Dwarf language

[Omzinesý]

This is my Dwarf language. Apparently it must have an etnonym but it doesn't yet.
I'm not sure how long the project will go but we will see.


Phonology
Dwarfs are that human-being that they can pronounce the same sounds than humans.
The language is biased for gutterals.

Consonants

Code: Select all

p t   k q   ʔ
  s ʃ x χ ħ h
ʙ r     ʀ
          ʕ

Semivowels
j w

Vowels

Code: Select all

(j) (w) 
ø e~ə   o
æ       ɑ

There is a front/back harmony so ø or æ cannot appear in the same word with o or ɑ. The status of e~ə is not fully clear.

There is a PIE-like system of ablaut, i.e. every vowel can appear as zero, short or long.
Semivowels appear as vowels and intervocally and form diphthongs with vowels.

zero - short -long
∅ - ø - ø:
∅ - e~ə - e:
∅ - o - o:
∅ - æ - æ:
∅ - ɑ - ɑ:

Nasalization is a suprasegmental feature of words.

[Omzinesý]

Ideas for the grammar

- Lexical ergativity, i.e. verbs like 'X returns Y' and 'Y returns'. Verbs rather describe what changed than who caused the change. Agent is not the most primary argument.
- Two genders a) things to do with dwarf things b) everything else.
Their culture has vary strict hierarchies of valued things and non-dwarf things are usually left for humans.

[Omzinesý]

Noun cases

Ergative
Absolutive
Translative (case of the object being created)
Exessive (case of the object being destroyed, or being made of)
Oblique (unaffected object)
Possessive
Assosiative

Number

Collective
Singulative
Distributive

[Omzinesý]

Verb

Aspect
- progressive
- habitual
- resultative
- inchoative
- cessative

Code: Select all

                                          inchoative                            cessative                          resultative
Habitual: paak 'to be usually hammered'   paakoq 'start be usually hammered'    paakep 'stop usually hammering'  
paaka 'be hammered ready'
Eventive: pak 'to be hammered'            pakoq 'start to be hammered'          pakeq 'sop hammering'              paka 'be hammered ready'
Perfect:   pook 'was hammered'            pookoq 'has started to be hammered'   pookep 'has stopped being hammered' pooka 'got hammered'

Aspect (marker)s can also be combined.

Tense is relative
- simultaneous
- anterior/perfect
- posterior/prospective

[Omzinesý]

Semivowels
j w

Vowels

Code: Select all

(j) (w) 
ø e~ə   o
æ       ɑ

There is a front/back harmony so ø or æ cannot appear in the same word with o or ɑ. The status of e~ə is not fully clear.

There is a PIE-like system of ablaut, i.e. every vowel can appear as zero, short or long.
Semivowels appear as vowels and intervocally and form diphthongs with vowels.

zero - short -long
∅ - ø - ø:
∅ - e~ə - e:
∅ - o - o:
∅ - æ - æ:
∅ - ɑ - ɑ:

Nasalization is a suprasegmental feature of words.

I think I shouldn't be that PIE.
High and mid vowels will be allophones instead.
So very simplified phoneMic system of vowels is:

ĭ i iː
y̆ yː
ŭ u uː
æ̆ æ æː
ɑ̆ ɑ ɑː

Edit: There are two lateral vowels:
ʎ and ʟ
Their lengths are considered over-short and short.

Only the longest versions are phonetically high though:
ə̆ː~∅ e iː
ø̆~∅ ø y:
ŏ~∅ o uː
æ̆~∅ æ æː
ɑ̆~∅ ɑ ɑː

[Omzinesý]

Writing:

Dwarf is written with an abugida where there are three letters for every consonant: one followed by no vowel or an extra-short vowel, one followed by a short vowel, and one followed by a long vowel. Vowel quality can be marked by diacritics, but even then backness/frontness is usually left unmarked.

[Nachtuil]

I want to say I have been following this and like it so far. I find it super interesting that you have cases for creating and destroying objects, that's so extremely crafting oriented I can't help but adore it.
Are those two cases only used for inanimate objects?
Do you have a set of pronouns yet?
Have you considered using the same word for both beard and face? "I combed/trimmed my face today" "He has a nice bushy red face"

[Omzinesý]

I want to say I have been following this and like it so far.

Thank you!

I find it super interesting that you have cases for creating and destroying objects, that's so extremely crafting oriented I can't help but adore it.
Are those two cases only used for inanimate objects?

My idea is that they are used of all words, in predicative, and absolutive functions. Object here rather stands for thing. Translative basically codes effected patients ( http://www.glottopedia.org/index.php/Af ... ted_object )

Do you have a set of pronouns yet?
Have you considered using the same word for both beard and face? "I combed/trimmed my face today" "He has a nice bushy red face"

Nope. My progress with this project is very slow. It's always so when you try to make something "unnatural". So I don't have lexicon, but your idea will be used.

[Omzinesý]

There are three syntactic sub-classes of verbs

(Basic) Verbs
- Have all inflectional forms
- Usually express action or change of state

Static Verbs
- Do not have aspect or mood inflection but are always habitual
- Have static perfect and habitual/general forms
- Express states

Lexically Nonfinite Verbs (Light Verbs)
- Do not have finite forms but appear either as subordinate clauses or with an auxiliary
- Usually express mental perception like perception or experience

- Verbs usually have an extra-short vowel as their root vowel
Prp- 'play'

- Static Verbs usually have a long vowel as their root vowel
Habitual: piirp 'be playful' -> piirpö 'who plays'
Perfect: püürp 'have played' -> püürpö 'who has played'


Basic Verbs have several aspects and moods
Attemptive: prp-än 'tries to play'
Resultative: prp-ök 'played (successfully)'
Desirative: prp-äh 'wants to play'
Inchoative: prp-ök 'starts to play'
Cessative: prp-ep 'stops playing'

[Nachtuil]

Are you still working on this?

[Omzinesý]

Are you still working on this?

I've not quit but empirically it seems I am not.
Why do you ask? Do you have ideas?

[Nachtuil]

No ideas in particular. I just enjoy the concept of the language and am curious what you'll do with it. Not to rush you or anything :)