Vinnish

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Vinnish
Created byShinobhi
Native toCommonwealth of Vinland
Indo-European
  • Germanic
    • North Germanic
      • Far West Norse
        • Old Vinnish
          • Vinnish

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 [ˈtʰkə] to take
[a] when unstressed vinskap [viːnʃkap] friendship (n)
[ə] word-finally (only loanwords) pasta [ˈpʰaːʂtə] pasta; noodles (c)
au [oʊ] ðau [ˈð] they (referring to neuter nouns)
b [b] (in some dialects, [p]) bogi boːgi] bow (c)
bl [pl] blår plɔːr] blue
br [pr] broðar proːðər] brother (c)
c same as “k” (loanwords only) Canade [ˈkʰaːnadə] Canada
[s] before i/e (loanwords only) center seːntr̩] center; central office (n)
ch same as “k” (loanwords only) chronologi [ˈkroːnologi] chronology (c)
d [d] (in some dialects, [t]) dager daːgr̩] day (c)
dr [tr] drepe treːpə] to kill
ð [ð] staðer [ˈʂtaːðr̩] town, city (c)
e [eː] when stressed skere [ʂkrə] 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 [ˈmaːð] man, person (c)
el kombel [ˈkʰoːmb] 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 øyropə] Europe (c)
f [f] få fɔː] to obtain, to get
g [g] (in some dialects, [k]) gøre gøːrə] to make
[ʂ] before i/e in certain loanwords geographi ʂeːokrafi] geography
[ɣ] word-finally, post-vocalically before a consonant eg [ˈeːɣ] I (first person pronoun)
gr [kr] grår krɔːr] gray; gloomy
gl [kl] glåpe klɔːpə] to stare (+d); to focus on (+a)
gv [kv] gver kveːr] who
h [h] hester heːstr̩] horse (c)
hl [l̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “l” hlaupe oʊpə] to jump
hr [r̥]~[ɹ̥] for older speakers; otherwise same as “r” hringer iːŋkr̩] ring (c)
i [iː] when stressed filgi [ˈflgi] friend; pal (c)
[i] when unstressed filgi
j [j] jeter jeːtr̩] hot (adj.)
k [kʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters kone oːnə] woman (c)
[k] in clusters and at the end of a word kristni kriːʂtni] Christianity (c)
l [l] langer laːŋkr̩] long, tall (adj)
m [m] mame maːmə] mom; mama (c)
n [n] neme neːmə] to take; to grab
ng [ŋk] gange [ˈgaːŋkə] to go
o [oː] when stressed motor [ˈmtor] motor (c)
[o] when unstressed
p [pʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters pape aːpʰə] 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 foːto] photograph (n)
qu [kv]~[gv] (only used in French/Latin loanwords) quantite kvaːntitə] quantity (c)
r [r] rauðer roʊðr̩] 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 soːrtr̩] black (adj)
Egilsdottar [ˈeːɡilsdottər] a patronymic; daughter of Egil
[ʂ] word-initially/after a vowel and before a consonant sterker ʂteːrkr̩] strong (adj)
[ʃ] between two consonants vinske [ˈviːnʃkə] Vinnish (language) (c)
sj [ʂ] sjør ʂøːr] sea (c)
t [tʰ] prevocalically outside of clusters til il] 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 [eˈoːlogi] theology (c)
tj [tʂ] gvitjøre [ˈkviːørə] kenning for a goose; literally “white-ear” (n)
u [uː] when stressed rum [ˈrm] bed (n)
v [v] vinder viːndr̩] wind (c)
w [v]~[w] Wisconsin [viˈʂkoːnsin] Wisconsin
x [ks] sex [ˈseːks] six
y [yː] when stressed gryn [ˈkrn] green
z [z]~[s] zebre zeːprə] 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
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

Morphology

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

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.

Adjectives

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

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

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.

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.

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

Constituent order

Noun phrase

Verb phrase

Sentence phrase

Dependent clauses

Example texts

Other resources