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{|border=1 align=right cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=33% class=bordertable; style=margin: 0 0 lem lem; background=#f9f9f9; font-size: 95%; float: right;
{{Language
|colspan=4; bgcolor=#99FF00; align=center|'''SYRUNIAN <br /> h-lez sirunyya : הלעז סירונײא'''''
|English = Syrunian
|-
|native= h-lez sirunyya : הלעז סירוניא
|valign="top"|Pronunciation:
|country=Syria (formerly, Roman Province of Syria)
||/ həlaʕz sirʊˈniːja /
|universe=Alternate
|-
|speakers=ca. 6,000
|valign="top"|Spoken in:
|headingbg=#c9ffd9
||''once:'' Roman Province of Syria <br />
|family=Indo-European
''now:'' Syria {{ #if: | () | {{ #if: | () }} }}
|branch=Italic-Romance
|-
|subbranch=Levantine
|valign="top"|Timeline:
|wordorder=VSO
||Alternate
|alignment=Nominative-Accusative
|-
|writing=a Hebrew-derived alphabet, historically also the Aramaic/Syriac abjads
|valign="top"|Total speakers:
|author=[[User:Culmaer|Culmær]]
||ca. 6000
|date=December 2010
|-
|type=inflecting
|valign="top"|Genealogical classification:
|width=275px
||Indo-European
}}
:Italic
 
::Romance
<!-- / həlaʕz sirʊˈniːja /    Written in: ||a Hebraic alphabet and the Latin alphabet     Historically also written in: ||the Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac abjads Relevant admired<br />projects : || [[Carrajina]]; [[Bâzrâmani]] //-->
:::Levantine
::::'''Syrunian'''
|-
|valign="top"|Written in:
||a Hebraic alphabet and the Latin alphabet
|-
|valign="top"|Historically also written in:
||the Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac abjads
|-
|colspan=2; bgcolor="#99FF00"; align="center"|'''Created by:'''
|-
||[[user:Culmaer|Iuhan Culmæria]]||started December 2010
|-
||Relevant admired<br />projects : || [[Carrajina]]; [[Bâzrâmani]]
|}


'''Syrunian''' is a [[Wikipedia:Romance languages|Romance]] conlang, or ''romlang''. The goal was to create a plausible descendant of Latin, that sounds (and acts, at times) like a [[Wikipedia:Semitic languages|Semitic]] language.<br /><br />
'''Syrunian''' is a [[Wikipedia:Romance languages|Romance]] conlang, or ''romlang'', designed to be a plausible descendant of Latin which sounds (and, at time, acts) like a [[Wikipedia:Semitic languages|Semitic]] language.   It is derived from a fictional [[Wikipedia:Latin language|Vulgar Latin]] spoken in Roman Syria.   Its primary influence is [[Wikipedia:Aramaic of Jesus|Aramaic]], but there are later borrowings from Arabic and modern loans French and English, like ''h-aurdinatur'' from the French “l’ordinateur” (computer).
It is derived from a Vulgar [[Wikipedia:Latin language|Latin]] used in Roman Syria. There are influences from the [[Wikipedia:Aramaic of Jesus|Aramaic]] language. There are ‘late’ borrowings from Arabic and contemporary loans from French and English, like ''h-aurdinatur'' from the French “l’ordinateur” (computer).


==Etymology==
==Etymology of Name ==
''h-Lez sirunyya'' is derived from the Syrian-Latin phrase '''hic lahez Siria Romane''' : ‘the language of Roman Syria’(= the Latin of Syria). <br />
הלעז סירוניא (Romanised ''h-Lez sirunyya'', IPA / həlaʕz sirʊˈniːja /) is derived from the Syrian-Latin phrase '''hic lahez Siria Romane''' (the language of Roman Syria, i.e. the Latin of Syria).
* '''H'''  : definite article, “the.” [> L ''hic'' (cf: Aramaic article ‘h, ה’)]
* '''H'''  : definite article, “the.” [> L. ''hic'' (cf: Hebrew def. article ‘h, ה’)]
* '''LEZ''' : language [> SrL ''lahez'' > Amc ''la`az'' (לעז) foreign, non-Hebrew/Aramaic language]
* '''Lez''' : language [> SrL ''lahez'' > Amc ''laʕaz'' (לעז) a foreign, non-Hebrew/Aramaic language]
*'''SIRUNΥΥA'''  [> L ''Siria+Romane'' → sirya rumanya → sir_ru'''n'''anya → sirunyya] Syrian Roman/Latin, a type of Vulgar Latin spoken in Roman Syria.
*'''Sirunyya'''  [> L ''Siria+Romane'' → sirya rumanya → sir' runanya → sirunyya] Syrian Roman/Latin, a type of Vulgar Latin spoken in Roman Syria.


==Alt-history==
==Alternate history==
[elements of history that are different from reality are given in ''italics'']<br />
[elements of history that are different from reality are given in ''italics'']<br />
<br />
<br />
[[Wikipedia:Aramaic language|Aramaic]] had served as a language of administration in Mesopotamia and was the day-to-day language in Judea from about 539 BCE to 70 CE.
[[Wikipedia:Aramaic language|Aramaic]] had served as a language of administration in Mesopotamia and was the day-to-day language in Judea from about 539 BCE to 70 CE.
<br />
<br />
In the Roman period, the great city of Antioch was the capital of Syria. It was one of the largest cities in the ancient world, as well as one of the largest centres of trade with the West, and of industry. Although Greek was the lingua franca of the eastern Empire, ''Latin remained the language of trade and administration in many Syrian cities, and was widely understood by those in the urban spheres of influence.'' Latin was also spoken by the Roman army. The Empire's major cities in Syria eventually adopted Greek, ''however, in small villages (especially between Antioch and Damascus) administrators and merchants continued to use Latin on a daily basis.''
During the Roman period, the great city of Antioch was the capital of the Province of Syria. It was one of the largest cities in the ancient world and an important centre of trade. Although Greek was the lingua franca in the eastern Roman Empire, ''Latin remained the language of administration in many Syrian cities, facilitating trade with the western Empire, and was widely understood by those in the urban sphere of influence.'' Latin was also spoken by the Roman army. The Empire's major cities in Syria eventually adopted Greek, ''however, in small villages (especially between Antioch and Damascus) administrators and merchants continued to use Latin on a daily basis.''
'''''Their Latin was greatly influenced by Aramaic''' in terms of pronunciation. Aramaic geographic, and Hebrew Judaic terminology was absorbed into the language. <br />The Vulgar Latin of these Syrian villages was different to European Vulgar Latin and is referred to as Syrian Latin to avoid confusion. ''<br />
''Their Latin was greatly influenced by Aramaic, the vernacular of the broader region, especially in terms of pronunciation. Aramaic geographic, and Hebrew religious terminology was absorbed into their language,  commonly referred to as Syrian Latin.''<br />
<br />
<br />
Syria remained a Roman (Byzantine) province until 636 CE, when it was conquered by Islam.  
Syria remained under Roman/Byzantine control until 638 CE, when it was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate and the Levant as a whole was brought under Arab-Islamic rule. ''Nevertheless, Early Syrunian survived as a vernacular in small villages.'' By the late 11th century, Syria was conquered first by the Seljuk Turks and then carved between Turkmen tribes and participants of the first Crusade. Sections of the coastline of Syria were briefly Frankish crusader states, ''which reintroduced Latin (via Old French) to the region. Although Arabic was not displaced as the dominant language, this reinforced the status of Syrunian in the areas where it was still spoken.'' The region was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th through 20th centuries ''and the Syrunian language was already in steady decline.'' After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was dissolved. In 1922 the League of Nations ceded to France the territories of modern-day Syria and Lebanon. ''This gave rise to numerous French loans in the Syrunian idiom.'' Syrian independence was acquired in April 1946.
By the late 11th century, Syria was conquered first by the Seljuk Turks and then carved between Turkmen tribes and participants of the first Crusade. Sections of the coastline of Syria were briefly Frankish crusader states, ''which reintroduced Latin (via Old French) to what had become Early Syrunian''. <br />
Syria was occupied, first by the Mongols (from 13th century), and then became part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th through 20th centuries, and found itself largely ignored by world affairs. <br />
After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was dissolved and in 1922 the League of Nations split the dominion of the former Syria. France received what was to become modern-day Syria and Lebanon. ''This gave rise to numerous French-isms in the Syrunian idiom.'' <br />
Syrian independence was acquired in April 1946.


===Syrunian in Modern times===
===Syrunian in Modern times===
Syrunian is a minority language, spoken in a few villages in South-western Syria, boadering Lebanon. The distance from other major cities and isolating geological features have aided the survival of Syrunian. However, modern roads and transportation, as well as accessibility to Arabic-language television and print media, are eroding the Syrunian language.
Syrunian is a minority language, spoken in a few remote villages in South-western Syria, bordering Lebanon. The distance from other major cities and isolating geological features have aided the survival of Syrunian. However, modern roads and transportation, as well as accessibility to Arabic-language television and print media, are eroding the Syrunian language.


==Phonology==
==Phonology==


{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0; margin-right:10px;"
!colspan=17 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Consonants
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: x-small; height: 2em"
!
! colspan="2" | Labial
! colspan="3" | Dental~Alv.
! colspan="3" | Alveolar
! Post-Alv.
! Palatal
! colspan="2" | Velar
! Uvular
! colspan="2" | Pharyngeal
! Glottal
|-
! Nasal
| m ||
|    ||  ||
| n  ||  ||
|
|
| (ŋ)
|-
! Plosive
| b || p
| d || t || tˤ
|    ||    ||
|
|
| g || k
| q
|  ||
| ʔ
|-
! Fricative
| v~β || f
| ð || θ ||
| z  || s || sˤ
| ʃ
|
| ɣ || x ||
| ʕ || ħ
| h
|-
! Approx.
| w
| || ||
| l || ||
| ||
| j
| ||
| ʁ̞~r
|}
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0; margin-right:10px;"
|+Vowels
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: x-small; height: 2em"
!  !! Front !! Central !! Back
|-
! High
| i || || ʊ~u
|-
! MId
| e~ɛ / ē||  ||
|-
! Low
| || ä~a / ā ||
|}
===Writing systems===
===Writing systems===
Syrunian is written with a Hebraic alphabet, although the oficial Syrunian-Latin alpahbet is in common use. Historically, the [[Wikipedia:Syriac alphabet|Syriac script]] was used too.
Syrunian is written with the Hebrew alphabet, although there is an official Syrunian-Latin alphabet. Historically, the [[Wikipedia:Syriac alphabet|Syriac script]] was used too, along with other writing systems of the majority culture round about them.


[[File:Syrunian alifbeth.jpg]] <br />
[[File:Syrunian alifbeth.jpg]] <br />
Note that the Syrunian dagesh functions differently to the Hebrew and Aramaic dagesh. It is used with Ssadi and Zayn for /tʃ/ and /ʒ/.
Note that the Syrunian dagesh functions differently than the Hebrew and Aramaic dagesh. It is used with Ssadi and Zayn for /tʃ/ and /ʒ/.
 


==General linguistic characteristics==
==General linguistic characteristics==


===Syntax===
===Syntax===
The predominant word order in Syrunian is VSO (Verb – Subject – Objects). VSO is the word order of Literary Syriac, as well as Biblical Hebrew, Classical Arabic. Within the noun phrase, both adjectives and possessors follow nouns. Possessors precede adjectives when modifying the same noun. Syrunian uses prepositions, some of which are prefixing clitics.
The predominant word order in Syrunian is VSO (Verb – Subject – Objects). VSO is the word order of Literary Syriac, as well as Biblical Hebrew and Classical Arabic. Within the noun phrase, both adjectives and possessors follow nouns. Possessors precede adjectives when modifying the same noun. Syrunian uses prepositions, some of which are proclitic.
<br />
<br />


===Morphology===
===Morphology===
Syrunian is more inflecting than most Romance languages and is comparable to Romanian. Nouns resemble Syriac/ Aramaic nouns, but their forms derive from Latin. <br /> The Syrunian definite article «h-, ה» is derived from the Latin word ''hic'' (this). It resembles the Aramaic article ''hə, ה''. It is used in all numbers, states and genders. <br /> Syrunian marks direct objects with «la-, לא», which is derived from the same root as the definite article in modern Western romance languages, like French and Italian. This developed under the influence of the Aramaic «l-, ל» prefix, which marks the direct object.
Syrunian is more inflecting than most Romance languages and is comparable to Romanian. Nouns resemble Syriac/Aramaic nouns, but their forms derive from Latin. The Syrunian definite article «h-, ה» is derived from the Latin word ''hic'' (this) and resembles the Hebrew definite article ''hə, ה''. It is used in all numbers, states and genders. <br /> Syrunian marks direct objects with «la-, לא», which is derived from the same root as the definite article in modern Western Romance languages, like French and Italian. This developed under the influence of the Aramaic prefix «l-, ל» which marks the direct object.


====Pronouns====
====Pronouns====
Line 87: Line 133:
|| || '''Subject''' forms || '''Object''' forms ||  
|| || '''Subject''' forms || '''Object''' forms ||  
|-
|-
|| '''1 Sing. Common''' || eħ<br />ח || miħ<br />מח ||  
|| '''1 Sing. Common''' || eħ<br />עח || miħ<br />מיח ||  
|-
|-
|| '''2 Sing. Masc''' || tu<br />ט || tiv<br />טב ||  
|| '''2 Sing. Masc''' || tu<br />תו || tiv<br />תיב ||  
|-
|-
|| '''2 Sing. Fem''' || ta<br />טא || tava<br />טבא ||  
|| '''2 Sing. Fem''' || ta<br />תא || tavā<br />תבא ||  
|-
|-
|| '''3 Sing. Masc''' || lu<br />לו || ei<br />עי ||  
|| '''3 Sing. Masc''' || lu<br />לו || ei<br />עי ||  
|-
|-
|| '''3 Sing. Fem''' || lia<br />ליא || ea<br />עא ||  
|| '''3 Sing. Fem''' || liā<br />ליא || eā<br />עא ||  
|-
|-
|| '''1 Pl. Common''' || nu<br />נו || nuṡ<br />נש ||  
|| '''1 Pl. Common''' || nu<br />נו || nuṡ<br />נוש ||  
|-
|-
|| '''2 Pl. Common''' || vu<br />בו || vuṡ<br />בש ||  
|| '''2 Pl. Common''' || vu<br />בו || vuṡ<br />בוש ||  
|-
|-
|| '''3 Pl. Common''' || alu<br />אלו || aus<br />אוס ||  
|| '''3 Pl. Common''' || alu<br />אלו || aus<br />אוס ||  
Line 105: Line 151:


====Nouns====
====Nouns====
Syrunian only has a definite article «h-, ה» which is a contraction of the Latin word ''hic'' (this). It is also the Aramaic article ''hə, ה''. It is used in all numbers, states and genders. <br />
Syrunian only has a definite article «h-, ה» which is a contraction of the Latin word ''hic'' (this). It is also related to the Hebrew definite article ''hə, ה''. It is used in all numbers, states and genders. <br />
Syrunian has two grammatical genders, masculine and feminine. The feminine absolute singular is usually marked by the ending –a א or –at ת . Nouns can be either singular or plural, but an additional 'dual' number exists for nouns that usually come in pairs. <br />
Syrunian has two grammatical genders, masculine and feminine. The feminine absolute singular is usually marked by the ending –ā א or –at את . Nouns can be either singular or plural, but an additional 'dual' number exists for nouns that usually come in pairs. <br />
Syrunian nouns and adjectives can exist in one of three states; these states correspond in part to the role of cases in other languages.<br />
Syrunian nouns and adjectives can exist in one of three states; these states correspond in part to the role of cases in other languages.<br />
* The '''emphatic or determined state''' <br />
* The '''emphatic or determined state''' <br />
is the basic form of the noun and is used to mark the topic and subject of a sentence. If an emphatic noun is preceded by the preposition '''la, לא''' it is the direct object of a sentence.<br />
is the basic form of the noun and is used to mark the topic and subject of a sentence. If an emphatic noun is preceded by the preposition '''la, לא''' it is the direct object of a sentence.<br />
The emphatic also governs the prepositions: '''in, ין''' (in, at) and '''pur, פר''' (for, to).
The emphatic also governs the prepositions: '''in, ין''' (in, at) and '''pur, פור''' (for, to).
<br />
<br />
* The '''absolute state''' <br />
* The '''absolute state''' <br />
is a prepositional state. In the singular, it is often marked with the suffix –im.<br />
is a prepositional state. In the plural, it is often marked with the suffix –im.<br />
The absolute governs the prepositions: '''a, א''' (towards); '''ṡe, ש''' (out of, from); '''di, ד''' (from, concerning); '''cum, כם''' (with); '''ṡem, שם''' (without); '''suv, סב''' (below); '''sifr, סףר''' (above).<br />
The absolute governs the prepositions: '''a, א''' (towards); '''ṡe, שע''' (out of, from); '''di, די''' (from, concerning); '''cum, כום''' (with); '''ṡem, שעם''' (without); '''suv, סוב''' (below); '''sifr, סיפר''' (above).<br />
* The '''construct state'''<br />
* The '''construct state'''<br />
is a form of the noun used to make possessive phrases. Unlike a genitive case, which marks the possessor, the construct state is marked on the possessed. This is mainly due to Aramaic word order: ''possessed[const.] possessor[abs./emph.]''  They are treated as a speech unit, with the first unit (possessed) employing the construct state to link it to the following word. <br />
is a form of the noun used to make possessive phrases. Unlike a genitive case, which marks the possessor, the construct state is marked on the possessed. This is mainly due to Semitic word order: ''possessed[const.] possessor[abs./emph.]''  They are treated as a speech unit, with the first unit (possessed) employing the construct state to link it to the following word.  Together, the make a ''construct chain'''.<br />
Possessive phrases in Syrunian are sometimes made with the preposition d-, rather than the construct case. <br />
Possessive phrases in Syrunian are often made with the preposition di-, rather than the construct case. <br />
For example, the various forms of possessive phrases (for 'the book of the queen') are:
For example, the various forms of possessive phrases (for 'the book of the queen') are:
# הלברע המלכא(h-livre h-malaca) — the possessed object (h-liver, 'the book') is in the construct state (livre) ; the possessor (h-malaqa, 'the queen') is in the emphatic state.
# הליברע המלכא (''h-livre h-malaca'') — the possessed object (''h-liver,'' 'the book') is in the construct state (i.e. ''livre'') ; the possessor (''h-malaca,'' 'the queen') is in the emphatic state.
# הלבר דמלכא(h-liver d-malaca) — both words are in the emphatic state and the relative particle d- is used to mark the relationship
# הליבר דמלכא (''h-liver d-malaca'') — both words are in the emphatic state and the relative particle ''d-'' is used to mark the relationship
# הלברע דמלכא(h-livre d-malaca) — the possessed object is in the construct state and the preposition d- is used to reaffirm the relationship. <br />
# הליברע דמלכא (''h-livre d-malaca'') — the possessed object is in the construct state and the preposition ''d-'' is used to reaffirm the relationship. <br />
In Modern Syrunian, the last form is by far the most common.
In Modern Syrunian, the last form is by far the most common.
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
!colspan=6 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Inflection of "malac" (regular noun)
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|-
|| ||colspan=2 | KING <br />Masculine ||  ||colspan=2 | QUEEN <br />Feminine ||
|-
|| || '''singular''' || '''plural''' || || | '''singular''' || '''plural''' ||
|-
|| '''Emphatic''' ||width="50"| mal'''a'''c<br />מל'''א'''ך ||width="50"| mal'''i'''c'''i'''<br />'''מל'''י'''כ'''י || || width="50"| malac'''a'''<br />מל'''א'''כא ||width="50"| mal'''a'''c'''ay'''<br />'''מל'''א'''כ'''אי ||
|-
|| '''Absolute''' || malc'''im''' <br />'''מלכ'''ם || malc'''is'''<br />'''מלכ'''ס ||  || |  malc'''ut''' <br />'''מלכ'''ות || malc'''as'''<br />'''מלכ'''אס ||
|-
|| '''Construct''' || malc'''e'''<br /> '''מלכ'''ע || malc'''es'''<br />'''מלכ'''עס || || |  malc'''ut'''e<br /> '''מלכ'''ותע || malc'''ese'''<br />'''מלכ'''עסע ||
|}
<br />
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
!colspan=4 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Inflection of "malac" (king)
!colspan=5 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Inflection of "ucul" (eye, regular with dual)
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|-
|-
|| || '''singular''' || '''plural''' ||  
|| || '''singular''' || '''dual''' ||'''plural''' ||  
|-
|-
|| '''Emphatic''' || mal'''a'''c<br />מל'''א'''ך || mal'''i'''c'''i'''<br />'''מל'''י'''כ'''י ||  
|| '''Emphatic''' || uc'''u'''l <br /> וכול || uc'''u'''l'''in'''<br />וכולין || uc'''i'''l'''i'''<br />וכילי ||  
|-
|-
|| '''Absolute''' || malc'''im''' <br />'''מלכ'''ם || malc'''is'''<br />'''מלכ'''ס ||  
|| '''Absolute''' || ucl'''im''' <br />וכלים || ucl'''ayym'''<br />וכלאיים|| ucl'''is'''<br />וכלס ||
|-
|-
|| '''Construct''' || malc'''e'''<br /> '''מלכ'''ע || malc'''es'''<br />'''מלכ'''עס ||  
|| '''Construct''' || ucl'''e'''<br />וכלע || ucl'''eyn'''<br />וכלעין || ucl'''es'''<br />וכלעס ||
|}
|}


'''Superficially''', Syrio-Aramaic and Latin nouns had similar inflection forms. Thus, they survived in Syrunian.
'''Superficially''', Syrio-Aramaic and Latin nouns had similar inflection forms. Thus, they survived in Syrunian.
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
!colspan=4 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Comparative inflection of regular nouns
!colspan=4 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| Comparative inflection of '''regular''' nouns
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|-
|-
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====Verbs====
====Verbs====
Verbs conjugate for number; and in the singular for gender too. Singular verbs do not require the pronoun to be stated explicitly in the sentence, however, pronouns must always be used with plural verbs.
Verbs conjugate for number; and in the singular for gender too. Singular verbs do not require the pronoun to be stated explicitly in the sentence, however, pronouns must always be used with plural verbs. Verbs exist in two base forms: the perfect and imperfect. Time is expressed by using these forms in compound tenses.


{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
{| style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
!colspan=4 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| The regular verb AMAR (to love)
!colspan=4 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| The regular verb AMAR (to love)<br /> ROOTS
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|-
|-
Line 197: Line 261:
|} <br />
|} <br />


Passive/ adjectival form: a[perfect form]  (ie: the perfect from, with an Alif prefix)
{|style="text-align: center; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1pt solid #c0c0c0;"
!colspan=7 style="text-align:center; background: #efefef;"| The construction of tenses and moods
|- style="vertical-align: center; font-size: small; height: 2em"
|-
|| ||'''Past perfect'''|| '''Imperfect''' ||'''Present''' || '''Future''' || '''Future perfect''' ||'''Passive''' ||
|-
|| Eng. example|| I have loved || I loved || I love || I will love|| I will have loved ||I am loved ||
|-
|| '''Syrunian'''|| to have [IMP]<br /> + PERF || PERF|| IMP || to go [IMP] <br /> + INFINITIVE || to go[IMP] <br /> + PERF ||{alif (he)}PERF ||
|-
|}<br />
Passive= adjectival form: a[perfect form]  (ie: the perfect from, with an Alif prefix)


==Texts==
==Texts==
''See:'' [[Syrunian texts]]
''See:'' [[Syrunian texts]] <br />
Also consult the [[Syrunian word-list]]


===Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights===
===Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights===
'''This text represents my earliest draft of Syrunian. An updated version can be found on the [[Syrunian texts]] page '''<br /> <br />
Anasħuttuvin h-culs h-ħuni libris e eqlis cum h-cuvdim e h-yuris. Adunavin h-culs la-raṡin e la-cussett, e devin alu aus sis agir in h-ruħe d-fratiryya. <br />
Sunt nasħuntaθs aunes ħuni libers, eħuals et sam al-dihnte al-żihursqe. Sunt dunati luir dal raσnim dal cusħentsimsqe et est-ċi avulet q’ agiσint ilar sifral-autres sam al-sfirte fraθres.
אנאסחוטובין הכולס החוני ליבבריס ע עקליס כם הכובדם ע היורס. אדונאבין הכולס לא-ראשין ע לא-כוצעט, ע דעבין אלו אוס סס אגיר ין הרוחע דפראתירייא<br />
Read by David Salo: [[Media:Syrunian_UDHR1.ogg]]. <br />
<br />
<br />
סונט נאסחוטאתס אונעס חוני ליבערס ,עחואלס עט סאם אל-דיהנטע אל-זּיהורסכע. סונט דונאטי לויר דאל-ראשנים דאל-קוסחעצימסכע עט עסט-צּי אוּולעט כ אגישינט ילאר סיףראל-אוטרעס סאם אל-סףירטע ףראתרעס.  
compared to this version, in my earliest draft of "Levantine Romance":<br />
Sunt nasħuntaθs aunes ħuni libers, eħuals et sam al-dihnte al-żihursqe. Sunt dunati luir dal raσnim dal cusħentsimsqe et est-ċi avulet q’ agiσint ilar sifral-autres sam al-sfirte fraθres.<br />
סונט נאסחוטאתס אונעס חוני ליבערס ,עחואלס עט סאם אל-דיהנטע אל-זּיהורסכע. סונט דונאטי לויר דאל-ראשנים דאל-קוסחעצימסכע עט עסט-צּי אוּולעט כ אגישינט ילאר סיףראל-אוטרעס סאם אל-סףירטע ףראתרעס. <br />
<br />
<br />
 
'''More texts available on the [[Syrunian texts]] page'''


[[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:Romance conlangs]]
[[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:Romance conlangs]]

Latest revision as of 09:13, 25 January 2024

Syrunian
h-lez sirunyya : הלעז סירוניא
Spoken in: Syria (formerly, Roman Province of Syria)
Conworld: Alternate
Total speakers: ca. 6,000
Genealogical classification: Indo-European
Italic-Romance
Levantine
Syrunian
Basic word order: VSO
Morphological type: inflecting
Morphosyntactic alignment: Nominative-Accusative
Writing system: a Hebrew-derived alphabet, historically also the Aramaic/Syriac abjads
Created by:
Culmær December 2010


Syrunian is a Romance conlang, or romlang, designed to be a plausible descendant of Latin which sounds (and, at time, acts) like a Semitic language. It is derived from a fictional Vulgar Latin spoken in Roman Syria. Its primary influence is Aramaic, but there are later borrowings from Arabic and modern loans French and English, like h-aurdinatur from the French “l’ordinateur” (computer).

Etymology of Name

הלעז סירוניא (Romanised h-Lez sirunyya, IPA / həlaʕz sirʊˈniːja /) is derived from the Syrian-Latin phrase hic lahez Siria Romane (the language of Roman Syria, i.e. the Latin of Syria).

  • H  : definite article, “the.” [> L. hic (cf: Hebrew def. article ‘h, ה’)]
  • Lez : language [> SrL lahez > Amc laʕaz (לעז) a foreign, non-Hebrew/Aramaic language]
  • Sirunyya [> L Siria+Romane → sirya rumanya → sir' runanya → sirunyya] Syrian Roman/Latin, a type of Vulgar Latin spoken in Roman Syria.

Alternate history

[elements of history that are different from reality are given in italics]

Aramaic had served as a language of administration in Mesopotamia and was the day-to-day language in Judea from about 539 BCE to 70 CE.
During the Roman period, the great city of Antioch was the capital of the Province of Syria. It was one of the largest cities in the ancient world and an important centre of trade. Although Greek was the lingua franca in the eastern Roman Empire, Latin remained the language of administration in many Syrian cities, facilitating trade with the western Empire, and was widely understood by those in the urban sphere of influence. Latin was also spoken by the Roman army. The Empire's major cities in Syria eventually adopted Greek, however, in small villages (especially between Antioch and Damascus) administrators and merchants continued to use Latin on a daily basis. Their Latin was greatly influenced by Aramaic, the vernacular of the broader region, especially in terms of pronunciation. Aramaic geographic, and Hebrew religious terminology was absorbed into their language, commonly referred to as Syrian Latin.

Syria remained under Roman/Byzantine control until 638 CE, when it was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate and the Levant as a whole was brought under Arab-Islamic rule. Nevertheless, Early Syrunian survived as a vernacular in small villages. By the late 11th century, Syria was conquered first by the Seljuk Turks and then carved between Turkmen tribes and participants of the first Crusade. Sections of the coastline of Syria were briefly Frankish crusader states, which reintroduced Latin (via Old French) to the region. Although Arabic was not displaced as the dominant language, this reinforced the status of Syrunian in the areas where it was still spoken. The region was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th through 20th centuries and the Syrunian language was already in steady decline. After World War I, the Ottoman Empire was dissolved. In 1922 the League of Nations ceded to France the territories of modern-day Syria and Lebanon. This gave rise to numerous French loans in the Syrunian idiom. Syrian independence was acquired in April 1946.

Syrunian in Modern times

Syrunian is a minority language, spoken in a few remote villages in South-western Syria, bordering Lebanon. The distance from other major cities and isolating geological features have aided the survival of Syrunian. However, modern roads and transportation, as well as accessibility to Arabic-language television and print media, are eroding the Syrunian language.

Phonology

Consonants
Labial Dental~Alv. Alveolar Post-Alv. Palatal Velar Uvular Pharyngeal Glottal
Nasal m n (ŋ)
Plosive b p d t tˤ g k q ʔ
Fricative v~β f ð θ z s sˤ ʃ ɣ x ʕ ħ h
Approx. w l j ʁ̞~r
Vowels
Front Central Back
High i ʊ~u
MId e~ɛ / ē
Low ä~a / ā

Writing systems

Syrunian is written with the Hebrew alphabet, although there is an official Syrunian-Latin alphabet. Historically, the Syriac script was used too, along with other writing systems of the majority culture round about them.

Syrunian alifbeth.jpg
Note that the Syrunian dagesh functions differently than the Hebrew and Aramaic dagesh. It is used with Ssadi and Zayn for /tʃ/ and /ʒ/.

General linguistic characteristics

Syntax

The predominant word order in Syrunian is VSO (Verb – Subject – Objects). VSO is the word order of Literary Syriac, as well as Biblical Hebrew and Classical Arabic. Within the noun phrase, both adjectives and possessors follow nouns. Possessors precede adjectives when modifying the same noun. Syrunian uses prepositions, some of which are proclitic.

Morphology

Syrunian is more inflecting than most Romance languages and is comparable to Romanian. Nouns resemble Syriac/Aramaic nouns, but their forms derive from Latin. The Syrunian definite article «h-, ה» is derived from the Latin word hic (this) and resembles the Hebrew definite article hə, ה. It is used in all numbers, states and genders.
Syrunian marks direct objects with «la-, לא», which is derived from the same root as the definite article in modern Western Romance languages, like French and Italian. This developed under the influence of the Aramaic prefix «l-, ל» which marks the direct object.

Pronouns

Pronouns
Subject forms Object forms
1 Sing. Common eħ
עח		 miħ
מיח
2 Sing. Masc tu
תו		 tiv
תיב
2 Sing. Fem ta
תא		 tavā
תבא
3 Sing. Masc lu
לו		 ei
עי
3 Sing. Fem liā
ליא		 eā
עא
1 Pl. Common nu
נו		 nuṡ
נוש
2 Pl. Common vu
בו		 vuṡ
בוש
3 Pl. Common alu
אלו		 aus
אוס

Nouns

Syrunian only has a definite article «h-, ה» which is a contraction of the Latin word hic (this). It is also related to the Hebrew definite article hə, ה. It is used in all numbers, states and genders.
Syrunian has two grammatical genders, masculine and feminine. The feminine absolute singular is usually marked by the ending –ā א or –at את . Nouns can be either singular or plural, but an additional 'dual' number exists for nouns that usually come in pairs.
Syrunian nouns and adjectives can exist in one of three states; these states correspond in part to the role of cases in other languages.

  • The emphatic or determined state

is the basic form of the noun and is used to mark the topic and subject of a sentence. If an emphatic noun is preceded by the preposition la, לא it is the direct object of a sentence.
The emphatic also governs the prepositions: in, ין (in, at) and pur, פור (for, to).

  • The absolute state

is a prepositional state. In the plural, it is often marked with the suffix –im.
The absolute governs the prepositions: a, א (towards); ṡe, שע (out of, from); di, די (from, concerning); cum, כום (with); ṡem, שעם (without); suv, סוב (below); sifr, סיפר (above).

  • The construct state

is a form of the noun used to make possessive phrases. Unlike a genitive case, which marks the possessor, the construct state is marked on the possessed. This is mainly due to Semitic word order: possessed[const.] possessor[abs./emph.] They are treated as a speech unit, with the first unit (possessed) employing the construct state to link it to the following word. Together, the make a construct chain'.
Possessive phrases in Syrunian are often made with the preposition di-, rather than the construct case.
For example, the various forms of possessive phrases (for 'the book of the queen') are:

  1. הליברע המלכא (h-livre h-malaca) — the possessed object (h-liver, 'the book') is in the construct state (i.e. livre) ; the possessor (h-malaca, 'the queen') is in the emphatic state.
  2. הליבר דמלכא (h-liver d-malaca) — both words are in the emphatic state and the relative particle d- is used to mark the relationship
  3. הליברע דמלכא (h-livre d-malaca) — the possessed object is in the construct state and the preposition d- is used to reaffirm the relationship.

In Modern Syrunian, the last form is by far the most common.

Inflection of "malac" (regular noun)
KING
Masculine		 QUEEN
Feminine
singular plural singular plural
Emphatic malac
מלאך		 malici
מליכי		 malaca
מלאכא		 malacay
מלאכאי
Absolute malcim
מלכם		 malcis
מלכס		 malcut
מלכות		 malcas
מלכאס
Construct malce
מלכע		 malces
מלכעס		 malcute
מלכותע		 malcese
מלכעסע


Inflection of "ucul" (eye, regular with dual)
singular dual plural
Emphatic ucul
וכול		 uculin
וכולין		 ucili
וכילי
Absolute uclim
וכלים		 uclayym
וכלאיים		 uclis
וכלס
Construct ucle
וכלע		 ucleyn
וכלעין		 ucles
וכלעס


Superficially, Syrio-Aramaic and Latin nouns had similar inflection forms. Thus, they survived in Syrunian.

Comparative inflection of regular nouns
LATIN SYRIAC
(Aramaic)		 SYRUNIAN
Nominative/
Emphatic		 Vita šeqle liver
Accusative/
Absloute		 Vit-am šeql-în livr-im
Genitive/
Construct		 Vit-æ šeql-ay livr-e
translation "life" "tax" "book"

Adjectives

Adjectives agree with their nouns in number and state, but only attributive. Predicative adjectives are in the construct state regardless of the state of their noun (a copula can, but need not be written). Thus, an attributive adjective to an emphatic noun, as in the phrase 'the good king', is written also in the emphatic state : h-malac h-ben — the king[emph.] good[emph.]. In comparison, the predicative adjective, as in the phrase 'the king is good', is written in the construct state: h-malac beni — the king[emph.] good[cons.] An alternative is : es beni h-malac – is good[cons.] the king[emph.].
Note that Dual numbers take plural adjectives. Adjectives never inflect for the dual.

Inflection of "ben" (good)
Masculine Feminine
singular plural Singular Plural
Emphatic ben
בן		 bens
בנס		 bena
בנא		 benat
בנאת
Absolute benim
בנם		 bens
בנס		 benam
בנם		 benat
בנאת
Construct beni
בני		 benis
בניס		 beni
בני		 benis
בניס

Verbs

Verbs conjugate for number; and in the singular for gender too. Singular verbs do not require the pronoun to be stated explicitly in the sentence, however, pronouns must always be used with plural verbs. Verbs exist in two base forms: the perfect and imperfect. Time is expressed by using these forms in compound tenses.

The regular verb AMAR (to love)
ROOTS
Imperfect forms Perfect forms
1 Sing. Common (I) amaħ
אמאח		 amav
אמאב
2 Sing. Masc (you) amut
אמות		 amavis
אמאביס
2 Sing. Fem amat
אמאת		 amavit
אמאבית
3 Sing. Masc (he/it) amu
אמו		 amavis
אמאביס
3 Sing. Fem (she) amya
אמיא		 amavit
אמאבית
1 Pl. Common (we) amamus
אמאמוס		 amavam
אמאבאם
2 Pl. Common (you) amass
אמאץ		 amavatiss
אמאבאתיץ
3 Pl. Common (they) amayn
אמאין		 amavin
אמאבין


The construction of tenses and moods
Past perfect Imperfect Present Future Future perfect Passive
Eng. example I have loved I loved I love I will love I will have loved I am loved
Syrunian to have [IMP]
+ PERF		 PERF IMP to go [IMP]
+ INFINITIVE		 to go[IMP]
+ PERF		 {alif (he)}PERF


Passive= adjectival form: a[perfect form] (ie: the perfect from, with an Alif prefix)

Texts

See: Syrunian texts
Also consult the Syrunian word-list

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Anasħuttuvin h-culs h-ħuni libris e eqlis cum h-cuvdim e h-yuris. Adunavin h-culs la-raṡin e la-cussett, e devin alu aus sis agir in h-ruħe d-fratiryya.
אנאסחוטובין הכולס החוני ליבבריס ע עקליס כם הכובדם ע היורס. אדונאבין הכולס לא-ראשין ע לא-כוצעט, ע דעבין אלו אוס סס אגיר ין הרוחע דפראתירייא
Read by David Salo: Media:Syrunian_UDHR1.ogg.

compared to this version, in my earliest draft of "Levantine Romance":
Sunt nasħuntaθs aunes ħuni libers, eħuals et sam al-dihnte al-żihursqe. Sunt dunati luir dal raσnim dal cusħentsimsqe et est-ċi avulet q’ agiσint ilar sifral-autres sam al-sfirte fraθres.
סונט נאסחוטאתס אונעס חוני ליבערס ,עחואלס עט סאם אל-דיהנטע אל-זּיהורסכע. סונט דונאטי לויר דאל-ראשנים דאל-קוסחעצימסכע עט עסט-צּי אוּולעט כ אגישינט ילאר סיףראל-אוטרעס סאם אל-סףירטע ףראתרעס.

More texts available on the Syrunian texts page

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