Proto Cave Elvish
This language is the most complete language I have at the moment. It is liable to change as I work on it and re-learn how it works. I had to stop working on it to do college for a moment and when the time comes I will have to stop to do college once more. Sad :(
Dictionary to be updated when all evolutionary changes have been listed.
Romanization Rules:
- Any sh, ts, ch consonant clusters will be written as "s:h", "t:s", "c:h" to distinguish them from their corresponding digraphs.
- Vowels with macrons are the same noise just held. Example: ē = e– not i.
- ' are put before the stressed syllable.
- . separate syllables.
Phonetics
Table for Proto Cave Elvish
| Bi-Labial | Labio-Dental | Alveolar | Post-Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | p | | t | | k | | ||||
| Nasal | | m | | n | |||||
| Fricative | f | | s | | ʃ | ʒ | h | | |||
| Affricates | t͡s | | t͡ʃ | d͡ʒ | |||||
| Approximates | | ɹ | j | | |||||
| Lateral Approximates | | l |
| is used to separate voiceless and voiced sounds. Voiceless | Voiced
Romanized:
- ɹ = r
- ʃ = sh
- ʒ = z
- t͡ʃ = ch
- d͡ʒ = j
- t͡s = ts
- j = y
Vowels
| i ī | |e ē | |a ā | | o ō | | u ū |
Phonology
Syllable Shape: Complex : CCVCC (currently, will most likely change as I make new words.)
Stress System: Fixed stress on the second to last syllable.
Syntax
Basic Word Order: VOS (Verb Object Subject)
Example: The person sees the animal. --> see animal person.
Adjectives: Noun-like adjectives that go after the nouns they modify.
Example: The person sees the BIG animal. --> see animal BIG (thing) person.
Adpositions: Verb-like adpositions that come before the nouns they modify. (Prepositions)
Example: The person is at/on the rock. --> sit rock person. (sit is used as at/on .)
Possession: Possessed before possessor.
Example: Person's rock. --> rock person
This is a Head Initial language. The auxiliary verb comes before the main verb.
Grammar
Grammatical Number (Plurality):
| Singular (Unmarked) | Plural ( + esh ) |
|---|---|
| Rock: 'ke.hen | Rocks: 'ke.hen esh |
Tense System:
| Perfective | Imperfective | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | - | - |
| Past | + char (Auxiliary Verb) | - |
| Future | + īnt (Auxiliary Verb) | + īnt (Auxiliary Verb) |
Valency Changing Operations:
Passive: + 'hem.a (Auxiliary Verb)
Causative: + tēz (Auxiliary Verb)
Evolution: The Journey to Modern Cave Elvish
Simple written language is already around with important symbols used a signs.
Sign language is in use as the current main form of communication with spoken words coming soon in cave systems near you!
The first nomadic group leaves with a handful of spoken words, established sign language, and simple symbols.
| Phonological Evolution | Grammatical Evolution |
|---|---|
| 1) /h/ is lost between vowels. Example: 'ke.hen --> 'ke.en & 'sū.hīr --> sū.īr 2) Example: --------------- The Second Nomadic Group Forms and Leaves ------------------ 3) |
Writing System
Most written words are in the form of symbols. Most symbols are simple signs denoting direction, location, and level of safety. These signs were painted on cave walls and nearby surfaces in bioluminescent liquid made of plant matter.
Example: The Seeker/Guide Mark: A glowing handprint left before the beginning of a path and found along the path itself.
It is associated with safety and paths/roads. Multiple different Marks found at and along a path meant the path was reliable and safe. No handprint meant the area hasn't been explored yet and hasn't been marked as dangerous or safe yet.
Geographical Distribution
Proto Cave Elvish was only really used in the "heart caves". It leaked here and there with the nomadic journeys but didn't stay in it's original form.
BREIF LORE & HISTORY OF THE EVLISH LANGUAGE
Dictionary
Before spoken language was born most communicated with sign language and simple visual symbols painted on cave walls. This was because elves that eventually spoke this language lived in vast and dark caves. To lessen the risk of cave ins, stalactites falling from above, and large hungry creatures coming to hunt them sound was reduced to a minimum. Spoken word came about shortly before the nomadic era.
The first large nomadic group left before spoke word really caught on so only a few words travelled with them. The second nomadic group left after it became popular enough to bring it with them but left early enough that only a couple major changes in the language were made. Thus the first branches of this form of elvish started.
Elves were also present in beach caves in the northern regions of the continent and a form of elvish was forming on its own over there. The first nomadic group ended up joining with them and so some words share a vague similarity to modern forms of elvish.
The second nomadic group made their way up and out of the cave system and exited from "the winter caves". A cave exit that led into the snowy mountains. The "first" surface elves made their home in the peaks before another nomadic group was formed and a new branch of elvish formed with them. This group journeyed into the forest and settled there. Now there is Mountain Elvish and Forest Elvish on the surface with Cave Elvish underground. In the north beaches another form of elvish known currently as Beach Elvish is written and spoken.
The ancient elves of the caves called themselves Fey-Ferhicha for their belief that everyone comes from the lake. Unfortunately for them this name does not stick due to the face they live in the caves and other in the world refer to them as Cave Elves. But before they were known to the world and it was only them and their caves the people that spoke this language were Fey esh Ferhicha. The Lake's People.
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