Difference between revisions of "User:Firesong/Alethi language"

 

== Classification ==

 

Alethi is most closely related to Veden and Kharbaranthian, with Thaylen, Herdazian and Natan being more distantly related.{{wob ref|3977}}{{wob ref|7125}}

{{image|Oathgate Locations.jpg|Early proto-Thaylo-Vorin script depicted written along the edge of the map, listing the names of the Silver Kingdoms|side=right|width=300px}}

 

 

It historically made use of the Dawnchant script, adapted to fit with their own language. This led to gradual changes compounding over time, experiencing various transitionary stages,{{wob ref|12981}}{{file ref|Oathgate_Locations.jpg| Oathgate Locations}} and eventually evolving into proto-Thaylo-Vorin radicals, which ultimately became modern Vorin glyphs.{{book ref|sa3|i|2}}

 

 

Over this period, the language itself underwent various changes, enough so that writings from around 1800 years before the True Desolation{{book ref|sa3|56}} are considered highly difficult to understand by educated modern speakers; despite ultimately remaining mutually intelligible.{{book ref|sa2|77}}

* The t/d/r/th/l group was historically alveolar, and s/z/n/sh/h were historically postalveolar.{{wob ref|11464}} ''L'', however, remained alveolar.

* The k/g/y/ch/j group used to have [[wikipedia:Doubly articulated consonant|dual articulation]], similar to a velarized postalveolar consonant. As of {{rosharan date|1174}}, the articulation has separated, with some phonemes becoming velar and others becoming postalveolar.{{wob ref|11464}}

* In [[Rathalas]] Alethi, various phonemes were nasalized,{{book ref|sa3|11}} this change occurred prior to {{rosharan date|1141}}.{{book ref|sa3|11}}

 

 

== Phonology ==

 

=== Consonants ===

| style="border-right: 0;" | <!-- Voiced Alveolar central approximant --> || style="border-left: 0;" | <!-- Voiceless Alveolar central approximant -->

| style="border-right: 0;" | <!-- Voiced Post-Alveolar central approximant --> || style="border-left: 0;" | <!-- Voiceless Post-Alveolar central approximant -->

| style="border-right: 0;" | <!-- Voiced Velar central approximant --> || style="border-left: 0;" | <!-- Voiceless Velar central approximant -->

| style="border-right: 0;" | <!-- Voiced Glottal central approximant --> || style="border-left: 0;" | <!-- Voiceless Glottal central approximant -->

=== Phonotactics ===

An Alethi syllable includes a syllable nucleus consisting of a vowel sound, with an optional onset or coda. As it is currently known, a syllable can begin with up to two consonants, and end with up to two.{{book ref|sa2|9}}{{book ref|sa2|82}}{{book ref|sa3|16}} This gives a Alethi syllable the structure (CC)V(CC).{{ref|group=fn|text=<span style="font-size:90%">While transliterated as two letters, Ch, Th, and Sh are depicted as a single letter in the Vorin orthography.{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Alethi Glyphs: Page 1}}{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 2.jpg|Alethi Glyphs: Page 2}} and represent a singular phoneme, and are thus considered as one consonant in terms of syllabic structure.</span>}}{{ref|group=fn|text=<span style="font-size:90%">The syllable structure could potentially be more complex, with (CC)V(CC) simply being the greatest cluster currently observed.</span>}}

 

== Grammar ==

 

=== Noun Modification ===

 

=== Numerals ===

 

=== Pronouns ===

{{for|Glyphs}}

 

 

The creation of new glyphs makes use of these phonemes. It takes a trained calligrapher, with a deep knowledge of how how the glyph may be expressed without overly obscuring the meaning, in order to make new glyphs.{{wob ref|6461}} Glyphs are made into bilaterally symmetric pictographs, so that they can be read by the illiterate, and ultimately act as a logography.{{book ref|twok|3}}{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Alethi Glyphs: Page 1}} For example, the glyph for [[Zatalef|zatalef]] is shaped like a zatalef, so that it can be understood even without reading the phonemic components.{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Alethi Glyphs: Page 1}}

 

=== Women's Script ===

{{for|Women's script}}

 

 

There is a shorthand form of Women's script, which makes use of simplified versions of letters, and a tendency to shorten words or use replacements.{{wob ref|12187}}

Pronouns are gendered in the written script, unlike in the spoken language.{{book ref|sa3|122}}

 

 

=== Numerals ===

 

Within Akethkar, there is considerable variation along lines of social class and region alike, with some traits being considered distinctly darkeyed or lighteyed in nature, a major example being the palatal approximant-postalveolar affricate merger, which is considered a feature of lower-class Alethi.{{book ref|sa2|25}}{{book ref|sa3|14}}{{book ref|sa3|54}}{{wob ref|11464}}

 

=== Koron ===

=== Rural Accents ===

Many darkeyes talk in an accent described as rural, which is considered indicative of their class.{{book ref|sa2|25}}{{book ref|sa3|14}}{{book ref|sa3|54}} One feature of several of these accents is the lack of a merger between the voiced postalveolar affricate and voiced palatal approximant.{{wob ref|11464}} Another feature that is considered distinctly rural is the clipping of words in a manner considered blunt to some speakers.{{book ref|sa2|25}}

 

=== Unnamed Ancient Dialect ===

 

==== Azish ====

 

==== Bav ====

The [[Bav]] accent puts further emphasis on certain sounds than other accents, and they talk at a slower rate.{{book ref|sa2|28}}

 

==== New Natanan ====

The New Natanan accent involves the lengthening of certain vowels in their speech.{{book ref|sa1|54}}

==== Riran ====

The Riran accent involves the lengthening of certain vowels in their speech.{{book ref|sa3|19}}

 

==== Unkalaki ====

 

 

== Trivia ==