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== '''PREFACE''' ==
== PREFACE ==


Thrichian is a fictional language developed by myself, intended to be spoken by the race of people in the province of Thrichia, Lizge. Thrichian is a priori language, meaning that it is not connected in vocabulary or grammar to any living language. This does not mean, however, that there have not been real-world influences on the sounds and tendencies of the language. To name a few, the rhythm and consonant clusters were influenced by Northern Sami, while the stress-timed nature of syllables and reduced high schwa vowel are derived from European Portuguese.
Thrichian is a fictional language developed by myself, intended to be spoken by the race of people in the province of Thrichia, Lizge. Thrichian is a priori language, meaning that it is not connected in vocabulary or grammar to any living language. This does not mean, however, that there have not been real-world influences on the sounds and tendencies of the language. To name a few, the rhythm and consonant clusters were influenced by Northern Sami, while the stress-timed nature of syllables and reduced high schwa vowel are derived from European Portuguese.
Finally, the slender-broad distinction in consonant pronunciations, as well as the consequent velarization of plosives and use of switch vowels, is inspired by Irish Gaelic. Despite many real-world inspirations having guided the language, all the words used in Thrichian have etymologies within the fictional world of Eytha. Although in modern Eytha, technologies such as the telephone, motor vehicles and computers exist, the names of these things are not derived from English, as many real-world languages tend to do.
Finally, the slender-broad distinction in consonant pronunciations, as well as the consequent velarization of plosives and use of switch vowels, is inspired by Irish Gaelic. Despite many real-world inspirations having guided the language, all the words used in Thrichian have etymologies within the fictional world of Eytha. Although in modern Eytha, technologies such as the telephone, motor vehicles and computers exist, the names of these things are not derived from English, as many real-world languages tend to do.
This book is a guide for learning and understanding the complexities of the phonology, orthography, syntax and morphology of the language, in a way that is comprehensible to someone who is familiar with linguistic terms. Prior general linguistic knowledge is necessary to understanding the resources within this book. However, concepts which are not present in English or commonly studied real-world languages are explained.  
This book is a guide for learning and understanding the complexities of the phonology, orthography, syntax and morphology of the language, in a way that is comprehensible to someone who is familiar with linguistic terms. Prior general linguistic knowledge is necessary to understanding the resources within this book. However, concepts which are not present in English or commonly studied real-world languages are explained.  
Thrichian’s status throughout Antannuon extends only within the province of Thrichia itself. Outside of it, the language is regarded as vulgar or uncouth by the Lizgese of other provinces and by the peoples of Ifyria and Vemvor to the North and East. Thrichian natives are subject to prejudice and marginalization. They are disliked by Ifyrians and Vemvic for their association with the Lizgese whose conquest has been to wage war against the Isiat Alliance for traditional lands. The former range of Thrichian extended much further than its current geography. Before the unification of Imperial Lizge and its totalitarian regime, Thrichia was a sovereign state which traded often with the West Vemvic state of Wællor. This book details the modern Thrichian language as it is spoken by the characters in Antannuon.
Thrichian’s status throughout Antannuon extends only within the province of Thrichia itself. Outside of it, the language is regarded as vulgar or uncouth by the Lizgese of other provinces and by the peoples of Ifyria and Vemvor to the North and East. Thrichian natives are subject to prejudice and marginalization. They are disliked by Ifyrians and Vemvic for their association with the Lizgese whose conquest has been to wage war against the Isiat Alliance for traditional lands. The former range of Thrichian extended much further than its current geography. Before the unification of Imperial Lizge and its totalitarian regime, Thrichia was a sovereign state which traded often with the West Vemvic state of Wællor. This article details the modern Thrichian language as it is spoken by the characters in Antannuon.


'''Welcome!
'''Welcome!
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'''
'''


== '''PHONOLOGY''' ==
== PHONOLOGY ==


The Thrichian Alphabet contains 30 letters. Accented vowels count separately from their unaccented counterparts. The acute accent in Thrichian represents stress and is sometimes used to distinguish between to homonyms such as ''nu'' [nʊ] also and ''nú'' [nuː] word.
The Thrichian Alphabet contains 30 letters. Accented vowels count separately from their unaccented counterparts. The acute accent in Thrichian represents stress and is sometimes used to distinguish between to homonyms such as ''nu'' [nʊ] also and ''nú'' [nuː] word.
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|Comitative || -uc || -ugath || -ugamh || -ugas  
|Comitative || -uc || -ugath || -ugamh || -ugas  
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! NEUTER NOUNS !! Singular !! Dual !! Paucal !! Plural
|-
|Nominative || - || -ath || -ėmh || -as
|-
|Accusative || -ė || -ėth || -ėmh || -ės
|-
|Genitive || -in || -ainth || -aimh || -ains
|-
|Allative || -í / -á || -íth / -áth || -ímh / ámh || -ás / -ís
|-
|Ablative || -en || -enth || -emh || -ens
|-
|Perlative || -agaith || -agaith || -aimh || -agis
|-
|Comitative || -ac || -agath || -agamh || -agas
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! NOUNS ENDING IN A DIPHTHONG !! Singular !! Dual !! Paucal !! Plural
|-
|Nominative || - || -th || -mh || -s
|-
|Accusative || -V || -Vth || -Vmh || -Vs
|-
|Genitive || -n || -nth || -mh || -ns
|-
|Allative || -A || -Ath || -Amh || -As
|-
|Ablative || -gaen || -gaenth || -gaemh || -gaens
|-
|Perlative || -gaith || -gaith || -gaimh || -gis
|-
|Comitative || -c || -gath || -gamh || -gas
|}
1. here, V stands for an accented version of the first vowel in the diphthong. Thus ''okkoa'' in accusative would be ''okkó''.
2. here, A means an accented version of the second vowel in the diphthong, maintaining the first vowel. Thus ''mhinnua'' in the allative would be ''mhinnuá.''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! IRREGULARS: NÚ, TÚ, RÓ, HEÚ !! Singular !! Dual !! Paucal !! Plural
|-
|Nominative || nú || núvath || númh || núvas
|-
|Accusative || nú || núth || númh || nús
|-
|Genitive || núvain || núvainth || núvaimh || núvains
|-
|Allative || nuvvá || nuvváth || nuvvámh || nuvvás
|-
|Ablative || núvaen || núvaenth || núvaemh || núvaens
|-
|Perlative || núgaith || núgaith || núgaimh || núgis
|-
|Comitative || núc || núgath || núgamh || núgas
|-
| OR || núvac || núvagath || núvagamh ||núvagas
|}
- these four nouns follow the same declension pattern, by substituting ''nú/nu-'' for ''ró/ro-'' one gets the same result
'''THE CASES'''
Thrichian has 7 grammatical cases (sometimes considered 8 with the partitive prefix ton-). These cases convey information about the role of the noun within the sentence. Each one, although it can be assigned a name within real-world linguistic terms, has distinct uses and rules.
The '''nominative''' is used for the subject of the sentence, as well as being the form which appears after most prepositions.
The '''accusative''' is for the direct object of the sentence.
The '''genitive''' plays a role in possession. The genitive is used to show that an object is possessing something else. On the other hand, to show that an object is being possessed by, or is related to another, the suffix -ltha is used, instead. These two may be used in conjunction.
The genitive can be used to create a noun possessed by, or related to, its headword, but not the word itself. For example, in the sentence Thriehččainne l‘ása puonen – Thrichian (ie.: the thing that belongs to Thrichia > its language) is the best language. Here the word ása is not used because it would be redundant. Instead, it is assumed to be the same as inferred by the suffix. This suffix is related to the -nne suffix of adjectives which does the same thing.
The '''allative''' marks the indirect object of a sentence. It also stands in for, or stands with, the preposition ar, meaning to/for. It expressed intention, destination and concepts of giving. In the phrase ''I‘m going to Thrichia'' or ''I‘m giving it to you'', the allative would be used.
The '''ablative''' case is also used in the sense of giving and receiving and possession. It expresses place of origin or creator, as well as possessor of an object in the expression mhaen lė (from me is…) meaning I have.
The ablative is also used in expressions of comparison. Más pealagazgė anthaen. – The sea is deeper than the lake. The preposition tíe can be added before the noun.
The '''perlative''' case has the widest variety of uses. The name may be misleading, because the least common of its uses is that of expressing adjacency. It can be used to turn an infinitive into a progressive (run > running) or express location within a city, country or neighbourhood (mhë lė Tígu vekagaith – I am on Tígu street). In conjunction with the preposition ë it can mean in, on, by or any generic location.
The comitative expresses means or tools by which something is done. For example, one travels by train or one opens a door with a key. These are instances where the comitative would be used in Thrichian. It can also be used to express companionship or placement next to, or in conjunction with, another object or person. It would be used in the phrase I am with my friend or the car is with the mechanic.
Although the meaning of these cases is explicit, sometimes prepositions can be used in conjunction with them. The above example given, ë with the perlative suffix -gaith expresses something different from the perlative on its own. The same can be said for the allative and the preposition ar. This topic will be discussed in the segment for prepositions.
'''IRREGULAR STEMS'''
Many monosyllabic nouns, or nouns ending in a lengthened vowel, have irregular stems when declined. Sometimes, voiced consonants appear in declension which do not appear in the default nominative singular, which is listed in dictionaries. These voiced consonants, most often v/g, are remnants from old pronunciations. For example, '''nú''' (word) becomes '''núvas''' in the plural. This is because, in Old Thrichian, the nominative singular was núvu, but the v was lost. In some words, the former consonant can still be found, such as in nuvin (verbose).
The rule which caused this irregularity occurred in Middle Thrichian. It caused all voiced plosives between identical vowels would disappear. Thus, the nominative ''núvu'' was affected as ''nú'', while '''nuvvá''' ''(to the word)'' in the allative, was not. The same rule applies to some verbs, so much so that in Modern Thrichian, it has become a grammatical rule to insert a -g- in conjugation of verbs ending in a diphthong. Many of these verbs which, in Middle Thrichian, would have been conjugated regularly.
Some nouns are defective. They lack forms in certain grammatical cases. The most notable occurrence is má meaning love. This noun can appear in all cases except for the allative. This is likely because the allative suffix -á could not be added to the stem with ease. It would produce *máá or the homonym *má which may cause confusion. Therefore the preposition ar is needed in the allative and má stays the same.
''one breath for love''
'''co fuoz ar má '''
''love is all that matters''
'''má l‘auma eá finazgė'''
'''NOUN COUNTABILITY'''
Certain nouns which appear in the singular form are uncountable, meaning they do not have a specified quantity or unit. Such nouns include pála (water) '''tizgu''' ''(sand)'' and '''tima''' ''(wind)''.
The prefix ton- can be added to form plurals, duals or paucals with inferred units. For example, pála can be pluralized as tompálas. This means waters, as in many units of water (seas, lakes, etc…)
This prefix ton- is also used as a partitive. When a set number of units of an immeasurable substance is referred to, the ton- form appears in the nominative. ''8 aitas tompála'' – 8 cups of water. The prefix ton- in conjunction with the diminutive suffix -iktea is used to mean a little bit of, such as in ''mhë tompáliktė vaim'' – I‘d like a bit of water.
Thrichian, unlike most languages, has four distinct numbers. English speakers are used to only two: singular and plural. If there is more than one of something, there must be many. In Thrichian, this is not the case. There are four tiers to convey information about quantity.
'''Singular''' of course refers to one of something. A noun also appears in its singular form if it is a mass-noun like pála (water).
'''Dual''' refers to a set or pair of things. A couple people or eyeglasses are both examples of the dual. Because of the dual being expressed with suffixes (ending in -th) often the number mith (two) can be omitted, such as in ''mhë elėth uoló'' – I saw two reindeer.
'''Paucal''' refers to a small group of things, usually three to five, or even up to ten. This is used where one might use a plural in English for things which are very limited or scarce.
'''Plural''' is used generally for things which have an unknown or large quantity (over ten.)
'''CONSONANT GRADATION'''
In Thrichian, certain consonant clusters can gradate, or simplify, when they appear before a suffix containing a plosive, or a digraph. This also applies to the accusative of nouns and any eligible verb with a plural/paucal/dual subject.
{|
|hkk > vk || hv > vv
|-
|hk > vg || hvv > vv
|-
|htt > vth || hč > vč
|-
|ht > vth/vd || hčč > vč
|-
|hp > vv || hc > vg
|-
|hpp > vp/vv || hcc > vc
|-
|hkŋ > vvŋ || hpm > vvm
|-
|pt > vt || htn > vvn
|-
|kt > vt
|}
{|
|Mhis seá tiehppó saec. || We already saw it.
|-
|Mhis seá tievpavvė saec. || We have already seen it.
|}
(tiehpp+avvė) > (tievp+avvė)
Many of the processes applied to these consonant clusters follows the tendencies of assimilation. The v which replaces the preaspiration of the hk assimilates the k to be g because v is voiced. Similarly, ht becomes vth instead of vt because the t assimilates to become a dental fricative like the v.
Single plosive consonants which are voiceless also gradate to become voiced, such as k > g, p > v, t > d/th… under the same circumstances.
While consonant gradation simplifies clusters, fortification intensifies them. This means they are held for a longer period of time. This occurs when the stress of a root word is changed due to a suffix. For example, the nominative singular of spear is '''guohcea''', containing the consonant cluster hc. When put in the allative case, the stress changes to fall on the last syllable, producing '''guohcceá''' /guoht:'sa:/
Consonant clusters which are already geminal do not change, such as ''toahkka > toahkká''. The table below shows the gradated and fortified forms of all applicable clusters, where def. refers to clusters permissible in root words.
Consonant fortification and degradation are used to change a root word from noun to verb or adjective, or vice versa. When a noun is turned into a verb, it often fortifies one degree, such as ''hčiallėvna (setting)'' to ''hčiallėhtni (to set up)''. Past participles always degrade their stems, such as ''linni (to take)'' to ''linin (taken)''.
With these rules, it is possible for a single root word to have a lot of variance in conjugation or declension. Take the word linni again, it has three states of degradation: ''linin, linni, litnó.'' This is because its base-form can be fortified and degraded. Whereas, uoli (to see) only has two forms: ''uoli, uolló''.
Fortification / gradation exists within derivational processes as well as inflectional. Consonants c and g vary between related terms such as in ''kíluca (liesure)'' and ''kílugi (to rest)''. In these cases it is used to form adjectives or verbs from nouns. Consonants g and v vary in the same way, in ''regi (to untie)'' and ''irevigaith (unravelling)'' this only works from g to v, never the reverse.
'''Stress Change'''
As discussed on the previous page, changes in stress can occur due to suffixing, usually the two suffixes -á and -ó. When this happens, consonants before the new stressed syllable will fortify and if the word contained an internal accented vowel, such as in hára, it will be written without the accent, as such: ''hára > harróth''. Here we see the fortification of the r as rr and the deletion of the accent over á.
This, however, does not mean that two accented vowels never appear next to one another, because they do. In such cases, stress falls on both.
Stress changes also help to distinguish words such as icastan and icastán. In that case, no phonological processes alter the word form, however it is important to get the stress right, as with English ''record (noun)'' and ''record (verb).''
'''The Apostrophe'''
Apostrophes are often used to write colloquial speech. It is not considered improper, as it reflects the pronunciation. The apostrophe is used in place of ė and sometimes ë in monosyllabic words.
The most common use of the apostrophe is in the personal pronouns, such as in the phrase ''mhë t‘oannė daigo'' (I miss you.) [væˈtɒɜ̆n.di.gɞ] Here the direct object second person singular pronoun tė has been shortened to t‘ as there is no vocalic presence. In extreme cases, double contractions can occur. Most notable, ''mh‘i t‘m‘aki'' /vitmaki/ meaning I don‘t know you (in response to a negative-assuming question.) This is a shortening of ''mhë i tė mė aki.''
'''Order of Suffixing'''
The order in which suffixes are agglutinated onto a root word is important for meaning, as well as determining whether consonant gradation affects any of the internal clusters. For example, if one wishes to say with my little mother one may say ''aná+iktea+altha+c'' to attain the declension ''*anáktealthac,'' but this would not be correct. The correct order is ''aná+iktea+c+altha'' which gives us ''anákteagaltha.'' Here we see the comitative suffix -c go through consonant gradation to become -g- before the cluster lth. The order in which grammatical information is stacked can be broken down as follows.
FOR NOUNS
1. any derivational affixes
2. honorific suffixes (can overlap freely)
3. grammatical case
4. number
5. relation suffix -altha
FOR VERBS
1. tense and aspect (as shown in the verb tables)
2. reciprocal / reflexive suffixes -dírthi -davva
3. causative and permissive
When adding these suffixes on nouns or verbs, it is important to consider maintaining the slenderness or broadness of the consonant one is adding them to. For example, ''anágaltha'' (with my mother) poses no problems because the c gradates to g which is broad in this case before the ''-altha.'' For the suffix ''-iktea,'' however, when it is attached to consonant-final nouns, their broadness must be maintained. Thus, it becomes ''-aiktea'' when it attaches onto a word like ''čoag (flower).''
'''Honorific suffixes''' in Thrichian can be added to proper names, verbs, pronouns and nouns to describe their importance or relation to the speaker.
'''-(a)mba''' implies importance, reverence, or wisdom
1. Seardú, Guvárisamba. – Thank you, Mr. Guváris.
2. Si hteamė hedómba. – He conquered the land.
'''-(i)ktea''' implies smallness, diminutive, or cute qualities
1. Mhëltha govguktea. – My sweet little boy.
2. Ithiktea! – Poor thing!
'''-(i)lcuz''' implies disassociation or contempt for an object or person
1. Mhë Nitalcuzac ruó hkuaippi. – I had to have dinner with Nita (I don’t like Nita)
1. Mhë Nitac ruó hkuaibilcuz. – I had to have dinner with Nita (I don’t like dinner)
'''-(a)ltha''' implies relation, as opposed to possession.
1. Tegavvė ná Bastuzaltha? – Have you met (my relative) Bastuz?
The last suffix ''-altha'' is used in possessive pronouns for expressing relation. ''Mhëltha aná'' – My mother. Although, ''mhain análtha'' is also acceptable, as long as the -altha is present.
'''Possession''' is shown with the ablative and genitive cases. The ablative is used for statements in conjunction with the verb lá, while possessive pronouns appear in the genitive case before their nouns. Possessors can appear before or after their possessions, as the case genitive marking -ain specifies the relation.
1. '''Mhaen lė mhinnua'''. – I have a house (ablative + copula lá)
2. '''Mhain mhinnua bargonazgė.''' – My house is large.
In Thrichian, there is no verb to have, as the same idea is expressed with the ablative case. To express that something is yours, one may use either the ablative or the genitive case (il taen / il tain).
The allative case can be used to show intention or direction. For example, when giving a gift, mhaen lig tá – I have something for you. Even taen mhá can serve as a full and proper sentence, meaning you give me something.
To represent an unknown thing which is possessed by a personal or relative/interrogative pronoun (that which is yours/mine/his) the suffix -dannu is used on the end of the genitive or ablative form of the pronoun.
3. '''Il taindannu ná?''' – Is this yours?
4. '''Ith lëna lė veaindannu?''' – Whose book is this?
== VERBS ==
In Thrichian, verbs conjugate according to tense, aspect and mood, but not person. Person can sometimes, however, be indicated by consonant gradation when it is applicable.
{|
!I-VERBS !! present !! past !! perfect !! future
|-
|INDICATIVE || -ė || -ó || -avvė || -asai
|-
|SUBJUNCTIVE || -e || || -avve || -esai
|-
|CONDITIONAL || -ari || || -avvari || -arisai
|-
|IMPERATIVE || -
|-
|INDICATIVE || -ė || -ó || -avvė || -asai
|-
|SUBJUNCTIVE || -e || || -avve || -esai
|-
|CONDITIONAL || -ari || || -avvari || -arisai
|-
|IMPERATIVE || - || || || -isai
|-
|PROGRESSIVE || -atín || -otín || -avvetín || -esaitín
|-
|POSSIBLE || -asta || -ósta || -astavvi || -astai
|-
|PROBABLE || -az || -óz || -avvaz || -azasai
|-
|DETRIMENTIVE || -ar || -ór || -avvar || -arasai
|-
|DEONTIC || -im || -óm || -avvam || -amasai
|-
|REFLEXIVE || -adavva || -ódavva || -adavvė || -adavvasai
|-
| infinitive || -i || || -ivvi
|} -ó || -avvė || -asai
|-
|SUBJUNCTIVE || -e || || -avve || -esai
|-
|CONDITIONAL || -ari || || -avvari || -arisai
|-
|IMPERATIVE || - || || || -isai
|-
|PROGRESSIVE || -atín || -otín || -avvetín || -esaitín
|-
|POSSIBLE || -asta || -ósta || -astavvi || -astai
|-
|PROBABLE || -az || -óz || -avvaz || -azasai
|-
|DETRIMENTIVE || -ar || -ór || -avvar || -arasai
|-
|DEONTIC || -im || -óm || -avvam || -amasai
|-
|REFLEXIVE || -adavva || -ódavva || -adavvė || -adavvasai
|-
| infinitive || -i || || -ivvi
|}
{|
!EA-VERBS !! present !! past !! perfect !! future
{|
!I-VERBS !! present !! past !! perfect !! future
|-
|INDICATIVE || -ė || -ó || -avvė || -asai
|-
|SUBJUNCTIVE || -e || || -avve || -esai
|-
|CONDITIONAL || -ari || || -avvari || -arisai
|-
|IMPERATIVE || - || || || -isai
|-
|PROGRESSIVE || -atín || -otín || -avvetín || -esaitín
|-
|POSSIBLE || -asta || -ósta || -astavvi || -astai
|-
|PROBABLE || -az || -óz || -avvaz || -azasai
|-
|DETRIMENTIVE || -ar || -ór || -avvar || -arasai
|-
|DEONTIC || -im || -óm || -avvam || -amasai
|-
|REFLEXIVE || -adavva || -ódavva || -adavvė || -adavvasai
|-
| infinitive || -i || || -ivvi
|}|SUBJUNCTIVE || -e || || -avve || -esai
|-
|CONDITIONAL || -ari || || -avvari || -arisai
|-
|IMPERATIVE || - || || || -isai
|-
|PROGRESSIVE || -atín || -otín || -avvetín || -esaitín
|-
|POSSIBLE || -asta || -ósta || -astavvi || -astai
|-
|PROBABLE || -az || -óz || -avvaz || -azasai
|-
|DETRIMENTIVE || -ar || -ór || -avvar || -arasai
|-
|DEONTIC || -im || -óm || -avvam || -amasai
|-
|REFLEXIVE || -adavva || -ódavva || -adavvė || -adavvasai
|-
| infinitive || -i || || -ivvi
|}
EA-VERBS present past perfect future
INDICATIVE -ė -eó -eavvė -easai
SUBJUNCTIVE -e -eavve -esai
CONDITIONAL -eri -erivvi -erisai
IMPERATIVE -i -isai
PROGRESSIVE -eatín -eotín -eavvetín -esaitín
POSSIBLE -easta -eósta -eastavvi -eastai
PROBABLE -ez -eóz -eavvaz -ezi
DETRIMENTIVE -er -eór -eavvar -eri
DEONTIC -im -eóm -eavvam -eamasai
REFLEXIVE -edavva -eódavva -edavvė -edavvasai
infinitive -ea -eavva
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