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

 
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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}}
 
At some point during the Silver Kingdoms era, the Alethi language went through a period known as classical Alethelan, this stage requires trained scribes to decipher.{{book ref|sa3|104}}
 
The Women's script began to form more than 1800 years before the True Desolation, where it was known as the Alethi protoscript.{{book ref|sa2|77}} This eventually became the modern Women's Script.
* 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}}
* The [[wikipedia:voiced postalveolar affricate|voiced postalveolar affricate]] and [[wikipedia:voiced palatal approximant|voiced palatal approximant]] merged in certain dialects.{{wob ref|11464}}
* A vowel shift occurred where /a/ shifted to /e/ in certain environments.{{wob ref|12121}}{{wob ref|4404}} This occurred some time after the Last Desolation.,{{wob ref|4404}}
* In [[Rathalas]] Alethi, various phonemes were nasalized,{{book ref|sa3|11}} this change occurred prior to {{rosharan date|1141}}.{{book ref|sa3|11}}
 
| 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;" | J/Y{{wob ref|11464}} || style="border-left: 0;" | <!-- Voiceless Palatal 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>}}
 
Stress appears to be put on the first syllable.{{book ref|sa2|9}}
 
== Grammar ==
 
=== Noun Modification ===
Alethi primarily makes use of suffixes to modify words, most notably in names.{{book ref|sa3|7}}{{book ref|sa3|42}}{{book ref|sa3|52}}{{wob ref|3199}}{{ref|group=fn|text=<span style="font-size:90%">As seen in Adolin, Renarin, Oroden, and Kaladin, each making use of the suffix *-lin* or *-len*, translating to "born unto" or "child of", which modifies the central noun of their name. This can also be seen in Dalinar, with the suffix -nar, meaning "like unto".{{book ref|sa3|52}}</span>}} However, compound words have the modifying word placed before the noun it modifies.{{file ref|Alethi Glyphs Page 1.jpg|Alethi Glyphs: Page 1}}
 
=== Numerals ===
 
=== Women's Script ===
{{image|OB_Endnote.jpg|A ketek written by [[Jasnah Kholin]].|side=right|width=150px}}
{{for|Women's script}}
 
Women's script is an alphabetic script primarily used by women in Vorin nations, including Alethkar. It came into use over 1800 years before the True Desolation as the Alethi protoscript, before taking on its modern form.{{book ref|sa2|77}}
 
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}}
 
Questions are indicated by ending a sentence with the interrogative particle "ha."{{file ref|Ship_Designs.jpg|Ship Designs by Navani Kholin}} It is not confirmed if this is unique to the written form, or if it is a standard part of the spoken language.
 
=== 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}}
 
=== Kholinar ===
The accent spoken by people in Kholinar is distinct and noticeable, enough to differentiate it from other Alethi peoples.{{book ref|sa1|43}} Though its features are unknown.
 
=== 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}}
 
=== Northern Accent ===
A recognizable accent spoken in nothern Alethkar. This is the accent that [[Taln]] took on after his Return shortly before the True Desolation.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}}
 
=== Unnamed Ancient Dialect ===
 
==== Azish ====
The Azish accent is considered elevated and lofty to some Alethi speakers.{{book ref|sa2|41}}{{book ref|sa2|55}} WhatIt thisis impliesalso aboutdescribed theas traitssmooth.{{book of this accent is unclear.ref|sa1|14}}
 
==== Bav ====
The [[Bav]] accent puts further emphasis on certain sounds than other accents, and they talk at a slower rate.{{book ref|sa2|28}}
 
==== Herdazian ====
The Herdazian accent is distinct and notable for being quick and often letting words flow together.{{book ref|sa1|32}}{{book ref|sa1|40}}
==== 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}}
 
==== Thaylen ====
The Thaylen accent is distinguished by an underpronunciation of vowels, resulting in consonant clusters where they would not exist in other accents and dialects.{{book ref|sa1|2}}{{book ref|sa3|107}}
 
==== Tukari ====
The Tukari have a distinct accent when speaking Alethi.{{book ref|sa4|30}} Though its features are unknown.
 
==== Unkalaki ====
The Unkalaki accent is distinct and noticeable to Alethi speakers, one speakersspeaker is described as pronouncing [[Kaladin]] as “kal-ah-deen,” instead of the standard Alethi “kal-a-din.”{{book ref|sa2|9}} They put stress on different syllables than native speakers.{{book ref|sa2|9}} And draw out various vowel sounds.{{book ref|sa3.5|7}}
 
Heavier Unkalaki accents have a tendency to drop pronouns where the subject is implied or already known,{{wob ref|4584}} or apply gendered pronouns to inanimate objects.{{book ref|sa2|24}}
 
==== Veden ====
Veden accents are considered very similar to each other by the Alethi.{{book ref|sa2|28}} They are also considered to sound exotic.{{book ref|sa2|28}}
 
== Trivia ==
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