Ancient Elven

Order

The modifier should come first, followed by the head noun (Either Adjective+Noun or Noun+Noun)

Lenition

Certain consonants, particularly plosives (such as p, t, c/k, b, d, or g), "soften" in different contexts. To provide examples, t can become th (θ), c/k can become ch (x), and b can become v (v). This is also used to show relations, such as when a person's "true" name has a softened form used by close friends.

Vowel Coalescence

When a word ending in a vowel meets a word starting with a vowel, they might merge or change.

Stress Shifts

The primary stress of a compound falls on the first syllable of the second element. This is common in languages like Welsh and German. This rule makes the combined word feel like a single unit rather than just two separate words stuck together.

Meaning

The compound's meaning is determined by the second word (the head), which is modified by the first word.

Vowel - Consonant - Vowel (VCV) Structure

Elvish has a flowing feel, and uses several names that has consonants surrounded by vowels (for example, Mauri).

Sonorant-heaving Endings

Ends names with sonorants like -n, -l, or -r to give them a more elegant feel.

The b, d, g contrast

Elvish reserves these sounds for "darker" names.

Syllable Structure (C) (C) V (C)

• Each syllable must have a vowel
• It can start with up to two consonants
• It can end with one consonant

Initial Consonant Clusters

The first consonant must be a stop or a fricative, and the second must be a sonorant (l, r, y, w,)

• Allowed: bl, cr, gl, fl, tr, sw, chw
• Forbidden: sp, st, sk

Final Consonants

Words can end in any vowel or any sonorant (m, n, l, r,) or a voiceless fricative (s, sh, f).

Vowel Sequences

Vowels can appear next to each other without a consonant in between to create elegant, flowing sounds.

Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Word Order