Magian

Magian
魔言 Maigen
Pronunciation	/maɪɡɛn/
Native to	Magia Regnum
Native speakers	TBA (2020)
Language family	Magian
Official status
Official language in	Magia Regnum
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–

Magian, also known as "魔言" (pronounced "Maigen"), is a language originating from the Magian people and is the official language of Magia Regnum.

Phonetics

The vowels of Standard Magian on a vowel chart.

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i		ɯ
Mid	e		o
Open		a

Magian has five vowels, and vowel length vowel length is phonemic as it corresponds to the visual representation of Ensoji and Mojisai characters. Long vowels are indicated using specific diacritical marks or repetition of the vowel character within the Ensoji script. Mojisai characters may modify the visual representation of vowels to signify elongation. Magian's phonetics and pronunciation are intertwined with its writing system. The visual cues provided by Ensoji and Mojisai characters contribute to the overall aesthetic and functional aspects of the language. The pronunciation of Magian may exhibit slight variations depending on the speaker's interpretation and the specific phonetic rules established within the construction of the language.

Consonants

	Bilabial	Alveolar	Alveolo- palatal	Palatal	Velar	Uvular	Glottal
Nasal	m	n	(ɲ)		(ŋ)	(ɴ)
Stop	p  b	t  d			k  ɡ
Affricate		(t͡s)  (d͡z)	(t͡ɕ)  (d͡ʑ)
Fricative	(ɸ)	s  z	(ɕ)  (ʑ)	(ç)			h
Liquid		r
Semivowel				j	w
Special moras	/N/, /Q/

Grammar and Syntax

The structure of sentences in Magian follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order, akin to Japanese, where the subject is typically placed before the object and the verb comes at the end.

Particles

Magian places significant reliance on particles as essential components of its grammar. These particles serve as fundamental markers, playing a vital role in providing context, clarity, and establishing relationships within sentences. By employing particles, Magian effectively communicates information related to subjects, objects, tense, possession, location, and more. In terms of subject and object marking, Magian utilizes the particle "ga" to denote the subject, indicating the doer or initiator of an action. Similarly, the particle "o" is employed to mark the direct object, highlighting the noun that receives the action. These particles aid in identifying and distinguishing the roles of various sentence elements. Particles in Magian also carry temporal and aspectual significance. For instance, the particle "ta" is utilized to convey past tense, while "te" indicates ongoing or continuous actions. By combining these particles with verbs, Magian effectively expresses different temporal nuances, ensuring accurate communication of events and actions.

Another critical function of particles in Magian is to indicate possession. Through the use of the particle "no," Magian demonstrates the relationship between a possessor and the possessed object. This construction allows for the clear expression of ownership and facilitates the conveyance of specific qualities or entities. Furthermore, particles in Magian denote location and direction. The particle "ni" indicates a specific location or point in space, and it can also express the target or recipient of an action. On the other hand, the particle "e" signifies direction, often suggesting movement towards a particular destination. These particles enable speakers to provide precise information about location and direction within sentences. Beyond their core functions, Magian particles possess diverse applications. They can mark the topic of a sentence, indicate purpose or means, express conditional statements, and more. This versatility allows for nuanced and accurate communication, facilitating effective language use within the unique structure and cultural context of Magian.

Verbs

Verbs in Magian are conjugated to express tense, aspect, mood, and honorifics. They undergo changes to reflect past, present, and future tenses, and can be modified to indicate ongoing or completed actions. Verb conjugation also accounts for various moods, such as indicative, imperative, conditional, and subjunctive. Honorific forms of verbs may be used to express politeness or deference. The conjugation of Magian verbs allows for the accurate representation of time. By modifying the verb form, speakers can convey whether an action has occurred in the past, is happening in the present, or will happen in the future. Additionally, aspectual distinctions enable speakers to express whether an action is ongoing, completed, or repeated, adding further precision to the temporal meaning.

Magian verbs also possess the ability to reflect different moods. By applying specific conjugation forms, speakers can express the indicative mood to state facts or make assertions, the imperative mood to give commands or make requests, the conditional mood to convey hypothetical situations, and the subjunctive mood to express desires, hopes, or doubts. These mood distinctions allow for nuanced communication of various attitudes and intentions. Honorifics play a significant role in Magian, influencing verb usage in accordance with social hierarchies and cultural norms. Through the use of specific honorific verb conjugations, speakers demonstrate politeness, respect, and deference when addressing individuals of higher status or age. This linguistic feature enhances the social dynamics within the language and ensures appropriate communication in different contexts.

Auxiliary verbs further expand the expressive capabilities of Magian. These auxiliary verbs, combined with main verbs, convey additional grammatical information, such as volition, potentiality, causality, and more. By utilizing auxiliary verbs, speakers can express subtle nuances and shades of meaning, allowing for a more nuanced and versatile language. Moreover, Magian allows for the conversion of verbs into verbal nouns or gerunds. This transformation enables verbs to function as nouns within sentences, providing flexibility in sentence construction and facilitating the expression of complex ideas.

Nouns

Nouns in Magian function as subjects, objects, or modifiers within a sentence. They can be modified using particles or through compounding, similar to Kanji compounds. Nouns are inflected to indicate possession, plurality, and case. Specific particles are employed to mark the grammatical roles of nouns in a sentence.In Magian, nouns can function as subjects, objects, or modifiers within sentences. They serve as the main building blocks around which sentences are constructed. By using nouns, speakers can express ideas, describe objects, or refer to individuals, providing the necessary components for meaningful communication.

Nouns in Magian can be modified using particles, which play a crucial role in indicating grammatical relationships. These particles provide valuable context and clarity by marking the grammatical function of the noun within the sentence. Whether it's marking the subject with "ga," indicating possession with "no," or denoting direction with "ni" or "e," particles help establish the precise role and relationship of nouns within the sentence structure. Magian nouns are also inflected to indicate possession, plurality, and case. The particle "no" is commonly used to express possession, linking the possessor and the possessed object. Plurality can be marked by adding specific suffixes or modifying the noun itself. Additionally, nouns can take on different cases, such as nominative, accusative, genitive, or dative, through modifications or the use of additional particles.

Compounding is another characteristic feature of Magian nouns, where multiple nouns are combined to create compound words. This process allows for the formation of new concepts or the expression of complex ideas. Compounded nouns in Magian often convey a combination of meanings derived from their individual components, forming a unique lexical unit. Furthermore, Magian nouns can be further modified through the use of adjectives or other modifiers. Adjectives in Magian can directly modify nouns, providing descriptive information or qualities associated with the noun. The order of modifiers typically follows the noun they modify, contributing to the overall structure and meaning of the sentence.

Adjectives

Magian adjectives can function as both attributives and predicates. They can directly modify nouns or be used as predicates in sentences. Adjectives can also take suffixes to express comparative and superlative forms. Similar to nouns, adjectives can be modified using particles to indicate grammatical relationships. Magian adjectives serve as modifiers that directly accompany nouns, enhancing the description and providing additional information about the noun they modify. They contribute to the overall imagery and evoke sensory experiences by conveying qualities such as size, color, shape, texture, emotions, and more. Adjectives are instrumental in painting vivid pictures and evoking specific impressions within the listener or reader.

Adjectives in Magian exhibit flexibility in their usage and can be employed both attributively and predicatively. When used attributively, adjectives directly modify the noun, appearing before it to describe its qualities. This structure allows for concise and efficient expression of attributes. In contrast, when used predicatively, adjectives function as predicates, appearing after copula verbs to express the state or condition of the noun. Magian adjectives have the ability to undergo inflection or modification to indicate comparative and superlative forms. Additionally, adjectives in Magian can be modified by particles, further refining their meaning and indicating grammatical relationships. Particles like "no" or "na" can be used to mark adjectives and establish connections with nouns. These particles contribute to the overall structure and coherence of sentences, ensuring clear and precise communication.

Magian adjectives exhibit agreement with nouns in terms of gender, number, and case. They adjust their form to match the characteristics of the noun they modify, maintaining grammatical harmony and ensuring concordance within the sentence. This agreement enhances the linguistic fluidity and aesthetic appeal of the language. Moreover, Magian allows for the creation of compound adjectives by combining multiple adjectives or adjectival phrases. This compound structure enables the expression of complex qualities or specific attributes that cannot be adequately conveyed by a single adjective. Compound adjectives provide a means to articulate intricate descriptions and emphasize particular features of the noun.

Sentence Structure

Magian sentences often contain additional information before or after the core sentence, allowing for descriptive or explanatory elements to be inserted. Relative clauses and subordinate clauses are frequently used to provide more details and context to the main sentence. In Magian, the subject of a sentence is typically placed before the object, followed by the verb at the end. This structure allows for a clear identification of the subject and the object, providing a foundation for conveying the action or state described by the verb. The SOV word order contributes to the overall rhythm and flow of Magian sentences.

Magian sentences often incorporate additional information before or after the core sentence, allowing for descriptive or explanatory elements to be inserted. These additional elements provide context and further detail, enhancing the overall meaning of the sentence. Relative clauses, subordinate clauses, and phrases can be seamlessly integrated into the sentence structure to provide additional information about time, location, manner, or purpose. Relative clauses are commonly used in Magian to modify nouns and provide descriptive information. These clauses introduce details or qualifications about the noun they modify, allowing for more precise and detailed descriptions. Relative clauses are typically introduced by particles or specific constructions, serving as essential components of Magian sentence structure.

Subordinate clauses play a significant role in Magian sentences, allowing speakers to express relationships, conditions, or reasons. These clauses are typically connected to the main clause through conjunctions or subordinate particles, providing additional information or expressing dependent ideas. Subordinate clauses enable speakers to convey complex thoughts and express various levels of subordination within a sentence. Magian sentence structure also permits the inclusion of phrases and adverbial expressions. These elements can modify the verb, providing information about time, location, frequency, manner, or purpose. Phrases and adverbial expressions contribute to the overall coherence and specificity of the sentence, adding depth and nuance to the conveyed meaning. Emphasis and focus within Magian sentences can be achieved through word order, intonation, or the use of specific particles. By strategically placing certain words or using particles like "wa" or "mo," speakers can draw attention to specific elements or topics within the sentence, creating a desired emphasis or contrast.

Writing System

The writing system of Magian combines logographic characters, resembling Kanji, with elements of syllabaries akin to Hiragana and Katakana. These written symbols, collectively called "Ensoji," are used to represent both individual words and grammatical elements. The strokes and arrangement of Ensoji often convey meaning beyond mere phonetic representation, allowing for nuanced expression. Ensoji are logographic characters that possess both phonetic and semantic qualities. Each character represents a morpheme or a combination of morphemes, capturing meaning and sound simultaneously. The strokes and arrangement of Ensoji are carefully crafted to convey additional layers of meaning beyond mere phonetic representation, enabling nuanced expression within the language.

Similar to Kanji, Ensoji can be intricate and intricate, embodying a balance of elegance and functionality. The characters are traditionally written with a brush or pen, emphasizing the artistic nature of their creation. However, modern adaptations of Magian may also utilize digital fonts and printing methods to facilitate wider usage and dissemination. Ensoji characters can be classified into various categories based on their semantic and phonetic components. Some characters directly represent specific words or concepts, while others function as radicals or phonetic components that contribute to the pronunciation of a character. This interplay of meaning and sound allows for a rich and multifaceted writing system.

While the precise number of Ensoji characters can vary, a standard set typically comprises several thousand characters. Mastering the Ensoji writing system requires extensive study and practice to acquire both the visual recognition of characters and the understanding of their associated meanings and readings. In addition to Ensoji, Magian also employs smaller, more simplified characters derived from the logographic system. These characters, collectively known as "Mojisai," are reminiscent of simplified forms of Kanji. Mojisai are often used for faster and more informal writing, such as personal notes or casual communication.