Introduction

Azano stands as a co-official language, holding its ground alongside the widely spoken Faiten. With an estimated population of 2,500,000 million speakers, Azano boasts a significant number of individuals proficient in its unique linguistic expressions. Remarkably, Azano does not fall under the umbrella of any established language family, setting it apart as a distinctive language isolate. Through its independent existence, Azano has developed its own linguistic characteristics although phonologically influenced by Germanic languages, shaping a one of a kind linguistic heritage within the cultural tapestry of Faitonia.

Azano, historically spoken by the indigenous people of Azalova (previously known as Faitonia), underwent significant linguistic transformations as the nation opened its doors to immigrants. Chinese, French, and Italian settlers were among the first to establish themselves in the country, paving the way for subsequent waves of German immigrants. As these diverse groups integrated into the local society, the Azano language naturally absorbed various linguistic elements from the Germanic languages spoken by the newcomers. Consequently, Azano evolved into a diverse tapestry of influences from various Germanic languages, reflecting the cultural amalgamation brought about by centuries of immigration and settlement in Azalova. Furthermore, the linguistic tapestry of Faitonia expanded even further with the arrival of Arab settlers, who, in pursuit of business opportunities, began engaging in trade activities within the region.

Phonology

Orthography

Aa Ææ Ââ Ää Bb Cc Çç Dd Ee Ëë Ēē Êê Ff
ɐ æ ɑ ɞ b t͡s t͡ʃ d e ɛ ə ɤ f
Gg Ĝĝ Ğğ Hh Ħħ Ii Īī Îî Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn
g ɢ ʕ h ħ i ɨ ɯ j k l m n
Oo Ôô Öö Øø Œœ Pp Qq Rr Řř Ss Şş Tt Uu
o ɔ ɵ ø œ p q r ʁ s ʃ t u
Üü Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz Žž
ʉ v w χ y z ʒ

/ʔ/ is never written as it's found between vowels (in syllable boundaries) or before/after vowel letters (only if no consonant precedes/proceeds the vowel).

Consonants

Consonant Inventory
Labial Dental Alveolar Post-Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular Pharyngeal Glottal
Nasal m n
Approximant Liquid r l
Glide j w
Plosive Tenuis p t k q ʔ
Voiced b d g ɢ
Affricate t͡s t͡ʃ
Fricative Tenuis f s ʃ χ ħ h
Voiced v z ʒ ʁ ʕ

Vowels

Vowel Inventory
Front Centre Back
Flat Round Flat Round Flat Round
Closed i y ɨ ʉ ɯ u
High Mid e ø ə ɵ ɤ o
Low Mid ɛ œ ɞ ɔ
Open æ ɐ ɑ

Phonotactics

Azano, a language that shares phonotactic similarities with Arabic, adheres to comparable rules for sound arrangement. In Azano, the phonotactic patterns align with those observed in Arabic. Within Azano, an average syllable structure can be described as follows:


  • CV (light)
  • CVV (heavy)
  • CVC (heavy)
  • CVVC (super-heavy)
  • CVCC (super-heavy)
  • CVVCC (super-heavy)

A syllable cannot start with a vowel, if no consonant is written then it always starts with the glottal stop.

Grammar

Azano is a fusional language where words use a single inflectional morpheme to denote multiple syntactic/semantc roles of words. Nouns inflect for gender (only nouns, demonstratives and relatives), case, number, person (only in pronouns), and spatial deixis (only in demonstratives). Verbs conjugate for Tense (Present, Imperfect, Future, Preterite, Perfect, Pluperfect, Relative Past and Relative Future), Voice (active voice and passive voice), Person (1st, 2nd and 3rd Person), Number (Singular and Plural) and Mood (Indicative, Subjunctive, Conditional, Imperative).

Pronouns

Personal Pronouns
Singular Plural
1 2 3 1 2 3
Nominative an huwa nabt vabt tabt
Accusative æna käval hawa nøş vøş tøş
Genitive enkâ ağnobal howlat nozalt vozalt tozalt
Dative ğena şova hüja nômaħ vômaħ tômaħ
Ablative abena âsbar hidniża neltfavis veltfavis teltfavis
Vocative ala tanbihâ hœylap nyœ vyœ tyœ

A feature noticeable in Azano is that pronouns in the accusative case can be used reflexively, or intensively. Similar to the English pronouns "myself, yourself, themself, himself, herself, itself".

Demonstrative Pronouns
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Proximal Distal Proximal Distal Proximal Distal Proximal Distal Proximal Distal Proximal Distal
Nominative tim tibâ şabrēki cœyft holao valeo ibis zaçiřb
Accusative timæ atima âşbek vystaln aglao vätoe ibnis alaziřb
Genitive abtima öbtima baixşer biesnam aĝleo avteno mahibis
Dative qulta kulte raşĝuk maloud darlaho zalbit
Ablative xâlâztâ valezte şağbek iemneo fenalħo fælit
Vocative îbtar ife zoluğbep fiemlo xiesto actvölë

Example texts

Other resources