Avalonian: Difference between revisions
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== | {{infobox language | ||
|name = Avalonian | |||
|nativename = Navhatti Telkun | |||
|pronunciation = ˈnɔ.xʷɔt.si ˈtʰɛl.kʊn | |||
|creator = UserːRebecca Ashling | |||
|created = 2019 | |||
|region = Avalonian Isles | |||
|speakers = 44.2 million | |||
|date = na | |||
|ancestor1 = Pre-Avalonian | |||
|ancestor2 = Old Avalonian | |||
|ancestor3 = Middle Avalonian | |||
|ancestor4 = '''Modern Avalonian''' | |||
|familycolor = isolate | |||
}} | |||
Avalonian | : <small>Avalonian © Rebecca Ashling 2019–2021. I assert that the Avalonian conlang presented here is my intellectual property and confirm that Linguifex may post this material on their site.</small> | ||
'''Avalonian''' (Aval: Navhatti Telkun) is a polysynthetic language of the affixal, scopal subtype. It has nominative-accusative morphosyntactic alignment with ergative morphology and canonical VSOX word order. | |||
Avalonian (Aval: | It is the majority language of the Avalonian Isles (Aval: Telku) and has approximately 44.2 million speakers. The Stannic Commonwealth of Avalon (Mag: Karatti Thaknat Anakte Telkun) comprises the entirety of the fictional islands of Hivarna (OTL: Newfoundland), Kalephū (OTL: Nova Scotia peninsula) and Ehanramit (OTL: Cape Breton Island). | ||
In this timeline, Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island and the Nova Scotia peninsula ended up in the eastern side of the Atlantic after the breakup of Pangea and became the Avalonian Isles. The archipelago lies south-west of Ireland. | |||
Along with Basque, Avalonian is one of two surviving Palaeo-European languages in Western Europe. It is a language isolate and not demonstrably related to any other language although certain scholars try to shoehorn it into one of the many language macrofamily hypotheses. | |||
Avalonian does show much evidence of borrowing from an unknown Vasconic language although there is little or no evidence of reciprocal ancient Avalonian loans in Aquitanian or Basque. | |||
There is also some evidence of borrowing from the putative Goidelic substrate languages. An example of this would be partaq 'crab'. | |||
==Inspiration== | ==Inspiration== | ||
Avalonian grammar and morphology are strongly | Avalonian grammar and morphology are strongly modelled on those of the Inuit and Yupik languages. Its phonology is to a great extent based on that of Pre-Exilic Quenya with some slight influence from Iñupiaq. | ||
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==Ethnography== | ==Ethnography== | ||
The Avalonians are members of the oft-perscuted European Pygmy phenotype which is believed to have originated in the ancient Hercynian forest zone of central Europe some 8,000 years ago. The preferred self-designation by members of the European Pygmy phenotype is Hercynians (Aval: Lūki | The Avalonians are members of the oft-perscuted European Pygmy phenotype which is believed to have originated in the ancient Hercynian forest zone of central Europe some 8,000 years ago. The preferred self-designation by members of the European Pygmy phenotype is Hercynians (Aval: Lūki Herkigyat). | ||
==History== | |||
Avalonian has four known historical stages: | |||
1) Pre-Avalonian (500 BCE to 250 CE). Not directly attested and known from internal reconstruction and its treatment of ancient Vasconic loans. Koldo Mitxelena's work on Pre-Basque was critical for reconstructing Pre-Avalonian. | |||
2) Old Avalonian (250 CE to 1000 CE). Directly attested from the 6th Century CE with the introduction of writing by Christian missionaries. | |||
3) Middle Avalonian (1000 CE to 1500 CE). The period when Avalonian literacy began to come into its own. | |||
4) Modern Avalonian (1500 CE to Present).The era of printing and mass literacy. The latest version of Modern Avalonian is described in this Linguifex article. | |||
<!-- 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? --> | ||
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====General Remarks On Orthography==== | ====General Remarks On Orthography==== | ||
Avalonian had no native script until the arrival of | Avalonian had no native script until the arrival of missionary monks in the 6th Century CE. The Latin alphabet (Aval: Litērharti Ruman) has undergone many changes and revisions over the centuries. The current version was adopted in 1908. | ||
Avalonian spelling in | Avalonian spelling in Litērharti Ruman is a deep orthography which reflects the language's etymological history and phonological processes such as sandhi. The letters ⟨b, c, d, f, g, o, s, w, x, y, z⟩ are not used, even to spell foreign names. | ||
====Avalonian Alphabet==== | ====Avalonian Alphabet==== | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|⟨ē⟩||/aɪ/ | |⟨ē⟩||/aɪ/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨h⟩ || /h/ | |⟨h⟩ || /h/ | ||
Line 81: | Line 106: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨ī⟩||/eɪ/ | |⟨ī⟩||/eɪ/ | ||
|- | |||
|⟨j⟩||/j/ | |||
|- | |||
|⟨jh⟩||/xʲ/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨k⟩||/k/ | |⟨k⟩||/k/ | ||
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|⟨kh⟩||/x/ | |⟨kh⟩||/x/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |⟨kj⟩||/kxʲ/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |⟨kv⟩||/kxʷ/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨l⟩||/l/ | |⟨l⟩||/l/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨lh⟩||/ɬ/ | |⟨lh⟩||/ɬ/ | ||
|- | |||
|⟨lj⟩||/lʲ/ | |||
|- | |||
|⟨lv⟩||/lʷ/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨m⟩||/m/ | |⟨m⟩||/m/ | ||
Line 101: | Line 134: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨nh⟩||/z/ | |⟨nh⟩||/z/ | ||
|- | |||
|⟨nl⟩||/dɮ/ | |||
|- | |||
|⟨nr⟩||/dʒ/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨p⟩||/p/ | |⟨p⟩||/p/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨ph⟩||/f/ | |⟨ph⟩||/f/ | ||
|- | |||
|⟨q⟩||/ŋ/ | |||
|- | |||
|⟨qh⟩||/ɣ/ | |||
|- | |||
|⟨qj⟩||/ɡɣʲ/ | |||
|- | |||
|⟨qv⟩||/ɡɣʷ/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨r⟩||/ɹ̠/ | |⟨r⟩||/ɹ̠/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨rh⟩||/ʃ/ | |⟨rh⟩||/ʃ/ | ||
|- | |||
|⟨rj⟩||/ʒʲ/ | |||
|- | |||
|⟨rv⟩||/ʒʷ/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨t⟩||/t/ | |⟨t⟩||/t/ | ||
Line 115: | Line 164: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨tl⟩||/tɬ/ | |⟨tl⟩||/tɬ/ | ||
|- | |||
|- | |- | ||
|⟨tr⟩||/tʃ/ | |⟨tr⟩||/tʃ/ | ||
Line 122: | Line 172: | ||
|⟨ū⟩||/oʊ/ | |⟨ū⟩||/oʊ/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |⟨v⟩||/w/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |⟨vh⟩||/xʷ/ | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Consonants=== | ===Consonants=== | ||
Avalonian has a total of | Avalonian has a total of 33 consonants which according to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Stucture is a moderately large inventory. The most striking features of the inventory, according to WALS are a voicing contrast in fricatives but not plosives, and the presence of lateral obstruents and the initial velar nasal. The consonants are displayed in the table below: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ||'''Labial'''||'''Central Alveolar'''||'''Lateral Alveolar'''||'''Palato-Alveolar'''||''' | | ||'''Labial'''||'''Central Alveolar'''||'''Lateral Alveolar'''||'''Palatalised Lateral Alveolar'''||'''Labialised Lateral Alveolar'''||'''Palato-Alveolar'''||'''Palatalised Palato-Alveolar'''||'''Labialised Palato-Alveolar'''||'''Plain Velar'''||'''Palatalised Velar'''||'''Labialised Velar'''||'''Glottal''' | ||
|- | |||
|'''Plosive'''||/p/||/t/||||||||||||||/k/|||||| | |||
|- | |- | ||
|''' | |'''Voiceless Affricate'''||||||/tɬ/||||||/tʃ/||||||||/kxʲ/||/kxʷ/|| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Affricate'''||||||/ | |'''Voiced Affricate'''||||||/dɮ/||||||/dʒ/||||||||/ɡɣʲ/||/ɡɣʷ/|| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Voiceless Fricative'''||/f/||/s/||||||||/x/|||| | |'''Voiceless Fricative'''||/f/||/s/||||||||||||||/x/|||||| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Voiced Fricative'''||/v/||/z/||||||||/ɣ/|||| | |'''Voiced Fricative'''||/v/||/z/||||||||||||||/ɣ/|||||| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Nasal'''||/m/ | |'''Nasal'''||/m/||/n/||||||||||||||/ŋ/|||||| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Voiced Liquid'''||||||/l/||/ɹ̠/|||||||| | |'''Voiced Liquid'''||||||/l/||/lʲ/||/lʷ/||/ɹ̠/||/ʒʲ/||/ʒʷ/|||||||| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Voiceless Liquid'''||||||/ɬ/||/ʃ/|||||||| | |'''Voiceless Liquid'''||||||/ɬ/||||||/ʃ/|||||||||||| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Voiced Semivowel'''||||||||||/j/ | |'''Voiced Semivowel'''||||||||||||||||||||/j/||/w/|| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Voiceless Semivowel'''||||||||||/xʲ/ | |'''Voiceless Semivowel'''||||||||||||||||||||/xʲ/||/xʷ/|| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Aspirate'''||||||||||||||||/h/ | |'''Aspirate'''||||||||||||||||||||||||/h/ | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Vowels=== | ===Vowels=== | ||
Avalonian has a total of 8 vowels, 4 monophthongs and 4 diphthongs. According to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures | Avalonian has a total of 8 vowels, 4 monophthongs and 4 diphthongs. According to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures Avalonian has 4 vowel qualities which is a small inventory. Avalonian has a consonant to vowel quality ratio of 8.25 which according to WALS is a high ratio. Avalonian is unusual for not possessing any low vowels such as /a/. Diphthongs are treated as phonological long vowels. The vowels are displayed in the table below: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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===Allophony=== | ===Allophony=== | ||
1) /p, t, k/ are realised as [pʰ, tʰ, kʰ] in | 1) /p, t, k/ are realised as [pʰ, tʰ, kʰ] if in the onset of a stressed syllable. | ||
2) / | 2) /tɬ, tʃ, kxʲ, kxʷ/ are realised as [tɬʰ, tʃʰ, kxʲʰ, kxʷʰ/ if in the onset of a stressed syllable. | ||
3) / | 3) /ɹ̠/ is realised as [ʃ] in coda position before a voiceless onset. | ||
4) / | 4) /ɹ̠/ is realised as [ʒ] in coda position elsewhere. | ||
5) / | 5) /pp, tt, kk/ are realised as [pf, ts, kx]. | ||
6) / | 6) /mm, nn, ŋŋ/ are realised as [mb, nd, ŋɡ]. | ||
7) / | 7) /ll, ɹ̠ɹ̠/ are realised as [ld, ʒd]. | ||
8 | 8) In closed syllables /i, u/ are realised as [ɪ, ʊ]. | ||
===Prosody=== | ===Prosody=== | ||
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2) Avalonian words bear secondary stress on every odd-numbered syllable following the initial syllable. | 2) Avalonian words bear secondary stress on every odd-numbered syllable following the initial syllable. | ||
3) According to the World Atlas of Language Structures, the rhythm type is trochaic. | 3) According to the World Atlas of Language Structures, the rhythm type of Avalonian is trochaic. | ||
4) To an English speaker, Avalonian would appear to be spoken with a slower tempo than English is. | 4) Avalonian is a stress-timed language with the uncommon quality for such a language of a lack of vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. | ||
5) To an English speaker, Avalonian would appear to be spoken with a slower tempo than English is. | |||
===Phonotactics=== | ===Phonotactics=== | ||
1) The syllable template is | 1) The syllable template is CV(C). According to the World Atlas of Language Structures, this is a moderately complex syllable structure. | ||
2) Permitted syllable coda consonants are: | |||
/p, t, k, m, n, ŋ, l, ɹ̠/. | |||
3) Consonant clusters may not have more than two segments. | |||
4) Consonant clusters may only occur across syllable boundaries. | |||
5) Permitted consonant clusters as per the table below: | |||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''P'''||'''T'''||'''K'''||'''M'''||'''N'''||''' | |'''P'''||'''T'''||'''K'''||'''M'''||'''N'''||'''Q'''||'''L'''||'''R'''|| | ||
|- | |- | ||
|√||√||√||√||||||√||√||'''P''' | |√||√||√||√||||||√||√||'''P''' | ||
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|√||||√||||√||||√||||'''TR''' | |√||||√||||√||||√||||'''TR''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|√||√||||||||√||√||√||''' | |√||√||||||||√||√||√||'''KJ''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|√||√||||||||√||||||''' | |√||√||||||||√||√||√||'''KV''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |||||||√||||||||||'''PH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |||||||||√||||||||'''TH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |||||||||||√||||||'''KH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|√||√||√||√||||||√||√||'''M''' | |√||√||√||√||||||√||√||'''M''' | ||
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|√||√||√||||√||||√||√||'''N''' | |√||√||√||||√||||√||√||'''N''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|√||√||√||||||√||√||√||''' | |√||√||√||||||√||√||√||'''Q''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
||||||||| | |||||||||||||√||||'''L''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
||||||||| | |||||||||||||||√||'''R''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|||||||||√||||||||'''LH''' | |||||||||√||||||||'''LH''' | ||
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|||||||||√||||||||'''RH''' | |||||||||√||||||||'''RH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|||||||||||√|| | |||||||||||√||||||'''JH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|||||||||||||||||''' | ||||||||||||√||||||'''VH''' | ||
|} | |} | ||
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c) √ in a cell means the indicated consonant cluster is permitted. | c) √ in a cell means the indicated consonant cluster is permitted. | ||
6) /i, eɪ/ may not follow /kxʲ, ŋʲ, lʲ, ʒʲ, j, xʲ/. | |||
7) /u, oʊ/ may not follow /kxʷ, ŋʷ, lʷ, ʒʷ, w, xʷ/. | |||
8) /eɪ, aɪ/ may not precede /j/. | |||
9) /oʊ, ɑʊ/ may not precede /w/. | |||
10) Long vowels may not occur in closed syllables. | |||
11) Long vowels may only occur before /f, s, x, v, z, ɣ, h/ or in morpheme-final position. | |||
12) Vowel clusters do not occur. | |||
13) Native roots are most often disyllabic. | |||
14) Monosyllabic roots are uncommon and mainly comprise pronouns and certain common nouns and verbs. | |||
15) Roots with more than two syllables are foreign loans and their syllabic templates generally become nativised over time. | |||
15) | |||
16) Monosyllabic suffixes may have a word-final allomorph consisting of a single coda consonant which is employed after a short vowel. | 16) Monosyllabic suffixes may have a word-final allomorph consisting of a single coda consonant which is employed after a short vowel. | ||
===Morphophonemics=== | ===Morphophonemics=== | ||
====Internal Sandhi==== | ====Internal Sandhi==== | ||
The effects of internal sandhi are indicated in the orthography. | |||
=====Consonantal Sandhi===== | |||
1) Consonant clusters resulting from suffixation undergo sandhi as per the table below: | 1) Consonant clusters resulting from suffixation undergo sandhi as per the table below: | ||
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! P!! T!! K!! M!! N!! | ! P!! T!! K!! M!! N!! Q!!L!! R!! | ||
|- | |- | ||
|pp||tp||kp||mp||mp||mp||lp||rp||'''P''' | |pp||tp||kp||mp||mp||mp||lp||rp||'''P''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| pt|| tt|| kt|| nt|| nt|| nt||lt|| rt|| '''T''' | | pt|| tt|| kt|| nt|| nt|| nt||lt|| rt||'''T''' | ||
|- | |||
| pk|| tk|| kk|| qk|| qk|| qk||lk|| rk|| '''K''' | |||
|- | |||
|ptl||v̄tl||ktl||ntl||ntl||ntl||v̄tl||rtl||'''TL''' | |||
|- | |||
|ptr||v̄tr||ktr||ntr||ntr||ntr||ltr||v̄tr||'''TR''' | |||
|- | |||
|pkj||tkj||v̄kj||qkj||qkj||qkj||lkj||rkj||'''KJ''' | |||
|- | |||
|pkv||tkv||v̄kv||qkv||qkv||qkv||lkv||rkv||'''KV''' | |||
|- | |||
|v̄tl||v̄tl||v̄tl||v̄nl||v̄nl||v̄nl||v̄nl||v̄nl||'''NL''' | |||
|- | |||
|v̄tr||v̄tr||v̄tr||v̄nr||v̄nr||v̄nr||v̄nr||v̄nr||'''NR''' | |||
|- | |||
|v̄kj||v̄kj||v̄kj||v̄qj||v̄qj||v̄qj||v̄qj||v̄qj||'''QJ''' | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄kv||v̄kv||v̄kv||v̄qv||v̄qv||v̄qv||v̄qv||v̄qv||'''QV''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |pp||v̄ph||v̄ph||mph||mph||mph||v̄ph||v̄ph||'''PH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄th||tt||v̄th||nth||nth||nth||v̄th||v̄th||'''TH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄kh||v̄kh||kk||qkh||qkh||qkh||v̄kh||v̄kh||'''KH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄ph||v̄ph||v̄ph||v̄mh||v̄mh||v̄mh||v̄mh||v̄mh||'''MH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄th||v̄th||v̄th||v̄nh||v̄nh||v̄nh||v̄nh||v̄nh||'''NH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄kh||v̄kh||v̄kh||v̄qh||v̄qh||v̄qh||v̄qh||v̄qh||'''QH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | pm || tm|| km||mm||mm|| mm|| lm|| rm||'''M''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | pn|| tn|| kn||nn|| nn|| nn|| ln|| rn||'''N''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | pq || tq|| kq|| qq|| qq|| qq|| lq|| rq|| '''Q''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | v̄lh|| v̄tl|| v̄lh||v̄nl|| v̄nl|| v̄nl|| ll|| ll||'''L''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄jh||v̄jh||v̄kj||v̄qj||v̄qj||v̄qj||v̄lj||v̄lj||'''LJ''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄vh||v̄vh||v̄kv||v̄qv||v̄qv||v̄qv||v̄lv||v̄lv||'''LV''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄jh||v̄jh||v̄kj||v̄qj||v̄qj||v̄qj||v̄rj||v̄rj||'''RJ''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄vh||v̄vh||v̄kv||v̄qv||v̄qv||v̄qv||v̄rv||v̄rv||'''RV''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| v̄rh|| v̄tr|| v̄rh|| | | v̄rh|| v̄tr|| v̄rh|| v̄nr|| v̄nr|| v̄nr|| rr|| rr||'''R''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|v̄lh||v̄tl||v̄lh||nlh||nlh||nlh||v̄lh||v̄lh||'''LH''' | |v̄lh||v̄tl||v̄lh||nlh||nlh||nlh||v̄lh||v̄lh||'''LH''' | ||
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|v̄rh||v̄tr||v̄rh||nrh||nrh||nrh||v̄rh||v̄rh||'''RH''' | |v̄rh||v̄tr||v̄rh||nrh||nrh||nrh||v̄rh||v̄rh||'''RH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | v̄jh || v̄jh|| v̄kj||v̄qj|| v̄qj|| v̄qj|| lj|| rj||'''J''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | v̄vh|| v̄vh|| v̄vh|| v̄qv|| v̄qv|| v̄qv|| lv|| rv|| '''V''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄jh||v̄jh||v̄kj||qjh||qjh||qjh||v̄jh||v̄jh||'''JH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |v̄vh||v̄vh||v̄kv||qvh||qvh||qvh||v̄vh||v̄vh||'''VH''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|v̄ph||v̄th||v̄kh||v̄mh||v̄nh|| | |v̄ph||v̄th||v̄kh||v̄mh||v̄nh||v̄qh||v̄lh||v̄rh||'''H''' | ||
|} | |} | ||
Line 374: | Line 423: | ||
c) The notation v̄ indicates the preceding vowel is lengthened. | c) The notation v̄ indicates the preceding vowel is lengthened. | ||
2) If a three | 2) If suffixation results in a consonant cluster with three consonants before sandhi can be applied then an epenthetic /i/ is inserted after the first consonant in that cluster. | ||
=====Vocalic Sandhi===== | |||
1) Vowel clusters resulting from suffixation undergo sandhi as per the table below: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! I!! U!! E!! A!! Ī!! Ū!! Ē!! Ā!! | |||
|- | |||
| -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''I''' | |||
|- | |||
| -q-|| -q-|| -q-||-q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''U''' | |||
|- | |||
| -q- || -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''E''' | |||
|- | |||
| -q- || -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''A''' | |||
|- | |||
| -q- || -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''Ī''' | |||
|- | |||
| -q- || -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''Ū''' | |||
|- | |||
| -q- || -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''Ē''' | |||
|- | |||
| -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -q-|| -j-|| -v-|| -j-|| -v-|| '''Ā''' | |||
|} | |||
NOTES: | |||
a) Latin script used for clarity. | |||
b) First vowel of vowel cluster runs across top of table, second vowel of vowel cluster runs down right of table. | |||
c) The notation -g- indicates an epenthetic /ŋ/ is inserted between the two vowels. | |||
d) The notation -j- indicates an epenthetic /j/ is inserted between the two vowels. | |||
e) The notation -v- indicates an epenthetic /w/ is inserted between the two vowels. | |||
f) If the first vowel is long then it is reduced to its corresponding short vowel. | |||
g) If the second vowel is either of /i, eɪ/ then it is lowered to its corresponding low vowel if it follows /j/. | |||
h) If the second vowel is either of /u, oʊ/ then it is lowered to its corresponding low vowel if it follows /w/. | |||
2) If /eɪ, aɪ/ precedes /j/ due to suffixation then they are reduced to [i, ɛ]. | |||
3) If /oʊ, ɑʊ/ precedes /w/ due to suffixation then they are reduced to [u, ɔ]. | |||
====External Sandhi==== | ====External Sandhi==== | ||
1) | 1) The effects of external sandhi are not indicated in the orthography. | ||
2) | 2) External sandhi only occurs between words within the same clause. | ||
3) | 3) Between a word-final consonant and a word-initial consonant, an epenthetic /i/ is inserted. | ||
4) Between a word-final vowel and a word-initial vowel, an epenthetic /ŋ/ is inserted. | |||
==Morphology== | ==Morphology== | ||
Line 440: | Line 530: | ||
====Number==== | ====Number==== | ||
1) Avalonian | 1) Avalonian nouns have two systems of number: | ||
a) Singular-Plural | |||
b) Collective-Singulative | |||
2) Nouns within the singular-plural class are inherently singular and take the plural suffix to denote multiple instances. | |||
3) Nouns within the collective-singulative class are inherently plural and take the singulative suffix to denote a single instance. | |||
4) Avalonian grammatical numbers are summarised in the table below: | |||
4) | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Number!! Abbreviation!! Suffix (Allomorph) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Singular || SG|| -∅ | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Collective|| COL|| -∅ | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | Plural || PL|| -ra (-r) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Singulative||SGV||-me (-m) | ||
|} | |} | ||
NB: Parenthesised forms are word-final allomorphs employed after a short vowel. | |||
====Case==== | ====Case==== | ||
Line 479: | Line 568: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Absolutive || ABS ||-∅|| a) Marks citation form of noun | | Absolutive || ABS ||-∅|| a) Marks citation form of noun | ||
b) Indicates | b) Indicates O argument of a transitive verb | ||
c) Marks | c) Marks S argument of an intransitive verb | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Ergative || ERG || - | | Ergative || ERG || -nu (-n)||a) Marks A argument of a transitive verb | ||
b) Indicates the possessor | b) Indicates the possessor | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Equative||EQU||-te (-t)||a) Marks subject complement of the copula | ||
b) Indicates similarity of manner or appearance | |||
c) Marks composition | |||
d) Indicates source of comparison | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Dative||DAT||-hē||a) Marks beneficiary or recipient | ||
b) Indicates intention | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Instrumental||INST||-tik||a) Marks tool or instrument | ||
b) Indicates proximate causation | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Comitative || COM || - | |Comitative||COM|| -kve ||a) Marks accompaniment | ||
b) Indicates | b) Indicates collaboration or common effort towards a goal | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Locative || LOC || -ki (-k) ||a) | |Locative||LOC||-ki (-k)||a) Marks location in space or time | ||
b) | b) Indicates the possessor in 'have' constructions | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Allative || ALL || - | |Allative||ALL||-va||a) Marks motion towards | ||
b) Indicates | b) Indicates until | ||
c) Marks | c) Marks goal | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Ablative || ABL || - | |Ablative||ABL||-jā||a) Marks motion away from | ||
b) | b) Indicates since | ||
c) Indicates | c) Indicates aversion or opposition | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Perlative || PERL || -am||a) Marks motion | |Perlative||PERL||-am|| a) Marks motion through or along | ||
b) Indicates duration | b) Indicates duration or simultaneity | ||
c) Marks mode or means of | c) Marks mode or means of transportation or transmission | ||
d) Indicates | d) Indicates topic of conversation | ||
e) Marks | e) Marks ultimate causation | ||
|} | |} | ||
Line 564: | Line 633: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Person''' || '''Abbreviation''' ||'''Pronoun'''||'''Possessive Suffix''' | | '''Person''' || '''Abbreviation''' ||'''Pronoun'''||'''Possessive Suffix''' | ||
| | |- | ||
| 1st Person Singular || 1SG||ni || -nti | | 1st Person Singular || 1SG||ni || -nti | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 572: | Line 641: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4th Person Sinɡular||4SG||pi||-pti | |4th Person Sinɡular||4SG||pi||-pti | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1st Person Paucal Exclusive||1PC EXCL||nuk||-ntuk | |1st Person Paucal Exclusive||1PC EXCL||nuk||-ntuk | ||
Line 584: | Line 651: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4th Person Paucal||4PC||puk||-ptuk | |4th Person Paucal||4PC||puk||-ptuk | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1st Person Plural Exclusive||1PL EXCL||nat||-ntat | |1st Person Plural Exclusive||1PL EXCL||nat||-ntat | ||
Line 596: | Line 661: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4th Person Plural||4PL||pat||-ptat | |4th Person Plural||4PL||pat||-ptat | ||
|} | |} | ||
Line 606: | Line 669: | ||
=====Demonstrative Pronouns===== | =====Demonstrative Pronouns===== | ||
1) Pronominal demonstratives are | 1) Pronominal demonstratives are formed by adding the appropriate demonstrative suffix to the appropriate pronoun. | ||
2) Adnominal demonstratives are | 2) Adnominal demonstratives are suffices. | ||
3) Adnominal demonstrative | 3) Adnominal demonstrative suffices are rarely used with core arguments except for emphasis. | ||
4) The | 4) The adnominal demonstrative suffices are displayed in the table below: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Distance'''||'''Abbreviation'''||'''Locus Of Application'''||''' | |'''Distance'''||'''Abbreviation'''||'''Locus Of Application'''||'''Adnominal Demonstrative Suffix | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Proximal|| PROX||Near speaker | | Proximal|| PROX||Near speaker|| -in | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Medial||MED||Near hearer | |Medial||MED||Near hearer||-uk | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Distal||DIST||Away from speaker and hearer | |Distal||DIST||Away from speaker and hearer||-at | ||
|} | |} | ||
=====Emphatic Pronouns===== | =====Emphatic Pronouns===== | ||
Avalonian is a pro-drop language so any use of pronouns in the role of A, S or O arguments marks emphasis. | |||
=====Reflexive Pronouns===== | =====Reflexive Pronouns===== | ||
1) Avalonian lacks reflexive pronouns. | |||
2) For reflexivity to be indicated in the case of an O argument, both pronominal markers on the verb must have the same person and number. | |||
3) For reflexivity to be indicated in the case of an X argument, the pronoun must have the same person and number as the ergative pronominal marker in the case of a transitive verb or the absolutive pronominal marker in the case of an intransitive marker | |||
=====Interrogative Pronouns===== | =====Interrogative Pronouns===== | ||
1) There is one interroɡative pronoun: | 1) There is one interroɡative pronoun: je 'who, what' which is undifferentiated for number. | ||
2) All other interrogatives are built from this by adding the appropriate case. Eɡ: | 2) All other interrogatives are built from this by adding the appropriate case. Eɡ: jek 'where?', jekve 'with whom?' | ||
3) There is an interrogative pronominal possessive suffix: - | 3) There is an interrogative pronominal possessive suffix: -jet 'whose?'. | ||
4) Suffixing - | 4) Suffixing -je to a noun gives the sense of 'which?'. | ||
5) The canonical word-order of Avalonian is VSOX. Interrogative pronouns or nouns taking an interrogative suffix violate this by being fronted to before the verb. | 5) The canonical word-order of Avalonian is VSOX. Interrogative pronouns or nouns taking an interrogative suffix violate this by being fronted to before the verb. | ||
6) When an interrogative pronoun is used with a verb, | 6) When an interrogative pronoun is used with a verb, the appropriate pronominal marker takes plural number. | ||
=====Indefinite Pronouns===== | =====Indefinite Pronouns===== | ||
Line 662: | Line 725: | ||
There is one universal pronoun: kal 'everybody, everything'. When placed before a noun in it indicates the concept of 'all' or 'each'. When used with a verb that verb uses plural agreement. | There is one universal pronoun: kal 'everybody, everything'. When placed before a noun in it indicates the concept of 'all' or 'each'. When used with a verb that verb uses plural agreement. | ||
====Possessive Constructions==== | ====Possessive Constructions==== | ||
Line 686: | Line 737: | ||
2) The numerals of Avalonian are listed in the table below: | 2) The numerals of Avalonian are listed in the table below: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 697: | Line 748: | ||
|2||pik | |2||pik | ||
|- | |- | ||
|3|| | |3||ilur | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4|| | |4||kvevher | ||
|- | |- | ||
|5|| | |5||pārha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|6|| | |6||hi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|7|| | |7||haphi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|8|| | |8||hārhi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|9|| | |9||navan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10||ampar | |10||ampar | ||
Line 717: | Line 768: | ||
|12||amparpik | |12||amparpik | ||
|- | |- | ||
|13|| | |13||amparilur | ||
|- | |- | ||
|14|| | |14||ampalkvevher | ||
|- | |- | ||
|15|| | |15||amparpārha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|16|| | |16||ampārhi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|17|| | |17||ampārhaphi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|18|| | |18||ampārhārhi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|19|| | |19||amparnavan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|20|| | |20||aki | ||
|- | |- | ||
|40|| | |40||pikaki | ||
|- | |- | ||
|60|| | |60||iluraki | ||
|- | |- | ||
|80|| | |80||kvevheraki | ||
|- | |- | ||
|100|| | |100||elun | ||
|- | |- | ||
|200|| | |200|| pik elun | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1.000||milya | |1.000|| milya | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1.965||milya | |1.965||milya navan elun iluraki pārha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|3.000|| | |3.000||ilur milya | ||
|- | |- | ||
|10.000|| | |10.000|| ampar milya | ||
|- | |- | ||
|50.000|| | |50.000|| pikaki ampar milya | ||
|- | |- | ||
|100.000|| | |100.000|| elun milya | ||
|- | |- | ||
|600.000|| | |600.000|| hi elun milya | ||
|- | |- | ||
|1.000.000|| | |1.000.000|| milyan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|7.000.000|| | |7.000.000|| haphi milyan | ||
|} | |} | ||
Line 768: | Line 819: | ||
5) The decimal numerals from 100 and over are prefixed with a number from 1-9 as a multiplier. | 5) The decimal numerals from 100 and over are prefixed with a number from 1-9 as a multiplier. | ||
6) Cardinal numerals precede the noun. | 6) Cardinal numerals precede the noun which takes the equative cases. | ||
7) Ordinal numerals follow the noun and take the equative case. They take final position in the noun modifier string. | 7) Ordinal numerals follow the noun and take the equative case. They take final position in the noun modifier string. | ||
Line 779: | Line 830: | ||
====General Remarks On Verbal Morphology==== | ====General Remarks On Verbal Morphology==== | ||
1) Verbs express actions, processes or states of being. Verbs are inflected for A, S and O arguments, aspect | 1) Verbs express actions, processes or states of being. Verbs are inflected for A, S, and O arguments, aspect and mood. | ||
2) Maximal verbal structure: | 2) Maximal verbal structure: | ||
Line 785: | Line 836: | ||
verbal or nominal root + derivational suffix(es) + aspect suffix + mood suffix + ergative pronominal suffix + absolutive pronominal suffix | verbal or nominal root + derivational suffix(es) + aspect suffix + mood suffix + ergative pronominal suffix + absolutive pronominal suffix | ||
====Verbal | ====Verbal Argument Suffixes==== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| '''Person''' || '''Absolutive Suffix(Allomorph)'''|| '''Ergative Suffix''' | | '''Person''' ||'''Abbreviation'''|| '''Absolutive Suffix (Allomorph)'''|| '''Ergative Suffix''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | 1st Person Singular|| 1SG || -ni (-n)||-nti | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |2nd Person Singular||2SG||-ki (-k)||-kti | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | | 3rd Person Singular|| 3SG||-ti (-t)||-tti | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |4th Person Singular||4SG||-pi (-p)||-pti | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1st Person Paucal Exclusive || -nuk|| -ntuk | |1st Person Paucal Exclusive||1PC EXCL||-nuk||-ntuk | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1st Person Paucal Inclusive || - | |1st Person Paucal Inclusive||1PC INCL||-nikuk||-niktuk | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2nd Person Paucal || -kuk|| -ktuk | |2nd Person Paucal||2PC||-kuk||-ktuk | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 3rd Person Paucal|| -tuk|| - | |3rd Person Paucal||3PC||-tuk||-ntuk | ||
|- | |- | ||
|4th Person Paucal||-puk||-ptuk | |4th Person Paucal||4PC||-puk||-ptuk | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |1st Person Plural Exclusive||1PL EXCL||-nat||-ntat | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1st Person Plural | |1st Person Plural Inclusive||1PL INCL||-nikat||-niktat | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |2nd Person Plural||2PL||-kat||-ktat | ||
|3rd Person Plural||3PL||-tat||-ttat | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |4th Person Plural||4PL||-pat||-ptat | ||
|} | |} | ||
NB: Parenthesised forms are word-final allomorphs employed after a short vowel. | NB: Parenthesised forms are word-final allomorphs employed after a short vowel. | ||
==== | ====Topicalisation==== | ||
1) Avalonian lacks true grammatical voice although it does have a system of topicalisation in lieu. | |||
2) In transitive verbs, topicalisation is indicated by the presence or absence of verbal pronominal suffices as per the table below: | |||
2) | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |'''Prominent Topic'''||'''Ergative Suffix?'''||'''Absolutive Suffix?'''||'''Case Of Topic Argument''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |None||Yes||Yes||ERG or ABS | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |A argument||Yes||No||DAT | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |O argument||No||Yes||INST | ||
|} | |} | ||
4) Topicalised A or O arguments are fronted to before the verb. | |||
5) The S arguments of intransitive verbs never mark topic as they are either the topic or an X argument is elevated to topic. | |||
6) Topicalised X argument phrases are fronted to before the verb. | |||
7) Relativised verbs may not have topicalised arguments. | |||
====Mood and Modality==== | ====Mood and Modality==== | ||
Line 860: | Line 904: | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Mood||Abbrevation||Suffix||Function | |'''Mood'''||'''Abbrevation'''||'''Suffix'''||'''Function''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Indicative||IND||-∅||Declarative statements | |Indicative||IND||-∅||Declarative statements | ||
Line 875: | Line 919: | ||
====Negation==== | ====Negation==== | ||
1) Negation is indicated by the particle | 1) Negation is indicated by the particle tā. This precedes the verb. | ||
2) | 2) tā can occur independently, having the meaning 'no!' or 'don't!". | ||
====The Imperative And Prohibitive==== | ====The Imperative And Prohibitive==== | ||
Line 883: | Line 927: | ||
1) The imperative indicates that an order to perform an action is made. The base form of the verb marks the imperative. | 1) The imperative indicates that an order to perform an action is made. The base form of the verb marks the imperative. | ||
2) The prohibitive marks that an order to not perform an action is made. The prohibitive is formed by placing the negative particle | 2) The prohibitive marks that an order to not perform an action is made. The prohibitive is formed by placing the negative particle tā before the base form of the verb. | ||
====Tense==== | ====Tense==== | ||
Line 895: | Line 939: | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Name|| Abbreviation|| Suffix||Function | |'''Name'''|| '''Abbreviation'''|| '''Suffix'''||'''Function''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Imperfective||IPFV||-∅||Indicates an ongoing action | |Imperfective||IPFV||-∅||Indicates an ongoing action | ||
Line 906: | Line 950: | ||
====The Gerund==== | ====The Gerund==== | ||
1) The gerund uses the suffix -ken which is | 1) The gerund uses the suffix -ken which is added in lieu of pronominal ergative or absolutive suffixes | ||
2) It transforms the verb into a noun which can be used much as any noun can. | 2) It transforms the verb into a noun which can be used much as any noun can. | ||
====Participles==== | |||
Avalonian lacks participles and uses a relativised verb. | |||
====Adverbs==== | ====Adverbs==== | ||
Line 927: | Line 975: | ||
===Other Parts Of Speech=== | ===Other Parts Of Speech=== | ||
====Adjectives==== | |||
1) Avalonian lacks true adjectives. | |||
2) Forms conveying advectival functions occur in three classes: | |||
a) A closed class of nominal suffixes with adjectival meanings. | |||
b) A noun taking the equative case and following the referent. | |||
c) A relativised verb. | |||
====Adpositions==== | ====Adpositions==== | ||
1) Avalonian lacks true adpositions. | 1) Avalonian lacks true adpositions. | ||
Line 964: | Line 1,024: | ||
==Syntax== | ==Syntax== | ||
===Constituent order=== | ===Constituent order=== | ||
1) The canonical word order of Avalonian is VSOX. This is detailed as follows: | |||
verb phrase + agent phrase or subject phrase + object phrase + oblique phrase | |||
2) Topicalisation or wh-fronting may front one of the agent , the subject, the object or the oblique phrases to before the verb. | |||
===Noun phrase=== | ===Noun phrase=== | ||
===Verb phrase=== | ===Verb phrase=== | ||
Line 975: | Line 1,042: | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|English||Avalonian | |'''English'''||'''Avalonian''' | ||
|- | |||
|amber ||verhu | |||
|- | |||
|apple||hakar | |||
|- | |||
|automobile ||karpat | |||
|- | |||
|Avalonian Isles ||Telku | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Avalonian Penny ||tenar | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Avalonian Pound (currency)||lirhu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Avalonians ||kammir | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |badger||wekpek | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |banana ||mhanana | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |bear ||kārha | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |bee||aral | ||
|- | |- | ||
|beer | |beer ||hurmi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|beryl||larhin | |beryl||larhin | ||
|- | |- | ||
|billy goat | |billy goat ||ahar | ||
|- | |||
|bird||hari | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |black tea ||trā | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |blackbird ||haha | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |boar ||hārha | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |boat ||kilya | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |borax||itte | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |boy ||tunni | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |bread ||aki | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Britain (island)||alpigan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|brother | |brother ||larin | ||
|- | |- | ||
|bridge | |bridge||hilta | ||
|- | |- | ||
|bull | |bull ||āhan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|butter | |butter ||ampan | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |cart, wagon||kurti | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |cat ||kattu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |cheese ||kathan | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |cheetah ||trita | ||
|- | |- | ||
|chip, French fry | |chicken, hen ||jara | ||
|- | |||
|chip, French fry ||trip | |||
|- | |- | ||
|coal||munra | |coal||munra | ||
|- | |- | ||
|cockerel, rooster | |cockerel, rooster ||haljak | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |cow ||pigi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|celebration||lipta | |celebration||lipta | ||
|- | |- | ||
|child | |child ||lāphi | ||
|- | |||
|chill, coldness ||pelē | |||
|- | |||
|chocolate ||trakalat | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |clitoris||tāra | ||
|- | |- | ||
|coffee | |coffee ||kaphe | ||
|- | |- | ||
|community|| | |community, group||qara | ||
|- | |- | ||
|copper||wēke | |copper||wēke | ||
Line 1,051: | Line 1,134: | ||
|cost, price||lhitu | |cost, price||lhitu | ||
|- | |- | ||
|crab | |crab ||hārhag | ||
|- | |- | ||
|cultivated field | |cultivated field ||heli | ||
|- | |- | ||
|dagger|| | |dagger||ērha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|darkness|| | |darkness ||vallu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |ditch||lhata | ||
|- | |- | ||
|dog | |dog ||kipmik | ||
|- | |- | ||
|doll | |doll||nugwak | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |duck||lakka | ||
|- | |- | ||
|dwarf (mythological)||takal | |dwarf (mythological)||takal | ||
Line 1,071: | Line 1,154: | ||
|eel||ninrak | |eel||ninrak | ||
|- | |- | ||
|elf|| | |elf||eyak | ||
|- | |- | ||
|face||lurti | |face||lurti | ||
Line 1,077: | Line 1,160: | ||
|father||atta | |father||atta | ||
|- | |- | ||
|fellow | |fellow ||nihan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|finger||karak | |finger||karak | ||
|- | |- | ||
|finger-ring|| | |finger-ring||nakha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|fire | |fire, flames ||qhārhu | ||
|- | |- | ||
|flower | |flower ||lvetta | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |foot (anatomy)||īhak | ||
|- | |- | ||
|fort | |football ||phutpal | ||
|- | |||
|foreigner ||kihan | |||
|- | |||
|fort ||rhīkhi | |||
|- | |- | ||
|forest||nuna | |forest||nuna | ||
|- | |- | ||
|fox ( | |fox ||hintak | ||
|- | |||
|garden||rhūha | |||
|- | |||
|garlic||rhema | |||
|- | |||
|gay person ||kī | |||
|- | |||
|girl ||lirha | |||
|- | |||
|glass (substance)||lagya | |||
|- | |||
|goat ||anū | |||
|- | |||
|god||uttak | |||
|- | |||
|gold ||urra | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |good fortune||anak | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |grain||qalle | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |grandfather||anra | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |grandmother||avha | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |grape||panā | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |green tea ||tē | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |guinea pig ||kamhē | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |hand||arkak | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |head||nahuk | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |heartbeat||tuntun | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |horns ||valluk | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |horse ||halti | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |deer||tunta | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |house ||enlu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |human being ||hamin | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |human right, need for autonomy||mēran | ||
|- | |- | ||
|ice||hilku | |ice||hilku | ||
Line 1,131: | Line 1,234: | ||
|idiot||nalla | |idiot||nalla | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Indian Ocean|| | |Indian Ocean||Innik | ||
|- | |||
|internet||uggutti janukennu | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Ireland (island)||Hivarjan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|island|| | |iron ||harna | ||
|- | |||
|island||hāri | |||
|- | |- | ||
|king||tanek | |king||tanek | ||
|- | |- | ||
|lady | |lady ||anter | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |land, country || tela | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |language||navha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|life|| | |letter, word||liter | ||
|- | |||
|life||mūge | |||
|- | |- | ||
|liquor||traju | |liquor||traju | ||
|- | |- | ||
|liver|| | |liver||kapil | ||
|- | |- | ||
|lord||antā | |lord||antā | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |stag||munnu | ||
|- | |- | ||
|man | |man ||janak | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |mouse||luhā | ||
|- | |- | ||
|milk | |milk ||ahan | ||
|- | |- | ||
|money | |money ||thalir | ||
|- | |- | ||
|month|| | |month||ille | ||
|- | |- | ||
|moon|| | |moon||ille | ||
|- | |- | ||
|mountain||kaja | |mountain||kaja | ||
|- | |- | ||
|mother||amma | |mother||amma | ||
|- | |||
|net, web||ugga | |||
|- | |- | ||
|night||natar | |night||natar | ||
|- | |- | ||
|nitre|| | |nitre||irkun | ||
|- | |- | ||
|orange||naran | |orange||naran | ||
|- | |- | ||
|otter | |otter ||hirta | ||
|- | |||
|pasture ||larre | |||
|- | |||
|penis||nhanner | |||
|- | |||
|people, folk, nation ||lūki | |||
|- | |||
|pig||urti | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |pillow||ajen | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |pistol||ērha ghārhut | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |plough ||kalta | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |puppet ||ithal | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |rabbit||keppa | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |rain||bakan | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |ram, male sheep ||anri | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |rib (anatomy)||thela | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |rifle||elhā ghārhut | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |road||vige | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |rock||karra | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |room||kanra | ||
|- | |- | ||
|salt | |salt ||rhūne | ||
|- | |- | ||
|sea | |sea ||īthā | ||
|- | |- | ||
|shadow | |shadow ||keppet | ||
|- | |- | ||
|sheep | |sheep ||arti | ||
|- | |- | ||
|silver | |silver ||hirra | ||
|- | |- | ||
|sister|| | |sister||kalū | ||
|- | |- | ||
|sky|| | |sky||lāhi | ||
|- | |- | ||
|slave, thrall | |slave, thrall ||nhaka | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |soft drink ||kigkatpitkal | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |Spain||Hiphagja | ||
|- | |- | ||
|spear|| | |spear||elhā | ||
|- | |- | ||
|spouse||melki | |spouse||melki | ||
|- | |- | ||
|stallion | |stallion ||halluk | ||
|- | |||
|star||kakhā | |||
|- | |- | ||
|stone (substance)|| | |stone (substance)|| karra | ||
|- | |- | ||
|sugar | |sugar ||thukar | ||
|- | |- | ||
|sun|| | |sun||rhahā | ||
|- | |- | ||
|sword | |sword ||ghiqak | ||
|- | |- | ||
|tavern|| | |tavern||pūni | ||
|- | |- | ||
|temple||turup | |temple||turup | ||
Line 1,243: | Line 1,364: | ||
|thing||latpu | |thing||latpu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |throne ||tronu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |thumb ||kulhu | ||
|- | |- | ||
|trans person | |tin (metal) ||thakna | ||
|- | |||
|trans person ||tranthi | |||
|- | |- | ||
|tree||rhugē | |tree||rhugē | ||
|- | |- | ||
|vampire (European | |vampire (European) ||vampir | ||
|- | |||
|voice ||navha | |||
|- | |||
|vulva||villū | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | |war ||hāghat | ||
|- | |- | ||
|water | |water ||ninta | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |wheel||raha | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |wind ||hvethut | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |wolf ||lhajhu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |woman ||kimet | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |world ||hanra | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | |zebra||therha | ||
|} | |} | ||
Line 1,274: | Line 1,401: | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|English||Avalonian | |'''English'''||'''Avalonian''' | ||
|- | |||
|aggravate, irritate||trummu | |||
|- | |- | ||
|be awake||alwin | |be awake||alwin | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be beautiful||wata | |be beautiful||wata | ||
|- | |||
|be beneath, be under||uggu | |||
|- | |||
|be between, be among||janu | |||
|- | |- | ||
|be brave|| tathak | |be brave|| tathak | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be cold||hekal | |be cold||hekal | ||
|- | |||
|be crazy||enni | |||
|- | |- | ||
|be diseased||narun | |be diseased||narun | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be English|| | |be English||hākha | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be free, have freedom||elē | |be free, have freedom||elē | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be good|| | |be good||iktū | ||
|- | |||
|be green||latha | |||
|- | |- | ||
|be important||qaran | |be important||qaran | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be kind||taara | |be kind||taara | ||
|- | |||
|be named||haltran | |||
|- | |||
|be sad||ewē | |||
|- | |- | ||
|be thirsty||arwaa | |be thirsty||arwaa | ||
Line 1,305: | Line 1,446: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|blame||kāma | |blame||kāma | ||
|- | |||
|bring||kamha | |||
|- | |- | ||
|bully, dog, harry||nipmin | |bully, dog, harry||nipmin | ||
|- | |||
|burn something||lhirhak | |||
|- | |- | ||
|carouse||tijam | |carouse||tijam | ||
Line 1,333: | Line 1,478: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|fight||jhunni | |fight||jhunni | ||
|- | |||
|find||rinnil | |||
|- | |- | ||
|flee||quktee | |flee||quktee | ||
Line 1,350: | Line 1,497: | ||
|jump, leap||phatte | |jump, leap||phatte | ||
|- | |- | ||
|kill|| | |kill||utpa | ||
|- | |||
|know||iktē | |||
|- | |- | ||
|laugh||lalha | |laugh||lalha | ||
Line 1,360: | Line 1,509: | ||
|love||kimje | |love||kimje | ||
|- | |- | ||
|merit|| | |meet||ānhim | ||
|- | |||
|merit||irhu | |||
|- | |- | ||
|return||tuli | |return||tuli | ||
|- | |||
|rule||malik | |||
|- | |- | ||
|see||hintu | |see||hintu | ||
Line 1,383: | Line 1,536: | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|English||Avalonian | |'''English'''||'''Avalonian''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
|agentive nominaliser||- | |agentive nominaliser||-juk | ||
|- | |- | ||
|allow, let, permit||- | |allow, let, permit||-hvim | ||
|- | |- | ||
|always||- | |always||-utkū | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be big||-pkak | |be big||-pkak | ||
|- | |||
|be black, be dressed in black, be brown-haired||-kthat | |||
|- | |- | ||
|be filled with||-havit | |be filled with||-havit | ||
Line 1,404: | Line 1,559: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|be red, be dressed in red, be red-haired||-rutta | |be red, be dressed in red, be red-haired||-rutta | ||
|- | |||
|be required to||-mimmi | |||
|- | |- | ||
|be white, be dressed in white, be fair-haired||-karik | |be white, be dressed in white, be fair-haired||-karik | ||
Line 1,436: | Line 1,593: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|possibly||-nē | |possibly||-nē | ||
|- | |||
|result of a process||-thul | |||
|- | |- | ||
|so it is said||-kpenta | |so it is said||-kpenta | ||
Line 1,453: | Line 1,612: | ||
|to have||-min | |to have||-min | ||
|- | |- | ||
|to make||- | |to make||-tuwa | ||
|- | |- | ||
|to regret||-qevē | |to regret||-qevē | ||
|- | |- | ||
|to seem|| | |to seem, to be like||mhe | ||
|- | |- | ||
|tomorrow||-yerhe | |tomorrow||-yerhe | ||
Line 1,464: | Line 1,623: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|under||-nnu | |under||-nnu | ||
|- | |||
|undo, negate||-nhir | |||
|- | |- | ||
|very||-pkak | |very||-pkak | ||
Line 1,474: | Line 1,635: | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|English||Avalonian | |'''English'''||'''Avalonian''' | ||
|- | |||
|and (connects clauses)||yam | |||
|- | |- | ||
|and|| | |and (connects nouns)||nu | ||
|- | |- | ||
|but||yam | |but||yam |
Latest revision as of 17:51, 13 November 2021
Avalonian | |
---|---|
Navhatti Telkun | |
Pronunciation | [ˈnɔ.xʷɔt.si ˈtʰɛl.kʊn] |
Created by | Rebecca Ashling |
Date | 2019 |
Native speakers | 44.2 million |
Early forms | Pre-Avalonian
|
- Avalonian © Rebecca Ashling 2019–2021. I assert that the Avalonian conlang presented here is my intellectual property and confirm that Linguifex may post this material on their site.
Avalonian (Aval: Navhatti Telkun) is a polysynthetic language of the affixal, scopal subtype. It has nominative-accusative morphosyntactic alignment with ergative morphology and canonical VSOX word order.
It is the majority language of the Avalonian Isles (Aval: Telku) and has approximately 44.2 million speakers. The Stannic Commonwealth of Avalon (Mag: Karatti Thaknat Anakte Telkun) comprises the entirety of the fictional islands of Hivarna (OTL: Newfoundland), Kalephū (OTL: Nova Scotia peninsula) and Ehanramit (OTL: Cape Breton Island).
In this timeline, Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island and the Nova Scotia peninsula ended up in the eastern side of the Atlantic after the breakup of Pangea and became the Avalonian Isles. The archipelago lies south-west of Ireland.
Along with Basque, Avalonian is one of two surviving Palaeo-European languages in Western Europe. It is a language isolate and not demonstrably related to any other language although certain scholars try to shoehorn it into one of the many language macrofamily hypotheses.
Avalonian does show much evidence of borrowing from an unknown Vasconic language although there is little or no evidence of reciprocal ancient Avalonian loans in Aquitanian or Basque.
There is also some evidence of borrowing from the putative Goidelic substrate languages. An example of this would be partaq 'crab'.
Inspiration
Avalonian grammar and morphology are strongly modelled on those of the Inuit and Yupik languages. Its phonology is to a great extent based on that of Pre-Exilic Quenya with some slight influence from Iñupiaq.
Ethnography
The Avalonians are members of the oft-perscuted European Pygmy phenotype which is believed to have originated in the ancient Hercynian forest zone of central Europe some 8,000 years ago. The preferred self-designation by members of the European Pygmy phenotype is Hercynians (Aval: Lūki Herkigyat).
History
Avalonian has four known historical stages:
1) Pre-Avalonian (500 BCE to 250 CE). Not directly attested and known from internal reconstruction and its treatment of ancient Vasconic loans. Koldo Mitxelena's work on Pre-Basque was critical for reconstructing Pre-Avalonian.
2) Old Avalonian (250 CE to 1000 CE). Directly attested from the 6th Century CE with the introduction of writing by Christian missionaries.
3) Middle Avalonian (1000 CE to 1500 CE). The period when Avalonian literacy began to come into its own.
4) Modern Avalonian (1500 CE to Present).The era of printing and mass literacy. The latest version of Modern Avalonian is described in this Linguifex article.
Phonology
Orthoɡraphy
General Remarks On Orthography
Avalonian had no native script until the arrival of missionary monks in the 6th Century CE. The Latin alphabet (Aval: Litērharti Ruman) has undergone many changes and revisions over the centuries. The current version was adopted in 1908.
Avalonian spelling in Litērharti Ruman is a deep orthography which reflects the language's etymological history and phonological processes such as sandhi. The letters ⟨b, c, d, f, g, o, s, w, x, y, z⟩ are not used, even to spell foreign names.
Avalonian Alphabet
Latin Letter | IPA Value |
⟨a⟩ | /ɔ/ |
⟨ā⟩ | /ɑʊ/ |
⟨e⟩ | /ɛ/ |
⟨ē⟩ | /aɪ/ |
⟨h⟩ | /h/ |
⟨i⟩ | /i/ |
⟨ī⟩ | /eɪ/ |
⟨j⟩ | /j/ |
⟨jh⟩ | /xʲ/ |
⟨k⟩ | /k/ |
⟨kh⟩ | /x/ |
⟨kj⟩ | /kxʲ/ |
⟨kv⟩ | /kxʷ/ |
⟨l⟩ | /l/ |
⟨lh⟩ | /ɬ/ |
⟨lj⟩ | /lʲ/ |
⟨lv⟩ | /lʷ/ |
⟨m⟩ | /m/ |
⟨mh⟩ | /v/ |
⟨n⟩ | /n/ |
⟨nh⟩ | /z/ |
⟨nl⟩ | /dɮ/ |
⟨nr⟩ | /dʒ/ |
⟨p⟩ | /p/ |
⟨ph⟩ | /f/ |
⟨q⟩ | /ŋ/ |
⟨qh⟩ | /ɣ/ |
⟨qj⟩ | /ɡɣʲ/ |
⟨qv⟩ | /ɡɣʷ/ |
⟨r⟩ | /ɹ̠/ |
⟨rh⟩ | /ʃ/ |
⟨rj⟩ | /ʒʲ/ |
⟨rv⟩ | /ʒʷ/ |
⟨t⟩ | /t/ |
⟨th⟩ | /s/ |
⟨tl⟩ | /tɬ/ |
⟨tr⟩ | /tʃ/ |
⟨u⟩ | /u/ |
⟨ū⟩ | /oʊ/ |
⟨v⟩ | /w/ |
⟨vh⟩ | /xʷ/ |
Consonants
Avalonian has a total of 33 consonants which according to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Stucture is a moderately large inventory. The most striking features of the inventory, according to WALS are a voicing contrast in fricatives but not plosives, and the presence of lateral obstruents and the initial velar nasal. The consonants are displayed in the table below:
Labial | Central Alveolar | Lateral Alveolar | Palatalised Lateral Alveolar | Labialised Lateral Alveolar | Palato-Alveolar | Palatalised Palato-Alveolar | Labialised Palato-Alveolar | Plain Velar | Palatalised Velar | Labialised Velar | Glottal | |
Plosive | /p/ | /t/ | /k/ | |||||||||
Voiceless Affricate | /tɬ/ | /tʃ/ | /kxʲ/ | /kxʷ/ | ||||||||
Voiced Affricate | /dɮ/ | /dʒ/ | /ɡɣʲ/ | /ɡɣʷ/ | ||||||||
Voiceless Fricative | /f/ | /s/ | /x/ | |||||||||
Voiced Fricative | /v/ | /z/ | /ɣ/ | |||||||||
Nasal | /m/ | /n/ | /ŋ/ | |||||||||
Voiced Liquid | /l/ | /lʲ/ | /lʷ/ | /ɹ̠/ | /ʒʲ/ | /ʒʷ/ | ||||||
Voiceless Liquid | /ɬ/ | /ʃ/ | ||||||||||
Voiced Semivowel | /j/ | /w/ | ||||||||||
Voiceless Semivowel | /xʲ/ | /xʷ/ | ||||||||||
Aspirate | /h/ |
Vowels
Avalonian has a total of 8 vowels, 4 monophthongs and 4 diphthongs. According to the World Atlas of Lanɡuaɡe Structures Avalonian has 4 vowel qualities which is a small inventory. Avalonian has a consonant to vowel quality ratio of 8.25 which according to WALS is a high ratio. Avalonian is unusual for not possessing any low vowels such as /a/. Diphthongs are treated as phonological long vowels. The vowels are displayed in the table below:
Short Front | Long Front | Short Back | Long Back | |
High | /i/ | /eɪ/ | /u/ | /oʊ/ |
Mid | /ɛ/ | /aɪ/ | /ɔ/ | /ɑʊ/ |
Allophony
1) /p, t, k/ are realised as [pʰ, tʰ, kʰ] if in the onset of a stressed syllable.
2) /tɬ, tʃ, kxʲ, kxʷ/ are realised as [tɬʰ, tʃʰ, kxʲʰ, kxʷʰ/ if in the onset of a stressed syllable.
3) /ɹ̠/ is realised as [ʃ] in coda position before a voiceless onset.
4) /ɹ̠/ is realised as [ʒ] in coda position elsewhere.
5) /pp, tt, kk/ are realised as [pf, ts, kx].
6) /mm, nn, ŋŋ/ are realised as [mb, nd, ŋɡ].
7) /ll, ɹ̠ɹ̠/ are realised as [ld, ʒd].
8) In closed syllables /i, u/ are realised as [ɪ, ʊ].
Prosody
1) Words in Avalonian bear primary stress on the initial syllable.
2) Avalonian words bear secondary stress on every odd-numbered syllable following the initial syllable.
3) According to the World Atlas of Language Structures, the rhythm type of Avalonian is trochaic.
4) Avalonian is a stress-timed language with the uncommon quality for such a language of a lack of vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.
5) To an English speaker, Avalonian would appear to be spoken with a slower tempo than English is.
Phonotactics
1) The syllable template is CV(C). According to the World Atlas of Language Structures, this is a moderately complex syllable structure.
2) Permitted syllable coda consonants are:
/p, t, k, m, n, ŋ, l, ɹ̠/.
3) Consonant clusters may not have more than two segments.
4) Consonant clusters may only occur across syllable boundaries.
5) Permitted consonant clusters as per the table below:
P | T | K | M | N | Q | L | R | |
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | P | ||
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | T | ||
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | K | ||
√ | √ | √ | √ | TL | ||||
√ | √ | √ | √ | TR | ||||
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | KJ | |||
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | KV | |||
√ | PH | |||||||
√ | TH | |||||||
√ | KH | |||||||
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | M | ||
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | N | ||
√ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | Q | ||
√ | L | |||||||
√ | R | |||||||
√ | LH | |||||||
√ | RH | |||||||
√ | JH | |||||||
√ | VH |
a) Latin orthography used for clarity.
b) First consonant of consonant cluster runs along be top of table, second consonant of consonant cluster runs down riɡht of table.
c) √ in a cell means the indicated consonant cluster is permitted.
6) /i, eɪ/ may not follow /kxʲ, ŋʲ, lʲ, ʒʲ, j, xʲ/.
7) /u, oʊ/ may not follow /kxʷ, ŋʷ, lʷ, ʒʷ, w, xʷ/.
8) /eɪ, aɪ/ may not precede /j/.
9) /oʊ, ɑʊ/ may not precede /w/.
10) Long vowels may not occur in closed syllables.
11) Long vowels may only occur before /f, s, x, v, z, ɣ, h/ or in morpheme-final position.
12) Vowel clusters do not occur.
13) Native roots are most often disyllabic.
14) Monosyllabic roots are uncommon and mainly comprise pronouns and certain common nouns and verbs.
15) Roots with more than two syllables are foreign loans and their syllabic templates generally become nativised over time.
16) Monosyllabic suffixes may have a word-final allomorph consisting of a single coda consonant which is employed after a short vowel.
Morphophonemics
Internal Sandhi
The effects of internal sandhi are indicated in the orthography.
Consonantal Sandhi
1) Consonant clusters resulting from suffixation undergo sandhi as per the table below:
P | T | K | M | N | Q | L | R | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pp | tp | kp | mp | mp | mp | lp | rp | P |
pt | tt | kt | nt | nt | nt | lt | rt | T |
pk | tk | kk | qk | qk | qk | lk | rk | K |
ptl | v̄tl | ktl | ntl | ntl | ntl | v̄tl | rtl | TL |
ptr | v̄tr | ktr | ntr | ntr | ntr | ltr | v̄tr | TR |
pkj | tkj | v̄kj | qkj | qkj | qkj | lkj | rkj | KJ |
pkv | tkv | v̄kv | qkv | qkv | qkv | lkv | rkv | KV |
v̄tl | v̄tl | v̄tl | v̄nl | v̄nl | v̄nl | v̄nl | v̄nl | NL |
v̄tr | v̄tr | v̄tr | v̄nr | v̄nr | v̄nr | v̄nr | v̄nr | NR |
v̄kj | v̄kj | v̄kj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄qj | QJ |
v̄kv | v̄kv | v̄kv | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄qv | QV |
pp | v̄ph | v̄ph | mph | mph | mph | v̄ph | v̄ph | PH |
v̄th | tt | v̄th | nth | nth | nth | v̄th | v̄th | TH |
v̄kh | v̄kh | kk | qkh | qkh | qkh | v̄kh | v̄kh | KH |
v̄ph | v̄ph | v̄ph | v̄mh | v̄mh | v̄mh | v̄mh | v̄mh | MH |
v̄th | v̄th | v̄th | v̄nh | v̄nh | v̄nh | v̄nh | v̄nh | NH |
v̄kh | v̄kh | v̄kh | v̄qh | v̄qh | v̄qh | v̄qh | v̄qh | QH |
pm | tm | km | mm | mm | mm | lm | rm | M |
pn | tn | kn | nn | nn | nn | ln | rn | N |
pq | tq | kq | lq | rq | Q | |||
v̄lh | v̄tl | v̄lh | v̄nl | v̄nl | v̄nl | ll | ll | L |
v̄jh | v̄jh | v̄kj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄lj | v̄lj | LJ |
v̄vh | v̄vh | v̄kv | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄lv | v̄lv | LV |
v̄jh | v̄jh | v̄kj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄rj | v̄rj | RJ |
v̄vh | v̄vh | v̄kv | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄rv | v̄rv | RV |
v̄rh | v̄tr | v̄rh | v̄nr | v̄nr | v̄nr | rr | rr | R |
v̄lh | v̄tl | v̄lh | nlh | nlh | nlh | v̄lh | v̄lh | LH |
v̄rh | v̄tr | v̄rh | nrh | nrh | nrh | v̄rh | v̄rh | RH |
v̄jh | v̄jh | v̄kj | v̄qj | v̄qj | v̄qj | lj | rj | J |
v̄vh | v̄vh | v̄vh | v̄qv | v̄qv | v̄qv | lv | rv | V |
v̄jh | v̄jh | v̄kj | qjh | qjh | qjh | v̄jh | v̄jh | JH |
v̄vh | v̄vh | v̄kv | qvh | qvh | qvh | v̄vh | v̄vh | VH |
v̄ph | v̄th | v̄kh | v̄mh | v̄nh | v̄qh | v̄lh | v̄rh | H |
NOTES:
a) Latin script used for clarity.
b) First consonant of consonant cluster runs across top of table, second consonant of consonant cluster runs down riɡht of table.
c) The notation v̄ indicates the preceding vowel is lengthened.
2) If suffixation results in a consonant cluster with three consonants before sandhi can be applied then an epenthetic /i/ is inserted after the first consonant in that cluster.
Vocalic Sandhi
1) Vowel clusters resulting from suffixation undergo sandhi as per the table below:
I | U | E | A | Ī | Ū | Ē | Ā | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | I |
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | U |
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | E |
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | A |
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | Ī |
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | Ū |
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | Ē |
-q- | -q- | -q- | -q- | -j- | -v- | -j- | -v- | Ā |
NOTES:
a) Latin script used for clarity.
b) First vowel of vowel cluster runs across top of table, second vowel of vowel cluster runs down right of table.
c) The notation -g- indicates an epenthetic /ŋ/ is inserted between the two vowels.
d) The notation -j- indicates an epenthetic /j/ is inserted between the two vowels.
e) The notation -v- indicates an epenthetic /w/ is inserted between the two vowels.
f) If the first vowel is long then it is reduced to its corresponding short vowel.
g) If the second vowel is either of /i, eɪ/ then it is lowered to its corresponding low vowel if it follows /j/.
h) If the second vowel is either of /u, oʊ/ then it is lowered to its corresponding low vowel if it follows /w/.
2) If /eɪ, aɪ/ precedes /j/ due to suffixation then they are reduced to [i, ɛ].
3) If /oʊ, ɑʊ/ precedes /w/ due to suffixation then they are reduced to [u, ɔ].
External Sandhi
1) The effects of external sandhi are not indicated in the orthography.
2) External sandhi only occurs between words within the same clause.
3) Between a word-final consonant and a word-initial consonant, an epenthetic /i/ is inserted.
4) Between a word-final vowel and a word-initial vowel, an epenthetic /ŋ/ is inserted.
Morphology
General Remarks On Morpholoɡy
1) The morphological cateɡories used in Avalonian are summarised in the table below:
Category | Description | Inflected? |
Noun | Nouns, pronouns, numerals | Yes |
Verb | Verbs, many adjectives, adpositions | Yes |
Suffix | These express adjunction, verbal modality, inflection or derivation | No |
Particle | Conjunctions, some adverbs, interjections | No |
2) Avalonian is an affixal polysynthetic lanɡuaɡe and only one root per word is permitted.
3) Compoundinɡ of roots does not occur.
4) According to the World Atlas of Language Structures, Avalonian has a predominant preference for suffixinɡ.
Nominal Morphology
General Remarks On Nominal Morphology
1) Nouns indicate distinct entities. Nouns are inflected for number, possessor, demonstration or case.
2) Maximal nominal structure:
nominal or verbal root + derivational suffix(es) + number suffix + possessive suffix + demonstrative suffix + case suffix
Number
1) Avalonian nouns have two systems of number:
a) Singular-Plural
b) Collective-Singulative
2) Nouns within the singular-plural class are inherently singular and take the plural suffix to denote multiple instances.
3) Nouns within the collective-singulative class are inherently plural and take the singulative suffix to denote a single instance.
4) Avalonian grammatical numbers are summarised in the table below:
Number | Abbreviation | Suffix (Allomorph) |
---|---|---|
Singular | SG | -∅ |
Collective | COL | -∅ |
Plural | PL | -ra (-r) |
Singulative | SGV | -me (-m) |
NB: Parenthesised forms are word-final allomorphs employed after a short vowel.
Case
1) Case marks relationships between noun and noun or noun and verb.
2) Avalonian cases are summarised in the table below:
Case | Abbreviation | Suffix (Allomorph) | Functions |
Absolutive | ABS | -∅ | a) Marks citation form of noun
b) Indicates O argument of a transitive verb c) Marks S argument of an intransitive verb |
Ergative | ERG | -nu (-n) | a) Marks A argument of a transitive verb
b) Indicates the possessor |
Equative | EQU | -te (-t) | a) Marks subject complement of the copula
b) Indicates similarity of manner or appearance c) Marks composition d) Indicates source of comparison |
Dative | DAT | -hē | a) Marks beneficiary or recipient
b) Indicates intention |
Instrumental | INST | -tik | a) Marks tool or instrument
b) Indicates proximate causation |
Comitative | COM | -kve | a) Marks accompaniment
b) Indicates collaboration or common effort towards a goal |
Locative | LOC | -ki (-k) | a) Marks location in space or time
b) Indicates the possessor in 'have' constructions |
Allative | ALL | -va | a) Marks motion towards
b) Indicates until c) Marks goal |
Ablative | ABL | -jā | a) Marks motion away from
b) Indicates since c) Indicates aversion or opposition |
Perlative | PERL | -am | a) Marks motion through or along
b) Indicates duration or simultaneity c) Marks mode or means of transportation or transmission d) Indicates topic of conversation e) Marks ultimate causation |
NB: Parenthesised forms are word-final allomorphs employed after a short vowel.
Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
1) Avalonian personal pronouns and their associated possessive suffixes are summarised in the table below:
Person | Abbreviation | Pronoun | Possessive Suffix |
1st Person Singular | 1SG | ni | -nti |
2nd Person Singular | 2SG | ki | -kti |
3rd Person Singular | 3SG | ti | -tti |
4th Person Sinɡular | 4SG | pi | -pti |
1st Person Paucal Exclusive | 1PC EXCL | nuk | -ntuk |
1st Person Paucal Inclusive | 1PC INCL | nikuk | -niktuk |
2nd Person Paucal | 2PC | kuk | -ktuk |
3rd Person Paucal | 3PC | tuk | -ttuk |
4th Person Paucal | 4PC | puk | -ptuk |
1st Person Plural Exclusive | 1PL EXCL | nat | -ntat |
1st Person Plural Inclusive | 1PL INCL | nikat | -niktat |
2nd Person Plural | 2PL | kat | -ktat |
3rd Person Plural | 3PL | tat | -ttat |
4th Person Plural | 4PL | pat | -ptat |
2) Clusivity is a relatively recent innovation in Avalonian and thus the inclusive pronouns and their possessive suffixes differ somewhat in form from the other paucal and plural pronouns.
3) Personal pronouns take case in the same manner as nouns.
Demonstrative Pronouns
1) Pronominal demonstratives are formed by adding the appropriate demonstrative suffix to the appropriate pronoun.
2) Adnominal demonstratives are suffices.
3) Adnominal demonstrative suffices are rarely used with core arguments except for emphasis.
4) The adnominal demonstrative suffices are displayed in the table below:
Distance | Abbreviation | Locus Of Application | Adnominal Demonstrative Suffix |
Proximal | PROX | Near speaker | -in |
Medial | MED | Near hearer | -uk |
Distal | DIST | Away from speaker and hearer | -at |
Emphatic Pronouns
Avalonian is a pro-drop language so any use of pronouns in the role of A, S or O arguments marks emphasis.
Reflexive Pronouns
1) Avalonian lacks reflexive pronouns.
2) For reflexivity to be indicated in the case of an O argument, both pronominal markers on the verb must have the same person and number.
3) For reflexivity to be indicated in the case of an X argument, the pronoun must have the same person and number as the ergative pronominal marker in the case of a transitive verb or the absolutive pronominal marker in the case of an intransitive marker
Interrogative Pronouns
1) There is one interroɡative pronoun: je 'who, what' which is undifferentiated for number.
2) All other interrogatives are built from this by adding the appropriate case. Eɡ: jek 'where?', jekve 'with whom?'
3) There is an interrogative pronominal possessive suffix: -jet 'whose?'.
4) Suffixing -je to a noun gives the sense of 'which?'.
5) The canonical word-order of Avalonian is VSOX. Interrogative pronouns or nouns taking an interrogative suffix violate this by being fronted to before the verb.
6) When an interrogative pronoun is used with a verb, the appropriate pronominal marker takes plural number.
Indefinite Pronouns
There is one indefinite pronoun: wahu 'somebody, something'. When placed before a noun it indicates the concept of 'any'. When used with a verb that verb uses plural agreement.
Negative Pronouns
There is one negative pronoun: tahu 'nobody, nothing'. When placed before a noun marks the concept of 'none'. When used with a verb that verb uses plural agreement.
Universal Pronouns
There is one universal pronoun: kal 'everybody, everything'. When placed before a noun in it indicates the concept of 'all' or 'each'. When used with a verb that verb uses plural agreement.
Possessive Constructions
1) If only pronouns are involved as the possessor then the possessum is marked with the appropriate possessive suffix.
2) If a noun is involved as the possessor then the possessum is marked with the appropriate suffix, most commonly 3rd or 4th person, and the possessor takes the ergative case.
Numerals
1) Avalonian uses a hybrid vigesimal-decimal system.
2) The numerals of Avalonian are listed in the table below:
Number | Numeral |
0 | thera |
1 | pat |
2 | pik |
3 | ilur |
4 | kvevher |
5 | pārha |
6 | hi |
7 | haphi |
8 | hārhi |
9 | navan |
10 | ampar |
11 | amparpat |
12 | amparpik |
13 | amparilur |
14 | ampalkvevher |
15 | amparpārha |
16 | ampārhi |
17 | ampārhaphi |
18 | ampārhārhi |
19 | amparnavan |
20 | aki |
40 | pikaki |
60 | iluraki |
80 | kvevheraki |
100 | elun |
200 | pik elun |
1.000 | milya |
1.965 | milya navan elun iluraki pārha |
3.000 | ilur milya |
10.000 | ampar milya |
50.000 | pikaki ampar milya |
100.000 | elun milya |
600.000 | hi elun milya |
1.000.000 | milyan |
7.000.000 | haphi milyan |
3) Numeral strings precede from left to right, highest exponent numerals first.
4) Numerals from 21 to 99 are formed by the appropriate vigesimal numeral plus the appropriate numeral from 1 to 19.
5) The decimal numerals from 100 and over are prefixed with a number from 1-9 as a multiplier.
6) Cardinal numerals precede the noun which takes the equative cases.
7) Ordinal numerals follow the noun and take the equative case. They take final position in the noun modifier string.
8) The numeral system bears a close resemblence to those used in Basque and Iberian. It is believed that it was loaned from a relative of Basque or Iberian spoken in pre-Celtic Gallaecia which places the latest limit on the loan at before 1300 BCE. The Avalonian Isles were a rich source of tin at the time which likely explains the borrowing.
Verbal Morphology
General Remarks On Verbal Morphology
1) Verbs express actions, processes or states of being. Verbs are inflected for A, S, and O arguments, aspect and mood.
2) Maximal verbal structure:
verbal or nominal root + derivational suffix(es) + aspect suffix + mood suffix + ergative pronominal suffix + absolutive pronominal suffix
Verbal Argument Suffixes
Person | Abbreviation | Absolutive Suffix (Allomorph) | Ergative Suffix | ||||
1st Person Singular | 1SG | -ni (-n) | -nti | ||||
2nd Person Singular | 2SG | -ki (-k) | -kti | ||||
3rd Person Singular | 3SG | -ti (-t) | -tti | ||||
4th Person Singular | 4SG | -pi (-p) | -pti | ||||
1st Person Paucal Exclusive | 1PC EXCL | -nuk | -ntuk | ||||
1st Person Paucal Inclusive | 1PC INCL | -nikuk | -niktuk | ||||
2nd Person Paucal | 2PC | -kuk | -ktuk | ||||
3rd Person Paucal | 3PC | -tuk | -ntuk | ||||
4th Person Paucal | 4PC | -puk | -ptuk | ||||
1st Person Plural Exclusive | 1PL EXCL | -nat | -ntat | ||||
1st Person Plural Inclusive | 1PL INCL | -nikat | -niktat | ||||
2nd Person Plural | 2PL | -kat | -ktat | 3rd Person Plural | 3PL | -tat | -ttat |
4th Person Plural | 4PL | -pat | -ptat |
NB: Parenthesised forms are word-final allomorphs employed after a short vowel.
Topicalisation
1) Avalonian lacks true grammatical voice although it does have a system of topicalisation in lieu.
2) In transitive verbs, topicalisation is indicated by the presence or absence of verbal pronominal suffices as per the table below:
Prominent Topic | Ergative Suffix? | Absolutive Suffix? | Case Of Topic Argument |
None | Yes | Yes | ERG or ABS |
A argument | Yes | No | DAT |
O argument | No | Yes | INST |
4) Topicalised A or O arguments are fronted to before the verb.
5) The S arguments of intransitive verbs never mark topic as they are either the topic or an X argument is elevated to topic.
6) Topicalised X argument phrases are fronted to before the verb.
7) Relativised verbs may not have topicalised arguments.
Mood and Modality
1) Avalonian has four formally marked moods. These are listed in the table below:
Mood | Abbrevation | Suffix | Function |
Indicative | IND | -∅ | Declarative statements |
Interrogative | INT | -kī | Polar Questions |
Conditional | COND | -ntu | "If" statements |
Coordinative | COORD | -tkā | Marks an action going on at the same time as another action. |
2) Other distinctions of modality are conveyed by several derivational suffixes.
Negation
1) Negation is indicated by the particle tā. This precedes the verb.
2) tā can occur independently, having the meaning 'no!' or 'don't!".
The Imperative And Prohibitive
1) The imperative indicates that an order to perform an action is made. The base form of the verb marks the imperative.
2) The prohibitive marks that an order to not perform an action is made. The prohibitive is formed by placing the negative particle tā before the base form of the verb.
Tense
Avalonian lacks tense as a grammatical category. However, tense-like functions are provided by several derivational suffixes.
Aspect
1) Avalonian has two aspects. These are listed in the table below:
Name | Abbreviation | Suffix | Function |
Imperfective | IPFV | -∅ | Indicates an ongoing action |
Perfective | PFV | -lle | Marks a completed action |
2) Other aspectual distinctions can be conveyed by several derivational suffixes.
The Gerund
1) The gerund uses the suffix -ken which is added in lieu of pronominal ergative or absolutive suffixes
2) It transforms the verb into a noun which can be used much as any noun can.
Participles
Avalonian lacks participles and uses a relativised verb.
Adverbs
1) Avalonian lacks true adverbs.
2) Forms conveying adverbial meanings appear in three classes:
a) A noun in equative case following a verb.
b) Several derivational suffixes with adverbial meanings attached to the verb.
Relativisation
1) Avalonian lacks relative pronouns and uses gap relativisation.
2) A relativised clause follows the noun it modifies.
Other Parts Of Speech
Adjectives
1) Avalonian lacks true adjectives.
2) Forms conveying advectival functions occur in three classes:
a) A closed class of nominal suffixes with adjectival meanings.
b) A noun taking the equative case and following the referent.
c) A relativised verb.
Adpositions
1) Avalonian lacks true adpositions.
2) It does have three classes of adposition-equivalents:
a) The non-core cases which have adpositional functions but are often quite general in their application.
b) Relativised stative verbs with an adpositional sense which are more specific in application than cases.
c) Suffixes on the verb.
Derivational Suffixes
1) There are hundreds of derivational suffixes in Avalonian and they fall into the following types:
a) Denominalisers
b) Deverbalisers
c) Attributive
d) Adverbial
e) Miscellaneous
2) Denominalisers turn a noun into a verb.
3) Derverbalisers turn a verb into a noun.
4) Attributives add a descriptive sense to nouns and verbs.
4) Adverbials impart various temporal and locative meanings to verbs
5) Miscellaneous suffixes change the meaning of nouns and verbs without changing their classes.
Syntax
Constituent order
1) The canonical word order of Avalonian is VSOX. This is detailed as follows:
verb phrase + agent phrase or subject phrase + object phrase + oblique phrase
2) Topicalisation or wh-fronting may front one of the agent , the subject, the object or the oblique phrases to before the verb.
Noun phrase
Verb phrase
Sentence phrase
Dependent clauses
Lexicon
Nouns
English | Avalonian |
amber | verhu |
apple | hakar |
automobile | karpat |
Avalonian Isles | Telku |
Avalonian Penny | tenar |
Avalonian Pound (currency) | lirhu |
Avalonians | kammir |
badger | wekpek |
banana | mhanana |
bear | kārha |
bee | aral |
beer | hurmi |
beryl | larhin |
billy goat | ahar |
bird | hari |
black tea | trā |
blackbird | haha |
boar | hārha |
boat | kilya |
borax | itte |
boy | tunni |
bread | aki |
Britain (island) | alpigan |
brother | larin |
bridge | hilta |
bull | āhan |
butter | ampan |
cart, wagon | kurti |
cat | kattu |
cheese | kathan |
cheetah | trita |
chicken, hen | jara |
chip, French fry | trip |
coal | munra |
cockerel, rooster | haljak |
cow | pigi |
celebration | lipta |
child | lāphi |
chill, coldness | pelē |
chocolate | trakalat |
clitoris | tāra |
coffee | kaphe |
community, group | qara |
copper | wēke |
cost, price | lhitu |
crab | hārhag |
cultivated field | heli |
dagger | ērha |
darkness | vallu |
ditch | lhata |
dog | kipmik |
doll | nugwak |
duck | lakka |
dwarf (mythological) | takal |
eel | ninrak |
elf | eyak |
face | lurti |
father | atta |
fellow | nihan |
finger | karak |
finger-ring | nakha |
fire, flames | qhārhu |
flower | lvetta |
foot (anatomy) | īhak |
football | phutpal |
foreigner | kihan |
fort | rhīkhi |
forest | nuna |
fox | hintak |
garden | rhūha |
garlic | rhema |
gay person | kī |
girl | lirha |
glass (substance) | lagya |
goat | anū |
god | uttak |
gold | urra |
good fortune | anak |
grain | qalle |
grandfather | anra |
grandmother | avha |
grape | panā |
green tea | tē |
guinea pig | kamhē |
hand | arkak |
head | nahuk |
heartbeat | tuntun |
horns | valluk |
horse | halti |
deer | tunta |
house | enlu |
human being | hamin |
human right, need for autonomy | mēran |
ice | hilku |
idiot | nalla |
Indian Ocean | Innik |
internet | uggutti janukennu |
Ireland (island) | Hivarjan |
iron | harna |
island | hāri |
king | tanek |
lady | anter |
land, country | tela |
language | navha |
letter, word | liter |
life | mūge |
liquor | traju |
liver | kapil |
lord | antā |
stag | munnu |
man | janak |
mouse | luhā |
milk | ahan |
money | thalir |
month | ille |
moon | ille |
mountain | kaja |
mother | amma |
net, web | ugga |
night | natar |
nitre | irkun |
orange | naran |
otter | hirta |
pasture | larre |
penis | nhanner |
people, folk, nation | lūki |
pig | urti |
pillow | ajen |
pistol | ērha ghārhut |
plough | kalta |
puppet | ithal |
rabbit | keppa |
rain | bakan |
ram, male sheep | anri |
rib (anatomy) | thela |
rifle | elhā ghārhut |
road | vige |
rock | karra |
room | kanra |
salt | rhūne |
sea | īthā |
shadow | keppet |
sheep | arti |
silver | hirra |
sister | kalū |
sky | lāhi |
slave, thrall | nhaka |
soft drink | kigkatpitkal |
Spain | Hiphagja |
spear | elhā |
spouse | melki |
stallion | halluk |
star | kakhā |
stone (substance) | karra |
sugar | thukar |
sun | rhahā |
sword | ghiqak |
tavern | pūni |
temple | turup |
thing | latpu |
throne | tronu |
thumb | kulhu |
tin (metal) | thakna |
trans person | tranthi |
tree | rhugē |
vampire (European) | vampir |
voice | navha |
vulva | villū |
war | hāghat |
water | ninta |
wheel | raha |
wind | hvethut |
wolf | lhajhu |
woman | kimet |
world | hanra |
zebra | therha |
Verbs
English | Avalonian |
aggravate, irritate | trummu |
be awake | alwin |
be beautiful | wata |
be beneath, be under | uggu |
be between, be among | janu |
be brave | tathak |
be cold | hekal |
be crazy | enni |
be diseased | narun |
be English | hākha |
be free, have freedom | elē |
be good | iktū |
be green | latha |
be important | qaran |
be kind | taara |
be named | haltran |
be sad | ewē |
be thirsty | arwaa |
be wicked | truke |
bind | netak |
bite | kalka |
blame | kāma |
bring | kamha |
bully, dog, harry | nipmin |
burn something | lhirhak |
carouse | tijam |
choose | kiimi |
die | hirhu |
discuss | kenja |
dream | alar |
drink | kigkat |
drive, strike | rhanka |
eat | matu |
enjoy | tajak |
examine | nara |
exist | na |
fade | miki |
fight | jhunni |
find | rinnil |
flee | quktee |
go | palka |
hate | waren |
hear | lhaathi |
help | qalma |
howl | nawa |
hunt | rhikar |
jump, leap | phatte |
kill | utpa |
know | iktē |
laugh | lalha |
learn | qitta |
like | tajak |
love | kimje |
meet | ānhim |
merit | irhu |
return | tuli |
rule | malik |
see | hintu |
sleep | qikna |
tell | penta |
urinate | qurhuk |
wander | wilte |
wane | miki |
weave | kumuu |
Suffixes
English | Avalonian |
agentive nominaliser | -juk |
allow, let, permit | -hvim |
always | -utkū |
be big | -pkak |
be black, be dressed in black, be brown-haired | -kthat |
be filled with | -havit |
be good | -tara |
be grey, be dressed in grey, be grey-haired, be old | -litta |
be hungry | -karā |
be lean, be skinny, be underfed | -tīla |
be red, be dressed in red, be red-haired | -rutta |
be required to | -mimmi |
be white, be dressed in white, be fair-haired | -karik |
can | -nnus |
cute, sickly sweet, small, twee | -tkal |
for a time | -tpi |
forever | -qyup |
from mud, using mud | -maru |
group of things | -kalve |
have a nostalgic quality | -yāri |
have an urge to | -kavhit |
intend to | -nnep |
instrumental nominaliser | -tpet |
just now | -tukhe |
must | -mithu |
need | -lyū |
oblique nominaliser | -kmhit |
possibly | -nē |
result of a process | -thul |
so it is said | -kpenta |
still, nonetheless | -jū |
subjective/objective nominaliser | -pin |
through, piercing | -knut |
to be | -mmek |
to cause | -tuva |
to do | -tuva |
to have | -min |
to make | -tuwa |
to regret | -qevē |
to seem, to be like | mhe |
tomorrow | -yerhe |
truly | -qathan |
under | -nnu |
undo, negate | -nhir |
very | -pkak |
yesterday | -lanti |
Particles
English | Avalonian |
and (connects clauses) | yam |
and (connects nouns) | nu |
but | yam |
many (emphatic) | rim |