Cenoji

Cenoji
Spoken in:	Njetoluhi, by the Sea Elves
Timeline/Universe:	unknown
Total speakers:	~3 000, distributed in clans of about 20 people.
Genealogical classification:	Njetoluhi Elfin Sea Races Eastern Coast Cenoji
Created by:
Eosp	2006

Phonology

Vowels

The vowels are the front vowels of Finnish, but I'm using the letters for the back vowels. For those who don't know what they are, here they are (the character is listed first, followed by the X-SAMPA equivalent:

• a: /{/.
• e: /e/.
• i: /i/.
• o: /2/.
• u: /y/.

Consonants

None of these are plosives.

• c: /s/.
• f: /f/.
• h: /x/.
• j: /j/.
• l: /l/.
• m: /m/.
• n: /n/.
• s: /S/.
• t: /T/.

Dipthongs

The characters [c], [f], [l], and [m] can be combined with the character [j] as a consonant cluster.

Syllable Structure

The syllable structure is <CV>, where C is a consonant or dipthong and V is a vowel.

Emphasis

Emphasis declines towards the end of the word, but then rises about halfway on the last syllable.

Grammar

Cases

• Nominative: indicates the subject of the sentence.
• Accusative: indicates the object of the sentence.
• Temporal: indicates the time an event took place.
• Facilitative: indicates a noun that helps the event take place. In the case of a three-noun sentence (such as I gave a letter to John), letter would be in the nominative and I would be in the facilitative. (this sentence would probably be closer to With my help, a letter gave itself to John.)
• Obstructive: indicates a noun that prevents or hinders an event.
• Result: Indicates the result of a sentence.

Syntax and Rules

• The basic order is Subject-Object-Verb, although any order is valid. The item appearing first is given the emphasis. Example: joe.NOM mary.ACC like indicates that Joe likes Mary, as opposed to Bill liking Mary. If we were to say that Joe likes Mary, as opposed to Joe liking Felicia, we would say mary.ACC joe.NOM like instead.
• Three numbers exist: singular, few (undefined, but usually for numbers less than five or six), and many (anything larger than few).
• Adjectives must agree with their noun in number (singular, few, or many) and case.
• Subclauses are simply sentences with a [na] particle on each end. The equivalents to prepositions (but, therefore) are marking the ending [na] particle with the proper case. Example: I would go skiing, but I had a concussion would be I would go skiing na I had a concussion na.OBSTRUCTIVE.
• There are no definite or indefinite articles.
• Any number of cases may be added to a word to express an added meaning. Example: in a reflexive action, the noun would have both the nominative and accusative.
• The temporal case does not have plural endings.
• There is no future tense, you use the "I plan to verb" construction. This is a cultural consideration, since the Elves firmly believe that the future cannot be predicted and can always change.

Grammatical Markers

Case Table

Case	Singular	Few	Plural	Notes
Nominative	(none)	-i	-itja
Accusative	-e	-ne	(remove previous vowel)-etja
Temporal	-ju	(N/A)	(N/A)	Only used in the singular.
Facilitative	-omja	-omjita	-omitja
Obstructive	-oho	-uho	-uho	No inflection for "plural".
Result	-mji	-mjuli	-mjitja

Verb Tenses

Mode	Past	Present	Conditional	Notes
Subjunctive	-lolahi	-ninahi	-fjofahi	Only used when talking factually.
Fantastic	-lunalju	-minamju	-ninanju	Used in storytelling, lies, etc.
Imperative	-nitu	-ljatu	-fehija	Command form.

Possessive Noun Inflections

These are added to the noun they modify. Plurality is based on the noun, not the pronoun. Gender is optional and is based on the gender of the person.

Person	Singular	Few	Plural	Male	Female
First	-ni	-ne	-nja	-nu	-nju
Second	-li	-le	-lja	-lu	-lju
Third	-hi	-he	-hja	(N/A)	(N/A)