<p>No, even among natlangs there are no true universal sounds. The closest would a low /a/ type vowel, which 98%+ of natlangs do have, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arapaho_language#Phonology" rel="nofollow noreferrer">but not all</a>. Note that this is in terms of phonemes, not allophones. Other very common phones include the stops [p/b], [t/d], and [k/g], as well as one or more nasals. </p>

<p>When creating a conlang, a minimum of two to three vowel phonemes or three consonant phonemes (with more consonants if there are few vowels and vice versa) would be expected for a naturalistic phonology. The natlangs with the smallest phoneme inventories have on the order of around ten to twelve phonemes, however analyses of such languages are usually controversial. Such languages also often have tone or phonemic length, which does make it harder to compare languages and harder to come to consensus on what should count as 'smallest'.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T10:44:45.960Z
[Abkhaz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abkhaz_phonology#Vowels) has only two vowels, but it makes up for it with a big consonant inventory. [Piraha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirah%C3%A3_language#Phonology) can be analyzed as having as few as 10 vowels and consonants. Since Wikipedia seems to contradict you on those two points, the answer might be better if you added a citation for what you wrote.
b a
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T10:59:28.303Z
@ba Thanks for the pointer on Abkhaz. I did an edit that I think accounts for the claims about Piraha.
curiousdannii
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-14T23:42:00.090Z
2018-07-15T10:57:49.557Z
2018-07-15T10:57:49.557Z
curiousdannii
<p>In general, /t/, /k/, /m/, /n/, and /a/ are phonemes found in almost all natlangs (but certainly not all).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-12T00:38:07.087Z
2018-10-12T00:38:07.087Z
Majestas 32
<p>Additionally, are there any such things as hierarchies, where if I want to include one sound, I should also include another?</p>

<phonology><naturalism>
What are sounds that I have to include in my phonology for it to be naturalistic?
# What are sounds that I have to include in my phonology for it to be naturalistic?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-14)

Additionally, are there any such things as hierarchies, where if I want to include one sound, I should also include another?

**Tags:** phonology, naturalism

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-14. Score: 4

No, even among natlangs there are no true universal sounds. The closest would a low /a/ type vowel, which 98%+ of natlangs do have, [but not all](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arapaho_language#Phonology). Note that this is in terms of phonemes, not allophones. Other very common phones include the stops [p/b], [t/d], and [k/g], as well as one or more nasals.

When creating a conlang, a minimum of two to three vowel phonemes or three consonant phonemes (with more consonants if there are few vowels and vice versa) would be expected for a naturalistic phonology. The natlangs with the smallest phoneme inventories have on the order of around ten to twelve phonemes, however analyses of such languages are usually controversial. Such languages also often have tone or phonemic length, which does make it harder to compare languages and harder to come to consensus on what should count as 'smallest'.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: [Abkhaz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abkhaz_phonology#Vowels) has only two vowels, but it makes up for it with a big consonant inventory. [Piraha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirah%C3%A3_language#Phonology) can be analyzed as having as few as 10 vowels and consonants. Since Wikipedia seems to contradict you on those two points, the answer might be better if you added a citation for what you wrote.  
> **username_1**: @ba Thanks for the pointer on Abkhaz. I did an edit that I think accounts for the claims about Piraha.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-10-12. Score: 2

In general, /t/, /k/, /m/, /n/, and /a/ are phonemes found in almost all natlangs (but certainly not all).


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