Antarian
Antarian (wāk antarihas) is an independent branch of the Maverico-Casaterran family of languages, native to Antari and neighbouring regions in Vinya. Its sole surviving member, Antarian, is the native language of most Antarians and is co-official with Anglian in Antari. The family contains other extinct languages such as Marallic, Capeatic, Cadialic, and Meyianic. The language is also spoken by minorities in other Vinyan states, where it is mostly unrecognized.
Antarian has the longest written tradition of any living Maverico-Casaterran language, having been attested more-or-less continuously for about 4,000 years on Antarian syllabary script and then the Alphabet, introduced in the 7th century BCE. Knowledge of the Antarian syllabary having gone extinct after the Alphabet's introduction, the script was rediscovered in 1784 but remained undeciphered due to its small corpus of limited subject matter. Anglian antiquarian Sir Edward Keen led the academic effort towards its decipherment in the 1890s and 1900s and conclusively demonstrated it as an archaic form of the Antarian language in 1910. It is often described as the sister to all other Maverico-Casaterran branches in view of its many archaic features.
The first millennium of the attestation of Antarian consists almost exclusively of personal names, labels, inventories, and transaction accounts. Occasionally, longer texts reflecting directions for craftsmen are found. The written record of Antarian experienced a notable enrichment under the Old Antarian Kingdom, during which literature is first set in writing, it being assumed that an oral tradition was normal both at the royal court and in communities.
History
Under the Maverico-Antarian Hypothesis, first raised by Henry Hatter, the ancestor to all Antarian languages diverged from the Proto-Maverico-Casaterran about 6,000 years ago. Two methods have been accpeted to support this date: firstly, the shared vocabulary between Proto-Antarian and other Proto-Maverico-Casaterran languages reflects a neolithic society without the ability to fashion elaborate objects from metallurgy, and secondly, assuming a constant rate of attrition, the relatively few cognate remains within the core vocabulary.
The Antarian language is customarily divided into the following phases:
- Proto-Antarian, the unattested ancestor to the Antarian family, spoken just after splitting from Proto-Maverico-Casaterran.
- Syllabary Antarian, the language attested from about 2000 BCE to 500 BCE with the syllabary script; later phases of the language reflect many features of earlier Classical Antarian, but also present are archaic set phrases.
- Classical Antarian, the lingua franca of the Old Antarian Kingdom, spoken from about 750 BCE to the start of the Common Era.
- Late Antarian, the lingua franca of the New Antarian Kingdom, spoken from the 3rd centry CE to the 10th century. Late Antarian, though attested on media and forms close to their Classical counterparts, is not a direct evolution of the Classical language and shows influence from Caditic.
- Medieval Antarian, spoken from the 10th century to the 14th century.
- Early Modern Antarian
- Modern Antarian
Geographic distribution
Grammar
The grammars of the Antarian languages are highly inflected and, owing to the family's early attestation, preserves a number of archaic Proto-Maverico-Casaterran features and correspondingly does not share in certain innovations, though common innovations are also attested. Due to this genetic position, Antarian has been influential in the reconstruction of Proto-Maverico-Casaterran grammar and syntax.
Word structure
Most Antarian words can be analyzed as a root, ending, and optionally a suffix between them. The root provides a basic meaning and can be used in all parts of speech. Endings in verbs provide the person, number, aspect, and voice, and in nouns the case and number. Suffixes modify the meaning of the root The tripartite word structure of Antarian is inherited from the PMC ancestral language and closely correlates to ablaut patterns.
Ablaut
A common feature in all Antarian languages is ablaut or apophony, where the form of the vowel in each syllable differs amongst zero-grade (noted in some texts as Ø), e-grade, and o-grade; ablaut is correlated but not completely determined by the position of accent, where the accented syllable is likely to have a full grade, i.e. e- or o-grade, and both are strongly related to syntax in both substantives and verbs.
The thematic vowel is present in Antarian in limited numbers. Whereas its presence or absence is a fundamental division in the conjugation and declensional paradigms in other MC langauges, the thematic vowel in Antarian is more akin to a suffix and cannot, in principle, be applied to other suffixes.
Nouns
Nouns in Syllabary Antarian decline for three numbers and nine cases, though not all permutations of number and case are morphologically distinct. Nouns are either animate or inanimate in gender, where animate nouns are generally cognate with masculine and feminine nouns in other MC languages, while inanimate nouns correspond to neuter nouns therein. The following sketches the basic semantics of each of the cases:
- Nominative case is used for the animate subject of verbs, e.g. the cat drinks water.
- Absolutive case is used for the inanimate subject of intransitive verbs and inanimate object of transitive verbs, e.g. the water drips, or the cat drinks water.
- Accusative case is used for the animate subject of transitive verbs, e.g. the cat eats the dog.
- Vocative case signifies direct address. In animate nouns, the vocative takes the full-grade stem without endings. In inanimate nouns, the vocative case always takes the singular stem and is identical to the absolutive form. In translation to Anglian, the interjection o is typically used to mark vocative use, e.g. o water, you drip.
- Genitive case marks the possessor.
- Dative case marks the indirect object of transitive verbs or beneficiary in intransitive verbs in some clauses, e.g. the man gave tuna to the cat, or the cat speaks.
- Locative case marks locations, e.g. the cat slept in the bed.
- Ablative case provides a variety of extra information or origin, e.g. the cat ate tuna from Anglia.
- Allative case indicates direction towards, e.g. the cat went to Anglia.
Endings
The endings of anthematic, animate nouns are as follows:
Singular | Dual | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | -s/-Ø | -ʔe | -es |
Vocative | -Ø | ||
Accusative | -m | -ms | |
Locative | -Ø/-i | -ʔāw | -es |
Dative | -i/-ey | -mi | -mas |
Genitive | -s/-as | -ʔas | -ʔam |
Ablative | -mi | -yas | |
Instrumental | -t | -pi | -pyis |
Allative | -a | -a | -as |
The endings of athematic inanimate nouns:
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
Absolutive | -Ø | -a |
Vocative | -Ø | |
Locative | -i | |
Genitive | -s | |
Dative | -i | |
Instrumental | -t | |
Ablative | -s | |
Allative | -a |
The endings of thematic (a-stem) nouns of both the animate and inanimate genders:
Singular | Dual | Plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ani. | Inani. | Ani. | Inani. | ||
Nominative | -as | -am | -aʔ | -aes | -ah |
Vocative | -e | ||||
Accusative | -am | -ams | |||
Locative | -ai | -aʔāw | -aes | ||
Dative | -aey | -ami | -amas | ||
Genitive | -as/-asya | -aʔas | -aʔam | ||
Ablative | -at | -ami | -ayas | ||
Instrumental | -a | -ayis | |||
Allative | -a | -a | -as |
-r stem
There are four types of nouns with a stem in -r. These are traditionally named the "father", "mother", "parent", and "hand" types and are all animate nouns. With the exception of the fourth type, kesar "hand", all r-stem nouns are descended from PMC agentive nouns in *-ter and *-tor, the former especially denoting kinship terms. The first two patterns diverge in the place of their accent: the accent is mobile on "father" and shifts to the ending in the oblique cases, while they are static on the root syllable in "mother". The final pattern for kesar is infrequent but attested in a few common nouns.
1. The pattern of ptér "father":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | ptér piter |
ptérʔe piteroe |
ptéres piteres |
Acc. | ptérm̩ piterom |
ptérm̩s piteromos | |
Loc. | ptéri piteri |
ptérʔāw piterooaou |
ptérsi pitersi |
Dat. | ptréy piterei |
ptr̩mā́ pitoromoa |
ptr̩más pitoromas |
Gen. | ptrás pitras |
ptr̩ʔás pitorooas |
ptr̩ʔám pitorooam |
2. The pattern of mátar "mother":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | mátar matar |
mátr̩ʔe matorooe |
mátres matres |
Acc. | mátr̩m matorom |
mátr̩ms matoroms | |
Loc. | mátr̩i matoroi |
mátr̩ʔāw matorooaou |
mátr̩si matorosi |
Dat. | mátr̩i matoroi |
mátr̩mā matoromoa |
mátr̩mas matoromas |
Gen. | mátr̩s matoros |
mátr̩ʔas matorooas |
mátr̩ʔam matorooam |
3. The pattern of kennətār "parent":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | kénnətār kennotoar |
kénnəterʔe kennoterooe |
kénnəteres kennoteres |
Acc. | kénnəterm̩ kennoterom |
kénnəterms kennoteroms | |
Loc. | kennətr̩i kennotri |
kénnətr̩ʔāw kennotorooaou |
kénnətersi kennotersi |
Dat. | kn̩nətrei kononotrei |
kn̩nətr̩mā kononotoromoa |
kn̩nətr̩más kononotoromas |
Gen. | kn̩nətrás kononotras |
kn̩nətr̩ʔás kononotorooas |
kn̩nətr̩ʔám kononotorooam |
4. The pattern of kesar "hand":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | kesā́r kesaor |
kserʔe kserooe |
kséres kseres |
Acc. | ksérm̩ kserom |
ksérm̩s kseromos | |
Loc. | kséri kseri |
kserʔāw kserooau |
ksérsi ksersi |
Dat. | ksréy kisrei |
ksr̩mā́ ksoromoa |
ksr̩más ksoromas |
Gen. | ksrás kisras |
ksr̩ʔás ksorooas |
ksr̩ʔám ksorooam |
-n stem
tkmman, "human, earthling":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | tkm̩mā́n dgomomaon |
tkm̩menʔe dgomomenooe |
tkm̩menes dgomomenes |
Acc. | tkm̩menm̩ dgomomenom |
tkm̩menm̩s dgomomenomos | |
Loc. | tkm̩men dgomomen |
tkm̩menʔāw dgomomenooaou |
tkm̩mensi dgomomensi |
Dat. | tkm̩mnéy dgomomney |
tkm̩mnmā́ dgomomonomoa |
tkm̩mnmás dgomomonomas |
Gen. | tkm̩mnás dgomonas |
tkm̩mnʔás dgomomonooas |
tkm̩mnʔám dgomomonooam |
uksḗn, "ox":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | uksḗn uksean |
uksénʔe uksenooe |
uksénes uksenes |
Acc. | uksénm̩ uksenom |
uksénm̩s uksenomos | |
Loc. | ukséni ukseni |
uksénʔāw uksenooaou |
uksénsi uksensi |
Dat. | uksnéy uksnei |
uksnmā́ uksonomao |
uksnmás uksonomas |
Gen. | uksnás uksnas |
uksnʔás uksonooas |
uksnʔám uksonooam |
-s stem
The suffix is -ses-. In the nominative singular, the suffix ablauts to -sas- < PMC *-sos-, but in direct cases remains -ses-. The animate nominative singular ending *-s is lost after -s of the suffix and causes compensatory lengthening to -sās. The same in oblique stem where the suffix is zero-grade -ss- and in the locative plural, where the -si ending triggers the same phenomenon to give -sēs- in the suffix.
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | héwsās heusas |
husesʔe husesooe |
huseses huseses |
Acc. | husesm̩ husesom |
husesm̩s husesomos | |
Loc. | husesi husesi |
husesʔāw husesooau |
husēsi husesi |
Dat. | hūséy husei |
hūsmā́ husmoa |
hūsmás husmas |
Gen. | hūsás husas |
hūsʔás husooas |
hūsʔám husooam |
-t stem
The suffix is -et-. The root takes full-grade in all forms. The suffix is in o-grade in the direct cases, e-grade in the locative, and zero-grade in the nominative singular and oblique cases. The zero-grade in the nominative is by analogy. hnept "nephew":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | hnept anept |
hnepatʔe anepatooe |
hnepates anepates |
Acc. | hnepatm̩ anepatom |
hnepatm̩s anepatomos | |
Loc. | hnepeti anepeti |
hnepetʔāw anepetoau |
hnepetsi anepetsi |
Dat. | hneptéy aneptei |
hneptmā́ aneptmoa |
hneptmás aneptmas |
Gen. | hneptás aneptas |
hneptʔás aneptooas |
hneptʔám aneptooam |
-l stem
This pattern is represented by the word sal "sea", whence also Anglian "salt". The strong stem of the word is from PMC *sh₂el- > shal-, contra nom. stem *seh₂l- > sal-.
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | sā́l saol |
shalʔe saalooe |
shales saales |
Acc. | shalm̩ saalom |
shalm̩s saalomos | |
Loc. | shali saali |
shalʔāw saalooau |
shalsi saalsi |
Dat. | sley slei |
sl̩mā́ solomoa |
sl̩más solomas |
Gen. | slás slas |
sl̩ʔás solooas |
sl̩ʔám solooam |
-ʔ stem
The stem in -ʔ is rare. It stands in full-grade in the strong cases and in the zero-grade in the nominative singular and elsewhere. Due to phonotactical constraints, *ʔ between consonants triggers the gemination of the preceding consonant and the epenthetic insertion of /ə/; the avoidance of *tt and *ss geminates may trigger further phonetic changes. In the dual, the underlying sequence *ʔʔ appears and is the cause of multiple alternative forms, e.g. **pantʔs > *panttəs > pantstəs "way":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | pantstəs pantstos |
pantéʔʔe panteooe |
pantéʔes panteooes |
Acc. | pantéʔm̩ panteeom |
pantéʔm̩s panteeomos | |
Loc. | pantéʔi panteei |
pantéʔʔāw panteooaou |
pantéʔsi panteoosi |
Dat. | pn̩tʔéy ponotooei |
pn̩tstəmā́ ponotstomao |
pn̩tʔmás ponotstomas |
Gen. | pn̩tʔás ponotooas |
pn̩tʔʔás ponotstoooas |
pn̩tʔʔám ponotstoooam |
-m stem
tekam, "earth":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | tekam tekam |
tkemʔe tkemooe |
tkemes tkemes |
Acc. | tkemm̩ tkemom |
tkemm̩s tkemomos | |
Loc. | tkemi tkemi |
tkemʔāw tkemooau |
tkemsi tkemsi |
Dat. | tkméy dagomei |
tkm̩mā́ dgommoa |
tkm̩más dgomomas |
Gen. | tkmás dagomas |
tkm̩ʔás dagomooas |
tkm̩ʔám dgomooam |
-i/-u stems
The ablauting stem in -ei- has the zero grade in the nominative singular, o-grade in the other strong forms, and e-grade in the locative. Thus, the nominative singular typically has full-grade and stands in the zero-grade elsewhere. wawis "ewe":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | wawis uauis |
wayʔe uaiooe |
wayes uaies |
Acc. | waym uaim |
waym̩s uaiomos | |
Loc. | weyi ueiei |
weyʔāw ueiooau |
weysi ueisi |
Dat. | awiey awiei |
awimā́ awimoa |
awimás awimas |
Gen. | awias awias |
awiʔás awiooas |
awiʔám awiooam |
In contrast, the ablauting stem in -ew- often has zero-grade in the root everywhere and the full-grade forms in the suffix in the direct cases including locative. Thus syews < PMC *dyews, "sky", with *d > s in front of a non-syllabic palatal glide, and the ending in the accusative may be old but also could be restored by analogy:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | syéws sieus |
syéwʔe sieuooe |
syéwes sieues |
Acc. | syéwm̩ siewom |
syéwm̩s sieuomos | |
Loc. | syéwi siewi |
syéwʔāw sieuooau |
syéwsi sieusi |
Dat. | diwéy diwei |
diwmā́ diwmoa |
ksr̩más diwmas |
Gen. | diwás diwas |
diwʔás diwooas |
diwʔám diwooam |
-ī/-ū stems
The nouns of the type ẉlkis and tenus descend from PMC nouns in *-yeh₂- and *-weh₂- respectively. Due to the inconsistent preservation of laryngeals in Antarian, the *h₂ causes various sound changes to their environments and only appear when directly preceded by *s- or followed by an *-s or other resonant. The suffix has zero-grade in the nominative singular and the oblique cases but full-grade in the direct and locative cases. There are alternative, zero-grade forms in the accusative. ẉlkis "wolfess":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | wl̩his woloais |
wl̩hiʔe woloaiooe |
wl̩hias woloaias |
Acc. | wl̩kyam wolokiam |
wl̩kyahm̩s wolokiaaomos | |
Loc. | wl̩kyai wolokiai |
wl̩kyaʔāw wolokiaau |
wl̩kyahsi woloiaasi |
Dat. | wl̩kiay wolokiai |
wl̩kimā́ wolokima |
wl̩kimás wolokimas |
Gen. | wl̩kias wolokias |
wl̩kiʔás wolokiooas |
wl̩kiʔám wolokiooam |
The stem from PMC *-weh₂- is typified here by the noun tenus "body". The inflectional pattern of this noun is underlyingly identical to the one from *-yeh₂-, but *-nw- is assimilated to -nn-.
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | ténus tenus |
ténuʔe tenuooe |
ténnaes tennaes |
Acc. | ténnam tennam |
ténnahm̩s tennaaomos | |
Loc. | tennai tennai |
ténnaʔāw tennaooau |
ténnahsi tennaasi |
Dat. | tenuhay tenuaaai |
tenumā́ tenuma |
tenumás tenumas |
Gen. | tenuhas tenuaaas |
tenuʔás tenuooas |
tenuʔám tenuooam |
-wʔ stem
The noun pl̩lətstus < PMC *pléh₁dʰh₁-uh₁-s "people, crowd, multitude" exhibits stem-ablaut similar to the type above but from PMC *-weh₁-.
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | pl̩lətstús pololotstus |
pl̩lətstweʔe pololotstwee |
pl̩lətstweʔes pololotstwees |
Acc. | pl̩lətstweʔm̩ pololotstweoom |
pl̩lətstweʔm̩s pololotstweoomos | |
Loc. | pl̩lətstweʔi pololotstweooi |
pl̩lətstweʔāw kserooau |
pl̩lətstweʔsi pololotstweoosi |
Dat. | pl̩lətstiwéy pololotstiwei |
pl̩lətstimmā́ pololotstimmoa |
pl̩lətstiwmás pololotstimmas |
Gen. | pl̩lətstiwás pololotstiwas |
pl̩lətstiwʔás pololotstiwooas |
pl̩lətstiwʔám pololotstiwooam |
-is/-us stems
The stems traditionally named mentis and suʔnus are distinct from the foregoing types by their oblique forms, where the accent falls on the suffix syllable and not on the ending; correspondingly, the endings always stand in zero-grade. The root syllable has accent in the direct cases but ablauts to zero-grade where the accent shifts away from it. mentis "thought":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | méntis mentis |
ménteyʔe menteiooe |
ménteyes menteies |
Acc. | méntim mentim |
méntim̩s mentims | |
Loc. | ménti menti |
ménteyʔāw menteyooau |
ménteysi menteisi |
Dat. | mn̩teyi monoteiei |
mn̩teymā́ monoteima |
mn̩teymás monoteimas |
Gen. | mn̩teys monoteis |
mn̩teyʔás monoteiooas |
mn̩teyʔám monoteiooam |
The noun suʔnus "son" exhibits largely the same pattern:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | suʔnus suoonus |
suʔnewʔe suooneuooe |
kséres suooneues |
Acc. | suʔnum suoonom |
suʔnewm̩s suoonewomos | |
Loc. | suʔnew suooneu |
suʔnewʔāw suooneuooau |
suʔnewsi suooneusi |
Dat. | suʔnewi suooneui |
suʔnewmā́ suooneuma |
suʔnewmás suooneumas |
Gen. | suʔnews suooneus |
suʔnewʔás suooneuooas |
suʔnewʔám suooneuooam |
-ih
There exists a separate class of nouns in -i < PMC *-yeh₂ whose endings are perpetually in the zero-grade, e.g. kennətri "mother, genetrix":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | kénnətri kennotri |
kn̩nətr̩yaʔe kononotoroiaooe |
kn̩nətr̩yaes kononotoroiaes |
Acc. | kn̩nətr̩yam kononotoroiam |
kn̩nətr̩yams kononotoroiams | |
Loc. | kn̩nətr̩yah kononotoroiaa |
kn̩nətr̩yaʔāw kononotoroiaooau |
kn̩nətr̩yahsi kononotoroiaasi |
Dat. | kn̩nətr̩yay kononotoroiai |
kn̩nətr̩yamā́ kononotoroiama |
kn̩nətr̩yamás kononotoroiamas |
Gen. | kn̩nətr̩yahs kononotoroiaas |
kn̩nətr̩yaʔás kononotoroyaooas |
kn̩nətr̩yaʔám kononotoroiaooam |
-nt stem
The stems in -nt are the most notable as participles of present stems. One class takes the e-grade in the direct cases and o-grade in the nominative singular, while another class takes the o-grade throughout the direct cases, other than the locative. tants "tooth":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | tants tants |
tantʔe tantooe |
tantes tantes |
Acc. | tentm̩ tentom |
tentm̩s tantomos | |
Loc. | tenti tenti |
tentʔāw tentooau |
tentsi tentsi |
Dat. | tn̩tey tonotei |
tn̩tmā́ tonotmoa |
tn̩tmás tonotmas |
Gen. | tn̩tas tonotas |
tn̩tʔás tonotooas |
tn̩tʔám tonotooam |
ʔsants "being":
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | ʔsants ssants |
ʔsantʔe ssantooe |
ʔsantes ssantes |
Acc. | ʔsantm̩ ssantom |
ʔsantm̩s ssantomos | |
Loc. | ʔsenti ssenti |
ʔsentʔāw ssentooau |
ʔsentsi ssentsi |
Dat. | ʔsn̩tey ssonotei |
ʔsn̩tmā́ ssonotmoa |
ʔsn̩tmás ssonotmas |
Gen. | ʔsn̩tas ssonotas |
ʔsn̩tʔás ssonotooas |
ʔsn̩tʔám ssonotooam |
-wā́s stem
The stem in -was < PMC *-wos forms the participle from the perfect stem. Both the root and suffix participate in ablaut: the root is in full-grade in the nominative singular and zero-grade elsewhere, while the suffix stands in full-grade in all direct cases including nominative singular, and zero-grade elsewhere. weyswas "the one who knows", n.b. *d > s in front of *y and *w when not vocalized:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | weyswā́s weisuas |
wiswasʔe wisuasooe |
wiswases wisuases |
Acc. | wiswasm̩ wisuasom |
wiswasm̩s wisuasomos | |
Loc. | wiswas wisuas |
wiswasʔāw wisuasooau |
wiswassi wisuassi |
Dat. | widusey widusei |
widusmā́ widusmoa |
widusmás widusmas |
Gen. | widusas widusas |
widusʔás widusooas |
widusʔám widusooam |
-h stem
The stem in -h is known from only one noun, kenh "woman". The root and suffix participate in gradation.
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|---|
Nom. | kenh kenaa |
knaʔe gnaooe |
knaes gnaes |
Acc. | knam gnam |
knams gnams | |
Loc. | kna gna |
knaʔāw gnaooau |
knahsi gnaasi |
Dat. | knay gnai |
knamā́ gnama |
knamás gnamas |
Gen. | knahs gnaas |
knaʔás gnaas |
knaʔám gnaam |
-r/n stem
These nouns have stems which show not vocalic gradation but different consonant between direct and oblique cases. The most common pattern is -r- in the direct, and -n- in the oblique. All nouns in this class are inanimate and possess a full-grade stem in the plural, which in morphology declines as singular. wetr̩ "water":
Sing. | Pl. | |
---|---|---|
Abs. | wetr̩ wetor |
wetara wetara |
Gen. | utens utens |
utnes udnas |
-l/n stem
The word sawl̩ "sun" has a unique alternation l/n but is otherwise comparable to the r/n pattern. As the Sun is considered a unique star, it has no attested plural.
Sing. | |
---|---|
Abs. | sawl̩ sauol |
Gen. | shwens sauens |
Pronouns
Verbs
Verbs in Antarian are conjugated for three persons, three numbers, two voices, and four moods, agreeing with the subject of the sentence in person and number.
Unlike most other MC languages, Antarian does not morphologically distinguish tense, with primary endings (associated with the present tense in most languages) conspicuously absent. There are two kinds of roots, present and perfect, which take different endings directly; present roots tend to have transitive meanings, while prefect roots intransitive meanings, but this is by no means universal. Present roots may take personal endings directly or with affixes in derivation, while the perfect roots in general may only take perfect endings. New verbs are always created as presents and never as perfects.
Present roots and perfect roots differ notably by their accentuation patterns. Present roots display mobile accent, which is on the root or suffix syllables in the strong or singular forms and on the endings in the weak or dual and plural forms. Perfect roots display static accent, persisting on the root syllable. It should be noted that the accentuation pattern is a property of the root itself and not of the conjugation: a perfect stem derived from a present root will retain the accentuation pattern derived from the present.
Present
In the active voice of present verbs, there are two sets of endings called primary and secondary. The primary endings follow, with ’et- "to eat" as example:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | ’édmi | -mi | dwési | -wési | dmési | -mési |
2nd | ’éši | -s | štəwés | -twés | ’éšte | -té |
3rd | ’édšti | -t | štés | -tés | ténti | -ént |
The secondary endings are as follows:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | ’édəm[1] | -m | dwé | -wé | dmé | -mé |
2nd | ’ḗts | -s | štúm | -túm | šté | -té |
3rd | ’ḗtt | -t | štám | -tám | tént | -ént |
- ↑ *t > d before syllabic consonants; id for 1 du. and pl.
Present verbs may also take, from the root, the so-called "middle" endings, which are in early Antarian transparent as a synthesis of active and perfect endings:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | ’édəmə < *’ét-m̩-h | -m-h | dwétə | -wé-th | dmétə | -mé-th |
2nd | ’étstə* < *’ét-s-th | -s-th | štəmt.hé | -təm-thé < *tm̩-dʰh₂é | ’etstawé[1] < *’et-s-tawé štăwé < *’t-s-tawé |
-t-təwé < *t-dʰh₂wé |
3rd | ’étsta | -t-a | štamt.hé | -tam-thé < *th₂m-dʰh₂é | téntər | -nt-r |
- ↑ From the strong stem and seems to be the original form
Optative
The optative endings are as follows:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | ’étie’əm | -ie’-əm | ti’wé | -i’-wé | ti’mé | -i’-mé |
2nd | ’ḗtiets | -ie-ts < *-ie’-s | tittúm | -it-túm | titté | -it-té |
3rd | ’ḗtiet | -ie-t | tittám | -it-tám | ti’ént | -i’-ént |
Perfect
The endings of perfect verbs are as follows, with kei- "to lie down (oneself)" as example:
Sing. | Du. | Pl. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | kéih | -h/-ă | kéiwa | -wa | kéitha | -ta |
2nd | kéita | -ta | kéita | -ta | kéitawe | -tawe |
3rd | kéia | -é | kéita | -ta | kéir | -r |