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'''Caer''' (''caer'' [[wikipedia:Help:IPA|{{IPA|[qæɪ̯ʐ]}}]] or ''caeryn'' [[wikipedia:Help:IPA|{{IPA|[ˈqæjɪˌʐjəǀ]}}]] is the ceremonial sacred language of the Vá people. Its use is nowadays primarily restricted to the rituals of ''lyaa'' ('libation') and ''yayaq'' (‘divination’) although historically it saw much more use. It is remarkable for being typologically dissimilar to Vánic language <!-- (''Haivuvirí'') --> with differing morphosyntactic agreement and word order.  
'''Caer''' (''caer'' [[wikipedia:Help:IPA|{{IPA|[qæɪ̯ʐ]}}]] or ''caeryn'' [[wikipedia:Help:IPA|{{IPA|[ˈqæjɪˌʐjəǀ]}}]] is the ceremonial sacred language of the Vá people. Its use is nowadays primarily restricted to the rituals of ''lya'' ('libation') and ''yayaq'' (‘divination’) although historically it saw much more use. It is remarkable for being typologically dissimilar to Vánic language <!-- (''Haivuvirí'') --> with differing morphosyntactic agreement and word order.  
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==History==
===Name===
Various different names have existed at some point or another for the language. A reference from 1544 in a mercantile letter from the Ottoman empire mentioning a most difficult and strange tongue only known as ''kecice'' being spoken among the sandalwood-bearing islands of the far seas probably constitutes the first reference to Caeryn. In the 18th century, noted adventurer-linguist-archæologist-spiritualist Taavi Marsfeld wrote a short description of the language and famously introduced it to the Fartravellers' Society in London with the following passage:
:{{cardo|This illustrious Qaerysh tungue, more befuddling than the Caucasic, more sweet than Finnish morphology, and yet more rewarding than a cat's love, is truly a miracle to behold! A purity greater than Greek, a vigour outdoing the Germanic, a spiciness beyond the Zend, yet as wildly spiritual as the Semitic idiom.}}
==Phonology==
==Phonology==
Caer has an interesting phonological system, completely lacking rounded and back vowels; dental, bilabial and velar plosives; or any of the common nasals.  
Caer has an interesting phonological system, completely lacking rounded and back vowels; dental, bilabial and velar plosives; or any of the common nasals.  
Line 16: Line 23:
The incredibly sparse consonantal system includes a few uvular consonants, one alveolar sibilant, a voiced retroflex and two clicks.
The incredibly sparse consonantal system includes a few uvular consonants, one alveolar sibilant, a voiced retroflex and two clicks.


c~q nn h r s t y l v n
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
 
|+ colspan="8" | Consonantal phonemes of Caeryn
q ɴ χ ʐ sˡ θ j ʟ ʘ ǀ
|-
| rowspan="1" colspan="2" |
! rowspan="1" | Labial
! rowspan="1" | Dental
! rowspan="1" | Palatal
! rowspan="1" | Postalveolar
! rowspan="1" | Velar
! rowspan="1" | Uvular
|-
! colspan="2" | Click
| {{grapheme|v}} /ʘ/
| {{grapheme|n}} /ǀ/
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" | Plosive
|
|
|
|
|
| {{grapheme|c}}, {{grapheme|q}} /q/
|-
! colspan="2" | Fricative
|
| {{grapheme|t}} /θ/, {{grapheme|s}} /s/
|
| {{grapheme|r}} /ʐ/
|
| {{grapheme|h}} /χ/
|-
|-
! colspan="2" | Nasal
|
|
|
|
|
| {{grapheme|nn}} /ɴ/
|-
! colspan="2" | Approximant
|
|
| {{grapheme|y}} /j/
|
| {{grapheme|l}} /ʟ/
|
|-
|}


===Vowels===
===Vowels===
Line 42: Line 99:
===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. -->
<!-- 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. -->
Vowels either expand or contract wildly depending on their word surroundings


===Orthography===
===Orthography===
Line 48: Line 107:
==Morphology==
==Morphology==
===Verbal morphology===
===Verbal morphology===
A Caer verb is usually composed of a base, an aspect suffix, a voice suffix, and a number prefix. Depending on inflection, the verb requires marking for object and agent.
A Caer verb is usually composed of a base, an aspect suffix, a voice suffix, and a number prefix. Depending on particularities of inflection, the verb requires additional affixes filling up the personal affix slots 1 and 2.


(1.)
(1.)
Line 70: Line 129:
:{|
:{|
|-
|-
|''arsila atehavenn, aneatyr arsila, veleran''
|''arsela atehavenn, aneatyr arsela, veleran''
|-
|-
|arsila||a-teha-ve-nn||a-nea-Ø-tyr||arsila||veler-an
|arsela||a-teha-ve-nn||a-nea-Ø-tyr||arsela||veler-an
|-
|-
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|sg}}-chase-{{sc|ext}}-{{sc|antipass}}||{{sc|sg}}-die-{{sc|ext}}-{{sc|refl}}||man.{{sc|abs}}||life-{{sc|erg}}
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|sg}}-chase-{{sc|ext}}-{{sc|antipass}}||{{sc|sg}}-die-{{sc|ext}}-{{sc|refl}}||man.{{sc|abs}}||life-{{sc|erg}}
Line 83: Line 142:


=====Perfective=====
=====Perfective=====
The perfective is marked with the suffix '''-va''' /ʘæ˥˩/.
The perfective is marked with the suffix '''-va''' /ʘæ˥˩/. It also triggers the filling of the first personal affix slot.


=====Extemporaneous=====
=====Extemporaneous=====
Line 90: Line 149:


====Voice====
====Voice====
Caer distinguishes morphologically between four voices (active, causative, reflexive-reciprocative, antipassive) which are indicated on the verb after the aspect-inflected base.  
Caer distinguishes morphologically between four voices (active, causative, middle-reflexive-reciprocative, antipassive) which are indicated on the verb after the aspect-inflected base.  


=====Active=====
=====Active=====
Line 111: Line 170:


=====Ipse=====
=====Ipse=====
The so-called ''ipse'' ({{sc|ipse}}) marker '''-aq''' refers usually to the most salient previously mentioned NP. If there is no specific NP it is automatically assumed to refer to the speaker, i.e. it then corresponds to what other languages would call the first person.
The so-called ''ipse'' ({{sc|ipse}}) marker '''-aq''' refers usually to the most salient previously mentioned NP. In transitive sentences this is usually the agent. If there is no specific NP it is automatically assumed to refer to the speaker, i.e. it then corresponds to what would in other languages be termed the first person.


Intransitive sentence without an explicit NP.
Intransitive sentence without an explicit NP.
Line 118: Line 177:
:{|
:{|
|-
|-
|''annataq''
|''anennytaq''
|-
|-
|a-nna-ta-aq
|a-nenny-ta-aq
|-
|-
|{{sc|sg}}-eat-{{sc|ipfv}}-{{sc|ipse}}
|{{sc|sg}}-cry-{{sc|ipfv}}-{{sc|ipse}}
|-
|-
|‘I was eating.’
|‘I was crying.’
|}
|}


Antipassive sentence with explicit undergoer NP. (Optional)
Antipassive sentence with explicit undergoer NP. (Optional)
(5.)
:{|
:{|
|-
|-
|''arsila annatannaq''
|''arsela annavannaq''
|-
|-
|arsila||a-nna-ta-nn-aq
|arsela||a-nna-va-nn-aq
|-
|-
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|sg}}-eat-{{sc|ipfv}}-{{sc|antipass}}-{{sc|ipse}}
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|sg}}-eat-{{sc|pfv}}-{{sc|antipass}}-{{sc|ipse}}
|-
|-
|‘A man was eating’
|‘A man ate.’
|}
|}


In a causative sentence with two NPs. Here, the agent is marked ''ipse''.
In a causative sentence with two NPs. Here, the agent is marked ''ipse''.


(5.)
(6.)
:{|
:{|
|-
|-
|''arsila catannyvexaseaq veleran''
|''arsela catannyvexaseaq veleran''
|-
|-
|arsila||ca-tanny-ve-xa-se-aq||veler-an
|arsela||ca-tanny-ve-xa-se-aq||veler-an
|-
|-
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|pl}}-feel-{{sc|ext}}-{{sc|caus}}-{{sc|alter}}-{{sc|ipse}}||life-{{sc|erg}}
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|pl}}-feel-{{sc|ext}}-{{sc|caus}}-{{sc|alter}}-{{sc|ipse}}||life-{{sc|erg}}
Line 159: Line 221:
In a transitive sentence with two NPs and only object marking. Here, the object is marked ''alter''.
In a transitive sentence with two NPs and only object marking. Here, the object is marked ''alter''.


(6.)
(7.)
:{|
:{|
|-
|-
|''arsila catehatase nnahan''
|''arsela catehatase nnahan''
|-
|-
|arsila||ca-teha-ta-se||nnaha-an
|arsela||ca-teha-ta-se||nnaha-an
|-
|-
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|pl}}-chase-{{sc|ipfv}}-{{sc|alter}}||woman-{{sc|erg}}
|man.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|pl}}-chase-{{sc|ipfv}}-{{sc|alter}}||woman-{{sc|erg}}
Line 172: Line 234:




In a transitive sentence lacking an explicit object NP. Here, the agent is marked ''alter'' and the object arg. is assumed to be the speaker, i.e. ''ipse''.
In a transitive sentence lacking an explicit object NP. Here, the agent is marked ''alter'' and the object arg. is assumed to be the speaker, i.e. ''ipse'' which has to be marked.


(7.)
(8.)
:{|
:{|
|-
|-
Line 191: Line 253:


===Determiners===
===Determiners===
===Numerals===
Caeryn uses a [[wikipedia:Senary|senary]] number system and has unique terms for the powers of six all the way up to 6<sup>6</sup>. Perhaps tellingly, six is a sacred number of the Vá religion and a recurrent motif in the legends.
{|class=wikitable
|+ base counting
|-
!Number
!Numeral
|-
|1
|val, vann
|-
|2
|tas, tat
|-
|3
|cet
|-
|4
|nnyr
|-
|5
|calyn
|-
|6
|vaenaq
|-
|}
===Personal pronouns===
===Personal pronouns===
===Phrasal clitics===
===Phrasal clitics===
A distinction between proximal ({{sc|prox}}) and distal ({{sc|dist}}) is optionally added to the end of a phrase to express spatial, temporal or emotional distance from the speaker, sometimes even a form of evidentiality.<ref>Hayan, Abd ibn. (2012). ''Kajirsiskans klitiska partiklar: ett samtida perspektiv.''</ref>
A distinction between proximal ({{sc|prox}}) and distal ({{sc|dist}}) is optionally added to the end of a phrase to express spatial, temporal or emotional distance from the speaker, sometimes even a form of evidentiality.<ref>Hayan, Abd ibn. (2012). ''Kajirsiskans klitiska partiklar: ett samtida perspektiv.''</ref>
(9.)
:{|
|-
|''valcaxa acaxavenna'ya''
|-
|valcaxa||a-caxa-ve-nn-aq=ya
|-
|maker.{{sc|abs}}||{{sc|sg}}-create-{{sc|ext}}-{{sc|antipass}}-{{sc|ipse}}={{sc|prox}}
|-
|‘The Maker creates (''implied:'' everything around us.)’
|}


===Derivational morphology===
===Derivational morphology===
Line 208: Line 313:
:{|
:{|
|-
|-
|lyaa-yn
|lya-yn
|-
|-
|libation-{{sc|divposs}}
|libation-{{sc|divposs}}

Latest revision as of 23:58, 13 October 2020

Caer (caer [qæɪ̯ʐ] or caeryn [ˈqæjɪˌʐjəǀ] is the ceremonial sacred language of the Vá people. Its use is nowadays primarily restricted to the rituals of lya ('libation') and yayaq (‘divination’) although historically it saw much more use. It is remarkable for being typologically dissimilar to Vánic language with differing morphosyntactic agreement and word order.

History

Name

Various different names have existed at some point or another for the language. A reference from 1544 in a mercantile letter from the Ottoman empire mentioning a most difficult and strange tongue only known as kecice being spoken among the sandalwood-bearing islands of the far seas probably constitutes the first reference to Caeryn. In the 18th century, noted adventurer-linguist-archæologist-spiritualist Taavi Marsfeld wrote a short description of the language and famously introduced it to the Fartravellers' Society in London with the following passage:

This illustrious Qaerysh tungue, more befuddling than the Caucasic, more sweet than Finnish morphology, and yet more rewarding than a cat's love, is truly a miracle to behold! A purity greater than Greek, a vigour outdoing the Germanic, a spiciness beyond the Zend, yet as wildly spiritual as the Semitic idiom.

Phonology

Caer has an interesting phonological system, completely lacking rounded and back vowels; dental, bilabial and velar plosives; or any of the common nasals.

Consonants

The incredibly sparse consonantal system includes a few uvular consonants, one alveolar sibilant, a voiced retroflex and two clicks.

Consonantal phonemes of Caeryn
Labial Dental Palatal Postalveolar Velar Uvular
Click ⟨v⟩ /ʘ/ ⟨n⟩ /ǀ/
Plosive ⟨c⟩, ⟨q⟩ /q/
Fricative ⟨t⟩ /θ/, ⟨s⟩ /s/ ⟨r⟩ /ʐ/ ⟨h⟩ /χ/
Nasal ⟨nn⟩ /ɴ/
Approximant ⟨y⟩ /j/ ⟨l⟩ /ʟ/

Vowels

There are three phonemic vowels in Caer: a /æ/, e /ɪ/, y /ə/. However, there are some who posit six vowels, three long (/æ:/, /ɪ/, /ə:/) and three short.

Vowel phonemes in Caer
Front Central
Near-close e /ɪ/
Mid y /ə/
Open a /æ/

Pitch

Each word in Caer can optionally take one of two pitch contours: falling (t₁) or rising (t₂). The falling contour (t₁) ends with creaky voice. Although lexically and grammatically important, it is not indicated in the orthography.

A common minimal pair given in literature is: yayaq [ˈjæˌə̯æ̰q˥˩] ‘divination’ and yayaq [ˈjæˌə̯æq˩˥] ‘calamity’.

Phonotactics

Vowels either expand or contract wildly depending on their word surroundings

Orthography

Digraph ⟨x⟩ for /χsˡ/, ⟨y⟩ does double duty, etc.

Morphology

Verbal morphology

A Caer verb is usually composed of a base, an aspect suffix, a voice suffix, and a number prefix. Depending on particularities of inflection, the verb requires additional affixes filling up the personal affix slots 1 and 2.

(1.)

catannyvexaseaq
ca-tanny-ve-xa-se-aq
pl-feel-ext-caus-alter-ipse
‘I make you grieve’[1]

Number

Number is obligatorily marked on the verb and distinguishes between a singular (sg) and a plural (pl) depending on the amount of 'referents' for the verb. Thus one observes the distinction between actor and undergoer blurring in Caer when it comes to number.

Aspect

There are three aspects: imperfective (ipfv), perfective (pfv), extemporaneous (ext). These are morphologically and obligatorily marked on verbs using a set of affixes which follow the base. They are however completely optional if the verb in question follows a previously marked verb sharing the same aspect.

(2.)

arsela atehavenn, aneatyr arsela, veleran
arsela a-teha-ve-nn a-nea-Ø-tyr arsela veler-an
man.abs sg-chase-ext-antipass sg-die-ext-refl man.abs life-erg
‘Man hunts. Man dies. Such is life.’[2]
Imperfective

The imperfective is marked with the suffix -ta /θæ˥˩/.

Perfective

The perfective is marked with the suffix -va /ʘæ˥˩/. It also triggers the filling of the first personal affix slot.

Extemporaneous

The extemporaneous, alternatively called the universal, gnomic or indefinite. Most often, it is used to express general truths. It is marked with the suffix -ve /ʘɪ/.

Voice

Caer distinguishes morphologically between four voices (active, causative, middle-reflexive-reciprocative, antipassive) which are indicated on the verb after the aspect-inflected base.

Active

The most basic is the unmarked active which is used for sentences with a transitive verb and an object. It does not require the filling of the secondary personal affix slot (‘agent slot’) when used with an NP in the ergative case.

(3.)

valcaxan cavaertase
valcaxa-an ca-vaer-ta-Ø-se
Maker-erg pl-strike-ipfv-act-alter
‘You are cursed with ill-fortune’ (lit. maker strikes you)

Personal affixes

Caer verbs can optionally take two verb affixes (ipse vs. alter) slotted in either the object or agent position, though in some older analyses the terms ‘ego’, ‘1~3P’, or ‘self’, ‘non-topic’ are sometimes encountered. These terms are now recommended against by most language experts. They present one of the most confusing aspects of Caer for the novice.

Ipse

The so-called ipse (ipse) marker -aq refers usually to the most salient previously mentioned NP. In transitive sentences this is usually the agent. If there is no specific NP it is automatically assumed to refer to the speaker, i.e. it then corresponds to what would in other languages be termed the first person.

Intransitive sentence without an explicit NP.

(4.)

anennytaq
a-nenny-ta-aq
sg-cry-ipfv-ipse
‘I was crying.’


Antipassive sentence with explicit undergoer NP. (Optional)

(5.)

arsela annavannaq
arsela a-nna-va-nn-aq
man.abs sg-eat-pfv-antipass-ipse
‘A man ate.’

In a causative sentence with two NPs. Here, the agent is marked ipse.

(6.)

arsela catannyvexaseaq veleran
arsela ca-tanny-ve-xa-se-aq veler-an
man.abs pl-feel-ext-caus-alter-ipse life-erg
‘Life causes man grief.’
Alter

Likewise, the equivalent alter (alter) marker -se refers usually to the second least salient NP. If there is no specific NP to pair with, it is either assumed to refer to the listener or an unspecified grouping of people depending on context.

In a transitive sentence with two NPs and only object marking. Here, the object is marked alter.

(7.)

arsela catehatase nnahan
arsela ca-teha-ta-se nnaha-an
man.abs pl-chase-ipfv-alter woman-erg
The woman woos the man.


In a transitive sentence lacking an explicit object NP. Here, the agent is marked alter and the object arg. is assumed to be the speaker, i.e. ipse which has to be marked.

(8.)

catehataxe nnahan
ca-teha-ta-aq-se nnaha-an
pl-chase-ipfv-ipse-alter woman-erg
The woman woos me.

Nominal morphology

Possession

Caer extraordinarily includes a third-person suffix -yn (divposs) which is marked on the possessum. The affix bears connotations of transitivity when the inflected word is combined with a head noun or phrase. Finally, it is only utilised when referring to deities.

Determiners

Numerals

Caeryn uses a senary number system and has unique terms for the powers of six all the way up to 66. Perhaps tellingly, six is a sacred number of the Vá religion and a recurrent motif in the legends.


base counting
Number Numeral
1 val, vann
2 tas, tat
3 cet
4 nnyr
5 calyn
6 vaenaq

Personal pronouns

Phrasal clitics

A distinction between proximal (prox) and distal (dist) is optionally added to the end of a phrase to express spatial, temporal or emotional distance from the speaker, sometimes even a form of evidentiality.[3]

(9.)

valcaxa acaxavenna'ya
valcaxa a-caxa-ve-nn-aq=ya
maker.abs sg-create-ext-antipass-ipse=prox
‘The Maker creates (implied: everything around us.)’

Derivational morphology

Syntax

Constituent order

Caer is OVS. However, agent-verb word order is also common in transitive sentences where the verb is marked for object. [4]

Possessive constructions

Inalienable possession

Divine possession

The possesum follows the possessor and is also marked by the third person suffix -yn (divposs).

lya-yn
libation-divposs
Their/His/Her libation.
valcaxa caer-yn
Maker secret-divposs
The Maker's given secret.

References

  1. ^ Sammina, Karolyna. (2011). Yneaqyn: Songs of the Vá
  2. ^ Sammina, Karolyna. (2011). Yneaqyn: Songs of the Vá
  3. ^ Hayan, Abd ibn. (2012). Kajirsiskans klitiska partiklar: ett samtida perspektiv.
  4. ^ Schlanger, Josef Maria. (1985). In der Nacht wandert ein Drache : Wortfolge in der Sprache der Kajirsen.
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