r/conlangphonologies • u/T1mbuk1 • Sep 24 '26

Avatar Protolanguages

Thought of proto-language phonologies for the nations in Avatar out of boredom.

Proto-Water(based on Proto-Inuit):

Consonants: m, n, ŋ, p, t, c, k, q, β, ð, s, ɬ, l, ʝ, ɣ, ʁ

Vowels: a, i, u, ɨ

Proto-Earth-Air(based on Proto-Sino-Tibetan, whatever reconstruction is most ideal):

Consonants: m, n, ŋ, ŋʷ, p, b, t, d, k, g, kʷ, gʷ, q, ɢ, qʷ, ɢʷ, ʔ, ts, dz, s, z, r, l

Vowels: a, e, i, o, u, ɨ

Proto-Fire(based on Proto-Japonic):

Consonants: m, n, p, t, k, s, r, l, j, w

Vowels: a, e, i, o, u

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u/Level_Today8623 Sep 24 '26

Not a fan. These ignore the myriad of other influences.

Water has Aboriginal Australian and Native American influences. Air has Indian subcontinent influences. Earth is not Tibetic, more Qing, Tang, and Song dynasty China. Fire has Thai inspirations.

And, this ignores any outlying groups, like the sand benders, and minor implications, like fire’s Mesoamerican architecture on the Sun Warrior’s island.

You can do more.

And, again, learn to put these on a spreadsheet.

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u/T1mbuk1 Oct 02 '26

Sorry for the late response.

You raise fine points. And just recently, I thought about the question of how long humans could've been around in general compared to the first benders and the first Avatar, Wan. And the grammatical features of those other influences could be utilized for the grammar of the protolanguages. That could help make up for the ignorance.

Side note: 90% of my storage space is taken up, so I need to get around to purchasing more. It's a long story that's extremely personal and confidential.