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Vrkhazhian (ʾAšdu Yat-Vṛḵaẕ) is a Northern Hašakam language that is spoken by the Vrkhazh who live in the region known as [[Vṛḵaẕ|Yat-Vṛḵaẕ]]. The earliest form of this language, known as Old Vrkhazhian, was spoken around 5,000 years ago.
#REDIRECT [[Vrkhazhian]]
{{infobox
|image=Flag-Vrkhazh.png
|size=350px
|bg=#6BB6B6
|name=Vrkhazhian
|native=ʾAšdu Yat-Vṛḵaẕ
|pronounce=/ʔaçˈdu jatβɹ̩ˈxaʝ/
|in=Vrkhazh (Yat-Vṛḵaẕ)
|script=ʾAḵuva Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|tree=Proto-Haṣákaṃ Languages
:Himoshian
::Highalic 
:::Proto-Vrkhazhian
::::Old Vrkhazhian
:::::Middle Vrkhazhian
::::::'''Modern Vrkhazhian'''
|morph=highly fusional, weakly agglutinative
|ms=nominative-accusative
|wo=SOV/VSO
|creator=[[User:Ahzoh|Malcolm G. Holborne]]}}
 
 
==History==
===Dialects===
Vrkhazhian has two major dialects and several minor dialects. The area of the two dialects are divided by two distinct sides; the north-eastern portion of Vrkhazh contains the majority of speakers of Mukhebic, while the south-western portion of Vrkhazh contains the majority of speakers of Uzerian. The numerous smaller dialects are spread in and around these two halves with varying degrees of density.
 
The table below lists the two major dialects:
 
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+Dialects of Vrkhazhian
|-
! Dialect
! Location
|-
| Uzerian
| South-West Vrkhazh (originating from the city of ʾUzēr)
|-
| Mukhebic
| North-East Vrkhazh (originating from the city of Muḵeb)
|}
 
Mukhebic is considered the dialect of business and trading, and originated from Mukheb, one of the two top cities of commerce along with Qazhd. Uzerian is considered the dialect of communication and politics, originating from Uzer, the Capital City where the Emperor or Empress resides. When conducting business and trading with others, it is necessary to communicate in the Mukhebic dialect while the Uzerian dialect is used for everything else, especially involving politics. The knowledge of both dialects is a must for any meaningful life in the Vrkhazhian Empire.
 
==Phonology==
===Consonants===
The table below shows the 42 consonant phonemes found in Vrkhazhian. When consonants appear in pairs, the voiceless counterpart appears on the left, and the voiced counterpart appears on the right:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Vrkhazhian Consonantal Phonemes
|-
! colspan=2|
!Bilabial
!Alveolar
!Palatal
!Velar
!Uvular
!Glottal
|-
!colspan=2|Nasal
| '''hm''' [m̥] '''m''' [m]
| '''hn''' [n̥] '''n''' [n]
|
|
| '''ṉ''' [ɴ]
|
|-
!rowspan=3|Stop
!<small>Light</small>
| '''hp''' [ʰp]
| '''ht''' [ʰt]
|
| '''hk''' [ʰk]
| '''hq''' [ʰq]
|
|-
!<small>Plain</small>
| '''p''' [p] '''b''' [b]
| '''t''' [t] '''d''' [d]
|
| '''k''' [k] '''g''' [g]
| '''q''' [q]
| '''ʾ''' [ʔ]
|-
!<small>Dark</small>
| '''ṗ''' [pʶ]
| '''ṭ''' [tʶ]
|
|
|
|
|-
!colspan=2|Affricate
|
| '''ḏ''' [t͡s]
| '''č''' [c͡ç] '''j''' [ɟ͡ʝ]
|
|
|
|-
!colspan=2|Fricative
| '''f''' [ɸ] '''v''' [β]
| '''s''' [s] '''z''' [z]
| '''š''' [ç] '''ẕ''' [ʝ]
| '''ḵ''' [x] '''ğ''' [ɣ]
| '''ḥ''' [χ]
| '''h''' [h]
|-
!colspan=2|Approximant
|
| '''hr''' [ɹ̥] '''r''' [ɹ~ɾ]
| '''y''' [j]
| '''w''' [w]
|
|
|-
!colspan=2|Trill
|
| '''ř''' [rʷ]
|
|
| '''ṟ''' [ʀ]
|
|-
!rowspan=2|Lateral Approximant
!<small>Plain</small>
|
| '''hl''' [l̥] '''l''' [l]
|
|
|
|
|-
!<small>Dark</small>
|
| '''ḷ''' [lʶ]
|
|
|
|
|-
!colspan=2|Lateral Fricative
|
|
|| '''ḻ''' [ʎ̝̊]
|
|
|
|-
|}
<div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0.33em">''Where consonants appear in pairs, the left is voiceless and the right is voiced.</div>
 
===Vowels===
{| class="IPA" cellspacing="0px" cellpadding="0" style="text-align:center; background:none;"
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:smaller;"
|style="padding-bottom:3px;"| &nbsp;
| style="width: 60px;" | '''Front'''
| style="width: 60px; word-spacing: -.3em;" | '''Near- front'''
| style="width: 60px;" | '''Central'''
| style="width: 60px;word-spacing: -.3em;" | '''Near- back'''
| style="width: 60px;" | '''Back'''
|-
| style="height: 30px; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;" | '''Close'''
| style="height: 210px;" colspan=5 rowspan=7 | <div style="position: relative;">[[File:Blank vowel trapezoid.svg|300px]]<div style="background:none; position:absolute; top:0; left:0;">
{| style="position:relative; width:300px; height:210px; text-align:center; background:none;"
|-
| style="width:300px; height:210px; text-align:center; background:none; font-size:120%;"|
 
<!-- CLOSE VOWELS -->
<div style="position: absolute; left: 4%; width: 1em; top: 2%; background: white;">'''i'''</div>
<div style="position: absolute; left: 91%; width: 1em; top: 2%; background: none;">'''u'''</div>
 
<!-- NEAR-CLOSE VOWELS -->
<div style="position: absolute; left: 46%; width: 1em; top: 24%; background: none;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="position: absolute; left: 74%; width: 1em; top: 16%; background: white;">
&nbsp;</div>
 
<!-- CLOSE-MID VOWELS -->
<div style="position: absolute; left: 50%; width: 1em; top: 30%; background: none;">&nbsp;</div>
 
<!-- MID VOWELS -->
<div style="position: absolute; left: 22%; width: 1em; top: 43%%; background: white;">'''e̞'''</div>
<div style="position: absolute; left: 57%; width: 1em; top: 43%; background: white;">'''ə'''</div>
<div style="position: absolute; left: 91%; width: 1em; top: 43%; background: none;">'''o̞'''</div>
 
<!-- OPEN-MID VOWELS -->
<div style="position: absolute; left: 29%; width: 1em; top: 58%; background: white;">'''ɛ'''</div>
<div style="position: absolute; left: 57%; width: 1em; top: 58%; background: none;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="position: absolute; left: 91%; width: 1em; top: 58%; background: none;">'''ɔ'''</div>
 
<!-- NEAR-OPEN VOWELS -->
<div style="position: absolute; left: 64%; width: 1em; top: 73%; background: none;">&nbsp;</div>
 
<!-- OPEN VOWELS -->
<div style="position: absolute; left: 44%; width: 1em; top: 86%; background: none;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="position: absolute; left: 68%; width: 1em; top: 86%; background: white;">
'''a'''</div>
|}
</div></div>
|-
| style="height: 30px; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;'''Near-close'''
|-
| style="height: 30px; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;" | '''Close-mid'''
|-
| style="height: 30px; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;" | '''Mid'''
|-
| style="height: 30px; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;" | '''Open-mid'''
|-
| style="height: 30px; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;" | '''Near-open'''
|-
| style="height: 30px; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;" | '''Open'''
|}
<div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0.33em">''The vowel phoneme /a/ is analyzed as being a continuum of open vowels ranging from front to back that are in free variation.</div>
 
{|class="wikitable article-table" style="text-align:center;"
|+Romanization of Vowel Phonemes
|-
!
! style="width: 40px; " |Front
! style="width: 40px; " |Central
! style="width: 40px; " |Back
|-
!Close
| '''i''' [i]
|
| '''u''' [u]
|-
!Mid
| '''ē''' [e̞]
| '''ə''' [ə]
| '''ō''' [o̞]
|-
!Open-mid
| '''e''' [ɛ]
|
| '''o''' [ɔ]
|-
!Open
|colspan="3"| '''a''' [a]
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Vrkhazhian Diphthongs
! IPA
! Letter
! Example
|-
|-
| ae̯
| aẏ
| like '''eye''' 
|-
|-
| ao̯
| aẇ
| like c'''ow''' 
|-
|}
 
===Allophony===
Stops:
*The alveolar stop consonants /t d/ become [θ ð] in word-final positions if they occur after front vowels /ɛ e̞ i/.
*Voiced and voiceless stop plus glottal stop clusters (i.e. /pʔ kʔ gʔ/) are phonetically analyzed as ejectives and implosives (i.e. [pʼ tʼ ɠ]), respectively.
*The velar stop consonant /k g/ are assimilated into /q/ in the environment of a uvular stop and uvular nasal consonant.
*The vowels /i ə u/ are lowered to [e̞ a o̞] if they occur after a voiceless uvular stop /q/.
Nasals:
*The alveolar nasal /n/ is analyzed as [ɲ] before palatal consonants, [ŋ] before velar consonants (including /w/), and [ɴ] before uvular consonants.
*The uvular nasal /ɴ/ is analyzed as a velar nasal [ŋ] before palatal and velar consonants (including /w/).
Liquid:
*The voiced alveolar trill /r/ is phonemically analyzed as /r/, however it is phonetically realized as being rounded [rʷ].
 
===Syllable Structure===
The syllable structure of Vrkhazhian is analyzed as (C)C(V)(C)(C), where C stands for a consonant, V stands for a vowel. CV and CVC are most common syllable types in Vrkhazhian, while in contrast, C and CCVCC, are the rarest.
Though not listed in the phonemic inventory table above, there also exists two syllabic rhotics /ɹ̩ r̩/ in Vrkhazhian that is romanized as ⟨ṛ ŕ⟩ as well as two syllabic nasals /m̩ n̩/ romanized as ⟨ṃ ṇ⟩.
 
All words that appear to begin with vowels are analyzed as containing a glottal stop before them, which is usually omitted in fast speech. Vrkhazhian is very strict in preventing hiatus between vowels; this is done by adding an epenthetic /h/ between the two vowels.
 
====Onset====
The follow table lists the possible consonants that can occur as the onset:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Nasal:
:/m̥/, /m/, /n̥/, /n/, /ɴ/
|-
| Stop:
:/p/, /ʰp/, /pʶ/, /b/, /t/, /ʰt/, /tʶ/, /d/,
:/k/, /ʰk/, /g/, /q/, /ʰq/, /ʔ/
|-
|Stop plus Nasal:
:/dm/, /km/, /gm/, /gn/
|-
| Stop plus Stop:
:/pt/, /pd/, /pʔ/, /bt/, /bd/, /tp/, /tʔ/, /db/,
:/kp/, /kb/, /kt/, /kd/, /kʔ/, /gp/, /gb/, /gt/,
:/gd/, /gʔ/
|-
|Stop plus /w/:
:/kw/, /gw/, /qw/
|-
|Stop plus Fricative:
:/kɸ/, /gβ/, /kç/, /gʝ/
|-
|Stop plus Liquid:
:/pɹ/, /bɹ/, /tɹ/, /dɹ/, /kɹ/, /gɹ/, /qɹ/,
:/pr/, /br/, /kr/, /gr/, /qr/,
:/pʀ/, /bʀ/, /tʀ/, /dʀ/, /kʀ/, /gʀ/, /qʀ/,
:/pl/, /bl/, /ql/
|-
| Affricate:
:/t͡s/, /c͡ç/, /ɟ͡ʝ/
|-
| Fricative:
:/ɸ/, /β/, /s/, /z/, /ç/, /ʝ/, /x/, /ɣ/, /χ/, h/
|-
| Fricative plus Stop:
:/zb/, /zg/, /xp/, /xt/, /ɣb/, /ɣd/
|-
| Fricative plus Affricate:
:/çc͡ç/, /ʝɟ͡ʝ/
|-
| Fricative plus Fricative:
:/xs/
|-
|Fricative plus /w/:
:/sw/, /zw/, /çw/, /ʝw/, /xw/, /ɣw/, /χw/
|-
|Fricative plus Liquid:
:/sɹ/, /zɹ/, /çɹ/, /ʝɹ/, /xɹ/, /ɣɹ/, /χɹ/,
:/ɸr/, /βr/, /çr/, /ʝr/, /xr/, /ɣr/, /χr/,
:/sʀ/, /zʀ/,
:/sl/, /zl/, /çl/, /ʝl/, /xl/, /ɣl/, /χl/
|-
| Approximant:
:/j/, /w/
|-
| Liquid:
:/ɹ̥/, /ɹ/, /r/, /ʀ/, /l̥/, /l/, /lʶ/, /ʎ̝̊/
|-
|}
 
====Nucleus====
Any of the vowels and diphthongs can appear in a syllable as well as the syllabic consonants /m̩ n̩ ɹ̩ r̩/, provided the latter have no onset or coda.
 
====Coda====
The following table lists the possible consonants that can occur as the coda:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Nasal:
::/m̥/, /m/, /n̥/, /n/, /ɴ/
|-
| Nasal plus Stop:
:/mt/, /nt/
|-
| Stop:
:/p/, /ʰp/, /pʶ/, /b/, /t/, /ʰt/, /tʶ/, /d/,
:/k/, /ʰk/, /g/, /q/, /ʰq/, /ʔ/
|-
| Stop plus Stop:
:/pt/, /kt/
|-
| Stop plus Fricative:
:/kɸ/, /kç/,
|-
| Affricate:
:/t͡s/, /c͡ç/, /ɟ͡ʝ/
|-
| Fricative:
:/ɸ/, /β/, /s/, /z/, /ç/, /ʝ/, /x/, /ɣ/, /χ/, h/
|-
| Fricative plus Stop:
:/çt/, /ʝd/, /xp/, /xt/, /xk/, /ɣb/, /ɣd/, /ɣg/
|-
| Fricative plus Affricate:
:/çc͡ç/, /ʝɟ͡ʝ/
|-
|Fricative plus Liquid:
:/ɹɸ/, /ɹβ/, /ɹs/, /ɹz/, /ɹç/, /ɹʝ/, /ɹx/, /ɹɣ/,
:/rɸ/, /rβ/, /rç/, /rʝ/, /rx/, /rɣ/, /rχ/,
:/ls/, /lz/, /lç/, /lʝ/, /lx/, /lɣ/, /lχ/
|-
| Approximant:
:/j/, /w/
|-
| Liquid:
:/ɹ̥/, /ɹ/, /r/, /ʀ/, /l̥/, /l/, /lʶ/, /ʎ̝̊/
|-
|Liquid plus Stop:
:/ɹp/, /ɹb/, /ɹt/, /ɹd/, /ɹk/, /ɹg/, /ɹq/,
:/rp/, /rb/, /rt/, /rd/, /rk/, /rg/, /rq/,
:/ʀp/, /ʀb/, /ʀt/, /ʀd/, /ʀk/, /ʀg/, /ʀq/,
:/lp/, /lb/, /lt/, /ld/, /lk/, /lg/ /lq/
|-
|}
 
===Stress===
Stress in Vrkhazhian is generally placed on the last or second-to-last syllable.
 
==Grammar==
===Morphology===
====Overview====
Vrkhazhian is a highly inflecting triconsonantal root language. Most roots consist of three consonants (triliteral), though there are many words that consist of two letter (biliteral) roots. Vrkhazhian also recognizes four- and five-letter roots, however, these are uncommon. Between and around these roots various infixes, suffixes, circumfixes and prefixes are used to carry grammatical functions or derive words.
 
Roots containing the consonants ⟨y⟩ and ⟨w⟩ are considered weak roots, and are omitted when they occur between a vowel that isn't /a/ and another consonant and in word-final positions.
 
====Nominal morphology====
Vrkhazhian has three grammatical genders, masculine, feminine and neuter.
These genders are strictly semantic, thus most nouns, such as inanimate objects, fall into the category of neuter.
 
Vrkhazhian has two numbers (singular and plural) and six cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, allative, ablative, and distributive).
The table below shows the noun ''ʾalkad'' (soldier, guardian) declined in various cases.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Noun paradigm
!
! Noun (masc.) !! Noun (fem.) !! Noun (neut.)
|-
! Nominative singular
| ''ʾalkad-i'' || ''ʾalkad-a'' || ''ʾalkad''
|-
! Genitive singular
| ''ʾalkad-ir'' || ''ʾalkad-aš'' || ''ʾalkad-un''
|-
! Allative singular
| ''ʾalkad-aj-i'' || ''ʾalkad-aj-a'' || ''ʾalkad-aj''
|-
! Ablative singular
| ''ʾalkad-if-i'' || ''ʾalkad-if-a'' || ''ʾalkad-if''
|-
! Nominative plural
| ''ʾalikd-il'' || ''ʾalikd-an'' || ''ʾalikd-ad''
|-
! Genitive plural
| ''ʾalikd-ir-u'' || ''ʾalikd-aš-u'' || ''ʾalikd-un-u''
|-
! Allative plural
| ''ʾalikd-ēj-il'' || ''ʾalikd-ēj-an'' || ''ʾalkd-ēj-ad''
|-
! Ablative plural
| ''ʾalikd-uf-il'' || ''ʾalikad-uf-an'' || ''ʾalikad-uf-ad''
|-
|}
The Allative case in Vrkhazhian is used to denote movement towards the marked noun while the Ablative case is used to denote movement away from the marked noun.
The Genitive case is used to denote the possessor of an object such as "Mark" in the sentence "Mark's cat". Proper nouns such as people and places are not marked with a genitive suffix.
The distributive case in Vrkhazhian is used to denote something occurring to each individual of a set, thus the noun can only be declined for singular number. The meaning of the distributive case is roughly translated as "each" or "per". The prefix "šar-" is used to denote the distributive.
 
=====Construct state=====
Nouns in Vrkhazhian can also be placed in the construct state (status constructus), which is used in genitive constructions to mark the head noun (possessed noun), while the Genitive case is used to mark the dependent (modifying) noun or adjective. Nouns that that are not placed in the construct state are considered to remain in the governed state (status rectus), which is the default state of all nouns.
The table below shows the declensions of the noun ''ʾalkad'' place in the construct state:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Noun paradigm
!
! Noun (masc.) !! Noun (fem.) !! Noun (neut.)
|-
! Nominative singular
| ''ʾalkad-i'' || ''ʾalkad-a'' || ''ʾalkad-u''
|-
! Allative singular
| ''ʾalkad-ač-i'' || ''ʾalkad-ač-a'' || ''ʾalkad-ač-u''
|-
! Ablative singular
| ''ʾalkad-iv-i'' || ''ʾalkad-iv-a'' || ''ʾalkad-iv-u''
|-
! Nominative plural
| ''ʾalikd-ib'' || ''ʾalikd-at'' || ''ʾalikd-um''
|-
! Allative plural
| ''ʾalikd-ēč-ib'' || ''ʾalikd-ēč-at'' || ''ʾalikd-ēč-um''
|-
! Ablative plural
| ''ʾalikd-uv-ib'' || ''ʾalikd-uv-at'' || ''ʾalikd-uv-um''
|-
|}
 
Nouns containing biliteral roots are phonetically reduced to stem ʾaCC- when they are placed in the construct state and can be inflected for case like above. An example of this is the noun ''kaf'' (water) which, when placed in the construct state, is reduced to ''ʾakf'' in the nominative neuter singular. However, if there is an invalid consonant cluster as a result, the suffix -u may be added such as for the noun ''šim'' (house), which becomes ''ʾašmu''.
 
====Adjectival morphology====
Adjectives in Vrkhazhian are marked for gender and number in agreement with the noun they modify. Adjectives in Vrkhazhian are placed into different stems depending on the type of adjective the root is. For example, only adjectival verbs pertaining to size and mass, such as '''d-b-n''' (to be heavy), are placed into the pattern CaCCa, while verbs pertaining to shapes, such as '''ḵ-l-k''' (to be round) are placed in the pattern toCCeC. The table below shows the declension of the roots '''ʾ-w-d''' (to be short), '''ḵ-l-k''' (to be round), '''z-w-l''' (to be red), '''h-r-d''' (to be pure), '''s-ǧ-l''' (to be old), and '''m-n-b''' (to be fair, beautiful) placed into their respective stems:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective declension - Size/Mass
!
! Adjective (masc.) !! Adjective (fem.) !! Adjective (neut.)
|-
! Singular
| ''ʾud-i'' || ''ʾud-a'' || ''ʾaẇd-a''
|-
! Plural
| ''ʾaẇd-il'' || ''ʾaẇd-an'' || ''ʾud-um''
|-
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective declension - Shape
!
! Adjective (masc.) !! Adjective (fem.) !! Adjective (neut.)
|-
! Singular
| ''toḵlek-i'' || ''toḵlek-a'' || ''toḵlek''
|-
! Plural
| ''toḵlak-il'' || ''toḵlak-an'' || ''toḵlak-um''
|-
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective declension - Colour
!
! Adjective (neut.)
|-
! Singular
| ''ʾazaẇwil''
|-
! Plural
| ''ʾazaẇl-um''
|-
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective declension - Condition
!
! Adjective (masc.) !! Adjective (fem.) !! Adjective (neut.)
|-
! Singular
| ''ʾihrōd-i'' || ''ʾihrōd-a'' || ''ʾihrōd''
|-
! Plural
| ''ʾihrōd-il'' || ''ʾihrōd-an'' || ''ʾihrōd-um''
|-
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective declension - Age
!
! Adjective (masc.) !! Adjective (fem.) !! Adjective (neut.)
|-
! Singular
| ''saǧǧol-i'' || ''saǧǧol-a'' || ''saǧǧol''
|-
! Plural
| ''suǧǧal-il'' || ''suǧǧal-an'' || ''suǧǧal-um''
|-
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective declension - Observation
!
! Adjective (masc.) !! Adjective (fem.) !! Adjective (neut.)
|-
! Singular
| ''ʾifmanb-i'' || ''ʾifmanb-a'' || ''ʾifmanab''
|-
! Plural
| ''ʾifminb-il'' || ''ʾifminb-an'' || ''ʾifmineb''
|-
|}
Adjectives can either precede or follow the noun depending on the type of adjective. Adjectives pertaining to physical features such as size, shape, colour and material always precede the noun, while adjectives pertaining to other features such as origin, condition, age and observation always follow the noun.
 
====Definite marking====
Vrkhazhian has an definite affix "ṛ-" that indicates that its noun is a particular one (or ones) identifiable to the listener. It may be something already mentioned or uniquely specified. The affix is attached to the noun and the adjective(s) that modify the noun.
 
====Verbal morphology====
Verbs in Vrkhazhian are conjugated for number (singular and plural), tense (infinitive, past simple, past progressive, present simple, present progressive, and future) and voice (active and passive)
 
=====Verb patterns=====
The table below shows the conjugation of the root '''s-d-n''' (to oppress) and '''m-n-š''' (to write):
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Verb Conjugations
!
! Active Singular !! Active Plural !! Translation !! Passive Singular !! Passive Plural !! Translation
|-
! Infinitive
| colspan="2" Align="center" | ''ʾasdaẇwan'' || to oppress || colspan="2" Align="center" | ''ʾasdubin'' || to be oppressed
|-
! Past Simple
| ''nōsdon'' || ''nasdunam'' || oppressed || ''nusdun'' || ''nisdanam'' || was oppressed
|-
! Past Prog.
| ''yusdon'' || ''yusdēnam'' || was oppressing || ''yesdan'' || ''yesdunam'' || was being oppressed
|-
! Present Simple
| ''sudan'' || ''sudnam'' || oppress || ''sadēn'' || ''sadnam'' || is oppressed
|-
! Present Prog.
| ''husdan'' || ''husdinam'' || is oppressing || ''hasdēn'' || ''hasdonam'' || is being oppressed
|-
! Future
| ''ʾasden'' || ''ʾasdenam'' || will oppress || ''ʾisdin'' || ''ʾisdinam'' || will be oppressed
|-
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Verb Conjugations
!
! Active Singular !! Active Plural !! Translation
|-
! Infinitive
| colspan="2" Align="center" | ''ʾamniziš'' || to write to self
|-
! Past Simple
| ''nōlmoniš'' || ''nalmunšam'' || wrote to self
|-
! Past Progressive
| ''yulmoniš'' || ''yulmēnšam'' || was writing to self
|-
! Present Simple
| ''lumnaš'' || ''lumnašam'' || write to self
|-
! Present Progressive
| ''halmunaš'' || ''halmunšam'' || is writing to self
|-
! Future
| ''ʾilmaneš'' || ''ʾilmanšam'' || will write to self
|-
|}
 
=====Verb moods=====
Vrkhazhian has five moods, jussive, potential, conditional, commissive and subjunctive. The particles "čar" and "yaj" can be used with moods to indicate the past and future tense respectively.
The table below shows the conjugation of the root '''ṗ-m-t''' (to walk) in active voice, while the table shows the conjugation of the  root '''b-ʾ-l''' (to punish, discipline) in passive voice.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Verb Mood
!
! Active Singular !! Active Plural !! Translation !! Passive Singular !! Passive Plural !! Translation
|-
! Jussive
| ''jiṗmat'' || ''jiṗmetam'' || have to walk || ''jubʾil'' || ''jubʾulam'' || have to be punished
|-
! Potential
| ''ʾibēṗmat'' || ''ʾibēṗmētam'' || can walk || ''ʾibibʾul'' || ''ʾibibʾōlam'' || can be punished
|-
! Conditional
| ''ʾimaṗmat'' || ''ʾimaṗmutam'' || would walk || ''ʾimobʾil'' || ''ʾimobʾilam'' || would be punished
|-
! Commissive
| ''ḵuṗtamit'' || ''ḵuṗtamtam'' || shall walk || ''ḵabteʾul'' || ''ḵabteʾlam'' || shall be punished
|-
! Subjunctive
| ''ṇtaṗmit'' || ''ṇtaṗmitam'' || may walk || ''ṇtibʾul'' || ''ṇtibʾulam'' || may be punished
|-
|}
 
The jussive mood in Vrkhazhian is mainly used for expressing obligation or duty, but when there are no pronouns or nouns in the nominative case, it can also act like an imperative, expressing direct commands to the adressee(s).
 
====Adverbial morphology====
Adverbs in Vrkhazhian are marked for number in agreement with the verb they modify. Adverbs always follow the verb they modify. Adverbs are placed into the stem ʾeCCaCu. An example of this is when the root '''ʾ-n-l''' (to be blind) is placed into the stem, it becomes "blindly".
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adverb declension
!
! Singular || Plural
|-
! Adverb
| ''ʾeʾnalu'' || ''ʾeʾnalyam''
|-
|}
 
===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns in Vrkhazhian are as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 | || colspan=2 | Nominative || colspan=2 | Accusative || colspan=2 | Genitive || colspan=2 | Lative || colspan=2 | Ablative
|-
! colspan=2|Person || Singular || Plural || Singular || Plural || Singular || Plural || Singular || Plural || Singular || Plural
|-
! rowspan=2|1st
!<small>inclusive</small>
| rowspan=2|ẕaẏ "I" || yeš "we" || rowspan=2|šadib || ʾaẏyib || rowspan=2|šadiki || ʾaẏyiki || rowspan=2|šadiš || ʾaẏyiš || rowspan=2|šadit || ʾaẏyat
|-
!<small>exclusive</small>
| ṉal "we" || ṉalib || ṉaliki || ṉališ || ṉalat
|-
!  rowspan=2|2nd
!<small>masculine</small>
|  ʾiši "you" ||  qar "you" || ʾišib || qarib || ʾišaki || qaraki || ʾideš || qareš || ʾidat || qarat
|-
!<small>feminine</small>
| ʾati "you" || šun "you" || ʾatib || šunib || ʾataki || šunaki || ʾateš || šuneš || ʾatat || šunat
|-
! rowspan=3|3rd
!<small>masculine</small>
| šul "he" || baʾ "they" || šujim || baʾib || šujaki || baʾaki || šuješ || baʾeš || šujat || baʾat
|-
!<small>feminine</small>
| šaf "she" || tav "they" || šafib || tavib || šafaki || tavaki || šapeš || tabeš || šapat || tabat
|-
!<small>neuter</small>
| ḥol "they" || ṗal "they" || ḥojim || ṗajim || ḥojaki || ṗajaki || ḥoješ || ṗaješ || ḥojat || ṗajat
|-
! colspan=2|4th
|colspan=2 Align="center"|ʾaḥ "one" ||colspan=2 Align="center"|ʾaḥib ||colspan=2 Align="center"|ʾaḥaki ||colspan=2 Align="center"| ʾaqeš ||colspan=2 Align="center"|ʾaqat
|-
|}
 
====Demonstrative Pronouns====
Demonstrative pronouns in Vrkhazhian are as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
! || colspan=3 | Deixis
|-
! Number || Proximal || Medial || Distal
|- align="center"
|-
|'''Singular''' || ''ʾib'' "this"||''ʾani'' "that" || ''maẏ'' "that"
|-
|'''Plural''' || ''ʾivim'' "these"||''ʾanim'' "those" || ''maẏm'' "those"
|}
 
====Interrogative Pronouns and Adverbs====
Listed below are the interrogative pronouns and adverbs in Vrkhazhian:
{| class="wikitable"
! English
! Vrkhazhian
|-
| who? || ''ʾalim''
|-
| what? || ''hamat''
|-
| where? || ''suhal''
|-
| when? || ''hna''
|-
| why? || ''ʾičam''
|-
| how? || ''taja''
|-
| which? || ''ʾaqab''
|-
|}
 
====Relative Pronouns====
Relative pronouns in Vrkhazhian are as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
! Number !! Nominative !! Genitive !! Lative !! Ablative
|- align="center"
|-
! '''Masculine singular'''
|''ṇki'' ||''saẕmi'' ||''ṇkeši'' ||''ṇkati''
|-
!'''Masculine plural'''
|''ṇkil'' ||''saẕmil'' ||''ṇkešil'' ||''ṇkatil''
|-
!'''Feminine singular'''
|''ṇka'' ||''saẕma'' ||''ṇkeša'' ||''ṇkata''
|-
!'''Feminine plural'''
|''ṇkan'' ||''saẕman'' ||''ṇkešan'' ||''ṇkatan''
|-
!'''Neuter singular'''
|''ṇku'' ||''saẕmu'' ||''ṇkešu'' ||''ṇkatu''
|-
!'''Neuter plural'''
|''ṇkad'' ||''saẕmad'' ||''ṇkešad'' ||''ṇkatad''
|}
 
===Numerals===
Vrkhazhian uses a base-12 system of numerals, which is a positional notation numeral system using twelve as its base. In this system, the number ten can be written as ⟨X⟩, and the number eleven as ⟨E⟩.
Cardinal numerals precede the nouns they modify and are placed in the construct state, while ordinal numerals are placed in the absolute state, losing all case endings; cardinal numerals also agree in gender with the noun they modify. An example of this are the nouns ''vikim'' and ''ʾalkad'' (which becomes ''ʾalikdad'' in plural); when a numeral is placed before them they become ''ʾaẏni vikimi'' (one king) and ''apetu ʾalikdad'' (six soldiers). The table below lists the numbers from 1 to 12.   
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Numerals
! Numbers
! Cardinal
(masc.)
! Cardinal
(fem.)
! Cardinal
(neut.)
! Ordinal
(neut.)
|-
! 1
| ''ʾaẏni'' || ''ʾaẏna'' || ''ʾaẏnu'' || ''ʾēlyin''
|-
! 2
| ''nimi'' || ''nima'' || ''nimu'' || ''nēlyim''
|-
! 3
| ''daji'' || ''daja'' || ''daju'' || ''dēljij''
|-
! 4
| ''hati'' || ''hata'' || ''hatu'' || ''hēltit''
|-
! 5
| ''ʾaẕafi'' || ''ʾaẕafa'' || ''ʾaẕafu'' || ''ʾēlẕif''
|-
! 6
| ''ʾapeti'' || ''ʾapeta'' || ''ʾapetu'' || ''ʾēlpit''
|-
! 7
| ''ʾarami'' || ''ʾarama'' || ''ʾaramu'' || ''ʾilrem''
|-
! 8
| ''šabi'' || ''šaba'' || ''šabu'' || ''šēlbib''
|-
! 9
| ''ʾadiki'' || ''ʾadika'' || ''ʾadiku'' || ''ʾildek''
|-
! X (10)
| ''yami'' || ''yama'' || ''yamu'' || ''yēlmim''
|-
! E (11)
| ''ʾijiti'' || ''ʾijita'' || ''ʾijitu'' || ''ʾiljat''
|-
! 10 (12)
| ''ʾilaẏki'' || ''ʾilaẏka'' || ''ʾilaẏku'' || ''taʾlik''
|-
|}
 
===Syntax===
====Nominal phrases====
Relative clauses follow the noun while numerals and appositions precede the counted noun. Adjectives either follow or precede the noun depending on its semantic class (see adjective section above). An example of some of these features is the nominal phrase ''ṛ-Vakkami Yat-Vṛḵaẕ, ʾIḥamek ʾAraš-Hijunu, meṭajad šujaki nōmtoḥ'' "Arash-Hijunu Ihamek, the Emperor of Vrkhazh, united his people" which is analyzed in the following table:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Word
!Meaning
!Analysis
!Part of the nominal phrase
|-
| ''ṛ-Vakkami'' || king/emperor || masculine construct state || rowspan='2' valign='middle' | Apposition
|-
| ''Yat-Vṛḵaẕ'' || Vrkhazh || unmarked neuter genitive
|-
| ''ʾIḥamek ʾAraš-Hijunu'' || Arash-Hijunu Ihamek || nominative unmarked masculine singular || Proper Noun (subject)
|-
| ''meṭajad'' || people || accusative neuter plural || rowspan='3' valign='middle' | Relative clause
|-
| ''šujaki'' || his || genitive singular pronoun
|-
| ''nōmtoḥ'' || unite || active past singular
|-
|}
 
====Sentence syntax====
There are two basic word orders in Vrkhazhian that are used depending on the grammatical voice of the sentence. In sentences with the active voice, the basic word order is Subject-Object-Verb (SOV), while in sentences with the passive voice, the basic word order is Verb-Subject-Object (VSO). Compare an active sentence:
 
:'''ʾAšol ṛ-ʾalikdad ṛ-ʾildad ʾuldam.'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Align="center" | ''ʾAšol'' || Align="center" | ''ṛ-ʾalikdad'' || Align="center" | ''ṛ-ʾildad'' || Align="center" | ''ʾuldam''
|-
| All || Align="center" | DEF-soldier-NEUT-PL-NOM || Align="center" | DEF-civilian-NEUT-PL-ACC || Align="center" | ACT-PRES-guard-SG
|}
:"All of the soldiers guard the civilians."
 
vs. a passive sentence:
 
:'''Nišṉamam ṛ-havir ṛ-mašarad ʾim Hiqal.'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Align="center" | ''Ni-šṉam-am'' || Align="center" | ''ṛ-havir'' || Align="center" | ''ṛ-mašarad'' || Align="center" | ''ʾim'' || Align="center" | ''Hiqal''
|-
| PASS-PST-build-PL || Align="center" | DEF-mercury || Align="center" | DEF-golem-NEUT-PL-NOM || Align="center" | by || Align="center" | Hiqal-ACC
|}
:"The mercury golems were built by Hiqal"
 
The verb root '''ʾ-l-d''' (to guard), in the first example, is conjugated for active past singular in the active sentence agreeing in number with the subject "soldiers", while the verb root '''š-ṉ-m''' (to build) in the second example is conjugated in the passive past plural, agreeing in number with the subject "the mercury golems".
 
==Writing System==
The Vrkhazhian Akhuva (ʾAḵuva Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam [ʔaxuβa jat βɹ̩xaʝikam]) is the official writing script of Vrkhazhian. The script consists of 36 letters, 12 numeral glyphs, and 10 vowel diacritics.
The writing direction of the script is boustrophedon, and can start in any horizontal direction preferred, though the most common starting direction is Right-to-Left.
 
===History===
The script has been around for at least 3,500 years, with few changes and alterations to the letter forms since it's inception. The true origins of the writing system are unknown, however, the glyphs are based partially off of the logographic script of a sister language known as Qhadithcha, while the numeral glyphs are of entirely Vrkhazhian origin.
 
===Letter names===
====Standard letters====
The table below lists the 30 letters that are considered part of the Akhuva:
{|
|
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+ʾAḵuva Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|-
! Letter !! Name !! width="110px" | Meaning !! Phoneme
|-
| [[File:Alakh.PNG|30px|ʾAlaḵ]] || ʾAlaḵ || wind || '''ʾ''' [ʔ]
|-
| [[File:Khav.PNG|30px|Ḵav]] || Ḵav || human || '''ḵ''' [x]
|-
| [[File:Vav2.PNG|30px|Vav]] || Vav || cane || '''v''' [β]
|-
| [[File:Hith.PNG|30px|Hit]] || Hit || lock || '''h''' [h]
|-
| [[File:Dat.PNG|30px|Dat]] || Dat || skull || '''d''' [d]
|-
| [[File:Tsim.PNG|30px|Ḏim]] || Ḏim || fruit, blood || '''ḏ''' [t͡s]
|-
| [[File:Bal.PNG|30px|Bal]] || Bal || path || '''b''' [b]
|-
| [[File:Sum.PNG|30px|Sum]] || Sum || tunnel || '''s''' [s]
|-
| [[File:Zhat.PNG|30px|Ẕat]] || Ẕat || helmet || '''ẕ''' [ʝ]
|-
| [[File:Yav.PNG|30px|Yav]] || Yav || scythe || '''y''' [j]
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+ʾAḵuva Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|-
! Letter !! Name !! width="100px" | Meaning !! Phoneme
|-
| [[File:Kah.PNG|30px|Kaf]] || Kaf || water || '''k''' [k]
|-
| [[File:Ge.PNG|30px|Gēb]] || Gēb || wing || '''g''' [g]
|-
| [[File:Lam.PNG|30px|Lam]] || Lam || hand || '''l''' [l]
|-
| [[File:Ma'.PNG|30px|Maʾ]] || Maʾ || bowl, cup || '''m''' [m]
|-
| [[File:Nesh.PNG|30px|Neš]] || Neš || peace || '''n''' [n]
|-
| [[File:Ghaym.PNG|30px|Ǧaẏm]] || Ǧaẏm || name || '''ǧ''' [ɣ]
|-
| [[File:Pak.PNG|30px|Pak]] || Pak || head || '''p''' [p]
|-
| [[File:Jim.PNG|30px|Jim]] || Jim || pillar || '''j''' [ɟ͡ʝ]
|-
| [[File:Ru.PNG|30px|Ruḵ]] || Ruḵ || snake || '''r''' [ɹ]
|-
| [[File:Fash.PNG|30px|Faš]] || Faš || vulture || '''f''' [ɸ]
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+ʾAḵuva Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|-
! Letter !! Name !! width="100px" | Meaning !! Phoneme
|-
| [[File:Shim.PNG|30px|Šim]] || Šim || house || '''š''' [ç]
|-
| [[File:Waj.PNG|30px|Waj]] || Waj || shield || '''w''' [w]
|-
| [[File:Tal.PNG|30px|Tal]] || Tal || gate || '''t''' [t]
|-
| [[File:Chi.PNG|30px|Čit]] || Čit || hook || '''č''' [c͡ç]
|-
| [[File:Zab.PNG|30px|Zab]] || Zab || branch || '''z''' [z]
|-
| [[File:Lham.PNG|30px|Ḻam]] || Ḻam || tree || '''ḻ''' [ʎ̝̊]
|-
| [[File:Qhak.PNG|30px|Ḥak]] || Ḥak || roof || '''ḥ''' [χ]
|-
| [[File:Qar.PNG|30px|Qar]] || Qar || you || '''q''' [q]
|-
| [[File:Rhat.PNG|30px|Řat]] || Řat || fear || '''ř''' [rʷ]
|-
| [[File:Nhod.PNG|30px|Ṉod]] || Ṉod || ear || '''ṉ''' [ɴ]
|}
|}
 
====Vowel diacritics====
The Akhuva is an abjad, thus vowels are not represented in most texts. However, vowel diacritics may be used to aid learners in reading the text and to reduce ambiguities.
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+Mambinad Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|-
! Letter
! Name
! Meaning
! Phoneme
|-
| [[File:Ah.PNG|30px|Dalaʾid]]
| Matlid
| exposing
| '''a''' [a]
 
|-
| [[File:Eh.PNG|30px|Šarud]]
| Šarud
| moon
| '''e''' [ɛ]
 
|-
| [[File:Ee.PNG|30px|Maṉaʾit]]
| Mamṉit
| flowing
|'''ē''' [e̞]
 
|-
| [[File:Ii.PNG|30px|Šipij]]
| Šipij
| ground
| '''i''' [i]
 
|-
| [[File:Oh.PNG|30px|Ḵamaʾit]]
| Maḵmit
| crawling
| '''o''' [ɔ]
 
|-
| [[File:Oo.PNG|30px|Ḵalōk]]
| Ḵalōk
| circle
| '''ō''' [o̞]
 
|-
| [[File:Uh.PNG|30px|Šarja]]
| ʾIfšaraj
| hollow, empty
| '''ə''' [ə]
 
|-
| [[File:Uu.PNG|30px|Muḥəl]]
| Muḥəl
| throne
| '''u''' [u]
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+Kburad Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|-
! Numeral
! Name
! Phoneme
|-
| [[File:Yay.PNG|30px|ʾAẇda Yav]]
| ʾAẇda Yav
| '''ẏ''' [e̯]
 
|-
| [[File:Waw.PNG|30px|ʾAẇda Waj]]
| ʾAẇda Waj
| '''ẇ''' [o̯]
 
|}
 
====Numerals====
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+Kiʾifad Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|-
! Numeral
! Number
! Name
|-
| [[File:Sxan.PNG|30px|Šemt]]
| 0
| Šemt ("none")
 
|-
| [[File:Ayn.PNG|30px|ʾAẏn]]
| 1
| ʾAẏn
 
|-
| [[File:Nim.PNG|30px|Nim]]
| 2
| Nim
 
|-
| [[File:Daj.PNG|30px|Daj]]
| 3
| Daj
 
|-
| [[File:Hat.PNG|30px|Hat]]
| 4
| Hat
 
|-
| [[File:Azha.PNG|30px|ʾAẕaf]]
| 5
| ʾAẕaf
 
|-
| [[File:Apeth.PNG|30px|ʾApet]]
| 6
| ʾApet
 
|-
| [[File:Aram.PNG|30px|ʾAram]]
| 7
| ʾAram
 
|-
| [[File:Shab.PNG|30px|Šab]]
| 8
| Šab
 
|-
| [[File:Adik.PNG|30px|ʾAdik]]
| 9
| ʾAdik
 
|-
| [[File:Yam.PNG|30px|Yam]]
| 10/X
| Yam
 
|-
| [[File:Ijith.PNG|30px|ʾIjit]]
| 11/E
| ʾIjit
 
|}
 
====Other letters====
The table below lists the letters that are not considered part of the Akhuva, but are considered to be a variation of the letters in the Akhuva:
{| class="wikitable" id="letters_chart"
|+ʾAḵuva Yat-Vṛḵaẕikam
|-
! Letter
! Name
! Phoneme
|-
| [[File:Phak.PNG|30px|Ṗak]]
| Ṗak
| '''ṗ''' [pʶ]
 
|-
| [[File:Thal.PNG|30px|Ṭal]]
| Ṭal
| '''ṭ''' [tʶ]
 
|-
| [[File:Lqam.PNG|30px|Ḷam]]
| Ḷam
| '''ḷ''' [lʶ]
 
|-
| [[File:Rrat.PNG|30px|Ṟat]]
| Ṟat
| '''ṟ''' [ʀ]
 
|}
 
==Vocabulary==
==Example text==
 
[[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:A_priori_conlangs]] [[Category:Vrkhazh]]

Latest revision as of 07:45, 21 September 2015

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