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

The vowels [a], [e], [i], [o], and [u] are pronounced /{/, /e/, /i/, /2/, and /y/, respectively. [i] is pronounced /I/ if directly preceded by the letter [j].

The consonants are [c], [f], [h], [j], [l], [m], [n], [s], [t]. All of these are pronounced like their lower-case X-SAMPA counterparts, except for the following:

• [c] = /s/
• [h] = /x/
• [s] = /S/
• [t] = /T/

All of the consonants except [j] and [s] can be followed by [j] to make a cluster. Example: [lju] is pronounced /'ljy/.

The syllable structure is <CV>. C is a consonant (or cluster) and V is a vowel.

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

A small pause is placed between grammatical inflections and roots. This is optional but helps when dealing with large words. No such pause is needed between words, because the tone helps clarify this.

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.
• Possession with pronouns (I, you, he, as opposed to Bob) is indicated using the inflections in the table below. Possession for other nouns (Bob, or the tree) is indicated using subclauses and auxiliary verbs, as in: (george.NOM possess.PRESENTINDICATIVE.3PSINGULAR tent.ACC).NOM has-property.PRESENTINDICATIVE.3PSINGULAR green.ACC, which means George's tent is green.
• Verbs are inflected for their pronoun in the table below and the tense, also in one of the below tables.

Grammatical Markers

Case Table

Case	Singular	Few	Plural	Notes
Nominative	(none)	-hi	-hitja
Accusative	-he	-ne	(remove previous vowel)-etja
Temporal	-ju	(N/A)	(N/A)	Only used in the singular.
Facilitative	-homja	-homjita	-homitja
Obstructive	-hoho	-huho	-huho	No inflection for "plural".
Result	-mji	-mjuli	-mjitja

Verb Tenses

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

Verb Inflections to Serve as Pronouns

Person	Singular	Few	Plural	Notes
First	-ji	-je	-je
Second	-li	-le	-lja
Third	-hi	-he	-hja	Not inflected for gender.

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)

Wordlist

• Meli /'me.li/. Servant, to serve, subservient. First person pronoun. Swadesh #1, #4.
• Ce /'ce/. Mother or inspirer, to create, inspiring. Swadesh #42.
• Njetoluhi /'nje.T2.ly.xi/. World, to exist, in existence.
• Naha /'n&.x&/. Master, to rule, dominant. Second person pronoun. Swadesh #2, #5.
• Tuseji /'Ty.Se.jI/. Monolith or giant, to enlarge, large, overall. Swadesh #27.
• Noji /'n2.ji/. Language, to speak, spoken.
• Tana /'T&.n&/. Genitive verb.

Example Sentences

• Melihi nojijeninahi cenojihe. We speak Cenoji.
• Na meli tanajeninahi ceninuhe na nojihilunalju na tuseji tananinahi nojihjahe nahe. My mother speaks the language of the giants.