What is Láadan?
'''Láadan''' is a [[feminism|feminist]] [[constructed language]]. Its creator was [[Suzette Haden Elgin]]. She believed that Western languages were better for saying what [[men]] think than what [[women]] think. She created the language to make it easier for women to say what they think. For example, Láadan has many words and [[suffix]]es for saying how you feel about what you are saying. It also includes words for saying [[Evidentiality|if you know that what you are saying is true, and if so, how]]. The language became part of a series of [[science fiction]] books, [[Native Tongue (Suzette Haden Elgin novel)|Native Tongue]]. In the book, a group of women create Láadan as a way to fight a [[Patriarchy|society ruled by men]]. == Sounds == === Tones === Láadan is a [[tonal language]]. Some [[syllable]]s are said in a higher voice or [[tone]] than others. There are two tones: * lo – /lō/ or /lò/, a short, flat, or low tone. Vowels without accent marks (a, e, i, o, u) are said in this tone. * ló – a short, high tone. Vowels with accent marks (á, é, í, ó, ú) are said in this tone. Láadan itself is a three-syllable word, LA-a-dan, where the first syllable is said in a high tone. === Vowels === Láadan has five [[vowel]]s: * a – like English c'''a'''lm ([[Open back unrounded vowel|/ɑ/]]). * e – like English b'''e'''ll ([[Open-mid front unrounded vowel|/ɛ/]]). * i – like English b'''i'''t ([[Near-close near-front unrounded vowel|/ɪ/]]). * o – like English h'''o'''me ([[Close-mid back rounded vowel|/o/]]). * u – like English b'''oo'''n ([[Close back rounded vowel|/u/]]). === Consonants === Láadan does not have the [[consonant]]s p, t, k, g, or s. The consonants b, d, sh, m, n, l, r, w, y, and h are the same as in English. There is also: * th – always like English '''th'''ink, never like ''th''en ([[voiceless dental fricative|/θ/]]). * zh – like English plea'''s'''ure ([[voiced postalveolar fricative|/ʒ/]]). * lh – there is no English sound like this. To say it, a speaker first places their tongue on the roof of the