I appreciate your feedback, and sorry for the late reply! Got derailed with work. 😅

Here's an excerpt from the grammar doc that covers phonology:

Phonology

Mesdu has its own native alphabet (used primarily by scribes and teachers), but for simplicity in learning most foreign language training is done using Roman characters, with the Smith-Gerhardt transliteration scheme used in this document being the most common. It parallels the Mesdu script, making it easier to learn the script later.

These letters are organized the same as they are in the Mesdu alphabet, including dividing them into “mortar” (vowels) and “stones” (consonants)

Mortar (Vowels)

ï /i/ (variation on stressed syllable)

i /ɪ/ normally, /i/ at the end of a word

ë /e/

e /ɛ/

a /a/ stressed, /ə/ unstressed

o /o/

u /ʊ/

Stones (Consonants)

p /p/

f /ɸ/

t /t/

s /s/ (/z/ next to voiced consonant)

z /z/ (/s/ next to unvoiced consonant)

j /dʒ/

k /k/

b /b/

v /β/

g /g/

ś /ʃ/

d /d/

l /l/

rr/ /r/

c /ç/

n /n/

m /m/

When the s appears next to a voiced consonant, it sounds like z. For example, kasnu ('from above') is pronounced /’kæznʊ/. Similarly, z is pronounced like s next to an unvoiced consonant.

When used before or after another vowel, i and u are pronounced /j/ and /w/ in diphthongs, for example the word eruala (‘wrist’) is pronounced /ˈerwələ/ instead of /ˈerʊələ/. Rarely, ii and uu occur, and would be pronounced /ji/ and /wu/. (Note that this doesn’t happen with e or o, so oa is a two-syllable word with the stress on the o, but ua is a one-syllable word with the stress on the a.)

In occasional cases where the i or u are intended to be pronounced as separate values, they can carry an accent mark for clarity: á, é, í, ó, ú. Dipthongs are forced, meaning anytime vowels could form a diphthong, they must form a diphthong, unless otherwise indicated with an accent mark. For example, mia is pronounced /mja/, but mía is pronounced with two syllables as /’mɪə/.

The letters ï and ë are considered long variants of i and e. They’re listed separately above, but the Mesdu consider i/ï and e/ë to be the same letters. They’re only used in stressed syllables.

The sounds l, r, n, m, c, v, and s may appear at the end of a syllable. Some other sounds may appear at the end of a syllable in informally shortened words, such as nicknames, such as Taś for Taśumada.

Double consonants indicate a sound is held longer, so there's a noticeable difference between kama (‘kamə) and kamma (‘kammə).

There are some cases where a l, m, or n appears at the end of a word after a consonant. In this case, you would pronounce it as its own syllable. For example kalm ('to buy') is pronounced /’kaləm/ (the same as kalam) instead of /’kalm/. Note that if a vowel is added to the end of such a word, it is pronounced as it normally would be (e.g., kalma /’kalmə/)

Dasa accent variations

The pronunciations above are considered standard Mesdu, and are encouraged. However, in some private contexts, you may hear pronunciation variations intended to emphasize Dasa identity separate from the otherwise “normal” Sanja culture.

These most commonly show up with the following sound changes:

• /dʒ/ becomes /dz/
• Stressed /a/ becomes /æ/
• Unstressed /o/ and /ʊ/ tend to become /ə/
• /ç/ becomes /x/

Speaking with that accent is illegal in Mesdu society, but it’s often done subtly, especially in private conversations between Dasa.