Proto-Nanno-Pithecian

The Proto-Nanno-Pithecian language (alternatively, Proto-Pygmy-Dwarven; abbreviated, PNP) is the largely reconstructed ancestor of the languages spoken by the Pygmy-Dwarven Nannic and Pithecian peoples of the world. It has been reconstructed based on sound correspondences between Dwarven and Pygmaean, and based on scarce inscriptions on pottery and other artefacts. The language is presumed to have been a lingua-franca amongst the Nannic and Pithecian peoples; while the Nannic and Pithecian peoples are believed to come from the same stock, the split into two distinct phenotypes ("races") is also believed to be quite ancient, thus Proto-Nanno-Pithecian is not believed to be the language of their original united forebearers, and separate Nannic and Pithecian identities would thus predate the language. Thus, it is believed the language developed in one of the various Nanno-Pithecian communities and split across racial lines gradually while spreading to different Nanno-Pithecian communities.

Real-world explanation: The Proto-Nanno-Pithecian language is the proto-language for a conlang project of CEIGE⟨TAWK⟩'s. It is inspired partially by Khuzdul (LotR) and Khazalid (Warhammer), mostly via exposure to Khazalid placenames. This started due to a long session of playing Total War: WARHAMMER as the Dwarfs, which involves a lot of exploration and consolidation of spread out Dwarven territories. The Proto-Nanno-Pithecian language is intended to make derivation of the two intended daughter languages easier, and provide some depth to an original fantasy backstory, separate to but inspired by the fun experience had forming a Dwarven empire in the above-mentioned game.

Introduction

Nomenclature

The Proto-Nanno-Pithecian language is sometimes referred to as Proto-Pygmy-Dwarven. The latinate name, however, is considered more suitable due to its abstraction away from the common terms for the Nannic and Pithecian peoples, that is, dwarves and pygmies respectively. The root nan(n)o- is the term used for dwarves by scholars, while pitheco- is a scholarly translation of the common term used to describe the contemporary Pithecian peoples by the Dwarfs: "monkeys". This term originated due to the Pithecians being more lithe and limber than dwarfs, and also partially is inspired by their socio-economic circumstances, as the Pithecians are relegated to more outdoorsy jobs. The term pymgy takes into account the phenotypical differences between dwarfs and Pithecians but is a hold-over from when the Pithecians held significant power, before the Dwarven seizure of the economic apparatus of their shared lands.

In addition, there are the Caphic peoples, whose name descends from an older root for monkeys and apes; these are literal "ape-men", having significantly thicker and opaque body hair and more primitive body features. They appear to speak languages related to the Nanno-Pithecian languages, but a broad survey of these peoples has not been accomplished yet to confirm this suspicion.

Thus:

• Nannic, Nanno- = Dwarven, Dwarf-
• Pithecian, Pitheco- = Pygmy ("monkey" may be considered pejorative by some).
• Caphic, Capho- = ape-mannish, ape-man-

If not already clear, all of these terms make reference to the stature (or appearance in the case of Caphic) of the peoples concerned (which is often a bit over 5 ft for an adult male, perhaps 5'3" would be rather tall; 6ft would be considered extremely tall). Thus they are considered anthropocentric, except for Pithecian, which is nannocentric. More progressive linguists have not yet decided on an appropriate neutral term for the language family.

Phonology

See also: Nanno-Pithecian Sound Laws

The phonology of Proto-Nanno-Pithecian is reconstructed based on the phonologies of the Dwarven and Pygmaean languages, and thus is not based on directly attested phonetic values. A minority view amongst scholars is that the Urheimat of the language might have had literate grammarians who have described the nature of their language's sounds in some format, but so far no inscriptions nor surviving books or letters have been identified that would prove this theory. A theory that ancient Nanno-Pithecians had access to technology which could record voices is considered pseudo-scientific.

Orthography

Proto-Nanno-Pithecian is scarcely attested via a myriad of inscriptions on pottery, tools, buildings and artwork which would have been made in the later stages of the language as it was beginning to split up. Inscriptions appear to fall into three loose stages: ideographic, abjad, and alphabetical. Despite many other languages evolving letters from ideograms, it appears many letters of the abjad and alphabet stages were innovated from other sources.

Consonants

Proto-Nanno-Pithecian is reconstructed as having between 18 and 20 consonants, at least. It is unknown if the language had a more diverse range of fricatives; if so, they likely merged with the same phonemes in both major branches of the language family.

	Labial	Apical	Laminal	Velar	Post-Velar
Obstruents	p b	t d	ť ď	k g	q
Continuants	w	l r 1	y	ʟ ʀ 1	ħ 2
Nasals	m	n	ň 3	ŋ 3

1. While the symbols for trills are used for /r/ and /ʀ/, the exact value for these phonemes is unknown, other than their location in the oral tract ("front" and "back").
2. /ħ/'s exact value is also largely unknown; it is believed to simply be a guttural fricative of varying qualities depending on context and speaker. /ħ/ is often rendered /x/.
3. The laminal and velar nasal are believed to be allophones of /n/ (and perhaps /m/) when proceeding a laminal or velar plosive.

Vowels

PNP is largely agreed to have the three vowel phonemes /a/, /i/ and /u/, but there is controversy regarding whether it has /e/ and /o/ and length distinctions. Diphthongs with /a/ and /i/ or /u/ are possible.

Prosody

No accentuation system is currently known for PNP.

Morphology

PNP is one of those languages with no morphology that make IAL peeps jump for joy. Just joking! I just haven't got this far.

List of roots

• *alb-, arp- - mountainous land (Nannic *arba, Pygmaean nap)
• *apta(r/n/l)- - want, desire (Dwarven aftan, Old Pithecian ap(ə)tal (Pygmaean aputái?))
• *ďaw(ax?) - outside, the great outdoors (Nannic *zawak(?), Pygmaen yhook)
• *kwal- - exchange (Nannic *kwal, Pygmaeankumá)
• *ťand- - give, donate, pay (Dwarven thand (give, pay), tarthand (donate, finance), Old Pithecian canəntə, Pygmaean *sanne)
• *ťaqu- - after, following (Nannic *thaqʷ-, Dwarven thag, thaw, thow, Old Pithecian caxu)