Várdóch

Várdóch (, "our speech") is a Tolian language spoken in western Chayazó.

Etymology
The name is derived from the word várda "word, language" and the first person plural possessive suffix -óch. Alternatively, it is sometimes refered to as Várdám tólóch "(the) language of our people".

Consonants
Várdóch has a moderately small number of consonants, distinguishing 15 consononant phonemes. Probably the most notable feature is the presence of /ɮ/ although it could also plausibly be analysed as /l/ based on its phonotactic properties. It does not have the consonant /p/ and unlike certain other members of its family, it does not have labialised velar consonants.

Vowels
Its vowel system is less unusual by comparison. 5 vowel qualities are distinguished in stressed syllables each with short and long variants. The language features non-phonemic stress which causes unstressed short vowels to be reduced and lowers the number of distinguished qualities to 3. Specifically the phonemes /e i/ merge into [ɪ] and /o u/ merge into [ʊ]. Unstressed long vowels are unaffected and experience no mergers. The vowels /e eː o oː/ are generally realised as close-mid or even near-close which can cause seemingly unusual loaning patterns with languages that do not share such an articulation.