Iaskyon: Difference between revisions
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|- | |- | ||
! colspan="2" scope="row"|Approximant | ! colspan="2" scope="row"|Approximant | ||
| colspan="2"|'''''w''' | | colspan="2"|'''''w''' [β̞]'' | ||
| | | | ||
| colspan="2"|'''l''' /l/ | | colspan="2"|'''l''' /l/ | ||
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====Syllabic consonants==== | ====Syllabic consonants==== | ||
/m/ and /l/ have syllabic counterparts '''ḿ''' /m̩/ and '''ĺ''' /l̩/. | /m/ and /l/ have syllabic counterparts '''ḿ''' /m̩/ and '''ĺ''' /l̩/. | ||
===Vowels=== | ===Vowels=== | ||
====Short vowels==== | ====Short vowels==== | ||
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!|ai | !|ai | ||
!|au | !|au | ||
!| | !|ài | ||
!| | !|àu | ||
!|ei | !|ei | ||
!|eu | !|eu | ||
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The initial consonant has no restrictions. | The initial consonant has no restrictions. | ||
The following glide can be '''y'''/j/ or '''w'''/ | The following glide can be '''y'''/j/ or '''w'''/β̞/>[w]. | ||
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!|ky | !|ky | ||
|- | |- | ||
|/bj/||/pj/||/ | |/bj/||/pj/||/dβ̞/||/dj/||/tβ̞/||/tj/||/gβ̞/||/gj/||/kβ̞/||/kj/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
!|jy | !|jy | ||
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!|þy | !|þy | ||
|- | |- | ||
|/dzj/||/ | |/dzj/||/tsβ̞/||/tsj/||/tθβ̞/||/tθj/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
!|fy | !|fy | ||
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!|xy | !|xy | ||
|- | |- | ||
|/ɸj/||/βj/||/sj/||/zj/||/ | |/ɸj/||/βj/||/sj/||/zj/||/ɬβ̞/||/ɬj/||/xβ̞/||/xj/ [ç]/||/ɣβ̞/||/ɣj/ [ʝ] | ||
|- | |- | ||
!|mw | !|mw | ||
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!|ŋy | !|ŋy | ||
|- | |- | ||
|/ | |/mβ̞/||/mj/||/nj/||/ŋj/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
!|lw | !|lw | ||
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|/lw/||/lj/ | |/lw/||/lj/ | ||
|} | |} | ||
====Nucleus==== | ====Nucleus==== | ||
The nucleus can be any vowel, except for '''iu üa üe üi üö ui''' /iu ya yɛ yi yœ ui/ when the onset consists of an initial consonant and a glide. | The nucleus can be any vowel, except for '''iu üa üe üi üö ui''' /iu ya yɛ yi yœ ui/ when the onset consists of an initial consonant and a glide. | ||
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===Allophony=== | ===Allophony=== | ||
* | *Voiceless plosives are usually unreleased at coda. | ||
*Plosives and affricates are aspirated at onset. | *Plosives and affricates are slightly aspirated at onset. | ||
*'''h''' /x/ is realised as '''[ç]''' before and after /i(:)/, /y(:)/, and before /j/. | *'''h''' /x/ is realised as '''[ç]''' before and after /i(:)/, /y(:)/, and before /j/. | ||
*'''x''' /ɣ/ is realised as '''[ʝ]''' before and after /i(:)/, /y(:)/, before /j/, and '''[ʔ]''' at the end of a syllable. | *'''x''' /ɣ/ is realised as '''[ʝ]''' before and after /i(:)/, /y(:)/, before /j/, and '''[ʔ]''' at the end of a syllable. | ||
*'''w''' /β/ is realised as '''[ | *'''w''' /β/ is realised as '''[β̞]''' as a glide (second consonant) in a syllable. | ||
*'''t''' /t/ are realised as '''[ʔ]''' at the end of a syllable. | *'''t''' /t/ are realised as '''[ʔ]''' at the end of a syllable. | ||
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**A possibility of the event happening.<br>e.g. Toi isdoup ''obnakyop''. "They ''may'' buy this house." | **A possibility of the event happening.<br>e.g. Toi isdoup ''obnakyop''. "They ''may'' buy this house." | ||
*'''Permissive'''<br>The permissive mood marks: | *'''Permissive'''<br>The permissive mood marks: | ||
*#Presence of authorisation, permission for the event to happen.<br>e.g. Yu ''iluyá'' dőn. "You are not ''allowed to'' | *#Presence of authorisation, permission for the event to happen.<br>e.g. Yu ''iluyá'' dőn. "You are not ''allowed to enter''."<br>e.g. Yu dö''iluyá''. "You are ''allowed'' not ''to enter''." | ||
*#That it is appropriate for the event to happen.<br>e.g. Yuba wüof ''emőyá'' etöh. "You ''may'' slowly leave now." | *#That it is appropriate for the event to happen.<br>e.g. Yuba wüof ''emőyá'' etöh. "You ''may'' slowly ''leave'' now." | ||
*'''Abilitative'''<br>The abilitative mood marks: | *'''Abilitative'''<br>The abilitative mood marks: | ||
*#An capability of the event to happen, or the agent to cause the event. | *#An capability of the event to happen, or the agent to cause the event. | ||
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They are endowed with reason and conscience and should treat each other in a spirit of brotherhood. | They are endowed with reason and conscience and should treat each other in a spirit of brotherhood. | ||
====The Tower of Babel (unfinished translation)==== | |||
'''Wes upyeu, u paileyeu löüm fá hwei kyonya sesḿ gün.''' | |||
[βɛsˈupjɛŭ | ʔu ˌpailejɛŭ lœy̆m ˈɸaː xβ̞eĭ kjɔn.ja sezm̩ ɡyn] | |||
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. | |||
'''Tĺbo wakowem þàkfeullespye, i Sináeu uhöl kaisḿ; eno u wekeneu emgeunüm.''' | |||
[tl̩bɔ ˈβakoβɛm ˌtθɜk̚ɸɛulːɛspjɛ | ʔi ˌsinaː.ɛu ˈʔuxœl kaism̩ ‖ ɛnou βɛk̚nɛu ˈ(β̞)ɛmɡɛunym] | |||
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. | |||
'''Yasou tĺbi çamkwel sesḿ: hàgó, sebi xemcó céheno leba ünoibàmetó. Keu tĺbi xemcóhĺ xog, libonĺ guxme lahönüm.''' | |||
[jasou tl̩bi ˈtɬamkβ̞ɛl sezm̩ ‖ xɜˈɡoː | sɛbi ɣɛmˈtsoː ˈtseːxnɔ lɛba ynɔibɜmɛˈtoː ‖ kɛu tl̩bi ɣɛmˈtsoːxl̩ ɣɔɡ | ˈlibɔnl̩ ɡuʔmɛ ˈlax(œ)nym] | |||
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Iaskyon articles}} | {{Iaskyon articles}} | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Languages]] | ||
[[Category:Languages]] | [[Category:Languages]] | ||
<noinclude> | <noinclude> | ||
</noinclude> | </noinclude> |
Latest revision as of 02:22, 20 January 2017
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Iaskyon Iaskyon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alignment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ergative-absolutive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head direction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Initial | Mixed | Final | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Primary word order | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tonal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Declensions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conjugations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nouns decline according to... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Verbs conjugate according to... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Voice | Mood | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Person | Number | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tense | Aspect |
General information
Iaskyon (IPA: /ˈjas.kjɔn/) is an Yosic language native to an island nation Iaskáca. It is notable for its handling of ergativity, heavy verb conjugation, as well as synthetic noun compounding. Iaskyon can be written in two left-to-right scripts called Iaswü (IPA: /ˈjas.βy/, literally Ias writing) and Xogwü (IPA: /ˈɣɔg.βy/, literally rock writing).
Phonology
Consonants
Bilabial | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nasal | m /m/ | n /n/ | ŋ /ŋ/ | ||||||
Plosive | p /p/ | b /b/ | t /t/ | d /d/ | k /k/ | g /g/ | |||
Fricative | Plain | f /ɸ/ | w /β/ | s /s/ | z /z/ | h /x/ | x /ɣ/ | ||
Lateral | ş /ɬ/ | ||||||||
Affricate | Plain | þ /tθ/ | c /ts/ | j /dz/ | |||||
Lateral | ç /tɬ/ | ||||||||
Approximant | w [β̞] | l /l/ | y /j/ |
Syllabic consonants
/m/ and /l/ have syllabic counterparts ḿ /m̩/ and ĺ /l̩/.
Vowels
Short vowels
Front | Central | Back | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Close | i /i/ | ü /y/ | u /u/ | |
Mid | e /ɛ/ | ö /œ/ | à /ɜ~ə/ | o /ɔ/ |
Open | a /a/ |
Long vowels
Long vowels are represented orthographically by an acute accent or adding à. e.g. é or eà.
Front | Central | Back | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Close | í /iː/ | ű /yː/ | ú /uː/ | |
Mid | é /eː/ | ő /øː/ | â /əː~ɘː/ | ó /oː/ |
Open | á /aː/ |
Diphthongs
There is a large inventory of possible diphthongs, with a total of 15 of them.
ai | au | ài | àu | ei | eu | iu | üa | üe | üi | üö | ui | oi | ou | öü |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
/ai/ | /au/ | /əi/ | /əu/ | /ei/ | /ɛu/ | /iu/ | /ya/ | /yɛ/ | /yi/ | /yœ/ | /ui/ | /ɔi/ | /ou/ | /œy/ |
Phonotactics
Iaskyon syllables are maximally:
(C(G))V(C), or (C(G))S,
where C = consonant, G = glide, V = vowel and S = syllabic consonant.
Onset
The initial consonant has no restrictions.
The following glide can be y/j/ or w/β̞/>[w].
Allowed onsets are of the followings:
by | py | dw | dy | tw | ty | gw | gy | kw | ky |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
/bj/ | /pj/ | /dβ̞/ | /dj/ | /tβ̞/ | /tj/ | /gβ̞/ | /gj/ | /kβ̞/ | /kj/ |
jy | cw | cy | þw | þy | |||||
/dzj/ | /tsβ̞/ | /tsj/ | /tθβ̞/ | /tθj/ | |||||
fy | wi | sy | zy | şw | şy | hw | hy | xw | xy |
/ɸj/ | /βj/ | /sj/ | /zj/ | /ɬβ̞/ | /ɬj/ | /xβ̞/ | /xj/ [ç]/ | /ɣβ̞/ | /ɣj/ [ʝ] |
mw | my | ny | ŋy | ||||||
/mβ̞/ | /mj/ | /nj/ | /ŋj/ | ||||||
lw | ly | ||||||||
/lw/ | /lj/ |
Nucleus
The nucleus can be any vowel, except for iu üa üe üi üö ui /iu ya yɛ yi yœ ui/ when the onset consists of an initial consonant and a glide.
Syllables such as yui /jui/, wüan /βyan/ are allowed but rare.
Syllabic consonants ḿ /m̩/ and ĺ /l̩/ can also be a nucleus but the syllable cannot have a coda.
Coda
The final consonant, can technically be any consonant except y /j/ and w /β/, but þ /tθ/ and ç /tɬ/ are very rare.
(þaç /tθatɬ/ "red" is an example of an exception.)
Allophony
- Voiceless plosives are usually unreleased at coda.
- Plosives and affricates are slightly aspirated at onset.
- h /x/ is realised as [ç] before and after /i(:)/, /y(:)/, and before /j/.
- x /ɣ/ is realised as [ʝ] before and after /i(:)/, /y(:)/, before /j/, and [ʔ] at the end of a syllable.
- w /β/ is realised as [β̞] as a glide (second consonant) in a syllable.
- t /t/ are realised as [ʔ] at the end of a syllable.
Stress
Stress of a word follows these rules in order of priority:
Stress falls on
- First long vowel
e.g. hepmé "bright" but not *hepmé - "Separable affixes" (See below) are not counted
- Penultimate syllable
- If stress falls on a grammatical suffix (other than conjugational suffixes), move stress one syllable backwards.
e.g. aegemjo "merge" but not *aegemjo
Stress of a "separable compound word" (See below) follow these overriding rules:
Stress falls on
- The head component
e.g. lwoþwat "have to find"
e.g. kolmunawa "winter sky"
Separable and non-separable affixes
Non-separable affixes are:
- All affixes that are inseparable in terms of a new meaning conveyed
e.g. -en appended to tinwet "teach":- tinweten "act of teaching" is separable
- tinweten "education" is non-separable
- All infixes
- Directional affixes
e.g. ukhàg "come down" - Causative prefix
e.g. lahyet "make (sb.) eat"
Other affixes are separable.
Separable and non-separable compound words
Non-separable compound words are:
- Compound words of which the meaning has shifted, or become specific
e.g. yetihken "restaurant" vs. yetihken "place of eating" - Compound words which are frequently used
e.g. syomxaod "fish meat/flesh"
Morphophonology
Internal sandhi
Synaeresis
The following table shows the general formation of diphthongs or long vowels from two adjacent short vowels on a morpheme boundary.
- Empty spaces imply the vowels are pronounced in two syllables.
- Combinations resulting in glide + vowel cannot occur if there is already a glide prior to the vowels.
Second vowel | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First vowel | a | à | e | i | ü | u | o | ö | |
a | á | á | ai | ai | au | au | au | ||
à | â | ài | àu | àu | àu | ||||
e | ya | é | é | ei | eu | eu | eu | ||
i | ya | yà | ye | í | iu | yo | yö | ||
ü | üa | üe | üi | ű | üö | ||||
u | wa | ui | ui | ú | wo | ||||
o | ó | oi | oi | ou | ó | oi | |||
ö | öü | öü | öü | ő |
Suffix sandhi
Rendaku
When two consecutive syllables start with the same voiceless consonant, the second consonant is voiced.
- háhàge (greeting) /ˈxaːxɜɡɛ/ > [ˈxaːɣɜɡɛ]
- sesḿ (spoke) /'sɛsm̩/ > [ˈsɛzm̩]
External sandhi
Morphology
Nouns
There are no grammatical genders nor articles in Iaskyon. Nouns are only inflected for cases, and inflection for number is generally obsolete.
There are 7 cases in Iaskyon:
Case (suffix) | Usage | Example in Iaskyon | Example in English |
---|---|---|---|
Ergative
(-i) |
Agent of transitive verb | Wi goxe yesḿ. | I ate rice. |
Absolutive
(none or -u) |
Argument of intransitive verb;
object of transitive verb |
Jakniyw hàg.
Hwei lím dém. |
Jakniyw comes.
(The) Person drinks water. |
Locative
(-eu) |
Time, location; topic | Fá hwe hecleŋeu pöüloşöü.
To yetihkeneu löüm. |
All human are equal in dignity.
He was at the restaurant. |
Dative
(-em) |
Indirect object of ditransitive verb; motion to location; addressee of greetings; end of a period of time | Matnuem háhàge!
Toi zeà wem cailüm. |
Greetings everyone!
He gave a book to me. |
Ablative
(-ax) |
Motion from location; start of a period of time | Wu Iaskácáx hàg.
Fá hwe nixonax yawaoşöü. |
I come from Iaskáca.
All human being are free since birth. |
Genitive
(-ö) |
Possession, origin, reference; formation of some compounds; counting with measures | Yetihkenö zeà a.
Wö zeà a. Límö hyuxdon la. |
(It) is a book about restaurant(s).
(It) is my book. There are two carts of water. |
Instrumental
(-ĺ) |
Instrument, means; topic, object in some verbs | Ebi wüanĺ zeyu.
Toi sononĺ set. |
We record with a pen/pens.
He talks about bridges. |
Pronouns
Personal pronouns
Personal pronouns in Iaskyon are relatively simple, as all pronouns are distinct and specific in person and number.
There is a three-way distinction of singular, dual and plural pronouns inherited from older, now obsolete declensions in number.
Another three-way distinction in sentient, animate and inanimate beings in third person pronouns exists, which originates from an even older noun class system.
Singular | Dual inclusive | Dual exclusive | Plural inclusive | Plural exclusive | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ergative | wi | xei | wehi | wonei | ebi | sebi |
Absolutive | wu | xeà | wiyo | woni | eba | seb |
Locative | weu | xeàyu | wiyeu | wonyeu | ebeu | sebeu |
Dative | wem | xeàm | wiyem | wonyem | ebem | sebem |
Ablative | wax | xeax | wiyox | wonyax | ebax | sebax |
Genitive | hö | xeàyö | wiyoö | wonyö | ebö | sebö |
Instrumental | wuhĺ | xeàhĺ | wiyĺ | wonĺ | ebĺ | sebĺ |
- The wu-form is the more generic, while the xeà-form is often considered informal, sometimes even arrogant.
Singular | Dual | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Ergative | yoi | yedi | yubi |
Absolutive | yu | ide | yuba |
Locative | yeu | ideu | yubeu |
Dative | yem | idem | yubem |
Ablative | yax | idyax | yubax |
Genitive | yö | idyö | yubö |
Instrumental | yuhĺ | idĺ | yubĺ |
Singular | Dual | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Ergative | toi | tomi | tĺbi |
Absolutive | to | tom | tĺbo |
Locative | teu | toweu | tĺbeu |
Dative | toem | towem | tĺboem |
Ablative | tax | tomax | tĺbax |
Genitive | tö | tomö | tĺboö |
Instrumental | tohĺ | tomĺ | tĺbĺ |
Singular | Dual | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Ergative | izi | indi | imbi |
Absolutive | ize | inde | imba |
Locative | izeu | indeu | imbeu |
Dative | izem | indem | imbem |
Ablative | izyax | indyax | imbax |
Genitive | izyö | indyö | imbö |
Instrumental | izĺ | indĺ | imbĺ |
Singular | Dual | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Ergative | lei | ledi | lebi |
Absolutive | le | lede | leba |
Locative | leu | ledeu | lebeu |
Dative | lém | ledem | lebem |
Ablative | lyax | ledyax | lebax |
Genitive | leyö | ledyö | lebö |
Instrumental | lehĺ | ledĺ | lebĺ |
Generic | |
---|---|
Ergative | hoi |
Absolutive | ho |
Locative | heu |
Dative | hem |
Ablative | hax |
Genitive | hoö |
Instrumental | hohĺ |
Demonstratives, indefinite pronouns
Interrogative (tw-, kw-) |
Proximal (yas-, is-) |
Distal (wes-) |
Universal (fá-) |
Existential | Negative | Paucal/Trivial | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adjective (-s) | twes "what" |
yas, is- "this" |
wes "that" |
fá "all" |
şes "some" |
ça "none" |
àl, nim "little, few" |
Adverb (-f) | twef "how, in what manner" |
yaf "in this manner" |
wef "in that manner" |
||||
Person (hwe, -we) | mweun "who" |
iswe "this person" |
wewe "that person" |
matnu/fá hwe "everyone in a group/universally" |
şes hwe "some people" |
hwidu "no one" |
àlwe "few people" |
Thing (gin, -e) | kwí "what thing" |
yase "this thing" |
wese "that thing" |
fáŋàn "everything" |
gĺa "something" |
gindu "nothing" |
nimi "little things" |
Event, activity (yen, -ou) | kwou "what event" |
yasou "this event" |
wesou "that event" |
yĺa "some event" |
yendu "no event" |
||
Place (ken) | ekeu "where" (also locative) |
yaken "here" |
weken "there" |
feken "everywhere" |
kella "somewhere" |
kendu "nowhere" |
|
Time (upu) | upci "when" |
etök "now" |
wes upu "that time" |
upla "some point of time" |
Verbs
Verbs are the most productive lexical category in Iaskyon, which describes an action, an event, a state, or a change in state. It is heavily conjugated to tense, aspect and mood. There exists two grammatical classes of verbs, namely t-class and null-class.
T-class and null-class verbs
T-class and null-class verbs are two classes of verbs that take different forms when conjugated.
- T-class verbs:
- By definition end with a 't'
e.g. yet "eat", byaut "waste", fiut "run". - May be formed by
- An obsolete affix added to a root ending with a vowel; verbs formed this way may or may not end with 'et'.
- Derivation from other parts of speech; verbs formed this way tend to end with 'et'.
- When conjugated, the 't'-ending of which undergoes irregular consonant mutation.
e.g. yet "eat" > yellet (progressive with t > lː), yeŋam (desiderative with t > ŋ), yeso (near future with t > s)
- By definition end with a 't'
- Null-class verbs:
- Does not end with a 't'
e.g. tag "hit", dém "drink", esyà "utilise". - May be formed by
- Unaltered root forms
- Other derivations into verbs
- When conjugated, the endings of which may or may not undergo regular sound mutation.
e.g. tag "hit" > taget (progressive), tagam (desiderative), taxo (near future with fricativisation ɡ > ɣ)
- Does not end with a 't'
Tense
Iaskyon verbs have 4 tenses, each representing different time of action relative to the time of utterance.
- Present
The present, or the unconjugated form, marks:
- actions or events that take place in the present, or an indefinite time.
e.g. Wi goxe yet. "I eat rice (now or at an indefinite time)" - actions or events of which the time is unknown.
e.g. Toi wem upleu sesadem su upcyeu (lau) nasḿ. "He said to me at some point but I forgot when." - actions or events that have an implied time due to simultaneity with other events, or because it is already mentioned in the main clause.
e.g. Tĺbo wakowem þàkfeulletpye, i Sináeu uhöl kaisḿ. "As they are moving east, they discovered plains in Shinar."
- Past
The past marks:
- actions or events that take place in the past relative to the time of utterance.
e.g. Wi üşeu goxe yesḿ. "I ate rice yesterday" - actions or events that take place in the past relative to the time of another specified event.
e.g. Yoi yase lömçupye, wu xyenyopüm. "By the time you (will) read this, I will probably have died.
- Near future
The near future marks:
- actions or events that are upcoming, in the immediate, and planned or forcast future.
e.g. Wi xuso. "I gonna go".
e.g. Wu xyeno. "I am dying soon." - actions or events that take place in a definite, subjectively non-distant future.
- actions or events that are more temporary than another.
- Distant future
The distant future marks:
- actions or events that take place in a far future, i.e. months or years after.
- actions or events that take place in an indefinite future that is subjectively distant.
- long term states in the future.
Aspect
- Generic / gnomic
The gnomic aspect marks:
- general truths (must be in present tenses).
e.g. Hawon höüi. "The sun shines." - general, enduring situations (e.g. habits) which may not be permanent (may be in any tense except near future).
e.g. Wu upib öüm. "I used to be young"
- Progressive
The progressive aspect marls:
- incomplete actions in progress in the referenced time.
e.g. Wi goxe yellet. "I am eating rice."
e.g. Ecliyw Nóusononem xusmet. "Ecliyw was going to Northbridge." - state transition in progress in the referenced time.
e.g. Wi kod holàket. "I am putting on a 'kod' (shirt)." not *"I am wearing a 'kod'."
Mood
- Potential
The potential mood marks:- A possibility of the event happening.
e.g. Toi isdoup obnakyop. "They may buy this house."
- A possibility of the event happening.
- Permissive
The permissive mood marks:- Presence of authorisation, permission for the event to happen.
e.g. Yu iluyá dőn. "You are not allowed to enter."
e.g. Yu döiluyá. "You are allowed not to enter." - That it is appropriate for the event to happen.
e.g. Yuba wüof emőyá etöh. "You may slowly leave now."
- Presence of authorisation, permission for the event to happen.
- Abilitative
The abilitative mood marks:- An capability of the event to happen, or the agent to cause the event.
- That there is a possibility, though unlikely, for the event to happen.
- Desiderative
The desiderative mood marks:- A wish or want that the event happens.
- When used in conjunction with other tenses:
- Past: wish or want that were satisfied in the past
- Present: wish or want to be satisfied immediately
- Near future: wish or want to be satisfied in a definite, near future
- Far future: wish or want that involves an indefinite or far future
- A wish to be made in the past or future is presented with
- an auxiliary verb gat "to want", ŋut or þűt "to hope", which carries the tense, and
- changing the predicate to the direct object (in absolutive case).
- Imperative
The imperative mood marks:- Commands, call for caution.
- Cohortative
The cohortative mood marks:- mutual encouragement to do the specified action.
- Optative
Other verb forms
- Causative
- "Linking" form
- "Compound" form
(See below)
Other verb types
Transitive and intransitive verbs
Auxiliary verbs
Some moods cannot be expressed by conjugation and auxiliary verbs are utilised.
Compound verbs
Irregular verbs
- a - to be
The verb a is the copula. It takes two arguments, both in the absolutive. It is used to:
- denote identity.
e.g. Hüikiyw wö alnoem a. "Hüikiyw is my mother." - denote class membership, except for class within classes.
e.g. Wu hwe a. "I am a human."
e.g. *Hwétoun taulon a. "Dogs are animals."(See sa)
- la - to exist
The verb la takes only one argument in the absolutive. It is used to:
- denote existence.
e.g. Mök la. "(There) is a cat." - denote temporary possession or keeping, used with locative case.
e.g. Yö zeà weu la. "I have your book."
- sa - to belong
The verb sa takes two arguments, the "possessor" being in the ergative and the "possessed" in the absolutive. It is used to:
- denote non-temporary, or inherent possession.
e.g. Iscuŋi çoihxí sa. "This tree has ten branches."
e.g. Wi iszeà sa. "I own this book." - denote class being within other classes.
e.g. Hwétoun tauloni sa. "Dogs are animals."
- jo - to become
Conjugation tables
Adjectives and adverbs
Particles
Numbers
The number (tögon /tœɡɔn/) system in Iaskyon is vigesimal (base-20). The writing system Iaswü has a set of 20 numerals to represent it.
Larger numbers are grouped by yil /jil/ (100020, i.e. 800010), alike the Indo-European system of grouping by thousands.
Basic numerals
Iaskyon | Vig. | Dec. | Iaskyon | Vig. | Dec. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
gwön | 0 | 0 | xí | A | 10 |
yé | 1 | 1 | pih | B | 11 |
don | 2 | 2 | töe | C | 12 |
làd | 3 | 3 | zei | D | 13 |
wöx | 4 | 4 | fún | E | 14 |
kí | 5 | 5 | çà | F | 15 |
wou | 6 | 6 | ŋeh | G | 16 |
sün | 7 | 7 | küz | H | 17 |
wé | 8 | 8 | ox | J | 18 |
bux | 9 | 9 | xeu | K | 19 |
- I is skipped in the vigesimal notation to avoid mistaking for 1.
Iaskyon | Vig. | Dec. |
---|---|---|
hwax | 10 | 20 |
yé yéhwax | 11 | 21 |
don yéhwax | 12 | 22 |
làd yéhwax | 13 | 23 |
... | ... | ... |
donhwax | 20 | 40 |
yé donhwax | 21 | 41 |
don donhwax | 22 | 42 |
... | ... | ... |
çà zeihwax | DF | 275 |
... | ... | ... |
xeu xeuhwax | KK | 399 |
şoc | 100 | 400 |
şoc yé | 101 | 401 |
... | ... | ... |
donşoc | 200 | 800 |
... | ... | ... |
kíşoc töe | 50C | 2 012 |
... | ... | ... |
xíşoc ŋeh wöxhwax | A4G | 4 096 |
... | ... | ... |
yil | 1 000 | 8 000 |
yil yé | 1 001 | 8 001 |
... | ... | ... |
sünyil sünşoc bux töehwax | 7 7C9 | 59 049 |
... | ... | ... |
hwixil | 10 000 | 160 000 |
... | ... | ... |
şocil | 100 000 | 3 200 000 |
... | ... | ... |
mox | 1 000 000 | 64 000 000 |
... | ... | ... |
hwammox | 10 000 000 | 1 280 000 000 |
... | ... | ... |
şommox | 100 000 000 | 25 600 000 000 |
... | ... | ... |
fák | 1 000 000 000 | 512 000 000 000 |
... | ... | ... |
wöxfák kíşoc xeu küzhwammox fúnşoc wou çàhwixil oxşoc töe küzhwax | 4 5HK EF6 JHC | 2 199 023 255 552 |
Attached forms
- Normal nouns
Numbers are appended as a suffix to the noun.- gin (thing): ginya (1), gindon (2), ginlàd (3), ginwöx (4), ginkí (5)...
- mök (cat): mökya (1), mökdon (2), möklàd (3), mökwöx (4), mökkí (5)...
- Hwe
The word hwe "person" takes irregular forms with numbers.- hwá (1), hudau (2), huyàd (3), huwöx (4), hukí (5)...
- Ordinals
The ordinal prefix takes the form of cV-, where V is the first (short) vowel of the numeral.
The ordinals in turn are appended as a suffix to the noun.- cyé (1), codon (2), càlàd (3), cöwöx (4), cikí (5), cowou (6)...
- gin (thing): gincyé (1), gincodon (2), gincàlàd (3), gincöwöx (4), gincikí (5)...
- Number of times
In representing number of times or instances, a suffix -hen is used.- yahun (1), dauhun (2), làdhen (3), wöxhen (4), kíhen (5)...
Fractions and vigesimals
Fractions (aegĺtögnon /aigl̩ˈtœɡnɔn/) in Iaskyon use the word kil /kil/ from kilet /ˈkilɛʔ/ "cut, divide".
- Unit fractions
Fractions with numerator 1 are constructed with denominator + kil, "to cut D times".- donkil (1/2), làdkil (1/3), wöxkil (1/4), ..., yé-donhwaxkil (1/2120 = 1/41)...
- Simple fractions
Simple fractions are constructed with numerator (locative) + denominator + kil, "to cut D times at N".- doneu làdkil (2/3), làdeu kíkil (3/5), ..., ŋeheu sün-yéhwaxkil (G/1720 = 16/27), ..., buxşoc-küz-ŋehhwaxeu yil-oxşoc-çà-wöxhwaxkil (9GH/1J4F20 = 3937/15295)...
Word derivation
Change in parts of speech
No change in parts of speech
Word compounding
Syntax
Word order
Relative clauses
Speech
Vocabulary
Swadesh list
Example texts
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Article 1; Kiloncy-1
Fá hwe nixonax yawaoşöüno, hecleŋeu cwakleŋeuel pöüloşöü.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Tĺbo lékmaşehĺ hácexşehĺel üneĺino, i çamkwel mwőgkwolöŋau núgĺ çodgat.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should treat each other in a spirit of brotherhood.
The Tower of Babel (unfinished translation)
Wes upyeu, u paileyeu löüm fá hwei kyonya sesḿ gün.
[βɛsˈupjɛŭ | ʔu ˌpailejɛŭ lœy̆m ˈɸaː xβ̞eĭ kjɔn.ja sezm̩ ɡyn]
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
Tĺbo wakowem þàkfeullespye, i Sináeu uhöl kaisḿ; eno u wekeneu emgeunüm.
[tl̩bɔ ˈβakoβɛm ˌtθɜk̚ɸɛulːɛspjɛ | ʔi ˌsinaː.ɛu ˈʔuxœl kaism̩ ‖ ɛnou βɛk̚nɛu ˈ(β̞)ɛmɡɛunym]
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
Yasou tĺbi çamkwel sesḿ: hàgó, sebi xemcó céheno leba ünoibàmetó. Keu tĺbi xemcóhĺ xog, libonĺ guxme lahönüm.
[jasou tl̩bi ˈtɬamkβ̞ɛl sezm̩ ‖ xɜˈɡoː | sɛbi ɣɛmˈtsoː ˈtseːxnɔ lɛba ynɔibɜmɛˈtoː ‖ kɛu tl̩bi ɣɛmˈtsoːxl̩ ɣɔɡ | ˈlibɔnl̩ ɡuʔmɛ ˈlax(œ)nym]
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
See also