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{{Infobox language | {{Infobox language | ||
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The '''Atlantean language''' is a [[constructed language]] created by [[Marc Okrand]] for the [[Disney]] film ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]''. The language was intended by the script-writers to be a possible "mother language", and Okrand crafted it to include a vast [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] word stock with its very own grammar, which is at times described as highly [[Agglutinative language|agglutinative]], inspired by [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] and | The '''Atlantean language''', (''Dig Adlantisag'') is a [[w:constructed language|constructed language]] created by [[w:Marc Okrand|Marc Okrand]] for the [[w:Disney|Disney]] film ''[[w:Atlantis: The Lost Empire|Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]''. The language was intended by the script-writers to be a possible "mother language", and Okrand crafted it to include a vast [[w:Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] word stock with its very own grammar, which is at times described as highly [[w:Agglutinative language|agglutinative]], inspired by [[w:Sumerian language|Sumerian]] and proto-languages. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
The Atlantean language | The Atlantean language is a historically constructed, artistic language put together by Marc Okrand for Disney's 2001 film ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' and associated media.<ref name=prodnotes>"Production Notes." Atlantis-The Lost Empire. Ed. Tim Montgomery, 1996–2007. The Unofficial Disney Animation Archive. 13 January 2007. | ||
[http://animationarchive.net/Feature%20Films/Atlantis-The%20Lost%20Empire/Production%20Notes Animationarchive.net]{{Dead link|date=May 2012}}</ref> The Atlantean language is therefore based both on historic reconstructions as well as on the elaborate [[fantasy]]/[[science fiction]] of the ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' mythos. The fictional principles upon which the Atlantean language was created are: Atlantean is the “[[Tower of Babel]] language”, the “root dialect” from which all languages descended; it has existed without change since sometime before 100,000 B.C., within the First or Second Age of Atlantis until the present. | [http://animationarchive.net/Feature%20Films/Atlantis-The%20Lost%20Empire/Production%20Notes Animationarchive.net]{{Dead link|date=May 2012}}</ref> The Atlantean language is therefore based both on historic reconstructions as well as on the elaborate [[w:fantasy|fantasy]]/[[w:science fiction|science fiction]] of the ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' mythos. The fictional principles upon which the Atlantean language was created are: Atlantean is the “[[w:Tower of Babel|Tower of Babel]] language”, the “root dialect” from which all languages descended; it has existed without change since sometime before 100,000 B.C., within the First or Second Age of Atlantis until the present. | ||
To accomplish this, Dr. Okrand looked for common characteristics from various world languages and was also heavily inspired by the [[Proto-Indo-European language]]. His main source of words (roots and stems) for the language is Proto-Indo-European,<ref name=prodnotes/> but Okrand combines this with Biblical [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], later Indo-European languages such as [[Latin language|Latin]] and [[Greek language|Greek]], and a variety of other known or reconstructed ancient languages.<ref>Kalin-Casey, Mary. “Charting Atlantis the crew behind Disney’s latest animated adventure takes you behind the scenes.” Features Interviews. 17 January 2007 [http://www.reel.com/reel.asp?node=features/interviews/atlantis Reel.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060118045634/http://www.reel.com/reel.asp?node=features%2Finterviews%2Fatlantis |date=January 18, 2006 }}</ref><ref>Murphy, Tab, Platon, David Reyolds, Gary Trousdale, Joss Whedon, Kirk Wise, Bryce Zabel, and Jackie Zabel. Atlantis the Lost Empire: The Illustrated Script [Abridged Version with Notes from the Filmmakers], 55.</ref><ref name="FilmJournal">{{cite web|first=Peter|last=Henn|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000692578|title=Finding Atlantis|date=June 1, 2001|accessdate=August 30, 2011|work=[[Film Journal International]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116180317/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000692578|archive-date=January 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> | To accomplish this, Dr. Okrand looked for common characteristics from various world languages and was also heavily inspired by the [[w:Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European language]]. His main source of words (roots and stems) for the language is Proto-Indo-European,<ref name=prodnotes/> but Okrand combines this with Biblical [[w:Hebrew language|Hebrew]], later Indo-European languages such as [[w:Latin language|Latin]] and [[w:Greek language|Greek]], and a variety of other known or reconstructed ancient languages.<ref>Kalin-Casey, Mary. “Charting Atlantis the crew behind Disney’s latest animated adventure takes you behind the scenes.” Features Interviews. 17 January 2007 [http://www.reel.com/reel.asp?node=features/interviews/atlantis Reel.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060118045634/http://www.reel.com/reel.asp?node=features%2Finterviews%2Fatlantis |date=January 18, 2006 }}</ref><ref>Murphy, Tab, Platon, David Reyolds, Gary Trousdale, Joss Whedon, Kirk Wise, Bryce Zabel, and Jackie Zabel. Atlantis the Lost Empire: The Illustrated Script [Abridged Version with Notes from the Filmmakers], 55.</ref><ref name="FilmJournal">{{cite web|first=Peter|last=Henn|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000692578|title=Finding Atlantis|date=June 1, 2001|accessdate=August 30, 2011|work=[[w:Film Journal International]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116180317/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000692578|archive-date=January 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
<!-- Design goals, inspiration, ideas, who speaks it?, when was it created?, where does it come from?, any peculiarities? --> | <!-- Design goals, inspiration, ideas, who speaks it?, when was it created?, where does it come from?, any peculiarities? --> | ||
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--> | --> | ||
==Phonology== | ==Phonology== | ||
<!-- ***Phonology*** --> | <!-- ***Phonology*** --> | ||
| Line 67: | Line 58: | ||
--> | --> | ||
===Orthography=== | ===Orthography=== | ||
Atlantean has its own script created expressly for the movie by [[John Emerson (Atlantis)|John Emerson]] with the help of Marc Okrand, and inspired by ancient alphabetical scripts, most notably Semitic. There are, however, different kinds of transliteration into the [[Roman script]]. | Atlantean has its own script created expressly for the movie by [[w:John Emerson (Atlantis)|John Emerson]] with the help of Marc Okrand, and inspired by ancient alphabetical scripts, most notably Semitic. There are, however, different kinds of transliteration into the [[w:Roman script]]. | ||
[[File:Atlantean.png|thumb|The Atlantean script and numerals]] | [[w:File:Atlantean.png|thumb|The Atlantean script and numerals]] | ||
There is no punctuation or capitalization in the native Atlantean Writing System. Okrand based this on ancient writing systems. The Atlantean Script is normally in [[boustrophedon]], that is to say it is written left to right for the first line, right to left the second, and left to right again the third, to continue the pattern. This order was also suggested by Okrand, based on ancient writing systems, and it was accepted because, as he explained, "It's a back-and-forth movement, like water, so that worked."<ref name=prodnotes/><ref name=lingo>Wloszczyna, Susan. “New movie trek for wordsmith.” USA Today Online. 24 May 2001. 12 Jan. 2007. [https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/2001-05-24-atlantis-lingo.htm USA Today]</ref> | There is no punctuation or capitalization in the native Atlantean Writing System. Okrand based this on ancient writing systems. The Atlantean Script is normally in [[w:boustrophedon]], that is to say it is written left to right for the first line, right to left the second, and left to right again the third, to continue the pattern. This order was also suggested by Okrand, based on ancient writing systems, and it was accepted because, as he explained, "It's a back-and-forth movement, like water, so that worked."<ref name=prodnotes/><ref name=lingo>Wloszczyna, Susan. “New movie trek for wordsmith.” USA Today Online. 24 May 2001. 12 Jan. 2007. [https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/2001-05-24-atlantis-lingo.htm USA Today]</ref> | ||
The Atlantean script includes more characters than are actually employed in the language itself. These letters being c, f, j, q, v, x, z, ch, or th, they were created so that Atlantean might be used as a simple cipher code in the media and for promotional purposes. They are all also based on diverse ancient characters, just like the rest of the alphabet.<ref name=prodnotes/> | The Atlantean script includes more characters than are actually employed in the language itself. These letters being c, f, j, q, v, x, z, ch, or th, they were created so that Atlantean might be used as a simple cipher code in the media and for promotional purposes. They are all also based on diverse ancient characters, just like the rest of the alphabet.<ref name=prodnotes/> | ||
===Consonants=== | ===Consonants=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|+ [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] chart of Atlantean consonants | |+ [[w:International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] chart of Atlantean consonants | ||
|- | |- | ||
<!-- Heading row --> | <!-- Heading row --> | ||
| | | | ||
|[[Bilabial consonant|Bilabial]] | |[[w:Bilabial consonant|Bilabial]] | ||
|[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]] | |[[w:Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]] | ||
|[[Alveolo-palatal consonant|Alveolo-<br/>palatal]] | |[[w:Alveolo-palatal consonant|Alveolo-<br/>palatal]] | ||
|[[Palatal consonant|Palatal]] | |[[w:Palatal consonant|Palatal]] | ||
|[[Velar consonant|Velar]] | |[[w:Velar consonant|Velar]] | ||
|[[Labial-velar consonant|Labiovelar]] | |[[w:Labial-velar consonant|Labiovelar]] | ||
|- <!-- Stops --> | |- <!-- Stops --> | ||
| [[Plosive consonant|Plosive]] | | [[w:Plosive consonant|Plosive]] | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|p b}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|p b}} | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|t d}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|t d}} | ||
| Line 96: | Line 86: | ||
| | | | ||
|- <!-- Nasals --> | |- <!-- Nasals --> | ||
| [[Nasal stop|Nasal]] | | [[w:Nasal stop|Nasal]] | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|m}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|m}} | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|n}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|n}} | ||
| Line 104: | Line 94: | ||
| | | | ||
|- <!-- Fricatives --> | |- <!-- Fricatives --> | ||
| [[Fricative consonant|Fricative]] | | [[w:Fricative consonant|Fricative]] | ||
| | | | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|s}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|s}} | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|ʃ}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|ʃ}} <sh> | ||
| | | | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|x}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|x}} <h/kh> | ||
| | | | ||
|- <!-- Approximants --> | |- <!-- Approximants --> | ||
| [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]] | | [[w:Approximant consonant|Approximant]] | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| align="center" | {{IPA|j}} | | align="center" | {{IPA|j}} <y> | ||
| | | | ||
| align="center" | {{IPA|w}} | | align="center" | {{IPA|w}} | ||
|- <!-- Trill --> | |- <!-- Trill --> | ||
| [[Trill consonant|Trill]] | | [[w:Trill consonant|Trill]] | ||
| | | | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|r}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|r}} | ||
| Line 128: | Line 118: | ||
| | | | ||
|- <!-- Lateral approximant --> | |- <!-- Lateral approximant --> | ||
| [[Lateral approximant consonant|Lateral]] | | [[w:Lateral approximant consonant|Lateral]] | ||
| | | | ||
| align="center"|{{IPA|l}} | | align="center"|{{IPA|l}} | ||
| Line 136: | Line 126: | ||
| | | | ||
|} | |} | ||
Where symbols occur in pairs, the left represents the [[voiceless consonant]] and the right represents the [[voiced consonant]]. | Where symbols occur in pairs, the left represents the [[w:voiceless consonant]] and the right represents the [[w:voiced consonant]]. | ||
===Vowels=== | ===Vowels=== | ||
Atlantean's phonetic inventory includes a vowel system with five [[phoneme]]s. Most vowels have two prominent [[allophone|allophonic]] realizations, depending on whether it occurs in a stressed or unstressed syllable. | Atlantean's phonetic inventory includes a vowel system with five [[w:phoneme]]s. Most vowels have two prominent [[w:allophone|allophonic]] realizations, depending on whether it occurs in a stressed or unstressed syllable. | ||
{| align="center" class="wikitable" style="float: none; text-align: center" | {| align="center" class="wikitable" style="float: none; text-align: center" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|+[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] chart of Atlantean vowels | |+[[w:International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] chart of Atlantean vowels | ||
|rowspan=2 | | |rowspan=2 | | ||
|colspan=2 | [[Front vowel|Front]] | |colspan=2 | [[w:Front vowel|Front]] | ||
|colspan=2 | [[Central vowel|Central]] | |colspan=2 | [[w:Central vowel|Central]] | ||
|colspan=2 | [[Back vowel|'''Back''']] | |colspan=2 | [[w:Back vowel|'''Back''']] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| <small>Tense</small> | | <small>Tense</small> | ||
| Line 163: | Line 146: | ||
| <small>Lax</small> | | <small>Lax</small> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Close vowel|High]] | | [[w:Close vowel|High]] | ||
| {{IPA|i}} | | {{IPA|i}} | ||
| {{IPA|ɪ}} | | {{IPA|ɪ}} | ||
| Line 170: | Line 153: | ||
| {{IPA|ʊ}} | | {{IPA|ʊ}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Close-mid vowel|Mid]] | | [[w:Close-mid vowel|Mid]] | ||
| {{IPA|e}} | | {{IPA|e}} | ||
| {{IPA|ɛ}} | | {{IPA|ɛ}} | ||
| Line 177: | Line 160: | ||
| {{IPA|ɔ}} | | {{IPA|ɔ}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Open vowel|Low]] | | [[w:Open vowel|Low]] | ||
|colspan=2| | |colspan=2| | ||
| {{IPA|a}} | | {{IPA|a}} | ||
| Line 184: | Line 167: | ||
|} | |} | ||
Vowels in stressed syllables tend to be [[tenseness|tense]], and likewise unstressed ones tend to be more lax. Thus, for example, {{IPA|/i/}} is realized as | Vowels in stressed syllables tend to be [[w:tenseness|tense]], and likewise unstressed ones tend to be more lax. Thus, for example, {{IPA|/i/}} is realized as /i/ or /ɪ/ in stressed and unstressed syllables, respectively. Likewise, {{IPA|/e/}} is realized as /e/ or /ɛ/, and so on. There are three diphthongs, namely ''ay, ey, oy''. | ||
Aside from the stressed-syllable-based vowel system, the only other example of prominent phonological phenomenon seems to be a special kind of [[sandhi]] occurring in verbs, when the pronoun is combined with the aspect marker. | Aside from the stressed-syllable-based vowel system, the only other example of prominent phonological phenomenon seems to be a special kind of [[w:sandhi]] occurring in verbs, when the pronoun is combined with the aspect marker. | ||
When the suffix for the first person singular -''ik'' combines with tenses that employ -i, -o (Past and Future tenses), it becomes -''mik''.<br /> | When the suffix for the first person singular -''ik'' combines with tenses that employ -i, -o (Past and Future tenses), it becomes -''mik''.<br /> | ||
| Line 195: | Line 178: | ||
== Grammar == | == Grammar == | ||
Atlantean has a very strict [[subject–object–verb]] word order, with no deviations from this pattern attested. Adjectives and nouns in the genitive case follow the nouns they modify, adpositions appear only in the form of [[postpositions]], and modal verbs follow the verbs that they modify and subsequently take all personal and aspectual suffixes. However, adverbs precede verbs. The language includes the use of an interrogative particle to form questions with no variation in word order.<ref name=prodnotes/> | Atlantean has a very strict [[w:subject–object–verb]] word order, with no deviations from this pattern attested. Adjectives and nouns in the genitive case follow the nouns they modify, adpositions appear only in the form of [[w:postpositions]], and modal verbs follow the verbs that they modify and subsequently take all personal and aspectual suffixes. However, adverbs precede verbs. The language includes the use of an interrogative particle to form questions with no variation in word order.<ref name=prodnotes/> | ||
Some sentences appear to employ some kind of particles sometimes termed "sentence connectors". These particles are of obscure meaning but are theorized to relate two clauses in a logical yet idiomatic manner.<ref name=prodnotes/> | Some sentences appear to employ some kind of particles sometimes termed "sentence connectors". These particles are of obscure meaning but are theorized to relate two clauses in a logical yet idiomatic manner.<ref name=prodnotes/> | ||
| Line 206: | Line 189: | ||
:''No outsiders may see the city and live''. But more literally: "He sees the city {{sc|particle}} all outsiders." | :''No outsiders may see the city and live''. But more literally: "He sees the city {{sc|particle}} all outsiders." | ||
In the example above there is no actual mention of the consequences for outsiders, yet the subtitle in the movie translates it as a warning even without any mention of living or dying. A possibility exists that, in order to match the lip movement of the characters in the movie and the time of the dialogue, the language had to be shortened, often leaving out key parts of the sentence. It is known that the Atlantean lines in the movie were [[ad-libbed]] afterwards. | In the example above there is no actual mention of the consequences for outsiders, yet the subtitle in the movie translates it as a warning even without any mention of living or dying. A possibility exists that, in order to match the lip movement of the characters in the movie and the time of the dialogue, the language had to be shortened, often leaving out key parts of the sentence. It is known that the Atlantean lines in the movie were [[w:ad-libbed]] afterwards. | ||
Another example: | Another example: | ||
| Line 218: | Line 201: | ||
===Nouns=== | ===Nouns=== | ||
Atlantean has seven [[Grammatical case|cases]] for nouns, five for pronouns and two for [[Grammatical number|numbers]]. | Atlantean has seven [[w:Grammatical case|cases]] for nouns, five for pronouns and two for [[w:Grammatical number|numbers]]. | ||
====Grammatical cases==== | ====Grammatical cases==== | ||
| Line 227: | Line 210: | ||
! Name || Suffix || Example || English Gloss | ! Name || Suffix || Example || English Gloss | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Nominative case|Nominative]] || no suffix || yob || the crystal (subject). | | [[w:Nominative case|Nominative]] || no suffix || yob || the crystal (subject). | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Accusative case|Accusative]] || -tem || yobtem || the crystal (object). | | [[w:Accusative case|Accusative]] || -tem || yobtem || the crystal (object). | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Genitive case|Genitive]] || -ag || yobag || of the crystal | | [[w:Genitive case|Genitive]] || -ag || yobag || of the crystal | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Vocative case|Vocative]] || -top | | [[w:Vocative case|Vocative]] || -top || Yobtop || O Crystal! | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Instrumental case|Instrumental]] || -esh || yobesh || using crystal | | [[w:Instrumental case|Instrumental]] || -esh || yobesh || using crystal | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Essive case|Essive]] || -kup | | [[w:Essive case|Essive]] || -kup || yobkup || (as, composed of, being) crystal | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Dative case|Dative]] || -nuh | | [[w:Dative case|Dative]] || -nuh || yobnuh || (for, to, on behalf of) crystal | ||
|} | |} | ||
====Other suffixes==== | ====Other suffixes==== | ||
| Line 286: | Line 262: | ||
There are five [[Grammatical case|cases]] for pronouns. | There are five [[w:Grammatical case|cases]] for pronouns. | ||
====Grammatical cases==== | ====Grammatical cases==== | ||
| Line 295: | Line 271: | ||
! Name || Suffix || Example || English Gloss | ! Name || Suffix || Example || English Gloss | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Nominative]] || no suffix || kag || I | | [[w:Nominative]] || no suffix || kag || I | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Accusative]] || -it || kagit || me, whom was (sent), etc. | | [[w:Accusative]] || -it || kagit || me, whom was (sent), etc. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Dative]] || -ib || kagib || (to) me | | [[w:Dative]] || -ib || kagib || (to) me | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Genitive]] || -in || kagin || my (my heart, karod kagin) | | [[w:Genitive]] || -in || kagin || my (my heart, karod kagin) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Instrumental]] || -is || kagis || by my means, with (using) me, via me, etc. {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}} | | [[w:Instrumental]] || -is || kagis || by my means, with (using) me, via me, etc. {{r|footnote1|group=decimal}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Verbs=== | ===Verbs=== | ||
Latest revision as of 19:14, 28 October 2019
|
This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Atlantean. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Linguifex, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
| Atlantean | |
|---|---|
        Dig Adlantisag | |
| Pronunciation | [diɡ ɑdlɑntisɑɡ] |
| Created by | Marc Okrand |
| Date | 1996–2001 |
| Setting | 2001 film Atlantis: The Lost Empire and related media |
| Native speakers | none ({{{date}}}) |
| Sources | constructed languages A posteriori languages |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | none |
| Glottolog | none |
The Atlantean language, (Dig Adlantisag) is a constructed language created by Marc Okrand for the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire. The language was intended by the script-writers to be a possible "mother language", and Okrand crafted it to include a vast Indo-European word stock with its very own grammar, which is at times described as highly agglutinative, inspired by Sumerian and proto-languages.
Introduction
The Atlantean language is a historically constructed, artistic language put together by Marc Okrand for Disney's 2001 film Atlantis: The Lost Empire and associated media.[1] The Atlantean language is therefore based both on historic reconstructions as well as on the elaborate fantasy/science fiction of the Atlantis: The Lost Empire mythos. The fictional principles upon which the Atlantean language was created are: Atlantean is the “Tower of Babel language”, the “root dialect” from which all languages descended; it has existed without change since sometime before 100,000 B.C., within the First or Second Age of Atlantis until the present.
To accomplish this, Dr. Okrand looked for common characteristics from various world languages and was also heavily inspired by the Proto-Indo-European language. His main source of words (roots and stems) for the language is Proto-Indo-European,[1] but Okrand combines this with Biblical Hebrew, later Indo-European languages such as Latin and Greek, and a variety of other known or reconstructed ancient languages.[2][3][4]
Phonology
Orthography
Atlantean has its own script created expressly for the movie by John Emerson with the help of Marc Okrand, and inspired by ancient alphabetical scripts, most notably Semitic. There are, however, different kinds of transliteration into the w:Roman script.
thumb|The Atlantean script and numerals There is no punctuation or capitalization in the native Atlantean Writing System. Okrand based this on ancient writing systems. The Atlantean Script is normally in w:boustrophedon, that is to say it is written left to right for the first line, right to left the second, and left to right again the third, to continue the pattern. This order was also suggested by Okrand, based on ancient writing systems, and it was accepted because, as he explained, "It's a back-and-forth movement, like water, so that worked."[1][5]
The Atlantean script includes more characters than are actually employed in the language itself. These letters being c, f, j, q, v, x, z, ch, or th, they were created so that Atlantean might be used as a simple cipher code in the media and for promotional purposes. They are all also based on diverse ancient characters, just like the rest of the alphabet.[1]
Consonants
| Bilabial | Alveolar | Alveolo- palatal |
Palatal | Velar | Labiovelar | |
| Plosive | p b | t d | k ɡ | |||
| Nasal | m | n | ||||
| Fricative | s | ʃ <sh> | x <h/kh> | |||
| Approximant | j <y> | w | ||||
| Trill | r | |||||
| Lateral | l |
Where symbols occur in pairs, the left represents the w:voiceless consonant and the right represents the w:voiced consonant.
Vowels
Atlantean's phonetic inventory includes a vowel system with five w:phonemes. Most vowels have two prominent allophonic realizations, depending on whether it occurs in a stressed or unstressed syllable.
| Front | Central | Back | ||||
| Tense | Lax | Tense | Lax | Tense | Lax | |
| High | i | ɪ | u | ʊ | ||
| Mid | e | ɛ | o | ɔ | ||
| Low | a | ə | ||||
Vowels in stressed syllables tend to be tense, and likewise unstressed ones tend to be more lax. Thus, for example, /i/ is realized as /i/ or /ɪ/ in stressed and unstressed syllables, respectively. Likewise, /e/ is realized as /e/ or /ɛ/, and so on. There are three diphthongs, namely ay, ey, oy.
Aside from the stressed-syllable-based vowel system, the only other example of prominent phonological phenomenon seems to be a special kind of w:sandhi occurring in verbs, when the pronoun is combined with the aspect marker.
When the suffix for the first person singular -ik combines with tenses that employ -i, -o (Past and Future tenses), it becomes -mik.
- bernot-o-ik → bernot-o-mik
But when combined with suffixes that feature -e (Present tenses), the same suffix becomes -kik.
- bernot-e-ik → bernot-e-kik
Grammar
Atlantean has a very strict w:subject–object–verb word order, with no deviations from this pattern attested. Adjectives and nouns in the genitive case follow the nouns they modify, adpositions appear only in the form of w:postpositions, and modal verbs follow the verbs that they modify and subsequently take all personal and aspectual suffixes. However, adverbs precede verbs. The language includes the use of an interrogative particle to form questions with no variation in word order.[1]
Some sentences appear to employ some kind of particles sometimes termed "sentence connectors". These particles are of obscure meaning but are theorized to relate two clauses in a logical yet idiomatic manner.[1] The exact meaning and usage of these particles is not known, but without them sentences are difficult to reconcile with their translations.
Example:
- Wiltem neb gamosetot deg duweren tirid.
- city-acc dem see-pres-3rd.sg part outsider-pl all.
- No outsiders may see the city and live. But more literally: "He sees the city particle all outsiders."
In the example above there is no actual mention of the consequences for outsiders, yet the subtitle in the movie translates it as a warning even without any mention of living or dying. A possibility exists that, in order to match the lip movement of the characters in the movie and the time of the dialogue, the language had to be shortened, often leaving out key parts of the sentence. It is known that the Atlantean lines in the movie were w:ad-libbed afterwards.
Another example:
- Tab.top, lud.en neb.et kwam gesu bog.e.kem deg yasek.en gesu.go.ntoh.
- father-voc, person-pl dem-pl neg help be.able-pres-1st.sg part noble-pl
- Father, these people may be able to help us. But more literally: "Oh Father, we cannot help these people particle they will help the nobles."[1]
In this example the sentences seem to be better connected, and the particle is rendered as almost "but, yet". It is difficult to reconcile the two, however.
Nouns
Atlantean has seven cases for nouns, five for pronouns and two for numbers.
Grammatical cases
| Name | Suffix | Example | English Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | no suffix | yob | the crystal (subject). |
| Accusative | -tem | yobtem | the crystal (object). |
| Genitive | -ag | yobag | of the crystal |
| Vocative | -top | Yobtop | O Crystal! |
| Instrumental | -esh | yobesh | using crystal |
| Essive | -kup | yobkup | (as, composed of, being) crystal |
| Dative | -nuh | yobnuh | (for, to, on behalf of) crystal |
Other suffixes
| Grammatical Function | Suffix | Example | English Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plural | -en | yoben | crystals |
| Augmentative | -mok | Yobmok | The Great Crystal |
Nouns are marked as plural with the suffix -en. Case suffixes never precede the -en plural suffix. "-Mok" occurs after it.
Pronouns
| Person | Number | Familiarity | Independent Pronoun | Suffix | English Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Singular | – | kag | -ik | I |
| 2nd | Singular | – | moh | -en | thou |
| 3rd | Singular | – | tug tuh tok | -ot | he she it |
| 1st | Plural | – | gwis | -kem | we |
| 2nd | Plural | Unfamiliar | gebr | -eh | you (unfamiliar) |
| 2nd | Plural | Familiar | gabr | -eh | you (familiar) |
| 3rd | Plural | – | sob | -toh | they |
There are five cases for pronouns.
Grammatical cases
| Name | Suffix | Example | English Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| w:Nominative | no suffix | kag | I |
| w:Accusative | -it | kagit | me, whom was (sent), etc. |
| w:Dative | -ib | kagib | (to) me |
| w:Genitive | -in | kagin | my (my heart, karod kagin) |
| w:Instrumental | -is | kagis | by my means, with (using) me, via me, etc. Template:R |
Verbs
Verbs are inflected with two suffixes, one for tense/aspect and the next for person/number.[1]
Tense/aspect suffixes
| Name | Suffix | Example | English Gloss | Other Examples | English Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | -e | bernot.e.kik | I bring | sapoh.e.kik | I view |
| Present Perfect | -le | bernot.le.kik | I have brought | ||
| Present Obligatory | -se | bernot.se.kik | I am obliged to bring | kaber.se.kem | we are obliged to warn |
| Simple Past | -i | bernot.i.mik | I brought | es.i.mot, sapoh.i.mik | it was, I viewed |
| Immediate Past | -ib | bernot.ib.mik | I just brought | ||
| Past Perfect | -li | bernot.li.mik | I had brought | ||
| Simple Future | -o | bernot.o.mik | I will bring | komtib.o.nen | you will find |
| Future Possible | -go | bernot.go.mik | I may bring | gesu.go.ntoh | they may help |
| Future Perfect | -lo | bernot.lo.mik | I will have brought | komtib.lo.nen | you will have found |
| Future Obligatory | -so | bernot.so.mik | I will be obliged to bring | komtib.so.nen | you will be obliged to find |
Mood and Voice suffixes
| Name | Suffix | Example | English Gloss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperative Mood Singular | no suffix | bernot!, nageb! | bring!, enter! |
| Imperative Mood Plural | -yoh | bernot.yoh!, nageb.yoh! | (you all) bring!, (you all) enter! |
| Passive Voice | -esh | pag.esh.e.nen, bernot.esh.ib.mik | you are thanked (thank you), I was just brought |
| Infinitive | -e | bernot.e, wegen.e, gamos.e | to bring, to travel, to see |
Other resources
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Production Notes." Atlantis-The Lost Empire. Ed. Tim Montgomery, 1996–2007. The Unofficial Disney Animation Archive. 13 January 2007. Animationarchive.netTemplate:Dead link
- ^ Kalin-Casey, Mary. “Charting Atlantis the crew behind Disney’s latest animated adventure takes you behind the scenes.” Features Interviews. 17 January 2007 Reel.com Template:Webarchive
- ^ Murphy, Tab, Platon, David Reyolds, Gary Trousdale, Joss Whedon, Kirk Wise, Bryce Zabel, and Jackie Zabel. Atlantis the Lost Empire: The Illustrated Script [Abridged Version with Notes from the Filmmakers], 55.
- ^ Henn, Peter (June 1, 2001). "Finding Atlantis". w:Film Journal International. http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000692578. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan. “New movie trek for wordsmith.” USA Today Online. 24 May 2001. 12 Jan. 2007. USA Today