Shilluk language

The vowels with retraction of the root of the language are denoted by a macron below the letter: [i̠], [e̠], [o̠], [ɔ̠], [u̠] and [a̠] and their corresponding long variants.

These are denoted by the following diacritics: Uninflected native stem syllables are overwhelmingly monosyllabic.

With few exceptions, these monosyllabic stems typically consist of an onset, a vowel (nucleus), and a coda.

Their structure is: C(Cj/w)V(V)(V)C.[5] Monosyllabic stems give rise to polysyllabic words through processes of derivation or inflection.

[5] Further, alternations of vowel length and tone play an important part in inflectional morphology.

[6] Shilluk transitive verbs have a phonological root that consists of a single closed syllable of the form /C(j/w)V(V)C/.

[7] A Latin alphabet was developed for Shilluk by Christian missionaries in the early 20th century.