Xobchyk: Difference between revisions

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== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==


'''Consonants'''


 
All dialects of Xobchyk distinguish the following consonantal phonemes, though phonetic realization can vary regionally. The standard variety includes uvulars and pharyngeals, which are typologically rare in East Asia.
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'''Consonants'''
All dialects of Xobchyk distinguish the following consonantal phonemes, though phonetic realization can vary regionally. The standard variety includes uvulars and pharyngeals, which are typologically rare in East Asia.




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!  |Alveolar
!  |Alveolar
!  |Retroflex


!  |Palatal
!  |Palatal
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| '''н''' /n/
| '''н''' /n/
|


|  
|  
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| '''т''' /t/
| '''т''' /t/
|


| '''ц''' /c/
| '''ц''' /c/
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| '''д''' /d/
| '''д''' /d/
|


|  
|  
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| '''тʼ''' /tʼ/
| '''тʼ''' /tʼ/
|


| '''цʼ''' /cʼ/
| '''цʼ''' /cʼ/
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| '''с''' /s/
| '''с''' /s/
| '''ш''' /ʂ/


| '''хь''' /ç/
| '''хь''' /ç/
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|
|
| '''гь''' /ʕ/


|
|
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| '''л''' /l/
| '''л''' /l/
|


|  
|  
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|
|
|-
! Retroflex Fricative
|
| '''ш''' /ʂ/
|
|
|
|
|


|-
|-
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|  
|  
|


| '''й''' /j/
| '''й''' /j/
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|  
|  
|


|  
|  
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Coda clusters are more restricted and often contain combinations of nasals, stops, and laterals. Sequences like /nt/, /rk/, and /mg/ occur frequently. However, triple codas are avoided, and loanwords with such clusters are typically adapted with epenthetic vowels or simplified consonants.
Coda clusters are more restricted and often contain combinations of nasals, stops, and laterals. Sequences like /nt/, /rk/, and /mg/ occur frequently. However, triple codas are avoided, and loanwords with such clusters are typically adapted with epenthetic vowels or simplified consonants.


The language strongly avoids sequences of identical consonants, except in expressive or onomatopoeic forms. For example, words like "шшар" /ʂʂɑr/ ("to hiss") exist but are rare and stylistically marked. Assimilation across syllables is minimal, preserving clarity in clusters.
The language strongly avoids sequences of identical consonants, except in expressive or onomatopoeic forms. For example, words like "шшар" /ʂʂar/ ("to hiss") exist but are rare and stylistically marked. Assimilation across syllables is minimal, preserving clarity in clusters.


Vowel sequences are generally disallowed unless forming diphthongs. Xobchyk's permitted diphthongs (such as /aj/, /ej/, /ou/, /ɤj/) follow strict rising or falling sonority contours. Diphthongs tend to occur word-medially or word-finally, but rarely word-initially unless following a glottal stop.
Vowel sequences are generally disallowed unless forming diphthongs. Xobchyk's permitted diphthongs (such as /aj/, /ej/, /ou/, /ɤj/) follow strict rising or falling sonority contours. Diphthongs tend to occur word-medially or word-finally, but rarely word-initially unless following a glottal stop.
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* For example:
* For example:
** ''mejtal'' – I see him (direct)
** ''mejtal'' – I see him (direct), where ''mej'' is him and the root doesn’t  change for person/number.
** ''imtal'' – He sees me (inverse)
** ''imtal'' – He sees me (inverse)
Another striking feature is the presence of '''obligatory mirativity marking'''. Verbs must indicate whether the speaker considers the information to be expected or surprising.
Another striking feature is the presence of '''obligatory mirativity marking'''. Verbs must indicate whether the speaker considers the information to be expected or surprising.
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** ''dor'' – has arrived unexpectedly
** ''dor'' – has arrived unexpectedly
** ''daur'' – will arrive, surprisingly
** ''daur'' – will arrive, surprisingly
''Xobchyk'' employs a robust system of '''non-concatenative morphology''', including root-internal vowel shifts and reduplication. Rather than stacking affixes linearly, verb stems undergo internal changes to express voice, mood, evidentiality, and aspect.
''Xobchyk'' employs a robust system of '''non-concatenative morphology''', including root-internal vowel shifts and reduplication. Rather than stacking affixes linearly, verb stems undergo internal changes to express mirativity, tense, mood, evidentiality, and aspect. More complex verbs change the vowels for more than one aspect or tense.


* Reduplication typically marks iterative or habitual action:
* Reduplication typically marks iterative or habitual action:
** ''lal'' – to call
** ''lal'' – to call
** ''lalal'' – to call repeatedly or habitually
** ''lalal'' – to call repeatedly or habitually
The evidential system in ''Xobchyk'' is unusually elaborate, marking whether the speaker knows the information firsthand, inferred it, heard it from someone else, or considers it mythic/legendary.
The evidential system in ''Xobchyk'' isn’t hard, marking whether the speaker knows the information, firsthand, or has heard, was told or presumed, indirect.


Lastly, ''Xobchyk'' features '''split-predicate constructions''', where the verb stem is separated into multiple components distributed across a clause. These constructions are especially common in expressions of motion, emotion, and obligation, and they often combine analytic particles with stem fragments to signal complex aspectual or modal distinctions.
Lastly, ''Xobchyk'' features '''split-predicate constructions''', where the verb stem is separated into multiple components distributed across a clause. These constructions are especially common in expressions of motion, emotion, and obligation, and they often combine analytic particles with stem fragments to signal complex aspectual or modal distinctions.


The progressive is formed by doubling the first consonant. If the first consonant is already doubled, like in «шшар» “to hiss”, it doubles the consonant cluster, but with «ы» in between. So, “шшар” becomes “шшышшар”.
Although being non-concatenative, other forms have particles to make them. Those oarticles always come before the verb form. The participle is formed by the particle “во” + infinitive. The Past is formed by “гье” + present form(conjugated). The future is formed by “нло” + present form(conjugated). The Perfect is formed by “боц” + present form(conjugated). The imperfect is formed by “зёх” + present form(conjugated). So for example, the Past Perfect Imperative Firsthand Surprising of the verb “tal” (to see) is: гьебоц тол ('eboc tol).


Here’s the complete conjugation of the verb '''tal''' (to see):


Here’s the complete conjugation of the verb '''tala''' (to be, irregular):
!!Attention: Forms with pronouns inside the verbs are not included, such as “I see HIM”!!


{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="text-align:center;"
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="text-align:center;"
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! '''Aspect'''
! '''Aspect'''
! '''Mood'''
! '''Mood'''
! '''Voice'''
! '''Evidentiality'''
! '''Evidentiality'''
! '''Mirativity'''
! '''Mirativity'''
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|Simple
|Simple
|Indicative
|Indicative
|Direct
|Firsthand
|Firsthand
|Expected
|Expected
|туло
|тал
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Indicative
|Firsthand
|Unexpected
|тыл
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Indicative
|Firsthand
|Surprising
|тала
|-
|-
|Present
|Present
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|Indicative
|Indicative
|Indirect
|Indirect
|Expected
|тëлё
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Indicative
|Indirect
|Unexpected
|тели
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Indicative
|Indirect
|Surprising
|тäла
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Subjunctive
|Firsthand
|Expected
|тëëл
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Subjunctive
|Firsthand
|Firsthand
|Unexpected
|Unexpected
|толо
|толы
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Subjunctive
|Firsthand
|Surprising
|тылы
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Subjunctive
|Indirect
|Expected
|тëлы
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Subjunctive
|Indirect
|Unexpected
|таал
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Subjunctive
|Indirect
|Surprising
|тылё
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Imperative
|Firsthand
|Expected
|тулу
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Imperative
|Firsthand
|Unexpected
|тул
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Imperative
|Firsthand
|Surprising
|тол
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Imperative
|Indirect
|Expected
|тɑ̄лу
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Imperative
|Indirect
|Unexpected
|тɑ̄ла
|-
|Present
|Simple
|Imperative
|Indirect
|Surprising
|тɑ̄ɑ̄л
|}
|}