Old Kvalian /ˈkveɪ̯liən/ (natively: Kvæltilo /ˈkvaltilo/, "common tongue") is descended from Proto-Kertha and was spoken by the descendants of the Northern Men, the Central Men and the Dwarves in Kertha.
Phonology
Consonants
|
|
Bilabial
|
Labio-dental
|
Dental
|
Alveolar
|
Post-alveolar
|
Palatal
|
Velar
|
Glottal
|
| Nasal
|
m /m/
|
|
|
n /n/
|
|
|
|
|
| Plosive
|
p /p/ b /b/
|
|
|
t /t/ d /d/
|
|
|
k /k/
|
|
| Fricative
|
|
f /f/ v /v/
|
þ /θ/ ð /ð/
|
s /s/
|
sj /ʃ/
|
gh /ç/
|
|
h /h/
|
| Affricate
|
pf /p͡f/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Approximant
|
|
|
|
|
|
j /j/
|
w /w/
|
|
| Trill
|
|
|
|
r /r/
|
|
|
|
|
| Lateral
|
|
|
|
l /l/
|
|
|
|
|
Vowels
|
|
Front
|
Back
|
| Close
|
i /i/ í /iː/ y /y/ ý /yː/
|
u /u/ ú /uː/
|
| Mid
|
e /e/ é /eː/ ø /ø/ ǿ /øː/
|
o /o/ ó /oː/
|
| Open
|
æ /a/ ǽ /aː/
|
a /ɑ/ á /ɑː/
|
Unlike Proto-Kertha, Old Kvalian possessed diphthongs. In these diphthongs u represents /ʊ̯/ and i /ɪ̯/.
Vowel harmony
Old Kvalian possessed regressive vowel harmony, that is that the vowel of the desinence (if there are two vowels then vowel harmony acts regressively from the first) can change the vowels in the rest of the word. These changes happen regardless of the length of the vowel and so only short vowels are shown in the table below.
| Desinences
|
|
Affected vowels
|
|
Result
|
| æ a
|
+
|
æ a
|
→
|
æ a
|
| +
|
e ø o
|
→
|
æ æ a
|
| +
|
i y u
|
→
|
e ø o
|
| e ø o
|
+
|
æ a
|
→
|
e o
|
| +
|
e ø o
|
→
|
e ø o
|
| +
|
i y u
|
→
|
e ø o
|
| i y u
|
+
|
æ a
|
→
|
e o
|
| +
|
e ø o
|
→
|
i y u
|
| +
|
i y u
|
→
|
i y u
|
This can be seen in the declension of the Old Kvalian words karða ("earth") and, to a lesser extent, suþu ("ash"):
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
karða
|
korðøn
|
karðæns
|
| Accusative
|
karðæn
|
korðøn
|
karðanøn
|
| Genitive
|
korðe
|
korðene
|
karðane
|
| Dative
|
karðæt
|
karðæs
|
karðǽs
|
| Instrumental
|
korðoim
|
korðǿm
|
karðǽm
|
| Locative
|
korðéa
|
korðói
|
korðámi
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
suþu
|
suþyn
|
suþyns
|
| Accusative
|
suþoun
|
suþyn
|
suþinøn
|
| Genitive
|
suþi
|
suþine
|
suþuni
|
| Dative
|
soþout
|
suþys
|
suþýs
|
| Instrumental
|
soþoim
|
soþǿm
|
soþoum
|
| Locative
|
suþíu
|
soþói
|
suþúmi
|
History
The table below outlines the regular sound changes that occurred between Proto-Kertha and Old Kvalian.
| Proto-Kertha to Old Kvalian
|
| Proto-Kertha
|
Environment
|
Result
|
Example
|
Translation
|
| Vowels
|
| a
|
in an open syllable
|
a
|
*tyafa > tafa
|
gift
|
| in a closed syllable
|
æ
|
*faphar > favær
|
dry
|
| ā
|
in an open syllable
|
á
|
*tāror > dáror
|
old
|
| in a closed syllable
|
ǽ
|
*tāk > dǽk
|
year
|
| e
|
in an open syllable
|
e
|
*mekwa > mekva
|
head
|
| in a closed syllable
|
ø
|
*phen > føn
|
father
|
| ē
|
in an open syllable
|
é
|
*thēlu > þélu
|
tail
|
| in a closed syllable
|
ǿ
|
*nēr > nǿr
|
black
|
| i
|
in an open syllable
|
i
|
*sĭpina > spina
|
feather
|
| in a closed syllable
|
y
|
*ferit > feryt
|
louse
|
| before y
|
disappears
|
*tiyen > djøn
|
to speak
|
| ī
|
in an open syllable
|
í
|
*īrol > írol
|
ear
|
| in a closed syllable
|
ý
|
*tṟkhīr > tarkýr
|
dragon
|
| before y
|
disappears + VL
|
*kīya > gjá
|
when
|
| o
|
in an open syllable
|
o
|
*kolor > golor
|
new
|
| in a closed syllable
|
oi
|
*sătom > stoim
|
husband
|
| before r
|
o
|
*kolor > golor
|
new
|
| ō
|
in an open syllable
|
ó
|
*śōror > sjóror
|
yellow
|
| in a closed syllable
|
oi
|
*twōn > tvoin
|
wing
|
| before r
|
ó
|
*kyōr > kór
|
green
|
| u
|
in an open syllable
|
ou
|
*suthu > suþu
|
ash
|
| in a closed syllable
|
ou
|
*kyup > koub
|
leaf
|
| before r
|
u
|
*ur > ur
|
x
|
| ū
|
in an open syllable
|
ú
|
ūsōa > úsóa
|
all
|
| in a closed syllable
|
ou
|
lūl > loul
|
river
|
| before r
|
ú
|
*ūr > úr
|
x
|
| ă
|
in an open syllable
|
disappears
|
*tărōn > troin
|
road, path
|
| in a closed syllable
|
a
|
*kwăr > kvar
|
skin
|
| ə
|
in an open syllable
|
i
|
*thəsa > þisa
|
hand
|
| in a closed syllable
|
e
|
*pəl > bel
|
belly
|
| word initial
|
e
|
*ərar > erær
|
right(-hand)
|
| ĭ
|
in an open syllable
|
disappears
|
*pĭrina > brina
|
flower
|
| in a closed syllable
|
i
|
*enĭt > enit
|
animal
|
| ŭ
|
in an open syllable
|
disappears
|
*pŭlut > blout
|
meat
|
| in a closed syllable
|
u
|
*khŭn > kun
|
glass
|
| Syllabic consonants
|
| ḻ
|
|
el
|
*mḻta > melda
|
mother
|
| ṟ
|
|
ar
|
*kṟtha > garða
|
earth
|
| Consonants
|
| m, n, f, s, r, l, w
|
|
no change
|
|
|
| p
|
|
b
|
*pouko > bougo
|
dog
|
| ph
|
inter-vocalic
|
v
|
*phipha > fiva
|
thirty
|
| elsewhere
|
f
|
| py
|
|
p
|
*pyiska > pyska
|
blood
|
| pw
|
|
pf
|
*pwos > pfois
|
stick
|
| t
|
final
|
t
|
*pŭlut > blout
|
meat
|
| elsewhere
|
d
|
*tiso > diso
|
man
|
| th
|
post-consonantal
|
ð
|
*festha > føsða
|
life
|
| elsewhere
|
þ
|
*suthu > suþu
|
ash
|
| ty
|
|
t
|
*tyako > tago
|
king
|
| tw
|
|
tv
|
*twela > tvela
|
money
|
| ś
|
|
sj
|
*śōror > sjóror
|
yellow
|
| y
|
|
j
|
*ayeri > ajeri
|
wind
|
| k
|
final
|
k
|
*warăk > warak
|
self
|
| elsewhere
|
g
|
*lōko > lógo
|
away
|
| kh
|
|
k
|
*khepa > keba
|
mountain
|
| ky
|
|
k
|
*kyina > kina
|
one
|
| kw
|
|
kv
|
*kwāna > kvána
|
there
|
| h
|
initial, final
|
gh
|
*hōpo > ghóbo
|
rope
|
| elsewhere
|
no change
|
|
|
| Special cases
|
| declensions
|
|
see declensions
|
|
|
| infinitives and conjugations
|
|
see conjugations
|
|
|
Nouns
Old Kvalian nouns inflect according to case and number. There were three numbers: singular, dual and plural. The dual and plural forms are indicated in various ways depending on the ending of the original noun. There were six cases: nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental and locative. Old Kvalian had three genders but this does not affect nominal morphology. However, as mentioned above, vowel harmony does affect nominal inflexions. Definiteness is specified by the suffix -døgh. The tables below show the different declension patterns.
| -a
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-a
|
-øn
|
-æns
|
| Accusative
|
-æn
|
-øn
|
-øn
|
| Genitive
|
-e
|
-ene
|
-ane
|
| Dative
|
-æt
|
-æs
|
-ǽs
|
| Instrumental
|
-oim
|
-ǿm
|
-ǽm
|
| Locative
|
-éa
|
-ói
|
-ámi
|
| -b, -k, -t
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-b, -k, -t
|
-bøn, -gøn, -døn
|
-bs, -gs, -ds
|
| Accusative
|
-n
|
-ne
|
-nøn
|
| Genitive
|
-ne
|
-ne
|
-nu
|
| Dative
|
-ǿk
|
-ois
|
-ois
|
| Instrumental
|
-oim
|
-ǿm
|
-oim
|
| Locative
|
-é
|
-bói, -gói, dói
|
-ómi
|
| -e
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-e
|
-ǿn
|
-ǿns
|
| Accusative
|
-øn
|
-ǿn
|
-enøn
|
| Genitive
|
-i
|
-éni
|
-eni
|
| Dative
|
-øt
|
-ǿs
|
-ýs
|
| Instrumental
|
-oim
|
-ǿm
|
-ǿm
|
| Locative
|
-íe
|
-ói
|
-émi
|
| -gh
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-Vgh
|
-oin
|
-oins
|
| Accusative
|
-Vn
|
-oin
|
-onøn
|
| Genitive
|
-Vn
|
-one
|
-onu
|
| Dative
|
-Vt
|
-ois
|
-ois
|
| Instrumental
|
-Vm
|
-ǿm
|
-oim
|
| Locative
|
-é
|
-ói
|
-ómi
|
| -i
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-i
|
-oun
|
-ouns
|
| Accusative
|
-yn
|
-oun
|
-unøn
|
| Genitive
|
-o
|
-une
|
-inu
|
| Dative
|
-yt
|
-ous
|
-ous
|
| Instrumental
|
-oim
|
-ǿm
|
-ým
|
| Locative
|
-úi
|
-ói
|
-ími
|
| -l, -r
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-l, -r
|
-ls, -rs
|
-lm, -rm
|
| Accusative
|
-ln, -rn
|
-lnøs, -rnøs
|
-lme, -rme
|
| Genitive
|
-ne
|
-nøn
|
-nǿn
|
| Dative
|
-nør
|
-nøs
|
-nǿs
|
| Instrumental
|
-noim
|
-nøm
|
-nǿm
|
| Locative
|
-ǿl, -ǿr
|
-nói
|
-némi
|
| -m, -n
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-m, -n
|
-ne
|
-nøn
|
| Accusative
|
-ne
|
-nøn
|
-nǿn
|
| Genitive
|
-nør
|
-neni
|
-néni
|
| Dative
|
-t
|
-nøs
|
-nǿs
|
| Instrumental
|
-noim
|
-nøm
|
-nǿm
|
| Locative
|
-é
|
-nói
|
-noim
|
| -o
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-o
|
-oin
|
-oins
|
| Accusative
|
-oin
|
-oin
|
-onøn
|
| Genitive
|
-u
|
-ónu
|
-onu
|
| Dative
|
-oit
|
-ois
|
-ous
|
| Instrumental
|
-oim
|
-eim
|
-oim
|
| Locative
|
-úo
|
-ói
|
-ómi
|
| -u
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
-u
|
-yn
|
-yns
|
| Accusative
|
-oun
|
-yn
|
-inøn
|
| Genitive
|
-i
|
-ine
|
-uni
|
| Dative
|
-out
|
-ys
|
-ýs
|
| Instrumental
|
-oim
|
-ǿm
|
-oum
|
| Locative
|
-íu
|
-ói
|
-úmi
|
Adjectives
Adjectives inflect for number, case and gender. Old Kvalian adjectives only have one basic group and decline in the same manner as nouns. The ending -(y)r is masculine, -(n)a feminine and -(n)e neuter. The example given below is nimør (meaning "nasal").
| nimør
|
|
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
Neuter
|
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
| Nominative
|
nimør
|
nimørs
|
nimørm
|
nemana
|
nemenøn
|
nemanæns
|
nemene
|
nemenǿn
|
nemenǿns
|
| Accusative
|
nimørn
|
nemørnøs
|
nemørme
|
næmanæn
|
nemenøn
|
nemanøn
|
|
|
|
| Genitive
|
nemene
|
nemenøn
|
nemenǿn
|
nemone
|
nemenene
|
næmanane
|
|
|
|
| Dative
|
nemenør
|
nemenøs
|
nemenǿs
|
næmanæt
|
næmænæs
|
næmanǽs
|
|
|
|
| Instrumental
|
nemenoim
|
nemenøm
|
nemenǿm
|
nemonoim
|
nemenǿm
|
næmanǽm
|
|
|
|
| Locative
|
neméør
|
nemenói
|
nemenémi
|
nemonéa
|
nemenói
|
næmanámi
|
|
|
|
