Letaale

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Letaale [leˈtaːle] 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

The name Letaale comes from the lemma-clause letaale meaning "the Letaale speaker speaks Letaale". This is not the name of the language but is used to refer to speaking the language, such as nemaane ("I speak Letaale"). The name of the language in Letaale, although used rarely, is xialetaale [ʔialeˈtaːle], which uses the naming prefix xia- for abstract things.

In the Guaru language, Letaale is known as Uoriuo [ˈ(ʔ)uoɾiˌuo]. This is probably borrowed from the word volivo [ˈvolivo]~[ˈwoɾiwo] which is essentially the accusative form of "you" (literally "you are directly affected") as this may be a word that is heard in interactions with the Tagahu.

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

Letaale has a simple system of five-vowels qualities, with a long and a short version of each, as in Hawaiian.

Single vowels
front central back
close i u
open mid e o
low a

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 Letaale 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. Prefixes and initial clitics, all of which contain a diphthong other than /ai/, are never stressed.

Morphophonology

The vowels of Letaale can be divided into two types:


  1. Primary vowels: the monophthongs /a aː e eː i iː o oː u uː/ and the diphthong /ai/
  2. Secondary vowels: the remaining diphthongs /au eo ia io iu ua ue ui/


Each of the eleven primary vowels is associated with a single consonant and vice versa. These pairs are relevant for inversions and conversions in trisyllabic word-clauses, 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.

Secondary vowels are not associated with any particular consonant and only appear in clitics and naming prefixes. These prefixes are always unstressed.

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.


Trisyllabic roots
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 consist of a classifying prefix, which indicates various classes of people and things, 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 (noun form) from one trisyllabic lemma with the vowels (verb form) 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


Inversion

Inversion is the process of swapping the noun and verb within a word-clause. Many of the examples given above are inversions of another given example.

For example, to invert the word-clause keejami "the dog eats", the noun k_j_m_ "dog" is converted corresponding verb _uu_o_i "be a dog" and the verb _ee_a_i "to eat" becomes the noun x_n_m_ "eater". This produces xuunomi "the one that eats is a dog". Inversion usually results in radically differently looking words with an often fairly subtle shift in pragmatic meaning.

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 (because) I make it.


Kimaixaa navina .
[kimai̯ˈʔaː ˈnavina]
k_m_x_ the monkey _i_ai_aa dances
n_v_n_ the cause _a_i_a is me
The monkey dances because of me.


Navina kimaixaa.
[ˈnavina kimai̯ˈʔaː]
n_v_n_ the cause _a_i_a is me
k_m_x_ the monkey _i_ai_aa dances
Because of me, the monkey dances.


Transitivity

There is no explicit transitivity in Letaale. 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.


Jomijo is, however, not simply an equivalent of an accusative case. In many cases, another root is used to indicate the roll of the object.


Tuxanu keemuxee.
[ˈtuʔanu keːmuˈʔeː]
t_x_n_ the hunter _u_a_u kills
k_m_x_ the monkey _ee_u_ee dies
The hunter kills the monkey.


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 Letaale 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