Page:Cambodian system of writing and beginning reader.pdf/17

3. Polysyllables

Polysyllables are rare in colloquial speech, and can usually be identified as loanwords from Pali, Sanskrit, or French sources. Words of up to six syllables occur in formal speech, and even longer words occur in written texts. Such polysyllables tend to conform in normal speech to the stress pattern typical of disyllables; i.e. alternation of an unstressed with a stressed syllable.

• Examples:
  • Three syllables:
    • /thŏ̀əm+mə+dáa/ ‘usually’
  • Four syllables:
    • /pút+tə+sáh+snáa/ ‘Buddhism’
  • Five syllables:
    • /ríəc+rŏ̀ət+tháa+phi+báal/ ‘royal government’
  • Six syllables:
    • /wi+cáa+rə+náq+kə+tháa/ ‘editorial’

E. Marginal Phonemes and Phoneme Combinations

Certain marginal phonemes and combinations are introduced by French loanwords which are not completely assimilated to the phonological structure of native Cambodian words.

• Phonemes:
  • /š/ in /šaek/ ‘check’ (Fr. cheque)
  • /z/ in /qaazii/ ‘Asia’ (Fr. Asie)
  • /g/ in /qaŋglei/ ‘English’ (Fr. anglais)
• Combinations:
  • /by/ and /eə/ in /byeə/ ‘beer’ (Fr. bière)