The Udraþ Language: a short grammar

The Proto-Steppe language was somewhat changed in the passage from Šiffarakt to the Rhêghîl plain, and Drydic was the dialect which kept the most archaic features, at least the least developed of the Drydo-Kerinidoi noun and verbal systems. Udraþ, on the other hand, introduced farther-reaching phonological changes, has added more cases, and is in general more advanced than Drydic.

 

Phonology

                        Bilabial Dental alveolar pal-alv palatal velar    uvular glottal

Stop                 p  b      - -       t  d         - -            c ђ      k  g      q  (g)[1]  - -

Nasal               -  m      - -        -  n         - -            - ñ       -  ŋ      - -       - -

Fricative           φ β      þ ð        (s  z)[2]      š ž            ç ђ       x γ       - -       h

Lateral              - -         - -       - l           - -            - λ       - -        - -      - -

Trill                  - -        - -       r             - -            - -       - -        - -      - -

Labialised         - -        - -       - -          - -            - -       - -        - -      hw

Glide                - w       - -       - -          - -            - j        - -        - -      - -

Vowels:

 

Phonological changes from Old Udraþ

æ  to æ#.

k to q after *ā, *ō, *ŏ, *ū, *ŭ

c to t in all positions

t to c in all positions

ђ to d in all positions

d to ђ [ï] in all positions, with the exception dotai 'to be'

s to š in all positions; not written consistently

s to · before PDU front vowels

z to ž in all positions; not written consistently

þ to ð word-initial, intervocalic; not consistently written

w to β in all positions (v is written initially, however)

q to g in varg (Drydic warg)

*/  to t in all positions

*kw to p in all positions, except where preceeded by a nasal, where it turns to k.

l to λ [´] before palatals and front vowels

n, ŋ to ñ [ø] before palatals and front vowels

 

 

Nominal Declension

1st Declension: a-stems

                                    Sg                                Pl

Nominative                   -aš                               -ai

Genitive                        -oi                                -alū

Ablative                        -ād                               -ūros

Allative                         -le                                -æge

Elative                          -est                              -estū

Abessive                      -ta                                #d

Dative                          -ai                                -æns

Accusative                    -un                               -ōš

Instrumental                  -ga                               -ssē

Locative                       -ī                                  -nūs

Illative                          -īap                              -vaīap[3]

2nd Declension: o-stems masc.

                                    Sg                                Pl

Nom.                           -oš                               -až

Gen.                             #k                              -olū

Abl.                              -ōd                               - ūros

All.                               -le                                -æge

Elat.                             -est                              -estū

Abess.                          -ta                                #d

Dat.                              -ai                                -æns

Acc.                             -æm                             -ōš

Instr.                            -ga                               -ssē

Loc.                                                               -nūs

Ill.                                -īap                              -vaīap

 

3rd Declension: i-stems, e-, l-, u-stems  f/m

                                    Sg                                Pl

Nom.                           -s (usually)                    -ūš (u-stems)

Gen.                             -iol (from l-stems)[4]       -lū

Abl.                              d (u-stems)               -ūros

All.                               -le                                -æge

Elat.                             -est                              -estūd

Abess.                          -ta                                #d

Dat.                              -ai                                -æns

Acc.                             -om                              -ūš

Instr.                            -ga                               -ssē

Loc.                                                               -nūs

Ill.                                -īap                              -vaīap

                                                Neuter

                                    Sg                                Pl

Nom.                           ----                              -aђ

Gen.                             -i_iol                            -lū

Abl.                              -i_ūd                            -ūros

All.                               -i_le                             -æge

Elat.                             -i_est                            -estū

Abess.                          -i_ta                             #d

Dat.                              -i_ai                             -æns

Nom.                           ----                              -aђ

Inst.                              -i_ga                            -ssē

Loc.                             -i_ī                               -nūs

Ill.                                -i_īap                           -vaīap

 

4th Declension: n-, m-stems  f/m

                                    Sg                                Pl

Nom.                           -ns/m[5]                          -ēš

Gen.                             -on/m                           -lū

Abl.                              -ūnd                             -ūros

All.                               -le                                -æge

Elat.                             -est                              -estūd

Abess.                          -nta[6]                             #d

Dat.                              -n/mai                           -n/muns

Acc.                             -n/m                             -ēš

Inst.                              -ga                               -ssē

Loc.                                                               -nūs

Ill.                                -nī                                -vaīap

5th Declension: r-stems  f/m/n

Nom.                           -r                                 -rēš

Gen.                             -or                               -irrū

Abl.                              -rī                                 -ūros

All.                               -re                                -æge

Elat.                             -rest                             -estūd

Abess.                          -ta                                #d

Dat.                              -rai                               -æns

Acc.                             -rem                             -rēš

Inst.                              -ga                               -rrē[7]

Loc.                             -rī                                 -nūs

Ill.                                -rīap                             -vaīap

6th Declension: uo-stems Neut.

                                    Sg                                Pl

Nom.                           -uoš                             -ijar

Gen.                             #k                              -olū

Abl.                              -ōd                               -ūros

All.                               -le                                -æge

Elat.                             -est                              -estū

Abess.                          -ta                                #d

Dat.                              -ai                                -æns

Acc.                             -um                              -ijar

Inst.                              -ga                               -ssē

Loc.                                                               -nūs

Ill.                                -nīap                            -vaīap

 

Adjectives

Declension 1

                                    Sg                                            Pl

                        f           m         n                      f           m         n

Nominative       -aš       -oš       -uoš                 -ai        -až       -ijar

Genitive            -oi        #k      --                     -alū      -olū      --

Ablative            -ād       -ōd       -ōd                   -ūros    --         --

Allative -le        --         --                     -æge    --         --

Elative              -est      --         --                     -estū     --         --

Abessive          -ta        --         --                     #d      --         --

Dative              -ai        --         --                     -ens      --         --

Accusative        -un       -æm     -uom                -ōs       -ēs       -ijar

Instrumental      -ga       --         --                     -ssē      --         --

Locative                     --         --                     -nūs      --         --

Illative              -īap      --         --                     -vaīap   --         --

 

 

Declension 2

                                    Sg                                Pl                    

                        f           m         n          f           m         n

Nominative       -is        -is        -e_C    -iaj       -ial       -ijar

Genitive            -iol       -ijæ#k    -i_næ#k -alū      -olū      --

Ablative            -iād      -iōd      -i_ōd    -ūros    --         --

Allative -le        --         --         -æge    --         --

Elative              -est      --         --         -estūd   --         --        

Abessive          -ta        --         --         #d      --         --        

Dative              -iaj       -iaj       -i_aj     -enel     --         --

Accusative        -um      -em      -i_uom -ōš       -ēš       -ijar

Locative                     --         -i_ī       -nūs      --         --

Illative              -īap      --         --         -vāp     --         --

 

Comparatives

 -inna- plus the adjective's normal endings.

 

Superlatives  

-irræl- plus the adjective's normal endings.

 

Pronouns

                                    Sg                                Pl

1st Person

 

Nom.                           ula                                nōs

Gen.                             mon                              nōlu

Abl.                              mål                               nål

All.                               måle                             næge

Elat.                             mest                             nestū

Abess.                          måta                             #d

Dat.                                                             

Acc.                             ulæm                            nōs

Inst.                              måga                            nessē

Loc.                                                              nōnūs

Ill.                                mīap                             nīap

 

2nd Person

 

Nom.                           sa                                 kōs

Gen.                             son                               kōlu

Abl.                              sel                                kel

Dat.                                                              

Acc.                             sulem                            kōs

Loc.                             sī                                  kōnūs

 

3rd Person

                                    Sg                                Pl

                        f           m         n          f           m         n

Nom.               ta         #        to         tai         tuī         tura

Gen.                 toi        tai         --         talū       tolū       tolū

Abl.                  tel         --         --         tūros     --         --

Dat.                  tōd       tūd       tūl                  --         --

Acc.                 tun        tem       to         tōs        tēs        tura

Loc.                 tī          --         --         tenūs    --         --

Ill.                    tīap       --         --         teap      --         --

 

Demonstrative/Relative Pronoun (suffix the -æl- from the verbal inflection to form “that”)

                                    Sg                                Pl

                                    m/f         n                     m/f       n

Nom.                           or            ors                orōs     ora

Gen.                             oris          iris                 olu        oralu

Abl.                              orål         irōd               orel      oral

Dat.                              oru          irī                  orū       orū

Acc.                             orem       ors                orēs      ora

Loc.                             orī           irī                  ornūs    ornūs

 

 

Verbal Conjugation

 

Levels of evidentiality:

            1.-tī- seen by the speaker

            2.-æl- seen by someone else

            3.- - not seen, but it is probable

Moods:

1.-e- indicative

2.-a- subjunctive

3. /stem/ imperative[8]

4.-i- optative

Tenses:[9]

1. -ek- Future

2. -ekelī- Future Perfect

3. -ba- Imperfect

            4. -elī- Present Perfect

            5. -elība- Pluperfect

            6. elas- Aorist (also formed with reduplication, raising the vowel height one step)

            7. la- Present Aorist (reduplicated (no vowel change), with augment regardless)

            8. la-/stem/-ek- Future Aorist

 

            Uses: Tense/Aspect system

                                                Present             Past                 Future

                        Imperfective    Present  Imperfect          Future

            Simple Occurance        Present Aorist   Aorist               Future Aorist

                        Perfective         Perfect             Pluperfect         Future Perfect

 

            Uses: Narrative time system; Present Aorist not used

                                    Aorist                           Future Aorist

                        _______|_____                       ______|___

                        |           |           |                       |                  |

                        Plu.      Perf.     Imp.     Pres.    Future  Fut. Perf.

                        |           |           |           |           |                  |

                       

Personal Endings:

 

 

Active

………

 

Middle

………

 

Passive

………

 

 

Sg

Dual

Plural

Sg

Dual

Plural

Sg

Dual

Plural

1st

-m

-su

-mūl

-mai

-swai

-mēn

-r

-sur

-mur

2nd

-s

-tel

-tis

-sai

-telai

-tsai

-sur

-telor

-per

3rd

-t

-ŋk

-ntæ#

-tai

-ŋkerai

-ntai

-tur

-ŋkur*

-ntūr

*from PDU *-VmkwuzR.

 

 

Infinitives:

            Active:-ai

            Middle:-ein

            Passive:-em

            Perfect infinitive: Act.: -erai

                                         Mid.:-erein

                                         Pass.: -erem

            Pluperfect Infinitive: A: Gerund + dotai (to be)

Present Participle:

1.      stem + -aš, -oš, or -uoš.

Perfect Participle:

1.      Perf. stem + -(a)ðeraš, -(o)ðeroš, -(o)ðeruoš.

Aorist Participle:

            1. Aor. Stem + -(e)liš, -(e)liš, -(e)lin (3rd decl.)

Verbal Negative:

            1. keī- prefix negating the verb

Verb Affixes:

1.-pe suffix indicating a question

 

Syntax

The Locative of Inanimate Indirect Object of Old Udraþ is still present in Udraþ, and in fact is so widespread that in spoken Udraþ the Illative case, formerly used for only certain place from constructions, is now used as a general Locative, with the actual Locative reserved for the inanimate Dative.

            Udraþ is a heavily inflected language, so word order is not a major issue; however, the unmarked word order tends to be either VSO or VOS.

            The Subjunctive and Optative moods are not distinguished in English or Latin (and, indeed, the Proto-Germanic Subjunctive mood forms are actualy the Optative forms), nor in any Indo-European language that I am aware of except Greek. The usages in Udraþ are therefore close to the Greek usage, although not exact. In general the Subjunctive is to be translated either with so that + may, or the few subjunctive forms left in English (e.g., If Cæsar were here, …), other uses include expressing doubt, the Hortatory Subjunctive, and futurity; the Optative mood is used for those English Infinitives that are the descendants of Old English Subjunctives, and in order to + infinitive, and is also used when expressing wishes and desires. Conditional clauses are formed using the 3rd level of evidientiality, Perfective aspect, Subjunctive mood, with both Pluperfect and Future Perfect markers in the conditional verb, the agent of the verb placed in the Genitive, the patient placed in the Ablative (semel plus the Locative is also used). Indirect Statements are oscilating between the Subjunctive mood and the Infinitive, with all the tense distinctions evident in both (namely, future (perfect) Subjunctive).  The Imperative is used for commands, and a Vocative of sorts exists as the bare stem in order so that it might be used with the Imperative.  Nominative dependancies are the  Subject of the sentence, and the predicate nominative with the coupola Dotai, and its compounds. The Genitive expresses possession and the partitive Genitive. The Ablative’s uses are: Ablative of opposition; Ablative of Denial (with some of the prepositional verbs); Ablative of accompaniment; and Ablative of Time. Dative: Indirect object of main verb; Dative of Movement to. Accusative: Direct object of the main verb; Accusative of Distance where.

Locative: Locative of movement from; Locative of Movement; Locative of Directional Movement; Loc of  Showing; Locative of Inanimate indirect object.

 

 

Lexicon

The words will eventually be arranged by Drydic order. The citation form is the Nominative form followed by the Genitive form.

Note::- λ represents the palatal lateral [´], ñ represents a palatal nasal [ø], þ represents a voicless interdental spirant [T], å represents [A\], ђ represents a voiced palatal stop [ï]. 176 words.

u w o å a æ e i j y p t c k q l λ r m n ñ ŋ b d ђ g g φ  þ s § š ç x β ð z ž γ

 

 

aisatalīm-sail (go across water); Aisatalīm sõn bheighaunsīa(m~s~t)- to go after so that (I~you~he) might strike

agenoš, #k, m.-lamb

åђeqai, -alū, m.- the Aadeks, the Continental Samerians’ collective name for themselves

ãn-and; -õn postpositive (a form aktū, cognate to Drydic Attū, is attested in Old Udraþ)

al-beyond (with Loc.)

allanor, ----, f. -a small squat, green plant w/small yellow flowers. C.20cm tall.

            {From Daraleœ alån/or, the same} (indcl.)

ai§ai- to go

ai§÷ūlai-go after (+  Allative)

ai§ōkuŋai- refl. intr. to move (ai§ai 'go' + -ōkuŋ- inchoative suffix); tr. to carry (something)

aiqs, aigis, m.-goat

akunai-do {Present Participle Genitive in –eo}

al-beyond (with Acc. of Distance where)

aλchâunai-to flow

aλcaš, -oi, f.- current, stream

aλcošaš, ioi, f.- river

ana- at, along, towards; postp w/loc

aŋai- twist

ansīrai (prep.)- to deny (w/Abl.)

añcī-against; postp w/abl

ap at/near (Loc. postp., used as suffix for the Illative case)

apaunai-take, reach

aqaucæ#, n.- steep coast, peninsula, cape (indcl.)  [ÇaqAU9ÈcQù]

aragoš, -æ#k, m.-thief, highwayman; wolf

ar-araxeloš, -æ#k, m.- Ar-Axel, the capital city of the Salanjans; it is also used for 'capital                     city'

arīzæ#r, arīzæ#or, m.-VIP, a person of importance (PDK *areīse1-, master)

ar-udraðaž, ar-udraðālu, m.- Ar-Udraðaž, capital of the Udraþ kingdom

a§man- heaven (indcl.)

asaqaš, -oi, f.-faith

a§§aŋ, a§§aŋæ#k, m.- a large coniferous tree about 2m in height, with flaky bark;                  

the branches curl upwards almost like a snake. {from Daraleœ a§n, the same}

atonai-wait for

atalaš, -oi, f.- water

-(h)aunai: verbalizing stem

aža-too, basic emphatic particle, =Russ. Жэ, Greek τoι.

ažīrēī-Goddess of the Sea, keeper of the gàr (indcl.)

bergæ#kšalontaš, -oi, f.-mountain grass

bandaunai-drop

beraš, -oš, -uoš - white

berg,-æ#k, m.-a range of mountains, or an extremely tall one

bheighaunai- strike(trans) {from Arēsæd bheig-, to strike}

bhibhroš, -æ#k, m.-beaver{from Arēsæd bhibhr-, beaver}

behēkerai-love, like (related to behēkeroš light) (from Proto-Drydo-Udraþ *behēker-,

love, light)

behēkeroš, -æ#k, m.-light (from Proto-Drydo-Udraþ *behēker-, love, light)

burriђan-cut; irregular verb (trans)  [bU¨rIÆan]

br8žŋx, -oi, m.- native insturment, somewhat like a sitār.

brut·aš/uoš, -oi/-æ#k,  m./n.-beer; brut·aš/-uoš virōlu/džalakantālu, party of beer

drinkers, keg party

čalūš, -ū, m.-the Čal, inhabitants of the rock cliffs to the west; also the rock      formations which they live near {from Salanja Čal, their name for the Čal}

čepedoš, -æ#k, m.:captain (military & nautical)

čolaš, -oi, f.- hooker

dajološ, dajolæ#k, m.-Dajol-ghûl, Dryd commander of great repute

daralec, m.- the Daraleœ, a race of hunters who live in the desert that bears their name

daršans, -on, n.-plateau {from Daraleœ daršan, the same}

dašadaniai-to drink hevily (Šiffaraxtī *dasa sea)

daueraš, -oi, m.-pirates (collective singular; no plural, except when refering to 2 or more                      separate groups of pirates)

degalastai-attack (give a fight)

dehaunai-give(trans)

dei-give (more common form than dehaunai; pres. part. genitive in -eo)

dextoš, -æ#k, m.-given (irr. Participle) (/x/ < */h/ before /t/)

deidikaunai-indicate (trans)        -|

deidikiehaunai-display (intrans) -|transitive & intransitive forms of the same verb

deidikosaunein-show, point out (w/Loc of Showing)

dēuidizdomaš, -oi, f.-temple (cf. God’s house)

dēuiaš, -oi, f.-goddess

dēuis, dēuidis, m.-god (from Proto-Drydo-Udraþ *dēŭĭd-z, god)[10]

dīdāš, -oi, m.- fortress

dotai-to be

domaš, -oi, f.- house

domai, -ālu, f.- village

douraš, -oš, -uoš -strong

døč·až, -olū, m.- the Døč/Deutsch, descendants of High Germans that came to Šaol     during the Terran Migrations [deotSaz]/[døtSaz]

drēīnīj, -olū, m.-the descendants of the ancient Salanjan Civilisation

drydaž, drydolū, m.-the Dryds

dūkxa-DAMN!!

dūnuoš, -æ#k, n.-hill, mountain (smaller that berg)

džyçaš, -oš, -uoš-young

džalakantaž, -ālu, m.-horde

ђāgel-ten

ђrūaš, -oš, -uoš- big

ђūraš, -oš, -uoš- large

ēþem-sit (emphatic istu!)

ēβomai-drip, flow out

epoš, -æ#k, m.-horse

elai-have

erg«ntaš, -oi, f.-silver

en-postp. in, on with acc.; into with dat.

epsoanoš, -æ#k, m.-aspen

ermaš, ermoš, ermuoš -fierce, furious, mad

esai- eat

galastai-fight

geŋikaš, -oi, f.- unit

gharijāl,  -iol, f.-crocodile {from Čal gharījāL their crocidile god}

gwherdiamnaš, -oi f.-pine tree{from Arēsæd gwherdiamn-, tree of needles}

hairæks, hairækeo, f/m.-a type of small rodent (originally an s-stem, was assimilated to

the e-stem pattern)

hartaggaš, -oi, f/m.-a bear-like creature ten feet tall at the shoulder [hartagùaS]

hastelūђor-an aroyyo, but much larger; exist on the desert plain above the Čal cliffs  {from Čal hasteLūğor, the same}

hwalanaš, -oi, f.-the animal that the Wargs prey on the most often

ikul!-(interj) you are going to die, BITCH!!!

ikur!-(interj) you little SHIT!!!

jehwot-so long as (adv) [jExwth]

karnalestoš, -æ#k, m.-a stone ampitheater, common in the badlands of the Daraleœ Desert        {from Daraleœ karnalest, the same}

çaš, -oi, m.-ants

kerinidoij, kerinidolū, m.-the perple of the Kerinid Empire

kešarr, -or, f.-hand

khîtraqas-a boar-like creature which has a speckled body (Salanja khîtraqa, the same)

kīzaš, -oi, f.- little thing

-kīzaš, -oi - diminuitive

kōs kolū-you

kreuhoroš, -æ#k, m.-raw flesh

kruhai- eat messily

kruhiai- gorge

kruhiβaš, kruhiβoš, kruhiβuoš- bloody (adj)

kruhiast(o)r, -or, m.-an giant monitor lizard, not unlike Megalgina

xeratoriuoš, -æ#k, n.-empire

xepoš, -æ#k, m.- home

lakueroš, -æ#k, m.-lake, pool

lantalai-move

lantaltulenai-labor, suffer

laŋgaus, -æ#k, m.-leg

laŋgauhaunai-walk

lataš, -oš, -uoš- green

lendhôš, -æ#k, m.-open land, a plain

levan-across (w/ loc. of Movement)

lotsoš, -æ#k, m.-salmon

magar-a serpentine creature inhabiting the ocean {from Čal gàr, the same}

marr, marior, n.-sea

mukálaš, -oi, m.-a small desert rodent {from Daraleœ mukál, the same}

nar (prep. w/abl.)- on

nar-rhêghîl, -oi, f.- Nar-Rhêghîl, a city on the Rhêghîl river.

nōs, nolū-we

nix –general invective

nūl (prep)-after (w/abl)

ŋŏiaš, -oš, -uoš round

orr, oror- this

orel, orelor-that

-osaš, -osoš, -osuoš -full of, augmented (verbal augment –os-)

puška(š), -oi, f.-originally 'one who deserts his friends', but now extended to use for any                       person/thing that makes the speaker very mad.(pušča has been borrowed from   Torasas in the colloquial dialects)

φæns, φæñcis, m.-religion

φāleqš, φēliqiš, f.-cat[11]

φolai-build

φoanabai-stand

polaskīj, -olū, m.-the Arēsæd, a race of barbarians that ride horses the size of Wargs;                                      they are closely related to both Dryds & Udraþ.

qulaš/kulaš, -oi, m.-spear

rhêghîl, -oi, f.-the Rheghil river

sa, son- thou

semel-out of, from; w/loc

sõn- (adv) so that (+ subj.); in order to (+opt.)

§imānuoš, - æ#k, n.-ridge, boundary

§īkanai-throw

šaološ, -æ#k- Šaol, the Dryds' planet.

šalontaš, -oi, f.-prarie grass

šiotænoš, -æ#k, m.-shit

šotæn!-OH SHIT!

štonč, štonon, m.-luck

ta, tæ#, to-she, he, it

taš, toš, tuoš-her, his, its (3rd Person adj.)

tai, tuī, tura-they

tosai-lose

toulaš, -oi, f.- fire

tulai-quarry(v)

tuλents, tuλinon, n.-stone; domas tuλinalū, quarry(n) (cf. house of stone)

ðeronts, ðeronon, m.-pterodactyl-like creature inhabiting the mountains

ula, mon- I

udraðai, -olū, m.-the Udraþ

vai (adv.)-therefore

varg, -æ#k, m.- a Warg

vāsuleg-the desolation of bieng in the badlands completely alone

veraš, -oš, -uoš- blue

vir, viræ#k, m.- man; pl. band of men, group

vostaš, -oi, f.-river mouth

vuγAn- to curse

vuγan tsulem!-fuck you!

ždatem-create;(dep. Verb)

žogostai-see

žogost|aš/ -oš, -oi/ -æ#k, f/m.-sight (1st Decl. or 2nd Decl.)



[1] /G/ is a variant of both /q/ and /g/.

[2] s and z do not occur in Udraþ; they are spoken as š, ž.

[3] The -va- affix in the Illative plural is a direct cognate to the Kerinidoi plural suffix in -vas- in the ‘Agglutinative’ cases.

[4] For e-stem nouns, both masculine and neuter, the genitive is in –eo; some I-stems have genitives in –io, and a fair amount of former s-stems have genitives in –is.

[5] The ns is for n-stems, the m for m-stems.

[6] Always n by rules of consonant assimilation.

[7] from *-r-ssē.

[8] The 1st person of the Imperative is always in the middle.

[9] (formative note): The Aorist form elas- is the original, and the Present & Future Aorists are derived from it.

[10] Archaic Nominative Dēŭidz.

[11] This noun is very irregular, and is declined as follows:

                sg.           Pl.

Nom φāleqš           φēlēks

Gen  φēliqiš           φēlēlu

Abl   φyluqš          φēlyros

Dat   φilaikš           φēlēns

Acc  φāleqon        φēlēks

Loc   φēlē            φēlēkenus

Instr φēlega           φēlessē