Yassi: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|name=Yassi
|name=Yassi
|nativename=''yāssǝy sor''
|nativename=''yāssǝy cor''
|states=[[w:Afghanistan|Afghanistan]], [[w:People's Republic of China|China]], [[w:Pakistan|Pakistan]]
|states=[[w:Afghanistan|Afghanistan]], [[w:People's Republic of China|China]], [[w:Pakistan|Pakistan]]
|speakers=164
|speakers=164
|date=1979
|date=1979
|ref=e18
|ref=e18
|familycolor=Uralic (?)
|familycolor=Uralic  
|fam2= (Para-?)Samoyedic
|fam2= Para-Samoyedic (?)
|fam3=
|fam3=
|fam4=
|fam4=
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== Classification ==
== Classification ==
For a long time, Yassi had been seen as one of the languages that belong to the areal Pamir language group. Nowadays it's usually classified as a [[w:Uralic language|Uralic language]], though its exact relationship to the Uralic languages is a matter of debate.  
For a long time, Yassi had been seen as one of the languages that belong to the areal Pamir language group. Nowadays it's classified as a [[w:Uralic language|Uralic language]], though its exact relationship to the Uralic subgroups is a matter of debate.  
There are certain words of the basic vocabulary which show a closer relation to the [[w:Samoyedic languages|Samoyedic]] than to the [[w:Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] subgroup, like nǝk (PS *näk- instead of FU *kolme 'three'), mǝkt (PS *mǝktut instead of FU *kutte 'six') and wam (PS *time instead of FU *piŋe 'tooth'). However, research has shown that it's often not possible to derive these words from mainstream Proto-Samoyed: Rather, both Yassi wam 'tooth' and Proto-Samoyed *time 'tooth' seem to go back to PU *sewimä 'tooth'. Furthermore, Yassi pǝn 'comb' is assumed to be a cognate to FU *piŋe 'tooth'. Therefore, and as the subgrouping of the Uralic languages is still controversial, Yassi must remain classified an independent branch of Proto-Uralic.  
There are certain words of the basic vocabulary which show a closer relation to [[w:Samoyedic languages|Samoyedic]] than to [[w:Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] languages, like nǝk (PS *näk- instead of FU *kolme 'three'), mǝkt (PS *mǝktut instead of FU *kutte 'six') and wam (PS *time instead of FU *piŋe 'tooth'). However, research has shown that it's often not possible to derive these words from mainstream Proto-Samoyed: Rather, both Yassi wam 'tooth' and Proto-Samoyed *time 'tooth' seem to go back to PU *sewimä 'tooth'. Furthermore, Yassi pǝn 'comb' is assumed to be a cognate to FU *piŋe 'tooth'. Therefore, and as the subgrouping of the Uralic languages is still controversial, Yassi must remain classified an independent branch of Proto-Uralic.  
== Dialects ==
== Dialects ==
Slight differences in pronunciation and vocabulary show that Yassi can be divided in two mutually intelligible dialects. One surrounding the headwaters of River Yas, the other in the lower valley.  
Slight differences in pronunciation and vocabulary show that Yassi can be divided in two mutually intelligible dialects. One surrounding the headwaters of River Yas, the other in the lower valley.  


The former dialect has preserved various conservative peculiarities, whereas the latter has been influenced more deeply by neighboring Iranian languages. Today there’s also a cultural barrier between the two dialects, as the Yassi people in the lower valley have adopted Islam in the last two centuries. There are gradually assimilating into the Muslim-majority religiously and linguistically. However, as far as the dichotomy in the vocabulary is concerned, it seems to have existed for a long time, because Iranian loanwords have undergone sound changes specific to Yassi. The isolated Upper-Yassis preserve their traditional society, with both Yassi language and religion.
The former dialect has preserved various conservative peculiarities, whereas the latter has been influenced more deeply by neighboring contemporary Iranian languages. Today there’s also a cultural barrier between the two dialects, as the Yassi people in the lower valley have adopted Islam in the last two centuries. They are gradually assimilating into the Muslim majority religiously and linguistically. The isolated Upper-Yassis preserve their traditional society, with both Yassi language and religion.
=== Speakers ===
=== Speakers ===
Nowadays, more speakers use Upper Yassi though its area is less populated than the Lower Yas valley. It’s because Lower Yassis are assimilating into the Muslim-majority society and take over [[w:Wakhi language|Wakhi]].
Nowadays, more speakers use Upper Yassi though its area is less populated than the Lower Yas valley because Lower Yassis take over [[w:Wakhi language|Wakhi]].


== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==
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|
|
|a
|a
|ɑ
|ɑ [ā]
|}
|}


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|n
|n
|
|
|ɳ
|ɳ [ṇ]
|
|
|
|
|ŋ
|ŋ [n]
|
|
|
|
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! {{small|[[w:voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
! {{small|[[w:voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
|p
|p
|t̪
|t̪ [t]
|
|
|style="background:#EEE8AA" |ʈ
|style="background:#EEE8AA" |ʈ [ṭ]
|
|
|
|
|k
|k
|style="background:#EEE8AA" | q
|style="background:#EEE8AA" | q
|style="background:#EEE8AA" | ʔ
|style="background:#EEE8AA" | ʔ [']
|-
|-
! {{small|[[w:voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
! {{small|[[w:voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|b
|b
|d̪
|d̪ [d]
|
|
|style="background:#EEE8AA" |ɖ
|style="background:#EEE8AA" |ɖ [ḍ]
|
|
|
|
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! {{small|[[w:voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
! {{small|[[w:voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
|
|
|t͡s
|t͡s [c]
|
|
|
|style="background:#EEE8AA" |ʈ͡ʂ [č̣]
|t͡ʃ
|t͡ʃ [č]
|
|
|
|
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! {{small|[[w:voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
! {{small|[[w:voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
|
|
|d͡z
|d͡z [j]
|
|
|
|style="background:#EEE8AA" |ɖ͡ʐ [ǰ̣]
|d͡ʒ
|d͡ʒ [ǰ]
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|s
|s
|ʂ
|ʂ [ṣ̌]
|ʃ
|ʃ [š]
|ç
|ç [x]
|x
|x
|
|
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|
|
|z
|z
|ʐ
|ʐ [ẓ̌]
|ʒ
|ʒ [ž]
|ʝ
|ʝ [γ]
|ɣ
|ɣ [γ]
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|j
|j [y]
|w
|w
|
|
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|r
|r
|
|
| ɺ̢ 
| ɺ̢ [ṛ]
|
|
|
|
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|}
|}


The <span style="background:#EEE8AA;padding:0px 2px;">words</span> that have been borrowed and are non-native to Yassi, are colour coded. The phonemes /q/, /f/ tend to be replaced by /k/, /p/.
The <span style="background:#EEE8AA;padding:0px 2px;">consonants</span> that have been borrowed and are non-native to Yassi, are colour coded. The phonemes /q/, /f/ tend to be replaced by /k/, /p/.
 
== Grammar ==
== Grammar ==
Yassi is a S-O-V language, though the word order is not as strict as in English . Adjectives come before nouns. Nouns and adjectives are inflected for number (sing./plur.) and case (nominative, accusative, prepositional and genitive). There is no gender distinction.   
Yassi is a S-O-V language, though the word order is not as strict as in English . Adjectives come before nouns. Nouns and adjectives are inflected for number (sing./plur.) and case (nominative, accusative, prepositional and genitive). There is no gender distinction.   
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===== Singular =====
===== Singular =====
* nominative: '''mǝ''' ('I') '''am''' ('mother') '''ix̌t''' ('son') (< PU *irkä)
* nominative: '''mǝ''' ('I') '''am''' ('mother') '''iṣ̌t''' ('son') (< PU *irkä)
* accusative: '''mǝn''' ('me') '''am''' ('mother') '''ix̌t''' ('son') (< PU *irkä-m)  
* accusative: '''mǝn''' ('me') '''am''' ('mother') '''iṣ̌t''' ('son') (< PU *irkä-m)  
* prepositional: '''min''' ('to me') '''mal''' ('to the mother') '''ix̌tal''' ('to the son') (< PU *irkä-tä)
* prepositional: '''min''' ('to me') '''mal''' ('to the mother') '''iṣ̌tal''' ('to the son') (< PU *irkä-tä)
* genitive: '''mǝnǝy''' ('mine') '''amǝy''' ('mother's') '''ix̌tǝy''' ('son's') (< PU *irkä-k)
* genitive: '''mǝnǝy''' ('mine') '''amǝy''' ('mother's') '''iṣ̌tǝy''' ('son's') (< PU *irkä-k)


===== Plural =====
===== Plural =====
* nominative: '''amǝl''' (‘mothers’) '''ix̌tǝl''' ('sons') (< PU *irkä-t)
* nominative: '''amǝl''' (‘mothers’) '''iṣ̌tǝl''' ('sons') (< PU *irkä-t)
* accusative: '''mal'''  (‘mothers’) '''ix̌tal''' ('sons') (< PU *irkä-t-äm)
* accusative: '''mal'''  (‘mothers’) '''iṣ̌tal''' ('sons') (< PU *irkä-t-äm)
* prepositional: '''mat''' (‘to the mothers’) '''ix̌tat''' ('to the sons') (< PU *irkä-t-tä)
* prepositional: '''mat''' (‘to the mothers’) '''iṣ̌tat''' ('to the sons') (< PU *irkä-t-tä)
* genitive: '''malǝy''' (‘of the mothers’) '''ix̌talǝy''' ('of the sons') (< PU *irkä-t-äk)
* genitive: '''malǝy''' (‘of the mothers’) '''iṣ̌talǝy''' ('of the sons') (< PU *irkä-t-äk)


=== Verbs ===
=== Verbs ===
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==== Present indicative ====
==== Present indicative ====
* infinitive (identical to second person singular imperative): '''kaš'''
* infinitive (identical to second person singular imperative): '''kac'''
* first person singular: '''kšam'''
* first person singular: '''kcam'''
* second person singular: '''kšal'''
* second person singular: '''kcal'''
* third person singular: '''kše'''
* third person singular: '''kce'''
* first person plural: '''kšamǝl'''
* first person plural: '''kcamǝl'''
* second person plural: '''kšalǝl'''
* second person plural: '''kcalǝl'''
* third person plural: '''kšel'''
* third person plural: '''kcel'''


== Vocabulary ==
== Vocabulary ==
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*kǝbo: cotton (< PYassi *kapāsa, cf. Burushaski γupas, Vedic karpāsa)
*kǝbo: cotton (< PYassi *kapāsa, cf. Burushaski γupas, Vedic karpāsa)
*pya: pear (< PYassi *pisā, cf. Burushaski pheṣo)
*pya: pear (< PYassi *pisā, cf. Burushaski pheṣo)
*šun: blind (< PYassi *čāna, cf. Burushaski śon, Vedic kāṇa)
*cun: blind (< PYassi *čāna, cf. Burushaski śon, Vedic kāṇa)
*Yin: a thorp at the well of the Yas River (< PYassi *sina, cf. PYeniseian *siɁn ‘well, spring’)
*Yǝn: a thorp at the well of the Yas River (< PYassi *sina, cf. PYeniseian *siɁn ‘well, spring’)
As more and more researchers think that Burushaski and Yeniseian idioms are genetically related, the last example could prove that (Para-?)Proto-Burushaski still used a cognate to Proto-Yeniseian *siɁn.
As more and more researchers think that Burushaski and Yeniseian idioms are genetically related, the last example could prove that (Para-?)Proto-Burushaski still used a cognate to Proto-Yeniseian *siɁn.
Like the Indo-Iranians, the Yassis integrated many words from the language of the BMAC culture. The word ǝga tells us that Yassis had contact with the people of the BMAC before the Indians and Iranians had.  
Like the Indo-Iranians, the Yassis integrated many words from the language of the BMAC culture. The word ǝga tells us that Yassis had contact with the people of the BMAC before the Indians and Iranians had.  
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*pwaštay: book (< PI *paustaka-)
*pwaštay: book (< PI *paustaka-)
*slǝ: hundred (< PI *satam)
*slǝ: hundred (< PI *satam)
In recent times, Yassi adopted Perso-Arabic vocabulary common to all idioms in the region. They are naturally more widespread in the Muslim-majority Lower Yas valley.
*dost: friend
*kitāb: book


=== Numerals ===
=== Numerals ===
The Iranian numerals from 6 to 10 aren't widely used except for 'las' which is common in the whole Yassi area. Foreign numerals tend to be used more often in the Lower Yas valley.  
The Iranian numerals from 6 to 10 aren't widely used except for 'las' which is common in the whole Yassi area. Foreign numerals tend to be used more often in the Lower Yas valley. Yassi uses a vigesimal system.  


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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! Numeral !! Inherited <br/> Yassi !! Loan from <br/> Proto-Iranian  
! Numeral !! Inherited <br/> Yassi !! Loan from <br/> Proto-Iranian  
|-
|-
| one || ǝš ||
| one || ǝc ||
|-
|-
| two || kaš ||
| two || kac ||
|-
|-
| three || naš ||
| three || nac ||
|-
|-
| four || per ||
| four || per ||
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| five || wit ||
| five || wit ||
|-
|-
| six || mǝkt || špağ
| six || || špaẓ̌
|-
|-
| seven || nkorǝ, nkor || ow
| seven || || ow
|-
|-
| eight || kšorǝy || at
| eight || || at
|-
|-
| nine || šowr, šwor || nǝ
| nine || || nǝ
|-
|-
| ten || kǝšwit || las
| ten || || las
|-
|-
| eleven || ||
| eleven || ||
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| thirteen ||  ||
| thirteen ||  ||
|-
|-
| twenty || ||
| twenty || || wišt
|-
|-
| thirty ||  ||
| thirty ||  || laswišt
|-
|-
| forty || ||
| forty || || calwex̌t
|-
|-
| hundred ||  || slǝ
| hundred ||  || slǝ
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=== Comparison with other Uralic languages ===
=== Comparison with other Uralic languages ===
{| border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="3"
{| border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="3"
|-
|-
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| –
| –
| jiʔ
| jiʔ
|-
| 'heart'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/śiδä|*śiδä]]'''
| sə
| sydän|| süda ||
| – || – || –
| śeďej
| šüm
| śe̮le̮m ||
| szív
|
| –
| –
| śej
|-
|-
| 'ice'
| 'ice'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/jäŋe|*jäŋi]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/jäŋe|*jäŋi]]'''
| -
| yeh
| jää || jää || ijä
| jää || jää || ijä
| jïenge<br/>{{IPA|[jɨeŋə]}} || jiekŋa || īŋŋ
| jïenge<br/>{{IPA|[jɨeŋə]}} || jiekŋa || īŋŋ
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| 'nest'
| 'nest'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/pesä|*pesä]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/pesä|*pesä]]'''
| pā
| pa(h)
| pesä || pesa || pesä
| pesä || pesa || pesä
| biesie<br/>{{IPA|[piesie]}} || beassi || piess’
| biesie<br/>{{IPA|[piesie]}} || beassi || piess’
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| 'hand, arm'
| 'hand, arm'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/käte|*käti]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/käte|*käti]]'''
| -
| [əl]cəl
| käsi<br/>(käte-) || käsi<br/>(käe-) || käsi<br/>(käe-)
| käsi<br/>(käte-) || käsi<br/>(käe-) || käsi<br/>(käe-)
| gïete<br/>{{IPA|[kɨedə]}} || giehta || kīdt
| gïete<br/>{{IPA|[kɨedə]}} || giehta || kīdt
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| 'fathom'
| 'fathom'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/süle|*süli]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/süle|*süli]]'''
| –
| ər
| syli<br/>(syle-) || süli<br/>(süle-) || –
| syli<br/>(syle-) || süli<br/>(süle-) || –
| sïlle<br/>{{IPA|[sʲɨllə]}} || salla || sē̮ll
| sïlle<br/>{{IPA|[sʲɨllə]}} || salla || sē̮ll
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| 'vein / sinew'
| 'vein / sinew'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/sëne|*sï(x)ni]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/sëne|*sï(x)ni]]'''
| un
| an
| suoni<br/>(suone-) || soon<br/>(soone-) || suuń<br/>(soonõ-)
| suoni<br/>(suone-) || soon<br/>(soone-) || suuń<br/>(soonõ-)
| soene<br/>{{IPA|[suonə]}} || suotna || sūnn
| soene<br/>{{IPA|[suonə]}} || suotna || sūnn
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| 'bone'
| 'bone'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/luwe|*luwi]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/luwe|*luwi]]'''
| rwə
| raw
| luu || luu || luu
| luu || luu || luu
| – || – || –
| – || – || –
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| 'blood'
| 'blood'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/were|*weri]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/were|*weri]]'''
| -
| war
| veri || veri || veri
| veri || veri || veri
| vïrre<br/>{{IPA|[vʲɨrrə]}} || varra || vē̮rr
| vïrre<br/>{{IPA|[vʲɨrrə]}} || varra || vē̮rr
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| 'to wash'
| 'to wash'
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/mośke-|*mośki-]]'''
! style="background-color: #E0E0FF" | '''[[wiktionary:Reconstruction:Proto-Uralic/mośke-|*mośki-]]'''
| mux̌t
| mas
| – <!--Not cognate: pestä-->
| – <!--Not cognate: pestä-->
| – <!--Not cognate: pesema-->
| – <!--Not cognate: pesema-->
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Orthographical notes: The hacek denotes postalveolar articulation ({{angbr|ž}} {{IPA|[ʒ]}}, {{angbr|š}} {{IPA|[ʃ]}}, {{angbr|č}} {{IPA|[t͡ʃ]}}) (In Northern Sami, ({{angbr|ž}} {{IPA|[dʒ]}}), while the acute denotes a secondary palatal articulation ({{angbr|ś}} {{IPA|[sʲ ~ ɕ]}}, {{angbr|ć}} {{IPA|[tsʲ ~ tɕ]}}, {{angbr|l}} {{IPA|[lʲ]}}) or, in Hungarian, vowel length. The Finnish letter {{angbr|y}} and the letter {{angbr|ü}} in other languages represent the high rounded vowel {{IPA|[y]}}; the letters {{angbr|ä}} and {{angbr|ö}} are the front vowels {{IPA|[æ]}} and {{IPA|[ø]}}.
Orthographical notes: The hacek denotes postalveolar articulation ({{angbr|ž}} {{IPA|[ʒ]}}, {{angbr|š}} {{IPA|[ʃ]}}, {{angbr|č}} {{IPA|[t͡ʃ]}}) (In Northern Sami, ({{angbr|ž}} {{IPA|[dʒ]}}), while the acute denotes a secondary palatal articulation ({{angbr|ś}} {{IPA|[sʲ ~ ɕ]}}, {{angbr|ć}} {{IPA|[tsʲ ~ tɕ]}}, {{angbr|l}} {{IPA|[lʲ]}}) or, in Hungarian, vowel length. The Finnish letter {{angbr|y}} and the letter {{angbr|ü}} in other languages represent the high rounded vowel {{IPA|[y]}}; the letters {{angbr|ä}} and {{angbr|ö}} are the front vowels {{IPA|[æ]}} and {{IPA|[ø]}}.
<!--(based on the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' and Hakkinen 1979)
<!--(based on the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' and Hakkinen 1979)
{| border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="3" class="wikitable IPA"
{| border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="3" class="wikitable IPA"
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== Phrases ==
== Phrases ==
* How are you? '''Tə kal ral?'''
* How are you? '''Tə kal ral?'''
* I am fine. '''Mə šuk ram.'''
* I am fine. '''Mə cuk ram.'''
* What is your name? '''Tənəy ləm ma re?'''
* My name is Tərgam [male name]. '''Mənəy ləm Tərgam re.'''
* My name is Tərgam [male name]. '''Mənəy ləm Tərgam re.'''
 
* Where are you from? '''Ān knal re?'''
* I am from Kǝzerm. '''Ān waral Kǝzermǝy ram.'''
* How old are you? '''Maləy purcorəy ral?'''
* I am twenty four years old. '''Perwištəy purcorəy ram.'''
* What are they looking for? '''Mām srel?'''
* I don't know. '''Na rtlam.'''
* What are you reading? '''Mām ṣ̌awal?'''
* I read the book which my father gave me. '''Pwaštay ṣ̌awam kəs mənəy ab min tame.'''
[[Category:Uralic languages]]
[[Category:Uralic languages]]

Latest revision as of 14:46, 19 December 2018

Yassi
yāssǝy cor
Created by–
Native toAfghanistan, China, Pakistan
Native speakers164 (1979)
Uralic
  • Para-Samoyedic (?)
    • Yassi


Yassi is a language spoken in the Yas River Valley in north-eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and western China.

Classification

For a long time, Yassi had been seen as one of the languages that belong to the areal Pamir language group. Nowadays it's classified as a Uralic language, though its exact relationship to the Uralic subgroups is a matter of debate. There are certain words of the basic vocabulary which show a closer relation to Samoyedic than to Finno-Ugric languages, like nǝk (PS *näk- instead of FU *kolme 'three'), mǝkt (PS *mǝktut instead of FU *kutte 'six') and wam (PS *time instead of FU *piŋe 'tooth'). However, research has shown that it's often not possible to derive these words from mainstream Proto-Samoyed: Rather, both Yassi wam 'tooth' and Proto-Samoyed *time 'tooth' seem to go back to PU *sewimä 'tooth'. Furthermore, Yassi pǝn 'comb' is assumed to be a cognate to FU *piŋe 'tooth'. Therefore, and as the subgrouping of the Uralic languages is still controversial, Yassi must remain classified an independent branch of Proto-Uralic.

Dialects

Slight differences in pronunciation and vocabulary show that Yassi can be divided in two mutually intelligible dialects. One surrounding the headwaters of River Yas, the other in the lower valley.

The former dialect has preserved various conservative peculiarities, whereas the latter has been influenced more deeply by neighboring contemporary Iranian languages. Today there’s also a cultural barrier between the two dialects, as the Yassi people in the lower valley have adopted Islam in the last two centuries. They are gradually assimilating into the Muslim majority religiously and linguistically. The isolated Upper-Yassis preserve their traditional society, with both Yassi language and religion.

Speakers

Nowadays, more speakers use Upper Yassi though its area is less populated than the Lower Yas valley because Lower Yassis take over Wakhi.

Phonology

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e ə o
Open a ɑ [ā]

Yassi also has the diphthongs /ai/, /ɑi/, /əi/, /ɑw/, /aw/, /oi/, /ui/.

Consonants

Labial Dental Alveolar Retroflex Post-
alveolar 		Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal
Nasal m n ɳ [ṇ] ŋ [n]
Plosive voiceless p t̪ [t] ʈ [ṭ] k q ʔ [']
voiced b d̪ [d] ɖ [ḍ] ɡ
Affricate voiceless t͡s [c] ʈ͡ʂ [č̣] t͡ʃ [č]
voiced d͡z [j] ɖ͡ʐ [ǰ̣] d͡ʒ [ǰ]
Fricative voiceless f s ʂ [ṣ̌] ʃ [š] ç [x] x h
voiced z ʐ [ẓ̌] ʒ [ž] ʝ [γ] ɣ [γ]
Approximant l j [y] w
Rhotic r ɺ̢ [ṛ]

The consonants that have been borrowed and are non-native to Yassi, are colour coded. The phonemes /q/, /f/ tend to be replaced by /k/, /p/.

Grammar

Yassi is a S-O-V language, though the word order is not as strict as in English . Adjectives come before nouns. Nouns and adjectives are inflected for number (sing./plur.) and case (nominative, accusative, prepositional and genitive). There is no gender distinction.

An old dual is conserved in natural pairs like sirmǝy < *śilmä-k ('eyes') instead of something like †sirmǝl < *śilmä-t.

Nouns

Cases

Unlike other Uralic languages which have kept an agglutinative case system, the Yassi declension displays an inflectional type close to Indo-European idioms. All the endings are genuinely inherited, though. The transition from agglutination to inflection is the consequence of far-reaching sound changes Yassi has been subjected to. In this respect notice the occasional loss of the first vowel in the oblique cases (prepositional and genitives cases singular and plural as well as accusative plural). The reason is the different stress in Proto-Yassi: The nominative of ‘mother’ was áma (> am), but the prepositional was ‘amáta’ (> mal). However, this loss affects mostly a and ā; i remains. For the word ix̌t 'son', the putative Proto-Uralic origin is given in brackets:

Singular
  • nominative: mǝ ('I') am ('mother') iṣ̌t ('son') (< PU *irkä)
  • accusative: mǝn ('me') am ('mother') iṣ̌t ('son') (< PU *irkä-m)
  • prepositional: min ('to me') mal ('to the mother') iṣ̌tal ('to the son') (< PU *irkä-tä)
  • genitive: mǝnǝy ('mine') amǝy ('mother's') iṣ̌tǝy ('son's') (< PU *irkä-k)
Plural
  • nominative: amǝl (‘mothers’) iṣ̌tǝl ('sons') (< PU *irkä-t)
  • accusative: mal (‘mothers’) iṣ̌tal ('sons') (< PU *irkä-t-äm)
  • prepositional: mat (‘to the mothers’) iṣ̌tat ('to the sons') (< PU *irkä-t-tä)
  • genitive: malǝy (‘of the mothers’) iṣ̌talǝy ('of the sons') (< PU *irkä-t-äk)

Verbs

The inflection of verbs includes:

  • three persons: first, second and third.
  • two numbers: singular and plural.
  • three moods: indicative, imperative and optative (in addition to infinitive)
  • two voices: active and passive.
  • two tenses: present and past.

Present indicative

  • infinitive (identical to second person singular imperative): kac
  • first person singular: kcam
  • second person singular: kcal
  • third person singular: kce
  • first person plural: kcamǝl
  • second person plural: kcalǝl
  • third person plural: kcel

Vocabulary

Loanwords

The huge amount of the basic vocabulary is inherited from Proto-Uralic. However, there are also loanwords from an ancient language related to modern Burushaski, from Proto-Iranian and, only some hundred years ago, Tibetan. Even more recent loans include Persian (and through that, Arabic), Pamir languages and Hindustani. Many toponyms in the Yassi speaking area are of unknown origin. They are neither Uralic nor Indo-European. Some, though not all, may have connections to Burushaski. It’s not entirely clear whether these Burushaski-like words were integrated into Yassi before the Indo-Iranian vocabulary or not:

  • kǝbo: cotton (< PYassi *kapāsa, cf. Burushaski γupas, Vedic karpāsa)
  • pya: pear (< PYassi *pisā, cf. Burushaski pheṣo)
  • cun: blind (< PYassi *čāna, cf. Burushaski śon, Vedic kāṇa)
  • Yǝn: a thorp at the well of the Yas River (< PYassi *sina, cf. PYeniseian *siɁn ‘well, spring’)

As more and more researchers think that Burushaski and Yeniseian idioms are genetically related, the last example could prove that (Para-?)Proto-Burushaski still used a cognate to Proto-Yeniseian *siɁn. Like the Indo-Iranians, the Yassis integrated many words from the language of the BMAC culture. The word ǝga tells us that Yassis had contact with the people of the BMAC before the Indians and Iranians had.

  • ǝga: sand (< PYassi *sikā, cf. BMAC *sikā, note that in Yassi, this word has undergone the sound change s > h > ø, whereas the Iranian languages, which also have PIIr. *s > h, show s in this word)
  • Kǝzerm: a thorp in the Upper Yas valley (< PYassi *kuhūzarimiya ‘Village of the Moon Goddess’, cf. Bur. kuá, γuá ‘new moon’, Vedic kuhū and BMAC *jharmiya)

When the Yassi people went southwards into their nowaday homeland, they met Indo-Europeans, however it is not clear if they were Indo-Iranians or Iranians. Most favor the latter, but as Yassi has strangely undergone very similar sound changes as other (Eastern) Iranians tongues, it's hard to tell. (Indo-)Iranian loanwords are a bit younger than Yenisey-Burushaski and BMAC words.

  • lorg: wood (< PI *dāruka-)
  • maṇa: apple (< PI *amarnā-)
  • pwaštay: book (< PI *paustaka-)
  • slǝ: hundred (< PI *satam)

Numerals

The Iranian numerals from 6 to 10 aren't widely used except for 'las' which is common in the whole Yassi area. Foreign numerals tend to be used more often in the Lower Yas valley. Yassi uses a vigesimal system.

Numeral Inherited
Yassi		 Loan from
Proto-Iranian
one ǝc
two kac
three nac
four per
five wit
six špaẓ̌
seven ow
eight at
nine nǝ
ten las
eleven
twelve
thirteen
twenty wišt
thirty laswišt
forty calwex̌t
hundred slǝ
two hundred
thousand zǝr
ten thousand wewar

Comparison with other Uralic languages

English w:Proto-Uralic Yassi Finnic Sami Mordvin Mari Permic Hungarian Mansi Khanty Samoyed
Finnish Estonian Võro South North Kildin Erzya Meadow Komi Udmurt Northern Kazym Vakh Tundra Nenets
'fire' *tuli tər tuli
(tule-)		 tuli
(tule-)		 tuli
(tulõ-) 		dålle
[tollə]		 dolla tōll tol tul tɨl- tɨl – – – – tuu
'water' *weti wal vesi
(vete-)		 vesi
(vee-)		 vesi
(vii-) 		– – – ved´ wüt va vu víz wit – – jiʔ
'heart' *śiδä sə sydän süda – – – śeďej šüm śe̮le̮m szív – – śej
'ice' *jäŋi yeh jää jää ijä jïenge
[jɨeŋə]		 jiekŋa īŋŋ ej i ji jə jég jaaŋk jeŋk jeŋk –
'fish' *kala kar kala kala kala guelie
[kʉelie]		 guolli kūll’ kal kol – – hal xuul xŭɬ kul xalʲa
'nest' *pesä pa(h) pesä pesa pesä biesie
[piesie]		 beassi piess’ pize pəžaš poz puz fészek pitʲi – pĕl pʲidʲa
'hand, arm' *käti [əl]cəl käsi
(käte-)		 käsi
(käe-)		 käsi
(käe-) 		gïete
[kɨedə]		 giehta kīdt ked´ kit ki ki kéz kaat – köt –
'eye' *śilmä sirm silmä silm
(silma-)		 silm
(silmä-) 		tjelmie
[t͡ʃɛlmie]		 čalbmi čall’m śeĺme šinča śin
(śinm-)		 śin
(śinm-) 		szem sam sem sem sæwə
'fathom' *süli ər syli
(syle-)		 süli
(süle-)		 – sïlle
[sʲɨllə]		 salla sē̮ll seĺ šülö sɨl sul öl(el) tal ɬăɬ lö̆l tʲíbʲa
'vein / sinew' *sï(x)ni an suoni
(suone-)		 soon
(soone-)		 suuń
(soonõ-) 		soene
[suonə]		 suotna sūnn san šün sən sən ín taan ɬɔn lan teʔ
'bone' *luwi raw luu luu luu – – – lovaža lu lɨ lɨ – luw ɬŭw lŏγ le
'blood' *weri war veri veri veri vïrre
[vʲɨrrə]		 varra vē̮rr veŕ wür vur vir vér wiɣr wŭr wər –
'liver' *mïksa māš maksa maks
(maksa-)		 mass
(massa-) 		mueksie
[mʉeksie]		 – – makso mokš mus mus
(musk-) 		máj maat mŏxəɬ muγəl mudə
'urine' /
'to urinate' 		*kunśi - kusi
(kuse-)		 kusi
(kuse-)		 kusi
(kusõ-) 		gadtjedh
(gadtje-)
[kɑdd͡ʒə]-		 gožžat
(gožža-)		 kōnnče – kəž kudź kɨź húgy xuńś- xŏs- kŏs- –
'to go' *meni- man mennä
(men-)		 minema minemä mïnnedh
[mʲɨnnə]-		 mannat mē̮nne – mija- mun- mɨn- menni men- măn- mĕn- mʲin-
'to live' *elä- ar elää
(elä-) 		elama
(ela-) 		elämä
(elä-) 		jieledh
[jielə]- 		eallit jēll’e – ila- ol- ul- él- – – – jilʲe-
'to die' *ka(x)li- kar kuolla
(kuol-)		 koolma kuulma
(kool-) 		– – – kulo- kola- kul- kul- hal- xool- xăɬ- kăla- xa-
'to wash' *mośki- mas – – mõskma – – – muśke- muška- mɨśkɨ- mɨśk- mos- – – – masø-

Orthographical notes: The hacek denotes postalveolar articulation (⟨ž⟩ [ʒ], ⟨š⟩ [ʃ], ⟨č⟩ [t͡ʃ]) (In Northern Sami, (⟨ž⟩ [dʒ]), while the acute denotes a secondary palatal articulation (⟨ś⟩ [sʲ ~ ɕ], ⟨ć⟩ [tsʲ ~ tɕ], ⟨l⟩ [lʲ]) or, in Hungarian, vowel length. The Finnish letter ⟨y⟩ and the letter ⟨ü⟩ in other languages represent the high rounded vowel [y]; the letters ⟨ä⟩ and ⟨ö⟩ are the front vowels [æ] and [ø].


Phrases

  • How are you? Tə kal ral?
  • I am fine. Mə cuk ram.
  • What is your name? Tənəy ləm ma re?
  • My name is Tərgam [male name]. Mənəy ləm Tərgam re.
  • Where are you from? Ān knal re?
  • I am from Kǝzerm. Ān waral Kǝzermǝy ram.
  • How old are you? Maləy purcorəy ral?
  • I am twenty four years old. Perwištəy purcorəy ram.
  • What are they looking for? Mām srel?
  • I don't know. Na rtlam.
  • What are you reading? Mām ṣ̌awal?
  • I read the book which my father gave me. Pwaštay ṣ̌awam kəs mənəy ab min tame.
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