Editing Aleut language (section)

=== Phonotactics ===
A word may begin or end in a vowel, both short and long, with few exceptions. Due to apocopation, short {{IPA|/u/}} is not found in the final position. The same is true for short {{IPA|/i/}}, except in some obsolete suffixes, such as {{lang|ale-latn|-chi}} 'your' (pl.) which is realized as {{lang|ale-latn|-chin}} and {{lang|ale-latn|-chix}} in modern Eastern and Atkan Aleut.

Vowels within a word are separated by at least one consonant. All single consonants can appear in an intervocalic position, with the following exceptions:
* {{IPAslink|ʍ}} and {{IPAslink|h}} do not occur in intervocalic positions
* {{IPAslink|w}} does not occur in contact with {{IPA|/u/}}
* {{IPAslink|ç}} does not occur in contact with {{IPA|/i/}}
Words begin with any consonant except {{IPAslink|θ}} and preaspirated consonants (with the exception of the preaspirated {{IPAslink|ŋ̥}} in Atkan Aleut). Only in loanwords do {{IPAslink|v}}, {{IPAslink|z}}, and the borrowed consonants (''p, b, f, d, g, [[Alveolar and postalveolar approximants|ɹ]]/[[Dental and alveolar flaps|ɾ]])''  appear word-initially.

The word-initial CC can take many forms, with various restrictions on the distribution of consonants:
* a stop or {{IPAslink|s}}, followed by a [[continuant]] other than {{IPAslink|s}} or {{IPAslink|z}}
* a coronal stop or {{IPAslink|s}}, followed by a postlingual continuant (velar, uvular, or glottal).
* postlingual stop or {{IPAslink|tʃ}}, followed by {{IPAslink|j}}
* {{IPAslink|k}} or {{IPAslink|s}}, followed by {{IPAslink|n}}
Intervocalic CC can occur in normal structure or as the result of syncopation.

In CC clusters of two voiced continuants, there is often a short transitional vowel. For example, {{lang|ale-latn|qilĝix̂}} 'umbilical cord' is pronounced [-l<sup>i</sup>ĝ-]  similar to {{lang|ale-latn|qiliĝi-n}} 'brain'.

Almost all possible combinations of coronal and postlingual consonants are attested.

The combination of two postlingual or two coronal consonants is rare, but attested, such as {{lang|ale-latn|hux̂xix}} 'rain pants', {{lang|ale-latn|aliĝngix̂}} 'wolf', {{lang|ale-latn|asliming}} 'fit for me', {{lang|ale-latn|iistalix}} 'to say; to tell; to call'.

In CCC clusters, the middle consonant is either {{IPAslink|t}}, {{IPAslink|tʃ}}, {{IPAslink|s}}. For example, {{lang|ale-latn|taxtxix̂}} 'pulse', {{lang|ale-latn|huxsx̂ilix}} 'to wrap up', {{lang|ale-latn|chamchxix̂}} 'short fishline'.

The most common single consonants to appear word-final are {{IPAslink|x}}, {{IPAslink|χ}}, {{IPAslink|m}}, {{IPAslink|n}}, {{IPAslink|ŋ}}, and {{IPAslink|j}}.

Through apocopation, word-final single consonants {{IPAslink|l}} and {{IPAslink|s}} occur, and word-final consonant clusters ending with {{IPAslink|t}} or {{IPAslink|s}}.

==== Syncopation ====

The details of the extensive [[Syncope (phonology)|syncopation]] characteristic of the Eastern Aleut dialect are described below. In the examples, the syncopated vowel will be shown in parentheses.<ref name=":0" />

A word medial short vowel may be syncopated between single consonants, except after an initial [[Open syllable|open]] short syllable and/or before a final open short syllable. For example, {{lang|ale-latn|ìx̂am(a)nákux̂}} 'it is good' and {{transliteration|ale|alqut(a)maan}} 'what for?'.

The syncopation often creates consonant clusters beyond those prescribed by the general rules of Aleut phonotactics. The resulting clusters include:
* clusters of two stops: {{transliteration|ale|asx̂at(i)kuu}} 'he killed it'
* geminate consonants: {{transliteration|ale|yuug(i)gaadakux̂}} 'is young'
* a regular three consonant cluster: {{transliteration|ale|ingam(a)sxakum}} 'after a short while (he)'
In some frequently encountered syncopated forms, which otherwise result in irregular three consonant clusters, the middle uvular fricative is deleted along with the preceding vowel. For example, {{transliteration|ale|(h)iis(ax̂)talix}} 'saying' and {{transliteration|ale|(h)iil(ax̂)talix}} 'being said'.

At slower speeds of speech, the syncopation may not be realized. Compare {{transliteration|ale|txin saakutikux̂txin}} 'you are getting skinny' beside {{transliteration|ale|ting saak(u)tikuqing}} 'I am getting skinny'.