Magian
| Magian | |
|---|---|
| 魔言 | |
| Pronunciation | /maɪɡɛn/ |
| Native to | Magia Regnum |
Native speakers | TBA (2020) |
| |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Magia Regnum |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
Magian (魔言) is a language originating from the Magian people and is the official language of Magia Regnum.
Phonetics
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i | ɯ | |
| Mid | e | o | |
| Open | a |
Magian has five vowels and 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
Inflection and conjugation
Inflection and conjugation are fundamental elements of Magian's morphology, allowing for the modification of nouns, adjectives, and verbs to convey grammatical information. In Magian, nouns undergo inflection to indicate possession, plurality, and case. The particle "no" is used to denote possession, linking the possessor and the possessed object. Plurality can be expressed through the addition of specific suffixes or modifications to the noun itself. Furthermore, nouns can take on different cases, such as nominative, accusative, genitive, or dative, through modifications or the use of additional particles. This inflectional flexibility in Magian nouns enables speakers to precisely indicate relationships and grammatical functions within sentences.
Adjectives in Magian also undergo inflection to express comparative and superlative forms. Through the addition of specific suffixes or particles, speakers can compare and rank qualities, allowing for the distinction between degrees of comparison. This inflectional feature enhances the descriptive capabilities of adjectives in Magian, enabling speakers to convey nuances in the intensity or magnitude of certain attributes. The ability to modify adjectives in this way facilitates precise expression and provides a means to articulate shades of meaning in a nuanced manner. Magian verbs, like nouns and adjectives, are subject to conjugation, a process that modifies the verb form to convey tense, aspect, mood, and honorifics. Verb conjugation in Magian is particularly crucial for indicating the temporal context of an action. By changing vowel sounds, adding suffixes, or altering the ending consonants, speakers can accurately convey whether an action took place in the past, is happening in the present, or will occur in the future. Additionally, aspectual distinctions, such as ongoing or completed actions, can be expressed through verb conjugation, adding depth and clarity to the temporal aspect of the language.
Moreover, verbs in Magian can be conjugated to express various moods, allowing speakers to convey different attitudes and intentions. The indicative mood is used to state facts or make assertions, the imperative mood for giving commands or making requests, the conditional mood for expressing hypothetical situations, and the subjunctive mood for conveying desires, hopes, or doubts. These conjugation patterns enhance the expressive capabilities of Magian verbs, enabling speakers to accurately convey their intended messages and communicate with precision. Furthermore, Magian verb conjugation also incorporates honorific forms, which are used to express politeness or deference when addressing superiors, elders, or individuals deserving respect. By employing specific conjugation forms and honorific expressions, speakers can navigate social hierarchies and communicate in a manner appropriate to the context and cultural norms.
Sentence Structure
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. The SOV word order contributes to the overall rhythm and flow of Magian sentences.
Subordinate clauses 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.
Politeness
Politeness holds a significant place within Magian communication, reflecting the cultural values of respect and deference. Magian incorporates various linguistic features and honorific expressions to convey politeness in interactions. Politeness is demonstrated through the use of honorific verbs, polite expressions, respectful pronouns, polite particles, and formal speech. These elements contribute to maintaining harmonious social relationships and upholding cultural norms. Let's explore some key aspects of politeness in Magian. Honorific verbs play a vital role in Magian's politeness system. These verbs are used to address and refer to individuals of higher status, elders, or those deserving respect. Honorific verbs have unique conjugations, often featuring specific suffixes or modifications. By employing honorific verb forms, speakers convey deference and show proper respect towards those they interact with.
Polite expressions, known as keigo (敬語), are an integral part of Magian politeness. These expressions involve the use of specific vocabulary, honorific prefixes or suffixes, and polite speech patterns. By using keigo, speakers demonstrate their understanding of social hierarchies and convey respect in various social situations. Polite expressions contribute to creating a courteous and harmonious environment during conversations. Magian offers specific pronouns that reflect politeness and respect. These pronouns are used when addressing someone of higher status or showing deference. They differ from standard pronouns in their form and usage, serving as markers of polite and respectful language. Pronouns play a crucial role in establishing the appropriate tone and level of politeness in Magian communication. Certain particles in Magian carry polite connotations and are used to show deference or formality.
Magian has a formal speech style that is typically used in official or ceremonial settings. This style involves elevated language, specific honorific forms, and rigid speech patterns. Formal speech conveys a high level of respect and is commonly used in formal occasions, public speaking, or when addressing individuals of significant authority. Adhering to the formal speech style demonstrates respect and acknowledges the importance of the situation or the status of the interlocutors.
Writing System
The writing system of Magian combines logographic characters collectively called "Ensoji" (円相字) and simplified characters known as "Mojisai" (文字細), creating a comprehensive and versatile script. Ensoji characters serve as the foundation of the Magian writing system, representing individual words and grammatical elements. They embody the balance between aesthetics and functionality, often written using brushes or pens to emphasize the artistic nature of their creation. Ensoji characters go beyond mere phonetic representation, conveying nuanced meanings and enabling rich and expressive communication. Each Ensoji character represents a morpheme or combination of morphemes, capturing both meaning and sound simultaneously. They are classified based on their semantic and phonetic components, with some characters directly representing specific words or concepts, while others function as radicals or phonetic components. The number of Ensoji characters in the standard set can vary, typically comprising several thousand characters. Mastering the Ensoji writing system requires extensive study and practice to develop visual recognition of characters and an understanding of their associated meanings and readings. It is a meticulous process that involves memorization and comprehension of the nuanced usage within the language.
Mojisai is a syllabic script that represents the sounds of the Magian language. Mojisai characters serve as simplified forms that intrinsically represent sounds rather than conveying meaning on their own. In the Magian script, Mojisai consists of characters that correspond to different syllables or morae in the Magian language. These characters are designed to represent specific sounds and contribute to the overall phonetic representation of words. Mojisai characters in the Magian script have been simplified and modified over time. While they may have originated from Ensoji characters, the visual resemblance to their origins is no longer apparent due to extensive simplification and modification. Unlike the ensoji characters in the Magian script, which can represent both sounds and meanings, Mojisai characters primarily focus on phonetic representation. They contribute to the construction of words and sentences, representing specific sounds within the Magian language.
In addition to Ensoji and Mojisai, Magian also features a third script known as "Kokumoji" (国文字).The Kokumoji script is primarily used for transliteration, transcription, or when communicating with individuals who are more familiar with Latin-based writing systems. It provides a bridge between the Magian writing system and other languages that employ the Latin script. Kokumoji retains the phonetic elements of Magian while adapting them to the Latin script's familiar characters. It allows for a more accessible and recognizable representation of Magian words, making it easier for non-native speakers or those accustomed to Latin-based languages to read and understand the language. Kokumoji ensures a smoother exchange of information and facilitates cross-cultural communication. In Kokumoji, each Magian character is transliterated or transcribed into its corresponding Latin script representation. This includes capturing the sounds, pronunciation, and phonetic nuances unique to Magian. Additionally, Kokumoji incorporates diacritical marks or specific conventions to accurately depict Magian's distinct phonetic features, such as elongated vowels or consonant sounds that do not have direct equivalents in the Latin script.
Contrary to the left-to-right direction commonly seen in many common languages, the Magian writing system adheres to a traditional right-to-left orientation. When writing in Magian, text is arranged horizontally from right to left. This means that the starting point of a sentence is on the right side, and subsequent characters and words progress towards the left. However, this does not apply to the Kokumoji script representing the Latin script versions of the language. The Kokumoji script, which utilizes the Latin alphabet, typically adheres to the left-to-right direction, similar to many common languages.