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Novelatine is a language, spoken by a few thousand people in two remote mountain valleys in Central Italy. Its speakers call their own language Sa lêgwa syar dwar valyô, The language of the two valleys, or simply Sa lêgwa (nob), The/Our language. It is a direct descendent of Latin, and it retained a more conservative grammar, morphology and syntaxis than the other Romance languages. Its lexicon retains many more words directly from Latin than other Romance lexicons.

Apart from its conservatism, the main feature is the presence of two distinct dialects, one for each valleys, with some definite differences.

Phonology

Ortography

Novelatine ortography is partially based on standard Italian ortography, while a large part of it was developped independently.

Letter IPA pron. X-Sampa pron. Note and English or other approximation
A, a [a] [a] as in Scottish or Irish stack
B, b [b] [b] as in back
C, c 1.[k]
2.[ʧ]		 1.[k]
2.[tS]		 1. before any consonant, the vowels a, o, ô, u, as in kiss
2. before the vowels e, i and the semivowel y, as in chip
D, d [d] [d] as in admit
E, e 1.[ɛ] (stressed)
2.[e] (unstressed)
3.[ə] (final)		 1.[E]
2.[e]
3.[@]		 1. always in stressed syllables, as in North American English bed
2. always in unstressed syllables (see note), as in British English dress
3. only in the Eastern dialect, in final syllables, as in about
Ê, ê 1.[ɛ̃] (stressed)
2.[ẽ] (unstressed)		 1.[E˜]
2.[e˜]		 similar to French brin (The two variants follow the same rules of distribution of the letter e)
F, f [f] [f] as in fine
G, g 1.[g]
2.[ʤ]		 1.[g]
2.[dZ]		 1. before any consonant, the vowels a, o, ô, u, as in gun
2. before the vowels e, i and the semivowel y, as in jump
H, h [-] [-] it has no sound, it is only used with other letters to express other sounds.
I, i [i] [i] as in North American English free
J, j [-] [-] it is not part of the alphabet, it can be found only in loanwords, where it retains its original pronunciation.
K, k [-] [-] it is not part of the alphabet, it can be found only in loanwords, where it retains its original pronunciation.
L, l 1.[l]
2.[ʎ]		 1.[l]
2.[L]		 1. only the clear L, as in let, never dark L
2. only in the Eastern dialect, when is followed by y (which is soundless), as in Spanish millón or in Italian figlio
M, m [m] [m] as in map
N, n 1.[n]
2.[ŋ]
3.[ɲ]		 1.[n]
2.[N]
3.[J]		 1. as in nine
2. before k and g (see note), as in sing
3. only in the Eastern dialect, when is followed by y (which is soundless), as in Spanish niño or in Italian bagno or in French agneau
O, o 1.[ɔ] (stressed)
2.[o] (unstressed)		 1.[O]
2.[o]		 1. always in stressed syllables, as in North American English thought
2. always in unstressed syllables (see note), as in Australian English thought
Ô, ô 1.[ɔ̃] (stressed)
2.[õ] (unstressed)		 1.[O˜]
2.[o˜]		 similar to French bon (The two variants follow the same rules of distribution of the letter o)
P, p [p] [p] as in speed
Q, q [-] [-] it is not part of the alphabet, it can be found only in loanwords, where it retains its original pronunciation.
R, r [r] [r] rolled R, as in Italian terra or in Spanish perro
it can also play the role of a vowel, appearing in the end of a word without a vowel.
S, s 1.[s]
2.[z]
3.[ʃ]		 1.[s]
2.[z]
3.[S]		 1. in initial position, before any voiceless consonant, and in final position, as in salt
2. in intervocalic position, and before every voiced consonant(see note), as in rose
3. only in the Eastern dialect, when is followed by y (which is soundless), as in show
T, t [t] [t] as in tick
U, u [u] [u] as in North American English goose
V, v 1. [v]
2. [ʊ̯] (final)		 1.[v]
2.[U]		 1. as in valve
2. only in the Eastern dialect, when is in final position, as in hook, but with a labiodental closure.
W, w [w] [w] as in weep
X, x [-] [-] it is not part of the alphabet, it can be found only in loanwords, where it retains its original pronunciation.
Y, y [j] [j] as in you
Z, z 1.[ʦ]
2.[ʣ]		 1.[ts]
2.[dz]		 1. as in German Zehn
2. as in Italian zero
(see note for more info about their occurence)

Notes on orthography

  • Initial stops b [k], c [k], d [d], g [g], p [p] and t [t] are never aspirated.
  • Voiceless intervocalic stops c [k], p [p] and t [t] are never voiced.
  • The letter c represents two different sounds. When it is followed by a consonant, or the vowel a, o, ô or u, it represents the consonant [k]:
can [ˈkan]
cô [kõ]
cru [ˈkru]

it represent [k] also when in final position:

loc [ˈlɔk]

it represents the sound [ʧ] when followed by e, i and y:

ciwta [ˈʧiwta]
vyice [ˈvjiʧe]
êwcyô [ẽˈwʧjõ]

if we want c to represent the sound [k] before one of the previous sounds, a mute h is inserted.

alchies [alˈkies]
brachyô [ˈbrakjõ]
  • In the Eastern dialect, a final e (IPA: [e]), tends to be pronounced as [ə], (it is said to be reduced), and when it is an e mobile, in -er endings:
lupe W: [ˈlupe] / E: [ˈlupə]
rose W: [ˈrɔze] / E: [ˈrɔzə]
veter W: [ˈvɛter] / E: [ˈvɛtər]
  • The letter s represents two different sounds. When it is in initial position followed by a voiceless consonant or by a vowel, inside the word followed or preceded by a consonat, or in final position, it represents the consonant [s]:
saw [ˈsaw]
spwêdye [ˈspwɛ̃dje]
serpês [ˈsɛrpẽs]

if it is inside the word between two vowels, or followed by a voiced consonant, also in initial position, it represents the consonant [z]:

rosa [ˈrɔza]
êsula [ˈɛ̃zula]

during some morphological processes, a [s] could be added after a velar stop ([t] or [d]): when this occurs, [s] merges with these two consonant forming the affricate consonants [ʦ] and [ʣ] respectively, both represented by z:

root salut- + ending -s → saluz [ˈsaluʦ]
root lyibertad- + ending -s → lyibertaz [ljiberˈtaʣ]
  • In the Eastern dialect, when a s (IPA: [s]) is followed by a y, it tends to be pronounced as [ʃ], (it is said to be palatalized), while the y is not pronounced anymore:
syor W: [sjor] / E: [ʃor]
caysyô W: [kajˈsjõ] / E: [kajˈʃõ]
  • In the Eastern dialect, when a v (IPA: [v]) is in final position, it tends to be pronounced as [ʊ̯]:
brev W: [ˈbrɛv] / E: [ˈbrɛʊ̯]
biv W: [ˈbiv] / E: [ˈbiʊ̯]
W: Cwo fac? Biv [ˈkwɔ ˈfak ˈbiv] / E: Cwo fa? Biv [ˈkwɔ ˈfa ˈbiʊ̯] What is he/she doing? He/she is drinking

Since it becomes more like a semivowel, it does not count as a separate syllable. When the final v is followed by another word (without a pause), with an initial vowel, it is pronounced [v], since it is felt as united with the next word:

E: brev [ˈbrɛʊ̯] / brev cancyô [ˌbrɛʊ̯ kanˈʧjõ] / brev oracyô [ˌbrɛv oraˈʧjõ]

Noun morphology

Novelatine retains the complex system of Latin declensions, but the six cases of Latin language have merged in a three-case system: Nominative, Genitive and Accusative. Nouns are grouped in four declensions, but as phonological changes modified some endings, each declension group has more subgroups.


First declension

The first declension has both feminine and masculine nouns, but no neuter nouns. Most nouns (more than 90%) are feminine, and there is no difference in the endings between both genders. The endings are:

Case Singular Plural
Nominative -a -e
Genitive -e -arô
Accusative -ô -es
  • Example: Rosa, rose, feminine
Case Singular Plural
Nominative rosa rose
Genitive rose rosarô
Accusative rosô roses
  • Example: Êcowa, inhabitant, masculine
Case Singular Plural
Nominative êcowa êcowe
Genitive êcowe êcowarô
Accusative êcowô êcowes

Even if both genders share the same endings, nouns agree with adjectives, articles, pronouns and verbs according the real gender:

  • Se bone poeta: the good poet
  • Sa rosa pulcra: the beautiful rose

Second declension

The second declension has only masculine and neuter nouns. Each gender forms a different subgroup. There is also a -er subgroup:

Masculine subgroup

The endings for the masculine second declension are:

Case Singular Plural
Nominative -e -yi
Genitive -yi -erô
Accusative -ô -es
  • Example: Lupe, wolf
Case Singular Plural
Nominative lupe lupyi
Genitive lupyi luperô
Accusative lupô lupes

If the root already ends with an -y-, the -yi endings become simply -i-:

  • Example: Casye, cheese
Case Singular Plural
Nominative casye casyi
Genitive casyi casyerô
Accusative casyô casyes

Neuter subgroup

The endings for the neuter second declension are:

Case Singular Plural
Nominative -ô -a
Genitive -yi -erô
Accusative -ô -a
  • Example: Pomô, apple
Case Singular Plural
Nominative pomô poma
Genitive pomyi pomerô
Accusative pomô poma

If the root already ends with an -y-, the -yi ending becomes simply -i-:

  • Example: Brachyô, arm
Case Singular Plural
Nominative brachyô brachya
Genitive brachyi brachyerô
Accusative brachyô brachya

-er subgroup

The -er subgroup contains only masculine nouns whose nominative singular form ends with -er. They add the usual second declension endings in other cases, some nouns losing the -e (the mobile -e-), while some other nouns preserve it:

Case Singular Plural
Nominative - -yi
Genitive -yi -erô
Accusative -ô -es
  • Example: Ager, field
With mobile -e-
Case Singular Plural
Nominative ager agryi
Genitive agryi agrerô
Accusative agrô agres
  • Example: Pwer, boy
Without mobile -e-
Case Singular Plural
Nominative pwer pweryi
Genitive pweryi pwererô
Accusative pwerô pweres

Labial subgroup

Some nouns, whose root ends in -w-, change this last consonant in -l- before the -yi endings (singular genitive and nominative masculine plural):

  • Example: Mawô, evil
Case Singular Plural
Nominative mawô mawa
Genitive malyi mawerô
Accusative mawô mawa

Third declension

The third declension is the most complex and large noun declension group. There are many subgroup, as many nouns has little differences, even if the declension pattern remains the same.

The basic declension patterns for masculine/feminine and for neuter nouns are:

Masculine/Feminine
Case Singular Plural
Nominative - -s
Genitive -s -ô
Accusative -ê -es
Neuter
Case Singular Plural
Nominative - -a
Genitive -s -ô
Accusative - -a

If the root ends with a bilabial stop ([t] or [d]), these consonants merge with the ending -s in z ([ʦ] or [ʣ] respectively), in the genitive singular, and in the masculine and feminine nominative plural:

  • Example: Ciwta, city, substantive of the nominative vowel subgroup.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative ciwta ciwtaz
Genitive ciwtaz ciwtadô
Accusative ciwtadê ciwtades

If the last consonant of the noun root is -s-, or there are two or more consonants, the singular genitive ending becomes -is, while the plural nominative ending becomes -es:

  • Example: Pader, father, substantive with mobile -e-.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative pader padres
Genitive padris padrô
Accusative padrê padres

First subgroup

The first subgroup contains nouns whose singular nominative form coincides with their root. They simply add the regular endings.

  • Example: Can, dog.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative can cans
Genitive cans canô
Accusative canê canes

Second subgroup (Vowel nominative form)

The second subgroup contains nouns whose root is the plural genitive without the -ô ending. The nominative form usually ends with a vowel, as the root's last consonant was lost in this form.

  • Example: Du, leader.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative du ducs
Genitive ducs ducô
Accusative ducê duces

A small group of nouns lose two consonant in the nominative form, typically a consonant, preceded by w:

  • Example: No, night.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative no nowz
Genitive nowz nowtô
Accusative nowtê nowtes

Third subgroup (Nasal subgroup)

The second subgroup contains nouns whose root is the plural genitive without the -ô ending. The nominative form usually ends with a nasal vowel, as the root's last consonant -n merged with the previous vowel in this form. The masculine and feminine nouns usually has -ô at the nominative form, while the neuter nouns usually has -ê.

  • Example: Opyinyô, opinion, thought.
Masculine/Feminine declension
Case Singular Plural
Nominative opyinyô opyinyons
Genitive opyinyons opyinyonô
Accusative opyinyonê opyinyones
  • Example: Nomê, noun, name.
Neuter declension
Case Singular Plural
Nominative nomê nomina
Genitive nomins nominô
Accusative nomê nomina

Fourth subgroup (Palatal subgroup)

The fourth group contains nouns whose plural genitive form adds an -y- infix before the usual -ô endings. Neuter nouns in this subgroup add the -y- infix also within the plural nominative and accusative forms.

  • Example: Awr, ear.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative awr awrs
Genitive awrs awryô
Accusative awrê awres
  • Example: Mar, sea.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative mar marya
Genitive mars maryô
Accusative mar marya

Fifth subgroup (Labial subgroup)

The fifth group contains nouns whose the root's last consonant -l- becomes an -w in the singular nominative form and in the singular accusative form for neuter nouns. The plural forms add the palatal infix -y- according to the rules of the palatal subgroup.

  • Example: Pew, skin.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative pew pels
Genitive pels pelyô
Accusative pelê peles
  • Example: Animaw, animal.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative animaw animalya
Genitive animals animalyô
Accusative animaw animalya

Sixth subgroup (Rhotic subgroup)

The fifth group contains nouns whose the root's last consonant -r- becomes an -s in the singular nominative form and in the singular accusative form for neuter nouns. The plural forms add the palatal infix -y- according to the rules of the palatal subgroup.

  • Example: Mus, mouse.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative mus murs
Genitive murs muryô
Accusative murê mures
  • Example: Os, mouth.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative os orya
Genitive ors oryô
Accusative os orya

Seventh subgroup (participial subgroup)

The sixth subgroup contains nouns whose conjugation is the same as the past participles. The nominative singular final consonant -s is replaced in all other forms with a -t, which merge with the ending -s in -z, when required. The plural forms follow the palatal subgroup declension pattern.

  • Example: Dês, tooth.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative dês dêz
Genitive dêz dêtyô
Accusative dêtê dêtes
  • Example: Pôs, bridge.
Case Singular Plural
Nominative pôs pôz
Genitive pôz pôtyô
Accusative pôtê pôtes

Irregular subgroup

There are a number of nouns, which have an irregular behavior, even if they follow the usual third declension pattern:

  • nom. capo; gen. capiz; acc. capo; pl. nom. capita; pl. gen. capitô pl. acc. capita (head, neuter)
  • nom. fwe; gen. fwors; acc. fworê; pl. nom. fwors; pl. gen. fworô; pl. acc. fwores (flower, feminine)
  • nom. die; gen. diey; acc. diê; pl. nom. dies; pl. gen. dierô; pl. acc. dies (day, masculine)

Fourth declension

The fourth declension has masculine, feminine and neuter nouns. There are two subgroups the -e subgroup and the -o subgroup.

-e subgroup

The -e subgroup contains both masculine and feminine nouns. Most nouns are masculine (more than 95 %), but the few feminine nouns are very used. These are the endings.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative -e -os
Genitive -os -wô
Accusative -ô -es
  • Example: Pase, step, masculine
Case Singular Plural
Nominative pase pasos
Genitive pasos paswô
Accusative pasô pases
  • Example: Dome, house, home, feminine
Case Singular Plural
Nominative dome domos
Genitive domos domwô
Accusative domô domes

-o subgroup

The -o subgroup contains only neuter nouns. These are the endings.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative -o -wa
Genitive -os -wô
Accusative -o -wa
  • Example: Geno, knee
Case Singular Plural
Nominative geno genwa
Genitive genos genwô
Accusative geno genwa

Articles, Adjectives and Pronouns

Articles

Novelatine has a definite article, se. The western dialect has an indefinite article, the numeral une, while the eastern dialect usually uses no indefinite article. The article une declines as a normal first class adjective.

Definite article

The definite article se has an irregular declension:

Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative se sa sô syi se sa
Genitive sies sies sies syor syar syor
Accusative sô sô sô ses ses sa

The nominative singular masculine and neuter forms usually lose their vowel before another vowel and get an apostrophe, while the nominative neuter singular and all accusative singular forms become son before another vowel:

  • S'agricowa son agrô si col: the farmer cultivates his own field

In the eastern dialect the nominative plural masculine form, syi, gets shorter too:

  • W: Syi agricowe ses agres si col - E: Sy'agricowe ses agres si col: the farmers cultivate their own fields

In the eastern dialect, especially in most marginal area, all plural forms uses the 'sy- alternative root (pronounced [ʃ]-):

  • W: Syi agricowe ses agres si col - E: Sy'agricowe syes agres si col: the farmers cultivate their own fields

In the northern villages of the western valley, before another vowel the accusative forms and the neuter forms in the singular become som instead of son

  • W: S'agricowa som agrô si col: the farmer cultivates his own field

The articles usually merge with the preposition ad, because of the normal merging of the sounds [d] + [s] = [ʣ]. As the preposition ad can be followed by the accusative or the genitive case, these are the merged forms:

Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
ad + Genitive azies azies azies azyor azyar azyor
ad + Accusative azô azô azô azes azes aza

Adjectives

Adjectives usually decline according to the gender and the number of the noun they qualify. They are usually placed after their nouns, but sometimes they are found before them.

Adjectives are divided in two class, according to their declension pattern:

1st class

The adjectives in this class decline like I and II declension nouns. They use the I declension endings for feminine nouns, and the II declension endings for masculine and neuter nouns:

  • Example: Nove, new
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative nove nova novô novyi nove nova
Genitive novyi nove novyi noverô novarô noverô
Accusative novô novô novô noves noves nova

They follow the same rules of the II declension, as there are adjectives with mobile e or with a palatal infix -y-

  • Example: Veter, old, adjective with mobile e
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative veter vetra vetrô vetryi vetre vetra
Genitive vetryi vetre vetryi vetrerô vetrarô vetrerô
Accusative vetrô vetrô vetrô vetres vetres vetra
  • Example: Lyiber, free, adjective without mobile e
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative lyiber lyibera lyiberô lyiberyi lyibere lyibera
Genitive lyiberyi lyibere lyiberyi lyibererô lyiberarô lyibererô
Accusative lyiberô lyiberô lyiberô lyiberes lyiberes lyibera


2nd class

The adjectives in this class decline like III declension nouns. They use the normal III declension endings for masculine, feminine and neuter nouns, with the same root. They can belong to anyone of all III declension subgroup, except the first one.

  • Example: Brev, short, brief, adjective belonging to the palatal subgroup.
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative brev brev brev brevs brevs brevya
Genitive brevs brevs brevs brevyô brevyô brevyô
Accusative brevê brevê brev breves breves brevya
  • Example: Ceweber, famous, adjective belonging to the palatal subgroup with mobile e.
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative ceweber ceweber ceweber cewebres cewebres cewebrya
Genitive cewebris cewebris cewebris cewebryô cewebryô cewebryô
Accusative cewebrê cewebrê ceweber cewebres cewebres cewebrya
  • Example: Awda, brave, bold, audacious, adjective belonging to the vowel nominative subgroup (for this group the plural forms are the same ones of the palatal subgroup).
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative awda awda awda awdacs awdacs awdacya
Genitive awdacs awdacs awdacs awdacyô awdacyô awdacyô
Accusative awdacê awdacê awda awdaces awdaces awdacya
  • Example: Agiw, nimble, agile, adjective belonging to the labial subgroup.
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative agiw agiw agiw agils agils agilya
Genitive agils agils agils agilyô agilyô agilyô
Accusative agilê agilê agiw agiles agiles agilya

Comparison

There are two ways for creating the various degree of comparison. One is directly retained from the ancient Latin, while the other one is a more recent creation.

The first form of comparison is built by adding some endings to the adjective's root:


  • Nove, new, 1st class
Declension of the comparative form
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative novyer novyer novye novyers novyers novyera
Genitive novyers novyers novyers novyerô novyerô novyerô
Accusative novyerê novyerê novye novyeres novyeres novyeres
  • Nove, new 1st class
Declension of the superlative form
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative novisime novisima novisimô novisimyi novisime novisima
Genitive novisimyi novisime novisimyi novisimerô novisimarô novisimerô
Accusative novisimô novisimô novisimô novisimes novisimes novisima
  • Brev, short, 2st class
Declension of the comparative form
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative brevyer brevyer brevye brevyers brevyers brevyera
Genitive brevyers brevyers brevyers brevyerô brevyerô brevyerô
Accusative brevyerê brevyerê brevye brevyeres brevyeres brevyeres
  • Brev, short 2st class
Declension of the superlative form
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative brevisime brevisima brevisimô brevisimyi brevisime novisima
Genitive brevisimyi brevisime brevisimyi brevisimerô brevisimarô brevisimerô
Accusative brevisimô brevisimô brevisimô brevisimes brevisimes brevisima


The second form of comparison is built by using the adverb mags with the normal grade of the adjective. The comparative form is formed by placing mags before the normal declined adjective, while the superlative form is formed with the definite article + mags before the declined adjective.

  • bone → mags bone → se mags bone

The second forms are usually used with adjectives with more than three syllables, or with loanwords. This use is, however, not fixed yet. Especially in the Western dialect the use of mags is spreading also with shorter adjectives, while in the Eastern dialect also some longer adjectives use the first forms. In some remote villages of the Western dialect mags is replaced with pwe (from the Latin PLUS).

The comparison endings are usually added to the real root of the adjective, restoring an actually lost consonant:

  • agiw → agilyer, agilisime
  • awda → awdacyer, awdacisime

In the case of adjectives, whose nominative masculine singular form ends in -er with a mobile e, the superlative ending become -ime and is added directly to the -er ending without losing the -e-:

  • veter → vetryer, veterime
  • ceweber → cewebryer, ceweberime

Some adjectives have irregular forms for the comparative and superlative grade:

Positive Comparative Superlative English
Bone melyer owtime good
Grôd mayer masime big, great
Mawe peyer pesime bad, evil
Parve minyer minime little, small

Demonstrative adjectives

There are two demonstrative adjectives: isvi which means that, and ste which means this; both they have an irregular conjugation:

  • Isvi, that
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative isvi avi ivi yivi evi avi
Genitive iesvi iesvi iesvi orôvi arôvi orôvi
Accusative ôvi ôvi ivi esvi asvi avi
  • Ste, this
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative ste sta sto styi ste sta
Genitive sties sties sties storô starô storô
Accusative stô stô sto stes stes sta

Pronouns

Personal pronouns

The personal pronouns in Novelatine have an irregular declension. Some of them have an alternative root in some cases. In the third persons the pronouns are divided for gender, in singular (as in English) and in plural number.

The most important feature, is the retention of the dative forms, for all personal pronouns:

Person English Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative
1st sing. I eo mey mi me
2nd sing. you (sing.) tu tuy ti te
3rd sing. f. he le lies luy lô
3rd sing. m. she la lies luy lô
3rd sing. n. it lo lies luy lo
1st plur. we nos nestri nob nos
2nd plur. you (plur.) vos vestri vob vos
3rd plur. m. they (m.) lyi lyor lyis les
3rd plur. f. they (f.) le lyar lyis les
3rd plur. n. they (n.) la lyor lyis la

The singular accusative masculine and feminine 3rd person form lô becomes lon before a vowel:

  • Tu lon ams?: Do you love him/her?

In the northern villages of the western valley, this form becomes lom before a vowel:

  • Tu lom ams?: Do you love him/her?

With most prepositions, which usually require the genitive case, dative forms of personal pronouns are used. The only exception is the preposition cô, which has exceptional forms for the first and the second persons:

  • eo: mecô (with me)
  • tu: tecô (with you sing.)
  • nos: nobiscô (with us)
  • vos: vobiscô (with you plur.)

The personal pronouns have also replaced the possessive adjectives and pronouns:

The possession is expressed by the dative personal pronouns, placed after the possessed noun:

  • Eo son amicô ti vidye: I see your friend

The dative forms do not agree with the possessed noun, only with the gender and the number of the possessor(s).

  • Eo son amicô lyis vidye: I see their friend
  • Eo ses amices ti vidye: I see your friends

The genitive forms are used instead of the possessive pronouns, or when the adjectives would be used as object in the sentence.

  • Ste can mey e: This dog is mine
  • Styi cans mey sôt: These dogs are mine

Relative pronoun

The relative pronoun cwi has an irregular declension:

Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative cwi cwe cwo cwi cwe cwe
Genitive chies chies chies cwor cwar cwor
Accusative cwê cwô cwo cwes cwes cwe

Indefinite pronouns

  • Alcwi: it may mean someone, somebody, something or anyone, anybody, anything. It declines like cwi:
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative alcwi alcwe alcwo alcwi alcwe alcwe
Genitive alchies alchies alchies alcwor alcwar alcwor
Accusative alcwê alcwô alcwo alcwes alcwes alcwe
  • Nemê: it may mean no one, nobody, only with humans or other animated beings. It has an irregular declension, only in the singular:
Case Forms
Nominative nemê
Genitive nemins
Accusative neminê
  • Niw: it means nothing, with things or action or statuses. It has an irregular declension, only in the singular:
Case Forms
Nominative niw
Genitive nulriy
Accusative niw
  • Omcwi: it may mean everyone, everybody, everything. It declines like cwi:
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative omcwi omcwe omcwo omcwi omcwe omcwe
Genitive omchies omchies omchies omcwor omcwar omcwor
Accusative omcwê omcwô omcwo omcwes omcwes omcwe

Numbers

These are the Novelatine numbers, with their cardinal and ordinal forms:

Number Cardinal Ordinal
1 une pryime
2 due secunde
3 W: tre / E: ter terce
4 W: cwatre / E: cwater cwarte
5 cwêc cwête
6 W: sey / E: ses seste
7 sewtê sewtime
8 owto owtave
9 novê none
10 decê decime
11 ôdecê ôdecime
12 dwodecê dwodecime
13 tredecê tredecime
14 cwaterdecê cwaterdecime
15 cwêdecê cwêdecime
16 W: seydecê / E: sesdecê W: seydecime / E: sesdecime
17 sewtêdecê sewtêdecime
18 dwedevyinti dwedevyigesime
19 ôdevyinti ôdevyigesime
20 vyinti vyigesime
21 vyinti une vyigesime prime
22 vyinti due vyigesime secunde
30 tryinta tryintesime
40 cwadryinta cwadryintesime
50 cwêcyinta cwêcyintesime
60 sesyinta sesyintesime
70 sewtyinta sewtyintesime
80 owtyinta owtyintesime
90 novyinta novyintesime
100 cêtô cêtesime
200 dwecêtyi dwecêtesime
300 trecêtyi trecêtesime
400 cwadregêtyi cwadregêtesime
500 cwêgêtyi cwêgêtesime
600 sescêtyi sescêtesime
700 sewtêgêtyi sewtêgêtesime
800 owtêgêtyi owtêgêtesime
900 nôgêtyi nôgêtesime
1000 mil milesime
2000 due milya due milesime
1.000.000 milyô milyonesime
1.000.000.000 milyarde milyardesime

Declension

Most numbers are indeclinable, while only a few agree with their nouns.

  • Une declines like a 1st class adjectives: une, una, unô, etc. It has no plural forms.
  • Due has its own declension: m/f/n nominative: due; m/n genitive: dwor, f genitive: dwar; m/f/n accusative: dues
  • The multiples of cêtô, like dwecêtyi, trecêtyi, etc., decline like 1st class plural adjectives, even if there are other indeclinable numbers after them: sescêta vyinti cwêc poma: 625 apples; le dwecêtes dues roses imyit: he bought 202 roses
  • Milya is the actual plural of mil, but it is indeclinable.
  • Milyô and milyarde are nouns (respectively of III and II declension). They decline according to their rule in the sentence and their nouns are in genitive cases: Due milyons ominô: two million people; unô milyonê bawteryerô côtê, it contains one million bacteria

Verbs

Novelatine has a strictly conservative and quite difficult verbal morphology. The complex verbal system of ancient Latin is retained, also with the passive synthetic forms. Nevertheless an analitic new future tense was developed, together with two conditional tenses. An isolated resultative form was also developed.

When verbs are listed, more forms are presented. As exemple, we list the verb amar, to love:

  • Amar: infinitive form
  • ame: first singular person of the indicative present tense
  • amay: first singular person of the indicative perfect tense
  • amate: past participle, masculine nominative singular form

The first singular person of the indicative present tense shows the present root, by dropping the -e, -er or -o ending:

  • ame → am-e → am- (present root)

The first singular person of the indicative perfect tense shows the perfect root, by dropping the -ay, -yi or -iyi ending:

  • amay → am-ay → am- (perfect root)

This is necessary, as almost all irregular verbs have a different perfect root:

  • legsyi → legs-yi → legs- (perfect root) / leg- (present root)

The Novelatine verbs have six moods:

  • Infinitive, which has 2 tenses: present, past
  • Indicative, which has 5 tenses: present, imperfect, perfect, plusquamperfect and future
  • Subjunctive, which has 5 tenses: present, imperfect, perfect, plusquamperfect and future
  • Conditional, which has 2 tenses: present, past
  • Resultative, which has 1 tense: past
  • Imperative, which has 1 tense: present

and four adjectival forms:

  • Present participle
  • Past participle
  • Future participle
  • Gerundive

Conjugations

Novelatine verbs are divided in four conjugations:

Conjugation Ending
I -ar
II -er (palatal)
III -er (non palatal)
IV -yir

The second conjugation uses the same endings of the third conjugation, plus a palatal infix -y, in many forms. For clarity's sake, we don't consider this verbal class as a subgroup of the third conjugation, but as an independent conjugation class, according to the tradition of Latin four conjugations' pattern.

Indicative

Present tense (têpe praysês)

The present tense is formed by adding some endings to the present root of the chosen verb. In the singular second person forms, if the root ends with a bilabial stop ([t] or [d]), these consonants merge with the endings in z ([ʦ] or [ʣ] respectively):

  • Spewtar, to watch, to look at → spewz [spɛwʦ], you are watching
  • Eseder, to eat → esez [ezeʣ], you are eating

However if the root ends with two consonants (except for -yC-, -wC- and -rC-), the endings become I: -es, II: -yis, III: -is, IV: -yis

These are the endings:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. ame monye lege finye
II sing. ams mons legs fins
III sing. am mon leg fin
I plur. amem monyim legim finyim
II plur. amez monyiz legiz finyiz
III plur. amêt monyêt legôt finyôt

The third singular person usually adds a Ø-ending or zero ending, or it can be said it adds no ending. If the verbal root ends in more than a consonant, this could trigger some changes in the verbal root:

  • if the verbal root ends with -cr- or -gr-, the -r- is retained:
  • if the verbal root ends with -Cw- or Cy, the -w- or -y- are dropped:
locwer: locwe, locwis, loc, locwim...
côsilyar: côsilye, côsilyes, côsil, côsilyem...

(Note that in this example -y- is retained for the second singular person, as it is part of the root, instead of part of the ending)

In the Estern dialect, since the groups -ly-, -ny- and -sy- are read as the single consonants [ʎ], [ɲ] and [ʃ] respectively, in the third singular person l, n and s are still read as [ʎ], [ɲ] and [ʃ], even if the -y- is dropped:

  • côsilyes: W [kõˈsiljes] / [kõsiʎes], côsil: W [kõˈsil] / [kõˈsiʎ],

Imperfect tense (têpe êperfewtô)

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amavô monyivô legyivô finyivô
II sing. amavs monyivs legyivs finyivs
III sing. amav monyiv legyiv finyiv
I plur. amavem monyivem legyivem finyivem
II plur. amavez monyivez legyivez finyivez
III plur. amavêt monyivêt legyivêt finyivêt

In the third conjugation if the verb root ends in -Cw, the endings lose the -y-:

locwer: locwivô, locwivs, locwiv..

Perfect tense (têpe perfewtô)

The perfect tense is formed by adding some endings to the perfect root of the chosen verb. The perfect root usually coincide with the present root, as we can see in the case of most verbs of the first conjugation, but in the other conjugations, especially with irregular verbs, the root is not the same.

These are the usual endings:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amay monyi legsyi finiyi
II sing. amayst monyust legsyist finiyist
III sing. amaw monyut legsyit finiyit
I plur. amaym monyum legsyim finiyim
II plur. amayz monyuz legsyiz finiyiz
III plur. amayerôt monyerôt legsyerôt finiyerôt

When a verbs belongs to a certain conjugation, it will usually add the conjugation's typical endings. However, some irregular verbs of the first, the second and the fourth conjugation, add the third declension's endings to their irregular perfect root.

  • Dar, Ir → dedyi, dedyist, dedyit, dedyim, dedyiz, dedyerôt
  • Ryider, IIr → ryisyi, ryisyist, ryisyit, ryisyim, ryisyiz, ryisyerôt
  • Capyir, IVr → cepyi, cepyist, cepyit, cepyim, cepyiz, cepyerôt

They will be marked with Ir, IIr and IIIr in the Lexycon section.

Plusquamperfect tense (têpe pwuscwôperfewtô)

The following endings have to be added to the perfect root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amayerô monyerô legsyerô finiyerô
II sing. amayers monyers legsyers finiyers
III sing. amayer monyer legsyer finiyer
I plur. amayerem monyerem legsyerem finiyerem
II plur. amayerez monyerez legsyerez finiyerez
III plur. amayerêt monyerêt legsyerêt finiyerêt

Future tense (têpe futurô)

The synthetic future tense of ancient Latin has entirely disappeared, and it was replaced by a new analytic future form.

It is formed with the present forms of the verb aber and the infinite form of the main verb:

  • Eo ao caner: I will sing
  • Cras azô mar ao vader: Tomorrow I will go to the beach

Subjunctive

Present tense (têpe praysês)

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amê monyô legô finyô
II sing. amis monyes leges finyes
III sing. ami monye lege finye
I plur. amim monyem legem finyem
II plur. amiz monyez legez finyez
III plur. amêt monyôt legêt finyêt

Imperfect tense (têpe êperfewtô)

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amarê monerê legerê finyirê
II sing. amars moners legers finyirs
III sing. amar moner leger finyir
I plur. amarem monerem legerem finyirem
II plur. amarez monerez legerez finyirez
III plur. amarêt monerêt legerêt finyirêt

Perfect tense (têpe perfewtô)

The following endings have to be added to the perfect root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amayerê monyerê legsyerê finiyerê
II sing. amayeris monyeris legsyeris finiyeris
III sing. amayeri monyeri legsyeri finiyeri
I plur. amayerim monyerim legsyerim finiyerim
II plur. amayeriz monyeriz legsyeriz finiyeriz
III plur. amayerêt monyerêt legsyerêt finiyerêt

Plusquamperfect tense (têpe pwuscwôperfewtô)

The following endings have to be added to the perfect root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amaysê monyisê legsyisê finiyisê
II sing. amaysis monyisis legsyisis finiyisis
III sing. amaysi monyisi legsyisi finiyisi
I plur. amaysim monyisim legsyisim finiyisim
II plur. amaysiz monyisiz legsyisiz finiyisiz
III plur. amaysêt monyisêt legsyisêt finiyisêt

Future tense (têpe futurô)

It is formed with the subjunctive present forms of the verb aber and the infinite form of the main verb:

  • Crede co abyes caner: I believe you will sing
  • Crede co cras azô mar abyes vader: I believe that tomorrow you will go to the beach

Conditional

The conditional forms have two tenses, the present and the past tense. It is an analytic mood, formed with the auxiliary verb aver.

The conditional present is formed with the perfect tense forms of the verb aber, plus the infinitive form of the main verb:

  • Eo avyi caner: I would sing
  • Cras azô mar avyi vader: Tomorrow I would go to the beach

The conditional past is formed with the plusquamperfect tense form of the verb aber, plus the infinitive form of the main verb:

  • Eo avyerô caner: I would have sung
  • Azô mar avyerô vader: I would have gone to the beach

Resultative

The resultative form is not inherited from Ancient Latin, but it is a later creation, most likely under the influence of the Italian passato prossimo.

It is formed with the present forms of the verb aber and the past participle without the adjectival endings:

  • advenyir, to happen → advête → advêt: cwo a advêt?, what has happened? what did just happen?
  • facer, to do → fawte → fawt: cwo as fawt?, what have you done? what did you just do?

Its meaning and use are slightly different between the two dialects, but its basic meaning is pointing out the result of an action. In a more linguistically precise definition, it is a perfective past form of the verb.

Imperative

The imperative mood has only one tense, the present tense. It is used to give orders, and it has only the second person forms.

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
II sing. ama mone lege finyi
II plur. amad monyid legid finyid

Impersonal forms

These forms are called impersonal, because they are not conjugated as usual verbs, but they represent special forms, usually considered as adjectival forms.

Gerundive

The gerundive is an adjectival form, which usually means which must be X-ed. It declines like a normal 1st class adjective, thus we will show only the masculine nominative singular form.

I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
amôde monêde legêde finyêde

Present participle

The gerundive is an adjectival form, which usually means which X-s, similar to the English -ing form. With transitive verbs it has an active meaning.

  • Example: Dês, tooth.
I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
amôs monês legês finyês

They have a special declension (also some nouns decline this way):

  • Example: Amôs, loving, which loves.
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative amôs amôs amôs amôz amôz amôtya
Genitive amôz amôz amôz amôtyô amôtyô amôtyô
Accusative amôtê amôtê amôs amôtes amôtes amôtya
  • Example: Legês, reading, which reads.
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative legês legês legês legêz legêz legêtya
Genitive legêz legêz legêz legêtyô legêtyô legêtyô
Accusative legêtê legêtê legês legêtes legêtes legêtya
  • Example: Finyês, ending, which ends.
Singular Plural
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
Nominative finyês finyês finyês finyêz finyêz finyêtya
Genitive finyêz finyêz finyêz finyêtyô finyêtyô finyêtyô
Accusative finyêtê finyêtê finyês finygêtes finyêtya finyêtes

Passive forms

Novelatine has particular passive forms for its verbs, because, differently from most modern European language, but similar to Latin and Ancient Greek, in some tenses it has retained simple forms (the verb has one single form), instead of compound forms (as in English auxiliary verb + participle).

Simple form are used in the indicative present and imperfect tense, in subjunctive indicative present and imperfect tense, in the imperative mood and in the infinitive. The other tenses and moods are built like English, with the conjugated forms of the verb eser, to be + the past participle, or, for compound tenses, regularly with the conjugated forms of the verb aber, to have + the passive form of the infinitive.

Indicative present tense

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amer monyer leger finyer
II sing. ameres monyires legires finyires
III sing. ameter monyiter legiter finyiter
I plur. amemer monyimer legimer finyimer
II plur. amemnyi monyimnyi legimnyi finyimny
III plur. amêter monyêter legôter finyôter

Indicative imperfect tense

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amaver monyiver legyiver finyiver
II sing. amaveres monyiveres legyiveres finyiveres
III sing. amaveter monyiveter legyiveter finyiveter
I plur. amavemer monyivemer legyivemer finyivemer
II plur. amavemnyi monyivemnyi legyivemnyi finyivemnyi
III plur. amavêter monyivêter legyivêter finyivêter

Indicative perfect tense

The passive indicative perfect tense is a compound tense, formed with the past participle, which usually agree in number and gender with the subject, and the perfect tense forms of the verb eser, to be:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyi
II sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyist
III sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyit
I plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyim
II plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyiz
III plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyerôt

Indicative plusquamperfect tense

The passive indicative plusquamperfect tense is a compound tense, formed with the past participle, which usually agree in number and gender with the subject, and the plusquamperfect tense forms of the verb eser, to be:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyerô
II sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyers
III sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyer
I plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyerem
II plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyerez
III plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyerêt

Indicative future tense

It is formed with the present forms of the verb aber and the infinite passive form of the main verb:

  • Syi documêtyi cras ôt videri: The documents will be seen tomorrow

Subjunctive present tense

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amêr monyôr legôr finyôr
II sing. amires monyeres legeres finyeres
III sing. amiter monyeter legeter finyeter
I plur. amimer monyemer legemer finyemer
II plur. amimnyi monyemnyi legemnyi finyemnyi
III plur. amêter monyôter legêter finyêter

Subjunctive imperfect tense

The following endings have to be added to the present root:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amarer monerer legerer finyirer
II sing. amareres monereres legereres finyireres
III sing. amareter monereter legereter finyireter
I plur. amaremer moneremer legeremer finyiremer
II plur. amaremnyi moneremnyi legerenyi finyiremnyi
III plur. amarêter monerêter legerêter finyirêter

Subjunctive perfect tense

The passive subjunctive perfect tense is a compound tense, formed with the past participle, which usually agree in number and gender with the subject, and the subjunctive perfect tense forms of the verb eser, to be:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyerê
II sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyers
III sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyer
I plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyerim
II plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyeriz
III plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyerêt

Subjunctive plusquamperfect tense

The passive subjunctive plusquamperfect tense is a compound tense, formed with the past participle, which usually agree in number and gender with the subject, and the subjunctive plusquamperfect tense forms of the verb eser, to be:

Person I conj. II conj. III conj. IV conj.
I sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyisê
II sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyisis
III sing. amate, -a, ô monite, -a, ô lewte, -a, ô finyite, -a, ô fuyisi
I plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyisim
II plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyisiz
III plur. amatyi, -e, a monityi, -e, a lewtyi, -e, a finyityi, -e, a fuyisêt

Subjunctive future tense

It is formed with the present subjunctive forms of the verb aber and the infinite passive form of the main verb:

  • Crede co syi documêtyi cras abyôt videri: I believe the documents will be seen tomorrow

Conditional present tense

It is formed with the perfect tense forms of the verb aber and the infinite passive form of the main verb:

  • Syi documêtyi avyerôt videri: The documents would be seen

Conditional past tense

It is formed with the plusquamperfect tense forms of the verb aber and the infinite passive form of the main verb:

  • Syi documêtyi avyerêt videri: The documents would have been seen

Verb eser (to be)

Indicative
Person Present Imperfect Perfect Pl.perfect
I sing. sô erô fuyi fuyerô
II sing. es ers fuyist fuyers
III sing. e er fuyit fuyer
I plur. some erem fuyim fuyerem
II plur. ez erez fuyiz fuyerez
III plur. sôt erôt fuyerôt fuyerêt
Subjunctive
Person Present Imperfect Perfect Pl.perfect
I sing. sê eserê fuyerê fuyisê
II sing. ses eseris fuyers fuyisis
III sing. set eseri fuyer fuyisi
I plur. sem eserim fuyerim fuyisim
II plur. sez eseriz fuyeriz fuyisiz
III plur. sêt eserêt fuyerêt fuyisêt

Other compound tenses and moods are formed according to the usual grammar rules.

Other irregular verbs

I conjugation

  • dar: do, das, da, dam, daz, dôt
  • star: sto, stas, sta, stam, staz, stôt

II conjugation

  • aber: ao, as, a, avyim, avyiz, ôt, perf.: aviy, avyust...
  • poser: posô, podes, pode, W:posom/E:posome, podez, posôt, imperf.: poderô, poders...; perf.: podiy, podyust..; subj. pres.: posê, poses, pose, posem, posez, posêt; subj. imperf.: poserê, posers...
  • tener: tenye, tens, tê, tenyim, tenyiz, W: tenyêt/E: têt
  • voler: volye, vols, vut, volyim, volyiz, volyôt

III conjugation

  • facer: facye, W: facs/E: fac, W: fac/ E: fa, facim, faciz, facyôt
  • noscer: nosce, noscis, nos, noscim, nosciz, noscôt

Syntax

Novelatine has retained a large part of the vast Latin syntax, while has created some new innovations, some of them shared with other Romance languages, while some other under the influence of the surrounding Italian language.

Constituent order

Novelatine is a typical SOV language. It retained the ancient Latin word order, in which the verb usually comes at the end of the sentence. As it still make a large of use of its case, the constituent order can be considered as free, but the position of the various parts of the sentences is ruled by semantic, more than syntactic, rules.

  • Marce (subject) Siwvyô (object) vid (verb): Marce sees Siwvya

The position of the indirect object (marked with D) is not compulsorily fixed, like the other parts of the sentence, but it usually tends to respect these rules:

- it usually comes before the direct object (O):

  • Marce (S) azô docêtê (D) sô libelô si (O) dedyit: Marce gave the teacher his own book

- if the indirect object is a pronoun, it moves immediately before the verb:

  • Marce (S) sô libelô si (O) luy (D) dedyit: Marce gave him his own book

but if the object (or another part) of the sentence is followed by an identical dative possessive pronoun, it moves back before the object:

  • Marce (S) luy (D) sô libelô luy (O) dedyit: Marce gave him his book

if the possessive pronoun is different the pronoun remains in the position before the verb:

  • Marce (S) sô libelô luy (O) mi (D) dedyit: Marce gave me his book

If there is an imperative form, the verb usually comes first in the sentence:

  • Dic (V) mi (D) sô veritadê (O): Tell me the truth

Negation and question

An entire sentence is negated by inserting nô (non before a vowel), before the conjugated verb:

  • Azô mar vasyerôt: They went to the beach → Azô mar nô vasyerôt: They didn't go to the beach
  • Eo ses parvowes ti êtêde: I understand your words → Eo ses parvowes ti non êtêde: I don't understand your words

Nominal syntax

Novelatine nouns do decline, i.e. they change themselves (in this case they change their own endings), to show their syntactic role in the sentence.

If a noun has the role of the subject (Marce ôvi pwelô am, Mark loves that girl) it will show a definite ending, different from those used for other roles (Avi pwela Marcô am, That girl loves Mark; Eo sa pwela Marcyi sô, I am the girl of Mark).

Cases

Novelatine has three cases: Nominative, Genitive and Accusative

Nominative

The nominative case has the only but very important role of representing the sentence's subject. As it plays this primary role, it is the form we always find in dictionaries.

Contrary to English, the verb eser (to be) has no direct object, but its possible object is treated like an adjective to the subject, and it is declined in the nominative case:

  • Eo se nove docês vob sô: I am your new teacher
Accusative

The accusative case has the primary role of representing the sentence's direct object.

  • Sô novô docêtê nô vyidyist?: Didn't you see the new teacher?

It is also used with various prepositions:

  • circô: around (indicating motion)
  • côtre: against
  • ê: in, into (indicating motion)
  • être/êfre: among, between (indicating motion)

With the preposition ad it plays two roles:

  • the indirect object
  • the preposition to, into (indicating motion)
  • Azô novô docêtê sô libelô mi dedyi: I gave the new teacher my book/I gave my book to the new teacher.
Genitive

The genitive case has the primary role of representing possession.

  • Se lewcyons sies novyi docêz facils sô: The lessons of the new teacher are easy

It is also used with many prepositions:

  • circô: around (indicating state)
  • cô: with
  • ad: in, into (indicating state)
  • ê: in, into (indicating state)
  • être/êfre: among, between (indicating state)

With the preposition de it plays two roles:

  • the preposition from (indicating motion)
  • the preposition by (agent of the sentence)

A particular use of the genitive case is the absolute genitive. The absolute genitive is a syntactic construct which consists of a noun or pronoun and either a past participle, a present participle, an adjective, or an appositive noun, all in the genitive.

The genitive absolute indicates the time, condition, or attending circumstances of an action being described in the main sentence. It takes the place of, and translates, many phrases that would require a subordinate clause in English. However, the noun in the genitive case cannot recur in the same sentence, hence the name absolute, which means not related, not linked.

This construction is built with both present and past particles of every verb, even if the past participle of some intransitive verbs cannot be used. The present particle is used when the action is contemporary to the main clause, while the past participle is used when the action is in the past of the main clause:

  • Sies sols oryêz, adiyim: We left, when the sun was rising/We left at sunrise
  • Syor documêterô vyiserô, avyim decret: After we saw the documents/As we saw the documents/Having seen the documents, we made a decision
Dative

The dative case has completely disappeared from the modern language, being replaced by the construction of the preposition ad + accusative case, for its main role of representing the indirect object:

  • Ad madrê mi ses cwaves dedyi: I gave the keys to my mother

Nonetheless the personal pronouns still retain independent dative forms:

  • La ses cwaves mi dedyit: She gave me the keys

In some remote villages of the Eastern valley some nouns, the adjectives and the article still retain their dative forms, but these forms are gradually desappearing:

  • pwela → sing. pwele, plur. pwels
  • vyice → sing. vyico, plur. vyics
  • pader → sing. padryi, plur. padribe
  • dome → sing. domwi, plur. domwibe
  • se → sing. syi, plur. syis
  • bone → sing. bono, bone, bono, plur. masc. fem. neu. bons
  • fewi → sing. masc. fem. neu. fewicyi, plur. masc. fem. neu. fewicibe

Verbal syntax

Novelatine verbs do conjugate, i.e. they change themselves (in this case they change their own endings), to show their agreement with their subject in number and gender, and according to the mood and tense of the action or status they represent.

Indicative

Present

The present tense conveys an action which takes place in the moment during which the sentence is created. In this case it covers also the role of English present progressive:

  • Syi pweryi cô syor parêtyô lyis locwôt: The boys talk with their parents/The boys are talking with their parents
  • Esede: I am eating/I eat
  • Fese sô: I am tired

It also conveys actions which are always present, recurring or continuous:

  • Sa Tera circô sô Solê movyiter: The Earth moves around the Sun
Imperfect

The imperfect tense conveys an action which takes place before the moment during which the sentence is created, i.e. in its past; this tense refers to actions during their implementation, or status during their development. In this case it covers also the role of English past progressive:

  • Syi pweryi cô syor parêtyô lyis locwivêt: The boys were talking with their parents
  • Esedyivô: I was eating/I ate
  • Fese erô: I was tired
Perfect

The perfect tense conveys an action which takes place before the moment during which the sentence is created, i.e. in its past; this tense simply refers to past actions without referement to their implementation, or development (instead, it implies that the action had an end). It covers the role of English simple past:

  • Syi pweryi cô syor parêtyô lyis locuyerôt: The boys talked with their parents
  • Esedyi: I ate
  • Fese fuyi: I was tired
Plusquamperfect

The plusquamperfect tense conveys an action which takes place before the moment during which the sentence is created, i.e. in its past; this tense simply refers to actions happened before another past action. It covers the role of English past perfect:

  • Syi pweryi cô syor parêtyô lyis locuyerêt: The boys had talked with their parents
  • Esedyerô: I had eaten
  • Fese fuyerô: I had been tired
Future

The future tense conveys an action which takes place after the moment during which the sentence is created, i.e. in its future. It covers the role of English future and future continous:

  • Syi pweryi cô syor parêtyô lyis ôt locwer: The boys will be talking with their parents
  • Ao eseder: I'm going to eat
  • Fese ao eser: I will be tired

Subordinative syntax

Comud

The conjunction comud opens a dependent clause, with the meaning of because, since, as. It is built using all tenses of the subjunctive mood:

  • Comud lô nô yuvis, le a decret co.., As you don't help him, he has decided that..
  • Comud lô nô nôcwô yuvarers, le decreyit co.., As you never used to help him, he decided that..
  • Comud lô nô yuvayeris, le decreyit co.., As you didn't help him, he decided that..
  • Comud lô nô yuvayisis, le decreyer co.., As you hadn't helped him, he had decided that..
  • Comud lô non abyes yuvar, le a decret co.., As you won't help him, he has decided that..

Perud

The conjunction perud opens a dependent clause, with the meaning of in order to. It is built using only three tenses of the subjunctive mood:

With the imperfect tense, when speaking in the past:

  • Lo fecyi, perud lô yuvarê, I did it, in order to help him
  • Lo fecyerô, perud lô yuvarê, I had done it, in order to help him
  • Lo ao fawt, perud lô yuvarê, I've just done it, in order to help him

With the present tense, when speaking in the present:

  • Lo facye, perud lô yuvê, I do it, in order to help him

With the future tense, when speaking in the future:

  • Lo ao facer, perud lon abyô yuvar, I'll do it, in order to help him

Conditional sentences

Conditional sentences are opened by the conjunction si, with the meaning of if. It is built, using many moods and tenses, depending on their meaning:

Conditional sentences are divided in three types: certain, possible and impossible:

Certain or implicative conditional sentences indicate that both facts are certain, or simply logical but sure deductions. These sentences are built using the indicative mood in the dependent clause and with the indicative or the imperative mood in the main clause:

  • Si pluy, nô venye, If it rains, I don't come (and I'm sure it will rain)
  • Si lo noscis, dic mi lo!, If you know, tell me about it!
  • Si sô portô nô clawsyist, syi ladrons ê domô êgredyir posôt: If you didn't close the door, thiefs may come inside home
  • Si pluy/a pluyer, syi fôgi ôt nasceri, if it rains, mushrooms will grow

Possible or predictive conditional sentences indicate that a situation is dependent of an hypothetical but possible fact. These sentences are built using the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause and with the indicative or the conditional mood in the main clause:

The present subjunctive is used for present possible conditions, the future subjunctive is used for future possible conditions, and the perfect subjunctive is used for the (rare) past possible conditions.

In the main sentences indicative tenses (mainly present and future tense) are used, but if the condition is future also the conditional present can be used, expecially if the possibility is not great.

  • Si abye pluyer, non ao venyir, If it rains, I won't come (but I'm not sure if it will rain)
  • Si abye pluyer, non avyi venyir, If it rains, I won't come (I'm not sure if it will rain, but I think it will do)

Impossible or counterfactual conditional sentences indicate that a situation is dependent of an hypothetical but impossible, unlikely or certainly false fact. These sentences are built using the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause and with the conditional mood in the main clause:

The imperfect subjunctive is used for future impossible conditions, the plusquamperfect subjunctive is used for past impossible conditions.

In the main sentences both 'present conditional is used for future impossible conditions, the past conditional is used for past impossible conditions.

  • Si pluyer, non avyi venyir, If it rained, I wouldn't come (I think it is impossible that it will rain while I'm coming)
  • Si pluyise, non avyerô venyir, If it had rained, I wouldn't have come (I think of something, that could have happened while I was coming)

Lexycon

  • Aber, ao, avyi, avute, verb, II, to have (auxiliary)
  • Acwa, -arô, noun, f., water
  • Adicyô, -yonô, noun, f., departure
  • Advenyir, advenye, advinyi, advête, verb, IVr, to happen
  • Adyir, adye, adiyi, adite, verb, IV, to leave, to depart
  • Ager, agrerô, noun, m., field
  • Agiw, -ilyô, adj., II, agile, nimble
  • Alcwi, alcwe, alcwo, pron., someone, somebody, something
  • Amar, ame, amay, amate, verb, I, to love
  • Amica, -carô, noun, f., friend (only female)
  • Amice, -cerô, noun, m., friend (only male or mixed)
  • Ane, anerô, noun, m., year; cwôtyi anyi ti sôt?, how old are you?
  • Animaw, -alyô, noun, n., animal
  • Aragnyowa, -warô, noun, f., spider
  • Awr, -ryô, noun, f., ear
  • Awter, -tra, -trô, adj., I, other
  • Awtomobiw, -ilyô, noun, f., car
  • Animaw, -alyô, noun, n., animal
  • Biver, bive, bivyi, bivite, verb, III, to drink
  • Bone, -a, -ô, adj., I, good
  • Brachyô, -yerô, noun, n., arm
  • Brev, -vyô, adj., II, short, brief
  • Can, -nô, noun, m., dog
  • Cancyô, -yonô, noun, f., song
  • Caner, cane, cecinyi, cante, verb, III, to sing
  • Capo, -pitô, noun, n., head, mind
  • Capyir, capye, cepyi, cawte, verb, IVr, to take, to catch
  • Casye, -yerô, noun, m., cheese
  • Cawtive, -a, -ô, adj., I, captive, captured, caught; adject. noun., prisoner, captive
  • Cayder, cayde, cecyidyi, cayse, verb, III, to cut
  • Caysyô, -yonô, noun, f., cut
  • Ceweber, -bryô, adj., II, famous, noted
  • Ciwta, -tadô, noun, f., city
  • Cô, prep., with + GEN.
  • Côfin, -nyô, noun, m., border
  • Côsilyar, -lye, -lyay, -lyate, verb, I, to advise, to give an advice, to suggest
  • Côsilyô, -yerô, noun, n., 1. advice; 2. council
  • Cras, adv, tomorrow
  • Creder, crede, cridyi, credute, verb, III, to believe
  • Cwav, -vyô, noun, f., key
  • Cwayrer, cwayre, cwaysyi, cwaysyite, verb, III, to ask (to know something), ad alchies, to ask someone
  • Cwomod, adv., how
  • Cwôd, adv., when
  • Cwôte, -a, -ô, adj., I, how much, how many
  • Cyelô, -lerô, noun, n., sky
  • Dar, do, dedyi, date, verb, Ir, to give
  • Decerner, decerne, decreyi, decrete, verb, III, to decide
  • Decrecyô, -yonô, noun, f., decision
  • Dês, dêtyô, noun, m., tooth
  • Dicer, dice, dicsyi, diwte, verb, III, to say, to tell
  • Docer, docye, docyi, dowte, verb, II, to teach
  • Docês, -êtyô, noun, m/f., teacher
  • Documête, -terô, noun, m., document
  • Dome, -mwô, noun, f., house, home
  • Du, ducô, noun, m., leader
  • Ducer, duce, ducsyi, duwte, verb, III, to lead, to guide
  • Ecwesya, -yarô, noun, f., church
  • Ed, part., and
  • Elewcyô, -yonô, noun, f., election, choice
  • Eliger, elige, elecsyi, elewte, verb, III, to elect, to choose
  • Emer, eme, imyi, êwte, verb, III, to buy, to purchase
  • Eseder, esede, esedyi, eseste, verb, III, to eat
  • Eser, sô, fuyi, fute, verb, -, to be
  • Ê, in (before a vowel), part., in + GEN. (state)/ + ACC. (motion)
  • Êcowa, -warô, noun, m., inhabitant
  • Êgredyir, êgredye, êgresyi, êgrese, verb, IVr, to enter
  • Êgrese, -wô, noun, m., entry
  • Êgwê, -inô, noun, n., groin
  • Êsuwa, -warô, noun, f., island
  • Êtêder, êtêde, êtêsyi, êtêse, verb, III, to understand
  • Êvenyir, êvenye, êvinyi, êvête, verb, IVr, to find, to discover
  • Êwcyô, -yonô, noun, f., purchase
  • Facer, facye, fecyi, fawte, verb, III, to do, to make
  • Faciw, -ilyô, adj., II, easy
  • Fese, -a, -ô, adj., I, tired
  • Few, felyô, noun, f., cat
  • Fewi, -cyô, adj., II, happy
  • Fewicita, -tadô, noun, f., happyness
  • Fêger, fêge, fêsyi, fiwte, verb, III, to pretend, to feign, to fake
  • Finyir, finye, finiyi, finyite, verb, IV, to end, to finish, to cease
  • Foce, -cerô, noun, m., fire, flame
  • Formose, -a, -ô, adj., I, beautiful
  • Flumê, -inô, noun, n., river
  • Fwe, fworô, noun, f., flower
  • Galice, -cerô, noun, n., French language
  • Galice, -a, -ô, adj., I, French; adject. noun, French, syi galicyi, French people
  • Galya, -yarô, noun, f., 1. France, 2. Gallia (ancient name, usually with vetra, old)
  • Geno, -nwô, noun, n., knee
  • Germane, -nerô, noun, n. German man, syi germanyi, German people
  • Germanice, -cerô, noun, m., German language
  • Germanice, -a, -ô, adj., I, German;
  • Germanya, -yarô, noun, f., 1. Germany
  • Gês, gêtyô, noun, f., people, folk, population
  • Grôd, -dyô, adj., II, great, big
  • Gwera, -arô, noun, f., war; ducer gwerô, to go at war (côtre alcwê, against someone); êdicer (sô) gwerô, to declare war
  • Ida, adv., so, this way
  • Isvi, avi, ivi, adj., that; pron., that one
  • Italya, -arô, noun, f., Italy
  • Italyane, -nerô, noun, m., Italian language
  • Italyane, -a, -ô, adj., I, adj., I, Italian; adject. noun, Italian, syi italyanyi, Italian people
  • La, lawtô, noun, n., milk
  • Lawdar, lawde, lawday, lawdate, verb, I, 1. to praise; 2. to boast
  • Leger, lege, legsyi, lewte, verb, III, to read
  • Lewcyô, -yonô, noun, f., lesson
  • Lêgwa, -warô, noun, m., 1. tongue; 2. language
  • Libelô, -lerô, noun, n., book
  • Locwer, locwe, locuyi, locute, verb, III, to speak
  • Lude, -derô, noun, m., play, toy
  • Luder, lude, lusyi, luse, verb, III, to play (with a toy, football)
  • Lupe, -perô, noun, m., wolf
  • Lyiber, -era, -erô, adj., I, free
  • Lyiberar, -re, -ray, -rate, verb, I, to set free
  • Lyiberta, -tadô, noun, f., freedom
  • Mader, -drô, noun, f., mother
  • Mawe, -a, -ô, adj., I, bad, evil
  • Mawô, -erô, noun, n., evil
  • Mane, -nwô, noun, f., hand
  • Mar, -ryô, noun, n., 1. sea; 2. seaside, beach, azies mars eser, to be at seaside, azô mar vader, to go to the beach
  • Meridyô, -yonô, noun, m., south
  • Mesime, -a, -ô, adj., I, same
  • Mês, mêtyô, noun, f., mind, tought, head
  • Mode, -erô, noun, m., manner, mode, way
  • Moner, monye, monyi, monite, verb, II, to wart, to inform
  • Moryiri, moryer, mortwe fuyi, verb, IV pas, to die
  • Mover, movye, movyi, mote, verb, II, to move (transitive); moveri, to move (intransitive)
  • Môde, -erô, noun, m., world
  • Mulyer, -rô, noun, f., woman
  • Mus, muryô, noun, f., mouse
  • Nav, navyô, noun, f., ship, boat
  • Nemê, nemins, pron., nobody
  • Niw, nulriy, pron., nothing
  • No, nowtô, noun, f., night
  • Nomê, -minô, noun, n., noun, name
  • Nove, -a, -ô, adj., I, new
  • Nô, part., not, no
  • Nôc, adv., now, in this moment
  • Odôtoyatria, noun, f., dentistry
  • Odôtoyatrice, -a, -ô, adj., I, relative to dentistry
  • Omcwi, omcwe, omcwo, pron., everyone, everybody, everything
  • Omuvi, adv., everywhere
  • Opyinyô, -yonô, noun, f., opinion, viewpoint
  • Oracyô, -yonô, noun, f., pray
  • Orar, ore, oray, orate, verb, I, to pray
  • Os, oryô, noun, n., mouth
  • Osô, oserô, noun, n., bone
  • Pader, -drô, noun, m., father
  • Parês, -êtyô, noun, m., parent
  • Parvowa, -warô, noun, f., word
  • Pase, -swô, noun, m., step
  • Pecar, pece, pecay, pecate, verb, I, to sin
  • Pecator, -rô, noun, m., sinner
  • Pe, pedô, noun, m., foot
  • Peder, pede, pedyi, pedyite, verb, III, to ask (to get something), ad alchies alcwo, to ask someone for something
  • Pew, pelyô, noun, f., skin, leather
  • Pomô, -merô, noun, n., apple
  • Porce, -cerô, noun, m., pork, pig, swine
  • Poser, posô, podiy, podute, verb, II, to can, to be able
  • Pôs, pôtyô, noun, m., bridge
  • Praysidês, -dêtyô, noun, m., president
  • Pwela, -lô, noun, f., girl
  • Pwene, -a, -ô, adj., I, full + GEN.
  • Pwer, -erô, noun, m., boy
  • Re, regô, noun, m., king
  • Regnô, -erô, noun, n., kingdom; so Regnô Unitô Grônz Britanye ed Irlande Sewtêtryonals, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Respewtar, -wte, -wtay, -wtate, verb, I, to respect
  • Rosa, -sarô, noun, m., rose
  • Rôper, rôpe, rupyi, ruwte, verb, III, to break
  • Ryider, ryidye, ryisyi, ryise, verb, IIr, to laugh, to smile
  • Saw, salyô, noun, m., salt
  • Sawte, -twô, noun, m., jump
  • Sawtar, sawte, sawtay, sawtate, verb, I, to jump
  • Sawutacyô, -yonô, noun, f., greeting
  • Sawutar, sawute, sawutay, sawutate, verb, I, to greet
  • Se, sa, sô, article, the
  • Sed, part., but
  • Scryiber, scryibe, scryipsyi, scryiwte, verb, III, to write
  • Serpês, -êtyô, noun, m., snake
  • Sewtêtryô, -yonô, noun, m., north
  • Sêpre, adv, always
  • Siwva, -varô, noun, f., forest, wood
  • Sow, solyô, noun, m., sun, the Sun
  • Sôwte, -a, -ô, adj., I, saint
  • Sôwtificar, -fice, -ficay, -ficate, verb, I, to hollow, to sanctify
  • Spewtar, spewte, spewtay, spewtate, verb, I, to look at, to watch
  • Spiyar, spiye, spiyay, spiyate, verb, I, to spy
  • Star, sto, stetyi, state, verb, Ir, to stay, to stand, to stand up, to be
  • Ste, sta, sto, adj., this; pron., this one
  • Têpe, -perô, noun, n., 1. time; 2. tense
  • Tener, tenye, tinyi, tête, verb, II, to have, to keep, to own
  • Tera, -rarô, noun, f., 1. earth, ground; 2. Earth
  • Tode, -a, -ô, adj., I, all
  • Tur, -ryô, noun, f., tower
  • Unyir, unye, uniyi, unite, verb, IV, to unite
  • Utyir, utye, utiyi, use, verb, IV, to use, to make use of + GEN.
  • Uvi, adv., where
  • Vader, vade, vasyi, vase, verb, III, to go
  • Venyir, venye, vinyi, vête, verb, IVr, to come
  • Verbô, -berô, noun, n., verb
  • Veter, -tra, -trô, adj., I, old
  • Vidrô, -erô, noun, n., glass (substance)
  • Vider, vidye, vyidyi, vyise, verb, IIr, to see
  • Vyice, -cerô, noun, m., village
  • Vyinô, -nerô, noun, n., wine
  • Vyiver, vyive, vyicsyi, vyiwte, verb, III, to live
  • Vocar, voce, vocay, vocate, verb, I, to call; cwomod vocers?, What's your name?
  • Voler, volye, volyi, volute, verb, II, to want, to desire; volye ud + CONG., I want that...
  • Voluwta, -adô, noun, f., will
  • Yuvacyô, -yonô, noun, f., help
  • Yuvar, yuve, yuvay, yuvate, verb, I, to help

Texts

Lord's prayer

  • Pader nob, cwi ê sies cyelyi es,
  • sô nomê ti sôwtificeter
  • sô regnô ti venye
  • sa voluwta ti faceter
  • ida ê sies cyelyi, ida ê se tere
  • ad nob sô panê cotyidyanô nob da
  • ed ad nob sa debita nob dyimiti
  • ida nos ad debitores nob dyimitim
  • ed nos ê têtacyonê non êduces
  • sed nos de sies malyi lyibera.
  • amê.

Hail Mary

  • Ave Maria, gracye pwena,
  • se Domine tecô e
  • benediwta êter mulyerô es
  • ed benediwte se fruwte sies vêtris ti e, Jesus
  • Sôwta Maria, mader Dyi
  • or per nob, pecatorô
  • nôc ed ê sies ore sies morz nob
  • amê

Sound changes from Latin

These are the main sound changes that affected the Late Latin spoken in this area, which later became Novelatine. These sound change laws are usually respected, but sometimes there are other results, mainly because of analogy

Legend: C, any consonant; N, a nasal consonat (n, m); V, any vowel; the sign [:], a long vowel or consonant.

  • i: → yi [ji]
  • ct → wt
  • pt → wt
  • ClV → CwV but → ClV if V = u
  • C: → C
  • tiV → cyV [ʧj]
  • CiV → CyV [j], but not if [i] is stressed.
  • eNC, iNC → ê [e◌̃]
  • aNC, oNC, uNC → ô [o◌̃]
  • eN_#, iN_# → ê [e◌̃]
  • aN_#, oN_#, uN_# → ô [o◌̃]
  • ae_# → e
  • ae (stressed or in a syllable before the stressed one) → ay
  • us_# → e
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