Biwa Morphosyntax

Roots

Most roots are monosyllabic: CLVNS, or disyllabic: CLVNSCLV, but there are many other patterns.

Syllables can be

open: (C(L))V(N) with V a free vowel.

close: (C(L))V(N)S with V a checked vowel.

open lax: (C(L))V with V a lax vowel.

Monosyllabic roots could be either an open or a close syllable: (S)

Disyllabic roots are usually formed by an open or close syllable followed by a lax syllable: (Su)

Most polisyllabic roots follow a pattern like:  SSu, SuS, SuSu, SuuS, SuuSu, SuuuS... etc.

Roots like SS, SSS, SSSS are possible but are mainly in borrowings.  where "S" is an open or closed syllable and "u" is a lax syllable.

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