Vinnish: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
| name = Vinnish
| name = Vinnish
| nativename =
| nativename = Vinske, Vinskemål
| creator = [[User:Shinobhi|Shinobhi]]
| creator = [[User:Shinobhi|Shinobhi]]
| state = Commonwealth of Vinland
| created = 2023
| state = [[Verse:Vinland|Commonwealth of Vinland]]
| familycolor = Indo-European
| familycolor = Indo-European
| fam1 = Indo-European
| fam1 = Indo-European
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| fam4 = Far West Norse
| fam4 = Far West Norse
| fam5 = Old Vinnish
| fam5 = Old Vinnish
| fam6 = [[History of the Vinnish Language|Early Modern Vinnish]]
| dia1 = <!--these are for dialects-->
| dia1 = <!--these are for dialects-->
| agency =
| script1 = Latn
| minority =
| agency = Vinskemålsråðet - Vinnish Language Council
| nation =  
| nation = Commonwealth of Vinland
}}
}}
==Introduction==
==Introduction==
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|[aː] when stressed
|[aː] when stressed
|t'''a'''ke
|t'''a'''ke
|[ˈtʰ'''aː'''kə]
|[ˈtʰ'''aː'''kʰə]
|to take
|to take
|-
|-
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|same as “k” (loanwords only)
|same as “k” (loanwords only)
|'''C'''anade
|'''C'''anade
|[ˈkʰaːnadə]
|[ˈ'''kʰ'''aːnadə]
|Canada
|Canada
|-
|-
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|same as “k” (loanwords only)
|same as “k” (loanwords only)
|'''ch'''ronologi
|'''ch'''ronologi
|[ˈkroːnologi]
|[ˈ'''k'''roːnologi]
|chronology (c)
|chronology (c)
|-
|-
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|[h]
|[h]
|'''h'''ester
|'''h'''ester
|[ˈ'''h'''eːstr̩]
|[ˈ'''h'''eːʂtr̩]
|horse (c)
|horse (c)
|-
|-
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* hå-'''ar''' -> h'''år'''
* hå-'''ar''' -> h'''år'''
* hå-'''a''' -> h'''å'''
* hå-'''e''' -> h'''å'''
* tru-'''em''' -> tru'''m'''
* tru-'''em''' -> tru'''m'''


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** gal'''t'''- + t > gal'''st'''
** gal'''t'''- + t > gal'''st'''


==Morphology==
==Nouns==
<!-- How do the words in your language look? How do you derive words from others? Do you have cases? Are verbs inflected? Do nouns differ from adjectives? Do adjectives differ from verbs? Etc. -->
===Nouns===
Vinnish nouns fall into one of two genders, common and neuter. The common gender comes from the conflation of the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse. Nouns inflect for number and case.
Vinnish nouns fall into one of two genders, common and neuter. The common gender comes from the conflation of the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse. Nouns inflect for number and case.
====Common Nouns====
===Common Nouns===
On the whole, common nouns show a much larger variance in declension patterns than neuter nouns. There are two overarching declension patterns among common nouns: strong and weak.
On the whole, common nouns show a much larger variance in declension patterns than neuter nouns. There are two overarching declension patterns among common nouns: strong and weak.


Note that "(u)" refers to the presence of u-umlaut and "∅" refers to a null ending.
Note that "(u)" refers to the presence of u-umlaut and "∅" refers to a null ending.


=====Strong Common Nouns=====
====Strong Common Nouns====


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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!  !! Nominative !! Accusative !! Dative !! Genitive
!  !! Nominative !! Accusative !! Dative !! Genitive
|-
|-
! Singular !| -er, ∅ || ∅ || -i || -s, -ar
| Singular || -er, ∅ || ∅ || -i || -s, -ar
|-
|-
! Plural !| -ar || -e || (u)-em || -e
| Plural || -ar || -e || (u)-em || -e
|}
|}


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|}
|}


======i-Umlaut Strong Common Nouns======
=====i-Umlaut Strong Common Nouns=====
A number of strong common nouns show an i-umlaut in the dative singular and in the nominative and accusative plurals, as well as an ending of -er in the nominative and accusative plurals.
A number of strong common nouns show an i-umlaut in the dative singular and in the nominative and accusative plurals, as well as an ending of -er in the nominative and accusative plurals.


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|}
|}


======The Family Declension======
=====The Family Declension=====
These nouns all refer to family members. They are characterized by a consistent -ar ending in the cases of the singular, and an i-umlaut in the stem in the plural cases.
These nouns all refer to family members. They are characterized by a consistent -ar ending in the cases of the singular, and an i-umlaut in the stem in the plural cases.


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!'''brother'''
!'''brother'''
!'''sister'''
!'''sister'''
|-
! colspan="5" |Singular
|-
|-
!'''Nom, Acc, Dat'''
!'''Nom, Acc, Dat'''
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|søstar'''s'''
|søstar'''s'''
|-
|-
! colspan="5" |'''Plur'''
! colspan="5" |'''Plural'''
|-
|-
!'''Nom, Acc'''
!'''Nom, Acc'''
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|}
|}


======I-Final Common Nouns======
=====I-Final Common Nouns=====
A few common strong nouns end in -i. These usually refer to abstract concepts, do not have a plural, and only show case marking in the genitive.
A few common strong nouns end in -i. These usually refer to abstract concepts, do not have a plural, and only show case marking in the genitive.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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|}
|}


=====Weak Common Nouns=====
====Weak Common Nouns====
The weak declension pattern of common nouns is somewhat simpler than that of the strong common nouns.
The weak declension pattern of common nouns is somewhat simpler than that of the strong common nouns.


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|<nowiki>-ar</nowiki>
|<nowiki>-ar</nowiki>
|<nowiki>-e</nowiki>
|<nowiki>-e</nowiki>
|(+u)-em
|(u)-em
|<nowiki>-e</nowiki>
|<nowiki>-e</nowiki>
|}
|}
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|}
|}


====Neuter Nouns====
===Neuter Nouns===
When compared to common nouns, neuter nouns show much less variation in their declension patterns. Neuter nouns are characterized by the universal lack of distinction between nominative and accusative forms, and by a u-umlaut in the plural.
 
====Weak Neuter Nouns====
The set of weak neuter nouns is limited to a small list of body parts, and derivates thereof.


====Definite Article====
===Definite Article===
Definiteness is shown via a cliticized definite article on the end of a noun. This definite article inflects for gender, case, and number.
Definiteness is shown via a cliticized definite article on the end of a noun. This definite article inflects for gender, case, and number.


===Adjectives===
{| class="wikitable"
Adjectives in Vinnish agree with the nouns they modify in gender, case, number, and definiteness. There are two inflections for adjectives: strong and weak adjectives.
!
====Strong Adjectives====
!Common
!Neuter
|-
! colspan="3" |Singular
|-
!Nominative
| rowspan="2" |-(e)n
| rowspan="2" |-(e)t
|-
!Accusative
|-
!Dative
|<nowiki>-inem</nowiki>
|<nowiki>-ine</nowiki>
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |-(e)ns*
|-
! colspan="3" |Plural
|-
!Nominative
|<nowiki>-nar</nowiki>
| rowspan="2" |-(e)n
|-
!Accusative
|<nowiki>-ne</nowiki>
|-
!Dative
| colspan="2" |-nem**
|-
!Genitive
| colspan="2" |-nne
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>In nouns who end in a vowel in the nominative, the “-s” ending is overridden by the “-ns” definite article; ergo, the words “fryð'''is'''”, “hag'''es'''” and “zebr'''as'''” have definite counterparts “fryð'''ins'''”, “hag'''ens'''” and “zebr'''ans'''” respectively, rather than “*fryðisins”, “*hagesens” and “*zebrasens”
 
<nowiki>**</nowiki>The dative plural article also overrides the final “-m” of the dative plural noun form; ergo, the word “hest'''em'''” (dat. pl. of hester “horse”) has the definite counterpart “hest'''enem'''”, rather than the expected *hestemnem.
 
==Adjectives==
There are two patterns of adjectives in Vinnish: declinables and indeclinables.
 
Declinable adjectives in Vinnish agree with the nouns they modify in gender, case, number, and definiteness. There are two inflections for adjectives: strong and weak adjectives.
 
Indeclinable adjectives, as the name suggests, do not decline at all, and are limited to present participles, comparative adjectives, and some loanwords. Virtually all indeclinable adjectives end in -i.
 
===Strong Adjectives===
Strong adjectives are used attributively with indefinite nouns and predicatively with all nouns. They inflect for gender, case, and number.
Strong adjectives are used attributively with indefinite nouns and predicatively with all nouns. They inflect for gender, case, and number.


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| Gen ||! colspan="2" | -re
| Gen ||! colspan="2" | -re
|}
|}
====Weak Adjectives====
===Weak Adjectives===
Weak adjectives are formed by adding an ending of -e to the stem of the adjective, and do not change form for case or number in Modern Vinnish. They are used with definite nouns and nouns modified by a demonstrative.
The weak adjective system is simplified compared to the more robust Old Norse forms.
 
Weak adjectives are formed by adding an ending of -e to the stem of the adjective, and do not change form for case or number in Modern Vinnish. They are used with definite nouns, nouns modified by a demonstrative, and non-indefinite nouns modified by a possessive adjective.
 
{{interlinear|number=(1)
|stor''t'' barn
|big-NEUT-NOM-SG-INDEF child-NOM-SG-INDEF
|big child}}
 
{{interlinear|number=(2)
|stor''e'' barnet
|big-DEF child-NOM-SG-DEF
|the big child}}
 
Because the weak form inherently conveys definiteness, it is possible to drop the definite article suffix on the modified noun.
 
{{interlinear|number=(3)
|stor''e'' barn
|big-DEF child-NOM-SG
|the big child}}
 
===Adverbs===
Adverbs are formed one of three ways, listed in descending order of usage: Adding the suffix "-vegi" to the stem of the adjective (usually identical to the weak adjective form), using the weak adjective form, or using the strong neuter singular form. There are also words that are inherently adverbial and are not derived from any kind of adjective.
 
===Historical Forms===
While the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse collapsed into the common gender in Vinnish, some remnants of the old masculine/feminine system linger in Vinnish. These features, while attested in older texts such as the Vinnish Bible, were moribund even around the 1600s.
 
====Masculine Forms====
 
In more archaic texts in Vinnish, a naturally or semantically masculine weak adjective can optionally take the ending -i in the nominative singular. In all other cases of the noun, the ending -e is used.
 
{{interlinear|number=(4)
|sterk''i'' sveinen
|strong-MASC-DEF youth-SG-NOM-DEF
|the strong young man}}
 
====Feminine Forms====
 
In older Vinnish texts, a naturally or semantically feminine strong adjective can optionally take u-umlaut in the nominative singular and show an ending of -e in the accusative.
 
{{interlinear|number=(5)
|fåger kone
|beautiful-FEM-SG-NOM woman-SG-NOM
|beautiful woman}}
 
====Plural Forms====


In more archaic texts in Vinnish, a naturally or semantically masculine noun can optionally take the ending -i in the nominative singular case. In all other cases of the noun, the ending -e is used.
In older Vinnish texts, plural weak adjectives can take u-umlaut in all cases.


===Verbs===
{{interlinear|number=(6)
|kålde skipen
|cold-NEUT-PL-DEF ship-PL-NOM-DEF
|the cold ships}}
 
===Nominalizing Adjectives===
While exceedingly rare, the indeclinable adjectives can be nominalized. When nominalized, they take the normal inflections of weak nouns with endings in -i. This nominalization is limited to a few nouns that end in -i, usually demonyms.
 
{{interlinear|number=(7)|abbreviations=COMM:common gender
|Pakistani filgem
|Pakistani-COMM-PL-DAT friend-PL-DAT
|Pakistani friends (dative).}}
 
{{interlinear|number=(8)|abbreviations=COMM:common gender
|Han mælti með jem Pakistanem.
|3P-HUM-SG speak-3P with one-COMM-PL-DAT Pakistani-PL-DAT
|He/She spoke with a few Pakistanis.}}
 
==Verbs==
There are two overarching types of verbs in Vinnish, strong and weak verbs. Weak verbs form the past stem via a dental suffix on the present stem, while strong verbs form the past stem via vowel alternation. Vinnish verbs inflect for two tenses (past and present), person, and number. In addition, they make use of certain auxiliary verbs to show aspect, and one of two moods: indicative and subjunctive. Verbs also have both a past and a present participle, and inflect for active and mediopassive voice.
There are two overarching types of verbs in Vinnish, strong and weak verbs. Weak verbs form the past stem via a dental suffix on the present stem, while strong verbs form the past stem via vowel alternation. Vinnish verbs inflect for two tenses (past and present), person, and number. In addition, they make use of certain auxiliary verbs to show aspect, and one of two moods: indicative and subjunctive. Verbs also have both a past and a present participle, and inflect for active and mediopassive voice.


====Weak Verbs====
===Weak Verbs===
Weak verbs are characterized by their usage of a dental consonant to form their past stem. This dental consonant can be either -d, -ð, or -t. Which consonant is used is not always readily predictable for a weak verb, and so must simply be memorized along with the verb; however, the majority of Vinnish verbs use -ð.
Weak verbs are characterized by their usage of a dental consonant to form their past stem. This dental consonant can be either -d, -ð, or -t. Which consonant is used is not always readily predictable for a weak verb, and so must simply be memorized along with the verb; however, the majority of Vinnish verbs use -ð.


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|}
|}


====Strong Verbs====
===Strong Verbs===
Strong verbs show tense via a change in the stem vowel. There are seven classes of strong verbs in Vinnish, each characterized by a different alternation pattern.
Strong verbs show tense via a change in the stem vowel. There are seven classes of strong verbs in Vinnish, each characterized by a different alternation pattern.


==Syntax==
==Syntax==
Vinnish shows a heavy preference for V2 word order, though this is being worn down in colloquial language.
===Constituent order===
===Constituent order===
Vinnish is primarily SVO, though due to the case system, some flexibility is allowed in the order of arguments to convey topic and focus, or to conform to a meter in songs and poetry.
===Noun phrase===
===Noun phrase===
===Verb phrase===
===Verb phrase===
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==Example texts==
==Example texts==
<!-- An example of a translated or unique text written in your language. Again, it is recommended that you make sure that the phonology, constraints, phonotactics and grammar are more or less finished before writing. -->
<!-- An example of a translated or unique text written in your language. Again, it is recommended that you make sure that the phonology, constraints, phonotactics and grammar are more or less finished before writing. -->
==Other resources==
 
<!-- Example: Word order, qualifiers, determinatives, branching, etc. -->
===Opening Monologue of First and Final Book in the ''How To Train Your Dragon'' Series by Cressida Cowell===
 
<blockquote>“Ðar våre lindormar, ðår om dågenem sem eg var svein. Ðar våre miklar, grimar himenslindormar sem gørðe sin hreiðer i fjallenne hæstem klettem, like storar hræðandi foglar. Litlar, brunar, skriðandi lindormar sem vedde mys ok rotte i flokkem like ølgjar. Otruligvegi jåtenligar sjøslindormar sem våre totge styrðar styrri en styrstar blågvalar, ok sem dråpe jene før leik.
“Ðir ðorfeð at true mit orð, ðvi lindormarnar gverfes ut so fløte ðat må at ðeir bråt skøli verðe utdånar or vårem veråldi.
 
“Jengver veit ekki gvat gøras. Ðeir søkkve i sjøn sem ðeir kome or, låte ekki ut i jårð jetgvert bein, jengvern tån, slike at men om framdage mege vite at ðeir våre hir i vårem veråldi.
“Af ðvi, før at ðessar konenglige gørnar skøli ekki glømes, eg mon tale ðenne saðen sage af minem barndomi.” - [https://www.reddit.com/r/httyd/comments/uqvhoz/there_were_dragons_when_i_was_a_boy_start_of_book/ Gvernig at Venje Sin Lindorm]</blockquote>
 
===Schleicher's Fable===
<blockquote>Jen sauðer sem sir var ekki jetgvert hår leit heste: jen togði ðongen vagen, jen helt å bakine stort bereng, ok jen helt å bakine man fløtevegi. Sauðren sagði hestenem: “Eg em sår i hjartene at eg lit at maðer leðar heste.” Hestarnar sågðe: “Hør ðu, sauðer, vir erem sårar i hjartene at vir litem ðette slike: at maðer, jarlen, gørar sir heitist klæði af sauðshåri. Ok sauðinem er ekki jetgvert hår.” Sauðren hørði ðette ok koms onden i hagene.</blockquote>
 
==See Also==
* [[:Category: Vinnish words|Vinnish words on Contionary]]


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Latest revision as of 18:20, 13 August 2024


Vinnish
Vinske, Vinskemål
Created byShinobhi
Date2023
Native toCommonwealth of Vinland
Indo-European
Official status
Official language in
Commonwealth of Vinland
Regulated byVinskemålsråðet - Vinnish Language Council

Introduction

Vinnish is a North Germanic language spoken in the Commonwealth of Vinland. When the Viking expeditions to the New World were launched in our world, the settlements that the Vikings formed died out, but in this timeline, they hold on and eventually fructify into a a country called Vinland. This is the language they speak, descended from Old Norse. While in some ways it resembles its cousins in Iceland, the Faroes, and Scandinavia, in many others, Vinnish has developed in its own direction due to its relative isolation from the other North Germanic languages.

Orthography

Vinnish Alphabet
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ðð Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz Ææ Øø Åå

The Vinnish orthography is based on the Latin alphabet, with the addition of four extra letters, Ð, Æ, Ø, and Å. The alphabet was codified with the translation of the Bible into Vinnish by scholar Johan Goðmundsson around the time of the Protestant Reformation in Vinland. Until then, Vinnish was largely unwritten, with the exception of a few runestones written in Medieval Runes, as well as several documents in churches written in ad hoc orthographies based on the Latin script.

Phonology

The pronunciation of each letter is as follows. Vinnish words are almost always stressed on the first syllable. In non-diphthong syllables stress is shown by lengthening the vowel.

Pronunciation Example IPA Translation
a [aː] when stressed take [ˈtʰaːkʰə] to take
[a] when unstressed vinskap [viːnʃkap] friendship (n)
[ə] word-finally (only loanwords) pasta [ˈpʰaːʂtə] pasta; noodles (c)
au [oʊ] ðau [ˈðoʊ] they (referring to neuter nouns)
b [b] (in some dialects, [p]) bogi [ˈboːgi] bow (c)
bl [pl] blår [ˈplɔːr] blue
br [pr] broðar [ˈproːðər] brother (c)
c same as “k” (loanwords only) Canade [ˈkʰaːnadə] Canada
[s] before i/e (loanwords only) center [ˈseːntr̩] center; central office (n)
ch same as “k” (loanwords only) chronologi [ˈkroːnologi] chronology (c)
d [d] (in some dialects, [t]) dager [ˈdaːgr̩] day (c)
dr [tr] drepe [ˈtreːpə] to kill
ð [ð] staðer [ˈʂtaːðr̩] town, city (c)
e [eː] when stressed skere [ʂkeːrə] to cut, to part
[e] when unstressed Vinlendenger [ˈviːnlendeŋkr̩] Vinnish (person)
[ə] word-finally Else [ˈeːlsə] a proper name; Elsa
ei [ei] ðeir [ˈðeir] they (common pl)
er syllabic word-finally maðer [ˈmaːðr̩] man, person (c)
el kombel [ˈkʰoːmbl̩] grave, monument (n)
em [əm] word-finally skåpem [ˈʂkɔːpəm] “we do”
en [ən] word-finally vaten [ˈvaːtən] water (n)
es [əs] word-finally in mediopassive verbs høres [ˈhøːrəs] mediopassive infinitive of “høre”
et [ət] word-finally in definite articles and neuter adjectives barnet [ˈbaːrnət] the child (n)
eu [øy] Europe [ˈøyropə] Europe (c)
f [f] få [ˈfɔː] to obtain, to get
g [g] (in some dialects, [k]) gøre [ˈgøːrə] to make
[ʂ] before i/e in certain loanwords geographi [ˈʂeːokrafi] geography
[ɣ] word-finally, post-vocalically before a consonant eg [ˈeːɣ] I (first person pronoun)
gr [kr] grår [ˈkrɔːr] gray; gloomy
gl [kl] glåpe [ˈklɔːpə] to stare (+d); to focus on (+a)
gv [kv] gver [ˈkveːr] who
h [h] hester [ˈheːʂtr̩] horse (c)
hl [l̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “l” hlaupe [ˈl̥oʊpə] to jump
hr [r̥]~[ɹ̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “r” hringer [ˈr̥iːŋkr̩] ring (c)
i [iː] when stressed filgi [ˈfiːlgi] friend; pal (c)
[i] when unstressed filgi
j [j] jeter [ˈjeːtr̩] hot (adj.)
k [kʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters kone [ˈkʰoːnə] woman (c)
[k] in clusters and at the end of a word kristni [ˈkriːʂtni] Christianity (c)
l [l] langer [ˈlaːŋkr̩] long, tall (adj)
m [m] mame [ˈmaːmə] mom; mama (c)
n [n] neme [ˈneːmə] to take; to grab
ng [ŋk] gange [ˈgaːŋkə] to go
o [oː] when stressed motor [ˈmoːtor] motor (c)
[o] when unstressed
p [pʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters pape [ˈpʰaːpʰə] dad; papa (c)
[p] in clusters and at the end of a word skip [ˈʂkiːp] ship (n)
ph [f] (only used in Greek loanwords) photo [ˈfoːto] photograph (n)
qu [kv]~[gv] (only used in French/Latin loanwords) quantite [ˈkvaːntitə] quantity (c)
r [r] rauðer [ˈroʊðr̩] red (adj)
s [s] prevocalically and in any cluster where it precedes f, l, n, r, v; also at the end of genitives in compound nouns sorter [ˈsoːrtr̩] black (adj)
Egilsdottar [ˈeːɡilsdottər] a patronymic; daughter of Egil
[ʂ] word-initially/after a vowel and before a consonant sterker [ˈʂteːrkr̩] strong (adj)
[ʃ] between two consonants vinske [ˈviːnʃkə] Vinnish (language) (c)
sj [ʂ] sjør [ˈʂøːr] sea (c)
t [tʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters til [ˈtʰil] towards; lative preposition
[t] in clusters and at the end of a word sort [ˈsoːrt] neuter of “sorter” (black)
th same as “t” (only used in Greek loanwords) theologi [tʰeˈoːlogi] theology (c)
tj [tʂ] gvitjøre [ˈkviːtʂørə] kenning for a goose; literally “white-ear” (n)
u [uː] when stressed rum [ˈruːm] bed (n)
v [v] vinder [ˈviːndr̩] wind (c)
w [v]~[w] Wisconsin [viˈʂkoːnsin] Wisconsin
x [ks] sex [ˈseːks] six
y [yː] when stressed gryn [ˈkryːn] green
z [z]~[s] zebre [ˈzeːprə] zebra (c)
æ [æː] when stressed sæl [ˈsæːl] well, healthy (adj)
[æ] when unstressed gvenær [ˈgveːnær] when (interrogative)
ø [øː] when stressed spørje [ˈʂpøːrjə] to ask
[ø] when unstressed førgefe [førˈɡeːfə] to forgive
å [ɔː]~[oː] when stressed våge [ˈvɔːgə] eye (n)
[ɔ]~[o] when unstressed Olåfer [ˈoːlɔfr̩] Olaf (male name)

Common Phonological Processes in Vinnish

Elision

Certain letters in Vinnish are subject to elision when inflectional endings follow them. In particular, -en, -er, and -el are prone to this sort of change:

  • kristen > kristne
  • kombel > kombli
  • maðer > maðren

In multisyllabic adjective stems, this is particularly prominent.

Vowel Assimilation

Often, two vowels that are adjacent to each other will undergo elision, with the “double” vowel merging into the first vowel.

  • hå-ar -> hår
  • hå-e -> hå
  • tru-em -> trum

R-Assimilation

In addition, the -er suffix is prone to being dropped when added to stems that end in -l, -n, -r, -s, and -x. This is due to it being a word-final “-r” in Old Norse which would assimilate to one of the aforementioned consonants.

  • far + er > far
  • mikel + er > mikel
  • vinlos + er > vinlos
  • gryn + er > gryn

This also shows up with the genitive plural adjectival suffix, -re, which will assimilate by doubling the stem consonant that comes before it:

  • far + re > farre
  • vinlos + re > vinlosse
  • gryn + re > grynne

U-Umlaut

U-umlaut in Vinnish is fairly simple: certain suffixes and grammatical endings trigger u-umlaut, which only surfaces in the vowel “a” earlier on in the word. This change causes the vowel “a” to become “å” instead.

  • skap- > skåpem
  • barn > bårn

In syllables whose stem vowel is not “a”, this change does not visibly surface.

  • mæl- > mælem
  • skip > skip

In multisyllabic words (often verbs) that undergo u-umlaut, generally the stressed “a” will mutate to “å” while the remaining “a” vowels until the ending will mutate to “e”.

Throughout this page, the shorthand (+u) will be used to denote the triggering of u-umlaut.

I-Umlaut

I-Umlaut is a somewhat more complicated process: It affects many more vowels than u-umlaut does, and as such, each pattern needs to be memorized separately. Note that also in some cases, one vowel can have multiple realizations after i-umlaut for etymological reasons relating to Old Norse. In these cases, I try to list the most common realization first and the less common ones last.

Vowel I-Umlauted
a, ja e
au, o ø
vå jø
å æ, ø
u, ø, ju, jø, o y

Throughout this page, the shorthand (+i) will be used to denote the triggering of i-umlaut.

Dental Assimilation

When a suffix beginning in a dental sound follows another dental, some assimilation takes place between the two sounds.

  • ð + d > dd, d word-finally
    • fyð- + -de > fydde
  • ð + t > tt, t word-finally
    • rauð- + t > raut
  • ð + t > st word-finally (more in verbs)
    • bað- + t > bast
  • t + t > tt, t word-finally
    • flat- + t > flat
  • t + t > st word-finally (more in verbs)
    • galt- + t > galst

Nouns

Vinnish nouns fall into one of two genders, common and neuter. The common gender comes from the conflation of the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse. Nouns inflect for number and case.

Common Nouns

On the whole, common nouns show a much larger variance in declension patterns than neuter nouns. There are two overarching declension patterns among common nouns: strong and weak.

Note that "(u)" refers to the presence of u-umlaut and "∅" refers to a null ending.

Strong Common Nouns

Strong Common Noun Endings
Nominative Accusative Dative Genitive
Singular -er, ∅ ∅ -i -s, -ar
Plural -ar -e (u)-em -e
Examples of Strong Common Nouns
viner - “friend”
Singular viner vin vini vinar
Plural vinar vine vinem vine
is - “ice”
Singular is is isi isar
Plural isar ise isem ise
fjål - “plank, board, table”
Singular fjål fjål fjåli fjålar
Plural fjålar fjåle fjålem fjåle
stein - “stone”
Singular stein stein steini steins
Plural steinar steine steinem steine
hrafen - “raven”
Singular hrafen hrafen hrafni hrafens
Plural hrafnar hrafne hråfnem hrafne
i-Umlaut Strong Common Nouns

A number of strong common nouns show an i-umlaut in the dative singular and in the nominative and accusative plurals, as well as an ending of -er in the nominative and accusative plurals.

Singular Plural
hånd - “hand”
Nominative hånd hender
Accusative hånd hender
Dative hendi håndem
Genitive håndar hånde
tån - “tooth”
Nominative tån tenner
Accusative tån tenner
Dative teni tånnem
Genitive tånar tånne
rot - “root”
Nominative rot ryter
Accusative rot ryter
Dative ryti rotem
Genitive rotar rote
The Family Declension

These nouns all refer to family members. They are characterized by a consistent -ar ending in the cases of the singular, and an i-umlaut in the stem in the plural cases.

father mother brother sister
Singular
Nom, Acc, Dat faðar moðar broðar søstar
Gen faðars moðars broðars søstars
Plural
Nom, Acc feðer myðer bryðer søster
Dat feðrem myðrem bryðrem søstrem
Gen feðre myðre bryðre søstre
I-Final Common Nouns

A few common strong nouns end in -i. These usually refer to abstract concepts, do not have a plural, and only show case marking in the genitive.

Nominative, Accusative, Dative Genitive
fryði - “knowledge; science”
Singular fryði fryðis

Weak Common Nouns

The weak declension pattern of common nouns is somewhat simpler than that of the strong common nouns.

Nominative Accusative Dative Genitive
Singular -e, -i -e -es
Plural -ar -e (u)-em -e
Examples of Weak Common Nouns
Nominative Accusative Dative Genitive
hagi - “meadow”
Singular hagi hage hages
Plural hagar hage hågem hage
gofe - “steam”
Singular gofe gofes
Plural gofar gofe gofem gofe

There are also some loanwords that end in -a. These are otherwise treated like “standard” weak common nouns, but in the singular retain their -a.

Nominative Accusative Dative Genitive
Singular zebra zebras
Plural zebrar zebre zebrem zebre

Neuter Nouns

When compared to common nouns, neuter nouns show much less variation in their declension patterns. Neuter nouns are characterized by the universal lack of distinction between nominative and accusative forms, and by a u-umlaut in the plural.

Weak Neuter Nouns

The set of weak neuter nouns is limited to a small list of body parts, and derivates thereof.

Definite Article

Definiteness is shown via a cliticized definite article on the end of a noun. This definite article inflects for gender, case, and number.

Common Neuter
Singular
Nominative -(e)n -(e)t
Accusative
Dative -inem -ine
Genitive -(e)ns*
Plural
Nominative -nar -(e)n
Accusative -ne
Dative -nem**
Genitive -nne

*In nouns who end in a vowel in the nominative, the “-s” ending is overridden by the “-ns” definite article; ergo, the words “fryðis”, “hages” and “zebras” have definite counterparts “fryðins”, “hagens” and “zebrans” respectively, rather than “*fryðisins”, “*hagesens” and “*zebrasens”

**The dative plural article also overrides the final “-m” of the dative plural noun form; ergo, the word “hestem” (dat. pl. of hester “horse”) has the definite counterpart “hestenem”, rather than the expected *hestemnem.

Adjectives

There are two patterns of adjectives in Vinnish: declinables and indeclinables.

Declinable adjectives in Vinnish agree with the nouns they modify in gender, case, number, and definiteness. There are two inflections for adjectives: strong and weak adjectives.

Indeclinable adjectives, as the name suggests, do not decline at all, and are limited to present participles, comparative adjectives, and some loanwords. Virtually all indeclinable adjectives end in -i.

Strong Adjectives

Strong adjectives are used attributively with indefinite nouns and predicatively with all nouns. They inflect for gender, case, and number.

Common Neuter
Singular
Nom -er -t
Acc -en
Dat (u)-em (u)-e
Gen -s
Plural
Nom -ar (u)
Acc -e
Dat (u)-em
Gen -re

Weak Adjectives

The weak adjective system is simplified compared to the more robust Old Norse forms.

Weak adjectives are formed by adding an ending of -e to the stem of the adjective, and do not change form for case or number in Modern Vinnish. They are used with definite nouns, nouns modified by a demonstrative, and non-indefinite nouns modified by a possessive adjective.

(1)

stort

big-NEUT-NOM-SG-INDEF

barn

child-NOM-SG-INDEF

stort barn

big-NEUT-NOM-SG-INDEF child-NOM-SG-INDEF

big child

(2)

store

big-DEF

barnet

child-NOM-SG-DEF

store barnet

big-DEF child-NOM-SG-DEF

the big child

Because the weak form inherently conveys definiteness, it is possible to drop the definite article suffix on the modified noun.

(3)

store

big-DEF

barn

child-NOM-SG

store barn

big-DEF child-NOM-SG

the big child

Adverbs

Adverbs are formed one of three ways, listed in descending order of usage: Adding the suffix "-vegi" to the stem of the adjective (usually identical to the weak adjective form), using the weak adjective form, or using the strong neuter singular form. There are also words that are inherently adverbial and are not derived from any kind of adjective.

Historical Forms

While the masculine and feminine genders in Old Norse collapsed into the common gender in Vinnish, some remnants of the old masculine/feminine system linger in Vinnish. These features, while attested in older texts such as the Vinnish Bible, were moribund even around the 1600s.

Masculine Forms

In more archaic texts in Vinnish, a naturally or semantically masculine weak adjective can optionally take the ending -i in the nominative singular. In all other cases of the noun, the ending -e is used.

(4)

sterki

strong-MASC-DEF

sveinen

youth-SG-NOM-DEF

sterki sveinen

strong-MASC-DEF youth-SG-NOM-DEF

the strong young man

Feminine Forms

In older Vinnish texts, a naturally or semantically feminine strong adjective can optionally take u-umlaut in the nominative singular and show an ending of -e in the accusative.

(5)

fåger

beautiful-FEM-SG-NOM

kone

woman-SG-NOM

fåger kone

beautiful-FEM-SG-NOM woman-SG-NOM

beautiful woman

Plural Forms

In older Vinnish texts, plural weak adjectives can take u-umlaut in all cases.

(6)

kålde

cold-NEUT-PL-DEF

skipen

ship-PL-NOM-DEF

kålde skipen

cold-NEUT-PL-DEF ship-PL-NOM-DEF

the cold ships

Nominalizing Adjectives

While exceedingly rare, the indeclinable adjectives can be nominalized. When nominalized, they take the normal inflections of weak nouns with endings in -i. This nominalization is limited to a few nouns that end in -i, usually demonyms.

(7)

Pakistani

Pakistani-COMM-PL-DAT

filgem

friend-PL-DAT

Pakistani filgem

Pakistani-COMM-PL-DAT friend-PL-DAT

Pakistani friends (dative).

(8)

Han

3P-HUM-SG

mælti

speak-3P

með

with

jem

one-COMM-PL-DAT

Pakistanem.

Pakistani-PL-DAT

Han mælti með jem Pakistanem.

3P-HUM-SG speak-3P with one-COMM-PL-DAT Pakistani-PL-DAT

He/She spoke with a few Pakistanis.

Verbs

There are two overarching types of verbs in Vinnish, strong and weak verbs. Weak verbs form the past stem via a dental suffix on the present stem, while strong verbs form the past stem via vowel alternation. Vinnish verbs inflect for two tenses (past and present), person, and number. In addition, they make use of certain auxiliary verbs to show aspect, and one of two moods: indicative and subjunctive. Verbs also have both a past and a present participle, and inflect for active and mediopassive voice.

Weak Verbs

Weak verbs are characterized by their usage of a dental consonant to form their past stem. This dental consonant can be either -d, -ð, or -t. Which consonant is used is not always readily predictable for a weak verb, and so must simply be memorized along with the verb; however, the majority of Vinnish verbs use -ð.

The below table shows the basic inflection pattern for a weak verb. Note that the symbol "D" refers to the dental consonant used.

Singular Plural
Present
1st -i (u)-em
2nd -ar -ið
3rd -e
Past
1st -De (u)-Dem
2nd -Dar (u)-Deð
3rd -Di (u)-De

Strong Verbs

Strong verbs show tense via a change in the stem vowel. There are seven classes of strong verbs in Vinnish, each characterized by a different alternation pattern.

Syntax

Vinnish shows a heavy preference for V2 word order, though this is being worn down in colloquial language.

Constituent order

Vinnish is primarily SVO, though due to the case system, some flexibility is allowed in the order of arguments to convey topic and focus, or to conform to a meter in songs and poetry.

Noun phrase

Verb phrase

Sentence phrase

Dependent clauses

Example texts

Opening Monologue of First and Final Book in the How To Train Your Dragon Series by Cressida Cowell

“Ðar våre lindormar, ðår om dågenem sem eg var svein. Ðar våre miklar, grimar himenslindormar sem gørðe sin hreiðer i fjallenne hæstem klettem, like storar hræðandi foglar. Litlar, brunar, skriðandi lindormar sem vedde mys ok rotte i flokkem like ølgjar. Otruligvegi jåtenligar sjøslindormar sem våre totge styrðar styrri en styrstar blågvalar, ok sem dråpe jene før leik.

“Ðir ðorfeð at true mit orð, ðvi lindormarnar gverfes ut so fløte ðat må at ðeir bråt skøli verðe utdånar or vårem veråldi.

“Jengver veit ekki gvat gøras. Ðeir søkkve i sjøn sem ðeir kome or, låte ekki ut i jårð jetgvert bein, jengvern tån, slike at men om framdage mege vite at ðeir våre hir i vårem veråldi.

“Af ðvi, før at ðessar konenglige gørnar skøli ekki glømes, eg mon tale ðenne saðen sage af minem barndomi.” - Gvernig at Venje Sin Lindorm

Schleicher's Fable

Jen sauðer sem sir var ekki jetgvert hår leit heste: jen togði ðongen vagen, jen helt å bakine stort bereng, ok jen helt å bakine man fløtevegi. Sauðren sagði hestenem: “Eg em sår i hjartene at eg lit at maðer leðar heste.” Hestarnar sågðe: “Hør ðu, sauðer, vir erem sårar i hjartene at vir litem ðette slike: at maðer, jarlen, gørar sir heitist klæði af sauðshåri. Ok sauðinem er ekki jetgvert hår.” Sauðren hørði ðette ok koms onden i hagene.

See Also

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