Letaale
Uoriuo is a constructed secret language used by tahu, members of the Tagahu, a secretive and technologically advanced male-only military force governing the known parts of the space habitat Oru. Little is known of the designer(s) of the language however its use follows a long tradition. It is taught to all kia tahu (boys who are raised to be tahu) from a young age, adhering to a strict prescriptive standard. All speakers are male and all are also fluent in Guaru, generally speaking both natively. In informal situations, many Tahu engage in extensive code switching.
Name
Uoriuo [ˈ(ʔ)uoɾiˌuo] is the name given to this language in the Guaru language. It may be a corruption of the word volivo [ˈvolivo]~[ˈwoɾiwo] which is essentially the accusative form of "you" as this may be a word that is heard in interactions with the Tagahu. In Uoriuo itself, the language is most commonly referred to using the root taalejo although this is not the name of the language as such but a root that refers to speaking the language as in naameno ("I speak Uoriuo").
Phonology
Consonants
| Labial | Dental/ Alveolar |
Palatal | Velar | Glottal | Romanisation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ŋ | < m n g > | ||
| Plosive | t | k | ʔ | < t k x > | ||
| Fricative | v | s | ʒ | h | < v s j h > | |
| Lateral | l | < l > |
Most allophones listed below exist in more or less free variation.
- All of /n t l/ are usually dental but may also be alveolar.
- Both /t/ and /k/ are unaspirated.
- The consonants /t k s/ may be pronounced as voiced /d g z/, especially when non-initial.
- /v/ has a wide range of pronunciation, being essentially anywhere in the realm of [v β ʋ w] although it tightens towards [v] when either of the adjacent vowels is is /u/.
- /ʒ/ likewise has a range of pronunciations, somewhere in the viscinity of [ʒ ʑ ʐ ʝ]. When either of the adjacent vowels is /i/, /ʒ/ is usually pronounced tenser and less likely to appear as [ʝ].
- /l/ may be pronounced as a lateral [l], a tap/flap [ɾ] or a lateral flap [ɺ]
Vowels
Uoriuo has a simple system of five-vowels qualities, with a long and a short version of each, as in Hawaiian.
| front | central | back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| close | i iː | u uː | |
| open mid | e eː | o oː | |
| low | a aː |
When stressed, these vowels have the tense cardinal pronunciations of [i e a o u]. When unstressed and short, they tend to weaken towards [ɪ ɛ ɐ ɔ ʊ].
Long vowels are indicated in the romanisation by doubling.
In addition, there are the diphthongs /ai au eo ia io iu oe ua ue ui/.
Phonotactics
The allowable syllable structure of Uoriuo is CV(V). All syllables begin with a consonant and may contain one or two vowels (long vowels and diphthongs count as two). All combinations of consonant and vowel are allowed.
Prosody
Word stress falls on the last long vowel or diphthong in a word. If all the vowels are short, stress falls on the initial syllable.
Morphophonology
Each of the eleven consonants is associated with a primary vowel and vice versa. The primary vowels are all the monophthongs /a aː e eː i iː o oː u uː/ plus the diphthong /ai/. These pairs are relevant for inversions and conversions such as the noun k_j_m_ ('the dog') which converts to the verb _uu_o_i ('be a dog').
| Consonant | Vowel | Syllable |
|---|---|---|
| n | a | na |
| l | e | le |
| m | i | mi |
| j | o | jo |
| g | u | gu |
| t | aa | taa |
| x | ee | xee |
| h | ii | hii |
| s | oo | soo |
| k | uu | kuu |
| v | ai | vai |
All trisyllabic lemmas are composed of three of the resulting syllables. For example jotaale is allowable as a lemma whereas jitaale is not because j and i are not a pair.
Quadrisyllabic lemmas begin with a CVV prefix containing a secondary vowel. Secondary vowels are /au eo ia io iu ua ue ui/ and then consist of syllables containing primary vowels with no requirement that the vowels appear in a syllable with any particular consonant. For example, nuajitailu is a valid quadrisyllabic lemma because the first syllable contains a secondary vowel and the final three syllables contain primary vowels.
Morphology
Trisyllabic lemmas
The majority of lemmas (citation forms of words) are trisyllabic. These always constitute a valid clause on their own, a word-clause, containing both a triconsonantal noun as the subject and a trivocalic verb as the predicate. Trisyllabic lemma clauses are always, by definition, self-evidently true sentences of the structure "the X is an X" (or "that which X-es X-es"), and therefore rather void of pragmatic purpose. Here are some examples of trisyllabic roots in their lemma forms.
| Lemma | Translation | Noun | Translation | Verb | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| namina | I am me. | n_m_n_ | I | _a_i_a | be me |
| vailevai | You are you. | v_l_v_ | you | _ai_e_ai | be you |
| taaguhii | The tahu* is a tahu. | t_g_h_ | tahu, he | _aa_u_ii | be a tahu |
| hiitaahii | The kia tahu** is a kia tahu. | h_t_h_ | the kia tahu, he | _ii_aa_ii | be a kia tahu |
| levaile | The woman is a woman. | l_v_l_ | the woman, she | _e_ai_e | be a woman |
| soovaigu | The civilian man is a civilian man. | s_v_g_ | the civilian man, he | _o_ai_u | be a civilian man |
| kuumixee | The monkey is a monkey. | k_m_x_ | the monkey | _uu_i_ee | be a monkey |
| kuujomi | The dog is a dog. | k_j_m_ | the dog | _uu_o_i | be a dog |
| minataa | The cat is a cat. | m_n_t_ | the cat | _i_a_aa | be a cat |
| vaijokuu | The bird is a bird. | v_j_k_ | the bird | _ai_o_uu | be a bird |
| milena | The fish is a fish. | m_l_n_ | the fish | _i_e_a | be a fish |
| miguvai | The banana is a banana. | m_g_v_ | the banana | _i_u_ai | be a banana |
| jomijo | The affected one is affected. | j_m_j_ | the affected one | _o_i_o | be affected |
| lejole | The perceiver perceives. | l_j_l_ | the perceiver | _e_o_e | perceive |
| lesoomi | The sleeper sleeps. | l_s_m_ | the sleeper, the sleeping one | _e_oo_i | sleep |
| xeenami | The eater eats. | x_n_m_ | the eater, the eating one | _ee_a_i | eat |
| kuunagu | The hitter hits. | k_n_g_ | the hitter, the hitting one | _uu_a_u | hit |
| gunagu | The killer kills. | g_n_g_ | the killer, the murderer | _u_a_u | kill |
| taanagu | The big one is big. | t_n_g_ | the big one | _aa_a_u | be big |
| hiijole | The beloved one is beloved. | h_j_l_ | the (be)loved one | _ii_o_e | be (be)loved |
| vaimina | The visible one is visible. | v_m_n_ | the visible one | _ai_i_a | be visible |
| hiimijo | This one is here. | h_m_j_ | the one near me | _ii_i_o | be near me |
| xeenajo | That one is there. | x_n_j_ | the one near you | _ee_a_o | be near you |
| taamitaa | What is what? | t_m_t_ | what, who, which | _aa_i_aa | be what, be who, which? |
* A tahu is a man who is a member of the Tagahu, roughly the militarised police force and government of Oru. ** Kia tahu is the Guaru term for a future tahu, a boy raised to be a tahu.
Naming words
Naming words are generally equivalent to proper names. They begin with a classifying prefix indicating various classes of people and things, then followed by a trisyllabic clause-word.
For example, the name Tuakuumoxu consists of the prefix Tua-, indicating a Tahu in active duty, followed by the trisyllabic word-clause kuumoxu, meaning "the monkey plays" (k_m_x_ "the monkey" + uu_o_u "play"). Prefixes may change over time. When Tuakuumoxu retires from active duty and enters administration, his name will be prefixed with Xua-, indicating a Tahu in an administrative role.
Rarely, two or more classifying prefixes may be stacked together.
Syntax
Word-clauses
Word-clauses consist of a single word, which itself consists of a subject and a verb. These can be created by mixing and matching the consonants from one lemma with the vowels of another. The following table shows examples and is sortable by column.
| Lemma | Translation | Noun | Translation | Verb | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xaanijaa | What is that? | x_n_j_ | the one near you | _aa_i_aa | is what/who? |
| himujai | This is a banana. | h_m_j_ | the one near me | _i_u_ai | is a banana |
| huumijee | This is a monkey. | h_m_j_ | the one near me | _uu_i_ee | is a monkey |
| huumiiji | This is a house. | h_m_j_ | the one near me | _uu_ii_i | is a house |
| haamijaa | What is this? | h_m_j_ | the one near me | _aa_i_aa | is what/who? |
| xinujai | That is a banana. | x_n_j_ | the one near you | _i_u_ai | is a banana |
| xuunijee | That is a monkey. | x_n_j_ | the one near you | _uu_i_ee | is a monkey |
| xuuniiji | This is a house. | x_n_j_ | the one near you | _uu_ii_i | is a house |
| nimunai | I am a banana. | n_m_n_ | I | _i_u_ai | am a banana |
| magiva | The banana is me. | m_g_v_ | the banana | _a_i_a | is me |
| viluvai | You are a banana. | v_l_v_ | you | _i_u_ai | are a banana |
| maigevai | The banana is you. | m_g_v_ | the banana | _ai_e_ai | is you |
| neemani | I eat. | n_m_n_ | I | _ee_a_i | eat |
| xanima | The eating one is me. | x_n_m_ | the eater | _a_i_a | is me |
| veelavi | You eat. | v_l_v_ | you | _ee_a_i | eat |
| xainemai | The eating one is you. | x_n_m_ | the eater | _ai_e_ai | is you |
| keejami | The dog eats. | k_j_m_ | the dog | _ee_a_i | eats |
| xuunomi | The eating one is a dog. | x_n_m_ | the eater | _uu_o_i | is a dog |
| kejoomi | The dog sleeps. | k_j_m_ | the dog | _e_oo_i | sleeps |
| kijumai | The dog is a banana. | k_j_m_ | the dog | _i_u_ai | is a banana |
| nemone | I perceive. | n_m_n_ | I | _e_o_e | perceive |
| nameeno | I exist. | n_m_n_ | I | _a_ee_o | exist |
| mageevo | The banana exists. | m_g_v_ | the banana | _a_ee_o | exists |
| nixujai | There is a banana. | n_x_j_ | what exists | _i_u_ai | is a banana |
Multiclausal sentences
Multiclausal sentences are formed by simply placing word-clauses next to one another. Modifiers generally follow their heads but word-clause order is quite flexible, with different orders being used to shift emphasis.
Namaina kimaixaa. [naˈmai̯na kimai̯ˈʔaː] n_m_n_ I _a_ai_a cause k_m_x_ the monkey _i_ai_aa dances I make the monkey dance.
Kimaixaa namaina . [kimai̯ˈʔaː naˈmai̯na] k_m_x_ the monkey _i_ai_aa dances n_m_n_ I _a_ai_a am the cause The monkey dances; I make it.
Transitivity
There is no explicit transitivity in Uoriuo. The direct object of a verb is frequently indicated with a clause containing jomijo, which indicates that something is directly affected by another action.
Keemaxi mogivo. [ˈkeːmaʔi ˈmoŋiwo] k_m_x_ the monkey _ee_a_i eats m_g_v_ the banana _o_i_o is directly affected The monkey eats the banana.
Definiteness
There are no articles, but the subject of a clause is generally definite and the verb deals with something indefinite. Inversion (swapping the subject and the verb within a clause) is used to achieve this effect. The resulting transformations produce entirely different looking words, such as the change from mogivo (≈ "the banana") to jimujai (≈ "a banana") in the following sentences.
Keemaxi mogivo. [ˈkeːmaʔi ˈmoŋiwo] k_m_x_ the monkey _ee_a_i eats m_g_v_ the banana _o_i_o is directly affected The monkey eats the banana.
Keemaxi jimujai. [ˈkeːmaʔi ʒimuˈʒai̯] k_m_x_ the monkey _ee_a_i eats j_m_j_ what is directly affected _i_u_ai is a banana The monkey eats a banana.
Location
Locations are indicated with nataami.
Neemani mogivo kahaami. [ˈneːmani ˈmoŋiwo kaˈhaːmi] n_m_n_ I _ee_a_i eat m_g_v_ the banana _o_i_o is directly affected k_h_m_ the house _a_aa_i is a location I eat the banana in the house.
Neemani mogivo nuutiimi. [ˈneːmani ˈmoŋiwo nuːˈtiːmi] n_m_n_ I _ee_a_i eat m_g_v_ the banana _o_i_o is directly affected n_t_m_ the location _a_aa_i is a house I eat the banana in a house.
Experience verbs
Verbs that don't result in something being directly affected (such as "love", "see") are often present in Uoriuo as passives and the experiencer is indicated as a perceiver.
Nemone viilove. [ˈnemone ˈwiːlowe] n_m_n_ I _e_o_e perceive v_l_v_ you _ii_o_e are (be)loved I love you.
Nemone vailiva. [ˈnemone ˈwai̯liwa] n_m_n_ I _e_o_e perceive v_l_v_ you _ai_i_a are visible I see you.
Subordination
Subordination is frequently not overtly indicated syntactically, just as in English.
Nemano velove niimone. [ˈnemano ˈwelowe ˈniːmone] n_m_n_ I _e_a_o know v_l_v_ you _e_o_e perceive n_m_n_ I _ii_o_e am (be)loved I know (that)you love me.
Subordination can, however, be indicated using the root gumina ("what I'm about to say is what I'm about to say"). In this following example, it is only necessary if one wishes to indicate that one's perception was visual
Nemone (gaimina) keemaxi mogiva. [ˈnemone (ˈŋai̯mina) ˈkeːmaʔi ˈmoŋiwa] n_m_n_ I _e_o_e perceive g_m_n_ what I'm about to say _ai_i_a is visible k_m_x_ the monkey _ee_a_i eats m_g_v_ the banana _o_i_o is directly affected I see the monkey eat the banana.
Coordination
Repetition of either a noun or a verb is used as an equivalent to "and".
Keemaxi neemani mogivo. [ˈkeːmaʔi ˈneːmani ˈmoŋiwo] k_m_x_ the monkey _ee_a_i eats n_m_n_ I _ee_a_i eat m_g_v_ the banana _o_i_o is directly affected The monkey and I eat the banana.
Tuugahu nomino komixo kojimo. [ˈtuːŋahu ˈnomino ˈkomiʔo ˈkoʒimo] t_g_h_ the tahu _uu_a_u hits n_m_n_ I _o_i_o am directly affected k_m_x_ the monkey _o_i_o is directly affected k_j_m_ the dog _o_i_o is directly affected The tahu hits me, the monkey, and the dog.
He hits me, the monkey, and the dog.
Menooti menote jaleeto. [meˈnoːti ˈmenote ʒaˈleːto] m_n_t_ the cat _e_oo_i sleeps m_n_t_ the cat _e_o_e perceives j_l_t_ the dream _a_ee_o exists The cat sleeps and (the cat) dreams.
A common equivalent of the word 'but' is gomaane (what I'm about to say is surprising) or occasionally its conversion jutila (what's surprising is something I'm about to say).
Tuugahu lovilo gomaane levole tiigohe. [ˈtuːŋahu ˈlowilo ŋoˈmaːne ˈlewole ˈtiːŋohe] t_g_h_ the tahu _uu_a_u hits l_v_l_ the woman _o_i_o is directly affected g_m_n_ what I'm about to say _o_aa_e is surprising l_v_l_ the woman _e_o_e perceives t_g_h_ the tahu _ii_o_e is (be)loved He hits her but she loves him.
Modification
Nemone viilove haajiilaa. [ˈnemone ˈwiːlowe haːʒiːˈlaː] n_m_n_ I _e_o_e perceive v_l_v_ you _ii_o_e are (be)loved h_j_l_ the beloved one _aa_ii_aa is extreme I love you very much.
Nemone laajiilaa viilove . [ˈnemone ˈwiːlowe kaˈhaːmi] n_m_n_ I _e_o_e perceive l_j_l_ the perceiver _aa_ii_aa is extreme v_l_v_ you _ii_o_e are (be)loved It is clear to me that I love you.
Negation
Notes
This conlang has been inspired by Abakwi and Iljena. Check them out! - Imralu