıcık zwaw. ow gɨd̪͡ʒɨkʰ zʷawKûm ha pê pwêla fıraqû kena zwa? kʰum ha pʰe pʷʰela fɨɾaqʰu kʰɛna zʷa

Aspirated Consonants

Phone Occurrences Examples
[kʰ] 627 Kek c͡çɛkʰNak nakʰKûm kʰum
[t̪ʰ] 511 Tûm t̪ʰumTic t̪ʰid̪͡ʒTas t̪ʰas
[qʰ] 284 Şıq ʃɨqʰQaz qʰazQıl qʰɨl
[pʰ] 234 Apo apʰoPir pʰiɾPel pʰɛl
[cʰ] 20 Kepek c͡çɛpʰɛcʰ‘Gaz ken ɢaz cʰɛnKena cir cʰɛna d̪͡ʒiɾ

Stops

Phone Occurrences Examples
[d̪] 1056 d̪ɪDow d̪owDar d̪aɾ
[b] 354 Ber bɛɾQıb qʰɨbBız bɨz
[g] 254 Gow gowIpeg ipʰɛgGera gɛɾa
[t̪] 42 Gışta pil gɨʃt̪a pʰilIswat dwalmû isʷat̪ d̪͡balmuBât taştarê bæt̪ t̪ʰaʃt̪ʰaɾe
[k] 24 Eskic ɛskid̪͡ʒQalik qʰalɪkTenik t̪ʰɛnɪk
[p] 16 Cips d̪͡ʒipsWird pya wiɹd̪ pja‘Hep’hebek ħɛpħɛˈbɛkʰ
[ɟ] 6 Gena ɟɛnaŞeşgen ʃɛʃɟɛnOw yo gê cındûwo. ow jo ɟe d̪͡ʒɨnd̪uwo

Fricatives

Phone Occurrences Examples
[s] 516 Ser sɛɾDâs d̪æsSel sɛl
[ʃ] 345 Şêy ʃejAşm aʃm̥Şow ʃow
[z] 274 Mwiz mʷɪzLêz lezQaz qʰaz
[v] 156 Vay vajVêw vewVêw vew
[χ] 138 Qwâx qʷʰæχMıx mɨχXal χal
[f] 133 Fâk fækʰKıft kʰɨft̪ʰHâfte hæft̪ʰɪ
[ʁ] 28 Ağa aʁaQûği qʰuʁiĞele ʁɛlɪ
[ʒ] 11 Dije d̪ɪʒɪBıza bêji bɨza beʒiFistix kajû fɪst̪ʰɪχ kʰaʒu

Nasals

Phone Occurrences Examples
[n] 1141 Gwin gʷinNim nimNak nakʰ
[m] 743 Cûm d̪͡ʒumQwım qʷʰɨmMêr meɾ
[ŋ] 69 Ling lɪŋgSûng sʷɨ̆ŋgMunga mũŋga
[ɲ] 40 Nyûn ɲunNyûne ɲunɪnyûne ɲunɪ
[m̥] 4 Aşm aʃm̥Aşm aʃm̥Ina aşm ɨna aʃm̥

Rhotics, Laterals, And Glides

Phone Occurrences Examples
[j] 1329 Şêy ʃejVay vajKyê c͡çje
[ɾ] 917 Êr Mêr meɾSer sɛɾ
[l] 647 Wel wɛlKel c͡çɛlXal χal
[w] 620 Wel wɛlGow gowŞow ʃow
[r] 225 Ry rijRwe rwɛRûn run
[ɹ] 142 Hard haɹd̪‘Ârd ʡæɹd̪Karm kʰaɹm
[ɾ̥] 15 Şer ʃɛɾ̥Swır sʷɨɾ̥Pir pʰiɾ̥
[ɫ] 3 Mala maɫaSwûle sʷuɫɪQaryolê qıcû ho ça da? qʰaɾjoɫe qʰɨd̪͡ʒu ho t̪͡ʃad̪a

Laryngeal And Pharyngeal Phones

Phone Occurrences Examples
[h] 924 Her hɛɾHâlm hælmHâle hælɪ
[ħ] 122 ‘Heş ħɛʃNâ’hê næħe‘hani ħani
[ʔ] 47 Eleg ʔælɛgÂsim ʔæsimEste ʔæst̪ʰɛ
[ʕ] 38 ‘Âm ʕæmSâ’ât sæʕæt̪ʰ‘Umwin ʕʊmʷɪn
[ħʷ] 6 ‘Hwırmê ħʷɨɾmeÇerdek qa’hwi t̪͡ʃɛːɹd̪ɛc͡ç qʰaħʷiÊyi ‘hwırmê. eji ħʷɨɾme
[ʡ] 3 ‘Ârd ʡæɹd̪Êyi ‘ârd. eji ʡæɹd̪‘Ârd hê ça da? ʡæɹd̪ he t̪͡ʃad̪a

Other Phones

Phone Occurrences Examples
[ɢ] 8 ‘Gaz ken ɢaz cʰɛn‘Gılboçik ɢɨlbot̪͡ʃɪkʰ‘Gâz qic vecena ɢæz qʰid̪͡ʒ vɛd̪͡ʒɛna
[ɭ] 3 ‘Lwâq’lê ɭʷæqʰɭeQef’lyayo qʰɛfɭijajoOw mwârik qef’lyayo. ow mʷæɾɪkʰ qʰɛfɭijajo
[ʎ] 3 karlova qʰaɹʎovaXwezleyir χʷɛzʎɛjɪɾma êya wilayet ra vûn qarlova ma eja wilajet̪ʰ ɾa vun qʰaɹʎova
[ʜ] 3 Bû’hik ‘hâmûmû buˈʜikʰ ˈħæmumuBı’hûk pılxın bɨˈʜukʰ pʰɨlˈχɨnBû’hik ‘hâmûmû ho ça da? buˈʜikʰ ˈħæmumu ho ˈt̪͡ʃad̪a

Outlier Phones With One Included Occurrence

These phones occur only once in the reviewed inventory subset. They are listed separately so that rare loanword phones, narrow allophones, and possible residual transcription issues do not visually dominate the core inventory.

Phone Group Example
[eː] Vowels Êyi baqlê barbûnyê. eji baqʰle baɹbuɲeː
[iʲ] Vowels Êyi siyêmin. eji siʲemin
[o̝] Vowels Ow yo yego. ow jo jɛgo̝
[u̥] Vowels Prânsû? pʰɾænsu̥
[ʊ] Vowels ‘Umwin ʕʊmʷɪn
[d̪͡bʲ] Labialization-Series Coarticulates Ow yo dwyaw. ow jo d̪͡bʲaw
[b̞̆ʷ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants Bwım b̞̆ʷɨm
[d̪ʷ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants kerawa dwız ha kûm yo resım da c͡çɛrawa d̪ʷɨz ha kʰum jo rɛsɨm d̪a
[nʲ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants Hûnyen hewrû ra hunʲɛn hɛwɾu ɾa
[pʲʰ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants Ow ho pyûnz ken wırde. ow ho pʲʰunz cʰɛn wɨɾd̪ɪ
[pʷ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants Pwıdrê qwıcû ha ça da? pʷɨd̪ɾe qʷɨd̪ʒu ha t̪͡ʃad̪a
[sʲ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants Kerga syê ˈc͡çɛɾga sʲe
[t̪ʷʰ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants Tâxtw ho ça da? t̪ʰæχt̪ʷʰ ho ˈt̪͡ʃad̪a
[zʲ] Secondary-Articulation Consonants Gwavzyer ha ça da? gwavˈzʲɛɾ ha ˈt̪͡ʃad̪a
[k̟ʰ] Aspirated Consonants Êyi faslyê wişkê. eji faslʲe wɪʃk̟ʰe
[sᵊ] Fricatives Supiye sᵊpʰijɪ
[r̆] Rhotics, Laterals, And Glides Rʐezil r̆ʐɛˈzɪl
[ʐ] Other Phones Rʐezil r̆ʐɛˈzɪl

Open Questions

This inventory is intentionally phonetic. Further work is needed to decide which surface phones should be analyzed as independent phonemes, allophones, loanword-specific realizations, or transcription conventions. The main open questions are the phonemic status of the labialization-series coarticulates, the extent of aspiration in the reduced t̪͡p type, and how much of the vowel variation reflects the recorded speaker’s idiolect versus broader Genç patterns.