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| s z
| s z
| (ç)
| (ç)
| x ɣ
| x~ɣ*
|-
|-
! Affricate
! Affricate
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|}
|}


The palatals given in brackets are allophones of how palatalized /n/ and /x, ɣ/.
The palatals given in brackets are allophones of how palatalized /n/ and /x~ɣ/.
Although originally separate sounds, /x/ and /ɣ/ have merged and are now interchangeable.
 


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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===Orthography===
===Orthography===
The Mergian language is written in two scripts. They are the Latin script (''Latnei'') and clerical script (''Gresjei''). The latter is reserved for religious purposes, but sees usage in rural regions too. The Latin script was introduced by [[w: Johannes_Gutenberg|Johannes Gutenberg]] with the advent of the [[w: Printing_press|printing press]]. At first, the Latin script was adopted and simply replicated the clerical script by appearance (i.e. Latin letters replaced letters that they looked like, not ones that they sounded like). This usage of the script caused widespread confusion among Mergians and non-Mergians alike, since completely unrelated letters merged. After the December Revolution in 1916, the new government sought to reform writing. The reforms refit the Latin script to fit Mergian speech, rather than to fit clerical script characters.
The alphabet is given below
{| class="wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Mergian Alphabet
|-
! Gothic
|𐌰
|𐌱
|𐌲
|𐌳
|𐌴
|𐌵
|𐌶
|𐌷
|𐌸
|𐌹
|𐌺
|𐌻
|𐌼
|𐌽
|𐌾
|𐌿
|𐍀
|𐍂
|𐍃
|𐍄
|𐍅
|𐍆
|𐍇
|𐍈
|𐍉
|
|-
! Pre-1916
|A a
|B b
|C c
|D d
|E e
|U u
|Z z
|H h
|Y y
|I i
|R r
|⅄ ʎ
|M m
|N n
|G g
|∩ n
|∩ n
|R r
|S s
|T t
|Y y
|F f
|X x
|O o
|O o
|D d
|-
! Modern
|A a
|B b
|G g
|D d
|E e
| -
|Z z
|H h
|Þ þ
|I i
|K k
|L l
|M m
|N n
|J j
|U u
|P p
|R r
|S s
|T t
|Ŭ ŭ
|F f
|X x*
|V v
|O o
|Đ ð
|-
! Pronounced
| /a/
| /b/
| /x~ɣ/
| /d/
| /ɛ/, /ɘ/
| -
| /z/
| /h/, /ː/
| /θ/
| /ɪ/, /i/
| /k/
| /l/
| /m/
| /n/
| /j/
| /ʊ/, /u/
| /p/
| /r/
| /s/
| /t/
| /w/
| /f/
| /x/
| /v/
| /ɔ/, /o/
| /ð/
|}
* Vowels with multiple entries use the same letter to write distinct sounds. There are a set of rules determining when to use which pronounciation.
* <H h> is pronounced /h/ word-initially and lengthens the preceding vowel anywhere else
* <Ŭ ŭ> is called ''gamorzjets u'' ("short u") and it is used to transcribe clerical script. In modern text, this character is not used and instead is replaced by <U u>
* <X x> is seen in one word in modern text, ''Xristo'' ("Christ"), and any words containing it.


==Morphology==
==Morphology==
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==== Declension ====
==== Declension ====
Mergian retained much of the noun declensions of Gothic.
The declensions are organized by the ending they have in their accusative form. Thus, the declensions are
* -s declension
* -e declension
* -a declension
* -o declension
* -n declension
* -ij declension
* -r declension
* Empty declension
There are also slight differences per declension depending on the gender of the noun.
One interesting phenomenon of the declension system is that, verbs and adverbs are sometimes colloquially treated like nouns and are thus declined like ones. This only happens when they are preceded by a preposition. Consider the following examples:
* ''Afar img'''e''', við sig seem ni njef'' - 'After today, we will never see each other again'
In this sentence, ''imga'' 'today' is incorrectly treated like a noun and takes a dative ending. The proper way would have been to adverbalize ''imga'' and give a noun (so, ''imga'' 'today' should have become ''imzjijns dag'' 'today's day')
* ''Inne ubaven'''s''', ufremoddem loggem!'' - 'In having fun, we forgot the clock [lost track of time]'
In this sentence, ''ubaven'' 'to have fun' is incorrectly treated like a noun and takes a genitive ending. The proper way would have been to use a participle (so, ''ubaven'' 'to have fun' should have become ''ubavendai'' 'having fun (pl.)'
===== -s declension =====
The -s declension has contains two sub-declensions. All of its nouns are masculine.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Main -s declension
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Nominative
| -s
| -o
|-
!Accusative
| -
| -ens
|-
!Genitive
| -e
| -ei
|-
!Dative
| -a
| -em
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Example with ''lefs'' 'bread'
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Nominative
| ''leps''
| ''lebo''
|-
!Accusative
| ''lef''
| ''lebens''
|-
!Genitive
|''lebe''
|''lebei''
|-
!Dative
|''leba''
|''lebem''
|}
The second declension ends in a -o sound. It is a remnant of the old Gothic nouns ending in -s. The declension is the exact same, except the nominative ends in a ''-o'' and ''-z-'' infix anywhere else.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Second -a declension
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Nominative
| -o
| -zo
|-
!Accusative
| -o
| -zens
|-
!Genitive
| -ze
| -zei
|-
!Dative
| -za
| -zem
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Example with ''dzjo'' 'animal'
|-
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Nominative
| ''dzjo''
| ''dzjozo''
|-
!Accusative
| ''dzjo''
| ''dzjozens''
|-
!Genitive
|''dzjoze''
|''dzjozei''
|-
!Dative
|''dzjoza''
|''dzjozem''
|}
There are three exceptions to the second -s declension. They are given below:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Exceptional -s declension
|-
!''hjo'' 'worker' <br/>
''tzrjo'' 'piece' <br/>
''snjo'' 'knee'
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!Nominative
| hjo <br/>
tzrjo <br/>
snjo
| þiva <br/>
triva <br/>
kniva
|-
!Accusative
| hjo <br/>
tzrjo <br/>
snjo
| þiva <br/>
triva <br/>
kniva
|-
!Genitive
|þive <br/>
trive <br/>
knive
|þivei <br/>
trivei <br/>
knivei
|-
!Dative
|þiva <br/>
triva <br/>
kniva
|þivem <br/>
trivem <br/>
knivem
|}
===== -e declension =====
The -e declension contains only words ending in -e. 


==== Derivation ====
==== Derivation ====
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If a geminate consonant cluster forms due to a prefix, then it should be turned degeminated.  
If a geminate consonant cluster forms due to a prefix, then it should be turned degeminated.  
Prefixes are able to stack, and this is most common seen in perfective verbs which already have a directional or aspectual prefix. If two vowels meet between prefixes, then the second one should be deleted. An example is ''atzjigen'' ("to contact") becoming its perfective form, ''gatzjigen''.  
Prefixes are able to stack, and this is most common seen in perfective verbs which already have a directional or aspectual prefix. If two vowels meet between prefixes, then the second one should be deleted. An example is ''atzjigen'' ("to contact") becoming its perfective form, ''gatzjigen''.
 
Some words take a prefix to make a distinction between multiple meanings, that are normally be distinguished by context, when context cannot provide enough information. This kind of prefix is called the supplemental prefix. Consider an example with the word ''lesjen'' which can mean "to learn" or "to teach". By context alone, you can infer what the speaker means to say, like in the sentences ''Dzijtskalo njuð sijnddekse lesjen'' "The teacher likes to teach/learn grammar" and ''Sibni hade sinddekse lesjen'' "The student hates to teach/learn grammar". However, in a sentence like ''E an Franrig lesjen fravoor'' "He moved to France to teach/learn", it is not immediately evident. For this reason, a less common used form like ''dulesjen'' "teach" or ''inlesjen'' "learn" is used. As evident by the example, normally ''du-'' will mark a causative or dative sense while ''in-'' will mark a passive sense.


==== Tense, aspect and mood ====
==== Tense, aspect and mood ====
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|-  
|-  
| VI
| VI
| e
| a
| ou
| ou
| ''skebha'' 'I shave', ''skouf'' 'I shaved' <!--cons+h is silent-->
| ''skebha'' 'I shave', ''skouf'' 'I shaved' <!--cons+h is silent-->
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! 1s
! 1s
| -e
| -e
| -Ø
| -
| -au
| -au
| -jau
| -jau
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|-
|-
! 2s
! 2s
| -s
| -ea
| -t
| -t
| -ai
| -ai
| -ee
| -ji
| -Ø
| -Ø
|-
|-
! 3s  
! 3s  
| -t
| -
| -t
| -t
| -ai
| -ai
| -i
| -ji
|
|
|-
|-
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| -em
| -em
| -em
| -em
| -me
| -aime
| -me
| -me
| -em
| -em
|-
|-
! 2p
! 2p
| -eþ
| -ats
| -eþ
| -uts
| -þe
| -jits
| -þe
| -aits
| -iþ
| -iþ
|-
|-
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| -en
| -en
| -en
| -en
| -ne
| -aine
| -ne
| -ne
|
|
|-
|-
! colspan="4" | Mediopassive
! colspan="4" | Mediopassive
| colspan="4" | -ðe
| colspan="4" | -te
|-
|-
! colspan="4" | Participle
! colspan="4" | Participle
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{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" | Example with <br/> ''singen'' 'to sing' !! colspan="2" | Indicative !! colspan="2" | Subjunctive !! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Imperative
! rowspan="2" | Example with <br/> ''bijden'' 'to bite' !! colspan="2" | Indicative !! colspan="2" | Subjunctive !! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Imperative
|-
|-
! Present !! Past !! Present !! Past  
! Present !! Past !! Present !! Past  
|-
|-
! 1s
! 1s
| ''singe''
| ''bijde''
| ''sang''
| ''beð''
| ''singau''
| ''bijdau''
| ''sangjau''
| ''bijdzjau''
||   
||   
|-
|-
! 2s
! 2s
| ''sings''
| ''bijdea''
| ''sangt''
| ''best''
| ''singai''
| ''bijdai''
| ''sangee''
| ''bijdzji''
|| ''sing!''
|| ''bið!''
|-
|-
! 3s  
! 3s  
| ''singt''
| ''bið''
| ''sangt''
| ''best''
| ''singai''
| ''bijdai''
| ''sangi''
| ''bijdzji''
||
||
|-
|-
! 1p
! 1p
| ''singem''
| ''bijdem''
| ''sangem''
| ''bedem''
| ''singaim''
| ''bijdaime''
| ''sangme''
| ''baidme''
|| ''singme''
|| ''bijdme''
|-
|-
! 2p
! 2p
| ''singeþ''
| ''bijdats''
| ''sangeþ''
| ''beduts''
| ''singþe''
| ''bijdits''
| ''sangþe''
| ''badaits''
|| ''singiþ''
|| ''bijdiþ''
|-
|-
! 3p
! 3p
| ''singen''
| ''bijden''
| ''sangen''
| ''beden''
| ''singne''
| ''bijdaine''
| ''sangne''
| ''bedne''
||  
||  
|-
|-
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|-
|-
! Mediopassive
! Mediopassive
| colspan="3" | singðe
| colspan="3" | bijste
| colspan="3" | sangðe
| colspan="3" | beste
|-
|-
! Participle
! Participle
| colspan="3" | singens
| colspan="3" | bijdens
| colspan="3" | sangens
| colspan="3" | bedens
|-
|-
! Infintive
! Infintive
| colspan="6" | singen
| colspan="6" | beden
|}
|}
* Note: A regular sound change shifts /tt/ into [st], and word-final /t/ into [ð].


The weak verb conjugation is slightly more varied based off the thematic vowel of the verb. The thematic vowel divides verb conjugation into four declensions. The thematic vowel is always indicated by the infinitive. They are as follows:
The weak verb conjugation is slightly more varied based off the thematic vowel of the verb. The thematic vowel divides verb conjugation into four declensions. The thematic vowel is always indicated by the infinitive. They are as follows:
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! 1s
! 1s
| -je
| -je
| -ðje
| -ða
| -jau
| -jau
| -ðjau
| -ðjau
|  
|  
| -ou
| rowspan="3" | -ou
| -oðe
| -oðe
| -jou
| -jou
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|-
|-
! 2s
! 2s
| -j
| -ea
| -t
| -ðei
| -ai
| -jea
| -ee
| -ðea
| -Ø
| -ji
|-
|-
! 3s  
! 3s  
| -t
| -ji
| -t
| -ða
| -ai
| -ea
| -i
| -ði
|
|
|-
|-
! 1p
! 1p
| -em
| -jem
| -em
| -ðem
| -me
| -jma
| -me
| -ðma
| -em
| -jem
|
| -om
 
|-
|-
! 2p
! 2p
| -eþ
| -jats
| -eþ
| -ðuts
| -þe
| -jets
| -þe
| -ðits
| -iþ
| -jiþ
|
| -outs
|-
|-
! 3p
! 3p
| -en
| -jen
| -en
| -ðen
| -ne
| -jna
| -ne
| -ðna
| -on
|
|
|-
|-
! colspan="4" | Mediopassive
! colspan="4" | Present Mediopassive
| colspan="4" | -ðe
| colspan="3" | -ta
|-
! colspan="4" | Past Mediopassive
| colspan="3" | -tva <!--note for self: the -va ending is from the word va "was" -->
|-
! colspan="4" | Present Participle
| colspan="3" | -jends
|-
|-
! colspan="4" | Participle
! colspan="4" | Past Participle
| colspan="4" | -ends
| colspan="3" | -ets
|-
|-
! colspan="4" | Infinitive
! colspan="4" | Infinitive
| colspan="4" | -en
| colspan="3" | -jen
|}
|}


== Particles ==
=== Prepositions ===


Mergian prepositions are typical to European languages. A preposition will have govern a certain case. Most prepositions, which are inherited from Gothic, govern the accusative or dative. Innovated prepositions govern the genitive.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of prepositions.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Prepositions governed by the dative
|-
! English
! Mergian
! Example
|-
| at, in
| að
| að resna <br/> "at home"
|-
| at, on
| an
| an gadau <br/> "on the street"
|-
| after, in front
| afar
| afar ing <br/> "after you"
|-
| out of, from
| o
| o Rume <br/> "from Rome"
|-
| with [comitative]
| miþ
| miþ vledza <br/> "with a police officer"
|-
| before, behind, following
| for
| for valdem <br/> "as per the rules"
|-
| about, around
| bi
| bi egra <br/> "around the field"
|-
| away from, due to
| fram
| languks fram ima <br/> "far from him/her"
|-
| above, over
| uvar
| uvar alma <br/> "above everything"
|}
|}


== Particles ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
 
|+ Prepositions governed by the accusative
=== Prepositions ===
|-
! English
! Mergian
! Example
|-
| into, to
| að
| að rasn <br/> "to home"
|-
| up to, until
| for
| for statzjon <br/> "up until the station"
|-
| with [instrumental], through, by
| þerg
|}


=== Discourse particles ===
=== Discourse particles ===
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=== Negation ===
=== Negation ===
Negation in Mergian is done with the negative particle ''ni''. It has two additional forms, ''nin'' and ''nit''. ''Nin'' is a contraction of the Old Mergian ''ni ain'' "not one" and ''nid'' is a contraction of ''ni þed'' "not it". ''Ni'' can be used before any part of speech, but its usage is restricted with nouns and verbs. ''Nin'' is used with nouns and verbs and ''nid'' is used only with verbs or as a standalone word.
For verbs, the negative particle used changes depending on the transitivity of the verb and the presence of compliments.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+
|-
!
! Intransitive
! Transitive
|-
! Has a direct object
| rowspan=2 | ni
| nin
|-
! Has no object
| nid
|}
''nin'' and ''nid'' should follow the verb and precede the object, but ''ni'' should come before. One exception is that, transitive verbs whose object can be inferred due to common usage do not take ''nit'' when the object is missing.
Consider the examples
* ''Ig veð nit'' "I don't know" (lit. "I know not it")
* ''Ig veð nin risti hisi edde Migea'' "I do not know anyone/a person named Micah" (lit. "I know not one person who is called Micah")
* ''Ig ni rougeage'' "I do not smoke [cigarettes]" (lit. "I do not smoke")


=== Interrogatives ===
=== Interrogatives ===
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