Lax An

(Wuja our lax an speak, wuja our legayu an long for)

Lax An, or Ancestor's Tongue, is an a posteriori language created to be part of the history of a science fiction culture by Zomborgs.

History

Lore

The Lax An language (LA) is the linguistic reconstruction of the first language spoken by those (Humans) first brought into (the Void). Scholars hypothesize that LA was the result of a merging of Proto-Indo-European and Proto-Afro-Asiatic languages and estimate that it was spoken as a simple language until (year) (era), when the language was split into (Proto-Scholar) and (Proto-Dev-Merc-Polit) due to cultural isolation and exposure to both new cultures and new vocabulary.

The existence of LA was first proved in the (*** century) by (name), who observed the use of a unique, well-defined language used by the first (wave) of (Humans) while researching historical records held by (the First). Efforts have since been made to continue analysis and documentation of both the culture and the language used by this first era of (Humans) whenever possible.

Reality

For the sake of creating four separate-yet-connected languages and cultures that feel as realistic and natural as possible, I have decided to start with a proto-language that I can gradually evolve into four separate languages.

The theory behind Lax An is that large groups of humans were simultaneously stolen away from two separate areas of Earth over the period of several decades. The resulting peoples (the speakers of Proto-Indo-European and Proto-AFro-Asiatic languages) were then forced to combine cultures and languages due to close proximity. This new language continued without major change until the group was divided and then recombined, separately, with two new languages and cultures.

Basic Grammar

Lax An was a Subject-Object-Verb, inflected language in which words were modified using both ablaut and infixes. The language had three numbers, three persons, three genders, and eight cases with ***-*** alignment.

Phonology

Consonants

		Labial	Coronal	Palatal	Dorsal		Pharyngeal
					"plain velar"	"labiovelar"
Nasal		m	n
Plosive	voiceless	p	t		k	kʷ
	Voiced	b	d		g
Fricative			θ, s, ʂ, ʐ	ç	x, ɣ		ʕ
Liquid			r, l
Semivowel				j		w

B  D  G  H₁  H₂  H₃  J  K  L  M  N  P  Q   R  S  T  V  W  X  Y  Z
b  d  g  ç   x  ɣ   j  k  l  m  n  p  kʷ  r  s  t  θ  w  ʂ  ʕ  ʐ

Vowels

	Front		Central		Back
	short	long	short	long	short	long
High	/ɪ/	/iː/			/ʊ/	/uː/
Mid		/eː/				/oː/
Low			/a/

A  I  U  E  II  O  UU
a  ɪ  ʊ  e  i   o  u

Stress and Pitch

It is believed that Lax An had a pitch accent system in which all words had only one accented syllable which received a high pitch. Stress could fall on any syllable of a word and was thought to differ based on the length and purpose of the word in question.

Phonotactics

Every syllable of Lax An required at least one vowel, with the most common syllable structures being CV, followed by CVC and V. C consisted of, at most, two consonants, while V only represented a single vowel. There did not seem to be a restriction on how many syllables a single word may consist of.

Phonotactical restrictions for Lax An remain a subject of conjecture and debate.

Syntax

Less is known about the syntax of LA than about its morphology.

Word Order

Popular theory holds that Subject-Object-Verb was likely used in LA, as this is the word order still found in ***, ***, and, to some extent, in ***.

(PAA) use of infixes, rather than prefixes and suffixes, to represent grammatical relations and form new words;

Vocabulary

Lax An Vocabulary

Number	Lax An Word	Lax An Word Meaning	Proto-Afroasiatic Word	Proto-AA Word Meaning	Proto-Indoeuropean Word	Proto-IE Word Meaning
1	ami	I	ʾanā	I	me	I
2	atuh₂	you (sing)	atta	you	túh₂	you
3	h₁uu	he	hú	he	*	*
4	wuja	we	nəħna	we	wéy	we
5	atuuo	you (pl)	attōn	you	yū	you
6	h₁um	they	hum	they	*	*
7	kav	this	hāðē	this	kod	this
8	tad	that	hāhu	that	tód	that
9	uune	here	hunā	here	*	*
10	uunega	there	hunāka	there	*	*
11	manis	who	mannu	who	kʷis	who
12	me	what	mā	what	*	*
13	age	where	ʾaykā	where	*	*
14	mave	when	mâθay	when	*	*
15	agun	how	ʾaykan	how	*	*
16	na	not	ma	not	ne	not
17	duum	all	tVm	all	*	*
18	hawl	many	HawVl	many	*	*
19	kalo	some	kmā	some	kaylo, solwo	some
20	udet	few	ḫədāṭ	few	*	*
21	h₂elvruo	other	ʾaħér	other	h₂el-yó	other
22	vonuu	one, 1	ʾaħadu	one	(H)óynos	one
23	bayax	two, 2	baʕiĉ̣	two	dwóh₁	two
24	xajis	three, 3	šalāš	three	tréyes	three
25	tworba	four, 4	ʾarbaʿ	four	kʷetwóres	four
26	banqi	five, 5	ḫ/ḥup/bin	five	pénkʷe	five
27	kop	big	kabVr	big	*	*
28	luuh₂k	long	ĉaʔd	long	dluh₂gʰós	long
29	luva	wide	rəħub	wide	*	*
30	viin	thick	ʿvīṭā	thick	bʰenǵʰ	thick
31	h₃aluu	heavy	ɣaluč̣	heavy	gʷer(h₂)	heavy
32	guz	small	kus	small	mey	small
33	rugos	short	qâṣâr	short	mreǵʰú	short
34	h₂unga	narrow	qatnu	narrow	h₂enǵʰ	narrow
35	tanuus	thin	rVḳ	thin	ténh₂us	thin
36	gamun	female	ʔamin	woman	gʷḗn	woman
37	xuro	male	ʒ/ǯa	man	wiHrós	man
38	manixa	human being	ga/ič(-aʔ)	human being	mánus	human being
39	puwuud	child	w/yVd	child	nepeh₃t	grandson/nephew
40	uxo	wife	ʾiššâ	wife	snúsos	daugter-in-law
41	dawa	husband	ḥawVy	husband	*daywe	husband's brother
42	mamu	mother	ʔVma	mother	méh₂tēr	mother
43	papu	father	bab	father	ph₂tḗr	father
44	yomyum	animal	ʕum-ʕam	animal	*	*
45	kuu	fish	bus	fish	dʰǵʰu	fish
46	suwa	bird	sabaḥ	bird	h₂éwis	bird
47	kor	dog	kayar	dog	ḱwṓ	dog
48	niin	louse	ʔint	louse	knid	louse
49	suvan	snake	sVf	snake	h₂engwi	snake
50	rom	worm	dVm	worm	wr̥mi	worm
51	dowuu	tree	rVwVy	tree	dóru	tree
52	xuur	forest	suʕVr	forest	*	*
53	gadso	stick	guʕad	stick	ǵhasto	stick
54	bar	fruit	pi/ar	fruit	*	*
55	xul	seed	či/ul	seed	*	*
56	zup	leaf	ĉap	leaf	*	*
57	zura	root	ĉVr	root	wréh₂ds	root
58	gog	bark	ḳaw(ḳ)	bark of tree	*	*
59	uumpa	flower	ʔanbab	flower	*	*
60	sen	grass	sayam	grass	koino	grass
61	suul	rope	sur	rope	*	*
62	apu	skin	ʔad-Vm	skin	pel	skin
63	mux	meat	fVʔ	meat	mēms	meat
64	umxa	blood	dam	blood	h₁ésh₂r̥	blood
65	qas	bone	ḳ(ʷ)as	bone	kost	bone
66	taruu	fat	pidar	fat	smeru	fat
67	zah₂o	egg	sawVḥ	egg	h₂ōwyóm	egg
68	ko	horn	ḳar	horn	koru	horn
69	xu	tail	č̣ihr	tail	*	*
70	sa	feather	ŝakʷ	feather	*	*
71	vol	hair	sVʔVm	hair	pulh₂	hair
72	kal	head	gVl(gVl)	head	kaput	head
73	os	ear	sim	ear	h₂ows	ear
74	eh₃uuk	eye	ʕayVn	eye	h₃ekʷ	eye
75	niih₂a	nose	naḫVr	nose	hnéh₂s	nose
76	uvas	mouth	ʔa-pay	mouth	h₁oh₁s	mouth
77	aduus	tooth	kV(ʔ)Vs	tooth	h₃dónts	tooth
78	lax	tongue	lis	tongue	dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s	tongue
79	nak	fingernail	gu/iĉ	fingernail	h₃nógʰ(r)o	fingernail
80	gob	foot	ĉayṗ	foot	pṓds	foot
81	rosgo	leg	wa(ʕ)r	leg	kroksko	leg
82	kuna	knee	g(ʷ)inʒ	knee	ǵónu	knee
83	tepa	hand	ṭapiḥ	hand	man	hand
84	gam	wing	ganVḥ	wing	*	*
85	h₁uuduu	belly	hun	belly	udero	belly
86	iita	guts	*	*	eh₁ter	guts
87	gad	neck	ḳard	neck	mon	neck
88	ja	back	yiʔ	back	*	*
89	sdam	breast	ʔa-nwan	breast	psten	breast
90	kiil	heart	li/ubb	heart	ḱḗr	heart
91	uh₁iiwa	liver	tiraw/ʔ	liver	yeh₁kwr̥	liver
92	ag	drink	ʕab	drink	h₁egʷʰ	to drink
93	ud	eat	birVh	eat	h₁ed	to eat
94	kuk	bite	ḳVḳ	bite	denḱ	to bite
95	ok	suck	ni/uḳ	suck	dʰeh₁(i)	to suck
96	piix	spit	pičw	to spit	sp(y)eu	to spit
97	qun	vomit	ḳ(ʷ)VʔVʕ	vomit	wem	to vomit
98	suwu	blow	fiwaq	blow	weh₁	to blow
99	nuusu	breathe	nVsVp	breathe	pneu	to breathe
100	mi	laugh	*	*	(s)mei	to laugh
101	no	see	naʔ	see	weyd	to see
102	gluu	hear	*	*	ḱlew	to hear
103	uwa	know	siwan	know	ǵneh₃	to know
104	rag	think	lak	think	tong	to think
105	sune	smell	sVn	smell	h₃ed	to smell
106	vuuru	fear	furVh	fear	*	*
107	wam	sleep	wiʕan	sleep	drem	to sleep
108	guw	live	gir	live	gʷeiH₃w	to live
109	mat	die	mawVt	die	mer	to die
110	kun	kill	ɣVwar	kill	gʷʰen	to kill
111	lam	fight	laḥm	fight	*	*
112	xoh₁u	hunt	c̣ayad	hunt	*	*
113	plu	hit	nig(ʕ)	strike	pleh₂k	to hit
114	tag	cut	dac	cut	*	*
115	vudak	split	fVṭVḳ	split	*	*
116	taka	stab	dagwaṣa	stab	*	*
117	kolb	scratch	ʔakul	scratch	gerbʰ	to scratch
118	h₁ot	dig	hut	dig	*	*
119	nuh₂uu	swim	nVbVy	swim	néh₂-u	to swim
120	pur	fly	pVr	fly	pet	to fly
121	krod	walk	ŝVʔŝVʔ	walk	gʰredʰ	to walk
122	zam	come	may	come	gʷem	to come
123	luk	lie	*	*	legʰ	to lie
124	sdus	sit	tis	sit	sed	to sit
125	sta	stand	ĉawVʔ	stand	steh₂	to stand
126	yan	turn	ʕVn	turn	*	*
127	du	fall	diḥ	fall	*	*
128	bula	give	barVʕ	give	deh₃	to give
129	suk	hold	kum	hold	segʰ	to hold
130	xad	squeeze	ĉVḥaṭ	squeeze	*	*
131	malu	rub	ʕVruk	rub	melh₁	to rub
132	luw	wash	waʕab	wash	leh₂w	to wash
133	vut	wipe	fVtt	wipe	*	*
134	ta	pull	ʔitaḥ	pull	*	*
135	tuu	push	tur	push	*	*
136	vup	throw	ĉVl	throw	swep	to throw
137	kanuu	tie	ḳanVw	tie	*	*
138	siih₁uup	sew	ʕVḳVp	sew	syuh₁	to sew
139	uud	count	ʕud	count	*	*
140	ka	say	kaw	say	*	*
141	gan	sing	gaʔ	sing	kan	to sing
142	ruh₁	play	riw	play	*	*
143	dav	float	ṭaf	float	*	*
144	balal	flow	bVl(Vl)	flow	*	*
145	gurux	freeze	ḳVrVs	freeze	*	*
146	bay	swell	bVʕ	swell	*	*
147	azo	sun	ʔaǯ	sun	sóh₂wl̥	sun
148	muh₁iin	moon	ḳiḥ	moon	mḗh₁n̥s	moon
149	ustiir	star	suhw	star	h₂stḗr	star
150	ma	water	maʔ	water	h₂ekʷeh₂	water
151	muun	rain	buʕun	rain	h₂ekmon	rain
152	uke	river	siw/ʔVn	river	h₂ekw-eh₂	river
153	h₂up	lake	wVʕVr	lake	h₂ep	lake
154	uam	sea	yam	sea	*	*
155	h₁am	salt	ḥamʕ/ʔ	salt	sal	salt
156	akmo	stone	ḥak	stone	h₂ekmon	stone
157	bor	sand	bur	sand	*	*
158	ve	dust	fay/ʔ	sand	pers	dust
159	arix	earth	ʔariĉ̣	earth	dʰéǵʰōm	earth
160	nebo	cloud	ɣay/wb	cloud	nébʰos	cloud
161	snuuv	fog	luf	fog	sneudh	fog
162	ra	sky	raw	sky	*	*
163	saqa	wind	sa(w/yV)ḥ	wind	ḱewero	wind
164	snu	snow	*	*	sneigwh	snow
165	uk	ice	*	*	yeg	ice
166	damo	smoke	daʕar	smoke	dʰuh₁mós	smoke
167	zur	fire	gir	fire	h₁égnis	fire
168	zuur	ash	gur	ash	h₃és-i	ash
169	iir	burn	ʔu/ir	burn	swel	to burn
170	pan	road	darib	road	pent	road
171	wuur	mountain	ḫurs	mountain	gʷerh₃	mountain
172	ton	red	dVm	red	h₁rewdʰós	red
173	uurug	green	wVraḳ	green	*	*
174	kam	yellow	caḥm	yellow	k(e)nhkos	yellow
175	abos	white	c̣aḥ	white	h₂elbʰós	white
176	xum	black	č̣ilam	black	h₂ems	black
177	naku	night	naw/yn	night	nókʷts	night
178	ura	day	hVraw/y	day	h₂eǵh	day
179	san	year	san	year	yeHr	year
180	surs	warm	sirVf	warm	tep	warm
181	zuuwa	cold	ḥVwas	cold	gel	cold
182	uuro	full	ḫVr	full	pl̥h₁nós	full
183	meh₁o	new	may/ʔ	new	néwos	new
184	yasun	old	yas	old	senh₁ó	old
185	mor	good	mVr	good	h₁su	good
186	awab	bad	yaway	bad	h₂wap	bad
187	pog	rotten	buḳ	be rotten	*	*
188	suud	dirty	suʔit	be dirty	*	*
189	iisar	straight	yasar	straight	*	*
190	topol	round	dVbVl	round	*	*
191	zud	sharp	ħadd	sharp	h₂eḱ	sharp
192	bwado	dull	pVṭVs	flatten	*	*
193	ulak	smooth	ḥalaḳ	be smooth	*	*
194	uda	wet	daʔ	wet	wed	wet
195	tuuz	dry	kVʒ	dry	ters	dry
196	maro	correct	marVʕ	be true	*	*
197	kerv	near	qâróv	near	*	*
198	wu	far	way	far	wi	far
199	duluum	right	walyam	right	deḱs	right
200	xuwas	left	šimāl	left	sewyós	left
201	apii	at	ba	at	opi	at
202	pun	in	bi	in	(h₁?)en	in
203	bu	with	bi	with	pe	with
204	qa	and	wa	and	kʷe	and
205	am	if	ʾim,	if	*	*
206	budal	because	biğlal	because	*	*
207	xiinam	name	sim	name	h₁nómn̥	name
208	an	ancestor	*	*	h₂en-	ancestor
209	Padi	The First	ʔadir	master	potis	master
210	xun	a dietary staple	ŝi/uʕ(V̄ʕ)	grain	grānom	grain
*	dudar	brother	di/ad	brother	bʰréh₂tēr	brother
*	susar	sister	si/ut	sister	swésōr	sister
*	zanuu	son	ʒ/ǯaʔ	son	suHnús	son
*	datu	daughter	si/ut	daughter	dʰugh₂tḗr	daughter
*	legayu	settlement	gaw(V)y	settlement	leghskā	settlement
*	*	*	*	*	*	*
*	*	*	*	*	*	*
*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Nanyse