Sceptrian: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|name          = Sceptrian
|name          = Sceptrian
|nativename    = [[File:lushan.jpg|300px]]<br>''Batop Lushan''
|image        = Lusha name.png
|pronunciation = [ˈbäˑtəp luˈʃãˑ]
|imagesize    = 300px
|region        = Western Central World
|nativename    = Batop Lushan
|pronunciation = ˈbäˑtəp luˈʃãˑ
|states        = Sceptre
|states        = Sceptre
|speakers      = 12,203,650  
|speakers      = 29,200,000  
|date          = 7th 641
|date          = 7th 641
|familycolor  = lutian
|familycolor  = #d3ffce
|fam1          = West-Herookuan
|fam1          = West-Herookuan
|fam2          = Lutian
|fam2          = Lutian
|fam3 = Sceptrian branch
|fam3         = Sceptrian branch
|dialects = Yerzonian, Mulish, Fanish  
|creator      = Ahuelni
|script        = Toneka alphabet
|setting      = Akekata
|dia1          = Yerzonian
|dia2          = Mulish
|dia3          = Fanish  
|scripts      = * Toneka alphabet
|nation        = Empire of Sceptre
|nation        = Empire of Sceptre
|minority = Coast of Temples, Negovia
|minority     = Coast of Temples, Negovia
|agency        = ''Tsagadhet Keping Batom Lushan''<br>(Bureau of the Purity of the Sceptrian Language)
|agency        = ''Tsagadhet Keping Batom Lushan''<br>(Bureau of the Purity of the Sceptrian Language)
|map = Lusha_regions.jpg
|map           = Lusha_regions.jpg
|mapsize = 300
|mapsize       = 300px
|mapcaption = Speakers of Sceptrian and its dialects
|mapcaption   = Speakers of Sceptrian and its dialects
}}
}}
{{ClassMeter
'''Sceptrian''' (''batop lushan'' [ˈbäˑtəp luˈʃãˑ] or simply ''lusha'') is an ''a priori'' [[w:Artistic_language|artistic language]] created for the fantasy world Akekata by [[User:Juhhmi|juhhmi]]. Sceptrian language, named after the Sceptre peninsula, derives from Lutian language used in the Empire of Western Sceptre. With 29 million native speakers, Sceptrians outnumber those speaking [[Khattish]] and Guddean, the other two main West-Herookuan languages.
|Name      = Sceptrian
|NativeName = Batop Lushan
|Type      = Fusional
|Alignment  = Absolutive-ergative
 
|adjective = final
|adposition = mixed
|adverb= final
|article= mixed
|relativeclause = final
|nounclause = final
|order = VSO
 
|Tonal      = no
|Genders    = 3
|Declined  = yes
|Conjugated = yes
|Case  = yes
|Number = yes
|Definiteness = no
|Gender = yes
|Voice  = yes
|Mood  = yes
|Person = yes
|Number = yes
|Tense  = yes
|Aspect = yes
|Phonology      = 100
|NounCases      = 100
|NounDef        = 100
|NounNumbers    = 100
|NounGender    = 100
|VerbPerson    = 100
|VerbNumber    = 100
|VerbAspect    = 90
|VerbTense      = 100
|VerbMood      = 90
|VerbVoice      = 80
|AdjCase        = 100
|AdjNumber      = 100
|AdjDef        = 100
|AdjGen        = 100
|AdjComparative = 100
|AdjSuperlative = 100
|Supine        = 90
|Gerund        = 90
|Participle    = 90
|Infinitive    = 90
|Modality      = 90
}}
 
'''Sceptrian''' (''batop lushan'' /ˈbäˑtəp luˈʃãˑ/ or simply ''lusha'') is an ''a priori'' language created for the fantasy world Akekata by [[User:Juhhmi|juhhmi]]. Sceptrian language, named after the Sceptre peninsula, derives from Lutian language used in the Empire of Western Sceptre. With 12 million native speakers, Sceptrians outnumber those speaking [[Khattish]] and Guddean, the other two main West-Herookuan languages.




==Phonology==
==Phonology==


Scetprian features 32 consonants, some of them with interesting lateral features, twelve vowels with long versions and four diphthongs. Nasalization, rhotacization and breathy voice are used as well.  
Sceptrian and its dialects feature 51 phonetic consonants, some of them with interesting lateral features. The language also has 25 phonetic vowels: twelve short, nine long and four diphthongs. Nasalization, rhotacization and breathy voice are used phonemically.  


===Consonants===
===Consonants===


If the romanization symbol is the same as in IPA, it is not duplicated. Not bolded romanization indicates that the sound appears as a vernacular version.
If the romanization symbol is the same as in IPA, it is not duplicated. Not bolded romanization indicates that the sound appears as a vernacular or dialectal version.


{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 830px; text-align:center;"
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 830px; text-align:center;"
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! colspan="2" |Nasal
! colspan="2" |Nasal
| '''m'''
| '''m'''
| /ɱ/
| [ɱ]
|  
|  
| '''n ń''' /n/
| '''n (ń)''' [n]
|   
|   
|  
|  
| '''ng''' /ŋ/
| '''ng''' [ŋ]
|  
|  
|   
|   
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|-
|-
!Breathy
!Breathy
| '''ph bh'''<br>// //
| '''ph bh'''<br>[] []
|
|
|'''th dh'''<br>// //
|'''th dh'''<br>[] []
|
|
|
|
|
|
|'''kh gh'''<br>// //
|'''kh gh'''<br>[] []
|'''qh'''<br>//
|'''qh'''<br>[]
|
|
|-
|-
! Lateral
! Lateral
| '''pl bl'''<br />// //
| '''pl bl'''<br />[] []
|  
|  
| '''tl dl'''<br />// //
| '''tl dl'''<br />[] []
|  
|  
|  
|  
|   
|   
| '''kl gl'''<br/>// //
| '''kl gl'''<br/>[] []
| '''ql'''<br/>//
| '''ql'''<br/>[]
|   
|   
|-
|-
! rowspan="3" |Fricative
! rowspan="3" |Fricative
!Voiceless
!Voiceless
| ph /ɸ/
| ph [ɸ]
| '''f'''
| '''f'''
| '''th''' /θ/
| '''th''' [θ]
| '''s'''
| '''s'''
| '''sh''' /ʃ/
| '''sh''' [ʃ]
| '''h''' /ç/
| '''h''' [ç]
| '''kh h''' /x/
| '''kh h''' [x]
| '''qh''' /χ/
| '''qh''' [χ]
| '''h'''
| '''h'''
|-
|-
!Voiced
!Voiced
| '''w''' bh /β/
| '''w''' bh [β]
| '''v'''
| '''v'''
| '''dh''' /ð/
| '''dh''' [ð]
| '''z'''
| '''z'''
| '''zh''' /ʒ/
| '''zh''' [ʒ]
|  
|  
| gh [ɣ]
|  
|  
|  
| h [ɦ]
|-
|-
! Lateral
! Lateral
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|
|
|
|
|'''sl''' /ɬ/
|'''sl''' [ɬ]
|
|
|
|
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|  
|  
|  
|  
| '''ts''' /t͡s/
| '''ts''' [t͡s]
| '''tsh''' /t͡ʃ/
| '''tsh''' [t͡ʃ]
|   
|   
|  
|  
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|
|
|
|
| '''tsl''' /t͡ɬ/
| '''tsl''' [t͡ɬ]
|
|
|
|
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|-
|-
! rowspan="2" |Approximant
! rowspan="2" |Approximant
!Simple
!Non-lateral
|  
|  
|  
|  
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|  
|  
|  
|  
| '''l'''
| '''l''' [l] [l̥]
|  
|  
|   
|   
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|-
|-
! colspan="2" |Trill
! colspan="2" |Trill
| pr /ʙ/
| pr [ʙ]
|  
|  
|  
|  
| '''r ŕ''' /r/ //
| '''r (ŕ)''' [r] []
|  
|  
|   
|   
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The liquids ''r'' and ''l'' can appear as '''syllabic consonants''': ''tlsl'' /tˡl̩ɬ/ (shallow), ''prk'' /pr̩k/ (wagon) and ''trs'' /tr̩s/ (smith)
The liquids ''r'' and ''l'' can appear as '''syllabic consonants''': ''tlsl'' /tˡl̩ɬ/ (shallow), ''prk'' /pr̩k/ (wagon) and ''trs'' /tr̩s/ (smith)
*Vernacularly, both syllabic and obstruent-following alveolar trill ''r'' and lateral approximant ''l'' are pronounced as voiceless /r̩̊/, //, /l̩̊/ and // when in contact with only voiceless consonants: ''trs'' /tr̩̊s/ (smith) contrasting with ''trls'' /tr̩s/ (while standard /trəls/) (smiths); ''gatl'' /gɑtl̥/ (houses) whose pronunciation approaches /gɑtɬ/
*Vernacularly, both syllabic and obstruent-following alveolar trill ''r'' and lateral approximant ''l'' are pronounced as voiceless [r̩̊], [], [l̩̊] and [] when in contact with only voiceless consonants: ''trs'' [tr̩̊s] (smith) contrasting with ''trls'' [tr̩s] (while standard /trəls/) (smiths); ''gatl'' [gɑtl̥] (houses) whose pronunciation approaches [gɑtɬ].
**'''Meslatu Hirke''' made his disputed suggestion in 7:693 that a similar process had led to the birth of ''sl'' as plural indicator, when original plural ''l'' turned first into voiceless and then into ''sl'' after a word-final glottal stop, which has disappeared entirely.  
**'''Meslatu Hirke''' made his disputed suggestion in 7:693 that a similar process had led to the birth of ''sl'' as plural indicator, when original plural ''l'' turned first into voiceless and then into ''sl'' after a word-final glottal stop, which has disappeared entirely.  
*In eastern dialects, ''pr'' is realized as /ʙ/
*In eastern dialects, ''pr'' is realized as [ʙ] and ''tr'', ''tsr'' and ''trs'' often as [r̝]. In the dialects, aspirated plosives have been fully spirantized into their fricative counterparts, e.g. [tʰ]>[θ].
*Fricatives show properties of syllabic consonants word-initially and word-finally.
*Fricatives show properties of syllabic consonants word-initially and word-finally.


Nasal /ɱ/ only appears as an allophone of nasals with labio-dental sounds /f/ and /v/. Before velar sounds (e.g. /k/) nasals turn similarly into /ŋ/.
Nasal [ɱ] only appears as an allophone of nasals with labio-dental sounds /f/ and /v/. Before velar sounds (e.g. /k/) nasals turn similarly into [ŋ].


Letter ''h'' has three allophones: /x/ appears word-finally, /ç/ with front vowels and /h/ with back vowels ''tihtóhnah'' /tiçˈtɔh.näx/ (assassinator). It's also used after consonants to indicate breathy voice.
Letter ''h'' has four allophones: initial is always [h] despite frontness, [ç] appears elsewhere with front vowels, [x] appears word-finally and [h~ɦ] word-medially with back vowels ''tihtóhnah'' [tiçˈtɔɦ.näx] (assassinator). It's also used after consonants to indicate breathy voice.


===Vowels===
===Vowels===
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! style="" |Close-mid
! style="" |Close-mid
| '''e'''
| '''e'''
| o<br/>/ɘ/
| o<br/>[ɘ]
| o<br/>/ɤ/
| o<br/>[ɤ]
|-
|-
! style="" |Mid
! style="" |Mid
|
|
| '''o'''<br/>/ə/
| '''o'''<br/>[ə]
|
|
|-
|-
! style="" |Open-mid
! style="" |Open-mid
| '''é ø'''<br />/ɛ/ /œ/
| '''é ø'''<br />[ɛ] [œ]
|
|
| '''ó'''<br />/ɔ/
| '''ó'''<br />[ɔ]
|-
|-
! style="" |Near-open
! style="" |Near-open
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! style="" |Open
! style="" |Open
|  
|  
|'''a'''<br />/ä/
|'''a'''<br />[ä]
|'''a'''<br />/ɑ/
|a<br />[ɑ]
|}
|}


Schwa '''''o''''' is used as an epenthetic vowel (anaptyxis). When it is used to break consonant clusters (not indicated in native script) it is the simple schwa /ə/: *dŧ → ''doth'' /dəθ/ (man). When stressed, it is vernacularly realized as /ɘ/, and in western dialects more clearly as /ɤ/: *dŧs → ''dothos'' /dəˈθɘˑs/
All the nine main vowel sounds (bolded) have '''long''' versions as separate phonemes.
 
Schwa '''''o''''' is used as an epenthetic vowel (anaptyxis). When it is used to break consonant clusters (not indicated in native script) it is the simple schwa /ə/: *dŧ → ''doth'' /dəθ/ (man). When stressed, it is vernacularly realized as [ɘ], and in western dialects more clearly as [ɤ]: *dŧs → ''dothos'' [dəˈθɘˑs]


Vowel ''a'' is /ɑ/ after voiced consonants.
Vowel ''a'' is [ɑ] after voiced consonants. Vowel ''æ'' is often more open [a], though, in Western dialects, it has merged with ''é''.  


====Diphthongs====
====Diphthongs====
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===Coda===  
===Coda===  


The coda (final) may consist of up to three consonants with possible structures: N, P, F, L; NP, FP, LP; NF, PF, LF; NPF, FPF, LPF (Nasal, Plosive, Fricative, Liquid). Three-consonant clusters are rare word-medially and receive a schwa after a non-lateral stop: ''kamps'' /kämps/ (marsh) → ''*kampsku'' → ''kamposku'' /ˈkäm.pəs.ku/ (at marsh)
The coda (final) may consist of up to three consonants with possible structures: N, P, F, L; NP, FP, LP; NF, PF, LF; NPF, FPF, LFP, LPF (Nasal, Plosive, Fricative, Liquid).  
*Final liquids appear as syllabic consonants
*Final liquids appear as syllabic consonants
*Approximants ''j'', ''w'' and plain voiced plosives never appear as coda (final) even though they may be written that way (no written schwa): ''nad'' /nä.də/ (stainy). Voiced fricatives may appear as coda.  
*Approximants ''j'', ''w'' and plain voiced plosives never appear as coda (final) even though they may be written that way (no written schwa): ''nad'' /nä.də/ (stainy). Voiced fricatives may appear as coda.  
*In coda, plosives with lateral release, however, will reflect the voicing of the onset: ''gatl'' /gädˡl̩/ (jugs) vs. ''katl'' /kätˡl̩/ (knobs)
*In coda, plosives with lateral release, however, will reflect the voicing of the onset: ''gatl'' [gädˡl̩] (houses) vs. ''katl'' [kätˡl̩] (knobs). Vernacularly, the lateral approximant weakens into a voiceless variant [l̥] when in contact with voiceless consonants: ''gatl'' [gätl̥].


Closed syllables, i.e. those ending in coda, are not as common word-medially as open syllables (ending in nucleus) are. When words are inflected, codas tend to become onsets of the following syllable, if possible.
Closed syllables, i.e. those ending in coda, are not as common word-medially as open syllables (ending in nucleus) are. When words are inflected, parts of codas tend to become onsets of the following syllable, if possible. Especially three-consonant clusters are rare word-medially and receive a schwa after a non-lateral stop: ''kamps'' /kämps/ (marsh) → ''kampsku'' → ''kamposku'' /ˈkäm.pəs.ku/ (at marsh)
*Voicing status must be the same for consonants touching at syllable boundaries and the voiced one reduces into voiceless: ''*katbas''→''katpas'' /kätˈpäs/ (fern) vs. ''oist baku'' /œi̯st<sup>(h)</sup> bä.ku/ (under a table)
*Voicing status must be the same for consonants touching at syllable boundaries and the voiced one reduces into voiceless: ''*katbas''→''katpas'' /kätˈpäs/ (fern) vs. ''oist baku'' /œi̯st<sup>(h)</sup> bä.ku/ (under a table)


==Suprasegmentals==
==Suprasegmentals==


Primary '''stress''' in a word is most often on the second syllable, and when there are four or five syllables, secondary stress is placed onto the final syllable. When there are more syllables, stress is placed on even-numbered syllables.  
Primary '''stress''' in a word is most often on the second syllable, and when there are four or five syllables, secondary stress is placed onto the final syllable. When there are more syllables, minor stress is placed on even-numbered syllables.  
*If the to-be-stressed syllable contains the schwa ''o'' /ə/, the preceding syllable is stressed in two-syllable words and the following in words with more than three syllables.
*If the to-be-stressed syllable contains the schwa ''o'' /ə/ or a syllabic consonant, the preceding syllable is stressed in two-syllable words and the following in words with more than three syllables.
**In uninflected words, syllable with nuclear ''o'' is only stressed when it comes second and the preceding syllable has also ''o'' as nucleus. Then the stressed nucleus appears as /ɘ/.  
**In uninflected words, syllable with nuclear ''o'' is only stressed when it comes second and the preceding syllable has also ''o'' as nucleus. Then the stressed nucleus appears as [ɘ]. Contrast between stressed and non-stressed syllabic consonants may occur as voicing and devoicing respectively.  
*A non-final syllable with a long vowel, a closing diphthong or a syllabic consonant is always stressed and steals the stress from its neighboring syllable. This also moves the secondary stress from final to penultimate syllable, if primary stress falls on first syllable.
*A non-final syllable with a long vowel or a diphthong is always stressed and steals the stress from its neighboring syllable. This also moves the secondary stress from final to penultimate syllable, if primary stress falls on first syllable.


Inflected and affixed word forms have almost always the same stress as the base word (even monosyllabic with schwa): ''doth'' (man) → ''dothku'' /ˈdɘθ.ku/ (at the house).  
Inflected and affixed word forms have almost always the same stress as the base word (even monosyllabic with schwa): ''doth'' (man) → ''dothku'' [ˈdɘθ.ku] (near the man).  
*Vocative and ergative cases as well as inflections with long vowels make an exception: ''dothee'' /dəˈθe:/ (by the man), ''dothé'' /dəˈθɛ/ (O man), ''gatóo'' /gɑˈtɔ:/ (to the house)
*Vocative and ergative cases as well as inflections with long vowels make an exception: ''dothee'' /dəˈθe:/ (by the man), ''dothé'' /dəˈθɛ/ (O man), ''gatóo'' /gɑˈtɔ:/ (to the house)


Interrogatives are formed by changing the primary stress onto the first syllable and adding a rising or dipping pitch. This is indicated with ¿: ''¿Eikepoi?'' /ˈei̯˧˦ˈke˩.pœi̯˨˦/ (Did you wash it?)
Interrogatives are formed by changing the primary stress onto the first syllable and adding a rising or dipping pitch. This is indicated with ¿: ''¿Eikepoi?'' [ˈei̯˧˦ˈke˩.pœi̯˨˦] (Did you wash it?)


==Morphophonology==
==Morphophonology==
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===Vowel form===
===Vowel form===


There are five ways of sound altering which may be used for grammatical purposes (mainly number, genitive case and imperfective aspect)
There are five ways of sound altering which may be used for grammatical purposes (mainly number, genitive case and imperfective aspect). In the native script the following are marked on the vowel.
*Lengthening: ''paata'' /pä:tä/ (separation), ''ée'' /ɛ:/-/ɛe̯/, ''óo'' /ɔ:/
*Lengthening: ''paata'' /pä:tä/ (separation), ''ée'' [ɛ:]~[ɛe̯], ''óo'' /ɔ:/
**Not used word-finally.
*Lateral (release): ''pló'' /pˡɔ/ (opposite to), ''tlaf'' /tˡäf/ (sprig)  
*Lateral (release): ''pló'' /pˡɔ/ (opposite to), ''tlaf'' /tˡäf/ (sprig)  
**Western dialects keep the tongue on the alveolar ridge during vowel pronunciation so that the vowels have a distinct l-sound. Historically, this may have lead to the syllabic l.
**Western dialects keep the tongue on the alveolar ridge during vowel pronunciation so that the vowels have a distinct l-sound. Historically, this may have lead to the syllabic l.
*Aspiration/breathy voice: ''phó'' /pʰɔ/~/ɸɔ/ (along), ''kébhar'' /kɛˈbʱɑ˞/~/kɛˈβɑ˞/ (I will wash), ''tha'' /tʰä/~/θä/ (abstract "it"), ''dhaka'' /dʱɑkä/~/ðɑkä/ (abstract "that").   
*Aspiration/breathy voice: ''phó'' [pʰɔ]~[ɸɔ] (along), ''kébhar'' [kɛˈbʱɑ˞]~[kɛˈβɑ˞] (I will wash), ''tha'' [tʰä]~[θä] (abstract "it"), ''dhaka'' [dʱɑkä]~[ðɑkä] (abstract "that").   
**Aspirated plosives of unstressed, schwa-syllables turn into the corresponding fricatives. In casual register, this happens with all unstressed syllables. ''dhoku'' /ðəˈkuˑ/ (head)
**Aspirated plosives of unstressed, schwa-syllables turn into the corresponding fricatives. In casual register, this happens with all unstressed syllables. ''dhoku'' /ðəˈkuˑ/ (head)
*Nasalization: ''on'' /ə̃~ɘ̃/ (compare ''oń'' /ən/) when ''n'' in [[Sceptrian#Phonotactics|coda]]
*Nasalization: ''on'' [ə̃]~[ɘ̃]~[<sup>N</sup>C] (compare ''oń'' /ən/) when ''n'' in [[Sceptrian#Phonotactics|coda]]
**Close vowels (u, o, ó and i) are always nasalized between two nasals and all vowels after short ng: ''mónge'' /mɔ̃ŋẽ/ (indeed), but nasalization does not occur with open vowels and long ''ńg'': ''dothé næńgé'' /dəˈθɛˑ næŋ:ɛˑ/ (O sweaty man!).
**Vernacularly, nasalized schwa appears as a short syllabic nasal consonant of the same place as the directly preceding or following consonant
*Rhotacization: ''or'' /ɚ/, ''ar'' /ä˞/ (compare ''oŕ'' /ər/~/r/ and ''aŕ'' /är/)  
**Close-to-mid vowels (''e, i, u, o, ''and'' ó'') are always nasalized between two nasals, and all vowels are after short ''ng'': ''mónge'' /mɔ̃ŋẽ/ (indeed). Nasalization does not occur with open vowels (''a'' and ''é'') between nasals or with any vowel after a long ''ńg'': ''dothé naańgé'' /dəˈθɛˑ nä:ŋ:ɛˑ/ (O sweaty man!).
**Nasalization does not occur simultaneously with rhoticization, except in Fanish dialect (near the border of Negovia): ''karon'' → ''karn'' /kæ̃˞/ (soup)
*Rhotacization: ''or'' /ɚ/, ''ar'' /ä˞/ (compare ''oŕ'' [ər]~[r̩] and ''aŕ'' /är/)  
**Nasalization does not occur simultaneously with rhoticization, except in Fanish dialect (near the border of Negovia): ''karon'' → ''karn'' [kæ̃˞:] (soup)


===Consonant form===
===Consonant form===
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Apophony in the '''stressed syllable''' is used for example to express adjective gender and to create different verb forms.
Apophony in the '''stressed syllable''' is used for example to express adjective gender and to create different verb forms.


'''Full'''
{|class="bluetable lightbluebg"
*First:
|+Apophony
**e→é, o→ø, a→æ, u→i
|-
**ai→ei, ou→oi
!Root
*Second:
!1st
**e→ee, o→ó, a→aa, u→uu
!2nd
**ai→ii, ou→óo
|-
 
|e
'''Partial'''
|ee
*When root contains vowels ''é, ó, i, æ'' or diphthongs ''ei, oi'', the apophony is only partial: ''luwidh, luwidh, luwuudh''
|é
*With ''ø'' and long vowels, all forms are usually the same. Formal register uses ''ée'' as the second apophony of ''ee''.
|-
|o
|ó
|-
|a
|aa
|-
|u
|uu
|i
|-
|ai
|ii
|ei
|-
|ou
|óo
|oi
|}


*When the stressed root syllable has vowel ''ee, ó, aa, uu, ii'' or ''óo'' as nucleus, the apophony is only partial. ''joqódh''>''joqødh'' (disgusting)
*With ''é, ø, æ, i, ei'' or ''oi'' as root vowels, all forms are the same, e.g. ''luwidh'' (beautiful). Only formal register uses ''ée'' as the second apophony of ''é''.


==Orthography==
==Orthography==
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[[File:Sceptrian.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Toneka script from the early sixth era. Notice that the vowel form info-box romanization should have "o" instead of "a".]]
[[File:Sceptrian.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Toneka script from the early sixth era. Notice that the vowel form info-box romanization should have "o" instead of "a".]]
[[File:SceptrianTsrnet.JPG|500px|thumb|right|Tsrnet cursive script used for handwriting in modern Sceptre.]]
[[File:SceptrianTsrnet.JPG|500px|thumb|right|Tsrnet cursive script used for handwriting in modern Sceptre.]]
The Sceptrian alphabet script was derived from the ancient temple marks as were the Aoman and Northern (Latin) scripts.  
The Sceptrian alphabet script was derived from the ancient temple marks as were the Aoman and Northern (Latin) scripts. The modern alphabet is called ''Tsoklóp Lushan''.


Diacritics on vowels mark different [[Sceptrian#Vowel_form|sounds]].
Diacritics on vowels mark different [[Sceptrian#Vowel_form|sounds]]. The diacritics may be used with consonants as well, especially in the plural forms of consonant-ending nouns: ''gat̆'' (''gatl'' "houses"), ''doŧ̆'' (''dolth'' "men"). With the diacritics, letter ''ts'' can be lateralized into ''tsl'' or aspirated into ''tsh''.
 
The native Sceptrian script has a long history of being unicameral, not distinguishing between the upper and lower case. Only during the sixth era under the Tyranny of West, the flow of refugees from the Coast of Temples encouraged the introduction of case separation. In the developed fonts, capital letters were derived from the traditional Toneka and small letters from the cursive Tsrnet.


{|class="bluetable lightbluebg"
{|class="bluetable lightbluebg"
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====Old====
====Old====


The old romanization system (or part of it) was used until western regions of Eastern Sceptre were joined with the Western Sceptre empire in 7th era 161, during the war against Empress Renula of Golden Islet. A revision was needed when both Sceptrian and Aoma were used in the same printing press and texts had to be distributed to westlang-using communities.  
The old romanization system (or part of it) was used until western regions of Eastern Sceptre were joined with the Western Sceptre empire in 7th era 161, during the war against Empress Renula of Golden Islet. A revision was needed when both Sceptrian and Aoma were used in the same printing press and texts had to be distributed to westlang-using communities. Peter Martyea suggested in 7:189 that the payment according to number of pages may have favoured quick adaptation as the non-diacritic system induced much longer texts (see the comparison example).


Consonants:
Consonants:
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*Old: Ǧëǩ śošēŧã  
*Old: Ǧëǩ śošēŧã  
*Modern: Glerkl shosleethan (maces of a knight)
*Modern: Glerkl shosleethan (maces of a knight)


==Morphology==
==Morphology==


The most complete study of the structure of modern Sceptrian words was recently done by Porutingatu of Jerzónó in year 362 of the seventh era. She collected, grouped and analyzed the fusional morphemes and listed the new rules to replace the outdated writings from the sixth era. By 370, her work had led to a new interest in linguistics and ultimately to the founding of ''Tsagadhet Keping Batom Lushan'' (Bureau of the Purity of the Sceptrian Language) which has been unifying and regulating the language along with its orthography since then.
The most complete study of the structure of pre-modern Sceptrian words was done by Porutingatu of Jerzónó in year 362 of the seventh era. She collected, grouped and analyzed the fusional morphemes and listed the new rules to replace the outdated writings from the sixth era. By 370, her work had led to a new interest in linguistics and ultimately to the founding of ''Tsagadhet Keping Batom Lushan'' (Bureau of the Purity of the Sceptrian Language) which has been unifying and regulating the language along with its orthography since then.


Sceptrian utilizes [[w:Fusional_language|fusional]] [[w:Inflection|inflections]] and has an [[w:Ergative–absolutive_language|absolutive-ergative]] [[w:Morphosyntactic_alignment|morphosyntactic alignment]]. The language is rather [[w:Head-directionality_parameter|head-initial]] and its primary [[w:Word_order|word order]] is verb-agent-object.
Sceptrian utilizes [[w:Fusional_language|fusional]] [[w:Inflection|inflections]] and has an [[w:Ergative–absolutive_language|absolutive-ergative]] [[w:Morphosyntactic_alignment|morphosyntactic alignment]]. The language is rather [[w:Head-directionality_parameter|head-initial]] and its primary [[w:Word_order|word order]] is verb-agent-object.
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===Pronouns===
===Pronouns===


Pronouns are used to refer people or things. In Sceptrian, they exist in two numbers and are inflected according to six [[Sceptrian#Cases|'''cases''']].  
Pronouns are used to refer to e.g. people or things in sentences instead of using the original nouns. In Sceptrian, they exist in two numbers and are inflected according to six [[Sceptrian#Cases|'''cases''']].  


====Personal====
====Personal====
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|-
|-
!COM
!COM
| nas || mosh || fos || posh || Nithos || Withosh || thas || sus || slosh || his || klosh
| nas || mosh || fos || posh || Nithos || Withosh ||thas ||sus ||slosh || his ||klosh
|-
|-
!CAU
!CAU
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*As a determiner, the demonstrative follows its head and other adjectives: ''Bouson qot ka.'' (This rock is falling.) ''Anzaitlon qoth rkildh kla.'' (I'm lifting these brown rocks.)
*As a determiner, the demonstrative follows its head and other adjectives: ''Bouson qot ka.'' (This rock is falling.) ''Anzaitlon qoth rkildh kla.'' (I'm lifting these brown rocks.)
*For inanimate class, the pronoun is the same as the demonstrative word: ''Qot ka.'' (This is a rock.) ''Rkidh qot ka.'' (This rock is brown.) ''Qoth rkildh klo.'' (Those are brown rocks.)  
*For inanimate class, the pronoun is the same as the demonstrative word: ''Qot ka.'' (This is a rock.) ''Rkidh qot ka.'' (This rock is brown.) ''Qoth rkildh klo.'' (Those are brown rocks.)  
*The determiner may precede its head and is then followed by a short pause. In this case, the "head" can rather be considered an attribute of the pronoun: ''Bouson ko qot.'' (That's falling, the rock, I mean.)  
*The determiner may precede its head and is then followed by a short pause. In this case, the head acts more like a specifying comment on the true sentence subject: ''Bouson ko qot.'' (That's falling, the rock, I mean.)  


See also the [[Sceptrian#Table_of_correlatives|table of correlatives]].
See also the [[Sceptrian#Table_of_correlatives|table of correlatives]].
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|-
|-
!Comitative
!Comitative
| shos || kas || kos || jofos || otos || orkos || zeos || sos
| shos ||kas || kos || jofos || otos || orkos ||zeos || sos
|-
|-
!Causal
!Causal
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===Nouns===
===Nouns===


Nouns in Sceptrian form the basis of derivational morphology. They are declined according to two numbers and nine cases, and the seven declensions are grouped in three genders which affect the verb conjugation and adjective agreement.
Nouns in Sceptrian form the basis of derivational morphology and even the cases are utilized when forming new words. They are declined according to two numbers and nine cases, and the seven declensions are grouped in three genders which affect the verb conjugation and adjective agreement.


====Gender====
====Gender====


There are three grammatical genders or classes, abstract, animate and inanimate, which can be fully recognized from their singular dative form endings, ''k'', ''i'' and ''ei''. The seven declensional patterns or simply declensions, which are determined by their absolutive ending, are distributed among these classes.
There are three grammatical genders or classes, abstract, animate and inanimate, which can be fully recognized from their singular dative form endings, ''k'', ''i'' and ''ei''. The seven declensional patterns or simply declensions, which are determined by their absolutive ending, are distributed among these classes.
*Abstract (Ab) class contains concepts, emotions, divine and magical subjects, verb forms etc., and they end in either vowel ''a'', ''ó'' or ''i''.  
*Abstract (Ab) class contains concepts, emotions, divine and magical subjects, verb forms etc., and they end in vowels ''a, æ, o, ó, ø'' and ''i''.  
*Animate (An) class is preserved for nouns related to living things, e.g. people, animals, body parts, plants and comestibles, whose ending is either a fricative (''f, th, s, sh, h''), nasal (''m, n, ng'') or vowel ''u''. Mass nouns, such as meat, milk and food, have nasal endings.
*Animate (An) class is preserved for nouns related to living things, e.g. people, animals, body parts, plants and comestibles, whose ending is either a fricative (''f, th, s, sh, h'', same voiced and affricates), nasal (''m, n, ng'') or vowel ''u''. Mass nouns, such as meat, milk and food, have nasal endings.
*Inanimate (In) class has nouns such as objects, places and natural formations whose endings are either plosives (''p, t, k'') or consonant ''l''. Inanimate mass nouns, e.g. sand, salt and water, appear in the ''l''-ending group.  
*Inanimate (In) class has nouns such as objects, places and natural formations whose endings are either plosives (''p, t, k'') or consonant ''l''. Inanimate mass nouns, e.g. sand, salt and water, appear in the ''l''-ending group.
In official language, animate gender doesn't draw a distinction between masculine and feminine so that ''ras'' (horse) can stand for both "stallion" and "mare". If one wishes to emphasize the gender on a binary scale, clitics ''-duus'' and ''-tu'' may be added: ''gutsduus'' (bull). Some archaic words remain in dialects and in poetic use.


====Number====
====Number====
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*Possessive (POS): Inalienable possession ''dhoku dothor'' (the man's head)
*Possessive (POS): Inalienable possession ''dhoku dothor'' (the man's head)
*Instrumental-comitative (INS): Using something; "with someone", replaces "and" as Latin [[wikt:-que|-que]]; in antipassive constructions
*Instrumental-comitative (INS): Using something; "with someone", replaces "and" as Latin [[wikt:-que|-que]]; in antipassive constructions
*Lative (LAT): Movement to (+sublative (surface))
*Lative (LAT): Movement to; with adpositions
*Locative-temporal (LOC-TEMP): Place (+superessive); time (when/duration...verb telicity); with some adpositions
*Locative-temporal (LOC-TEMP): Place; time; with adpositions
*Ablative (ABL): Movement from (+delative); causal construction with particle ''...''
*Ablative (ABL): Movement from (+delative); causal
*Vocative (VOC): addressing (people, gods); interjections ''Alæ!'' (Hello! lit. "Day!")
*Vocative (VOC): addressing (people, gods); interjections ''Alæ!'' (Hello! lit. "Day!")


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| An || Ang || ing || For || Foŕ || Nor || Noŕ || ur || uŕ || -N || Pong || lon
| An || Ang || ing || For || Foŕ || Nor || Noŕ || ur || uŕ || -N || Pong || lon
|-
|-
! style=""| Instrumantal-comitative  
! style=""| Instrumental-comitative  
| Ah || Ash || ish || Fos || Fosh || Nos || Nosh || uh || ush || Ph || Ps || -dh
| Ah || Ash || ish || Fos || Fosh || Nos || Nosh || uh || ush || Ph || Ps || -dh
|-
|-
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| Ae || Asl || ii || Fé || lFé || Né || Nin || -wé || -wésh || Pé || Plé || lé
| Ae || Asl || ii || Fé || lFé || Né || Nin || -wé || -wésh || Pé || Plé || lé
|}
|}
*''A'': vowels ''a'' and ''ó'' with nouns and ''o'' with adjectives
*''A'': vowels ''a, æ, o, ó'' and ''ø''
**Ae: ae = æ, óe = ø & oe=é
**Ae: ae = æ, æe = ææ, oe=é, óe = ø & øe = øø
*''F'': fricatives ''f, th, s, sh'' and ''h''; voiced counterparts and affricates ''ts'' and ''tsh'' are followed by ''o'' before plosive endings.  
*''F'': fricatives ''f, th, s, sh'' and ''h''; voiced counterparts and affricates ''ts, tsl'' and ''tsh'' are followed by ''o'' before plosive endings.  
*''N'': nasals ''n, m'' and ''ng''
*''N'': nasals ''n, m'' and ''ng''
*''P'': plosives ''p, t, k'' and ''q''
*''P'': plosives ''p, t, k'' and ''q''
**POS ''q''→''ng''
**POS ''q''→''ng''
**INS ending Ph marks breathy voice and may turn the plosive into corresponding fricative /ɸ, θ, x, χ/ if followed by a plosive.
**INS ending Ph marks breathy voice and may turn the plosive into corresponding fricative /ɸ, θ, x, χ/ if followed by a plosive.
*- indicates that the original ending is replaced with the following: ''tup → tu'''n''''' (stick → stick's)
*- indicates that the original ending is replaced with the following: ''tup → tu'''m''''' (stick → stick's)


====Possessive affixes====  
====Possessive====  


Possessive affixes draw a distinction between alienable and inalienable possession: ''Óntesoson dothee gat'''s'''/vakuh'''oz'''.'' (A man is watching his house/ his own hand.)
Different possessive forms and interpretations:  
*Interpretations: ''gat dothi'' (the house which the man has temporarily settled in = rented), ''doth gathos(os)'' (man with his house which he has purchased), ''gat dothor'' (the house which was inherited and is now owned by the man). Only the head is declined.
*''Dativus possessivus'' (alienable): ''gat doth'''i''''' "the house which the man has temporarily settled in, i.e. rented"
*Comitative case with alienable possessive suffix: ''doth gat''h'''''os''''' "man with his house which he has purchased"
**Inalienable possessive suffix alters the meaning: ''doth gat''h'''''ozh''''' "man and his birthplace"
*Possessive case (almost inalienable): ''gat doth'''or''''' "the house which was inherited and is now owned by the man".
 
The noun in possessive case is not inflected further. With dative case, inflection may be utilized in order to distinguish the ''dativus possessivus'' from the indirect object or benefactive: ''Onzaiton pof tuph dothish slokli.'' "The feather is being lifted with a man's stick for them." (Related to the feather ceremony when welcoming upper class members to a household.)
 
'''Possessive affixes''', as shown in examples above, draw a distinction between alienable and inalienable possession: ''Óntesoson dothee gat'''s'''/vakuh'''oz'''.'' (A man is watching his house/ his own hand.) With the basic suffixes, the root is inflected first and then suffixed.


{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg"
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg"
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*Example: ''gat'''atha'''pa'' (from Your house)
*Example: ''gat'''atha'''pa'' (from Your house)


See [[Sceptrian#Non-finite_forms|non-finite verb forms]] which utilize some possessive suffixes in adverbial clauses <-- something from Aoma (lettex) & Finnish (kävellessäni)
See [[Sceptrian#Adverbial_clauses|adverbial clauses]] which utilize some possessive suffixes with [[Sceptrian#Non-finite_forms|non-finite verb forms]].


===Adpositions===
===Adpositions===
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Many nouns share same origins and these endings are the most common forms of derivation:
Many nouns share same origins and these endings are the most common forms of derivation:
*Suffixing verbs with once established ending vowels or consonant appropriate for the noun class.
*place, region, nearby area: abstract with LOC with ''sk''-ending; fricative and ''u''-ending ABS.PL with final ''t''; nasal ABS.PL with final ''ku''; plosive ABS.PL and ''l''-declension receive an ''s''-suffix
*place, region, nearby area: abstract with LOC with ''sk''-ending; fricative and ''u''-ending ABS.PL with final ''t''; nasal ABS.PL with final ''ku''; plosive ABS.PL and ''l''-declension receive an ''s''-suffix
*collection, group: ABS.PL receives ''óf'' in animate ''óp'' in inanimate class; ''mulfóf'' (school of fish)
*collection, group: ABS.PL receives ''óf'' in animate, ''óp'' in inanimate class; ''mulfóf'' (school of fish)
**Archaic forms also add the prefix ''kl''
*being, person, creature: ABS with ''(o)s'': ''trs'' (smith; compare ''trk'' "smithy")
*being, person, creature: ABS with ''(o)s'': ''trs'' (smith; compare ''trk'' "smithy")
**doer, agent: ERG with ''tu'': ''kepeetu'' (washer)
**doer, agent: ERG with ''tu'': ''kepeetu'' (washer)
**experiencer, patient: ABS with ''(k)ois'': ''kepois'' (one being washed)
**experiencer, patient: ABS with ''(k)ois'' or ''(k)oit'' depending on animacy: ''kepois'' (person being washed)
**origin: ABL with ''(o)su'': ''ukopposu'' (person from north)
**origin: ABL with ''(o)su'': ''ukopposu'' (person from north)
**characteristic (from abstract quality): INS with final duplicated vowel and ''tu'': ''luwishitu'' (beauty)
**characteristic (from abstract quality): INS with final duplicated vowel and ''tu'': ''luwishitu'' (beauty)
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A declined core noun receives an ending which describes how the verb reflects the noun:
A declined core noun receives an ending which describes how the verb reflects the noun:
*In some cases, the vowel ending of nouns may simply be removed or the absolutive of a consonant-ending noun may also serve as a verb.
*ABS = "happens, is": ''kep'' (is washed)
*ABS = "happens, is": ''kep'' (is washed)
*COM = "using": ''tuph'' (is poked with a stick), ''glerkh'' (is hit with a mace)
*COM = "using": ''tuph'' (is poked with a stick), ''glerkh'' (is hit with a mace)
*POS + ''k'' = "similarity": ''melonk'' (is wet)
*POS + ''k'' = "similarity": ''melonk'' (is wet)
*DAT + ''k'' = "making/becoming" (no ''k'' with Abstract): ''zurmu'' → ''zurmjik'' (strong person → is strengthened), ''zurp'' → ''zurpeik'' (strong, durable object → hardens) & ''zurma'' → ''zurmak'' (strength → intensifies)
*DAT + ''k'' = "making/becoming" (no ''k'' with Abstract): ''zurmu'' → ''zurmjik'' (strong person → is strengthened), ''zurp'' → ''zurpeik'' (strong, durable object → hardens) & ''zurma'' → ''zurmak'' (strength → intensifies)
*LAT + ''t'' = "movement": ''glerkóot'' (swings a mace, INTR), ''melot'' (flows)
*LAT + ''t'' = "movement, quasi-inceptive": ''glerkóot'' (swings a mace, INTR), ''melot'' (flows), ''latepóot'' (is persuaded to dance, INTR; begins a dance with, TR), ''lehkot'' (runs)  
*LOC + ''r'' = "frequentative": ''glerkur'' (is battered with a mace), ''melur'' (rains; drips)
*LOC + ''r'' = "frequentative": ''glerkur'' (is battered with a mace), ''melur'' (rains; drips)
*VOC + ''k'' = "momentane": ''glerkék'' (is hit once with a mace), ''melék'' (splashes once)
*VOC + ''k'' = "momentane": ''glerkék'' (is hit once with a mace), ''melék'' (splashes once)
*POS + ''(o)v'' = "consider, feel": ''vongv'' (is considered strange = ''oudoksutaan'' in Finnish)
*POS + ''(o)v'' = "consider, feel": ''vongv'' (is considered strange = ''oudoksutaan'' in Finnish)
* Several endings can be stacked on verbs without turning it into a noun in between: ''melurék'' (shower of rain falls), ''tup(o)hkur'' (is often poked with a stick). When deriving, the ''r''-ending are declined according to the ''l''-paradigm.


===Adjectives===
===Adjectives===


Adjectives in Sceptrian agree with the gender, number and cases of their head. When an adjective is used as a predicative, it comes before its head, but when as an attributive, it comes after. Adjective declension follows approximately the same rules as noun declension. Changes in casual speech include mirroring onset into coda: ''notlu luwidh'''ulk''''' (at/near beautiful objects)
Adjectives in Sceptrian agree with the gender, number and cases of their head. When an adjective is used as a predicative, it comes before its head, but when as an attributive, it comes after. Adjective declension follows approximately the same rules as [[Sceptrian#Cases|noun declension]]. In the common ''dh''-ending F-declension, ''o'' is added between ''dh'' and case-endings with consonants. Changes in both casual and poetic speech include mirroring onset into coda: ''dothklu jadaadh'''ulk''''' (near nice men)
 
{|class="bluetable lightbluebg"
|+DH-declension
! !! ABS !! ERG !! DAT !! POS !! INS !! LAT !! LOC !! ABL !! VOC
|-
!SG
|dh || dhee || dhi || dhor || dhos || dh'''ok''' || dh'''uk''' || dh'''op''' || dhé
|-
!PL
| ldh(o) || dhele || dhil || dhoŕ || dhosh || dh'''olk''' || dh'''ulk''' || dh'''olp''' || ldhé
|}
 


[[Sceptrian#Apophony|Apophony]] in the stressed syllable is used to indicate the gender: base for inanimate, first apophony with animate and second with abstract gender: ''eja luwuudh, doth luwidh, tes luwidh''
[[Sceptrian#Apophony|Apophony]] in the stressed syllable is used to indicate the gender: base for inanimate, first apophony with animate and second with abstract gender: ''eja jadædh, doth jadaadh, latep jadadh''  


Polite adjectives are formed from the abstract form with predicative prefix ''nga'' and attributive suffix ''æ'': ''ngaluwuudh Nith'' (You are beautiful), ''shosleetha luwuudhæ'' (a beautiful knight)
Polite adjectives are formed from the abstract form with predicative prefix ''nga'' and attributive suffix ''æ'': ''ngaluwidh Nith'' (You are beautiful), ''shosleetha luwidhæ'' (a beautiful knight)


====Comparison====
====Comparison====
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*When two nouns are found equal in comparison, ''ii'' begins the clause, positive is placed before the primary noun (focus) in dative case and preposition ''oil'' (as) with final secondary noun in causative-ablative case (forming exessive): ''Ii luwidh foki oil supe.'' ("Same beautiful for you from the state of being her." You are as beautiful as she is.)
*When two nouns are found equal in comparison, ''ii'' begins the clause, positive is placed before the primary noun (focus) in dative case and preposition ''oil'' (as) with final secondary noun in causative-ablative case (forming exessive): ''Ii luwidh foki oil supe.'' ("Same beautiful for you from the state of being her." You are as beautiful as she is.)
*Negating happens with ''ze'' being joined to the ''ii'' particle.
*Negating happens with ''ze'' being joined to the ''ii'' particle.
*When comparing amounts, ''fadh'' (many, much) and ''fidh'' (few, little) are used in place of the adjective and inflected according to their head, the primary noun is now in absolutive plural, no preposition is used and the secondary noun is in comitative: ''Ii fældh dolth lutush.'' (As many men as women.)  
*When comparing amounts, ''fadh'' (many, much) and ''fidh'' (few, little) are used in place of the adjective and inflected according to their head, the primary noun is now in absolutive plural, no preposition is used and the secondary noun is in comitative: ''Ii faaldh dolth lutush.'' (As many men as women.)  


'''Comparative''' (more than) is identical to the vocative of positive adjective: ''luwidhé'' (more beautiful). Suffixed with ''ti'', the comparative gains a meaning of "less": ''luwidhéti'' (less beautiful).  
'''Comparative''' (more than) is identical to the vocative of positive adjective: ''luwidhé'' (more beautiful). Suffixed with ''ti'', the comparative gains a meaning of "less": ''luwidhéti'' (less beautiful).  
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===Adverbs===
===Adverbs===


Adverbs are derived from adjectives through second apophony and their genitive form being suffixed with ''é'': ''zaivie luwuudhoré''
Adverbs are derived from adjectives through second apophony of the singular vocative form: ''zaivia jadædhé'' (I sing pleasantly)
 
Placed after adjectives and verbs: ''luwidh óomidhé'' (very beautiful < "largely")
 
'''Comparative adverb''' is formed by changing the vocative ending ''é'' into ''ei'': ''zaivió jadædhei'' (she sings more pleasantly)


Placed after adjective: ''luwidh óomidhoré'' (very beautiful < "largely")
'''Superlative adverb''' is similar to adjective superlative in its reduplication but with an ''æ''-ending: ''zaivie jadædhédhæ'' (you sing most pleasantly)


===Verbs===
===Verbs===
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*"to be": apposition ''trs doth'' (a man is a smith) vs. ''doth trs'' (the smith-man, the smith (who) is a man) and ''Berats trs'' (Berats, the smith, ...) vs. ''trs Berats'' (Berats is a smith); predicative before ''luwidh doth'' (a man is beautiful) vs. attributive after ''doth luwidh'' (a beautiful man)
*"to be": apposition ''trs doth'' (a man is a smith) vs. ''doth trs'' (the smith-man, the smith (who) is a man) and ''Berats trs'' (Berats, the smith, ...) vs. ''trs Berats'' (Berats is a smith); predicative before ''luwidh doth'' (a man is beautiful) vs. attributive after ''doth luwidh'' (a beautiful man)
**Emphasizing ''ma'': ''trs dothma'' (it is the man who is a smith)
**Emphasizing ''ma'': ''trs dothma'' (it is the man who is a smith)
**Temporal adverbs, such as ''ta'ikhi'' (in the past), indicate when something was or will be.
**Showing tense-aspect:
***temporal adverbs, such as ''ta'ikhi'' (in the past)
***subject person and tense verb conjugation on adjective
***momentane verb derived from an adjective in past or future tense
***"become" verb derivation -> "will be"
**Vernacularly, [[Sceptrian#Table_of_correlatives|proximal demonstrative pronouns]] are used as copulae with corresponding grammatical gender: ''Trs saitu Berats.'' ("Smith this Berats." Berats is a smith.)
* "to have": various [[Sceptrian#Possessive_affixes|possessive forms]], e.g. ''soput trsor dothi'' ("profession of a smith for the man")
* "to have": various [[Sceptrian#Possessive_affixes|possessive forms]], e.g. ''soput trsor dothi'' ("profession of a smith for the man")


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=====Root=====
=====Root=====


Verbs are given in their 3SG.INAN GNO form which is used to form all of the third person forms. First and second person forms use the first apophony in indicative inceptive and future. Polite second person forms use the second apophony
Verbs are given in their 3SG.INAN GNO form which is used to form all of the third person forms. With first and second person subjects, the first apophony is used in indicative inceptive and future. Polite second person forms use the second apophony


=====Affixes=====
=====Affixes=====
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|+Subject/object suffixes for tense and aspect
|+Subject/object suffixes for tense and aspect
|-
|-
!Tense  
!Tense !!Aspect !!1SG !!1PL !!2SG !!2PL !!2SG.POL !!2PL.POL !!3SG.A !!3PL.A !!3SG.INAN !!3PL.INAN
!Aspect
!1SG
!1PL
!2SG
!2PL
!2SG.POL
!2PL.POL
!3SG.A
!3PL.A
!3SG.INAN
!3PL.INAN
|-
|-
!colspan="2"|GNO-STAT
!colspan="2"|GNO-STAT
| a
| a || ha || e || he || ahi || aqhi || ó || hó || (o) || l
| ha
| e
| he
| ahi
| aqhi
| ó
| hó
| (o)
| l
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"|PRES
! rowspan="2"|PRES
!PROG
!PROG
| an
| an || han || en || hen || ang || aing || ón || hón || on || lon
| han
| en
| hen
| ang
| aing
| ón
| hón
| on  
| lon
|-
|-
!INCEP
!INCEP
| ast
| ast || last || est || lest || æst || hæst || ós || lós || os || osl
| last
| est
| lest
| æst
| hæst
| ós
| lós
| os
| osl
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"| PST
! rowspan="2"| PST
! IPFV
! IPFV
| ajin
| ajin || hajin || ejin || hejin || azing || izing || ójin || hójin || oin || loin
| hajin
| ejin
| hejin
| azing
| izing
| ójin
| hójin
| oin
| loin
|-
|-
!PFV
!PFV
| ai
| ai || hai || ei || hei || athi || idhi || óji || hóji || oi || loi
| hai
| ei
| hei
| athi
| idhi
| óji
| hóji
| oi
| loi
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| FUT
! colspan="2"| FUT
| har
| har || +har || her || +her || athar || idhar || hór || +hór || ho || +ho
| +har
| her
| +her
| athar
| idhar
| hór
| +hór
| ho
| +ho
|}
|}
* initial ''l'' in endings is for lateralization of the final plosive
* initial ''l'' in endings is for lateralization of the final plosive
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*+ indicates voicing of the final consonant together with aspiration
*+ indicates voicing of the final consonant together with aspiration
**simple ''h'' becomes ''qh''
**simple ''h'' becomes ''qh''
*Formal register draws a distinction between abstract and animate genders by adding ''wa'' directly after the ''ó'' of animate and removing the ''j'' from past perfective. Same can be done with agent prefixes. ''Glerkóotówajin shosleetha.'' (A knight was swinging a mace.)
*Formal register draws a distinction between abstract and animate genders by adding ''wa'' directly after the ''ó'' of animate and removing the ''j'' from past perfective. Same can be done with agent prefixes. ''Glerkøtówajin shosleetha.'' (A knight was swinging a mace.) Note the second apophony due to the abstract gender.


{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg"
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg"
|+Agent prefixes for tense and aspect
|+Agent prefixes for tense and aspect
|-
|-
!Tense  
!Tense !!Aspect !!1SG !!1PL !!2SG !!2PL !!2SG.POL !!2PL.POL !!3SG.A !!3PL.A !!3SG.INAN !!3PL.INAN
!Aspect
!1SG
!1PL
!2SG
!2PL
!2SG.POL
!2PL.POL
!3SG.A
!3PL.A
!3SG.INAN
!3PL.INAN
|-
|-
!colspan="2"|GNO-STAT
!colspan="2"|GNO-STAT
| a
| a || sa || e || se || æ || hæ || ó || só || o || lo
| sa
| e
| se
| æ
| hæ
| ó
| só
| o
| lo
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"|PRES
! rowspan="2"|PRES
!PROG
!PROG
| an
| an || san || en || sen || nga || ngai || ón || són || on || lon
| san
| en
| sen
| nga
| ngai
| ón
| són
| on  
| lon
|-
|-
!INCEP
!INCEP
| tsa
| tsa || tsla || tse || tsle || tsæ || tshæ || tsó || tsló || so || slo
| tsla
| tse
| tsle
| tsæ
| tshæ
| tsó
| tsló
| so
| slo
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"| PST
! rowspan="2"| PST
! IPFV
! IPFV
| jan
| jan || zhan || jen || zhen || izæ || izhæ || jón || zhón || i || li
| zhan
| jen
| zhen
| izæ
| izhæ
| jón
| zhón
| i
| li
|-
|-
!PFV
!PFV
| ai
| ai || sai || ei || sei || thæ || dhæ || jó || zhó || oi || loi
| sai
| ei
| sei
| thæ
| dhæ
| jó
| zhó
| oi
| loi
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| FUT
! colspan="2"| FUT
| ar
| ar || sar || er || ser || thar || dhar || ór || sór || or || lor
| sar
| er
| ser
| thar
| dhar
| ór
| sór
| or
| lor
|}
|}
*Affixes may be separated from border vowels of verbs with a glottal stop or reduplicated initial consonant (unless risk of confusion with subjunctive): ''Ai(v)eva(v)oi.'' (I illuminated it.)
*Affixes may be separated from border vowels of verbs with a glottal stop or reduplicated initial consonant (unless risk of confusion with subjunctive): ''Ai(v)eva(v)oi.'' (I illuminated it.)
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====Aspect====
====Aspect====


Gnomic-static aspect is used to indicate general truths (sun rises) and static situations (I can speak English). It can be used with expressions of time to specify when something was static ("Clothes-on-me these yesterday")
Gnomic-static aspect is used to indicate general truths ''Zaitó Hala.'' (sun rises) and static situations ''Mépa lusha.'' (I can speak Sceptrian). It can be used with expressions of time to specify when something was static ''Petsipha kas arakha.'' (dress-STAT.1SG this.COM yesterday.TEMP "I was dressed in these clothes yesterday (as well).")


Present progressive describes dynamic actions (I'm reading English at the moment). Present inceptive is used when an action is about to begin or someone is starting to do something.
Present progressive describes dynamic actions ''Anbaplóph lusha kha.'' (I'm reading Sceptrian at the moment). Present inceptive is used when an action is about to begin or someone is starting to do something.
*Inceptive is only used once: Subject inceptive with intransitive and agent inceptive with translative verbs. Object ending is either PRES.PROG, when something was begun only a moment ago, or FUT, when something is about to begin.
*Inceptive is only used once: Subject inceptive with intransitive and mostly agent inceptive with translative verbs. Object ending is either PRES.PROG, when something was begun only a moment ago, or FUT, when something is about to begin.
**Translative object inceptive if the object caused the initialization: ''Órlateepast.'' (He is about to take me to dancing through my initiative.)
   
   
Past imperfective is used with continuous activities which were happening before the present. The contrasting perfective aspect describes the event as a whole and having an endpoint in the past.
Past imperfective is used with continuous activities which were happening before the present. The contrasting perfective aspect describes the event as a whole and having an endpoint in the past.
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In future tense, no aspects are distinguished, but rather non-finite forms are used.
In future tense, no aspects are distinguished, but rather non-finite forms are used.


Endings with different tenses may be mixed:
Endings with different tenses and aspects may be mixed in some cases:
*PRES retrospective: PST.PFV+verb+STAT: ''ai-tesos-Ø næ ka'' (I've seen this), ''ai-latep-a næ'' (I've taken myself dancing)  
*PRES retrospective: PST.PFV+verb+STAT: ''ai-tesos-Ø næ ka'' (I've seen this), ''ai-latep-a næ'' (I've taken myself dancing)  
*PRES prospective: PRES.INCEP+verb(+FUT): ''tsa-latép(-ar) (I'm starting to dance (and I'll be doing it for a while))
*PRES prospective: PRES.INCEP+verb(+FUT): ''tsa-lateep(-ar) (I'm starting to dance (and I'll be doing it for a while))


====Mood====
====Mood====


Moods express speaker's attitude towards the subject or their knowledge of it.
Moods express speaker's attitude towards the subject or their knowledge of it. They are divided into realis and irrealis moods: the former expresses factual statements while the latter indicates that an event hasn't taken place or the speaker is uncertain of a situation.


=====Realis=====
=====Realis=====


'''Gnomic'''-static verb form can be considered representing gnomic mood since it can't be used with other moods: ''Zait Hala uraha.'' (Sun rises tomorrow as well)
'''Gnomic'''-static verb form can be considered representing gnomic mood since it can't be used with other moods: ''Zaitó Hala urakha.'' (Sun rises tomorrow as well)


'''Indicative''' is the basic mood which is used for factual statements: ''Latepar urakha.'' (I'll dance tomorrow.)
'''Indicative''' is the basic mood which is used for supposedly factual statements: ''Latepar urakha.'' (I'll dance tomorrow.)


=====Irrealis=====
=====Irrealis=====


'''Interrogative''' is not conjugated, but indicated through rising pitch and changing primary stress onto the first syllable. Formal register uses the particle ''shóo'' which is placed after the verb: ''¿Rotlast shóo?'' (Shall we go?)
'''Interrogative''' is not conjugated, but indicated through rising pitch and changing primary stress onto the first syllable. Formal register uses the particle ''shóo'' which is placed after the verb: ''¿Rotlast shóo?'' (Shall we go?)
*The change in stress does not affect the apophony.


'''Imperative''' is the first apophony of base form (3SG.INAN GNO). It is used for commanding and may be accompanied by vocatives: ''Røt posné!'' (Go, O servant of mine!)  
'''Imperative''' is the first apophony of base form (3SG.INAN GNO). It is used for commanding and may be accompanied by vocatives: ''Rót posné!'' (Go, O servant of mine!)  
*The softer imperative is derived from the base with an ''r'' being added before present inceptive conjugated for person and number: ''Røtrest fo.'' (You should leave.). It is used as a hortative as well: ''Røtrlast!'' (Let's go!)
*The softer imperative is derived from the base with an ''r'' being added before present inceptive conjugated for person and number: ''Rótrest fo.'' (You should leave.). It is used as a hortative as well: ''Rótrlast!'' (Let's go!)
**Alternatively, the ''r'' may be added after the inceptive agent prefix.


'''Subjunctive''' is formed with second apophony and through initial left-to-right reduplication: if consonant-initial, CV body is duplicated, but if vowel-initial, VC part of the first and second syllable is duplicated: '''''la'''lateep'' (may dance), '''''ak'''aktaasos'' (may hear)
'''Subjunctive''' is formed through initial left-to-right reduplication and with second apophony in the original stressed syllable: if consonant-initial, CV body is duplicated, but if vowel-initial, VC part of the first and second syllable is duplicated: '''''la'''latép'' (may dance), '''''ak'''aktæsos'' (may hear), ''rorøt'' (may go)
*The first reduplicated syllable undergoes independent apophony depending on the subject.
*The mood is used when something is uncertain, doubted or wished
*The mood is used when something is uncertain, doubted or wished


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Realis
Realis
*''pai'' mirative (with soft imperative in present): ''Røtóji pai!'' (He went!?)
*''pai'' mirative (with soft imperative in present): ''Rótóji pai!'' (He went!?)
**with adjectives or as an adverb: ''Luwi pai!'' (How beautiful!)  
**with adjectives or as an adverb: ''Luwi pai!'' (How beautiful!)  


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Irrealis
Irrealis
*''norka'' dubitative (with subjunctive): ''Rórótóji norka.'' (I doubt he went.)
*''norka'' dubitative (with subjunctive): ''Rorøtóji norka.'' (I doubt he went.)
*''gana'' volitive (with future subjunctive): ''Lalateepar gana.'' (I wish I could dance.)
*''gana'' volitive (with future subjunctive): ''Lalatépar gana.'' (I wish I could dance.)


Conditional (with subjunctive)
Conditional (with subjunctive)
*''ta'' apodosis: ''Arzaizaither ta'' (I will raise you...)
*''ta'' apodosis: ''Arziizeither ta'' (I will raise you...)
*''-ti-'' infixed between reduplicated form for protasis: ''boutibousen'' (if you fall)
*''-ti-'' infixed between reduplicated form for protasis: ''boutiboisen'' (if you fall)


Hortatives (with soft imperative which itself works as an adhortative or dehortative with negation (unwillingness))
Hortatives (with soft imperative which itself works as an adhortative or dehortative with negation (unwillingness))
*Cohortative: ''Latéprlast kha!'' (Let's dance now!), ''Rótrlastonget khugu.'' (Let's not go there.)
*Cohortative: ''Latéprlast kha!'' (Let's dance now!), ''Rótrlastonget khugu.'' (Let's not go there.)
*''jokæ'' exhortative (inhortative through negation): ''Røtrest jokæ.'' (You really should go.)
*''jokæ'' exhortative (inhortative through negation): ''Rótrest jokæ.'' (You really should go.)


Formal register differences:
'''Formal''' register differences:
*''aktasosai'' (hears) conjugated for hearsay: ''Rótathi aiaktasosóji.'' (I heard from her that you left.)
*''aktasosai'' (hears) conjugated for hearsay: ''Røtathi aiaktasosóji.'' (I heard from her that you left.)
*''tesos'' (sees) conjugated for visual evidentiality: ''Rotóji tesosai.'' (I saw her go.)
*''tesos'' (sees) conjugated for visual evidentiality: ''Rotóji tesosai.'' (I saw her go.)
*''tsmaadhoré'' (doubtfully) used for dubitative
*''tsmaadhoré'' (doubtfully) used for dubitative
*''tutaadhoré'' (wishfully) used for volitive
*''tutaadhoré'' (wishfully) used for volitive
*''alké'' permissive with dative: ''Rotest alké foki.'' (You may leave.)
*''alké'' permissive with dative: ''Rótest alké foki.'' (You may leave.)
**prohibitive with negated (inability) imperative infinitive: ''Rótrostodi alké foki.'' (You aren't allowed to leave.)
**prohibitive with negated (inability) imperative infinitive: ''Rótrostodi alké foki.'' (You aren't allowed to leave.)
*both conditional particles are used separately and they are prefixed with the subjunctive reduplication: ''Arzaizaither zaita boubousen bouti.'' (I will raise you if you fall.)
*both conditional particles are used separately and they are prefixed with the subjunctive reduplication: ''Arziizeither zaita bouboisen bouti.'' (I will raise you if you fall.)


In literature to express the peaking pitch of ironical statements and lowered pitch of sarcastic expressions:
'''In literature''' to express the peaking pitch of ironical statements and lowered pitch of sarcastic expressions:
*''jø'' verbal irony: ''"Luwidh jø hi loi khu" jóbatophoi.'' ("''Beautiful'' day out there" he said.)
*''jø'' verbal irony: ''Jótesosoi melurpi, jóbatophoi "Luwidh jø hi loi khu".'' (He saw the rain and said: "''Beautiful'' day out there")
*''gæ'' sarcasm: ''Uu, eiluwikoi gæ pai.'' (Oh, ''how beautiful'' you made it.)
*''gæ'' sarcasm: ''Uu, eiluwikoi gæ pai.'' (Oh, ''how beautiful'' you made it.)


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|}
|}


Examples: ''Ailat'''ee'''p'''out'''óji.'' (I couldn't dance with him), ''¿Tse''''''latéphar?'' (You don't want to begin dancing with me?)
Examples: ''Ailat'''é'''p'''out'''óji.'' (I couldn't dance with him), ''¿Tse'''fo'''lateephar?'' (You don't want to begin dancing with me?)


'''Honoring negation''' for 2nd person polite forms consists of (second person) negation affixes with second apophony and ''saal''-particle placed after the verb: ''K'''ee'''p'''oz'''athar saal.'' (You'll be unable to wash Yourself, unfortunately.)
'''Honoring negation''' for 2nd person polite forms consists of (second person) negation affixes with root second apophony and ''saal''-particle placed after the verb: ''K'''é'''p'''oz'''athar saal.'' (You'll be unable to wash Yourself, unfortunately.)


Second apophony of negation infixes with subjunctive mood: ''Róthórn'''ó'''rt.'' (He may not be willing to go.)
Second apophony of negation affixes with subjunctive mood: ''Rorøthórn'''ø'''rt.'' (He may not be willing to go.)


====Non-finite forms====
====Non-finite forms====
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Sceptrian participles work as adjectives. Following table shows which "case" and suffix the verb base (or gerund in formal register) takes.
Sceptrian participles work as adjectives. Following table shows which "case" and suffix the verb base (or gerund in formal register) takes.
{|class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="text-align:center"
{|class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="text-align:center"
|+Present participles
|+Present participle suffixes
|-
|-
!
!
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*Future forms with ''or'': ''kephonor'' (will be washed)
*Future forms with ''or'': ''kephonor'' (will be washed)
*Examples shown already in [[Sceptrian#Adjective|derivations]]
*Examples shown already in [[Sceptrian#Adjective|derivations]]
Relative form with word-order and prefix? + formal register particle


====Auxiliary verbs====
====Auxiliary verbs====
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*''tut'' "want" (from ''tuta'' "craving, wish"): ''Tutajin kepoudi his.'' (I wanted to wash it.)
*''tut'' "want" (from ''tuta'' "craving, wish"): ''Tutajin kepoudi his.'' (I wanted to wash it.)
**infinitive in lative case for "want something to be done": ''Tutan kepordiki his.'' (I want it to be washed.)
**infinitive in lative case for "want something to be done": ''Tutan kepordiki his.'' (I want it to be washed.)
**"be going to" (FUT): ''Titar latepordi.'' (I'm going to dance.)
**"be going to" (FUT): ''Tuutar latepordi.'' (I'm going to dance.)
**"wish" (SBJV) mostly as the subjunctive of the absent ''to be''-verb: ''Tutuutan khau fos.'' (I wish you were here)  
**"wish" (SBJV) mostly as the subjunctive of the absent ''to be''-verb: ''Tutitan khau fos.'' (I wish you were here)  
*''mép'' "can, know how to" (dynamic) (from ''mépi'' "skill"): ''Mépa latepodi'' ("I can dance"; notice gnomic-static mood)
*''mép'' "can, know how to" (dynamic) (from ''mépi'' "skill"): ''Mépa latepodi'' ("I can dance"; notice gnomic-static mood)
*''kuut'' "can, may" (deontic / epistemic) (from ''kuutó'' "possibility"): ''Kuutest rotordi.'' (You may leave.), ''Fendógópot kuutó pai.'' (He may unexpectedly be dead.)
*''kuut'' "can, may" (deontic / epistemic) (from ''kuutó'' "possibility"): ''Kuutest rotordi.'' (You may leave.), ''Fendógópot kuutó pai.'' (He may unexpectedly be dead.)
**particle ''nor'' added after the verb for lower possibility i.e. "could, might": ''Fendógópi kuut nor.'' (It might be dead.)
**particle ''nor'' added after the verb for lower possibility i.e. "could, might": ''Fendógópi kuut nor.'' (It might be dead.)
**particle ''ga'' added for "should, must": ''Fendógópi kuut ga.'' (It should be dead, as we wanted.)
**particle ''ga'' added for "should, must": ''Fendógópi kuut ga.'' (It should be dead, as we wanted.)
*''khet'' "must" (deontic) (from ''kheti'' "necessity"): ''Khetan rotodi.'' (I must go now), ''Khetar rotordi.'' (I must go soon)
*''khet'' "must" (deontic) (from ''kheti'' "necessity"): ''Khetan rotodi.'' (I must go now), ''Kheetar rotordi.'' (I must go soon)
*''khurd'' "dare" (from ''khurdi'' "daring"): ''¿Khurde glerkékodi nas?'' (Do you dare hit me with a mace?)
*''khurd'' "dare" (from ''khurdi'' "daring"): ''¿Khurde glerkékodi nas?'' (Do you dare hit me with a mace?)
Mixing tenses:
*''Tutitai latepordi.'' SBJV.want-PST.PFV.1SG dance-INF.FUT "I would've wanted to dance"


====Voice====
====Voice====


Sceptrian distinguishes between two voices, active and antipassive. Passive is very similar to active since Sceptrian is absolutive-ergative, and thus isn't considered a true change in voice. Antipassive is used to reduce the valency of the verbs by removing the object of a transitive clause.
Sceptrian distinguishes between two voices, active and antipassive. Passive is very similar to active since Sceptrian is absolutive-ergative, and thus isn't considered a true change in voice. Antipassive is used to reduce the valency of the verbs by removing the object of a transitive clause.
*Irregularities‽


Active construction: verb-agent-object and verb-object-agent are used so that a comment (rheme) precedes the topic (theme). [[Sceptrian#Emphasizing_clitics|Emphasizing clitics]] are used to mark the topic.   
Active construction: verb-agent-object and verb-object-agent are used so that a comment (rheme) precedes the topic (theme). [[Sceptrian#Emphasizing_clitics|Emphasizing clitics]] are used to mark the topic.   
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}}  
}}  


Passive construction: To demote the agent (ERG), it's either removed or inflected into causal ablative (ABL). Verb circumfix remains untouched.
Passive construction: To demote the agent (ERG), it's either removed or inflected into causal ablative (ABL). Verb is only conjugated for the object.
{{Gloss
{{Gloss
|phrase = Zaiton pof (dothpo).
|phrase = Zaiton pof (dothpo).
Line 1,267: Line 1,152:
}}  
}}  


'''Antipassive''' construction: Agent (ERG) transforms into subject (ABS) and object (ABS) takes the instrumental-comitative (INS) case. Word order becomes SV(O), and the verb is conjugated according to the agent and is suffixed with the emphasizing clitic ''ma'' in the formal register.  
'''Antipassive''' construction: Agent (ERG) transforms into subject (ABS) and object (ABS) takes the instrumental-comitative (INS) case. Word order becomes SV(O), and the verb is conjugated according to the agent only and the stressed syllable undergoes second [[Sceptrian#Apophony|apophony]]. The verb is also suffixed with the emphasizing clitic ''ma'' in the formal register.  
{{Gloss
{{Gloss
|phrase = Doth ónzait(ma) (pofos).
|phrase = Doth ónzeit(ma) (pofos).
|IPA = /dəθ ɔ̃zaɪ̯t(mä) (pəfəs)/
|IPA = /dəθ ɔ̃zei̯t(mä) (pəfəs)/
| morphemes = doth-Ø ón-zait-Ø(/ma) (pof-os)
| morphemes = doth-Ø ón-zeit-Ø(or =ma) (pof-os)
| gloss = man-ABS 3SG.AN.PRES.IPFV-lift-ANTIP(.FORM) (feather-INS)
| gloss = man-ABS ANTIP\3SG.AN.PRES.IPFV-lift-ANTIP(or =ANTIP.FORM) (feather-INS)
| translation = The man is lifting (a feather).  
| translation = The man is lifting (a feather).  
}}
}}
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**''Ónzaiton pof vakuhp dothir.'' (the feather is raised by the man's hand)
**''Ónzaiton pof vakuhp dothir.'' (the feather is raised by the man's hand)
**''Onzaiton pof tuph dothi'''sh''' slokli.'' (The feather is being lifted with a man's stick for them.) Inanimate agent conjugation, and dative of possession is inflected to avoid misinterpretation!
**''Onzaiton pof tuph dothi'''sh''' slokli.'' (The feather is being lifted with a man's stick for them.) Inanimate agent conjugation, and dative of possession is inflected to avoid misinterpretation!
* ''Vakuh ónzait pofos.'' (The hand lifts something, which happens to be a feather)/(someone intentionally lifts a feather with their hand) Notice animate conjugation!
* ''Vakuh ónzeit pofos.'' (The hand lifts something, which happens to be a feather)/(someone intentionally lifts a feather with their hand) Notice animate conjugation!
**''Tup onzait dothpo pofos.'' (The stick, which is being held by a man, lifts something, which happens to be a feather) ABL as causative since inanimate ''tup''.
**''Tup onzeit dothpo pofos.'' (The stick, which is being held by a man, lifts something, which happens to be a feather) ABL as causative since inanimate ''tup''.


===Numerals===
===Numerals===
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|-
|-
!One
!One
| ipi || ip || iphi || liku (whole) || ohu (once) || ipitse (onefold) || ipis (singular) || ipir (dot)   
| ipi || ip || iphi || liku (whole) || ohu (once) || ipitse (onefold) || ipisi (singular) || ipirt (dot)   
|-
|-
!Two  
!Two  
| opi || op || ophi || lopu (half) || ophu (twice) || opitse (twofold) || opis (pair) || opart (line)
| opi || op || ophi || lopu (half) || ophu (twice) || opitse (twofold) || opisi (pair) || opart (line)
|-
|-
!Three
!Three
| oki || ok || okhi || loku || okhu || okitse || okis || okart (triangle)
| oki || ok || okhi || loku || okhu || okitse || okisi || okart (triangle)
|-
|-
!Four
!Four
| óppi || óp || óphi || lóppu || óphu || óphitse || óphis || ópart  
| óppi || óp || óphi || lóppu || óphu || óphitse || óphisi || ópart  
|-
|-
!Five
!Five
| ofi || of || offi || lofu || offu || ofitse || ofis || ofart
| ofi || of || offi || lofu || offu || ofitse || ofisi || ofart
|-
|-
!Six
!Six
| ókki || ók || ókhi || lókku || ókhu || ókhitse || ókhis || ókart
| ókki || ók || ókhi || lókku || ókhu || ókhitse || ókhisi || ókart
|-
|-
!Seven
!Seven
| omi || om || ongi || lomu || ongu || omitse || omis || omart
| omi || om || ongi || lomu || ongu || omitse || omisi || omart
|-
|-
!Eight
!Eight
| ngovi || ngov || ngovvi || longovu || ngovvu || ngovitse || ngovis || jart
| ngovi || ngov || ngovvi || longovu || ngovvu || ngovitse || ngovisi || jart
|-
|-
!Nine
!Nine
| ngoipi || ngoip || ngoiphi || longoipu || ngoiphu || ngoipitse || ngoipis || ngoipart
| ngoipi || ngoip || ngoiphi || longoipu || ngoiphu || ngoipitse || ngoipisi || ngoipart
|-
|-
!Ten
!Ten
| jopi || jop || jophi || lojopu || jophu || jopitse || jopis || jopart
| jopi || jop || jophi || lojopu || jophu || jopitse || jopisi || jopart
|}
|}


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| ngóki
| ngóki
| ngomi  
| ngomi  
| ophungonvi
| ophungovi
| jopomi
| jopomi
| jopingovi
| jopingovi
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===Word order===
===Word order===


*VAO usually, VOA also very common, SV(O) in antipassive
* VAO usually, VOA also very common, SV(O) in antipassive
* often a comment precedes the topic
* numerals precede nouns
* possessives follow nouns
* possessives follow nouns
* predicative adjectives precede and attributive ones come after nouns
* predicative adjectives precede and attributive ones come after nouns
* demonstratives come last


===Emphasizing clitics===
===Emphasizing clitics===


Suffixes ''ma'' (for ABS) and ''noh'' (for ERG) are used to emphasize either the object or the agent: ''Ónzaiton dothee'''noh''' pof.'' (It is the man who's lifting the feather) vs. ''Ónzaiton dothee pof'''ma'''.'' (It is the feather that the man is lifting.). They are also used with verbs in antipassive constructions.
Suffixes ''ma'' (for ABS) and ''noh'' (for ERG) are used to emphasize either the object or the agent: ''Ónzaiton pof dothee'''noh'''.'' (It is the man who's lifting the feather) vs. ''Ónzaiton dothee pof'''ma'''.'' (It is the feather that the man is lifting.). They are also used in nominalized relative clauses and with verbs in antipassive constructions.


When both are used, information conveyed by the verb becomes veritable: ''Józaitoi dotheenoh pofma.'' (I can swear that the man lifted the feather.)  
When both are used, information conveyed by the verb becomes veritable: ''Józaitoi dotheenoh pofma.'' (I can swear that the man lifted the feather.)  
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===Clauses===
===Clauses===


====Independent====
Independent clauses make sense by themselves so that they may form their own sentence.
In Sceptrian, the subject is not necessarily a separate word since the verb can convey both the agent and the object. Thus a single verb can be a complete sentence: ''Ainamoi.'' (It was eaten by me.) However, a full clause may a verbless one as well when the gnomic-static aspect is used or because the languages lacks the verbs "to be" and "to have": ''Ksaru lutu(ma).'' (The woman is a guard.), ''Lutugu ksarushos.'' (Lady has their own guards.)
Traditional Sceptrian language theorists have used the term ''qópó'' (act) when referring to the verb phrase: the main verb, its auxiliaries and particles which wouldn't appear without the verb. It may also refer to the predicative determiners of a verbless clause subject (possibly bearing the emphasizing clitic): e.g. ''ksaru'' (guard) is ''qópó hetson'' ("still" act) of the above example ''Ksaru lutu.''. This may be called predicate in Westlang grammar.
''Betsloi'ó'' (affectee), that is, the absolutive subject-object may be:
*Noun: ''Lehkotón '''kuth'''.'' ('''A dog''' is running.)
*Pronoun: ''Aiteshóji '''slo'''.'' ('''They''' were seen by me.)
*Gerund: ''Apekingvó '''lateppi'''.'' (I enjoy '''dancing'''.)
*Another clause: ''Aitésoutóji, '''skugu rorøtóji'''.'' (I couldn't see, '''where he went'''.)
*Note that the main verb conjugation is for the abstract subject. In the indirect question, the verb is in subjunctive.
''Betslaató'' (affecter) refers to the agent which is declined into the ergative case.
*A gerung will be declined if necessary, but an entire clause remains the same.
Interrogative clauses begin with either the verb or the interrogative. Interrogative mood is indicated by the moving the primary stress onto the first syllable and adding a rising or dipping pitch. Questions are placed between question marks "¿" and "?". See below in the [[Sceptrian#Noun_clauses|noun clauses]] for more of indirect questions.
*In written language, requests often use only the final question mark: ''Tsemaakor nai?'' (Will you give it to me?)
====Conjunction====
coordinating, correlative (and subordinate?)
*and, but, for, so, or
*...
Demonstratives will take the case ending, if the entire


====Noun clauses====
====Noun clauses====
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====Relative clauses====
====Relative clauses====


participles
Nominalizing relative clauses with participles is common.
 
Using [[Sceptrian#Emphasizing_clitics|an emphasizing clitic]] to mark the antecedent for the class-appropriate proximal demonstrative pronoun (thaka/saitu/ka declined for number) which works as a relative pronoun - case chosen according to the embedded clause:
*''Rotóji dothma saituh latepai.'' (leave-PST.PFV.3SG man.ABS-EMPH.ABS P.PROX.AN-COM dance-PST.PFV.1SG "The man, with whom I danced, left.")
*''Tsóvangosor sahul dothelenos saitush latepai.'' (AGENT.PRES.INCEP.3PL.AN-is_drunk-FUT.3SG.INAN beer.ABS man-PL.ERG-EMPH.ERG P.PROX.AN-PL.COM dance-PST.PFV.1SG "The men with whom I danced are starting to drink beer.")
*''Tsóvangosor sahulma dothele ka tutitai vangosordi.'' (AGENT.PRES.INCEP.3PL.AN-is_drunk-FUT.3SG.INAN beer.ABS-EMPH.ABS man-PL.ERG P.PROX.INAN SBJV-want-PST.PFV.1SG drink-INF.FUT "Men are starting to drink the beer which I would've wanted to drink."


====Adverbial clauses====
====Adverbial clauses====
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====Conditional clauses====
====Conditional clauses====


subjunctive
subjunctive as explained in verb particle section
 
====Indirect speech====


==Register==
==Register==
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===Intimate===
===Intimate===


Agent prefixes aren't used. No ''t'' in inceptive.
Agent prefixes aren't used. No ''t'' in inceptive. Due to apophony, subject suffix can be dropped from FUT/INCEP if 1st or 2nd person distinction is clear.


===Casual===
===Casual===
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One may use inanimate verb forms as anti-honorific? ''Ondakon næ ka Nithki.'' (I humbly offer this to You)
One may use inanimate verb forms as anti-honorific? ''Ondakon næ ka Nithki.'' (I humbly offer this to You)
Apophony of basic prepositions with root ''oi'': ''Oisti Hala, óosti vakuhanga, ousti qorel'' (under the Sun, under my hand, under the earth)


In formal register, it is preferred to use only animate nouns as agents while abstract and inanimate are as antipassive subjects: ''luwi...  nas'' ("beauty-of.yours it-un-eye-ful-makes me-with", your beauty makes me blind) vs. ''en fø na'' (you are making me blind)
In formal register, it is preferred to use only animate nouns as agents while abstract and inanimate are as antipassive subjects: ''luwi...  nas'' ("beauty-of.yours it-un-eye-ful-makes me-with", your beauty makes me blind) vs. ''en fø na'' (you are making me blind)
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[[Category:Languages]][[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Languages]][[Category:Languages]]