Abyssal
Natively known as: Ɑbjsɑl (ɑbjsɑl)
Some believe that Abyssal was the first language developed by the inhabitants of the Outer Sphere. Given the incredible rate of change within the tongue, this is very difficult to prove. Although it is the native language of the Tenari of the Abyss, it is also spoken by many Baatetzu, Yugoloth, or others who have frequent dealings with races of the lower realms.
Syntax
...and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind...
glo i vlet ze desl vlerkh glo irs desl zezm stosa vdrep irs
[s2][s2]glʲo[/s2] [s2]i[/s2] [s2]vlet[/s2] [s2]zʲe[/s2] [s2]desl[/s2] [s2]vlerx[/s2] [s2]glʲo[/s2] [s2]irs[/s2] [s2]desl[/s2] [s2]zezm[/s2] [s2]stosʲa[/s2] [s2]vdrep[/s2] [s2]irs[/s2][/s2] /glʲo i vlet zʲe desl vlerx glʲo irs desl zezm ˈstosʲa vdrep irs/
Pronunciation: /glʲo i vlet zʲe desl vlerx glʲo irs desl zezm ˈstosʲa vdrep irs/
Abyssal word order: and he stood holding hat his and turned his face wet to the wind
glo i vlet ze desl vlerkh glo irs desl zezm stosa vdrep irs
[s2][s2]glʲo[/s2] [s2]i[/s2] [s2]vlet[/s2] [s2]zʲe[/s2] [s2]desl[/s2] [s2]vlerx[/s2] [s2]glʲo[/s2] [s2]irs[/s2] [s2]desl[/s2] [s2]zezm[/s2] [s2]stosʲa[/s2] [s2]vdrep[/s2] [s2]irs[/s2][/s2] /glʲo i vlet zʲe desl vlerx glʲo irs desl zezm ˈstosʲa vdrep irs/
Pronunciation: /glʲo i vlet zʲe desl vlerx glʲo irs desl zezm ˈstosʲa vdrep irs/
Abyssal word order: and he stood holding hat his and turned his face wet to the wind
Vocabulary
Grammar
Main word order: Subject-Verb-Object-Oblique. "Mary opened the door with a key" turns into Mary opened the door with a key.
Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned after the noun.
Adposition: prepositions
Noun Singular Plural Masculine No affix
skvolp [s2][s2]skvolp[/s2][/s2] /skvolp/ Prefix pi-
piskvolp [s2][s2]piskvolp[/s2][/s2] /ˈpiskvolp/ Feminine No affix
skvolp [s2][s2]skvolp[/s2][/s2] /skvolp/ If starts with vowel: Prefix srʲ-
Else: Prefix srʲi-
sriskvolp [s2][s2]srʲiskvolp[/s2][/s2] /ˈsrʲiskvolp/ Neuter No affix
skvolp [s2][s2]skvolp[/s2][/s2] /skvolp/ Prefix u-
uskvolp [s2][s2]uskvolp[/s2][/s2] /ˈuskvolp/ Articles Definite Indefinite Singular fprin [s2][s2]fprin[/s2][/s2] /fprin/
the pro [s2][s2]prʲo[/s2][/s2] /prʲo/
a Plural bi [s2][s2]bi[/s2][/s2] /bi/
the da [s2][s2]dʲa[/s2][/s2] /dʲa/
some Pronouns 1st singular murk [s2][s2]murk[/s2][/s2] /murk/
I, me 2nd singular skhof [s2][s2]sxofʲ[/s2][/s2] /sxofʲ/
you 3rd singular masc i [s2][s2]i[/s2][/s2] /i/
he, him, it 3rd singular fem dru [s2][s2]dru[/s2][/s2] /dru/
she, her, it 1st plural inclusive tsvi [s2][s2]ʦvʲi[/s2][/s2] /ʦvʲi/
we, us (including you) 1st plural exclusive dni [s2][s2]dni[/s2][/s2] /dni/
we, us (excluding you) 2nd plural kobl [s2][s2]koblʲ[/s2][/s2] /koblʲ/
you (all) 3rd plural masc vmu [s2][s2]vmʲu[/s2][/s2] /vmʲu/
they, them (masculine) 3rd plural fem zho [s2][s2]ʐo[/s2][/s2] /ʐo/
they, them (feminine) Possessive determiners 1st singular sprikh [s2][s2]sprix[/s2][/s2] /sprix/
my 2nd singular zhe [s2][s2]ʐe[/s2][/s2] /ʐe/
your 3rd singular masc desl [s2][s2]desl[/s2][/s2] /desl/
his, its 3rd singular fem nur [s2][s2]nʲurʲ[/s2][/s2] /nʲurʲ/
her, its 1st plural inclusive skro [s2][s2]skro[/s2][/s2] /skro/
our (including you) 1st plural exclusive stso [s2][s2]sʦo[/s2][/s2] /sʦo/
our (excluding you) 2nd plural jo [s2][s2]jo[/s2][/s2] /jo/
your 3rd plural masc ta [s2][s2]tʲa[/s2][/s2] /tʲa/
their (masculine) 3rd plural fem fa [s2][s2]fa[/s2][/s2] /fa/
their (feminine) Verbs Future tense is indicated with the word: Future particle fro [s2][s2]fro[/s2][/s2] /fro/
future tense particle Present No affix
tria [s2][s2]tria[/s2][/s2] /ˈtria/ Past Prefix svʲo-
svotria [s2][s2]svʲotria[/s2][/s2] /ˈsvʲotria/ Numbers Abyssal has a base-10 number system: 1 - rel [s2][s2]rʲelʲ[/s2][/s2]
2 - fkho [s2][s2]fxo[/s2][/s2]
3 - tibr [s2][s2]tibrʲ[/s2][/s2]
4 - fkli [s2][s2]fklʲi[/s2][/s2]
5 - tsa [s2][s2]ʦa[/s2][/s2]
6 - gastr [s2][s2]gastr[/s2][/s2]
7 - fro [s2][s2]fro[/s2][/s2]
8 - i [s2][s2]i[/s2][/s2]
9 - li [s2][s2]lʲi[/s2][/s2]
10 - shta [s2][s2]ʂta[/s2][/s2]
11 - shta [s2][s2]ʂta[/s2][/s2] glo [s2][s2]glʲo[/s2][/s2] rel [s2][s2]rʲelʲ[/s2][/s2] “ten and one”
100 - ksti [s2][s2]ksti[/s2][/s2] “hundred”
101 - ksti [s2][s2]ksti[/s2][/s2] rel [s2][s2]rʲelʲ[/s2][/s2] “hundred one”
200 - fkho [s2][s2]fxo[/s2][/s2] ksti [s2][s2]ksti[/s2][/s2]
1000 - stvo [s2][s2]stvo[/s2][/s2] “thousand” Derivational morphology Adjective → adverb = Prefix bʲi-
Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix orstv-
Else: Prefix orstvo-
Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Prefix a-
Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix instv-
Else: Prefix instvu-
Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Prefix rʲe-
Noun → verb (to create [noun]) = Prefix kru-
Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix eklʲ-
Else: Prefix eklʲi-
Verb → adjective (likely to do [verb]) = Prefix a-
Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix sʲtʲ-
Else: Prefix sʲtʲe-
Verb → noun that verb physically produces (e.g. build → building) = If starts with vowel: Prefix upl-
Else: Prefix upla-
One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Prefix prʲe-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = Prefix e-
Diminutive = Prefix i-
Augmentative = Prefix sʲtʲe-
Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned after the noun.
Adposition: prepositions
Noun Singular Plural Masculine No affix
skvolp [s2][s2]skvolp[/s2][/s2] /skvolp/ Prefix pi-
piskvolp [s2][s2]piskvolp[/s2][/s2] /ˈpiskvolp/ Feminine No affix
skvolp [s2][s2]skvolp[/s2][/s2] /skvolp/ If starts with vowel: Prefix srʲ-
Else: Prefix srʲi-
sriskvolp [s2][s2]srʲiskvolp[/s2][/s2] /ˈsrʲiskvolp/ Neuter No affix
skvolp [s2][s2]skvolp[/s2][/s2] /skvolp/ Prefix u-
uskvolp [s2][s2]uskvolp[/s2][/s2] /ˈuskvolp/ Articles Definite Indefinite Singular fprin [s2][s2]fprin[/s2][/s2] /fprin/
the pro [s2][s2]prʲo[/s2][/s2] /prʲo/
a Plural bi [s2][s2]bi[/s2][/s2] /bi/
the da [s2][s2]dʲa[/s2][/s2] /dʲa/
some Pronouns 1st singular murk [s2][s2]murk[/s2][/s2] /murk/
I, me 2nd singular skhof [s2][s2]sxofʲ[/s2][/s2] /sxofʲ/
you 3rd singular masc i [s2][s2]i[/s2][/s2] /i/
he, him, it 3rd singular fem dru [s2][s2]dru[/s2][/s2] /dru/
she, her, it 1st plural inclusive tsvi [s2][s2]ʦvʲi[/s2][/s2] /ʦvʲi/
we, us (including you) 1st plural exclusive dni [s2][s2]dni[/s2][/s2] /dni/
we, us (excluding you) 2nd plural kobl [s2][s2]koblʲ[/s2][/s2] /koblʲ/
you (all) 3rd plural masc vmu [s2][s2]vmʲu[/s2][/s2] /vmʲu/
they, them (masculine) 3rd plural fem zho [s2][s2]ʐo[/s2][/s2] /ʐo/
they, them (feminine) Possessive determiners 1st singular sprikh [s2][s2]sprix[/s2][/s2] /sprix/
my 2nd singular zhe [s2][s2]ʐe[/s2][/s2] /ʐe/
your 3rd singular masc desl [s2][s2]desl[/s2][/s2] /desl/
his, its 3rd singular fem nur [s2][s2]nʲurʲ[/s2][/s2] /nʲurʲ/
her, its 1st plural inclusive skro [s2][s2]skro[/s2][/s2] /skro/
our (including you) 1st plural exclusive stso [s2][s2]sʦo[/s2][/s2] /sʦo/
our (excluding you) 2nd plural jo [s2][s2]jo[/s2][/s2] /jo/
your 3rd plural masc ta [s2][s2]tʲa[/s2][/s2] /tʲa/
their (masculine) 3rd plural fem fa [s2][s2]fa[/s2][/s2] /fa/
their (feminine) Verbs Future tense is indicated with the word: Future particle fro [s2][s2]fro[/s2][/s2] /fro/
future tense particle Present No affix
tria [s2][s2]tria[/s2][/s2] /ˈtria/ Past Prefix svʲo-
svotria [s2][s2]svʲotria[/s2][/s2] /ˈsvʲotria/ Numbers Abyssal has a base-10 number system: 1 - rel [s2][s2]rʲelʲ[/s2][/s2]
2 - fkho [s2][s2]fxo[/s2][/s2]
3 - tibr [s2][s2]tibrʲ[/s2][/s2]
4 - fkli [s2][s2]fklʲi[/s2][/s2]
5 - tsa [s2][s2]ʦa[/s2][/s2]
6 - gastr [s2][s2]gastr[/s2][/s2]
7 - fro [s2][s2]fro[/s2][/s2]
8 - i [s2][s2]i[/s2][/s2]
9 - li [s2][s2]lʲi[/s2][/s2]
10 - shta [s2][s2]ʂta[/s2][/s2]
11 - shta [s2][s2]ʂta[/s2][/s2] glo [s2][s2]glʲo[/s2][/s2] rel [s2][s2]rʲelʲ[/s2][/s2] “ten and one”
100 - ksti [s2][s2]ksti[/s2][/s2] “hundred”
101 - ksti [s2][s2]ksti[/s2][/s2] rel [s2][s2]rʲelʲ[/s2][/s2] “hundred one”
200 - fkho [s2][s2]fxo[/s2][/s2] ksti [s2][s2]ksti[/s2][/s2]
1000 - stvo [s2][s2]stvo[/s2][/s2] “thousand” Derivational morphology Adjective → adverb = Prefix bʲi-
Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix orstv-
Else: Prefix orstvo-
Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Prefix a-
Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix instv-
Else: Prefix instvu-
Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Prefix rʲe-
Noun → verb (to create [noun]) = Prefix kru-
Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix eklʲ-
Else: Prefix eklʲi-
Verb → adjective (likely to do [verb]) = Prefix a-
Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix sʲtʲ-
Else: Prefix sʲtʲe-
Verb → noun that verb physically produces (e.g. build → building) = If starts with vowel: Prefix upl-
Else: Prefix upla-
One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Prefix prʲe-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = Prefix e-
Diminutive = Prefix i-
Augmentative = Prefix sʲtʲe-
Phonetics
Spelling & Phonology
Consonant inventory: /b bʲ d dʲ d͡ʐ f fʲ g j k l lʲ m mʲ n nʲ p pʲ r rʲ s sʲ t tʲ t͡ʂ v vʲ x z zʲ ɕː ʂ ʂː ʐ ʐː ʦ ʨ/| ↓Manner/Place→ | Bilabial | Labiodental | Alveolar | Retroflex | Alveolo-palatal | Palatal | Velar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m mʲ | n nʲ | |||||
| Stop | p pʲ b bʲ | t tʲ d dʲ | k g | ||||
| Affricate | ʦ | ʨ | |||||
| Fricative | f fʲ v vʲ | s sʲ z zʲ | ʂ ʂː ʐ ʐː | ɕː | x | ||
| Approximant | j | ||||||
| Trill | r rʲ | ||||||
| Lateral approximant | lʲ l |
Vowel inventory: /a e i o u/
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| High | i | u |
| High-mid | e | o |
| Low | a |
Stress pattern: Initial — stress is on the first syllable
Word initial consonants: b, bl, blʲ, br, brʲ, bʲ, d, dlʲ, dn, dr, drʲ, dv, dvʲ, dʲ, f, fk, fklʲ, fp, fpr, fr, fsk, fsp, fst, fstrʲ, fsʲ, fsʲlʲ, ft, fx, fʲ, fʲpʲ, g, gdʲ, gl, glʲ, gr, grʲ, j, k, kl, klʲ, knʲ, kr, krʲ, kst, kt, kv, l, lʲ, m, mgn, ml, mn, mnʲ, mʲ, n, nr, nʲ, p, pl, plʲ, pr, prʲ, ptʲ, pʲ, r, rʲ, s, sj, sk, skr, skv, sl, sm, smʲ, sn, sp, spr, sprʲ, spʲ, sr, srʲ, st, str, strʲ, stv, sv, svʲ, sx, sxv, sʦ, sʲ, sʲlʲ, sʲnʲ, sʲtʲ, t, tk, tr, trʲ, tv, tvʲ, tʲ, v, vd, vdr, vl, vlʲ, vmʲ, vn, vnʲ, vr, vrʲ, vzd, vzglʲ, vzr, vzʲ, vʲ, x, xlʲ, xr, xv, z, zd, zdr, zl, zn, zrʲ, zv, zvʲ, zʲ, zʲdʲ, ɕː, ʂ, ʂk, ʂlʲ, ʂt, ʐ, ʐd, ʦ, ʦvʲ, ʨ, ʨlʲ
Mid-word consonants: b, bj, bl, blʲ, bn, br, bʲ, d, dj, dl, dlʲ, dmʲ, dn, dr, dv, dvʲ, dʲ, dʲb, dʲnʲ, d͡ʐʐ, f, fk, fsk, fstrʲ, fsʲ, ft, ftr, fʂ, fʨ, fʲ, g, gd, gl, glʲ, gr, gz, gʐ, j, jg, jk, jm, jn, jsk, jstv, jstvʲ, jtʲ, jʂ, k, kl, klʲ, kn, kr, krʲ, kt, ktʲ, kv, kʦ, l, ld, lg, lk, ln, lnʲ, lp, lst, lt, lʐ, lʐn, lʨ, lʲ, lʲk, lʲn, lʲnʲ, lʲstv, lʲstvʲ, lʲt, lʲz, lʲzʲ, lʲʂ, lʲʦ, lʲʨ, m, mk, mlʲ, mn, mnʲ, mp, mʲ, mʲj, mʲpʲ, n, nd, nf, nglʲ, ngr, nk, nr, nsk, nspʲ, nstv, nstvʲ, ntr, nʐ, nʦ, nʲ, nʲdʲ, nʲg, nʲk, nʲsʲtʲ, nʲtʲ, nʲɕː, nʲʨ, p, pk, pl, plʲ, pn, pr, prʲ, pst, pstvʲ, px, pɕː, pʲ, r, rd, rdʲ, rg, rk, rl, rm, rmʲ, rn, rnʲ, rpʲ, rsk, rstv, rstvʲ, rsʲ, rt, rtk, rtrʲ, rtv, rtʲ, rv, rx, rxn, rxnʲ, rʂ, rʐ, rʐd, rʦ, rʨ, rʲ, rʲb, rʲj, rʲm, s, sk, sklʲ, skv, sl, sm, smʲ, sn, sp, spʲ, st, stk, str, strʲ, stv, stvʲ, sx, sʲ, sʲlʲ, sʲm, sʲnʲ, sʲtʲ, sʲtʲj, t, tk, tkr, tlʲ, tmʲ, tn, tp, tpr, tprʲ, tpʲ, tr, trʲ, tvʲ, tx, tʲ, tʲj, tʲnʲ, t͡ʂʂ, v, vd, vg, vlʲ, vn, vnʲ, vr, vrʲ, vʲ, vʲj, x, xk, xn, xnʲ, xr, xv, z, zb, zd, zg, zglʲ, zm, zmʲ, zn, zr, zrʲ, zv, zvr, zvʲ, zʲ, zʲb, zʲdʲ, zʲj, zʲlʲ, zʲnʲ, ɕː, ɕːn, ʂ, ʂk, ʂl, ʂn, ʂnʲ, ʂsk, ʂt, ʂː, ʐ, ʐb, ʐd, ʐdʲ, ʐn, ʐnʲ, ʐː, ʦ, ʦk, ʦs, ʦsʲ, ʦt, ʦtv, ʦtvʲ, ʨ, ʨk, ʨn, ʨnʲ, ʨt, ʨtʲ
Word final consonants: blʲ, brʲ, f, fʲ, j, k, kst, kt, l, lk, lp, lʲ, lʲm, m, mʲ, n, nk, nkt, nt, ntr, nʲ, p, r, rk, rs, rt, rtʲ, rx, rʲ, s, sk, sl, st, str, sʲ, sʲlʲ, sʲnʲ, sʲtʲ, t, tr, tʲ, x, z, zm, zʲnʲ, ɕː, ʂ, ʂtʲ, ʦ, ʨ Phonological changes (in order of application):
- j → ð / V_
- a → ə / _Ce
- s → t / #_
- j → ʤ / V_V
- r → rː / _N
- m → n / _#
- e → ɨ / {k,j}_
- e → i / _{k,m}
| Pronunciation | Spelling |
|---|---|
| x | kh |
| ɕː | shch |
| ʂ | sh |
| ʐ | zh |
| ʦ | ts |
| ʨ | ch |
| ʲ |
Dictionary
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