Lánc

Lantian (in language: Lánc) is a constructed fantasy language. It is quite different from English, but its grammar and syntax doesn't differ very much from other Indo-European languages.

Láncon mór (ébšum ó Lánc wámát) čejnát mór ér. Étérvan émedmo na indo-ewropáryojon móryo vylča, hejunon gramatika ši sintaks vnosum émedmo ét eruke.

Language	English	Italiano	Deutsch	Español	Français	Русский	Български	Český	Ελληνικά	Dansk
Name	Lantian	Lanzio	Lanzisch	Láncio	Lancien	Ланцкий	Ланцки	Láncký Láncština	Λαντσικά	Lantsisk
Language	Suomi	Català	Magyar	Lietuvių	Slovenčina	Slovenščina	Српски	Latviešu	Українська	Svenska
Name	Laantsen kieli	Lanzià	Lánc nyelv	Ląncų kalba	Lancčina	Láncščina	Ланцки	Lāncu valoda	Ланцька	Lantsiska
Language	Polski	Hrvatski	Nederlands
Name	Lancski	Lancki	Laantsisch

Introduction

Lantian is written with the Latin alphabet, with some letters modified to adapt to its phonetic conformation. The distinction between long and short vowels has a great importance. Most evidently it has an SOV shape, i.e. the verb comes at the end of its sentence, after subject and object. Nouns, adjectives and pronouns make an extensive use of cases to show their syntatical role inside the sentences. Also the verbs make an extensive use of subjunctive and optative moods, instead of conditional, and participles have great relevance. In verbs each person has its own verbal ending and personal subject pronouns are not mandatorily required.

Phonology

Main article: Lánc phonology

Basical pronounce

The pronounce is simple and clear. For every letter corresponds only one sound, and they are always pronounced, even if at the end of the words. Vowels must be pronounced clearly, paying attention for the distinction between long and short vowels. There is not reduction, as stress is usually fixed on the first syllable of the words and it's weak.

• a = like a in father
• á = like a in father, but pronunced twice longer
• b = as in English
• c = like ts or tz as in Tzigane
• č = always like ch in church
• d = as in English
• dž = an unique sound, as g in George or j in join
• e = like e in men (close-mid front unrounded vowel)
• é = like e in men, but pronunced twice longer
• f = as in English
• g = always like g in get
• h = like ch of Scottish loch
• i = always like ee in meet
• í = always like ee in meet, but pronunced twice longer
• j = always like y in you
• k = as in English
• l = always like l in lane
• m = as in English
• n = as in English
• o = like o in rock
• ó = like o in rock, but pronunced twice longer
• p = as in English
• r = rolled Italian/Spanish-like r
• s = as in English, but can only be unvoiced
• š = like sh in shop
• t = as in English
• u = like u in put
• ú = like u in put, but pronunced twice longer
• v = as in English
• y = a vowel pronounced with a sound between [i] and [u].
• ý = as the y, but pronunced twice longer
• w = as in English
• z = as s in rose
• ž = as j in French journal

Nouns

Nouns have no genre, as in English, but they flect according for number and case. The case show the role the word plays in sentences. In English it is shown by the position of the word within its sentence, but here nouns are flected by adding some endings to their root.

The root of a name usually is the nominative singular form.

There are 8 cases, and their main roles:

• Nominative: it plays the role of the subject.
• Genitive: it shows possession, proper or indirect.
• Dative: it plays the role of the indirect object.
• Accusative: it plays the role of the indirect object
• Instrumental: it has many roles, the main one is that of preposition with.
• Locative: it shows the static position.
• Adlative: it shows the destination of a movement.
• Delative: it shows the origin of a movement.

For number, nouns flect in singular, plural and dual forms. The dual number indicates a pair of things. It has a lesser number of endings, only four, with consonant and vowel counteparts.

Declension

There are two separated declension patterns, one for the nouns which end in consonant, and one for the nouns which end in vowel.

Singular
Case	Consonant	Vowel
Nominative	-	-
Genitive	-u	-w
Dative	-a	-ja
Accusative	-o	-wo
Instrumental	-en	-jen
Locative	-ot	-jot
Adlative	-ás	-jás
Delative	-ád	-jád

If a noun already ends with -u, the genitive ending in the singular melds with this vowel and becomes -ú.

• mázu (house) ‣ mázú

Plural
Case	Consonant	Vowel
Nominative	-y	-j
Genitive	-yw	-ju
Dative	-ya	-jay
Accusative	-yo	-joy
Instrumental	-yen	-jeyn
Locative	-yt	-jyt
Adlative	-ýs	-jýs
Delative	-ýd	-jýd

Dual
Case	Consonant	Vowel
Nominative Accusative	-et	-t
Genitive Dative Adlative	-etu	-ču
Instrumental Delative	-etyn	-čyn
Locative	-ec	-ciw

Examples:

stuv = village, town
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	stuv	stuvy	stuvet
Genitive	stuvu	stuvyw	stuvetu
Dative	stuva	stuvya	stuvetu
Accusative	stuvo	stuvyo	stuvet
Instrumental	stuven	stuvyen	stuvetyn
Locative	stuvot	stuvyt	stuvec
Adlative	stuvás	stuvýs	stuvetu
Delative	stuvád	stuvýd	stuvetyn

mila = woman
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	mila	milaj	milat
Genitive	milaw	milaju	milaču
Dative	milaja	milajay	milaču
Accusative	milawo	milajoy	milat
Instrumental	milajen	milajeyn	milačyn
Locative	milajot	milajyt	milaciw
Adlative	milajás	milajýs	milaču
Delative	milajád	milajýd	milačyn

Palatalized declension

Some nouns, even if they end with a consonant, follow the vowel declension pattern. In this case their last consonant undergoes palatalization, except for the nominative, genitive and accusative in the singular, and for all cases in dual. If there is a long vowel, when palatalization occurs, the vowel gets short.

krís = king
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	krís	krišy	kríset
Genitive	krísu	krišu	krísetu
Dative	kriša	krišay	krísetu
Accusative	kríswo	krišoy	kríset
Instrumental	krišen	krišeyn	krísetyn
Locative	krišot	krišyt	krísec
Adlative	krišás	krišýs	krísetu
Delative	krišád	krišýd	krísetyn

Other nouns which undergo palatalization are: ák (water ‣ plur. ačy), héd (mother ‣ plur. hedžy), lók (head ‣ plur. ločy), nát (father ‣ plur. načy), pýk (fire ‣ plur. pyčy), úk (name ‣ plur. učy)

Nasalized declension

A very few nouns, ending with a vowel in nominative singular, adds an -n- or an -m- in the other cases, and follow a special declension, mixed between the vowel and consonant declension.

ílu = snow
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	ílu	ílumy	ílumet
Genitive	ílumu	ílumju	ílumetu
Dative	íluma	ílumjay	ílumetu
Accusative	ílumo	ílumjoy	ílumet
Instrumental	ílumen	ílumjeyn	ílumetyn
Locative	ílumot	ílumjyt	ílumec
Adlative	ílumás	ílumjýs	ílumetu
Delative	ílumád	ílumjýd	ílumetyn

Other nouns which add a nasal consonant are: béčo (kiss ‣ plur. béčomy), núrma (rule ‣ plur. núrmany), púne (dress ‣ plur. púnemy), pwo (seed ‣ plur. pwomy)

Initials' declension

Some nouns are expressed by initials, as abbreviations of a multi-word name, like NMA (Núčelačy Mjáwej Amerikaw, United States of America), or EN (Ewropár Núčeltjám, European Union). They are often pronounced as initials, also in spoken language, and they decline according to the pronounce of their last letter:

Case	EN	NMA
Nominative	EN	NMA
Genitive	EN-u	NMA-ju
Dative	EN-a	NMA-jay
Accusative	EN-o	NMA-joy
Instrumental	EN-en	NMA-jeyn
Locative	EN-ot	NMA-jyt
Adlative	EN-ás	NMA-jýs
Delative	EN-ád	NMA-jýd

They are pronounced as a single name: in the USA - onyt NMA-jyt [onɨt enemajɨt]

Note: Núčelačy Mjáwej Amerikaw is plural, and its initials NMA remain plural too

Article

There is only the form for the definite article (the): ó. It has to be declined according to its noun.

ó = the
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	ó	ony	ont
Genitive	onu	onju	onču
Dative	ona	onja	onču
Accusative	ono	onjo	ont
Instrumental	onen	onjen	ontyn
Locative	onot	onyt	onec
Adlative	onás	onýs	onču
Delative	onád	onýd	ontyn

For the article usage, see Lantian syntax page

Adjectives

The adjectives must agree with their nouns in number and case, but only in attributive position. In prepositive position adjectives are not declined:

• Attributive position: nom.: dén mila (a good woman), gen.: dénu milaw (of a good woman)
• Prepositive position: ó mila dén ér (the woman is good), ony milaj dén eruk (the women are good)

Declension

The adjectival declension follows the nominal declension's pattern, with the distinction between consonant and vowel endings. Adjectives always come before their nouns, except for participles, that can occur after.

If the adjective comes before a nouns which is definited, it melds with the article, and it uses the definite adjectival declension.

• Dén mila: a good woman
• Dénon mila: the good woman
• Dényenon milajeyn: with the good women

Here there are samples from two adjectives:

dén = good
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	dénon	dényjon	déneton
Genitive	dénun	dénywon	dénetun
Dative	dénan	dényajon	dénetun
Accusative	dénon	dényojon	déneton
Instrumental	dénenon	dényenon	dénetynon
Locative	dénoton	dényton	dénecon
Adlative	dénáson	dénýson	dénetun
Delative	dénádon	dénýdon	dénetynon

pana = high
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	panan	panajon	panaton
Genitive	panawon	panajun	panačun
Dative	panajan	panajayn	panačun
Accusative	panawon	panajoyn	panaton
Instrumental	panajenon	panajeynon	panačynon
Locative	panajoton	panajyton	panaciwon
Adlative	panajáson	panajýson	panačun
Delative	panajádon	panajýdon	panačynon

If the adjective falls after the noun, it never use the definite declension, and the article appears before the noun:

• ó mila okeláv = the woman who loved

Adjectives, indicating a quality of a person, can be used alone without a substantive, as nouns. In this case they are treated like nouns and don't adopt the definite adjectival declension.

• the poor men: fedenyjon mony
• the poor people: ony fedeny.

Comparison

There are two degrees of comparison: the comparative form and the superlative form:

They are formed by adding prefixes to the normal form of the adjective:

• Comparative: add pu- (mantaining the -): dén ‣ pu-dén
• Superlative: add saj- (mantaining the -): dén ‣ saj-dén

The second term of the comparison for comparative form is introduced by ča:

• lak mila pu-méra ča šik ér: this woman is more beautiful than that one

Pronouns

Personal

These are the forms of personal pronouns:

Case	I	You (thou)	He	She	It
Nom.	kí	to	za	hí	héj
Gen.	kiju	tow	zaw	hiju	heju
Dat.	kija	toja	zaja	hija	heja
Acc.	kijo	tó	zao	hijo	hejo
Instr.	kijen	tojen	zajen	hijen	hejen
Loc.	kijot	tojot	zajot	hijot	hejot
Adl.	kijás	tojás	zajás	hijás	hejás
Del.	kijád	tojád	zajád	hijád	hejád

Case	We	You (plur.)	They (m)	They (f)	They (mixed)
Nom.	vój	rí	zí	bí	mí
Gen.	voju	riju	ziju	biju	miju
Dat.	vojay	rijay	zijay	bijay	mijay
Acc.	vojo	rijo	zijo	bijo	mijo
Instr.	vojen	rijen	zijen	bijen	mijen
Loc.	vojyt	rijyt	zijyt	bijyt	mijyt
Adl.	vojýs	rijýs	zijýs	bijýs	mijýs
Del.	vojýd	rijýd	zijýd	bijýd	mijýd

Case	We two	You two	They two
Nom.	vóje	rije	mije
Gen.	vojču	ríjču	mijču
Dat.	vojču	ríjču	mijču
Acc.	voje	rije	mije
Instr.	vojčyn	rijčyn	mijčyn
Loc.	vojciw	rijciw	mijciw
Adl.	vojču	ríjču	mijču
Del.	vojčyn	rijčyn	mijčyn

The second person in plural form (rí) is also used as a polite form, when someone talks with another unknown person.

Possessive

Possessive adjectives/pronouns are built by adding to the genitival form of personal pronoun a -n, and then they decline as an adjective.

• kí (I) ‣ kiju (of me) ‣ kijun (my, mine)
• za (he) ‣ zaw (of him) ‣ zawn (his)

Possessive adjectives can adopt the definite adjectival declension, differently from English. The article is not used before parental nouns (nát (father), héd (mother), etc..).

• My name is Mark: Kijunon úk Mark ér.
• I talked to your mother: Towna hedža malževu.

Reflexive

There is only one form of reflexive pronoun, meaning that the expressed action falls on the subject of the action itself. The pronoun declines for cases and number (singular, plural and dual).

Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nom.	(sí)	(sí)	(sije)
Gen.	siju	sijyw	sijču
Dat.	sija	sijay	sijču
Acc.	sijo	sijoy	sije
Instr.	sijen	sijeyn	sijčyn
Loc.	sijot	sijyt	sijciw
Adl.	sijás	sijýs	sijču
Del.	sijád	sijýd	sijčyn

The reflexive pronoun is the same for all grammatical persons, and reflects the action of the verb on the subject:

• I wash myself ‣ sijo míču
• She cuts herself ‣ sijo vwéžev
• Do they like themselves? ‣ sijay málek?

From the genitive it can be built three reflexive possessive pronoun, sijun, sijywn, sijčun, which imply that the subject and the possessor are the same. Although they can be used with every personal pronoun, their use has been limited in time to the third persons:

• She watches her own home: hí sijunon mázuwo sélve
• They washed their own cars: sijywnyjon awtojoy míjevek

Using the other possessive pronouns indicates that the possessor and the subject aren't the same:

• hí sijuno monsono kele: she loves her own hubsand
• hí hijuno monsono kele: she loves her (of another woman) husband

Relative

These are the forms of the relative pronoun:

ksé = that, which, who
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	ksé	kší	kset
Genitive	ksew	kšú	kseču
Dative	kšá	kšáy	kseču
Accusative	ksewo	kšóy	kset
Instrumental	kšén	kšéyn	ksečyn
Locative	kšót	kšýt	kseciw
Adlative	kšás	kšýs	kseču
Delative	kšád	kšýd	ksečyn

These forms are used more rarely than in English, because in relative sentences participles are more actively used.

Interrogative

má = what
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	má	maj	mjet
Genitive	maw	mju	mječu
Dative	maja	mjay	mječu
Accusative	mó	mjoy	mjet
Instrumental	mén	mjeyn	mječyn
Locative	mjot	mjyt	mjeciw
Adlative	mjás	mjýs	mječu
Delative	mjád	mjýd	mječyn

mé = who
Case	Singular	Plural	Dual
Nominative	mé	mej	mejet
Genitive	mew	meju	meječu
Dative	meja	mejay	meječu
Accusative	mewo	mejoy	mejet
Instrumental	mejen	mejeyn	meječyn
Locative	mejot	mejyt	mejeciw
Adlative	mejás	mejýs	meječu
Delative	mejád	mejýd	meječyn

Interrogative pronoun/adjective (they are declined):

• Which: máke
• How much: móse

Indeclinable pronouns:

• How: swé
• Where (status): swot
• Where (motion): swás
• From where (status): swád
• When: swíz
• Why: méske

Numbers

Numbers are treated like adverbs. They don't decline, except for nók, one (dat.: noča, it has no plural forms), which also means unique.

Number	Name
1	nók
2	džis
3	klik
4	pali
5	majt
6	šuk
7	poč
8	vát
9	lém
10	tóčy

Numbers from 11 to 19 are built by adding -af- (on) + -tóč (a simplified form of 10) to the primary numbers:

Number	Name
11	nóčaftóč
12	džisaftóč
13	klikaftóč
14	paljaftóč
15	majtaftóč
16	šukaftóč
17	počaftóč
18	vátaftóč
19	lémaftóč

The only two irregularities are bolded.

Names of tens are built by simply adding -tóč (a simplified form of 10) to the primary numbers:

Number	Name
20	džistóč
30	kliktóč
40	palitóč
50	majttóč
60	šuktóč
70	počtóč
80	váttóč
90	lémtóč

Other numbers are:

Number	Name
100	tóček
200	džistóček
300	kliktóček
1,000	pastó
2,000	džispastó
3,000	klikpastó
1,000,000	miljón
1,000,000,000	miljárd

Miljón and miljárd are treated and declined like nouns (plur. miljóny, miljárdy). After them nouns are declined in genitive case:

- The Sun is one hundred fifty millions kilometres from Earth: Ó Lós vašwate tóček majttóč miljárdyo kilométryw ód ono Páno.

The ordinal numbers are formed by adding the ending -ov to the numbers. There are some irregularities:

Number	Name
1	nóčov
2	džisov
3	klikov
4	paljov
5	majtov
6	šukov
7	počov
8	vátov
9	lémov
10	tóčov
11	nóčaftóčov
20	džistóč
100	tóčkov
1,000	pastóv
1,000,000	miljónov

In composed numbers, the ending is added only on the last number:

- 2,602,094th: miljónet šuktóček džispastó lémtóč paljov

Adverbs

There is a small number of original adverbs, without a clear etimologic origin. Some adverbs are fixed forms from declined nouns:

• tomorrow: tefadžo (from fád, day)

Most adverbs come from adjectives. They are formed by adding the suffix -(j)um to the adjective:

• good: dén ‣ well: dénum
• human: čésár ‣ humanly: čésárum

Verbs

Verbs have a rich system of conjugation. There are one infinitival form, 3 participles, 4 moods and at least 5 tenses in the indicative mood. Verbs do conjugate according to the person, with different endings for each person, in singular, plural and dual. Each form has a passive counterpart, because there is a separated passive conjugation.

Verbs are divided in two conjugation patterns, depending on their infinitival endings:

• 1st conjugation = -uč
• 2nd conjugation = -or

By dropping these endings we'll get the verbal root, basis of verbal conjugation.

Infinitive

This is the infinitival form, that you'll find in dictionaries.

We'll use two sample verbs, to show the conjugation:

to Love	to Eat
Keluč	Setor

Participles

Verbs have three participles: present participle, past participle, and future participle, which doesn't exist in English, but express the same meaning of the other two participles but in the future.

Present	Past	Future
keláv	okeláv	tekeláv
setáv	osetáv	tesetáv

The past participle has an active meaning; osetáv doesn't mean that has been eaten, but which has eaten.

The vowel in the -áv ending gets short when declined:

• nom. keláv (loving) ‣ gen. kelavu (of loving)

Participles are very important in the construction of relative sentences.

Indicative

The indicative mood is the mood of reality, that shows happenings, tales, indications, etc. It has 5 tenses. Two tenses are simple, three tenses add prefixes.

Present

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	kelu	setu
2nd sing.	keluc	setec
3rd sing.	kele	sete
1st plu.	kelun	seten
2nd plu.	keluj	setej
3rd plu.	keluk	setek
1st dual	kelune	setene
2nd dual	keluje	seteje
3rd dual	keluke	seteke

Past

The past tense marks an action, occured in the past. It is formed by adding the infix -uv- for the 1st conjugation or -ev for the 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, except for the 3rd person in singular, which adds nothing.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	keluvu	setevu
2nd sing.	keluvec	setevec
3rd sing.	keluv	setev
1st plu.	keluven	seteven
2nd plu.	keluvej	setevej
3rd plu.	keluvek	setevek
1st dual	keluvene	setevene
2nd dual	keluveje	seteveje
3rd dual	keluveke	seteveke

Future

The future tense marks an action, which will occur in the future. It is formed by adding the infix -us- for the 1st conjugation or -es for the 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, and by adding the prefix te(k)- before the main root.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	tekelusu	tesetesu
2nd sing.	tekelusec	tesetesec
3rd sing.	tekeluse	tesetese
1st plu.	tekelusen	tesetesen
2nd plu.	tekelusej	tesetesej
3rd plu.	tekelusek	tesetesek
1st dual	tekelusene	tesetesene
2nd dual	tekeluseje	teseteseje
3rd dual	tekeluseke	teseteseke

Plusquamperfect

The plusquamperfect tense marks an action, occured in the past of another past action. It is formed by adding the prefix o(k)- to the forms of the past tense.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	okeluvu	osetevu
2nd sing.	okeluvec	osetevec
3rd sing.	okeluv	osetev
1st plu.	okeluven	oseteven
2nd plu.	okeluvej	osetevej
3rd plu.	okeluvek	osetevek
1st dual	okeluvene	osetevene
2nd dual	okeluveje	oseteveje
3rd dual	okeluveke	oseteveke

Future in the past

The future in the past tense marks an action, occured in the future of another past action. It is formed by adding the prefix o(k)- to the forms of the future tense.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	otekelusu	otesetesu
2nd sing.	otekelusec	otesetesec
3rd sing.	otekeluse	otesetese
1st plu.	otekelusen	otesetesen
2nd plu.	otekelusej	otesetesej
3rd plu.	otekelusek	otesetesek
1st dual	otekelusene	otesetesene
2nd dual	otekeluseje	oteseteseje
3rd dual	otekeluseke	oteseteseke

Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is the mood of doubt, uncertainty, possibility, etc. It is very used in subordinate clauses. It has 3 tenses. Two tenses are simple, one tense adds prefixes. Subjunctive is marked by the infixed vowel -a-, which replaces the -e/u- alternance in the indicative.

Present

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	kela	seta
2nd sing.	kelac	setac
3rd sing.	kela	seta
1st plu.	kelan	setan
2nd plu.	kelaj	setaj
3rd plu.	kelak	setak
1st dual	kelane	setane
2nd dual	kelaje	setaje
3rd dual	kelake	setake

Past

The past tense marks a possible, uncertain action, which could occur in the past. It is formed by adding the infix -av- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, except for the 3rd person in singular, which adds nothing.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	kelavu	setavu
2nd sing.	kelavec	setavec
3rd sing.	kelav	setav
1st plu.	kelaven	setaven
2nd plu.	kelavej	setavej
3rd plu.	kelavek	setavek
1st dual	kelavene	setavene
2nd dual	kelaveje	setaveje
3rd dual	kelaveke	setaveke

Future

The future tense marks a possible, uncertain action, which can occur in the future. It is formed by adding the infix -as- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, and by adding the prefix te(k)- before the main root.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	tekelasu	tesetasu
2nd sing.	tekelasec	tesetasec
3rd sing.	tekelase	tesetase
1st plu.	tekelasen	tesetasen
2nd plu.	tekelasej	tesetasej
3rd plu.	tekelasek	tesetasek
1st dual	tekelasene	tesetasene
2nd dual	tekelaseje	tesetaseje
3rd dual	tekelaseke	tesetaseke

Optative

The optative is the mood of whish, probability, will. It is very used in subordinate clauses. It has 3 tenses. Two tenses are simple, one tense adds prefixes. Optative is marked by the infixed vowel -i-, which replaces the -e/u- alternance in the indicative.

Present

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	keli	seti
2nd sing.	kelic	setic
3rd sing.	keli	seti
1st plu.	kelin	setin
2nd plu.	kelij	setij
3rd plu.	kelik	setik
1st dual	keline	setine
2nd dual	kelije	setije
3rd dual	kelike	setike

Past

The past tense marks a wish, a probability, which could occur in the past. It is formed by adding the infix -iv- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, except for the 3rd person in singular, which adds nothing.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	kelivu	setivu
2nd sing.	kelivec	setivec
3rd sing.	keliv	setiv
1st plu.	keliven	setiven
2nd plu.	kelivej	setivej
3rd plu.	kelivek	setivek
1st dual	kelivene	setivene
2nd dual	keliveje	setiveje
3rd dual	keliveke	setiveke

Future

The future tense marks a wish, a probability, which can occur in the future. It is formed by adding the infix -is- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, and by adding the prefix te(k)- before the main root.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	tekelisu	tesetisu
2nd sing.	tekelisec	tesetisec
3rd sing.	tekelise	tesetise
1st plu.	tekelisen	tesetisen
2nd plu.	tekelisej	tesetisej
3rd plu.	tekelisek	tesetisek
1st dual	tekelisene	tesetisene
2nd dual	tekeliseje	tesetiseje
3rd dual	tekeliseke	tesetiseke

Imperative

The imperative mood is the mood of orders. It has only one tense with special endings.

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	-	-
2nd sing.	kel	set
3rd sing.	kela	seta
1st plu.	keljen	setjen
2nd plu.	kelač	setač
3rd plu.	kelak	setak
1st dual	keljene	setjene
2nd dual	kelače	setače
3rd dual	kelake	setake

If the root already ends with -[j], one of them falls by adding the 1st plural and dual endings:

• verb to go, rokor, verbal root: rój- ‣ rójen (let's go), rójene (dual form)

Passive declension

Verbs form their passive counterparts by adding a suffix, not as in English. So there is a separated passive declension:

• He opens the door: ono erkowo pále
• The door is opened by him: ó erko zajen páles

The passive form is formed by adding the suffix -s after a vowel, and -is after a consonant.

Examples: The present tense:

Person	Keluč	Setor
1st sing.	kelus	setus
2nd sing.	kelucis	setecis
3rd sing.	keles	setes
1st plu.	kelunis	setenis
2nd plu.	kelujis	setejis
3rd plu.	kelukis	setekis
1st dual	kelunes	setenes
2nd dual	kelujes	setejes
3rd dual	kelukes	setekes

The agent of the passive sentence is expressed by the instrumental case:

• The pen was broken by his mother: ó poljasma zawnen hedžen okrujzuvis

Participles takes different endings to form their passive counterparts:

Present	Past	Future
kelát	okelát	tekelát
setát	osetát	tesetát

They follow the declension of palatalizated nouns with vowel shortening of the final vowel:

• osetát (eaten) ‣ osetačy (plur.)

Verb Ervuč (to Be)

The verb ervuč (to Be) is irregular. These are its forms:

Indicative	Present	Past	Future	Plusquamperfect	Future in the past
1st sing.	eru	ervu	tekersu	okervu	otekersu
2nd sing.	erc	ervec	tekersec	okervec	otekersec
3rd sing.	ér	erev	tekerse	okerev	otekerse
1st plu.	ern	erven	tekersen	okerven	otekersen
2nd plu.	ery	ervej	tekersej	okervej	otekersej
3rd plu.	eruk	ervek	tekersek	okervek	otekersek
1st dual	erne	ervene	tekersene	okervene	otekersene
2nd dual	erje	erveje	tekerseje	okerveje	otekerseje
3rd dual	eruke	erveke	tekerseke	okerveke	otekerseke

Subjunctive	Present	Past	Future
1st sing.	era	eravu	tekerasu
2nd sing.	erac	eravec	tekerasec
3rd sing.	era	erav	tekerase
1st plu.	eran	eraven	tekerasen
2nd plu.	eraj	eravej	tekerasej
3rd plu.	erak	eravek	tekerasek
1st dual	erane	eravene	tekerasene
2nd dual	eraje	eraveje	tekeraseje
3rd dual	erake	eraveke	tekeraseke

Optative	Present	Past	Future
1st sing.	eri	erivu	tekerisu
2nd sing.	eric	erivec	tekerisec
3rd sing.	eri	eriv	tekerise
1st plu.	erin	eriven	tekerisen
2nd plu.	erij	erivej	tekerisej
3rd plu.	erik	erivek	tekerisek
1st dual	erine	erivene	tekerisene
2nd dual	erije	eriveje	tekeriseje
3rd dual	erike	eriveke	tekeriseke

Imperative	Present
1st sing.	-
2nd sing.	ér
3rd sing.	era
1st plu.	erjen
2nd plu.	érč
3rd plu.	erak
1st dual	erjene
2nd dual	erče
3rd dual	erake

The participles are:

Present	Past	Future
eráv	okeráv	tekeráv

Verb Esor (to Have)

The verb esor (to Have) is irregular. These are its forms:

Indicative	Present	Past	Future	Plusquamperfect	Future in the past
1st sing.	esu	esvu	tekesesu	okesvu	otekesesu
2nd sing.	esec	esvec	tekesesec	okesvec	otekesesec
3rd sing.	és	esev	tekesese	okesev	otekesese
1st plu.	esn	esven	tekesesen	okesven	otekesesen
2nd plu.	esy	esvej	tekesesej	okesvej	otekesesej
3rd plu.	esuk	esvek	tekesesek	okesvek	otekesesek
1st dual	esne	esvene	tekesesene	okesvene	otekesesene
2nd dual	esje	esveje	tekeseseje	okesveje	otekeseseje
3rd dual	esuke	esveke	tekeseseke	okesveke	otekeseseke

Subjunctive	Present	Past	Future
1st sing.	esa	esavu	tekesasu
2nd sing.	esac	esavec	tekesasec
3rd sing.	esa	esav	tekesase
1st plu.	esan	esaven	tekesasen
2nd plu.	esaj	esavej	tekesasej
3rd plu.	esak	esavek	tekesasek
1st dual	esane	esavene	tekesasene
2nd dual	esaje	esaveje	tekesaseje
3rd dual	esake	esaveke	tekesaseke

Optative	Present	Past	Future
1st sing.	esi	esivu	tekesisu
2nd sing.	esic	esivec	tekesisec
3rd sing.	esi	esiv	tekesise
1st plu.	esin	esiven	tekesisen
2nd plu.	esij	esivej	tekesisej
3rd plu.	esik	esivek	tekesisek
1st dual	esine	esivene	tekesisene
2nd dual	esije	esiveje	tekesiseje
3rd dual	esike	esiveke	tekesiseke

Imperative	Present
1st sing.	-
2nd sing.	és
3rd sing.	esa
1st plu.	esjen
2nd plu.	esač
3rd plu.	esak
1st dual	esjene
2nd dual	esače
3rd dual	esake

The participles are:

Present	Past	Future
esáv	okesáv	tekesáv

The most important feature of this verb is that its behaviour is different from its English countepart's one. The possession is expressed by another construction: The owned object is in the nominative case (i.e. it becomes the sentence's subject), then the verbs agree with it and the owner is declined in dative case. This occurs both for proper or aquired possession.

• Lók bányajon čésya és: All human beings have a head (lit.: A head to all human beings has)
• Poljasma kija és: I have a pen (lit.: A pen to me has)

Conjugation tables

See also Lánc conjugation tables for more information

Word formation

Noun → Noun

• To form a noun which refers to someone who sells something, the ending -jaš is added. This ending could palatalize the last consonant of palatalizable nouns, losing the [j]:

- Tále (book) ‣ tálejaš (bookseller)

• To form a noun which refers to the place, where something is sold, the ending -(o)rám (from rámek, shop) is added:

- Tále (book) ‣ tálerám (bookshop)

• To form a noun which refers to place where a certain person has a power, linked with his/her title, the ending -pót is added. This ending could palatalize the last consonant of palatalizable nouns. It almost corresponds to English ending -dom.

- Krís (king) ‣ krišpót (kingdom)

Noun → Adjective

• One of the most common endings to turn a noun into its corrispective adjective is -ár. If the noun already ends with -r, the ending changes in -ál. When attached to a noun which usually undergoes palatalization with vowel shortening, these phenomena occur.

- čés (human being) ‣ čésár (human)
- úk (noun) ‣ učár (nominal)
- výr (world) ‣ výrál (world)

• The adjectival ending for nouns, ending in a vowel, is -jer.

- mila (woman) ‣ milajer (feminine)

• The adjectivizer forms -ár/-ál/-jer are used also to form the adjective related to a country.

- Frans (France) ‣ fransár (French)
- Litva (Latvia) ‣ litvajer (Latvian)

There are some relevant irregularities/exceptions:

- Ewropa (Europe) ‣ ewropár (European)
- Ingland (England) ‣ inglišár (English)
- Itália (Italy) ‣ itáljár (Italian)
- Ellada (Greece) ‣ ellenár (Greek)
- Dojčland (Germany) ‣ dojčár (German)
- Denmark (Denmark) ‣ danskár (Danish)
and other...

These adjectival forms can be used also as the country population's noun:

- Itália (Italy): itáljáron hranu (the Italian food) / ony itáljáry (the Italians)

Verb → Noun

• Ending -(o)tjám. This ending indicates the concrete or abstract result of the action of the verb. The -o- is inserted when the verbal root ends with two consonants (except -jC- or -wC-) or with -t or -d. It almost corresponds to English ending -tion.

- nýnoluč (to modificate, to change) ‣ nýnoltjám (modification, changement)
- čejnuč (to build) ‣ čejntjám (building)
- siwnor (to collect) ‣ siwntjám (collection)
- zálvuč (to create) ‣ zálvotjám (creation)

• Ending -(o)sén. This ending indicates the process of the action of the verb. The -o- is inserted when the verbal root ends with two consonants (except -jC- or -wC-) or with -s. It almost corresponds to English ending -ing.

- šmanor (to cook) ‣ šmansén (cooking)
- čejnuč (to build) ‣ čejnsén (construction)
- šušmor (to spread) ‣ šušmosén (spreading)

• Ending -ačan. This ending indicates the subject who carries out the action of the verb. It almost corresponds to English ending -er or -tor.

- zálvuč (to create) ‣ zálvačan (creator)
- plákor (to be in debt) ‣ plajačan (debtor)
- klásor (to play) ‣ klásačan (player)
- lakuč (to bear) ‣ lájačan (parent)

• Ending -asma. This ending indicates the mean with which the subject carries out the action of the verb.

- toltuč (to cover) ‣ toltasma (blanket)
- vwedor (to cut) ‣ vwéžasma (knife)

Verb → Verb

• Prefix vre(k)-. This prefix indicates that the action of the verb is repeated one or more times. The -k- is inserted when the verbal root begins with a vowel. It almost corresponds to English adverb -again or the latin prefix re-.

- toljuč (to do, to make) ‣ vretoljuč (to do again, to make again)
- salmor (to see) ‣ vresalmor (to see again)
- lolor (to say) ‣ vrelolor (to say again, to repeat)

Verb → Adjective

Except for participles, there are other kinds of adjective which can be formed from verbs.

• Ending -omša. This ending indicates that we can do the action of the verbs on/with the object, with a meaning of which can be [verb]-ed. It almost corresponds to English ending -able.

- mýzdor (to understand) ‣ mýzdomša (understandable)
- žinkor (to drink) ‣ žinjomša (drinkable)

Adjective → Noun

• To form the noun of the quality, which a basic adjective espresses, the ending -(j)eče, is added to the adjective. The product can indicate a quality or also something more concrete. The -j- is inserted when the verbal root ends with a vowel. It almost corresponds to English ending -ness or -ity.

- ban (real) ‣ baneče (reality)
- mlop (dark) ‣ mlopeče (darkness)

Syntax

Main article: Lánc syntax

Lexycon

Main article: Lánc-English-Lánc dictionary

Alphabet order

The Lantian alphabet has 33 letters (35, if included two foreign letters):

Uppercase

A

Á

B

C

Č

D

E

É

F

G

H

I

Í

J

K

L

M

N

O

Ó

P

Q*

R

S

Š

T

U

Ú

V

W

X*

Y

Ý

Z

Ž

Normal

a

á

b

c

č

d

e

é

f

g

h

i

í

j

k

l

m

n

o

ó

p

q*

r

s

š

t

u

ú

v

w

x*

y

ý

z

ž

IPA

[a]

[aː]

[b]

[ʦ]

[ʧ]

[d]

[e]

[eː]

[f]

[g]

[x]

[i]

[iː]

[j]

[k]

[l]

[m]

[n]

[o]

[oː]

[p]

[k]

[r]

[s]

[ʃ]

[t]

[u]

[uː]

[v]

[w]

[ks]

[ɨ]

[ɨː]

[z]

[ʒ]

*This two letters don't represent a Lantian sound, and they are not used in Lantian alphabet. Nevertheless they can appear in foreign names or loanwords (but very rarely).

The digraph dž represents a single sound [ʤ], but it is not considered as a single letter.

Letter names

Letter

a

á

b

c

č

d

e

é

f

g

h

i

í

j

k

l

m

n

o

ó

p

Name

a

á

be

ce

če

de

e

é

ef

ge

ha

i

í

jod

ka

el

em

en

o

ó

pe

IPA

[a]

[aː]

[be]

[ʦe]

[ʧe]

[de]

[e]

[eː]

[ef]

[ge]

[xa]

[i]

[iː]

[jod]

[ka]

[el]

[em]

[en]

[o]

[oː]

[pe]

Letter

q*

r

s

š

t

u

ú

v

w

x*

y

ý

z

ž

Name

qu*

er

es

eš

te

u

ú

ve

wa

ex*

y

ý

ze

že

IPA

[ku]

[er]

[es]

[eʃ]

[te]

[u]

[uː]

[ve]

[wa]

[eks]

[ɨ]

[ɨː]

[ze]

[ʒe]

Everyday lexycon

• ehoj!: Hi, Hello
• déno nóšfadžo! Good morning (before 12.00 am)
• déno fádwo!: Good day (after 12.00 am)
• déno joštéro!: Good evening (after sunset)
• déno štádwo!: Good night
• málajč ér!: Nice to meet you
• dénum okátjáv!: Welcome
• swé erc?: How are you?
  • dénum!: Fine
• džanu!: Thank you, Thanks (1st person of verb džanor, to thank)
• vnosum džanu!: Thank you very much
  • dólbu: You're welcome (1st person of verb dólbor, to pray, fixed form)
• swé wámecis?: What's your name?
  • .... wámus: My name is ....
• mósej yšy toja esuk?: How old are you?
• puka!: Bye
• dóvresalmor: Goodbye

Some elucidations

• Greetings are in accusative because an entire sentence is implied: toja déno nóšfadžo volvu - I wish you a good morning.
• If more people thank, the verbs has to agree with the number: džanen (from many people), džanene (from two people)
• If more people are welcomed, the participle has to agree with the number: dénum okátjavy (to many people), dénum okátjavet (to two people)

Days of the week - Fadžy onu počfadžu

English	Lantian
Monday	lúkufád
Tuesday	arsúfád
Wednesday	epurlowfád
Thursday	krišlowfád
Friday	joštenufád
Saturday	hajnzúfád
Sunday	lósufád

Months of the year - Lučery onu ýsu

English	Lantian	English	Lantian
January	janvár	July	julju
February	febrwár	August	awgúst
March	marc	September	septembri
April	ápril	October	oktobri
May	maj	November	novembri
Juny	junju	December	dekémbri

Seasons of the year - Dwánšy onu ýsu

English	Lantian
Spring	nočiš
Summer	éšti
Autumn Fall	paraši
Winter	tašmiš

Dialogues

Main article: Lánc dialogues

Some texts

Lord's prayer

Vojun nát, eráv bálot

Townon úk svútutolas

Townon krišpót átja

Townon šalja toljas

Džú bálot džú pánot

Lakfadžo vojay vojunon banfadžáro bágwo kál

Ši vojay vojunyojon plačoy gwalč

Džú vój vojunyajon plajačanay mijo gwalčen

Ši vojo onás gorávtjámás ét majv

Ýbo vojo ód ono gráwno nálutol.

Amen

Babel text

Bánon výr nókwon móro malžev ši medmojoyn porejoy nošev.

Kapálád okátjavy, ony čésy žylvanajás onot pánot Šinearot asátjuvek ši cefátevek.

Mí lolevek «Átjač, šmanačoy vičálojoy pyčen toljen!» ší vičálojoy žočot spríšu ši bitúmewo žočot spriškovu noševek.

Mí lolevek «Átjač, málowo ši panawo pšáltero dó bálás čejnjen ši mejžov erátjen, džu onás výrás ét tešušmesenis»

Ó Lást dóprójev ši ono pšáltero ši ono málowo sáljev, čejnátwo čésáryenon píkujeyn.

Ó Lást lolev «Sálj, nók čésmok eruk ši nókwo móro malževek; héj ó čalžotjám mijunun twáku ér: čuk báno toljuč omšek, mí šáljavy hejo»

«Dóprój ši mijunon móro džusm, džú ža étčés ono móro nunun čésu mýzda»

Ši ó Lást mijo onás výrás šušmev ši ono šmanséno onu málow cefátevek.

Džu ó Lást ona máloja ono úkwo Babél kálev, méske kájot ó Lást ono móro onu pánu džusmev ši kájád mijo onás výrás šušmev.

Holy Mary

Ave Maria, žwýn pnakejen

ó Lást ša tojen ér

mízt onyt milajyt dénlolecis

ši ó tlóž townun ževútu Jesu denloles

Svútu Maria, héd Dáw

dér vojay gervačanya dólb

čuk ši onot húrejot vojunun rímu

Amen

Genesis 1, 1-13

Čalžot Dá ono bálo ši ono páno žalvuv. Ona pána bášt ét esev ší héj kilkane erev, ši ó mlopeče ono zgwenčečewo toltuv ší ó mwín Dáw af onas ačas gláčev. Dá lolev: «Ó váne era». Ši ó váne erev. Dá sáljev ža ó váne dén erev ši ono vánewo ód ono mlopečewo blezduv ši vanewo “fádwo” ši mlopečewo “štádwo” wámev. Ši joštér erev ši nóšfadž erev: nóčov fád. Dá lolev: «Ó bál mízt onyt ačyt era, blezdáv onjo ačoy ód onjo ačoy». Dá ono bálo žalvuv ši ono ákwo, eráv dóp onot bálot, ód ono ákwo, eráv af onot bálot, blezduv. Ši džú pópeluv. Dá hejo “pradíso” wámev. Ši joštér erev ši nóšfadž erev: džisov fád. Dá lolev: «Ó ák, eráv dop onot bálot, onás nočás žočas šanúčelor njube ši ó zmélvát pán znápa». Ši džú pópeluv. Dá ono zmélvátwo páno “Páno” wámev ši onjo ošanúčelavyo ačoy “nwíno”. Ši Dá sáljev, ža dén erev. Ši Dá lolev «Ó Pán lájónyo temóhnese, kréžonejoy, temóhnavoy pwomjoy, ši vnučoy, temóhnavoy tlóžyo pwomjeyn bánot pánot». Ši džú pópeluv: ó pán lájónyo móhnev, kréžonejoy, móhnavoy pwomjoy, ši vnučoy, móhnavoy tlóžyo pwomjeyn. Dá sáljev, ža dén erev. Ši joštér erev ši nóšfadž erev: klikov fád.

The ant and the grasshopper - Ó pémavač ši ó framil

Ájerev vnoso čépo pjérmá pémavač, pémáv bánon éštiwo; hí framilo sáljev, siwnáv hranuwo dér ona tašmiša. Ó pémavač ona framila lolev: "Taméske džú twačec? Čefát ši ša kijen pém!" Ó framil fánev: "Hranuwo dér ona tašmiša siwnu, to kokwe njubec!". Ó pémavač lolev: "Ét! Čuk vnos hranu ájér!". Počle tašmov tašmiš átjev, ši ó pémavač béf zahranu rímev. Onás framilás rójev ši hija mánéwo hranuwo cážev. Ó framil cážev: "Mó bánon éštiwo toljuvec?". Hí fánev: "Pémevu", ši ó framil lolev: "Dénum! Čuk žum!"

Once upon a time there was a grasshopper, which sang all summer; she saw an ant, collecting food for (the) winter. The grasshopper told the ant: "Why do you work in this way? Stop and sing with me!" The ant answered: "I am collecting food for (the) winter! You too shall (do it)!" The grasshopper said: "No! There's much food now!" Then a cold winter came, and the grasshopper was starving. She goes to the ant and asked her for some food. The ant asked: "What did you do during all (the) summer?". She answered "I sang", and the ant said: "Well, now dance!"

The scorpion and the frog - Ó grág ši ó skorpjon

Skorpjon onot rejvot fósu grága cážev: "Kija wáč, ono fóswo dánmenor njubu!" Ýbo ó grág fánev: "Ét! Jék toja wáču, kijo tepínktesec". Ó skorpjon lolev: "Jék tó ačot tepínktasu, kí kokwe terímasu. Ét tetoljusu!" Ó grág akranuv ši ono skorpjono majvuv. Swíz onot dimíčot onu fósu ervuke, ó skorpjon ono grágo pínktev. Hí taméske cážev ši ó skorpjon fánev: "Znodžu žá terímesu, ýbo kijunon jefáža ér! Skorpjon eru!"

A scorpion on the bank of a river asked a frog: "Help me, I have to cross the river!" But the frog answered: "No! If I help you, you will sting me". The scorpion said: "If I'll sting you in the water, I also will die. I won't do it!". The frog accepted and carried the scorpion. When they were in the middle of the river, the scorpion stung the frog. She asked why and the scorpion answered: "I know I will die, but that's my nature! I'm a scorpion!"

World War II - Džisov výrál krák (from Wikipedia - Wikipediajád)

Džisovon výrál krák mízt Osočelačyton Omšačanečejyt ši onyt Omšačanečejyt Axew nakračevis. " Výrál krák" wámevis, méske vnosy mjáwej penr bányton kontinentyt šagensevekis, ši ony nakračsény vnosyt žastyt onu výru žókwo gensevek. Bánywon ivná onakračačyw kraču džisovon výrál krák saj-rowde, saj-undov ší saj-prótemajvač erev. Dwonu 72 miljónet čésyw rímevek. Ód 1939 dó 1945 rubrev.

World War II was fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers. It was called a "World War" because many countries from almost all continents were involved, and fighting took place over many parts of the world. Of all the wars ever fought, World War II involved the most countries, cost the most money, and killed the most people. About 72 million people died. It lasted from 1939 until 1945.

The leaning tower of Pisa - Remdávon pšálter Pizaw (from Wikipedia - Wikipediajád)

Remdávon Pšálter Pizaw čejntjám Pizajot, Itáliajot, ér. Klóngár pšálter ér. Mejžov ér, dérža ludžás remde. Omenavot ó pšálter pu-rowdejen remdávečejen čownuv, ýbo podarum čefátev ža pare.

Ó pšálter pana dwonu 55 métryo ér. Dwonu 14.500.000 kilográmyo ydže. Hejunon čukár remdáveče 5,5 grady ér. Ona pšáltera 294 afrójasmadaly ésuk.

Zlévža klikovon etaž 1178-ot očenuvis, ó pšálter čalžev ža remde, béf évnosum zgwenčyw byldevačnaju (nočnum klik métry). Ó projekt onu pšálteru onád čaldžád kropuv. Ó čejnsén dwonu 100 yšoy čefátevis dérža ony pizajery mú zróšm Dženovaw, Lukkaw, ši Firéncew nakračevek.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a building in Pisa, Italy. It is a bell tower. It is famous because it leans to one side. The tower was once leaning more and more to the ground, but recently it has stopped falling.

The height of the tower is about 55 metres from the ground. Its weight is about 14,500 tonnes. It currently leans at about 5.5 degrees. The tower has 294 steps.

After the third floor was built in 1178, the tower started to lean, due to small foundation (only three meters). The project of the tower was wrong from the beginning. Construction was stopped for almost 100 years because the Pisans were often at war with Genoa, Lucca, and Florence.