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User:IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic: Difference between revisions

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[[{{PAGENAME}}/Swadesh list]]
[[{{PAGENAME}}/Swadesh list]]
[[{{PAGENAME}}/Diachronics]]
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|creator = [[User:IlL|Inthar]]
|creator = [[User:IlL|Inthar]]
|nativename = Hróni
|nativename = Xnɪəni
|image =  
|image =  
|setting = [[Verse:Irta]]
|setting = [[Verse:Irta]]
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|fam6=[[Knench/Ancient|Ancient Knench]]
|fam6=[[Knench/Ancient|Ancient Knench]]
|fam7=[[Knench/Middle|Middle Knench]]
|fam7=[[Knench/Middle|Middle Knench]]
}}
}}ɵ


'''Knench''' (/nɛntʃ/, from Old Knench ''χnānī'' via [[Old Azalic]] ''ngoinisχ''; natively ''Hróni'' /xɾaonɪ/ or ''núm Hrón'' /nɨːm xɾaon/) is a Semitic language spoken in the Irta timeline and the closest living relative to Hebrew in Irta. Small Knench-speaking communities exist in Israel as well. The name of the language comes from Ancient Knench ''kanaȝnî'' 'Canaanite'. Knench has received strong Azalic influence throughout its history since Ancient Knench times, and genetic studies have shown that the Knench are descendants of Azalic speakers who adopted a Canaanite language. The language descends from a close relative of Biblical Hebrew which was spoken in North Africa (which was spoken instead of our Punic in Irta), but its grammar is far more analytic than its ancestor: it was completely restructured to use constructions with auxiliaries and infinitives instead of the older prefix and suffix conjugations, and it is the only Irtan Semitic language that has lost grammatical gender outside of Far East Semitic. Knench has many Greek, Azalic, Arabic, Togarmite, Romance, and English loanwords.
'''Knench''' (/nɛntʃ/, from Old Knench ''χnānī'' via [[Old Azalic]] ''{{ng}}noinisχ''; natively ''Xnɪəni'' /xnɪəni/ or ''nɨɨm Xnɪən'' /nɨːm xnɪən) is a Semitic language spoken in the Irta timeline and the closest living relative to Hebrew in Irta. The name of the language comes from Ancient Knench ''kanaȝn'' 'Canaan'. Knench has received strong Azalic influence throughout its history since Ancient Knench times, and genetic studies have shown that the Knench are descendants of Azalic speakers who adopted a Canaanite language. The language descends from a close relative of Biblical Hebrew which was spoken in North Africa (which was spoken instead of our Punic in Irta), but its grammar is far less synthetic than its ancestor: lexical verbs were completely restructured to use constructions with auxiliaries and infinitives instead of the older prefix and suffix conjugations, and it has lost grammatical gender like [[Togarmite]] and [[Far East Semitic]]. Knench has many loanwords from various sources including Greek, Azalic, Coptic, Berber, Arabic, Aramaic, Romance, and English.


Most modern Knench people are Remonitionists; some (particularly in North America and Cualand) are Muslim, Jewish or neopagan. There is a Judeo-Knench, with Hebrew and Aramaic loanwords.
A majority of modern Knench people are Muslim; some are Christian, Jewish or neopagan. There is a Judeo-Knench, with Hebrew and Aramaic loanwords.


It's inspired grammatically by Welsh, and aesthetically by English, Icelandic, [[Naeng]], and Khmer.
It's inspired grammatically by Welsh and Irish, and aesthetically by English, Danish, [[Naeng]], and Khmer.


== Names ==
== Names ==
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==TODO==
==TODO==
* Partially reduplicated auxiliaries for emphasis or truth value focus, from the infinitive absolute construction
* Focus prominence (like Welsh)
** 3asū ta3siyu li bol3ū 'you will indeed do the swallowing' > χśu-þąś blą ðu  > śə·þąf blą ðu 'eat it you will'
* retain vav consecutive forms of auxiliaries
* retain vav consecutive forms of auxiliaries
* ''hjuggə'' < ''hüggə'' 'coziness' from *hugyō 'contemplation' gets borrowed into English as ''hygge''
* Should be more of an Icelandic gib but spirantization of aspirated stops happens recently
* vi = "and then" (used for consecutive events; ~ BH ''wayhi'')
* vi = "and then" (used for consecutive events; ~ BH ''wayhi'')
* -x > -rh
* -x > -rh
* A sentence consisting entirely of replacements and compounds?
* A sentence consisting entirely of replacements and compounds?
** I dal bø gøpén pnarər. = I don't see any wolves. (Heb: Ani lo ro'e ze'evim.)
** I dal bə kpeen pnaarə. = I don't see any wolves. (Heb: Ani lo ro'e ze'evim.)
* Hard mode: a sentence where every content word has a Semitic cranberry morpheme
* Hard mode: a sentence where every content word has a Semitic cranberry morpheme
*how do I isolate Ancient Knench from Phoenician?
*Icelandic style loss of phonemic vowel length?
*Swadesh list
*Swadesh list
*''bel-, ble-'' is a common prefix (conflation of ben- and ba3al-)
*''bel-, ble-'' is a common prefix (conflation of ben- and ba3al-)
*Many adverbs from infinitive absolute
*Many adverbs from infinitive absolute
*''simern'' = week
*''mədbar'' = conference
*Philippi should be weaker: i > e, instead of the TibH i > a (*bint > ''peþ'' 'daughter'; TibH ''baṫ'')
*Philippi should be weaker: i > e, instead of the TibH i > a (*bint > ''peþ'' 'daughter'; TibH ''baṫ'')
*''Mén fows ta xett kori?'' = Why did you have to die?
*''Mén fows ta xett kori?'' = Why did you have to die?
* replace a lot of Hebrew vocabulary with other words
* replace a lot of Canaanite vocabulary with other words
===Some sound changes===
===Some sound changes===
* Maghrebi Arabic craziness (happens early on, ca. 9th-10th century)
* Maghrebi Arabic craziness (happens early on, ca. 9th-10th century)
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==Phonology==
==Phonology==
American accent of Knench should be diff but still nonrhotic.
===Consonants===
===Consonants===
*/m n ʁ̃ʷ l w j ɹʷˁ~ʋʷˁ/ {{angbr|m n ł h l w j r}}
*/m n ʁ̃ʷ l w j ɹ{{ret}}/ {{angbr|m n ł h l w j r}}
*/p b f v t d θ ð k g/ {{angbr|p b f v t d þ ð k g}}
*/p b f v t d θ ð k g/ {{angbr|p b f v t d þ ð k g}}
*/s z ts ʃ ʒ tʃ fʷˁ~ɹ̝̊ʷˁ x h~0/ {{angbr|s z ts š ž č ś x h}}
*/s{{den}} z{{den}} t{{den}}{{tiebar}}s{{den}} ʃ ʒ tʃ s{{ret}} t{{ret}}{{tiebar}}s{{ret}} x h/ {{angbr|s z c š ž č ś ć x h}}
 
/t d/ are alveolar, and /θ ð/ are dental. /θ ð/ may be realized as [t̪ d̪].
 
/s{{den}} z{{den}} t{{den}}{{tiebar}}s{{den}}/ are lamino-dental, like Basque ''z''.
 
/s{{ret}} t{{ret}}{{tiebar}}s{{ret}}/ are retracted apico-alveolar, like Greek /s/.


Ancient Knench /l/ became /w/ in some places, especially before C or pausa.
Ancient Knench /l/ became /w/ in some places, especially before C or pausa.
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Stops are unaspirated.
Stops are unaspirated.


''ś'' is a retroflex sibilant in American Knench.
Judeo-Knench has final r in borrowed Hebrew and Aramaic vocabulary.


===Vowels===
===Vowels===
{{PAGENAME}} has one of the largest vowel inventories of any Semitic language in Irta (cf. Maltese has 18 vowels):
{{PAGENAME}} has the largest vowel inventory of any Semitic language in Irta. It has many diphthongs.
 
/a e ɪ ɔ ʊ äe iː äo ɨː ɑ̃ː ɛ̃ː ɪɤ̃ ɔ̃ː ju ɑː(ɹ) ɛː(ɹ) eː(ɹ) oː(ɹ) ə(ɹ)/ = {{angbr|a e i o u é í ó ú ą ę į ų ar er ir ur ju ə/r}}
 
/ə ɪ ʊ ɑ̃ː/ are the most common vowels in unstressed syllables.
 
Word-final /ə/ is transcribed as a syllabic ''r'' (''ər'' after ''r''), unless it's in a short clitic such as ''pə/p''' where it can be dropped.
 
In Maghrebi Knench, R-intrusion similar to that in Southern British English occurs after /ɑː(ɹ) ɛː(ɹ) eː(ɹ) oː(ɹ) ə(ɹ)/ and before a vowel. R-intrusion does not occur in American Knench: ''kríər úbi'' 'dear reader' (etym. reader my dear) is pronounced [kɹ̝iəɹ ɨːbi], not [kɹ̝iəɹ ɨːbi] as in Maghrebi Knench.
 
The following is Hrafn Leifsson (pseudonymous)'s classification of Knench vowels:
*Schwa: ə/r
*Short vowels: a e i o u
*Lengthened vowels: é í ó ú
*Nasal vowels: ą ę į ų
*R-colored vowels: ar er ir ur


===Prosody===
===Prosody===
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===Intonation===
===Intonation===
A lot like Modern Standard Arabic


===Phonotactics===
===Phonotactics===
<!-- Explain the consonant clusters and vowel clusters that are permissible for use in the language. For example, "st" is an allowed consonant cluster in English while onset "ng" isn't. -->
===Morphophonology===
===Morphophonology===


==Orthography==
==Orthography==
Modern Knench has a shallow orthography using an alphabet descended from the Paleo-Hebrew script.
Modern Knench has an orthography using an alphabet descended from the Paleo-Hebrew script, where spelling reflects Middle Knench.


==Morphology==
==Morphology==
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Nouns inflect for number and definiteness. Like in English, proper nouns don't take the definite article. Attributive adjectives agree with nouns in number, but predicate adjectives do not. Knench has lost grammatical gender and the construct state, although animates still have natural gender.
Nouns inflect for number and definiteness. Like in English, proper nouns don't take the definite article. Attributive adjectives agree with nouns in number, but predicate adjectives do not. Knench has lost grammatical gender and the construct state, although animates still have natural gender.
==== Number and definiteness ====
==== Number and definiteness ====
{{PAGENAME}} has regularized all plurals to ''-r'' (from a merger of Ancient Knench ''-īn'' > ''*-ī'' and ''-ūδ''). ''-u'' nouns become ''-lr'' in the plural: ''þebu, þeblr'' 'a world, worlds'.
{{PAGENAME}} has regularized most plurals to ''-ə'' (from a merger of Ancient Knench ''-īn'' > ''*-ī'' and ''-ūδ''). ''-u'' nouns become ''-lə'' in the plural: ''þebu, þeblə'' 'a world, worlds'.


Nouns inflect for definiteness, as follows:
Nouns inflect for definiteness, as follows:
*Singular: -əs (after C) or -sr (after V), (from haz-ze and haz-zūdh)
*Singular: -əs (after C), (from haz-ze and haz-zū)
** -u nouns become -wəs: ''abu, abwəs'' 'an apple, the apple'
*Plural: -il, replacing the plural suffix ''-ə'' if any (from ha-2ili), -u + -il > -ul
*Plural: -il, replacing the plural suffix ''-r'' if any (from ha-hili), -u + -il > -ul
** Plurals must be memorized! For example -u may become -ləs (specifically when the -u comes from a vocalized /-l/).
** ''ablr, abul'' 'apples, the apples'


Words ending in a nasal or R-colored vowel add an intrusive R between the final vowel and the plural suffix. Words ending in a long vowel add ''-ər''.
Words ending in a schwa add an intrusive R between the final vowel and the plural suffix.
* ''pdą'' 'a tree', ''pdąrər'' 'trees'
* ''lú'' 'a god', ''lúwr'' 'gods'


Some irregular plurals: ''penš, plenš'' = human
Some irregular plurals: ''penš, plenš'' = human


Examples:
Examples:
*''śadr'' /ɹ̝̊adə/ = an apartment/flat
*''śadə'' /ˈs{{ret}}adə/ = an apartment/flat
*''śadrəs'' /ɹ̝̊adrəs/ = the flat
*''śadrəs'' /ˈs{{ret}}adɹəs/ = the flat
*''śadrər'' /ɹ̝̊adrə/ = flats
*''śadrə'' /ˈs{{ret}}adɹə/ = flats
*''śadril'' /ɹ̝̊adrɪl/ = the flats
*''śadril'' /ˈs{{ret}}adɹɪl/ = the flats
*''śadr kruw'' = a big flat
*''śadə bušət'' /ˈs{{ret}}adə ˈbʊʃət/ = a big flat
*''śadras kruw'' = the big flat
*''śadrəs bušət'' /ˈs{{ret}}adɹəs ˈbʊʃət/ = the big flat
*''śadrər krulr'' = big flats
*''śadrə buštə'' /ˈs{{ret}}adɹə ˈbʊʃtə/ = big flats
*''śadril krulr'' = the big flats
*''śadril buštə'' /ˈs{{ret}}adɹɪl ˈbʊʃtə/ = the big flats


''-ma'' nouns from Greek become ''-mat'' nouns: ''þemat, þematas, þematr, þematil'' 'topic, theme'.
''-ma'' nouns from Greek become ''-mat'' nouns: ''þemat, þematas, þematə, þematil'' 'topic, theme'.


==== Predicative adjectives ====
==== Predicative adjectives ====
The predicative/adverbial marker ''bə'' + bare form is used for predicative adjectives: ''Re xadras bə kruw'' 'The room is big'.
The predicative/adverbial marker ''bə'' followed by the bare form is used for predicative adjectives: ''Ri śadrəs bə bušət'' 'The room is big'.


==== Degree ====
==== Degree ====
*Equative: ''de'' = as X as; equally X (~ BH ''day'' 'enough')
*Equative: ''de'' = as X as; equally X (~ BH ''day'' 'enough')
*Comparative/Superlative: ''-ur'' = more X or most X (from *3abūr, infinitive absolute of 'to exceed'); comparandum takes ''prí'' 'than' (from Ancient Knench ''pirūðī'' 'when I see')
*Comparative/Superlative: ''-ur'' = more X or most X (from *3abūr, infinitive absolute of 'to exceed'); comparandum takes ''prej'' 'than' (from Ancient Knench ''pirūðī'' 'when I see'). The ''-ur'' form is indeclinable.


Example: ''kruw'' 'big', ''de kruw'' 'as big as'; ''ro kruw'' 'so big; very big indeed', ''kruwðr'' 'bigger/biggest'
Example: ''bušət'' 'big', ''de bušət'' 'as big as'; ''buštur'' 'bigger/biggest'


=== Pronouns ===
=== Pronouns ===
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! Basic forms
! Basic forms
| ''i, ni''
| ''i, ni''
| ''tr''
| ''tə''
| ''ti''
| ''ti''
| ''u''
| ''u''
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==== Interrogative pronouns ====
==== Interrogative pronouns ====
* ''dar'' = what? (nominal)
* ''da, ida'' = what? (nominal) (*hajj dabar 'what thing')
** archaic ''idar'' (*hajj dabar 'what thing')
* ''ew'' = who? (*2ajj hū)
* ''ew'' = who? (*hajj hū)
** poetic ''mi''
** poetic ''mi''
* ''ajšr'' = which?
* ''ajšə'' = which?
* ''énr'' = where?
* ''énə'' = where?
* ''məðé'' = when?
* ''məðé'' = when?
* ''łəmar'' = why? (*3lē ma 'on what')
* ''əziəp'' = why? (the reason something happened) (or from another phrase of the form "ayy [NOUN]")
** archaic/poetic ''maləh'' (*ma lak 'what's the matter')
* ''maləx'' = why? (the reason someone does something) (*ma lak 'what's the matter')
* ''ham'' = how many?
* ''xam'' = how many?
* ''hélt'' = how?
* ''xiəlt'' = how?


===Verbs===
===Verbs===
Almost all verbs use only one form, the infinitive (usually etymologically the infinitive construct with a prefixed ''l-'', which may sometimes be conflated with the etymological imperative). The infinitive form may or may not have a prefixed ''l-'', depending on the verb; however, even verbs without l- display a voicing mutation attesting to the historical lV- (e.g. ''žbuð'' 'to be idle, to lie fallow'). Some verbs instead are derived from other nouns derived from the relevant triconsonantal root rather than the infinitive of a particular verb (e.g. ''benin'' 'to build', cognate to the Hebrew noun ''binyan''; from the root b-n-y)
Almost all verbs use only one form. For native verbs, this form may be derived from:
* the infinitive construct or the imperative (mostly basic verbs)
* a deverbal noun pattern (most common)
* a univerbation of a verb + noun collocation
 
The infinitive form may or may not have a prefixed ''l-'', depending on the verb; however, even verbs without l- often display a voicing mutation attesting to the historical lV- (e.g. ''žbuð'' 'to be idle, to lie fallow'). Some verbs instead are derived from other nouns derived from the relevant triconsonantal root rather than the infinitive of a particular verb (e.g. ''benin'' 'to build', cognate to the Hebrew noun ''binyan''; from the root b-n-y)


The infinitive is also used as an imperative: ''ðeht ló oj!'' = 'Give it to her!' Imperatives are negated by placing ''bal'' or ''bawði'' before the verb.
The infinitive is also used as an imperative: ''ðeht ló oj!'' = 'Give it to her!' Imperatives are negated by placing ''bal'' or ''bawði'' before the verb.
====Inflected verbs====
====Inflected verbs====
Knench has only seven inflected verbs (i.e. verbs with inflected past and future forms):
Knench has only six inflected verbs (i.e. verbs with inflected past and future forms):
*''juð'' 'to be' (the past form ''han'' is cognate to Arabic ''kāna'')
*''luð'' 'to be'
*''fluð'' 'to do' (from *ʕaśō, with contamination from *paȝal)
*''śuð'' 'to do' (from *ʕaśō, with contamination from *paȝal): used to form past and future perfective tenses
*''buð'' 'to come' (with suppletion of *hatō and *bô); ''bu'' is still used as a directional
*''buð'' 'to come' (from *bô): sometimes means 'must, have to'. ''bu'' is still used as a directional.
*''leht'' 'to go' (from *halak)
*''leht'' 'to go' (from *halak), also used as a passive auxilliary for dechticaetiative objects
*''kaht'' 'to take' (from *laqaħ)
*''kaht'' 'to take' (from *laqaħ): also used for animate patients of ditransitive verbs
*''ðeht'' 'to give' (from *natan, with contamination from *hinīħ 'to leave' and naħħil 'to bequeath')
*''ðeht'' 'to give' (from *natan, with contamination from *hinīħ 'to leave' and naħħil 'to bequeath'): also used for causatives
*''bur'' 'to undergo' (from *3abar), used as a passive auxilliary
Their forms have become more similar to each other due to analogy.  
Their forms have become more similar to each other due to analogy.  


Some dialects of Knench maintain a distinction between independent and dependent forms for finite verbs, like Old Irish. The independent forms come from the Ancient Knench waw-consecutive. Using a preverb such as ''lu'' 'not' or ''mur'' 'if' requires the dependent form, listed in a separate table from the independent forms.
Knench maintains a distinction between independent and dependent forms for finite verbs, like Old Irish. The independent forms come from the Ancient Knench waw-consecutive. Using a preverb such as ''lu'' 'not', ''veə'' '(interrogative form of present marker ''ri'')', ''xaž'' 'relativizer', or ''śu'' 'I'm sure that...' (from the infinitive absolute *3aśū of *3aśō 'to do'; generalized from ''*3aśū ja3śiju'' 'he will indeed do') requires the dependent form. Dependent past forms and future forms are formally identical to independent future forms and past forms, respectively, except for ''luð'' 'to be'.
 
Even verbs with finite forms are defective verbs, since finite forms are always perfective (except forms of ''luð''). To express the imperfective with these verbs, you still have to use the copula + bə + VN construction. The negator ''lu'' only negates finite verbs.
 
The present particle ''ri'' comes from ''ru{{aleph}}i'', the imperative of ''ra{{aleph}}ō'' 'to see'. ''Ri'' is not used in subordinate clauses:
*'''''Ri''' Đavíð þaś žin.'' = David is about to sleep.
*'''''Pið''' Đavíð þaś žin, r'u dal bə xapuð uras.'' = When David goes to sleep, he doesn't turn off the lights.
* ''Veə Đavíð þaś žin?'' = Is David going to bed? (neutral)
* '''''Ri''' Đavíð dar þaś žin.'' = David is not going to bed.


Even verbs with finite forms are defective verbs, since finite forms are always perfective (except forms of ''juð''). To express the imperfective with these verbs, you still have to use the copula + bə + VN construction. The negator ''lu'' only negates finite verbs.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="wikitable" style="width: 750px; text-align:center;"
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="wikitable" style="width: 750px; text-align:center;"
|+ Inflected verbs in {{PAGENAME}}, independent forms
|+ Inflected verbs in {{PAGENAME}}
! colspan=2 style="width: 75px; "| → Person
! colspan=2 style="width: 75px; "| → Person
! style="width: 75px; " | I
! style="width: 75px; " | I
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! colspan=2|Present ''ri/r' ''
! colspan=2|Present ''ri/r' ''
| ''i, ni''
| ''i, ni''
| ''tr''
| ''tə''
| ''ti''
| ''ti''
| ''r'u''
| ''r'u''
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| ''r'im''
| ''r'im''
|-
|-
!rowspan=2| ''bur''
!rowspan=4| ''luð''  
! future
! future indep.
| ''barð i''
| ''wej(ð) i''
| ''bart tr''
| ''wejs tə''
| ''bart ti''
| ''wejs ti''
| ''bar u''
| ''wii u''
| ''bro oj''
| ''wieþ oj''
| ''barn nu''
| ''wejn nu''
| ''bart tim''
| ''wejs tim''
| ''bru'm''
| ''wilu'm''
|-
|-
! past
! future dep.
| ''úr i''
| ''jie i''
| ''þur tr''
| ''þies tə''
| ''þri ti''
| ''þies ti''
| ''úr u''
| ''jie u''
| ''þur oj''
| ''þieþ oj''
| ''nur nu''
| ''nien  nu''
| ''þru tim''
| ''þies tim''
| ''úru'm''
| ''juu'm''
|-
|-
!rowspan=2| ''juð''
! past indep.
! future
| ''waj i''
| ''wíð i''
| ''was tə''
| ''wís tr''
| ''was ti''
| ''wís ti''
| ''waj u''
| ''wé u''
| ''waþ oj''
| ''wéð oj''
| ''wan nu''
| ''wín nu''
| ''was tim''
| ''wís tim''
| ''waju'm''
| ''wiju'm''
|-
|-
! past
! past dep.
| ''wé i''
| ''hej(ð) i''
| ''uþé tr''
| ''hejs tə''
| ''uþí ti''
| ''hejs ti''
| ''ujé u''
| ''hie u''
| ''uþé oj''
| ''hieþ oj''
| ''uné nu''
| ''hejn nu''
| ''uþú tim''
| ''hejs tim''
| ''ujú'm''
| ''hilu'm''
|-
|-
!rowspan=2| ''fluð''  
!rowspan=2| ''śuð''  
! future pfv.
! future indep.
| ''owð i''
| ''fow(ð) i''
| ''ows tr''
| ''fows tə''
| ''ows ti''
| ''fows ti''
| ''ow u''
| ''fow u''
| ''ól oj''
| ''foəþ oj''
| ''own nu''
| ''fown nu''
| ''owðu tim''
| ''fows tim''
| ''lu'm''
| ''folu'm''
|-
|-
! past pfv.
! past indep.
| ''wąf i''
| ''woś i''
| ''uþąf tr''
| ''þoś tə''
| ''uþąf ti''
| ''þoś ti''
| ''jąf u''
| ''joś u''
| ''uþąf oj''
| ''þoś oj''
| ''unąf nu''
| ''noś nu''
| ''uþąfu tim''
| ''þoś tim''
| ''jąflu'm''
| ''jośu'm''
|-
|-
!rowspan=2| ''buð''  
!rowspan=2| ''buð''  
! past pfv.
! future indep.
| ''powð i''
| ''pow(ð) i''
| ''pows tr''
| ''pows tə''
| ''pows ti''
| ''pows ti''
| ''pow u''
| ''pow u''
| ''pól oj''
| ''poəþ oj''
| ''pown nu''
| ''pown nu''
| ''powðu tim''
| ''pows tim''
| ''pu'm''
| ''polu'm''
|-
|-
! future pfv.
! past indep.
| ''weð i''
| ''pax i''
| ''uþes tr''
| ''tpax tə''
| ''uþes ti''
| ''tpaj ti''
| ''jeð u''
| ''pax u''
| ''uþeð oj''
| ''tpax oj''
| ''uneð nu''
| ''pax nu''
| ''uþeðu tim''
| ''tpaw tim''
| ''jeðu'm''
| ''paw'm''
|-
|-
!rowspan=2| ''leht''  
!rowspan=2| ''leht''  
! future pfv.
! future indep.
| ''lawð i''
| ''law(ð) i''
| ''laws tr''
| ''laws tə''
| ''laws ti''
| ''laws ti''
| ''law u''
| ''law u''
| ''lęl oj''
| ''laəþ oj''
| ''lawn nu''
| ''lawn nu''
| ''lawðu tim''
| ''laws tim''
| ''lalu'm''
| ''lalu'm''
|-
|-
! past pfv.
! past indep.
| ''ulej i''
| ''lax i''
| ''tlej tr''
| ''tlax tə''
| ''tlej ti''
| ''tlej ti''
| ''ulen u''
| ''lax u''
| ''tlen oj''
| ''tlax oj''
| ''lej nu''
| ''lax nu''
| ''tlew tim''
| ''tlaw tim''
| ''ulew'm''
| ''law'm''
|-
|-
!rowspan=2| ''kaht''
!rowspan=2| ''kaht''
! future pfv.
! future indep.
| ''kawð i''
| ''kaw(ð) i''
| ''kaws tr''
| ''kaws tə''
| ''kaws ti''
| ''kaws ti''
| ''kaw u''
| ''kaw u''
| ''kęl oj''
| ''kaəþ oj''
| ''kawn nu''
| ''kawn nu''
| ''kawðu tim''
| ''kaws tim''
| ''kalu'm''
| ''kalu'm''
|-
|-
! past pfv.
! past indep.
| ''uki i''
| ''kax i''
| ''tki tr''
| ''tkax tə''
| ''tki ti''
| ''tkaj ti''
| ''uken u''
| ''kax u''
| ''tken oj''
| ''tkax oj''
| ''unki nu''
| ''kax nu''
| ''tki tim''
| ''tkaw tim''
| ''uku'm''
| ''kaw'm''
|-
|-
!rowspan=2| ''ðeht''
!rowspan=2| ''ðeht''
! future pfv.
! future indep.
| ''nawð i''
| ''naw(ð) i''
| ''naws tr''
| ''naws tə''
| ''naws ti''
| ''naws ti''
| ''naw u''
| ''naw u''
| ''nęl oj''
| ''naəþ oj''
| ''nawn nu''
| ''nawn nu''
| ''nawðu tim''
| ''naws tim''
| ''nalu'm''
| ''nalu'm''
|-  
|-  
! past pfv.
! past indep.
| ''unej i''
| ''nax i''
| ''tnej tr''
| ''tnax tə''
| ''tnej ti''
| ''tnaj ti''
| ''unen u''
| ''nax u''
| ''tnen oj''
| ''tnax oj''
| ''unej nu''
| ''nax nu''
| ''tnew tim''
| ''tnaw tim''
| ''unew'm''
| ''naw'm''
|}
|}
Most non-pronominal forms come in non-feminine and feminine, and agree in gender only with a singular subject; the feminine is only used with women and female animals. With plural ''nominal'' subjects the non-feminine form is used.


====Regular pa3al verbs====
====Regular pa3al verbs====
The regular pattern is *(li)CCuC.
The regular pattern is *(li)CCuC.


When C1 is a guttural, the ''l-'' usually resurfaces:  
When the historical C1 is a pharyngeal, the ''l-'' usually resurfaces:
* C1 = ayin: ''ląbur'' 'to go past'
* C1 = ayin: ''lubuə'' 'to go past' /lʊˈbuə/
* C1 = aleph/he: ''lévuð'' 'to bake, to fire', ''lézuð'' 'to be crazy, to be cool' (or ''vuð'', ''zuð'')
* C1 = heth: ''litul'' 'to cease/stop' /lɪˈtʊl/
* C1 = heth: ''lętul'' 'to cease/stop'


====-t verbs====
This doesn't happen when C1 = aleph/he: ''vuð'' /vʊð/ 'to bake, to fire', ''zuð'' /z{{den}}ʊð/ 'to be crazy, to be cool'.
*leht = to go by foot
*kaht = to take
*žeht = to go back
*žeft = to sit
*lest = to be born
*rest = to go down
*rešt = to acquire; to get
*ðeht = to give
*xeht = to carry, to owe, should
*tseht = to go out, to start X-ing
*žąt = to go by vehicle
*gąt = to hit; also a (pseudo-)auxiliary for "to do X correctly"
*dąt = to know
*tąt = to farm, to grow (plants)


====Regular nif3al====
====*-t verbs====
The regular pattern is *(li)CoCiC where the first C is not voiced. The ''l-'' appears when the first consonant is a guttural or a semivowel.
*leht /lɛht/ = to go by foot
 
*kaht /kaht/ = to take
====Regular pi3el====
*žeht /ʒɛht/ = to go back<!--
The regular pattern is *(lə)CaCiC or *(lə)CiCuC where the middle C is not voiced.
*łef /ʀɛf/ = to be hateful (dative-stative; Ri vivliəs bə łef u li ni 'I hate the book')-->
 
*žef /ʒɛf/ = to sit
====Regular hif3il====
*les /lɛs{{den}}/ = to be born
The regular pattern is *laCCiC, *leCCeC, or *laCCóC.
*res /ɹɛs{{den}}/ = to go down
 
*reš /ɹɛʃ/ = to acquire; to get
====Other verbs====
*ðeht /ðɛht/ = to give
Other verbs come from noun derivation patterns, or from earlier verb + noun collocations.
*śeht /s{{ret}}ɛht/ = to carry, to owe, should
 
*ceht /t{{den}}{{tiebar}}s{{den}}ɛht/ = to go out, to start X-ing
=== Auxiliaries ===
*žoot /ʒoːt/ = (of time) to go by
The auxiliary ''ri'' comes from ''ru2i'', the imperative of ''ra2ō'' 'to see'. ''Ri'' is not used in subordinate clauses:
*goot /goːt/ = to do X correctly
*'''''Ri''' Đavíð þax žin.'' = David is about to sleep.
*doot /doːt/ = to know
*'''''Pið''' Đavíð þax žin, u dal bə hapuð uras.'' = When David goes to sleep, he doesn't turn off the lights.
*toot /toːt/ = to farm, to grow (plants)
 
Yes-no questions are marked by a rising intonation, using the focus particle ''=nr'' (cognate to Hebrew נא) after the word/phrase whose truth value is asked about, and dropping ''ri'' in sentences with a nominal subject. In sentences without a specific focused constituent, ''nr'' appears sentence-finally in sentences with no finite verb, and after the finite verb if there is one.
* ''Đavíð þax žin nr?'' = Is David going to bed? (neutral)
* ''Đavíð nr þax žin?'' = Is it David who's going to bed?
* ''Fows nr tr [nexú] jax Marijr amž?'' = Did you marry Maria yesterday?
* ''Fows tanr [nexú] jax Marijr amž?'' = Is it you who married Maria yesterday?
 
Finite forms of ''kaht'' 'to take' can be used as an auxiliary meaning 'to go ahead and VERB/to take the liberty to VERB/take the initiative to VERB'. Knench-influenced English dialects use ''take'' in a similar way: ''I took to buy spare parts myself, because my department wouldn't give me any.''
 
To express the passive in the non-perfective tenses, the VN form ''(lə)bur'' of the passive auxiliary is used: ''Ri tawðas bə ləbur vðųx'' 'The door is opened (by someone)'.


===Prepositions===
===Prepositions===
Prepositions inflect like in Welsh: for pronominal prepositional objects, usually the preposition is inflected and is followed by the independent pronoun. The inflected preposition is stressed unless the emphatic pronoun is used: ''lah tr'' /'lax tə/ 'to you' vs. ''lah tanr'' /lax 'tanə/ 'to you, specifically'.
Prepositions inflect like in Welsh: for pronominal prepositional objects, usually the preposition is inflected and is followed by the independent pronoun. The inflected preposition is stressed unless the emphatic pronoun is used: ''lah tə'' /'lax tə/ 'to you' vs. ''lah tan'' /lax 'tan/ 'to you, specifically'.


example of a {{PAGENAME}} inflected preposition: el "for"; pə/p' 'in, at' is inflected similarly
example of a {{PAGENAME}} inflected preposition: el "for"; pə/p' 'in, at' is inflected similarly
*1sg: l'i, li ni
*1sg: l'i, li ni
*2sg.m: lah tr
*2sg.m: lah tə
*2sg.f: lah ti
*2sg.f: lah ti
*3sg.m: lom u
*3sg.m: lom u
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Other prepositions:
Other prepositions:
*''men'' = from
*''men'' = from
*''túb el'' = for
*''tubel'' = for
*''jern'' = because of (also "reason")
*''jaən'' = because of (also "reason")
*''łaj'' = on, above
*''łaj'' = on, above
*''jax, jaxəm'' = with (both inst. and com.)
*''jaś, jaśəm'' = with (both inst. and com.)
*''pəłé'' = inside, within
*''pəłee'' = inside, within
**sim. ''ləłé, məłé'' 'into, out of'
**sim. ''ləłee, məłee'' 'into, out of'
*''pəlip'' = amidst
*''pəlip'' = amidst
*''wen'' = without
*''wen'' = without
*''məné'' = before, in front of
*''mənie'' = before, in front of
*''kodm'' = before (temporally)
*''kodm'' = before (temporally)
*''xni'' = after (Hitsi šeni 'second half')
*''śni'' = after (Hitsi šeni 'second half')
*''məłęl'' = above
*''məłææl'' = above
*''məþęl'' = below
*''məþææl'' = below
*''þaht'' = instead of
*''þaht'' = instead of
*''til'' = like, as
*''til'' = like, as
*''xakr'' = until
*''śakə'' = until


=== Numbers ===
=== Numbers ===
0-10: sifə, śaa, hniəm/hniə (attributive), hluž, arvu, śami, šeš, šebu, hmɨɨn, þež, łaaś


Danish system?
11-20: štoo, hnajoo, hlužoo, arvoo, śamižoo, šešoo, šeboo, hmɨɨnoo, þežoo, hniə łəəśi


0-10: sifr, rhóð, šném/šné (attributive), šluž, arvą, rhomi, šeš, šebą, šmún, þeš, łarh
21-30: łəəśi śaa, łəəśi hniəm, ... łəəśi łaaś


11-20: štąh, šnająh, šlužąh, arvąh, rhomižąh, šežąh, šebąh, šmúnąh, þežąh, łerhi
31-40: łəəśi štąh, ..., hniə łəəśi


21-30: łerhi rhóð, łerhi šném, ... łerhi łarh
41, 42, ...: hniə łəəśi śaa, hniə łəəśi šném, ...


31-40: łerhi łarh štąh, ..., šné łerhi
60: hluž łəəśi
 
41, 42, ...: šné łerhi rhóð, šné łerhi šném, ...
 
60: šluž łerhi


...
...


100: mír
100: miə


1000: awv
1000: awv
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The order is tense-subject-verb-object.
The order is tense-subject-verb-object.


:'''''R'ižəs ław blą u abwəs.'''''
:'''''R'ižəs ław bloo u abləs.'''''
:''The man is eating the apple.''
:''The man is eating the apple.''


:'''''Ri péð u bə de kruw til stadi.'''''
:'''''Ri piəð u bə de kruu til stadi.'''''
:''His house is as big as a stadium.''
:''His house is as big as a stadium.''


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The abstract demonstrative (referring to sentences or facts) is ''suð''.
The abstract demonstrative (referring to sentences or facts) is ''suð''.
===Words for yes and no===
*''in'' (from *hinn "indeed") = 'yes' in reply to a present-copula sentence
*''lu'' = 'no' in reply to a present-copula sentence
*''ríð'' (from rahīδī "I saw") = past 'yes'
*''lu fow'' (from lū 3aśō inflected) = past 'no'
*''jąf'' (from ja3śē, inflected) = future 'yes'
*''lu jąf'' (inflected) = future 'no'
*''bal'' = imperative 'no'
''xé'' may be added before any of these words to strengthen these: ''"Ti bø xehpin te?" "Xé in."'' = "Do you like tea?" "Of course."


===Verb phrase===
===Verb phrase===
Knench allows arbitrarily long chains of pseudo-auxiliaries:
Knench allows arbitrarily long chains of pseudo-auxiliaries:
: '''''R'oj bə dafkrəl* oj gąt latsęg.'''''
: '''''R'oj bə kofstəl* oj gąt latsææg.'''''
: 3SG.F.PRES IPFV never_fail to_do_correctly to_joke
: 3SG.F.PRES IPFV never_fail to_do_correctly to_joke
: ''Her jokes never fail to land.''
: ''Her jokes never fail to land.''
(*) Ăn Yidiș loan
(*) a loan from an unknown source
====VN constructions====
====VN constructions====
Knench has a rich tense-aspect system which expresses imperfective/perfective as well as progressive and perfect.
Knench has a rich tense-aspect system which expresses imperfective/perfective as well as progressive and perfect.
*'''''ri''' Parm '''bə''' laht oj'' = Parm goes
*'''''ri''' Parm '''bə''' leht oj'' = Parm goes
*'''''ri''' Parm '''ław''' laht oj'' = Parm is going
*'''''ri''' Parm '''ław''' leht oj'' = Parm is going
*'''''ri''' Parm '''þax''' laht oj'' = Parm is about to go
*'''''ri''' Parm '''þax''' leht oj'' = Parm is about to go
*'''''ri''' Parm '''xni''' laht oj'' = Parm has gone
*'''''ri''' Parm '''xni''' leht oj'' = Parm has gone
*'''''ri''' Parm '''xni juð oj bə''' laht'' = Parm has been going
*'''''ri''' Parm '''xni juð oj bə''' leht'' = Parm has been going
*'''''ri''' Parm '''dəž''' laht oj'' = Parm just went
*'''''ri''' Parm '''dəž''' leht oj'' = Parm just went
*'''''ri''' Parm '''wen''' laht oj'' = Parm hasn't went
*'''''ri''' Parm '''wen''' leht oj'' = Parm hasn't went
*'''''fól''' Parm '''ðə''' laht'' = Parm went (perfective; cf. AAVE ''She done went'')
*'''''fól''' Parm '''ðə''' leht'' = Parm went (perfective; cf. AAVE ''She done went'')
*'''''þąf''' Parm '''ðə''' laht'' = Parm will go (perfective)
*'''''þąf''' Parm '''ðə''' leht'' = Parm will go (perfective)
*'''''han''' Parm '''bə''' laht oj'' = Parm went (imperfective)
*'''''han''' Parm '''bə''' leht oj'' = Parm went (imperfective)
*'''''þé''' Parm '''bə''' laht oj'' = Parm will go (imperfective)
*'''''þé''' Parm '''bə''' leht oj'' = Parm will go (imperfective)
*''Laht!'' = Go! (number neutral)
*''leht!'' = Go! (number neutral)
*'''''gwenu''' laht!'' (3uqbinu lekt "follow us to go") = Let's go!
*'''''gwenu''' leht!'' (3uqbinu lekt "follow us to go") = Let's go!


In clauses with a copula and a verbal noun, Knench requires the pronoun corresponding to the subject to come right after the verbal noun: ''R'ižəs bø hél u ð'abwəs''. This is etymologically "See the man when he's eating the apple", cf. Biblical and literary Modern Hebrew באכלו את התפוח "when he eats the apple (but tense- and aspect-neutral)".  
In clauses with a copula and a verbal noun, Knench requires the pronoun corresponding to the subject to come right after the verbal noun: ''R'ižəs bø hél u ð'abwəs''. This is etymologically "See the man when he's eating the apple", cf. Biblical and literary Modern Hebrew באכלו את התפוח "when he eats the apple (but tense- and aspect-neutral)".  


The clause-initial subject pronoun + bə colloquially tends to be omitted in the present tense when the subject is 1st or 2nd person: ''Ðób tr ð'i nr?'' 'Do you love me?'
The clause-initial subject pronoun + bə colloquially tends to be omitted in the present tense when the subject is 1st or 2nd person: ''Ðób tə ð'i nr?'' 'Do you love me?'


==== Passive and causative ====
==== Passive and causative ====
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To form passives two different auxiliaries are used:
To form passives two different auxiliaries are used:
* ''Kaht'' 'to take' is used as an auxiliary to raise the animate object of a ditransitive verb.
* ''Kaht'' 'to take' is used as an auxiliary to raise the animate object of a ditransitive verb.
* ''Bur'' (from 'be transferred' or 'undergo', ~ ''ląbur'' 'to go through, to suffer') is used to raise the inanimate object of both monotransitive and ditransitive verbs (as well as the object of the original verb which is causativized).
* ''leht'' 'to go' is used to raise the inanimate object of both monotransitive and ditransitive verbs (as well as the object of the original verb which is causativized).


: ''Kawđ u đə ląbur mitəs rup məšólə.''
: ''Kawð u đə ląbur mitəs rup məšólə.''
: 'He was made to suffer so many things.'
: 'He was made to suffer so many things.'


: ''Bar łerhbəs đə hél men kapwəs.''
: ''Lawð łeśwəs đə hél men kapwəs.''
: 'The grass was fed to the horse.'
: 'The grass was fed to the horse.'


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===Relativizer===
===Relativizer===
In most cases, relative clauses use the relativizer ''haž'' (from ''*χa-ʔašir'' 'like that which'). ''nr'' may appear after the resumptive pronoun if one is used.
In most cases, relative clauses use the relativizer ''xaž'' (from ''*χa-ʔašir'' 'like that which'). ''n'' may appear after the resumptive pronoun if one is used.


Subject of a copula auxiliary:
Subject of a copula auxiliary:
: '''''paras haž han __ bə gri u "pnar"'''''
: '''''paras xaž hie __ bə gri u "pnar"'''''
: the boy who cried (would cry) wolf
: the boy who cried (would cry) wolf


Subject with a non-copula auxiliary:
Subject with a non-copula auxiliary:
: '''''paras haž fow __ gri "pnar"'''''
: '''''paras xaž fow __ gri "pnar"'''''
: the boy who cried wolf (once)
: the boy who cried wolf (once)


Direct object:
Direct object:
: '''''vivlias haž fown nu ðə gru (se (nr))'''''
: '''''vivlias xaž fown nu ðə gru (se (n))'''''
: the book that we read
: the book that we read


Oblique object:
Oblique object:
: '''''péðas haž han oj bə xun oj pəze (nr)'''''
: '''''péðas xaž hieþ oj bə xun oj pəze (n)'''''
: the house she used to live in
: the house she used to live in


To relativise the subject of a ''present'' copula, ''łom'' (from hā-3ūmid 'that is standing') is used:  
To relativise the subject of a ''present'' copula, ''łom'' (from hā-3ūmid 'that is standing') is used:  


: R' abwas pə xadr i. -> '''''abwas łom pə xadr i'''''
: R' abwas pə śadə i. -> '''''abwas łom pə śadə i'''''
: the apple in my flat
: the apple in my flat


: Ri plenšil xni laht im. -> '''''plenšil łom xni laht im'''''
: Ri plenžil śni leht im. -> '''''plenžil łom xni leht im'''''
: the people who have gone
: the people who have gone


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Serial verbs are also very common in Knench:
Serial verbs are also very common in Knench:


: '''''Pow Móšé ðə kaht vðųx prið u. / Fow Móšé ðə buð kaht vðųx prið u. '''''
: '''''Pow Móšé ðə kaht vdųś prið u. / Fow Móšé ðə buð kaht vdųś prið u. '''''
: come.PST.3SG.M Moshe FA take.INF open.INF gift 3sg.m / PST.3SG.M Moshe FA come.INF take.INF open.INF gift 3SG.M
: come.PST.3SG.M Moshe FA take.INF open.INF gift 3sg.m / PST.3SG.M Moshe FA come.INF take.INF open.INF gift 3SG.M
:Moshe came, took, and opened his gift.
:Moshe came, took, and opened his gift.
Line 659: Line 608:
No special treatment is observed unless the wh-word is the subject, in which case ''łom'' is used after the wh-word. However, ''łom'' is not used in a question in the form of a nominal sentence. (As always, ''ri'' is dropped in questions.)
No special treatment is observed unless the wh-word is the subject, in which case ''łom'' is used after the wh-word. However, ''łom'' is not used in a question in the form of a nominal sentence. (As always, ''ri'' is dropped in questions.)


:'''''Dar Petr bə fluð?'''''
:'''''Dar Petə bə fluð?'''''
:''What's Peter doing?''
:''What's Peter doing?''


Line 671: Line 620:
:''Where are you?''
:''Where are you?''


:'''''Énr fows tr ðə laht?''''' / '''''Énr laws tr?'''''
:'''''Énr fows tə ðə leht?''''' / '''''Énr laws tr?'''''
:''Where have you been?''
:''Where have you been?''


Line 685: Line 634:


Many words are formed from earlier construct state or verb + object combinations, and are sometimes unrecognizable as such:  
Many words are formed from earlier construct state or verb + object combinations, and are sometimes unrecognizable as such:  
*''əmbín'' 'brick' from ''*habanē binjan'' 'building stones'
*''əmbein'' 'brick' from ''*habanē binjan'' 'building stones'
*''səvgom'' 'massacre; (slang) debacle, fiasco; a mess' from ''*šafx dam'' 'spilling of blood'
*''həvgom'' 'massacre; (slang) debacle, fiasco; a mess' from ''*šafx dam'' 'spilling of blood'
*''łénəm'' 'source' from ''ʕēn mayim'' 'spring of water'
*''łienəm'' 'source' from ''ʕēn mayim'' 'spring of water'
*''xifin'' 'to like' from ''*śe'θ fin'' lit. 'lift the face of' meaning 'to favor'
*''xifin'' 'to like' from ''*śe'θ fin'' lit. 'lift the face of' meaning 'to favor'
*''xihném (el)'' 'to look at' from ''*śe'θ 3ēnajim'' 'lift eyes'
*''xihniem (el)'' 'to look at' from ''*śe'θ 3ēnajim'' 'lift eyes'
*''krəleb'' 'conscience' from ''*qūl hal-lēbb'' lit. 'voice of the heart'
*''krəlieb'' 'conscience' from ''*qūl hal-lēbb'' lit. 'voice of the heart'


Some productive affixes are:
Some productive affixes are:
Line 696: Line 645:
** ''pnar'' 'wolf' comes from older *ben harr 'mountainling'; a euphemism replacing Ancient Knench ''zēb'', which had become taboo by Old Knench
** ''pnar'' 'wolf' comes from older *ben harr 'mountainling'; a euphemism replacing Ancient Knench ''zēb'', which had become taboo by Old Knench
*peδ- = place noun
*peδ- = place noun
*pəd-/pl- = associated inanimate, esp. singulative of a collective noun (from peθθ 'daughter')
*pəd-/pd- = associated inanimate, esp. singulative of a collective noun (from peθθ 'daughter')
** ''pdą'' = tree (*pett ja3r)
** ''pdoo'' = tree (*pett ja3r)
** ''pdam'' = wave (*pett jamm)
** ''pdam'' = wave (*pett jamm)
** ''pderm'' = word (irreg. metathesis from *pett himrō)
** ''pdəəm'' = word (irreg. metathesis from *pett himrō)
** ''pdeš'' = flame
** ''pdeš'' = flame
** ''pled'' = echo
** ''pled'' = echo
** ''pədner'' = stream
** ''pədnə'' = stream
** ''pəmatr'' = dew (from ''mattr'' 'rain')
** ''pəmtaa'' = dew (from ''mtaa'' 'rain')
** ''pədgašəm'' = (''poetic'') petrichor  
** ''pədkažəm'' = (''poetic'') petrichor  
*''-l'' = transitivizer or causative of verbs (from a -w ~ -l alternation in some intransitive-transitive verb pairs)
*''-l'' = transitivizer or causative of verbs (from a -w ~ -ul alternation in some intransitive-transitive verb pairs)
** ''hamžəl'' 'to dry' < ''hamž'' '(archaic) sun'
* -is: -ess (from Greek)
* -is: -ess (from Greek)
** ''vazilis'' 'queen' < ''vazil'' 'king'
** ''vazilis'' 'queen' < ''vazil'' 'king'
** ''męšivis'' 'witch' < ''męšiv'' 'mage, wizard'
** ''mææšivis'' 'witch' < ''mææšiv'' 'mage, wizard'
* ''lið-'' = mediopassive
* ''lið-'' = mediopassive
* ''məð-'' is more productive and is used to form verbal adjectives, serving the role of passive participles
* ''məð-'' is more productive and is used to form verbal adjectives, serving the role of passive participles
** ''luri'' 'to amaze'; ''muri'' 'amazing'; ''məðuri'' 'amazed'
** ''luri'' 'to amaze'; ''muri'' 'amazing'; ''məðuri'' 'amazed'
* ''rə-'' = intensive of verbs


==Example texts==
==Example texts==
===UDHR, Article 1===
===UDHR, Article 1===
:'''''Bar hol plenšil ðə lest im bə xurar ej bə šaw łaj šogwəs ej rítil. Bru'm ðə fkud jax rižən ej krəleb, ej r'im bə xeht im liðalih jaxəm šúv pə nəžóm axr.'''''
:'''''Law xol plææžil ðə les im bə śraa ej bə haw łaj hogləs ej rejtil. Kalu'm ðə lugud jaś režən ej krəliəb, ej r'im bə śeht im liðali śad jaśəm hɨɨv p nažəm axə.'''''
:[bɑː hɔl ˈplɛnʃɪl ðə ˌlɛst ɪm bə fʷˁʊˈɹɑːɹ ej bə ˈʃaw ʁ̃ʷˁaj hɔbdəs ə ˈɹɛjtɪl ‖ bɹʊm ðə ˌfkʊd jafʷˁ 'ɹɪʒɨn ej kɹaˈlɛb, ej ɹɪm bə fʷˁɛxt lɪˈðalɪx ˌjafʷˁəm ˈʃɨːf pə nəˈʒaom ˈafʷˁə]
:PASS.PST.3SG.NF all human/PL-DEF.PL be_born 3PL PRED free and PRED equal on dignity-DEF.SG and right-DEF.PL. PASS.PRES-3PL endow with reason and conscience, and PRES.3PL PRES carry 3PL behave with one_another LOC spirit brotherhood.
:PASS.PST.3SG.NF all human/PL-DEF.PL be_born 3PL PRED free and PRED equal on dignity-DEF.SG and right-DEF.PL. PASS.PRES-3PL endow with reason and conscience, and PRES.3PL PRES carry 3PL behave with one_another LOC spirit brotherhood.
:''All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.''
:''All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.''
===Tower of Babel===
# ''Han pə þó law þebwəs ðə súðu ləžunəs ej núməs bə lųl im.''
# ''Wini pið im bə laht im men ést, flu'm ðə find meštəxəs Šinłar vi ližešib feni.''
# ''Flu'm el šúv mur: "Pulé, gwenu fluð əmbínr vi ladeb vuð im." vi han əmbínil bə lųl im low'm til əbonr, vi əgíləs til mawd.''
# ''Mur: "Pulé, gwenu benin krir lon nu ej tur pəze, jąf ruž se ðə łali leht šméməs, vi nąf nu ðə nawž nu bə dųžim! Oz nąf nu dal ðə liðvasr łaj þó law þebwəs."''
# ''Wini fow Mənęləs ðə rest bu, hę jąf u ðə xihném el krirəs ej turəs haž han plenšil ław benin im ð'im.''
# ''Fow Mənęlas mur: "Łeþr kalu'm ðə tseht fluð suð til xóð pobu łom bə dapr xóð núm, jé dal rustr el mędəbr haž jú'm bə zúm im fluð!''
# ''"Pulé, gwenu rest leht vi bawbil núm im, oz jú'm dal bə lębin im ðə núm šúv."''
# ''Vi men feni fow Mənęləs ðə vasr im łaj þó law þebwəs, vi flu'm ðə znurh men benin krirəs.''
# ''Me jernas fu kaw krirəs ðə šeməs Babel -- fow Mənęləs ðə bawbil feni núm þó law þebwəs. Men feni fow Mənęləs ðə vasr im łaj þó law þebwəs.''


===Schleicher's Fable===
===Schleicher's Fable===
Line 736: Line 673:
==Phrasebook==
==Phrasebook==
When three forms are given, the forms are respectively for addressing one man (informally), one woman (informally), and politely/gender-neutrally respectively.
When three forms are given, the forms are respectively for addressing one man (informally), one woman (informally), and politely/gender-neutrally respectively.
*''Šaləm!'' = Hello! / Goodbye!
*''Hlum!'' = Hello! / Goodbye!
* ''Maþin tub!'' = Good morning!
* ''Matin tub!'' = Good morning!
* ''Xnitsur tub!'' = Good afternoon!
* ''Śnitsoə tub!'' = Good afternoon!
* ''Łarb tub!'' = Good evening!
* ''Łaab tub!'' = Good evening!
* ''Lél tub!'' = Good night!
* ''Liəl tub!'' = Good night!
*''Xakr!'' = See you!
*''Śakə!'' = See you!
*''Bu dr/di/dim!'' = Welcome!
*''Bu də/di/dim!'' = Welcome!
*''Praw lah tr/ti [lam tim]!'' = Thank you!  
*''Praw lah tə/ti [lam tim]!'' = Thank you!  
*''Imtsəxém tr/ti/tim'' = Please (etym. ''himm jimtsā Hinn ba3ēnēxa'' 'if it finds favor in your eyes')
*''Im tsəśiəm tə/ti/tim'' = Please (etym. ''himm jimtsā Hinn ba3ēnēxa'' 'if it finds favor in your eyes')
**also ''plíz'' (from English)
**also ''pləiz'' (from English)
*''łeþ tub'' = have fun
*''łeþ tub'' = have fun
* ''Ajšr šeməs kaws tr/ti [kawðu tim]?'' = What's your name?
* ''Ajžə heməs kaws tə/ti [kawðu tim]?'' = What's your name?
*''Kawð i ðə šeməs [NAME].'' = My name is [NAME].
*''Kawð i ðə [NAME].'' = My name is [NAME].
*''Powð i men...'' = I'm from...
*''Powð i men...'' = I'm from...
*''Barð i lost pə...'' = I was born in...
*''Lawð i les pə...'' = I was born in...
*''I bə fu.'' = I'm here.
*''I bə fu.'' = I'm here.
*''(I bə) ðób i ðah tr/ti [ðam tim].'' = I love you.
*''(I bə) ðuəb i ðah tə/ti [ðam tim].'' = I love you.
 
<!-- Example: Word order, qualifiers, determinatives, branching, etc. -->
 
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Latest revision as of 01:46, 5 March 2024

IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic/Lexicon

IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic/Swadesh list

IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic/Diachronics

Knench
Xnɪəni
Created byInthar
SettingVerse:Irta
Native toIrta Libya
Afro-Asiatic

ɵ

Knench (/nɛntʃ/, from Old Knench χnānī via Old Azalic ŋnoinisχ; natively Xnɪəni /xnɪəni/ or nɨɨm Xnɪən /nɨːm xnɪən) is a Semitic language spoken in the Irta timeline and the closest living relative to Hebrew in Irta. The name of the language comes from Ancient Knench kanaȝn 'Canaan'. Knench has received strong Azalic influence throughout its history since Ancient Knench times, and genetic studies have shown that the Knench are descendants of Azalic speakers who adopted a Canaanite language. The language descends from a close relative of Biblical Hebrew which was spoken in North Africa (which was spoken instead of our Punic in Irta), but its grammar is far less synthetic than its ancestor: lexical verbs were completely restructured to use constructions with auxiliaries and infinitives instead of the older prefix and suffix conjugations, and it has lost grammatical gender like Togarmite and Far East Semitic. Knench has many loanwords from various sources including Greek, Azalic, Coptic, Berber, Arabic, Aramaic, Romance, and English.

A majority of modern Knench people are Muslim; some are Christian, Jewish or neopagan. There is a Judeo-Knench, with Hebrew and Aramaic loanwords.

It's inspired grammatically by Welsh and Irish, and aesthetically by English, Danish, Naeng, and Khmer.

Names

Native Knench names

  • Parm (f.) is from baśam
  • Þor (m.) 'bull (from Aramaic)'

Hugin and Munin (de novo derived from active participles *hūgi and *mūni) are modern fantasy characters

History

TODO

  • Focus prominence (like Welsh)
  • retain vav consecutive forms of auxiliaries
  • vi = "and then" (used for consecutive events; ~ BH wayhi)
  • -x > -rh
  • A sentence consisting entirely of replacements and compounds?
    • I dal bə kpeen pnaarə. = I don't see any wolves. (Heb: Ani lo ro'e ze'evim.)
  • Hard mode: a sentence where every content word has a Semitic cranberry morpheme
  • Swadesh list
  • bel-, ble- is a common prefix (conflation of ben- and ba3al-)
  • Many adverbs from infinitive absolute
  • Philippi should be weaker: i > e, instead of the TibH i > a (*bint > peþ 'daughter'; TibH baṫ)
  • Mén fows ta xett kori? = Why did you have to die?
  • replace a lot of Canaanite vocabulary with other words

Some sound changes

  • Maghrebi Arabic craziness (happens early on, ca. 9th-10th century)
  • -ə (mainly from ACub -ō) becomes silent and lengthens the vowel before it
  • non-rhoticity (nonrhoticity has to happen after fem sg ending loss)
  • ħ > x; *gt, kt, ᴋt, ħt > ht
  • ś > usually x, sometimes f or fl
  • d-t, t-t (morpheme boundary) > st
  • xr > x
  • Ri ni b žejn i p Mednə Əśidəs 'I live in the United States'
  • š- > h-
  • univerbate like crazy

Phonology

Consonants

  • /m n ʁ̃ʷ l w j ɹ̠/ ⟨m n ł h l w j r⟩
  • /p b f v t d θ ð k g/ ⟨p b f v t d þ ð k g⟩
  • /s̪ z̪ t̪͡s̪ ʃ ʒ tʃ s̠ t̠͡s̠ x h/ ⟨s z c š ž č ś ć x h⟩

/t d/ are alveolar, and /θ ð/ are dental. /θ ð/ may be realized as [t̪ d̪].

/s̪ z̪ t̪͡s̪/ are lamino-dental, like Basque z.

/s̠ t̠͡s̠/ are retracted apico-alveolar, like Greek /s/.

Ancient Knench /l/ became /w/ in some places, especially before C or pausa.

Stops are unaspirated.

Judeo-Knench has final r in borrowed Hebrew and Aramaic vocabulary.

Vowels

IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic has the largest vowel inventory of any Semitic language in Irta. It has many diphthongs.

Prosody

Stress

Stress tends penultimate or final.

Intonation

Phonotactics

Morphophonology

Orthography

Modern Knench has an orthography using an alphabet descended from the Paleo-Hebrew script, where spelling reflects Middle Knench.

Morphology

IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic has lost the verbal inflections and triconsonantal morphology of Ancient Knench.

Nouns and adjectives

Nouns inflect for number and definiteness. Like in English, proper nouns don't take the definite article. Attributive adjectives agree with nouns in number, but predicate adjectives do not. Knench has lost grammatical gender and the construct state, although animates still have natural gender.

Number and definiteness

IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic has regularized most plurals to -ə (from a merger of Ancient Knench -īn > *-ī and -ūδ). -u nouns become -lə in the plural: þebu, þeblə 'a world, worlds'.

Nouns inflect for definiteness, as follows:

  • Singular: -əs (after C), (from haz-ze and haz-zū)
  • Plural: -il, replacing the plural suffix -ə if any (from ha-2ili), -u + -il > -ul
    • Plurals must be memorized! For example -u may become -ləs (specifically when the -u comes from a vocalized /-l/).

Words ending in a schwa add an intrusive R between the final vowel and the plural suffix.

Some irregular plurals: penš, plenš = human

Examples:

  • śadə /ˈs̠adə/ = an apartment/flat
  • śadrəs /ˈs̠adɹəs/ = the flat
  • śadrə /ˈs̠adɹə/ = flats
  • śadril /ˈs̠adɹɪl/ = the flats
  • śadə bušət /ˈs̠adə ˈbʊʃət/ = a big flat
  • śadrəs bušət /ˈs̠adɹəs ˈbʊʃət/ = the big flat
  • śadrə buštə /ˈs̠adɹə ˈbʊʃtə/ = big flats
  • śadril buštə /ˈs̠adɹɪl ˈbʊʃtə/ = the big flats

-ma nouns from Greek become -mat nouns: þemat, þematas, þematə, þematil 'topic, theme'.

Predicative adjectives

The predicative/adverbial marker bə followed by the bare form is used for predicative adjectives: Ri śadrəs bə bušət 'The room is big'.

Degree

  • Equative: de = as X as; equally X (~ BH day 'enough')
  • Comparative/Superlative: -ur = more X or most X (from *3abūr, infinitive absolute of 'to exceed'); comparandum takes prej 'than' (from Ancient Knench pirūðī 'when I see'). The -ur form is indeclinable.

Example: bušət 'big', de bušət 'as big as'; buštur 'bigger/biggest'

Pronouns

Knench has a pronoun system similar to European languages, except that there is no grammatical gender and se "that" is used as an inanimate or gender-neutral pronoun. There is a T-V distinction: the 2nd person plural tim is also used as a polite pronoun.

I (/i:/ or /ɪ/) is the default form for the 1sg subject pronoun; ni is used after a vowel or for disambiguation.

For gender-neutral usage, tu has been proposed as a 2nd person singular neopronoun (inspired by Indo-European languages). This isn't as common as using the 2nd person plural tim as singular, however.

Knench emphatic pronouns come from a suffixed -nna (precative).

Pronouns in IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic, basic forms
→ Person I thou (m) thou (f) he she we ye they
Basic forms i, ni tə ti u oj nu tim im
Emphatic forms (n)in tan ten un ojn, hin nun temnə emnə

Interrogative pronouns

  • da, ida = what? (nominal) (*hajj dabar 'what thing')
  • ew = who? (*2ajj hū)
    • poetic mi
  • ajšə = which?
  • énə = where?
  • məðé = when?
  • əziəp = why? (the reason something happened) (or from another phrase of the form "ayy [NOUN]")
  • maləx = why? (the reason someone does something) (*ma lak 'what's the matter')
  • xam = how many?
  • xiəlt = how?

Verbs

Almost all verbs use only one form. For native verbs, this form may be derived from:

  • the infinitive construct or the imperative (mostly basic verbs)
  • a deverbal noun pattern (most common)
  • a univerbation of a verb + noun collocation

The infinitive form may or may not have a prefixed l-, depending on the verb; however, even verbs without l- often display a voicing mutation attesting to the historical lV- (e.g. žbuð 'to be idle, to lie fallow'). Some verbs instead are derived from other nouns derived from the relevant triconsonantal root rather than the infinitive of a particular verb (e.g. benin 'to build', cognate to the Hebrew noun binyan; from the root b-n-y)

The infinitive is also used as an imperative: ðeht ló oj! = 'Give it to her!' Imperatives are negated by placing bal or bawði before the verb.

Inflected verbs

Knench has only six inflected verbs (i.e. verbs with inflected past and future forms):

  • luð 'to be'
  • śuð 'to do' (from *ʕaśō, with contamination from *paȝal): used to form past and future perfective tenses
  • buð 'to come' (from *bô): sometimes means 'must, have to'. bu is still used as a directional.
  • leht 'to go' (from *halak), also used as a passive auxilliary for dechticaetiative objects
  • kaht 'to take' (from *laqaħ): also used for animate patients of ditransitive verbs
  • ðeht 'to give' (from *natan, with contamination from *hinīħ 'to leave' and naħħil 'to bequeath'): also used for causatives

Their forms have become more similar to each other due to analogy.

Knench maintains a distinction between independent and dependent forms for finite verbs, like Old Irish. The independent forms come from the Ancient Knench waw-consecutive. Using a preverb such as lu 'not', veə '(interrogative form of present marker ri)', xaž 'relativizer', or śu 'I'm sure that...' (from the infinitive absolute *3aśū of *3aśō 'to do'; generalized from *3aśū ja3śiju 'he will indeed do') requires the dependent form. Dependent past forms and future forms are formally identical to independent future forms and past forms, respectively, except for luð 'to be'.

Even verbs with finite forms are defective verbs, since finite forms are always perfective (except forms of luð). To express the imperfective with these verbs, you still have to use the copula + bə + VN construction. The negator lu only negates finite verbs.

The present particle ri comes from ruʔi, the imperative of raʔō 'to see'. Ri is not used in subordinate clauses:

  • Ri Đavíð þaś žin. = David is about to sleep.
  • Pið Đavíð þaś žin, r'u dal bə xapuð uras. = When David goes to sleep, he doesn't turn off the lights.
  • Veə Đavíð þaś žin? = Is David going to bed? (neutral)
  • Ri Đavíð dar þaś žin. = David is not going to bed.
Inflected verbs in IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic
→ Person I thou (m) thou (f) he she we you (plural) they
Present ri/r' i, ni tə ti r'u r'oj nu tim r'im
luð future indep. wej(ð) i wejs tə wejs ti wii u wieþ oj wejn nu wejs tim wilu'm
future dep. jie i þies tə þies ti jie u þieþ oj nien nu þies tim juu'm
past indep. waj i was tə was ti waj u waþ oj wan nu was tim waju'm
past dep. hej(ð) i hejs tə hejs ti hie u hieþ oj hejn nu hejs tim hilu'm
śuð future indep. fow(ð) i fows tə fows ti fow u foəþ oj fown nu fows tim folu'm
past indep. woś i þoś tə þoś ti joś u þoś oj noś nu þoś tim jośu'm
buð future indep. pow(ð) i pows tə pows ti pow u poəþ oj pown nu pows tim polu'm
past indep. pax i tpax tə tpaj ti pax u tpax oj pax nu tpaw tim paw'm
leht future indep. law(ð) i laws tə laws ti law u laəþ oj lawn nu laws tim lalu'm
past indep. lax i tlax tə tlej ti lax u tlax oj lax nu tlaw tim law'm
kaht future indep. kaw(ð) i kaws tə kaws ti kaw u kaəþ oj kawn nu kaws tim kalu'm
past indep. kax i tkax tə tkaj ti kax u tkax oj kax nu tkaw tim kaw'm
ðeht future indep. naw(ð) i naws tə naws ti naw u naəþ oj nawn nu naws tim nalu'm
past indep. nax i tnax tə tnaj ti nax u tnax oj nax nu tnaw tim naw'm

Regular pa3al verbs

The regular pattern is *(li)CCuC.

When the historical C1 is a pharyngeal, the l- usually resurfaces:

  • C1 = ayin: lubuə 'to go past' /lʊˈbuə/
  • C1 = heth: litul 'to cease/stop' /lɪˈtʊl/

This doesn't happen when C1 = aleph/he: vuð /vʊð/ 'to bake, to fire', zuð /z̪ʊð/ 'to be crazy, to be cool'.

*-t verbs

  • leht /lɛht/ = to go by foot
  • kaht /kaht/ = to take
  • žeht /ʒɛht/ = to go back
  • žef /ʒɛf/ = to sit
  • les /lɛs̪/ = to be born
  • res /ɹɛs̪/ = to go down
  • reš /ɹɛʃ/ = to acquire; to get
  • ðeht /ðɛht/ = to give
  • śeht /s̠ɛht/ = to carry, to owe, should
  • ceht /t̪͡s̪ɛht/ = to go out, to start X-ing
  • žoot /ʒoːt/ = (of time) to go by
  • goot /goːt/ = to do X correctly
  • doot /doːt/ = to know
  • toot /toːt/ = to farm, to grow (plants)

Prepositions

Prepositions inflect like in Welsh: for pronominal prepositional objects, usually the preposition is inflected and is followed by the independent pronoun. The inflected preposition is stressed unless the emphatic pronoun is used: lah tə /'lax tə/ 'to you' vs. lah tan /lax 'tan/ 'to you, specifically'.

example of a IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic inflected preposition: el "for"; pə/p' 'in, at' is inflected similarly

  • 1sg: l'i, li ni
  • 2sg.m: lah tə
  • 2sg.f: lah ti
  • 3sg.m: lom u
  • 3sg.f: l'oj, ló oj
  • 3sg.n: ləze
  • 1pl. lon nu
  • 2pl. lam tim
  • 3pl. low'm

Other prepositions:

  • men = from
  • tubel = for
  • jaən = because of (also "reason")
  • łaj = on, above
  • jaś, jaśəm = with (both inst. and com.)
  • pəłee = inside, within
    • sim. ləłee, məłee 'into, out of'
  • pəlip = amidst
  • wen = without
  • mənie = before, in front of
  • kodm = before (temporally)
  • śni = after (Hitsi šeni 'second half')
  • məłææl = above
  • məþææl = below
  • þaht = instead of
  • til = like, as
  • śakə = until

Numbers

0-10: sifə, śaa, hniəm/hniə (attributive), hluž, arvu, śami, šeš, šebu, hmɨɨn, þež, łaaś

11-20: štoo, hnajoo, hlužoo, arvoo, śamižoo, šešoo, šeboo, hmɨɨnoo, þežoo, hniə łəəśi

21-30: łəəśi śaa, łəəśi hniəm, ... łəəśi łaaś

31-40: łəəśi štąh, ..., hniə łəəśi

41, 42, ...: hniə łəəśi śaa, hniə łəəśi šném, ...

60: hluž łəəśi

...

100: miə

1000: awv

Syntax

Constituent order

The order is tense-subject-verb-object.

R'ižəs ław bloo u abləs.
The man is eating the apple.
Ri piəð u bə de kruu til stadi.
His house is as big as a stadium.
Fól oj ðə fluð xawgpéð oj bə ro-múxr.
She did her homework too late.

The negative particle dal (from tabar lū 'not anything') comes after the subject pronoun and before the verb.

Faulty accusative

IlL/A Danified analytic Neo-Arabic has the faulty accusative (glossed as FA) particle ðə or ð' , from Ancient Knench jūδ ha-. It is actually not used for direct objects, but only for constituents that are separated from their heads. It also replaces a (TAM-marking) "preposition" in front of a lexical verb, when no preposition is used.

Noun phrase

Y's X = X Y-DEF: šem vaziləs = the king's name

To say "this X" or "that X", X-DEF fu and X-DEF feni (lit. "the X here" and "the X there") are used. To say "this" and "that", you say se fu and se feni (where the se becomes ilə in the plural).

havu, haveni = like this, like that

The abstract demonstrative (referring to sentences or facts) is suð.

Verb phrase

Knench allows arbitrarily long chains of pseudo-auxiliaries:

R'oj bə kofstəl* oj gąt latsææg.
3SG.F.PRES IPFV never_fail to_do_correctly to_joke
Her jokes never fail to land.

(*) a loan from an unknown source

VN constructions

Knench has a rich tense-aspect system which expresses imperfective/perfective as well as progressive and perfect.

  • ri Parm bə leht oj = Parm goes
  • ri Parm ław leht oj = Parm is going
  • ri Parm þax leht oj = Parm is about to go
  • ri Parm xni leht oj = Parm has gone
  • ri Parm xni juð oj bə leht = Parm has been going
  • ri Parm dəž leht oj = Parm just went
  • ri Parm wen leht oj = Parm hasn't went
  • fól Parm ðə leht = Parm went (perfective; cf. AAVE She done went)
  • þąf Parm ðə leht = Parm will go (perfective)
  • han Parm bə leht oj = Parm went (imperfective)
  • þé Parm bə leht oj = Parm will go (imperfective)
  • leht! = Go! (number neutral)
  • gwenu leht! (3uqbinu lekt "follow us to go") = Let's go!

In clauses with a copula and a verbal noun, Knench requires the pronoun corresponding to the subject to come right after the verbal noun: R'ižəs bø hél u ð'abwəs. This is etymologically "See the man when he's eating the apple", cf. Biblical and literary Modern Hebrew באכלו את התפוח "when he eats the apple (but tense- and aspect-neutral)".

The clause-initial subject pronoun + bə colloquially tends to be omitted in the present tense when the subject is 1st or 2nd person: Ðób tə ð'i nr? 'Do you love me?'

Passive and causative

Ðett 'to give' is used as an auxiliary for the causative:

Nawð i ðə pinxadəs el kapwəs el ąnuj.
I made the horse bore the farmer to death.
(lit. I gave the horse the farmer to inflict boredom)

In a ðett-causative construction, the more animate object takes the dative preposition el. This connects ditransitives which are causatives of transitives to the basic ditransitive verb 'give'.

To form passives two different auxiliaries are used:

  • Kaht 'to take' is used as an auxiliary to raise the animate object of a ditransitive verb.
  • leht 'to go' is used to raise the inanimate object of both monotransitive and ditransitive verbs (as well as the object of the original verb which is causativized).
Kawð u đə ląbur mitəs rup məšólə.
'He was made to suffer so many things.'
Lawð łeśwəs đə hél men kapwəs.
'The grass was fed to the horse.'

Balancing vs deranking conjunctions

Balancing conjunctions take full finite clauses (clauses with a finite verb or an auxiliary):

  • ej "and"
  • ow "or"
  • mur (complementizer)
  • łeþr "when"
  • wí "if" (< *wa-kī)
  • jern "because"

Deranking conjunctions replace finite forms of the copula juð and thus are also called copula-replacing conjunctions (e.g. by Hrafn). Some CRCs are:

  • prí "than"
  • jið (complementizer)
  • pið "when"

Time clauses

pið-clauses

A pið-clause is in the same tense as the clause it's embedded in. Pið-clauses denote states, things that can be marked with re + tense markers in the present tense), rather than completed actions.

łeþr-clauses

łeþr are used for clauses with auxiliaries other than the present tense copula.

Complementizer

There is a complementizer mur (from lēmūr) or jið (from conflation of hajūδ 'to be' and jūδ accusative marker) depending on dialect.

Relativizer

In most cases, relative clauses use the relativizer xaž (from *χa-ʔašir 'like that which'). n may appear after the resumptive pronoun if one is used.

Subject of a copula auxiliary:

paras xaž hie __ bə gri u "pnar"
the boy who cried (would cry) wolf

Subject with a non-copula auxiliary:

paras xaž fow __ gri "pnar"
the boy who cried wolf (once)

Direct object:

vivlias xaž fown nu ðə gru (se (n))
the book that we read

Oblique object:

péðas xaž hieþ oj bə xun oj pəze (n)
the house she used to live in

To relativise the subject of a present copula, łom (from hā-3ūmid 'that is standing') is used:

R' abwas pə śadə i. -> abwas łom pə śadə i
the apple in my flat
Ri plenžil śni leht im. -> plenžil łom xni leht im
the people who have gone

Serial verb construction

Serial verbs are also very common in Knench:

Pow Móšé ðə kaht vdųś prið u. / Fow Móšé ðə buð kaht vdųś prið u.
come.PST.3SG.M Moshe FA take.INF open.INF gift 3sg.m / PST.3SG.M Moshe FA come.INF take.INF open.INF gift 3SG.M
Moshe came, took, and opened his gift.

Directionals derived from verbs, such as leht '(t)hence', bu '(t)hither' and kub 'movement together with another person' are also common and may replace pronouns.

Wh-questions

No special treatment is observed unless the wh-word is the subject, in which case łom is used after the wh-word. However, łom is not used in a question in the form of a nominal sentence. (As always, ri is dropped in questions.)

Dar Petə bə fluð?
What's Peter doing?
Dar łom bə gruð?
What's happening?
Dar se fu? (*Dar łom se fu?)
What's this?
Énr ti?
Where are you?
Énr fows tə ðə leht? / Énr laws tr?
Where have you been?

Vocabulary

Knench has the following vocabulary layers:

  1. Most of the common words are inherited from the Semitic common ancestor of Ancient Knench and Biblical Hebrew, however they often show drastic semantic drift or univerbation. Example: šłúd 'a lot' comes from saȝudō 'feast'. Cranberry morphemes are not uncommon in Semito-Knench.
  2. Azalic substrate
  3. Ancient Greek, Aramaic
  4. Latin, Romance, Arabic, Turkic and Modern Greek

Although it is attested in Ancient Knench, the *CaCīCō verbal noun pattern is not as productive as the corresponding pattern in Mishnaic and Modern Hebrew.

Many words are formed from earlier construct state or verb + object combinations, and are sometimes unrecognizable as such:

  • əmbein 'brick' from *habanē binjan 'building stones'
  • həvgom 'massacre; (slang) debacle, fiasco; a mess' from *šafx dam 'spilling of blood'
  • łienəm 'source' from ʕēn mayim 'spring of water'
  • xifin 'to like' from *śe'θ fin lit. 'lift the face of' meaning 'to favor'
  • xihniem (el) 'to look at' from *śe'θ 3ēnajim 'lift eyes'
  • krəlieb 'conscience' from *qūl hal-lēbb lit. 'voice of the heart'

Some productive affixes are:

  • pen-/ple- = agentive, -ling
    • pnar 'wolf' comes from older *ben harr 'mountainling'; a euphemism replacing Ancient Knench zēb, which had become taboo by Old Knench
  • peδ- = place noun
  • pəd-/pd- = associated inanimate, esp. singulative of a collective noun (from peθθ 'daughter')
    • pdoo = tree (*pett ja3r)
    • pdam = wave (*pett jamm)
    • pdəəm = word (irreg. metathesis from *pett himrō)
    • pdeš = flame
    • pled = echo
    • pədnə = stream
    • pəmtaa = dew (from mtaa 'rain')
    • pədkažəm = (poetic) petrichor
  • -l = transitivizer or causative of verbs (from a -w ~ -ul alternation in some intransitive-transitive verb pairs)
    • hamžəl 'to dry' < hamž '(archaic) sun'
  • -is: -ess (from Greek)
    • vazilis 'queen' < vazil 'king'
    • mææšivis 'witch' < mææšiv 'mage, wizard'
  • lið- = mediopassive
  • məð- is more productive and is used to form verbal adjectives, serving the role of passive participles
    • luri 'to amaze'; muri 'amazing'; məðuri 'amazed'

Example texts

UDHR, Article 1

Law xol plææžil ðə les im bə śraa ej bə haw łaj hogləs ej rejtil. Kalu'm ðə lugud jaś režən ej krəliəb, ej r'im bə śeht im liðali śad jaśəm hɨɨv p nažəm axə.
PASS.PST.3SG.NF all human/PL-DEF.PL be_born 3PL PRED free and PRED equal on dignity-DEF.SG and right-DEF.PL. PASS.PRES-3PL endow with reason and conscience, and PRES.3PL PRES carry 3PL behave with one_another LOC spirit brotherhood.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Schleicher's Fable

Phrasebook

When three forms are given, the forms are respectively for addressing one man (informally), one woman (informally), and politely/gender-neutrally respectively.

  • Hlum! = Hello! / Goodbye!
  • Matin tub! = Good morning!
  • Śnitsoə tub! = Good afternoon!
  • Łaab tub! = Good evening!
  • Liəl tub! = Good night!
  • Śakə! = See you!
  • Bu də/di/dim! = Welcome!
  • Praw lah tə/ti [lam tim]! = Thank you!
  • Im tsəśiəm tə/ti/tim = Please (etym. himm jimtsā Hinn ba3ēnēxa 'if it finds favor in your eyes')
    • also pləiz (from English)
  • łeþ tub = have fun
  • Ajžə heməs kaws tə/ti [kawðu tim]? = What's your name?
  • Kawð i ðə [NAME]. = My name is [NAME].
  • Powð i men... = I'm from...
  • Lawð i les pə... = I was born in...
  • I bə fu. = I'm here.
  • (I bə) ðuəb i ðah tə/ti [ðam tim]. = I love you.
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