Torchman

Revision as of 21:11, 24 December 2023 by Jukethatbox (talk | contribs) (→‎Vowels)
Torchman
Xalgaq
Xalgaq
Pronunciation[ɣɑɫ.gɑq]
Created byJukethatbox
Date2022-2023
Native speakers200,000 (2023)
Standard form
Standard dialect(rraX₂agd)
Dialects
  • Standard dialect
  • Footsoldier dialect(žiH₂idu)
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Torchman, also known by its endonym Xalgaq, is a language spoken by the mysterious torch-men that patrol the Cities and its people.

Registers/Dialects

There are two main dialects, or registers of the Torchman language. The first is the Standard dialect, which is the official register used by those of a higher rank within the Torch-men Society(ğaHal-q₂og₂da). It is used in propaganda as well as executive orders, laws and just official documentation in general. In speech, it is also used by prison guards in roll calls and generals, captains and commanders.

The second is the Footsoldier dialect, colloquially known as the people dialect. It is spoken natively by the majority of the Torchmen, though as it is considered an informal register, nobody uses it to communicate with those of a higher rank than themselves, and it is thus used to communicate among friends, family or others of the same rank as you.

The two registers do not heavily contrast on the basis of phonology or morphology[1], but instead they vary widely on the basis of semantics. The Standard dialect tends to have what English speakers "posher" semantics, whereas the Footsoldier dialect tends to have more "slang-like" semantics. For example, the word k₂azuu in the Standard dialect means "incompetent", and is often used to describe non-Torchmen who are unwilling to comply with official regulations or Torchmen who do not do their job correctly and/or efficiently. However, in the Footsoldier dialect, the same word means "stupid", and can be used to describe anybody who's just a bit dumb.

This slight variation of semantics can cause confusion between speakers.

Phonology

Orthography

Consonants

Bilabial/
Labiodental
Alveolar/
Post-alveolar
Retroflex Velar Uvular
unvoiced voiced unvoiced voiced unvoiced voiced unvoiced voiced unvoiced voiced
Plosive standard p b t d k g q ɢ ⟨ğ⟩
pharyngealised pˤ ⟨p₂⟩ bˤ ⟨b₂⟩ tˤ ⟨t₂⟩ dˤ ⟨d₂⟩ kˤ ⟨k₂⟩ gˤ ⟨g₂⟩ qˤ ⟨q₂⟩ ɢˤ ⟨ğ₂⟩
Fricative standard v z ʂ ⟨š⟩ ʐ ⟨ž⟩ x ɣ ⟨X⟩ χ ⟨H⟩ ʁ ⟨r⟩/
⟨rr⟩
ejective vʼ ⟨v₂⟩ sʼ ⟨s₂⟩ zʼ ⟨z₂⟩
palatalised zʲ ⟨z₃⟩ ʐʲ⟨ž₂⟩ xʲ⟨x₂⟩ ɣʲ⟨X₂⟩ χʲ⟨H₂⟩
Affricate d͡ʒ ⟨č⟩ ɖ͡ʐ ⟨č₂⟩
Lateral approximant ɫ ⟨l⟩

Vowels

Front Central Back/
Near-back
unrounded rounded unrounded rounded unrounded rounded
Close ɨ ⟨i⟩ u
Near-close (ʊ̯)
Mid Close-mid ø ɤ ⟨ü⟩ o
Open-mid ɛ ⟨e⟩ (ɞ)[2]
Open ɑ ⟨a⟩ ɒ ⟨ä⟩

Prosody

Stress

Intonation

Phonotactics

Morphophonology

Morphology

Syntax

Constituent order

Noun phrase

Verb phrase

Sentence phrase

Dependent clauses

Example texts

Other resources

  1. ^ Although some slang words are exclusive to the footsoldier dialect.
  2. ^ Footsoldier variation of /ɤ/