1: Phonology
1.1: Orthography
A a
|
/a/
|
Ħ ħ
|
/ʔ/
|
R r
|
/r/
|
Ⱥ ⱥ
|
/ə/
|
I i
|
/i/
|
Ɍ ɍ
|
/ʁ/
|
B b
|
/b/
|
J j
|
/ʒ/
|
S s
|
/s/
|
Ƀ ƀ
|
/ʙ̥/
|
Ɉ ɉ
|
/dʒ/
|
T t
|
/t/
|
C c
|
/ʃ/
|
K k
|
/k/
|
Ŧ ŧ
|
/θ/
|
Ȼ ȼ
|
/tʃ/
|
L l
|
/l/
|
U u
|
/ʊ/
|
D d
|
/d/
|
Ł ł
|
/ɬ/
|
Ʉ ʉ
|
/ɯ/
|
E e
|
/ɛ/
|
M m
|
/m/
|
V v
|
/v/
|
Ɇ ɇ
|
/e/
|
N n
|
/n/
|
W w
|
/ʍ/
|
F f
|
/f/
|
O o
|
/o/
|
X x
|
/x/
|
G g
|
/g/
|
P p
|
/p/
|
Y y
|
/j/
|
H h
|
/h/
|
Q q
|
/ŋ/
|
Z z
|
/z/
|
The Unglish language uses a different writing system, which
will be discussed in a future post. This is a romanisation system used to
transliterate texts into English for linguistic study.
2: Nouns, pronouns
& definite articles
2.1: Word forms
All nouns fit into either one of two classes in terms of
word forms. There are three forms of each word – the singular, the plural and
the locative, used for nearly all prepositions.
Bak (from “box”) = Chair
Gnal = Stone
Singular
|
Plural
|
Locative
|
Bak
|
Baŧ
|
Baki
|
Gnal
|
Gnalc
|
Gnalt
|
2.2: Pronouns
Due to the complex conjugation of verbs, the subject and
object pronouns are the same.
1st. sing.
|
Ar
|
2nd sing.
|
I
|
3rd sing. informal
|
U
|
3rd sing. formal
|
Ur
|
1st plu. exclusive
|
Ƀe
|
1st plu. inclusive
|
Be
|
2nd plu./formal
|
Ei
|
3rd plu.
|
Ʉ
|
2.3: Possessive pronouns
To show possessive pronouns, morphemes are attached to the
noun in question. For both classes, these morphemes are the same:
Person
|
Singular noun
|
Plural noun
|
Example noun: Kałar = a
name
|
Meaning
|
1st
|
-am
|
-mi
|
Kałram
|
My name
|
2nd
|
-a
|
-i
|
Kałarmi
|
My names
|
3rd
|
-o
|
-oi
|
Kałaro
|
His name
|
The plural definite articles are used to show the possessive
pronoun is plural, for example:
Yⱥl kałram = the-PLU name-POS.1ST = our name
Yⱥl kałaroi = the-PLU name-POS.1ST = their names
2.4: Definite
articles
For most nouns, no articles are needed, since they are then
assumed to be indefinite. However, for certain expressions, even indefinite
ones, these articles are required.
There are four cases in use here:
-
Normal: For standard definite nouns
-
Diminuitive: For definite nouns that are
regarded as smaller, or less significant. Like saying “the little stove” rather
than “the stove”
-
Disassociative: Equivalent to saying “the other”
or “another”
-
Conditional: Used always for the subject and object
of conditional verbs, since these cannot be determined by the verbs alone.
This
|
That
|
These
|
Those
|
|
Normal
|
Ya
|
Yo
|
Yⱥl
|
Yⱥn
|
Diminuitive
|
Yu
|
Yei
|
Yul
|
Yel
|
Disassociative
|
Ve
|
Vei
|
Va
|
Vu
|
Conditional
|
A
|
Al
|
Ac
|
Ⱥ
|
3: Verbs
3.1: Verb
standards and notation guide
In Unglish, there are no infinitives – in sentences where
this is used in English, for example “It is difficult to try”, you use the most
appropriate conjugation, so in that instance, “It is difficult if you try”.
Verbs without a direct object will often have a preposition
attached into the verb form itself, for convenience, for example, “obka”, “to
think about”, derived from “about”.
All (non-reflexive) verbs,
in the first-person singular present (the dictionary form), end in a consonant
(represented as # in diagrams) followed by a vowel (@). They all take either
the structure @#-#@ or #@-##@ in this form. Note that the (-) refers to the
unimportant middle section.
3.2: Ordinary verb
conjugations
Examples : Obka = I think about/ Ubka = I talk about
Present
|
Past
|
Future
|
Present
|
Past
|
Future
|
|
1st sing.
|
Obka
|
Obke
|
Obla
|
Ubka
|
Ubke
|
Ubla
|
2nd sing.
|
Obok
|
Obek
|
Obol
|
Ubuk
|
Ubek
|
Ubul
|
3rd sing.
|
Oba
|
Obe
|
Obʉ
|
Uba
|
Ube
|
Ubʉ
|
1st plu.
|
Yⱥl obka/Abka*
|
Yⱥl obke/Abke*
|
Yⱥl obla/Abla*
|
Yⱥl ubka/Ɇbka*
|
Yⱥl ubke/Ɇbke*
|
Yⱥl ubla/Ɇbla*
|
2nd plu.
|
Yⱥl obok/Abok*
|
Yⱥl obek/Abek*
|
Yⱥl obol/Abol*
|
Yⱥl ubuk/Ɇbuk*
|
Yⱥl ubek/Ɇbek*
|
Yⱥl ubul/Ɇbul*
|
3rd plu.
|
Yⱥl oba/Aba*
|
Yⱥl obe/Abe*
|
Yⱥl obʉ/Abʉ*
|
Yⱥl uba/Ɇba*
|
Yⱥl ube/Ɇbe*
|
Yⱥl ubʉ/Ɇbʉ*
|
*In some dialects.
3.3: Letter
changes and conjugation rules
1st sing.
|
#@##@
|
2nd sing.
|
#@#@#
|
3rd sing.
|
#@#@
|
1st plu.
|
@#@##@
|
2nd plu.
|
@#@#@#
|
3rd plu.
|
@#@#@
|
Vowel and consonant changes in the verbs (vice-versa) are as
follows:
/k, g/
|
/l/
|
/p, b/
|
/n/
|
/t, d/
|
/ȼ/
|
/o/*
|
/a/*
|
/u/*
|
/ɇ/*
|
/e/*
|
/i/*
|
/ʉ/*
|
/ⱥ/*
|
*Only for the initial vowel in some dialects.
For the present 2nd-singular, take the first vowel in the
verb and replace the last vowel with that vowel. For the past tense, the last
vowel is always “e”.
3.4: Reflexive
verbs
Reflexive verbs are conjugated according to the same rules,
except with “-c” at the end of them, for example, “Ubkac”, meaning “I think to myself”,
which is conjugated like any other verb, and “Obkac”, meaning “I talk to
myself”. This is borrowed from the Russian “-sya” reflexive endings.
3.5: Conditionals
For conditionals, the object noun takes the
conditional-specific article. In an intransitive sentence, the subject noun
takes this instead.
3.6: Gerunds
For the gerunds of each verb, all verbs, even reflexive
ones, are ended in “-i”.
3.7: Negatives
Negative verbs are preceded by the article “nol”.
3.7: Verb-like
constructions
A few verbs of motion and location have no verb equivalents
– for example, “to be”, “to have”, “to go” and “to do” as the most notable.
These are instead shown through a series of techniques:
-
The present tense of “to be” is omitted entirely
-
The past and future tenses of “to be” are shown
using the prepositions “ne” for the past tense and “ni” for the future tense
-
The verb “to go” is shown with the locative and
the preposition “te” before the noun
-
The verb “to do” is shown with the preposition
“u”, also meaning “done by”, and the sentence order is reversed
-
The verb “to have” is shown with the possessive
forms, mentioned above
4: Prepositions, sentence structures & adjectives
4.1: Sentence order & articles
In normal sentences, the order is SVO, as in English.
There is no equivalent of “and” – simply move on to the next
noun. However, articles do exist for other connectives in sentences.
4.2: Use of the
locative with possessive articles
The locative, either definite or indefinite, is used to show
certain prepositions that are otherwise inexpressible – for example:
-
“Yo kuko waunŧ” = “that boy-POS.3RD well” = “the
boy is of a well”=”the boy belongs to a well/a well has the boy”
-
“Waunŧ yo kuko” = “well that boy-POS.3RD” = “the
boy is from a well”
Using the locative of “well”,
this becomes:
-
“Yo kuko waunŧi” = “that boy-POS.3RD well-LOC” =
“the boy is in a well”
4.3: The locative with prepositions
-
“Yo kuk da waunŧi” = “that boy on well-LOC” =
“the boy is on a well”
-
“Yo kuk te waunŧ” = “that boy go well” = “the
boy is near/at a well”
-
“Yo kuk te waunŧi” = “that boy go well-LOC” =
“the boy goes to a well”
-
“Yo kuk nu waunŧi” = “that boy under well-LOC” =
“the boy is under a well”
-
“Yo kuk nu te waunŧi” = “that boy under
well-LOC” = “the boy goes under a well”
-
“Yo kuk da waunŧ” = “that boy on well” = “the
boy is over a well”
-
“Yo kuk da te waunŧ” = “that boy on goes well” =
“the boy goes over a well”
4.4: Prepositions as verbs
The prepositions “with” and
“using” are shown as verbs, as is “across” (“kⱥdra” = “to go across/across”).
4.5: Sound changes
I made a list of sound changes in this language (/English form = Unglish form/):
/θ,ð = j/
/s = θ/
/ð = v/
/v = ʙ̥/
/t = n/
/b = m/
/w = p’/ (sometimes it became /ʙ̥/ by way of /v/)
/l = ʁ/
/h = ɬ/ (in some instances - in many others it remained as /h/)
Examples of words with origin:
4.5: Sound changes
I made a list of sound changes in this language (/English form = Unglish form/):
/θ,ð = j/
/s = θ/
/ð = v/
/v = ʙ̥/
/t = n/
/b = m/
/w = p’/ (sometimes it became /ʙ̥/ by way of /v/)
/l = ʁ/
/h = ɬ/ (in some instances - in many others it remained as /h/)
Examples of words with origin:
- /θani/ means "nation" or "homeland", coming from Early Unglish /θadi/, itself coming from "city" (or perhaps "town")
- /ʙ̥ʁɛk/ means "great" or "large", coming from Early Unglish /blik/, coming from Russian "veliky" ("great")
- /kʊk/ means "boy" or "teenage child", coming from Early Unglish /koka/, itself coming from Spanish "chico"/"chica"
4.6: Adjectives & numerals
Adjectives are not declined for any value – in fact, many of
them are incorporated into nouns as morphemes.
0
|
Maħ (from “but”)
|
11
|
Ol-Dei
|
30
|
Yei
|
1
|
Dei (from “it”)
|
12
|
Ol-Ȼa
|
40
|
Ki
|
2
|
Ȼa
|
13
|
Ol-Yaf
|
50
|
Kimi
|
3
|
Yaf
|
14
|
Ol-Ka
|
60
|
Teci
|
4
|
Ka
|
15
|
Ol-Kim
|
70
|
Tami
|
5
|
Kim
|
16
|
Ol-Tec
|
80
|
Awi
|
6
|
Tec
|
17
|
Ol-Taim
|
90
|
Ⱥni
|
7
|
Taim
|
18
|
Ol-Au
|
100
|
Inta
|
8
|
Au
|
19
|
Ol-Ⱥn
|
200
|
Ȼa-Inta
|
9
|
Ⱥn
|
20
|
Ȼi
|
300
|
Yaf-Inta
|
10
|
Ol (from “all”)
|
21
|
Ȼi-Dei
|
1000
|
Tⱥtra
|
I find your conlang very interesting! I recommend a different, easier, orthography though.
ReplyDeletea ə b ʙ̥ ʃ tʃ d ɛ e f g h ʔ i ʒ - Aa Êê Bb BRbr Cc CHch Dd Éé Ff Gg Hh Qq Ii Jj
dʒ k l ɬ m n o p ŋ r ʁ - DJdj Kk Ll Łł Mm Nn Oo Pp NGng Rr RHrh
s t θ ʊ ɯ v ʍ x j z - Ss Tt Þþ Uu Úú Vv Ww Ȝȝ Yy Zz
Fair enough, I've had several people suggest I use a simpler orthography, but I haven't revisited this language in ages. Still, I like yours, it's easier to understand
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