Vinnish: Difference between revisions
(Created page with " <!-- This is a short reminder of the language format policy. I. Write a short piece stating your intents and purposes when creating the language (Design goal, inspiration, ideas, and so on). II. Write a short introduction to your language. (Who speaks it? When was it created? By whom? or what? are some example questions that can be answered here) III. Once done, try making sure everything is properly spelt so as to avoid unnecessary reader fatigue. --> ==Introduct...") |
No edit summary |
||
(82 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<!-- | <!-- | ||
Line 11: | Line 9: | ||
--> | --> | ||
{{Infobox language | |||
| name = Vinnish | |||
| nativename = Vinske, Vinskemål | |||
| creator = [[User:Shinobhi|Shinobhi]] | |||
| created = 2023 | |||
| state = [[Verse:Vinland|Commonwealth of Vinland]] | |||
| familycolor = Indo-European | |||
| fam1 = Indo-European | |||
| fam2 = Germanic | |||
| fam3 = North Germanic | |||
| fam4 = Far West Norse | |||
| fam5 = Old Vinnish | |||
| fam6 = [[History of the Vinnish Language|Early Modern Vinnish]] | |||
| dia1 = <!--these are for dialects--> | |||
| script1 = Latn | |||
| agency = Vinskemålsråðet - Vinnish Language Council | |||
| nation = Commonwealth of Vinland | |||
}} | |||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
<!-- 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? --> | ||
Vinnish is a North Germanic language spoken in the Commonwealth of Vinland. When the Viking expeditions to the New World were launched in our world, the settlements that the Vikings formed died out, but in this timeline, they hold on and eventually fructify into a a country called Vinland. This is the language they speak, | Vinnish is a North Germanic language spoken in the Commonwealth of Vinland. When the Viking expeditions to the New World were launched in our world, the settlements that the Vikings formed died out, but in this timeline, they hold on and eventually fructify into a a country called Vinland. This is the language they speak, descended from Old Norse. While in some ways it resembles its cousins in Iceland, the Faroes, and Scandinavia, in many others, Vinnish has developed in its own direction due to its relative isolation from the other North Germanic languages. | ||
<!-- Example categories/headings: | <!-- Example categories/headings: | ||
Line 23: | Line 38: | ||
--> | --> | ||
<!-- ***Phonology*** --> | <!-- ***Phonology*** --> | ||
<!-- What sounds does your language use? --> | <!-- What sounds does your language use? --> | ||
<!-- Here are some example sub-/other categories: | <!-- Here are some example sub-/other categories: | ||
Vowel inventory | Vowel inventory | ||
Consonant inventory | Consonant inventory | ||
Line 33: | Line 46: | ||
Stress | Stress | ||
Intonation | Intonation | ||
--> | |||
==Orthography== | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="30" | Vinnish Alphabet | |||
|- | |||
| Aa || Bb || Cc || Dd || Ðð || Ee || Ff || Gg || Hh || Ii || Jj || Kk || Ll || Mm || Nn || Oo || Pp || Qq || Rr || Ss || Tt || Uu || Vv || Ww || Xx || Yy || Zz || Ææ || Øø || Åå | |||
|} | |||
The Vinnish orthography is based on the Latin alphabet, with the addition of four extra letters, Ð, Æ, Ø, and Å. The alphabet was codified with the translation of the Bible into Vinnish by scholar Johan Goðmundsson around the time of the Protestant Reformation in Vinland. Until then, Vinnish was largely unwritten, with the exception of a few runestones written in Medieval Runes, as well as several documents in churches written in ad hoc orthographies based on the Latin script. | |||
==Phonology== | ==Phonology== | ||
<!-- ***Phonology*** --> | <!-- ***Phonology*** --> | ||
Line 47: | Line 70: | ||
--> | --> | ||
=== | The pronunciation of each letter is as follows. Vinnish words are almost always stressed on the first syllable. In non-diphthong syllables stress is shown by lengthening the vowel. | ||
=== | |||
==== | {| class="wikitable" | ||
==== | ! | ||
!'''Pronunciation''' | |||
!'''Example''' | |||
!'''IPA''' | |||
!'''Translation''' | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="3" |'''a''' | |||
|[aː] when stressed | |||
|t'''a'''ke | |||
|[ˈtʰ'''aː'''kʰə] | |||
|to take | |||
|- | |||
|[a] when unstressed | |||
|vinsk'''a'''p | |||
|[viːnʃk'''a'''p] | |||
|friendship (n) | |||
|- | |||
|[ə] word-finally (only loanwords) | |||
|past'''a''' | |||
|[ˈpʰaːʂt'''ə'''] | |||
|pasta; noodles (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''au''' | |||
|[oʊ] | |||
|ð'''au''' | |||
|[ˈð'''oʊ'''] | |||
|they (referring to neuter nouns) | |||
|- | |||
|'''b''' | |||
|[b] (in some dialects, [p]) | |||
|'''b'''ogi | |||
|[ˈ'''b'''oːgi] | |||
|bow (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''bl''' | |||
|[pl] | |||
|'''bl'''år | |||
|[ˈ'''pl'''ɔːr] | |||
|blue | |||
|- | |||
|'''br''' | |||
|[pr] | |||
|'''br'''oðar | |||
|[ˈ'''pr'''oːðər] | |||
|brother (c) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''c''' | |||
|same as “k” (loanwords only) | |||
|'''C'''anade | |||
|[ˈ'''kʰ'''aːnadə] | |||
|Canada | |||
|- | |||
|[s] before i/e (loanwords only) | |||
|'''c'''enter | |||
|[ˈ'''s'''eːntr̩] | |||
|center; central office (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''ch''' | |||
|same as “k” (loanwords only) | |||
|'''ch'''ronologi | |||
|[ˈ'''k'''roːnologi] | |||
|chronology (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''d''' | |||
|[d] (in some dialects, [t]) | |||
|'''d'''ager | |||
|[ˈ'''d'''aːgr̩] | |||
|day (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''dr''' | |||
|[tr] | |||
|'''dr'''epe | |||
|[ˈ'''tr'''eːpə] | |||
|to kill | |||
|- | |||
|'''ð''' | |||
|[ð] | |||
|sta'''ð'''er | |||
|[ˈʂtaː'''ð'''r̩] | |||
|town, city (c) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="3" |'''e''' | |||
|[eː] when stressed | |||
|sk'''e'''re | |||
|[ʂk'''eː'''rə] | |||
|to cut, to part | |||
|- | |||
|[e] when unstressed | |||
|Vinl'''e'''ndenger | |||
|[ˈviːnl'''e'''ndeŋkr̩] | |||
|Vinnish (person) | |||
|- | |||
|[ə] word-finally | |||
|Els'''e''' | |||
|[ˈeːls'''ə'''] | |||
|a proper name; Elsa | |||
|- | |||
|'''ei''' | |||
|[ei] | |||
|ð'''ei'''r | |||
|[ˈð'''ei'''r] | |||
|they (common pl) | |||
|- | |||
|'''er''' | |||
| rowspan="2" |syllabic word-finally | |||
|mað'''er''' | |||
|[ˈmaːð'''r̩'''] | |||
|man, person (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''el''' | |||
|komb'''el''' | |||
|[ˈkʰoːmb'''l̩'''] | |||
|grave, monument (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''em''' | |||
|[əm] word-finally | |||
|skåp'''em''' | |||
|[ˈʂkɔːp'''əm'''] | |||
|“we do” | |||
|- | |||
|'''en''' | |||
|[ən] word-finally | |||
|vat'''en''' | |||
|[ˈvaːt'''ən'''] | |||
|water (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''es''' | |||
|[əs] word-finally in mediopassive verbs | |||
|hør'''es''' | |||
|[ˈhøːr'''əs'''] | |||
|mediopassive infinitive of “høre” | |||
|- | |||
|'''et''' | |||
|[ət] word-finally in definite articles and neuter adjectives | |||
|barn'''et''' | |||
|[ˈbaːrn'''ət'''] | |||
|the child (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''eu''' | |||
|[øy] | |||
|'''Eu'''rope | |||
|[ˈ'''øy'''ropə] | |||
|Europe (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''f''' | |||
|[f] | |||
|'''f'''å | |||
|[ˈ'''f'''ɔː] | |||
|to obtain, to get | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="3" |'''g''' | |||
|[g] (in some dialects, [k]) | |||
|'''g'''øre | |||
|[ˈ'''g'''øːrə] | |||
|to make | |||
|- | |||
|[ʂ] before i/e in certain loanwords | |||
|'''g'''eographi | |||
|[ˈ'''ʂ'''eːokrafi] | |||
|geography | |||
|- | |||
|[ɣ] word-finally, post-vocalically before a consonant | |||
|e'''g''' | |||
|[ˈeː'''ɣ'''] | |||
|I (first person pronoun) | |||
|- | |||
|'''gr''' | |||
|[kr] | |||
|'''gr'''år | |||
|[ˈ'''kr'''ɔːr] | |||
|gray; gloomy | |||
|- | |||
|'''gl''' | |||
|[kl] | |||
|'''gl'''åpe | |||
|[ˈ'''kl'''ɔːpə] | |||
|to stare (+d); to focus on (+a) | |||
|- | |||
|'''gv''' | |||
|[kv] | |||
|'''gv'''er | |||
|[ˈ'''kv'''eːr] | |||
|who | |||
|- | |||
|'''h''' | |||
|[h] | |||
|'''h'''ester | |||
|[ˈ'''h'''eːʂtr̩] | |||
|horse (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''hl''' | |||
|[l̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “l” | |||
|'''hl'''aupe | |||
|[ˈ'''l̥'''oʊpə] | |||
|to jump | |||
|- | |||
|'''hr''' | |||
|[r̥]~[ɹ̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “r” | |||
|'''hr'''inger | |||
|[ˈ'''r̥'''iːŋkr̩] | |||
|ring (c) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''i''' | |||
|[iː] when stressed | |||
|f'''i'''lgi | |||
| rowspan="2" |[ˈf'''iː'''lg'''i'''] | |||
| rowspan="2" |friend; pal (c) | |||
|- | |||
|[i] when unstressed | |||
|filg'''i''' | |||
|- | |||
|'''j''' | |||
|[j] | |||
|'''j'''eter | |||
|[ˈ'''j'''eːtr̩] | |||
|hot (adj.) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''k''' | |||
|[kʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters | |||
|'''k'''one | |||
|[ˈ'''kʰ'''oːnə] | |||
|woman (c) | |||
|- | |||
|[k] in clusters and at the end of a word | |||
|'''k'''ristni | |||
|[ˈ'''k'''riːʂtni] | |||
|Christianity (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''l''' | |||
|[l] | |||
|'''l'''anger | |||
|[ˈ'''l'''aːŋkr̩] | |||
|long, tall (adj) | |||
|- | |||
|'''m''' | |||
|[m] | |||
|'''m'''ame | |||
|[ˈ'''m'''aːmə] | |||
|mom; mama (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''n''' | |||
|[n] | |||
|'''n'''eme | |||
|[ˈ'''n'''eːmə] | |||
|to take; to grab | |||
|- | |||
|'''ng''' | |||
|[ŋk] | |||
|ga'''ng'''e | |||
|[ˈgaː'''ŋk'''ə] | |||
|to go | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''o''' | |||
|[oː] when stressed | |||
| rowspan="2" |m'''o'''t'''o'''r | |||
| rowspan="2" |[ˈm'''oː'''t'''o'''r] | |||
| rowspan="2" |motor (c) | |||
|- | |||
|[o] when unstressed | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''p''' | |||
|[pʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters | |||
|'''p'''ape | |||
|[ˈ'''pʰ'''aːpʰə] | |||
|dad; papa (c) | |||
|- | |||
|[p] in clusters and at the end of a word | |||
|ski'''p''' | |||
|[ˈʂkiː'''p'''] | |||
|ship (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''ph''' | |||
|[f] (only used in Greek loanwords) | |||
|'''ph'''oto | |||
|[ˈ'''f'''oːto] | |||
|photograph (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''qu''' | |||
|[kv]~[gv] (only used in French/Latin loanwords) | |||
|'''q'''uantite | |||
|[ˈ'''kv'''aːntitə] | |||
|quantity (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''r''' | |||
|[r] | |||
|'''r'''auðer | |||
|[ˈ'''r'''oʊðr̩] | |||
|red (adj) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="4" |'''s''' | |||
| rowspan="2" |[s] prevocalically and in any cluster where it precedes f, l, n, r, v; also at the end of genitives in compound nouns | |||
|'''s'''orter | |||
|[ˈ'''s'''oːrtr̩] | |||
|black (adj) | |||
|- | |||
|Egil'''s'''dottar | |||
|[ˈeːɡil'''s'''dottər] | |||
|a patronymic; daughter of Egil | |||
|- | |||
|[ʂ] word-initially/after a vowel and before a consonant | |||
|'''st'''erker | |||
|[ˈ'''ʂ'''teːrkr̩] | |||
|strong (adj) | |||
|- | |||
|[ʃ] between two consonants | |||
|vin'''sk'''e | |||
|[ˈviːn'''ʃ'''kə] | |||
|Vinnish (language) (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''sj''' | |||
|[ʂ] | |||
|'''sj'''ør | |||
|[ˈ'''ʂ'''øːr] | |||
|sea (c) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''t''' | |||
|[tʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters | |||
|'''t'''il | |||
|[ˈ'''tʰ'''il] | |||
|towards; lative preposition | |||
|- | |||
|[t] in clusters and at the end of a word | |||
|sor'''t''' | |||
|[ˈsoːr'''t'''] | |||
|neuter of “sorter” (black) | |||
|- | |||
|'''th''' | |||
|same as “t” (only used in Greek loanwords) | |||
|'''th'''eologi | |||
|['''tʰ'''eˈoːlogi] | |||
|theology (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''tj''' | |||
|[tʂ] | |||
|gvi'''tj'''øre | |||
|[ˈkviː'''tʂ'''ørə] | |||
|kenning for a goose; literally “white-ear” (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''u''' | |||
|[uː] when stressed | |||
|r'''u'''m | |||
|[ˈr'''uː'''m] | |||
|bed (n) | |||
|- | |||
|'''v''' | |||
|[v] | |||
|'''v'''inder | |||
|[ˈ'''v'''iːndr̩] | |||
|wind (c) | |||
|- | |||
|'''w''' | |||
|[v]~[w] | |||
|'''W'''isconsin | |||
|['''v'''iˈʂkoːnsin] | |||
|Wisconsin | |||
|- | |||
|'''x''' | |||
|[ks] | |||
|se'''x''' | |||
|[ˈseː'''ks'''] | |||
|six | |||
|- | |||
|'''y''' | |||
|[yː] when stressed | |||
|gr'''y'''n | |||
|[ˈkr'''yː'''n] | |||
|green | |||
|- | |||
|'''z''' | |||
|[z]~[s] | |||
|'''z'''ebre | |||
|[ˈ'''z'''eːprə] | |||
|zebra (c) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''æ''' | |||
|[æː] when stressed | |||
|s'''æ'''l | |||
|[ˈs'''æː'''l] | |||
|well, healthy (adj) | |||
|- | |||
|[æ] when unstressed | |||
|gven'''æ'''r | |||
|[ˈgveːn'''æ'''r] | |||
|when (interrogative) | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''ø''' | |||
|[øː] when stressed | |||
|sp'''ø'''rje | |||
|[ˈʂp'''øː'''rjə] | |||
|to ask | |||
|- | |||
|[ø] when unstressed | |||
|f'''ø'''rgefe | |||
|[f'''ø'''rˈɡeːfə] | |||
|to forgive | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |'''å''' | |||
|[ɔː]~[oː] when stressed | |||
|v'''å'''ge | |||
|[ˈv'''ɔː'''gə] | |||
|eye (n) | |||
|- | |||
|[ɔ]~[o] when unstressed | |||
|Ol'''å'''fer | |||
|[ˈoːl'''ɔ'''fr̩] | |||
|Olaf (male name) | |||
|} | |||
===Common Phonological Processes in Vinnish=== | |||
==== Elision ==== | |||
Certain letters in Vinnish are subject to elision when inflectional endings follow them. In particular, -en, -er, and -el are prone to this sort of change: | |||
* krist'''en''' > krist'''ne''' | |||
* komb'''el''' > komb'''li''' | |||
* mað'''er''' > mað'''ren''' | |||
In multisyllabic adjective stems, this is particularly prominent. | |||
==== Vowel Assimilation ==== | |||
Often, two vowels that are adjacent to each other will undergo elision, with the “double” vowel merging into the first vowel. | |||
* hå-'''ar''' -> h'''år''' | |||
* hå-'''e''' -> h'''å''' | |||
* tru-'''em''' -> tru'''m''' | |||
==== R-Assimilation ==== | |||
In addition, the -er suffix is prone to being dropped when added to stems that end in -l, -n, -r, -s, and -x. This is due to it being a word-final “-r” in Old Norse which would assimilate to one of the aforementioned consonants. | |||
* far + er > fa'''r''' | |||
* mikel + er > mike'''l''' | |||
* vinlos + er > vinlo'''s''' | |||
* gryn + er > gry'''n''' | |||
This also shows up with the genitive plural adjectival suffix, -re, which will assimilate by doubling the stem consonant that comes before it: | |||
* far + re > fa'''rre''' | |||
* vinlos + re > vinlo'''sse''' | |||
* gryn + re > gry'''nne''' | |||
==== U-Umlaut ==== | |||
U-umlaut in Vinnish is fairly simple: certain suffixes and grammatical endings trigger u-umlaut, which only surfaces in the vowel “a” earlier on in the word. This change causes the vowel “a” to become “å” instead. | |||
* sk'''a'''p- > sk'''å'''pem | |||
* b'''a'''rn > b'''å'''rn | |||
In syllables whose stem vowel is not “a”, this change does not visibly surface. | |||
* m'''æ'''l- > m'''æ'''lem | |||
* sk'''i'''p > sk'''i'''p | |||
In multisyllabic words (often verbs) that undergo u-umlaut, generally the stressed “a” will mutate to “å” while the remaining “a” vowels until the ending will mutate to “e”. | |||
Throughout this page, the shorthand (+u) will be used to denote the triggering of u-umlaut. | |||
==== I-Umlaut ==== | |||
I-Umlaut is a somewhat more complicated process: It affects many more vowels than u-umlaut does, and as such, each pattern needs to be memorized separately. Note that also in some cases, one vowel can have multiple realizations after i-umlaut for etymological reasons relating to Old Norse. In these cases, I try to list the most common realization first and the less common ones last. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
!'''Vowel''' | |||
!'''I-Umlauted''' | |||
|- | |||
|a, ja | |||
|e | |||
|- | |||
|au, o | |||
|ø | |||
|- | |||
|vå | |||
|jø | |||
|- | |||
|å | |||
|æ, ø | |||
|- | |||
|u, ø, ju, jø, o | |||
|y | |||
|} | |||
Throughout this page, the shorthand (+i) will be used to denote the triggering of i-umlaut. | |||
==== Dental Assimilation ==== | |||
When a suffix beginning in a dental sound follows another dental, some assimilation takes place between the two sounds. | |||
* ð + d > dd, d word-finally | |||
** fy'''ð'''- + -de > fy'''dd'''e | |||
* ð + t > tt, t word-finally | |||
** rau'''ð'''- + t > rau'''t''' | |||
* ð + t > st word-finally (more in verbs) | |||
** ba'''ð'''- + t > ba'''st''' | |||
* t + t > tt, t word-finally | |||
** fla'''t'''- + t > fla'''t''' | |||
* t + t > st word-finally (more in verbs) | |||
** gal'''t'''- + t > gal'''st''' | |||
==Nouns== | |||
Vinnish nouns fall into one of two genders, common and neuter. The common gender comes from the conflation of the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse. Nouns inflect for number and case. | |||
===Common Nouns=== | |||
On the whole, common nouns show a much larger variance in declension patterns than neuter nouns. There are two overarching declension patterns among common nouns: strong and weak. | |||
Note that "(u)" refers to the presence of u-umlaut and "∅" refers to a null ending. | |||
====Strong Common Nouns==== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ Strong Common Noun Endings | |||
|- | |||
! !! Nominative !! Accusative !! Dative !! Genitive | |||
|- | |||
| Singular || -er, ∅ || ∅ || -i || -s, -ar | |||
|- | |||
| Plural || -ar || -e || (u)-em || -e | |||
|} | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ Examples of Strong Common Nouns | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" | '''viner''' - “friend” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
|vin'''er''' | |||
|vin | |||
|vin'''i''' | |||
|vin'''ar''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|vin'''ar''' | |||
|vin'''e''' | |||
|vin'''em''' | |||
|vin'''e''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''is''' - “ice” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
|is | |||
|is | |||
|is'''i''' | |||
|is'''ar''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|is'''ar''' | |||
|is'''e''' | |||
|is'''em''' | |||
|is'''e''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''fjål''' - “plank, board, table” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
|fjål | |||
|fjål | |||
|fjål'''i''' | |||
|fjål'''ar''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|fjål'''ar''' | |||
|fjål'''e''' | |||
|fjål'''em''' | |||
|fjål'''e''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''stein''' - “stone” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
|stein | |||
|stein | |||
|stein'''i''' | |||
|stein'''s''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|stein'''ar''' | |||
|stein'''e''' | |||
|stein'''em''' | |||
|stein'''e''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''hrafen''' - “raven” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
|hrafen | |||
|hrafen | |||
|hrafn'''i''' | |||
|hrafen'''s''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|hrafn'''ar''' | |||
|hrafn'''e''' | |||
|hr'''å'''fn'''em''' | |||
|hrafn'''e''' | |||
|} | |||
=====i-Umlaut Strong Common Nouns===== | |||
A number of strong common nouns show an i-umlaut in the dative singular and in the nominative and accusative plurals, as well as an ending of -er in the nominative and accusative plurals. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! | |||
!Singular | |||
!Plural | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" |'''hånd - “hand”''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Nominative''' | |||
|hånd | |||
|h'''e'''nd'''er''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Accusative''' | |||
|hånd | |||
|h'''e'''nd'''er''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Dative''' | |||
|h'''e'''nd'''i''' | |||
|hånd'''em''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Genitive''' | |||
|hånd'''ar''' | |||
|hånd'''e''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" |'''tån - “tooth”''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Nominative''' | |||
|tån | |||
|t'''e'''nn'''er''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Accusative''' | |||
|tån | |||
|t'''e'''nn'''er''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Dative''' | |||
|t'''e'''n'''i''' | |||
|tånn'''em''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Genitive''' | |||
|tån'''ar''' | |||
|tånn'''e''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" |'''rot - “root”''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Nominative''' | |||
|rot | |||
|r'''y'''t'''er''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Accusative''' | |||
|rot | |||
|r'''y'''t'''er''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Dative''' | |||
|r'''y'''t'''i''' | |||
|rot'''em''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Genitive''' | |||
|rot'''ar''' | |||
|rot'''e''' | |||
|} | |||
=== | =====The Family Declension===== | ||
These nouns all refer to family members. They are characterized by a consistent -ar ending in the cases of the singular, and an i-umlaut in the stem in the plural cases. | |||
== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! | |||
!'''father''' | |||
!'''mother''' | |||
!'''brother''' | |||
!'''sister''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |Singular | |||
|- | |||
!'''Nom, Acc, Dat''' | |||
|faðar | |||
|moðar | |||
|broðar | |||
|søstar | |||
|- | |||
!'''Gen''' | |||
|faðar'''s''' | |||
|moðar'''s''' | |||
|broðar'''s''' | |||
|søstar'''s''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''Plural''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Nom, Acc''' | |||
|f'''e'''ðer | |||
|m'''y'''ðer | |||
|br'''y'''ðer | |||
|s'''ø'''ster | |||
|- | |||
!'''Dat''' | |||
|f'''e'''ðr'''em''' | |||
|m'''y'''ðrem | |||
|br'''y'''ðr'''em''' | |||
|s'''ø'''str'''em''' | |||
|- | |||
!'''Gen''' | |||
|f'''e'''ðr'''e''' | |||
|m'''y'''ðre | |||
|br'''y'''ðr'''e''' | |||
|s'''ø'''str'''e''' | |||
|} | |||
--> | =====I-Final Common Nouns===== | ||
A few common strong nouns end in -i. These usually refer to abstract concepts, do not have a plural, and only show case marking in the genitive. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! | |||
! colspan="3" |Nominative, Accusative, Dative | |||
!Genitive | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''fryði''' - “knowledge; science” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
| colspan="3" |fryð'''i''' | |||
|fryð'''is''' | |||
|} | |||
====Weak Common Nouns==== | |||
The weak declension pattern of common nouns is somewhat simpler than that of the strong common nouns. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! | |||
!Nominative | |||
!Accusative | |||
!Dative | |||
!Genitive | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
|<nowiki>-e, -i</nowiki> | |||
| colspan="2" |-e | |||
|<nowiki>-es</nowiki> | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|<nowiki>-ar</nowiki> | |||
|<nowiki>-e</nowiki> | |||
|(u)-em | |||
|<nowiki>-e</nowiki> | |||
|} | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! colspan="5" |Examples of Weak Common Nouns | |||
|- | |||
! | |||
!Nominative | |||
!Accusative | |||
!Dative | |||
!Genitive | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''hagi''' - “meadow” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
|hag'''i''' | |||
| colspan="2" |hag'''e''' | |||
|hag'''es''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|hag'''ar''' | |||
|hag'''e''' | |||
|h'''å'''g'''em''' | |||
|hag'''e''' | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="5" |'''gofe''' - “steam” | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
| colspan="3" |gof'''e''' | |||
|gof'''es''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|gof'''ar''' | |||
|gof'''e''' | |||
|gof'''em''' | |||
|gof'''e''' | |||
|} | |||
There are also some loanwords that end in -a. These are otherwise treated like “standard” weak common nouns, but in the singular retain their -a. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! | |||
!Nominative | |||
!Accusative | |||
!Dative | |||
!Genitive | |||
|- | |||
!Singular | |||
| colspan="3" |zebr'''a''' | |||
|zebr'''as''' | |||
|- | |||
!Plural | |||
|zebr'''ar''' | |||
|zebr'''e''' | |||
|zebr'''em''' | |||
|zebr'''e''' | |||
|} | |||
===Neuter Nouns=== | |||
When compared to common nouns, neuter nouns show much less variation in their declension patterns. Neuter nouns are characterized by the universal lack of distinction between nominative and accusative forms, and by a u-umlaut in the plural. | |||
====Weak Neuter Nouns==== | |||
The set of weak neuter nouns is limited to a small list of body parts, and derivates thereof. | |||
===Definite Article=== | |||
Definiteness is shown via a cliticized definite article on the end of a noun. This definite article inflects for gender, case, and number. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! | |||
!Common | |||
!Neuter | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" |Singular | |||
|- | |||
!Nominative | |||
| rowspan="2" |-(e)n | |||
| rowspan="2" |-(e)t | |||
|- | |||
!Accusative | |||
|- | |||
!Dative | |||
|<nowiki>-inem</nowiki> | |||
|<nowiki>-ine</nowiki> | |||
|- | |||
!Genitive | |||
| colspan="2" |-(e)ns* | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" |Plural | |||
|- | |||
!Nominative | |||
|<nowiki>-nar</nowiki> | |||
| rowspan="2" |-(e)n | |||
|- | |||
!Accusative | |||
|<nowiki>-ne</nowiki> | |||
|- | |||
!Dative | |||
| colspan="2" |-nem** | |||
|- | |||
!Genitive | |||
| colspan="2" |-nne | |||
|} | |||
<nowiki>*</nowiki>In nouns who end in a vowel in the nominative, the “-s” ending is overridden by the “-ns” definite article; ergo, the words “fryð'''is'''”, “hag'''es'''” and “zebr'''as'''” have definite counterparts “fryð'''ins'''”, “hag'''ens'''” and “zebr'''ans'''” respectively, rather than “*fryðisins”, “*hagesens” and “*zebrasens” | |||
<nowiki>**</nowiki>The dative plural article also overrides the final “-m” of the dative plural noun form; ergo, the word “hest'''em'''” (dat. pl. of hester “horse”) has the definite counterpart “hest'''enem'''”, rather than the expected *hestemnem. | |||
==Adjectives== | |||
There are two patterns of adjectives in Vinnish: declinables and indeclinables. | |||
Declinable adjectives in Vinnish agree with the nouns they modify in gender, case, number, and definiteness. There are two inflections for adjectives: strong and weak adjectives. | |||
Indeclinable adjectives, as the name suggests, do not decline at all, and are limited to present participles, comparative adjectives, and some loanwords. Virtually all indeclinable adjectives end in -i. | |||
===Strong Adjectives=== | |||
Strong adjectives are used attributively with indefinite nouns and predicatively with all nouns. They inflect for gender, case, and number. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! !! Common !! Neuter | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" | Singular | |||
|- | |||
| Nom || -er ||! rowspan="2" | -t | |||
|- | |||
| Acc || -en | |||
|- | |||
| Dat || (u)-em || (u)-e | |||
|- | |||
| Gen ||! colspan="2" | -s | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" | Plural | |||
|- | |||
| Nom || -ar ||! rowspan="2" | (u) | |||
|- | |||
| Acc || -e | |||
|- | |||
| Dat ||! colspan="2" | (u)-em | |||
|- | |||
| Gen ||! colspan="2" | -re | |||
|} | |||
===Weak Adjectives=== | |||
The weak adjective system is simplified compared to the more robust Old Norse forms. | |||
Weak adjectives are formed by adding an ending of -e to the stem of the adjective, and do not change form for case or number in Modern Vinnish. They are used with definite nouns, nouns modified by a demonstrative, and non-indefinite nouns modified by a possessive adjective. | |||
{{interlinear|number=(1) | |||
|stor''t'' barn | |||
|big-NEUT-NOM-SG-INDEF child-NOM-SG-INDEF | |||
|big child}} | |||
{{interlinear|number=(2) | |||
|stor''e'' barnet | |||
|big-DEF child-NOM-SG-DEF | |||
|the big child}} | |||
Because the weak form inherently conveys definiteness, it is possible to drop the definite article suffix on the modified noun. | |||
{{interlinear|number=(3) | |||
|stor''e'' barn | |||
|big-DEF child-NOM-SG | |||
|the big child}} | |||
===Adverbs=== | |||
Adverbs are formed one of three ways, listed in descending order of usage: Adding the suffix "-vegi" to the stem of the adjective (usually identical to the weak adjective form), using the weak adjective form, or using the strong neuter singular form. There are also words that are inherently adverbial and are not derived from any kind of adjective. | |||
===Historical Forms=== | |||
While the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse collapsed into the common gender in Vinnish, some remnants of the old masculine/feminine system linger in Vinnish. These features, while attested in older texts such as the Vinnish Bible, were moribund even around the 1600s. | |||
====Masculine Forms==== | |||
In more archaic texts in Vinnish, a naturally or semantically masculine weak adjective can optionally take the ending -i in the nominative singular. In all other cases of the noun, the ending -e is used. | |||
{{interlinear|number=(4) | |||
|sterk''i'' sveinen | |||
|strong-MASC-DEF youth-SG-NOM-DEF | |||
|the strong young man}} | |||
====Feminine Forms==== | |||
In older Vinnish texts, a naturally or semantically feminine strong adjective can optionally take u-umlaut in the nominative singular and show an ending of -e in the accusative. | |||
{{interlinear|number=(5) | |||
|fåger kone | |||
|beautiful-FEM-SG-NOM woman-SG-NOM | |||
|beautiful woman}} | |||
====Plural Forms==== | |||
In older Vinnish texts, plural weak adjectives can take u-umlaut in all cases. | |||
{{interlinear|number=(6) | |||
|kålde skipen | |||
|cold-NEUT-PL-DEF ship-PL-NOM-DEF | |||
|the cold ships}} | |||
===Nominalizing Adjectives=== | |||
While exceedingly rare, the indeclinable adjectives can be nominalized. When nominalized, they take the normal inflections of weak nouns with endings in -i. This nominalization is limited to a few nouns that end in -i, usually demonyms. | |||
{{interlinear|number=(7)|abbreviations=COMM:common gender | |||
|Pakistani filgem | |||
|Pakistani-COMM-PL-DAT friend-PL-DAT | |||
|Pakistani friends (dative).}} | |||
{{interlinear|number=(8)|abbreviations=COMM:common gender | |||
|Han mælti með jem Pakistanem. | |||
|3P-HUM-SG speak-3P with one-COMM-PL-DAT Pakistani-PL-DAT | |||
|He/She spoke with a few Pakistanis.}} | |||
==Verbs== | |||
There are two overarching types of verbs in Vinnish, strong and weak verbs. Weak verbs form the past stem via a dental suffix on the present stem, while strong verbs form the past stem via vowel alternation. Vinnish verbs inflect for two tenses (past and present), person, and number. In addition, they make use of certain auxiliary verbs to show aspect, and one of two moods: indicative and subjunctive. Verbs also have both a past and a present participle, and inflect for active and mediopassive voice. | |||
===Weak Verbs=== | |||
Weak verbs are characterized by their usage of a dental consonant to form their past stem. This dental consonant can be either -d, -ð, or -t. Which consonant is used is not always readily predictable for a weak verb, and so must simply be memorized along with the verb; however, the majority of Vinnish verbs use -ð. | |||
The below table shows the basic inflection pattern for a weak verb. Note that the symbol "D" refers to the dental consonant used. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! !! Singular !! Plural | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" | Present | |||
|- | |||
| 1st || -i || (u)-em | |||
|- | |||
| 2nd ||! rowspan="2"| -ar || -ið | |||
|- | |||
| 3rd || -e | |||
|- | |||
! colspan="3" | Past | |||
|- | |||
| 1st || -De || (u)-Dem | |||
|- | |||
| 2nd || -Dar || (u)-Deð | |||
|- | |||
| 3rd || -Di || (u)-De | |||
|} | |||
===Strong Verbs=== | |||
Strong verbs show tense via a change in the stem vowel. There are seven classes of strong verbs in Vinnish, each characterized by a different alternation pattern. | |||
==Syntax== | ==Syntax== | ||
Vinnish shows a heavy preference for V2 word order, though this is being worn down in colloquial language. | |||
===Constituent order=== | ===Constituent order=== | ||
Vinnish is primarily SVO, though due to the case system, some flexibility is allowed in the order of arguments to convey topic and focus, or to conform to a meter in songs and poetry. | |||
===Noun phrase=== | ===Noun phrase=== | ||
===Verb phrase=== | ===Verb phrase=== | ||
Line 87: | Line 1,050: | ||
==Example texts== | ==Example texts== | ||
<!-- An example of a translated or unique text written in your language. Again, it is recommended that you make sure that the phonology, constraints, phonotactics and grammar are more or less finished before writing. --> | <!-- An example of a translated or unique text written in your language. Again, it is recommended that you make sure that the phonology, constraints, phonotactics and grammar are more or less finished before writing. --> | ||
== | |||
< | ===Opening Monologue of First and Final Book in the ''How To Train Your Dragon'' Series by Cressida Cowell=== | ||
<blockquote>“Ðar våre lindormar, ðår om dågenem sem eg var svein. Ðar våre miklar, grimar himenslindormar sem gørðe sin hreiðer i fjallenne hæstem klettem, like storar hræðandi foglar. Litlar, brunar, skriðandi lindormar sem vedde mys ok rotte i flokkem like ølgjar. Otruligvegi jåtenligar sjøslindormar sem våre totge styrðar styrri en styrstar blågvalar, ok sem dråpe jene før leik. | |||
“Ðir ðorfeð at true mit orð, ðvi lindormarnar gverfes ut so fløte ðat må at ðeir bråt skøli verðe utdånar or vårem veråldi. | |||
“Jengver veit ekki gvat gøras. Ðeir søkkve i sjøn sem ðeir kome or, låte ekki ut i jårð jetgvert bein, jengvern tån, slike at men om framdage mege vite at ðeir våre hir i vårem veråldi. | |||
“Af ðvi, før at ðessar konenglige gørnar skøli ekki glømes, eg mon tale ðenne saðen sage af minem barndomi.” - [https://www.reddit.com/r/httyd/comments/uqvhoz/there_were_dragons_when_i_was_a_boy_start_of_book/ Gvernig at Venje Sin Lindorm]</blockquote> | |||
===Schleicher's Fable=== | |||
<blockquote>Jen sauðer sem sir var ekki jetgvert hår leit heste: jen togði ðongen vagen, jen helt å bakine stort bereng, ok jen helt å bakine man fløtevegi. Sauðren sagði hestenem: “Eg em sår i hjartene at eg lit at maðer leðar heste.” Hestarnar sågðe: “Hør ðu, sauðer, vir erem sårar i hjartene at vir litem ðette slike: at maðer, jarlen, gørar sir heitist klæði af sauðshåri. Ok sauðinem er ekki jetgvert hår.” Sauðren hørði ðette ok koms onden i hagene.</blockquote> | |||
==See Also== | |||
* [[:Category: Vinnish words|Vinnish words on Contionary]] | |||
<!-- Template area --> | <!-- Template area --> | ||
Line 97: | Line 1,072: | ||
[[Category:Conlangs]] | [[Category:Conlangs]] | ||
[[Category:North Germanic languages]] | [[Category:North Germanic languages]] | ||
[[Category:Germanic languages]] |
Latest revision as of 18:20, 13 August 2024
Vinnish | |
---|---|
Vinske, Vinskemål | |
Created by | Shinobhi |
Date | 2023 |
Native to | Commonwealth of Vinland |
Indo-European
| |
Official status | |
Official language in | Commonwealth of Vinland |
Regulated by | Vinskemålsråðet - Vinnish Language Council |
Introduction
Vinnish is a North Germanic language spoken in the Commonwealth of Vinland. When the Viking expeditions to the New World were launched in our world, the settlements that the Vikings formed died out, but in this timeline, they hold on and eventually fructify into a a country called Vinland. This is the language they speak, descended from Old Norse. While in some ways it resembles its cousins in Iceland, the Faroes, and Scandinavia, in many others, Vinnish has developed in its own direction due to its relative isolation from the other North Germanic languages.
Orthography
Vinnish Alphabet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aa | Bb | Cc | Dd | Ðð | Ee | Ff | Gg | Hh | Ii | Jj | Kk | Ll | Mm | Nn | Oo | Pp | Rr | Ss | Tt | Uu | Vv | Ww | Xx | Yy | Zz | Ææ | Øø | Åå |
The Vinnish orthography is based on the Latin alphabet, with the addition of four extra letters, Ð, Æ, Ø, and Å. The alphabet was codified with the translation of the Bible into Vinnish by scholar Johan Goðmundsson around the time of the Protestant Reformation in Vinland. Until then, Vinnish was largely unwritten, with the exception of a few runestones written in Medieval Runes, as well as several documents in churches written in ad hoc orthographies based on the Latin script.
Phonology
The pronunciation of each letter is as follows. Vinnish words are almost always stressed on the first syllable. In non-diphthong syllables stress is shown by lengthening the vowel.
Pronunciation | Example | IPA | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
a | [aː] when stressed | take | [ˈtʰaːkʰə] | to take |
[a] when unstressed | vinskap | [viːnʃkap] | friendship (n) | |
[ə] word-finally (only loanwords) | pasta | [ˈpʰaːʂtə] | pasta; noodles (c) | |
au | [oʊ] | ðau | [ˈðoʊ] | they (referring to neuter nouns) |
b | [b] (in some dialects, [p]) | bogi | [ˈboːgi] | bow (c) |
bl | [pl] | blår | [ˈplɔːr] | blue |
br | [pr] | broðar | [ˈproːðər] | brother (c) |
c | same as “k” (loanwords only) | Canade | [ˈkʰaːnadə] | Canada |
[s] before i/e (loanwords only) | center | [ˈseːntr̩] | center; central office (n) | |
ch | same as “k” (loanwords only) | chronologi | [ˈkroːnologi] | chronology (c) |
d | [d] (in some dialects, [t]) | dager | [ˈdaːgr̩] | day (c) |
dr | [tr] | drepe | [ˈtreːpə] | to kill |
ð | [ð] | staðer | [ˈʂtaːðr̩] | town, city (c) |
e | [eː] when stressed | skere | [ʂkeːrə] | to cut, to part |
[e] when unstressed | Vinlendenger | [ˈviːnlendeŋkr̩] | Vinnish (person) | |
[ə] word-finally | Else | [ˈeːlsə] | a proper name; Elsa | |
ei | [ei] | ðeir | [ˈðeir] | they (common pl) |
er | syllabic word-finally | maðer | [ˈmaːðr̩] | man, person (c) |
el | kombel | [ˈkʰoːmbl̩] | grave, monument (n) | |
em | [əm] word-finally | skåpem | [ˈʂkɔːpəm] | “we do” |
en | [ən] word-finally | vaten | [ˈvaːtən] | water (n) |
es | [əs] word-finally in mediopassive verbs | høres | [ˈhøːrəs] | mediopassive infinitive of “høre” |
et | [ət] word-finally in definite articles and neuter adjectives | barnet | [ˈbaːrnət] | the child (n) |
eu | [øy] | Europe | [ˈøyropə] | Europe (c) |
f | [f] | få | [ˈfɔː] | to obtain, to get |
g | [g] (in some dialects, [k]) | gøre | [ˈgøːrə] | to make |
[ʂ] before i/e in certain loanwords | geographi | [ˈʂeːokrafi] | geography | |
[ɣ] word-finally, post-vocalically before a consonant | eg | [ˈeːɣ] | I (first person pronoun) | |
gr | [kr] | grår | [ˈkrɔːr] | gray; gloomy |
gl | [kl] | glåpe | [ˈklɔːpə] | to stare (+d); to focus on (+a) |
gv | [kv] | gver | [ˈkveːr] | who |
h | [h] | hester | [ˈheːʂtr̩] | horse (c) |
hl | [l̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “l” | hlaupe | [ˈl̥oʊpə] | to jump |
hr | [r̥]~[ɹ̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “r” | hringer | [ˈr̥iːŋkr̩] | ring (c) |
i | [iː] when stressed | filgi | [ˈfiːlgi] | friend; pal (c) |
[i] when unstressed | filgi | |||
j | [j] | jeter | [ˈjeːtr̩] | hot (adj.) |
k | [kʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters | kone | [ˈkʰoːnə] | woman (c) |
[k] in clusters and at the end of a word | kristni | [ˈkriːʂtni] | Christianity (c) | |
l | [l] | langer | [ˈlaːŋkr̩] | long, tall (adj) |
m | [m] | mame | [ˈmaːmə] | mom; mama (c) |
n | [n] | neme | [ˈneːmə] | to take; to grab |
ng | [ŋk] | gange | [ˈgaːŋkə] | to go |
o | [oː] when stressed | motor | [ˈmoːtor] | motor (c) |
[o] when unstressed | ||||
p | [pʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters | pape | [ˈpʰaːpʰə] | dad; papa (c) |
[p] in clusters and at the end of a word | skip | [ˈʂkiːp] | ship (n) | |
ph | [f] (only used in Greek loanwords) | photo | [ˈfoːto] | photograph (n) |
qu | [kv]~[gv] (only used in French/Latin loanwords) | quantite | [ˈkvaːntitə] | quantity (c) |
r | [r] | rauðer | [ˈroʊðr̩] | red (adj) |
s | [s] prevocalically and in any cluster where it precedes f, l, n, r, v; also at the end of genitives in compound nouns | sorter | [ˈsoːrtr̩] | black (adj) |
Egilsdottar | [ˈeːɡilsdottər] | a patronymic; daughter of Egil | ||
[ʂ] word-initially/after a vowel and before a consonant | sterker | [ˈʂteːrkr̩] | strong (adj) | |
[ʃ] between two consonants | vinske | [ˈviːnʃkə] | Vinnish (language) (c) | |
sj | [ʂ] | sjør | [ˈʂøːr] | sea (c) |
t | [tʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters | til | [ˈtʰil] | towards; lative preposition |
[t] in clusters and at the end of a word | sort | [ˈsoːrt] | neuter of “sorter” (black) | |
th | same as “t” (only used in Greek loanwords) | theologi | [tʰeˈoːlogi] | theology (c) |
tj | [tʂ] | gvitjøre | [ˈkviːtʂørə] | kenning for a goose; literally “white-ear” (n) |
u | [uː] when stressed | rum | [ˈruːm] | bed (n) |
v | [v] | vinder | [ˈviːndr̩] | wind (c) |
w | [v]~[w] | Wisconsin | [viˈʂkoːnsin] | Wisconsin |
x | [ks] | sex | [ˈseːks] | six |
y | [yː] when stressed | gryn | [ˈkryːn] | green |
z | [z]~[s] | zebre | [ˈzeːprə] | zebra (c) |
æ | [æː] when stressed | sæl | [ˈsæːl] | well, healthy (adj) |
[æ] when unstressed | gvenær | [ˈgveːnær] | when (interrogative) | |
ø | [øː] when stressed | spørje | [ˈʂpøːrjə] | to ask |
[ø] when unstressed | førgefe | [førˈɡeːfə] | to forgive | |
å | [ɔː]~[oː] when stressed | våge | [ˈvɔːgə] | eye (n) |
[ɔ]~[o] when unstressed | Olåfer | [ˈoːlɔfr̩] | Olaf (male name) |
Common Phonological Processes in Vinnish
Elision
Certain letters in Vinnish are subject to elision when inflectional endings follow them. In particular, -en, -er, and -el are prone to this sort of change:
- kristen > kristne
- kombel > kombli
- maðer > maðren
In multisyllabic adjective stems, this is particularly prominent.
Vowel Assimilation
Often, two vowels that are adjacent to each other will undergo elision, with the “double” vowel merging into the first vowel.
- hå-ar -> hår
- hå-e -> hå
- tru-em -> trum
R-Assimilation
In addition, the -er suffix is prone to being dropped when added to stems that end in -l, -n, -r, -s, and -x. This is due to it being a word-final “-r” in Old Norse which would assimilate to one of the aforementioned consonants.
- far + er > far
- mikel + er > mikel
- vinlos + er > vinlos
- gryn + er > gryn
This also shows up with the genitive plural adjectival suffix, -re, which will assimilate by doubling the stem consonant that comes before it:
- far + re > farre
- vinlos + re > vinlosse
- gryn + re > grynne
U-Umlaut
U-umlaut in Vinnish is fairly simple: certain suffixes and grammatical endings trigger u-umlaut, which only surfaces in the vowel “a” earlier on in the word. This change causes the vowel “a” to become “å” instead.
- skap- > skåpem
- barn > bårn
In syllables whose stem vowel is not “a”, this change does not visibly surface.
- mæl- > mælem
- skip > skip
In multisyllabic words (often verbs) that undergo u-umlaut, generally the stressed “a” will mutate to “å” while the remaining “a” vowels until the ending will mutate to “e”.
Throughout this page, the shorthand (+u) will be used to denote the triggering of u-umlaut.
I-Umlaut
I-Umlaut is a somewhat more complicated process: It affects many more vowels than u-umlaut does, and as such, each pattern needs to be memorized separately. Note that also in some cases, one vowel can have multiple realizations after i-umlaut for etymological reasons relating to Old Norse. In these cases, I try to list the most common realization first and the less common ones last.
Vowel | I-Umlauted |
---|---|
a, ja | e |
au, o | ø |
vå | jø |
å | æ, ø |
u, ø, ju, jø, o | y |
Throughout this page, the shorthand (+i) will be used to denote the triggering of i-umlaut.
Dental Assimilation
When a suffix beginning in a dental sound follows another dental, some assimilation takes place between the two sounds.
- ð + d > dd, d word-finally
- fyð- + -de > fydde
- ð + t > tt, t word-finally
- rauð- + t > raut
- ð + t > st word-finally (more in verbs)
- bað- + t > bast
- t + t > tt, t word-finally
- flat- + t > flat
- t + t > st word-finally (more in verbs)
- galt- + t > galst
Nouns
Vinnish nouns fall into one of two genders, common and neuter. The common gender comes from the conflation of the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse. Nouns inflect for number and case.
Common Nouns
On the whole, common nouns show a much larger variance in declension patterns than neuter nouns. There are two overarching declension patterns among common nouns: strong and weak.
Note that "(u)" refers to the presence of u-umlaut and "∅" refers to a null ending.
Strong Common Nouns
Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Genitive | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | -er, ∅ | ∅ | -i | -s, -ar |
Plural | -ar | -e | (u)-em | -e |
viner - “friend” | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | viner | vin | vini | vinar |
Plural | vinar | vine | vinem | vine |
is - “ice” | ||||
Singular | is | is | isi | isar |
Plural | isar | ise | isem | ise |
fjål - “plank, board, table” | ||||
Singular | fjål | fjål | fjåli | fjålar |
Plural | fjålar | fjåle | fjålem | fjåle |
stein - “stone” | ||||
Singular | stein | stein | steini | steins |
Plural | steinar | steine | steinem | steine |
hrafen - “raven” | ||||
Singular | hrafen | hrafen | hrafni | hrafens |
Plural | hrafnar | hrafne | hråfnem | hrafne |
i-Umlaut Strong Common Nouns
A number of strong common nouns show an i-umlaut in the dative singular and in the nominative and accusative plurals, as well as an ending of -er in the nominative and accusative plurals.
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
hånd - “hand” | ||
Nominative | hånd | hender |
Accusative | hånd | hender |
Dative | hendi | håndem |
Genitive | håndar | hånde |
tån - “tooth” | ||
Nominative | tån | tenner |
Accusative | tån | tenner |
Dative | teni | tånnem |
Genitive | tånar | tånne |
rot - “root” | ||
Nominative | rot | ryter |
Accusative | rot | ryter |
Dative | ryti | rotem |
Genitive | rotar | rote |
The Family Declension
These nouns all refer to family members. They are characterized by a consistent -ar ending in the cases of the singular, and an i-umlaut in the stem in the plural cases.
father | mother | brother | sister | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | ||||
Nom, Acc, Dat | faðar | moðar | broðar | søstar |
Gen | faðars | moðars | broðars | søstars |
Plural | ||||
Nom, Acc | feðer | myðer | bryðer | søster |
Dat | feðrem | myðrem | bryðrem | søstrem |
Gen | feðre | myðre | bryðre | søstre |
I-Final Common Nouns
A few common strong nouns end in -i. These usually refer to abstract concepts, do not have a plural, and only show case marking in the genitive.
Nominative, Accusative, Dative | Genitive | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
fryði - “knowledge; science” | ||||
Singular | fryði | fryðis |
Weak Common Nouns
The weak declension pattern of common nouns is somewhat simpler than that of the strong common nouns.
Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Genitive | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | -e, -i | -e | -es | |
Plural | -ar | -e | (u)-em | -e |
Examples of Weak Common Nouns | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Genitive | |
hagi - “meadow” | ||||
Singular | hagi | hage | hages | |
Plural | hagar | hage | hågem | hage |
gofe - “steam” | ||||
Singular | gofe | gofes | ||
Plural | gofar | gofe | gofem | gofe |
There are also some loanwords that end in -a. These are otherwise treated like “standard” weak common nouns, but in the singular retain their -a.
Nominative | Accusative | Dative | Genitive | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | zebra | zebras | ||
Plural | zebrar | zebre | zebrem | zebre |
Neuter Nouns
When compared to common nouns, neuter nouns show much less variation in their declension patterns. Neuter nouns are characterized by the universal lack of distinction between nominative and accusative forms, and by a u-umlaut in the plural.
Weak Neuter Nouns
The set of weak neuter nouns is limited to a small list of body parts, and derivates thereof.
Definite Article
Definiteness is shown via a cliticized definite article on the end of a noun. This definite article inflects for gender, case, and number.
Common | Neuter | |
---|---|---|
Singular | ||
Nominative | -(e)n | -(e)t |
Accusative | ||
Dative | -inem | -ine |
Genitive | -(e)ns* | |
Plural | ||
Nominative | -nar | -(e)n |
Accusative | -ne | |
Dative | -nem** | |
Genitive | -nne |
*In nouns who end in a vowel in the nominative, the “-s” ending is overridden by the “-ns” definite article; ergo, the words “fryðis”, “hages” and “zebras” have definite counterparts “fryðins”, “hagens” and “zebrans” respectively, rather than “*fryðisins”, “*hagesens” and “*zebrasens”
**The dative plural article also overrides the final “-m” of the dative plural noun form; ergo, the word “hestem” (dat. pl. of hester “horse”) has the definite counterpart “hestenem”, rather than the expected *hestemnem.
Adjectives
There are two patterns of adjectives in Vinnish: declinables and indeclinables.
Declinable adjectives in Vinnish agree with the nouns they modify in gender, case, number, and definiteness. There are two inflections for adjectives: strong and weak adjectives.
Indeclinable adjectives, as the name suggests, do not decline at all, and are limited to present participles, comparative adjectives, and some loanwords. Virtually all indeclinable adjectives end in -i.
Strong Adjectives
Strong adjectives are used attributively with indefinite nouns and predicatively with all nouns. They inflect for gender, case, and number.
Common | Neuter | |
---|---|---|
Singular | ||
Nom | -er | -t |
Acc | -en | |
Dat | (u)-em | (u)-e |
Gen | -s | |
Plural | ||
Nom | -ar | (u) |
Acc | -e | |
Dat | (u)-em | |
Gen | -re |
Weak Adjectives
The weak adjective system is simplified compared to the more robust Old Norse forms.
Weak adjectives are formed by adding an ending of -e to the stem of the adjective, and do not change form for case or number in Modern Vinnish. They are used with definite nouns, nouns modified by a demonstrative, and non-indefinite nouns modified by a possessive adjective.
stort
big-NEUT-NOM-SG-INDEF
barn
child-NOM-SG-INDEF
big child
store
big-DEF
barnet
child-NOM-SG-DEF
the big child
Because the weak form inherently conveys definiteness, it is possible to drop the definite article suffix on the modified noun.
store
big-DEF
barn
child-NOM-SG
the big child
Adverbs
Adverbs are formed one of three ways, listed in descending order of usage: Adding the suffix "-vegi" to the stem of the adjective (usually identical to the weak adjective form), using the weak adjective form, or using the strong neuter singular form. There are also words that are inherently adverbial and are not derived from any kind of adjective.
Historical Forms
While the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse collapsed into the common gender in Vinnish, some remnants of the old masculine/feminine system linger in Vinnish. These features, while attested in older texts such as the Vinnish Bible, were moribund even around the 1600s.
Masculine Forms
In more archaic texts in Vinnish, a naturally or semantically masculine weak adjective can optionally take the ending -i in the nominative singular. In all other cases of the noun, the ending -e is used.
sterki
strong-MASC-DEF
sveinen
youth-SG-NOM-DEF
the strong young man
Feminine Forms
In older Vinnish texts, a naturally or semantically feminine strong adjective can optionally take u-umlaut in the nominative singular and show an ending of -e in the accusative.
fåger
beautiful-FEM-SG-NOM
kone
woman-SG-NOM
beautiful woman
Plural Forms
In older Vinnish texts, plural weak adjectives can take u-umlaut in all cases.
kålde
cold-NEUT-PL-DEF
skipen
ship-PL-NOM-DEF
the cold ships
Nominalizing Adjectives
While exceedingly rare, the indeclinable adjectives can be nominalized. When nominalized, they take the normal inflections of weak nouns with endings in -i. This nominalization is limited to a few nouns that end in -i, usually demonyms.
Pakistani
Pakistani-COMM-PL-DAT
filgem
friend-PL-DAT
Pakistani friends (dative).
Han
3P-HUM-SG
mælti
speak-3P
með
with
jem
one-COMM-PL-DAT
Pakistanem.
Pakistani-PL-DAT
He/She spoke with a few Pakistanis.
Verbs
There are two overarching types of verbs in Vinnish, strong and weak verbs. Weak verbs form the past stem via a dental suffix on the present stem, while strong verbs form the past stem via vowel alternation. Vinnish verbs inflect for two tenses (past and present), person, and number. In addition, they make use of certain auxiliary verbs to show aspect, and one of two moods: indicative and subjunctive. Verbs also have both a past and a present participle, and inflect for active and mediopassive voice.
Weak Verbs
Weak verbs are characterized by their usage of a dental consonant to form their past stem. This dental consonant can be either -d, -ð, or -t. Which consonant is used is not always readily predictable for a weak verb, and so must simply be memorized along with the verb; however, the majority of Vinnish verbs use -ð.
The below table shows the basic inflection pattern for a weak verb. Note that the symbol "D" refers to the dental consonant used.
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
Present | ||
1st | -i | (u)-em |
2nd | -ar | -ið |
3rd | -e | |
Past | ||
1st | -De | (u)-Dem |
2nd | -Dar | (u)-Deð |
3rd | -Di | (u)-De |
Strong Verbs
Strong verbs show tense via a change in the stem vowel. There are seven classes of strong verbs in Vinnish, each characterized by a different alternation pattern.
Syntax
Vinnish shows a heavy preference for V2 word order, though this is being worn down in colloquial language.
Constituent order
Vinnish is primarily SVO, though due to the case system, some flexibility is allowed in the order of arguments to convey topic and focus, or to conform to a meter in songs and poetry.
Noun phrase
Verb phrase
Sentence phrase
Dependent clauses
Example texts
Opening Monologue of First and Final Book in the How To Train Your Dragon Series by Cressida Cowell
“Ðar våre lindormar, ðår om dågenem sem eg var svein. Ðar våre miklar, grimar himenslindormar sem gørðe sin hreiðer i fjallenne hæstem klettem, like storar hræðandi foglar. Litlar, brunar, skriðandi lindormar sem vedde mys ok rotte i flokkem like ølgjar. Otruligvegi jåtenligar sjøslindormar sem våre totge styrðar styrri en styrstar blågvalar, ok sem dråpe jene før leik.
“Ðir ðorfeð at true mit orð, ðvi lindormarnar gverfes ut so fløte ðat må at ðeir bråt skøli verðe utdånar or vårem veråldi.
“Jengver veit ekki gvat gøras. Ðeir søkkve i sjøn sem ðeir kome or, låte ekki ut i jårð jetgvert bein, jengvern tån, slike at men om framdage mege vite at ðeir våre hir i vårem veråldi.
“Af ðvi, før at ðessar konenglige gørnar skøli ekki glømes, eg mon tale ðenne saðen sage af minem barndomi.” - Gvernig at Venje Sin Lindorm
Schleicher's Fable
Jen sauðer sem sir var ekki jetgvert hår leit heste: jen togði ðongen vagen, jen helt å bakine stort bereng, ok jen helt å bakine man fløtevegi. Sauðren sagði hestenem: “Eg em sår i hjartene at eg lit at maðer leðar heste.” Hestarnar sågðe: “Hør ðu, sauðer, vir erem sårar i hjartene at vir litem ðette slike: at maðer, jarlen, gørar sir heitist klæði af sauðshåri. Ok sauðinem er ekki jetgvert hår.” Sauðren hørði ðette ok koms onden i hagene.