Grayis
Grayis | |
---|---|
Grayis | |
Pronunciation | [/ˈgrä.jɪs/] |
Created by | BenJamin P. Johnson, additionally creator of: |
Date | 2018 |
Setting | Planet Oyrigin |
language isolate
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | none |
Grayis is an a priori language created by BenJamin P. Johnson for Infinite Mind Pictures, Inc. to serve as the language of the Grayis Kin, one of six alien races who feature in the board game and upcoming screenplay Pilots of Gallaxia.
Phonology
Vowels
Grayis vowels have phonemic length, and phonetic differences based on stress. Where unstressed vowels have a different phonetic realization, it appears on the right of the tilde in square brackets.
Short Vowels: | Long Vowels: | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front | Central | Back | Front | Central | Back | ||
High | i [i ~ ɪ] |
u [u ~ ʊ] |
High | ī [iː] |
ū [uː] | ||
Mid | Mid | ai [ai̯ ~ e̞ː] |
au [au̯ ~ o̞ː] | ||||
Low | a [ä] |
Low | ā [äː] |
Consonants
Labial | Coronal | Dorsal | Glottal | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plosive | p · b [p]·[b] |
t · d [t]·[d] |
k · g [k]·[g] |
|
Affricate | ch · j [ʧ]·[ʤ] |
|||
Fricative | s · [s]· |
kh · [x]· |
h · [h]· | |
Approximant | · w ·[w] |
· y ·[j] |
||
Tap or Trill | · r ·[r~ɾ] |
|||
Lateral | · l ·[l] |
|||
Nasal | · m ·[m] |
· n ·[n] |
Phonotactics
- /h/ cannot follow another consonant or occur intervocalically.
- /s/ can only occur word-finally.
- Words cannot end with /g/ or any consonant cluster.
- Vowels (except for diphthongs) must be separated by a consonant.
- Word-initial consonant clusters are limited to [plosive]+[liquid] (i.e. {ptkbdg} + {lr}), but not /tl/ or /dl/.
- Intervocalic clusters may be:
- Geminate plosives or sonorants: /pp/, /tt/, /kk/, /bb/, /dd/, /ll/, /rr/, /mm/, /nn/; but not /gg/.
- Any [plosive]+[liquid] combination: /pl/, /pl/, /tl/, /tr/, /kl/, /kr/, /bl/, /br/, /dl/, /dr/, /gl/, /gr/
- Any [plosive]+/w/: /pw/, /tw/, /kw/, /bw/, /dw/, /gw/
- Any [nasal]+[unvoiced plosive] or [affricate]: /mp/, /nt/, /nk/, /nʧ/, /nʤ/
- Also: /ngw/, /hk/, /hw/, /hj/
- Like short vowels may contract (including with like short vowels which are part of a diphthong), e.g. raiwai+itta+aichī (‘those six men’) > raiwai’tt’aichī. Determiners, adjectives, pronouns, and adverbs are the most likely to lose vowels to contraction, while nouns and verbs do not usually experience any elision.
List of Valid Onsets
Onsets are not required. The following onsets may occur (including clusters): b–, br–, br–, ch–, d–, dr–, g–, gl–, gr–, h–, j–, k–, kh–, kl–, kr–, l–, m–, n–, p–, pl–, pr–, r–, t–, tr–, w–, y–
List of Valid Nuclei
Any vowel may act as a nucleus.
List of Valid (Intersyllabic) Consonant Clusters, Including Geminates
An intersyllabic consonant is required, though it need not be a cluster. Any single consonant may occur between syllables except for ‹h› and ‹s›. The following intersyllabic consonant clusters may occur: –bb–, –bl–, –br–, –bw–, –dd–, –dl–, –dr–, –dw–, –gl–, –gr–, –gw–, –hk–, –hw–, –hy–, –kk–, –kl–, –kr–, –kw–, –ll–, –mm–, –mp–, –nch–, –ngw–, –nj–, –nk–, –nn–, –ny–, –pl–, –pp–, –pr–, –pw–, –rr–, –tl–, –tr–, –tt–, –tw–
List of Valid Codas
A coda is not required. No clusters may occur as a coda, but any single consonant may appear as a coda except for ‹g›: –b, –ch, –d, –dj, –h, –k, –l, –m, –n, –p, –r, –s, –t
Stress
Stress is determined by mora weight of the rime. No syllable can have more than 3 morae in the rime (VVC). When determining stress, the following order takes precedence:
VːC > VVC > Vː > VV > VC > V
(E.g. āt > aut > ā > au > at > a)
If syllabic weights are equal, the left-most of the equal syllables is stressed. E.g. tā́kkum ‘wide’ /ˈtaːk.kʊm/, grawukkái ‘worm’ /gra.wukˈkai/, irúntutim ‘cold weather’ /iˈrun.tu.tim/. When stress deviates from this pattern it is indicated by an acute diacritic. (Examples above are not normally accented, but acute is used for illustrative purposes.)
Orthography
For the most part, orthography does not differ from the phonology. Where it does, it is indicated below.
/ | p | b | t | d | k | g | ʧ | ʤ | s | x | h | w | j | r | l | m | n | i | iː | ai̯ | ä | äː | au̯ | u | uː | / |
‹ | ch | j[1] | kh | y | ī | ai | a | ā | au | ū | › |
Grammatical Orders and Alignments
Typology
The typology of Grayis is predominantly SOV (subject-object-verb), but may be better described as simply verb-final. The positions of subject and object may shift depending on topicality or markedness.
Morphosyntactic Alignment
Grayis has what may be considered tripartite alignment, which means that nouns are differentiated for subject, object, and agentive roles; these roles are all marked with particles which may be considered adpositions.
Other Orders
The Grayis language is predominantly head-final, and this is reflected in many of its more granular alignments.
Noun Phrases
In noun phrases, only adpositions precede the noun. Demonstratives, numerals, adjectives, genitive constructions, and relative clauses all follow the noun, in that specific order (preposition – NOUN – determiner/demonstrative – numeral – adjective (phrase) – genitive (phrase) – relative clause). For example, the noun phrase “with those six tall men from town who stole my ferret” would be assembled in the order:
nu raiwai’tt’aichī mīkkidj barruh au kī pairrit ā chā’u jik makwat.
nu | raiwai | itta | aichī | mīkkidj | barruh au | kī | pairrit ā | chā au | jik makwat |
cmt | man.pl | this | six[2] | tall | town gen | rel.erg | ferret obj | 1sg.gen | pst.pft steal |
with | men | those | six | tall | from-town | who | ferret | my | stole |
‘with those six men from town who stole my ferret’
Adjective Phrases
In adjective phrases, (adverbial) measurements of degree (very, less, too, &c.) follow the adjective.
murāgi utta mūri katla
murāgi | utta | mūri | katla |
dog | that | good | very |
‘that very good dog’
Verb Phrases
As mentioned in Typology, Grayis is a verb-final language, and as such, adverbs always immediately precede the verb. In the case of negation, negatives come between the verb and other adverbs. TAM particles, if present, always directly precede the verb after negatives.
yun ī chā ā nijūkit dī jai jik akkā.
yun ī | chā ā | nijūkit dī | jai | jik akkā |
3sg erg | 1sg obj | intentional adv | neg | pst.pft push |
he | me | intentionally | not | pushed |
‘he didn’t push me on purpose’
Numbers
The Grayis number system is nonal (base-9), but has reflexes of an ancient system based on multiples of 3, which can be observed in the etymology of the basic numbers.
Grayis | Decimal | Meaning |
---|---|---|
rī | 1 | (1) |
ai | 2 | (2) |
chil | 3 | (3) |
chirri | 4 | (3+1) |
kilai | 5 | (3+2) |
aichī | 6 | (2×3) |
chalayī | 7 | (4×2-1?) |
nauri | 8 | (9-1) |
nā | 9 | (9) (=10 in nonal) |
chillīkka | 27 | (=30 in nonal: 33, ‘great three’) |
Further numbers are formed by compounding using the word ha ‘and’.
Na (Teens) | Dec. | Non. | Ayinnā (20) | Dec. | Non. | Tens | Dec. | Non. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
narī | 10 | 11 | ayinnā ha rī | 19 | 21 | na- | 9 | 10 |
nanai | 11 | 12 | ayinnā ha ai | 20 | 22 | ayinnā | 18 | 20 |
nachil | 12 | 13 | ayinnā ha chil | 21 | 23 | chillīkka | 27 | 30 |
nachirri | 13 | 14 | ayinnā ha chirri | 22 | 24 | chirrinnā | 36 | 40 |
nakilai | 14 | 15 | ayinnā ha kilai | 23 | 25 | kilinnā | 45 | 50 |
nalaichī | 15 | 16 | ayinnā ha aichī | 24 | 26 | aichinnā | 54 | 60 |
nachalayī | 16 | 17 | ayinnā ha chalayī | 25 | 27 | chalainā | 63 | 70 |
nanāli | 17 | 18 | ayinnā ha nauri | 26 | 28 | naurinnā | 72 | 80 |
ayinnā | 18 | 20 | chillīkka | 27 | 30 | duhkā | 81 | 100 |
Multiples of ten are formed in the same manner as ayinnā. Orders of magnitude are formed regularly with multiple compounds.
Tens | Dec. | Non. | Multiples | Dec. | Non. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
na- | 9 | 10 | chil | 31 | 3 |
ayinnā | 18 | 20 | nā | 32 | 10 |
chillīkka | 27 | 30 | chillīkka | 33 | 30 |
chirrinnā | 36 | 40 | duhkā | 34 | 100 |
kilinnā | 45 | 50 | kaigu | 36 | 1,000 |
aichinnā | 54 | 60 | nakaigu | 38 | 10,000 |
chalainā | 63 | 70 | duhkakkaigu | 310 | 100,000 |
naurinnā | 72 | 80 | īlim | 312 | 1,000,000 |
duhkā | 81 | 100 | jumai | 318 | 1,000,000,000 |
Grayis numbers always follow the noun they modify, and the plural marker should not be used when a number is present, e.g. tānū hah ‘trees’, but tānū nā ‘nine trees’.
Pronouns
Grayis personal pronouns are divided into five categories which may be considered registers of formality, though rather than describing hierarchical relationships, they are determined by the familial and educational relationships between the speakers. There are five registers, though not all pronouns have all five forms, and some may have the same form for two or more registers.
- Equal Register. This is the register you would use with friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and others you interact with regularly who do not fall into any of the other registers.
- Family Register. This is similar to that of Equal, but it has the additional connotation that the speakers are related to one another. This is the register for cousins, siblings, and sometimes other family members such as aunts, uncles, or other non-nuclear relations.
- Stranger Register. The third register is the default for most day-to-day interaction. This is also known as the Neutral Register, as it may be seen as slightly formal. This register is used with anyone you don’t know well. Many workplaces also maintain a neutral register for professional interactions in situation where the Equal register may otherwise be used.
- Teacher Register. The fourth register is used explicitly for addressing a teacher, parent, or mentor. Situationally, this may also be the assumed register for addressing family elders.
- Child Register. The fifth and final register is the inverse of the Teacher register: It is how parents address their children, and how teachers address students.
Equal | Family | Stranger | Teacher | Student | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
chal[3] | cham[4] | chā[5][6] | char[7] | chāh[8][9] | first person singular, ‘I’ |
kit[10] | kāl[11] | kālli[12] | chit[13][14] | second person singular ‘you’ | |
yun[15] | yumi[16] | yun | yunum[17] | yunīllah[18] | third person singular animate ‘he / she’[19] |
wih | third person singular inanimate ‘it’ | ||||
kichal[20] | kicham[21] | -[22] | chakrālli[23][24] | jachīt[25] | first person dual inclusive ‘you and I, we’[26] |
jāla[27] | jahla[28] | jal[29] | jālinum[30] | jahla[31] | first person plural, ‘we’ |
gīs[32] | gīt[33] | gillā[34] | gailinūh[35] | gīt[36] | second person plural, ‘you (all)’ |
yaum[37] | yaunūh[38] | yaunīllah[39] | third person plural animate, ‘they’ | ||
waih | third person plural inanimate, ‘they, those things’[40] |
Nouns
Grayis nouns do not inflect for case or number, but depending on how they are analyzed, they can be said to have six possible cases. The “inflection” is actually simply the addition of grammatical particles which clarify the role of the noun in a sentence. (The “conjugation” of verbs works in the same way.)
Grayis can also be analyzed as having no cases at all, and simply has five postpositions in addition to various prepositions. They are presented here as cases simply to help clarify the tripartite morphosyntactic alignment, but the learner should feel free to think of them in whatever manner is easiest to remember.
Absolutive
The absolutive particle ū is placed after a subject noun which does not take a direct object. This is always the case with intransitive verbs, and can also be the case with optionally transitive verbs with no object.
Chā ū’k plīnum t’āmīd.
chā ū | uk plīnum | ta āmīd |
1sg abs | prox river | prg stand |
I | by river | am.standing |
‘I am standing by the river.’
Ergative
The counterpart to absolutive is ergative. Any noun which takes a direct object must be marked with the particle ī. (This particle is always paired with another noun phrase containing the particle ā, and vice versa.)
Kāl ī chā ā ijun, kū’k plīnum t’āmīd.
kāl ī | chā ā | ijun | kū | uk plīnum | ta āmīd |
2sg erg | 1sg obj | see | rel.abs | prox river | prg stand |
You | me | see | which | by river | am.standing |
‘You see me standing by the river.’
Accusative
The accusative (or direct object) of any verb is marked with the particle ā. (This particle is always paired with another noun phrase containing the particle ī, and vice versa.)
Yaum ī juchī ā jai’dwam.
yaum ī | juchī ā | jai idwam |
3pl erg | meat acc | neg eat |
They | meat | not eat |
‘They do not eat meat.’
Genitive
The genitive particle au indicates that the noun belongs to, is a part of, or is related to another noun. The genitive particle can be thought of as equivalent to the English clitic ’s, though it has a few different uses as well, such as forming the possessive pronouns (‘my’, ‘her’, ‘their’, &c), or translating the words ‘of’ or ‘from’.
Īmmikanā ī chāttur au chā’u brūk ā jik kamū.
īmmikanā ī | chāttur au | chā au | brūk ā | jik kamū |
wife erg | brother gen | 1sg gen | stone acc | pst.pft take |
wife | of-brother | of-me | stone | took |
‘My brother’s wife took the stone.’
Dative
The dative particle ai indicates that the noun is an indirect object of some kind. The dative case is a bit ambiguous in most languages, and can often be replaced by various prepositions (such as ‘to’, ‘for’, or ‘towards’).
Yun ī brūk ā yaunīllah ai gaillāk.
yun ī | brūk ā | yaunīllah ai | gaillāk |
3sg erg | stone acc | 3pl.child dat | give |
She | stone | to-them | gives |
‘She gives the stone to them (her children).’
Oblique
Finally, the oblique case (also called the prepositional case) is used when a noun is preceded by a preposition, or is otherwise not followed by any of the above adpositions.
Nu iruntutim.
nu | iruntutim |
with | cold |
‘It (the weather) is very cold.’
Names
Grayis personal given names are usually composed of two words which often describe parents’ hopes or aspirations for their child. This may be one or two nouns, a noun and an adjective, or a noun and a verb. Most names are composed of four syllables, though this is not a rule, and it is sometimes considered prestigious to have a name composed of mainly long syllables. While there are many common names and themes, there are not a set of standardized names.
Noun (+ Noun)
- Tiradūntāt ‘forest’
- Gakwai Ailā ‘moon cloud’ > Gakwailā
- Gribinta Dunidj ‘grass wind’
Noun + Adjective
Noun + Verb
There are also many ways to form surnames, which follow the given name, and often refer to a family or a geographic area of origin, though many are single nouns related to nature.
Swadesh List
For those of you who like this sort of thing!
Grayis | English | Grayis | English | Grayis | English | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
001 | chal | I | 070 | tidīntipi | feather | 139 | raichillā | to count |
002 | kit | you | 071 | tunu | hair (on head) | 140 | dimi | to say |
003 | yun, wih | he, she, it | 072 | upam | head (anatomy) | 141 | tūranā | to sing |
004 | jāla, kichal | we | 073 | grigi | ear | 142 | ayattan | to play |
005 | gīs | you | 074 | ruyu | eye | 143 | achar | to float |
006 | yaum, waih | they | 075 | unna | nose | 144 | tratūm | to flow |
007 | itta | this | 076 | chabah | mouth | 145 | aitu | to freeze |
008 | utta | that | 077 | rakkas | tooth | 146 | arib | to swell |
009 | iddu | here | 078 | mannī | tongue | 147 | krīmuttād, lūpupaus | sun |
010 | uddu | there | 079 | ūgīttī | fingernail | 148 | ailā | moon |
011 | julkās | who | 080 | tugi | foot | 149 | ikī | star |
012 | julkāt | what | 081 | wuch | leg | 150 | wīch | water |
013 | julkād | where | 082 | īju | knee | 151 | chukutta | rain |
014 | julkīn | when | 083 | tāga | hand | 152 | plīnum | river |
015 | julkīl | how | 084 | krillu | wing | 153 | ūkkai | lake |
016 | jai | not | 085 | rudduk | belly, abdomen | 154 | chamai | sea |
017 | nakī | all | 086 | īmus | guts, entrails, intestines | 155 | tauki | salt |
018 | mikidj | many | 087 | ūta | neck | 156 | brūk | stone |
019 | limā | some | 088 | chīlāk | back | 157 | ikak | sand |
020 | munnu | few | 089 | durudj | breast | 158 | mauddulā | dust |
021 | iyūr | other | 090 | trāchai | heart | 159 | runar | earth, soil, dirt |
022 | rī | one | 091 | willunān | liver | 160 | gakwai | cloud |
023 | ai | two | 092 | tudī | to drink | 161 | trāki | fog, mist |
024 | chil | three | 093 | idwam | to eat | 162 | iyatur | sky |
025 | chirri | four | 094 | kanna | to bite | 163 | gribinta | wind |
026 | kilai | five | 095 | drūbat | to suck | 164 | innirri | snow |
027 | mīkkidj | big, large | 096 | aikīch | to spit | 165 | khihchis | ice |
028 | luklai | long | 097 | to vomit | 166 | īrra smoke (not steam) | ||
029 | tākkum | wide, broad | 098 | wahyāh | blow | 167 | pakwā | fire |
030 | ruchi | thick | 099 | ahman | to breathe | 168 | mūnak | ash, ashes |
031 | tattūmu | heavy | 100 | khalāh | to laugh | 169 | pakku | burn |
032 | ina | small, little | 101 | ijun | to see | 170 | radal | path, road, trail |
033 | īnaik | short | 102 | ihka | to hear | 171 | maunis | mountain |
034 | bīru | narrow | 103 | nibahkai | to know | 172 | khūn | red |
035 | mīrrichi | thin | 104 | arūn | to think | 173 | ruchī | green |
036 | kanā | woman | 105 | naram | to smell | 174 | grāla | yellow |
037 | raiwai | man (adult male) | 106 | akkai | to fear | 175 | yilūr | white |
038 | lān | person | 107 | jīttā | to sleep | 176 | iyūb | black |
039 | mikit | child | 108 | akūra | to live | 177 | līna | night |
040 | īmmikanā | wife | 109 | igī | to die | 178 | gintā | day |
041 | īmmiraiwai | husband | 110 | ichak | to kill | 179 | jannik | year |
042 | ummā | mother | 111 | pikat | to fight | 180 | trabākutim | hot (of weather) |
043 | tuma | father | 112 | hantijus | to hunt | 181 | iruntutim | cold |
044 | mīka | animal | 113 | igach | to hit | 182 | tanū | full |
045 | plati | fish | 114 | chappa | to cut | 183 | chupi | new |
046 | ugīttī | bird | 115 | chappai | to split | 184 | trayi | old |
047 | murāgi | dog | 116 | tahkah | to stab, to pierce | 185 | mūri | good |
048 | īh | louse | 117 | kitlig | to scratch | 186 | kaita | bad |
049 | katas | snake | 118 | tantaichīyun | to dig | 187 | ipis | rotten |
050 | grawukkai | worm | 119 | itān | to swim | 188 | khaukku | dirty |
051 | tānū | tree | 120 | puyat | to fly | 189 | wāchīn | straight |
052 | tiradūntāt | forest, woods | 121 | trala | to walk | 190 | ūyu | round |
053 | griyuch | stick | 122 | tānu | come | 191 | traigu | sharp (of a knife) |
054 | rūna | fruit | 123 | dārai | to lie | 192 | mudub | dull (of a knife) |
055 | īrit | seed | 124 | sittan | to sit | 193 | ās | smooth |
056 | kadūn | leaf | 125 | āmīd | to stand | 194 | ichīs | wet |
057 | bāru | root | 126 | duru | to turn | 195 | krās | dry |
058 | rīkkud | bark (of tree) | 127 | akīt | to fall | 196 | braidim | correct, right |
059 | tina | flower | 128 | gaillāk | to give | 197 | pichit | near |
060 | dunidj | grass | 129 | grauntā | to hold | 198 | nunta | far |
061 | īkaittā | rope | 130 | būjih | to squeeze | 199 | dijaiwi | right, right-hand |
062 | grinin | skin | 131 | brijar | to rub | 200 | kurauwi | left, left-hand |
063 | juchī | flesh, meat | 132 | ganauri | to wash | 201 | uk | at |
064 | khūlunna | blood | 133 | maunti | to wipe | 202 | ji | in |
065 | pūkkīch | bone | 134 | attis | to pull | 203 | nu | with |
066 | tuya | grease, fat | 135 | akkā | to push | 204 | ha, ku | and |
067 | addi | egg | 136 | wiyīr | to throw | 205 | lā | if |
068 | kurunat | horn | 137 | dalūh | to tie, bind | 206 | udj | because |
069 | tikkilai | tail | 138 | gribbun | to sew | 207 | turuh | name |
- ^ /ʤ/ is spelt ‹dj› when word-final.
- ^ The plural particle hah can be thought of as a determiner or numeral. It is not used in conjunction with a number or another adjective that would otherwise indicate plurality (e.g. many, some, seventeen, several, &c).
- ^ “I who am your equal”
- ^ “I who am your kinsman”
- ^ “I who am a stranger to you”
- ^ Etymological reference to chātturrarri ‘second brother’; indicates friendship or friendliness.
- ^ “I who am your teacher or parent”
- ^ “I who am your student or child”
- ^ Though similar in sound to chā, this is an etymological reference to laichāh, the yellow shadow from the red sun; indicates compliance.
- ^ “you who are my equal or kinsman”
- ^ “you who are a stranger to me”
- ^ “you who are my teacher or parent”
- ^ “you who are my student or child”
- ^ Etymological reference to chitir, the red shadow from the yellow sun, indicates truculence.
- ^ “he or she who is my equal or unknown to me”
- ^ “he or she who is my kinsman”
- ^ “he or she who is my teacher or parent”
- ^ “he or she who is my student or child”
- ^ There is no gender distinction in the third person pronouns, though there is a distinction between animate (“he/she”) and inanimate (“it”).
- ^ “you and I who are equals”
- ^ “you and I who are kinsmen”
- ^ There is not a single pronoun to represent this idea; instead it is rendered simply as chā ha kāl ‘I and you’.
- ^ “you who are my student or child and I who am your teacher or parent”
- ^ Metathesis of char+kālli, because /rk/ is not a legal intrasyllabic sequence.
- ^ “you who are my teacher or parent and I who am your student or child”
- ^ The first person dual inclusive pronoun (“you and I”) is optional; there is not a plural inclusive, and all other first person non-singular roles are assumed by the first person plural, whether inclusive or exclusive.
- ^ “we who are your equals”
- ^ “we who are your kinsmen”
- ^ “we who are unknown to you”
- ^ “we who are your teachers or parents”
- ^ “we who are your students or children”
- ^ “you who are my equals”
- ^ “you who are my kinsmen”
- ^ “you who are unknown to me”
- ^ “you who are my teachers or parents”
- ^ “you who are my students or children”
- ^ “they who are my equals, kinsmen, or are unknown to me”
- ^ “they who are my teachers or parents”
- ^ “they who are my students or children”
- ^ As with the third person singular, there is an animacy distinction in the third person plural (both rendered as ‘they’ in English). No registers are used with inanimate pronouns.