Orcish
Natively known as: Oungcs /aʊŋks/
...and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind... crarned earlds uths burv quor sporthlai crarned scenge storth uths changs swath gearr Pronunciation: /kɹɑɹnd ɪəldz ʌðz bɜːv kwɔː spɔːˈθlaɪ kɹɑɹnd skɛnʤ stɔːθ ʌðz ʧæŋz swɑːð ɡɪər/ Oungcsian word order: and he his hat holding stood and the wind to his wet face turned
Spelling & Phonology
Consonant inventory: /b d f h j k l m n p r s t v w z ð ŋ ɡ ɹ ɾ ʃ ʍ ʤ ʧ θ/
| ↓Manner/Place→ | Bilabial | Labiodental | Dental | Alveolar | Palato-alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ŋ | |||||
| Stop | p b | t d | k ɡ | |||||
| Affricate | ʧ ʤ | |||||||
| Fricative | f v | θ ð | s z | ʃ | h | |||
| Approximant | ɹ | j | ||||||
| Tap | ɾ | |||||||
| Trill | r | |||||||
| Lateral approximant | l |
Co-articulated phonemes
| ↓Manner/Place→ | Labial-velar |
|---|---|
| Approximant | ʍ w |
Vowel inventory: /aɪ aʊ eɪ iː oʊ uː æ ɑ ɑː ɔɪ ɔː ɛ ɛə ɜː ɪ ɪə ʊ ʊə ʌ/
Diphthongs: aɪ, aʊ, eɪ, oʊ, ɔɪ, ɛə, ɪə, ʊə
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | iː | uː | |
| Near-high | ɪ | ʊ | |
| Low-mid | ɛ | ɜː | ʌ ɔː |
| Near-low | æ | ||
| Low | ɑ ɑː |
Syllable structure: Custom defined Stress pattern: Ultimate — stress is on the last syllable Word initial consonants: b, bl, bɹ, d, dɹ, f, fl, fɹ, h, j, k, kl, kw, kɹ, l, m, n, p, pl, pɹ, s, sk, skw, skɹ, sl, sm, sn, sp, spl, spɹ, st, stɹ, sw, t, th, tw, tɹ, v, w, ð, ɡ, ɡl, ɡɹ, ɹ, ʃ, ʃɹ, ʍ, ʤ, ʧ, θ, θɹ Mid-word consonants: b, bd, bj, bl, bm, bn, bs, bskj, bskɹ, bst, bstɹ, bt, bv, bz, bɹ, bɾ, bʤ, d, df, dj, dkw, dl, dm, dn, ds, dv, dw, dɡ, dɡɹ, dɹ, dʃ, f, fj, fl, fspɹ, ft, ftl, ftw, fɹ, h, j, k, kd, kf, kj, kl, km, kn, ks, ksf, ksk, kskj, kskl, kskw, ksm, ksp, kspl, kspɹ, kst, kstɹ, ksw, ksʧ, kt, ktf, ktl, ktɹ, kw, kz, kɡɹ, kɹ, kʃ, kʧ, l, lb, ld, ldf, ldh, ldl, ldn, ldɹ, lf, lj, lk, lkj, ll, lm, ln, lp, lpf, lpl, lptj, ls, lsh, lsʍ, lt, ltj, ltɹ, lv, lw, lð, lɡ, lɡɹ, lɹ, lʤ, lʧ, lθ, m, mb, mbl, mbɹ, mf, mfl, mft, mfɹ, mh, mj, ml, mn, mp, mpj, mpl, mpt, mptl, mpɹ, mpʃ, mpʧ, ms, mst, mt, mw, mz, mɹ, mʧ, mθ, n, nb, nbɹ, nd, ndj, ndl, ndm, ndɹ, nf, nfj, nfl, nfɹ, nh, nj, nk, nkl, nkw, nkɹ, nl, nm, nn, npl, ns, nsf, nsj, nskɹ, nsl, nsm, nsp, nst, nstɹ, nt, ntl, ntm, ntɹ, nv, nw, nz, nzl, nzp, nɡ, nɡɹ, nɹ, nʃ, nʤ, nʤm, nʧ, nθj, p, pj, pl, pm, pt, pw, pɹ, pʃ, pʧ, s, sd, sf, sj, sk, skj, skl, skɹ, sl, sm, sn, sp, spj, spl, st, stj, stl, stm, stw, stɹ, sw, sɡ, sɡɹ, sʧ, t, tb, tf, tj, tl, tm, tn, ts, tsm, tw, tɹ, v, vj, vl, vm, vn, vɹ, w, z, zb, zd, zj, zl, zm, ð, ðdɹ, ðst, ŋ, ŋk, ŋkt, ŋkw, ŋkʃ, ŋkʧ, ŋl, ŋɡ, ŋɡj, ŋɡl, ŋɡw, ŋɡɹ, ɡ, ɡj, ɡl, ɡm, ɡn, ɡz, ɡɹ, ɡʤ, ɹ, ɹb, ɹd, ɹf, ɹk, ɹl, ɹm, ɹml, ɹn, ɹpl, ɹs, ɹsm, ɹt, ɹtl, ɹv, ɹɡ, ɹʃ, ɹʤ, ɹʧ, ɹθw, ɾ, ʃ, ʃm, ʃn, ʤ, ʤm, ʤt, ʧ, ʧl, ʧm, θ, θf, θl, θɹ Word final consonants: b, bd, bl, bz, d, dst, dz, f, fs, ft, k, ks, kst, kt, kts, l, ld, ldz, lf, lk, lm, ls, lt, lts, lv, lvd, lvz, lz, lθ, m, md, mp, mps, mpt, mz, n, nd, ndz, ns, nst, nt, nts, nz, nʤ, nʤd, nʧ, nθ, p, ps, pt, r, rm, s, sk, sp, spt, st, sts, t, ts, v, vd, vz, z, zd, ð, ðz, ŋ, ŋd, ŋk, ŋks, ŋkt, ŋz, ɡ, ɡd, ɡz, ɹ, ɹd, ɹdz, ɹk, ɹks, ɹkt, ɹm, ɹmd, ɹmz, ɹn, ɹnd, ɹs, ɹst, ɹt, ɹts, ɹz, ɹʃ, ɹʧt, ɹθ, ʃ, ʃt, ʤ, ʤd, ʧ, ʧt, θ, θs
Phonological changes (in order of application):
- t → l / V_V
- d → Ø / _#
- r → d / #_
- s → h / V_V
- m → n / _f
- h → Ø / _{V,w,j}
How to read phonological rules
Spelling rules:
| Pronunciation | Spelling |
|---|---|
| kw | qu |
| kt# | cked |
| k | c / !_{ɪ,i,ɛ,e,s} |
| oʊ(C) | o1e |
| uː(C)# | u1e |
| eɪ(C)# | a1e |
| ð | th |
| θ | th |
| ʍ | wh |
| ŋɡ | ng |
| ŋk | nk |
| ɡ | g |
| ŋ | ng |
| ʧ | ch |
| ʃ | sh |
| ɹ | r |
| (Cz,s}# | 1s |
| z# | s |
| (C)ju | 1u |
| cc | ck |
| c# | k |
| (Ct,d}# | 1ed |
| aʊ# | ow |
| aʊ | ou |
| ɔɪ | oi |
| ɪə | ear |
| ɪ# | y |
| ɪ | i |
| ji | yi |
| j | y |
| iː# | y |
| yy# | yi |
| #y# | i |
| ʌ | u |
| iː | ee |
| oʊ | o |
| ʊ | oo |
| ɛ | e |
| ɑː? | a |
| æ(t,l,s,z)# | a11 |
| æ | a |
| #ʤ | j |
| ʤ# | ge |
| ʤ | dg |
| ɜː | ur |
| ɔː | or |
| uː | u |
| quur | quir |
| eə | ere |
Grammar
Main word order: Subject (Prepositional phrase) Object Verb. "Mary opened the door with a key" turns into Mary with a key the door opened. Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun. Adposition: postpositions
Nouns
Nouns have seven cases:
- Nominative is the doer of a verb: dog bites man.
- Accusative is the done-to of a verb: man bites dog.
- Genitive is the possessor of something: dog’s tail hits man.
- Dative is the recipeint of something: man gives ball to dog.
- Locative is the location of something: man goes to town.
- Ablative is movement away from something: man walks from town.
- Instrumental is the use of something: man writes with (using) pen.
| Nominative | No affix oryungcs /ɔːˈjʌŋks/ doɡ (doinɡ the verb) |
| Accusative | Prefix tɹɑː- traoryungcs /tɹɑːɔːˈjʌŋks/ (verb done to) doɡ |
| Genitive | If starts with vowel: Prefix skw- Else: Prefix skwɛə- squoryungcs /skwɔːˈjʌŋks/ doɡʼs |
| Dative | If starts with vowel: Prefix bl- Else: Prefix blɑ- bloryungcs /blɔːˈjʌŋks/ to (the/a) doɡ |
| Locative | If starts with vowel: Prefix pl- Else: Prefix plɔɪ- ploryungcs /plɔːˈjʌŋks/ near/at/by (the/a) doɡ |
| Ablative | Prefix oʊ- ooryungcs /oʊɔːˈjʌŋks/ from (the/a) doɡ |
| Instrumental | If starts with vowel: Prefix sn- Else: Prefix snɑ- snoryungcs /snɔːˈjʌŋks/ with/usinɡ (the/a) doɡ |
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Prefix ɡlʊ- glooelk /ɡlʊˈɛlk/ man | Prefix bɹɪ- brielk /bɹɪˈɛlk/ men |
| Feminine | If starts with vowel: Prefix k- Else: Prefix kɛ- cethu /kɛˈðuː/ woman | If starts with vowel: Prefix kw- Else: Prefix kwɔː- quorthu /kwɔːˈðuː/ women |
| Neuter | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɡɹ- Else: Prefix ɡɹiː- groryungcs /ɡɹɔːˈjʌŋks/ doɡ | Prefix smiː- smeeoryungcs /smiːɔːˈjʌŋks/ doɡs |
| Definite | tho /ðoʊ/ the |
| Indefinite | dadged /dɑʤd/ a, some |
Pronouns
| Nominative | Accusative | Genitive | Dative | Locative | Ablative | Instrumental | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | bur /bɜː/ I | cru /kɹuː/ me | blulm /blʌlm/ mine | dusk /dʌsk/ to me | drur /dɹɜː/ at me | quangcs /kwɑːŋks/ from me | sna /snɑ/ with/using me |
| 2nd singular | theesp /thiːsp/ you (masc) | swur /swɜː/ you | theig /theɪɡ/ yours | smy /smiː/ to you | nuped /nʌpt/ at you | ere /ɛə/ from you | oos /ʊs/ with/using you |
| 3rd singular masc | earlds /ɪəldz/ he | u /uː/ him | scy /skiː/ his | spormp /spɔːmp/ to him | theev /thiːv/ at him | jou /ʤaʊ/ from him | frearndged /fɹɪənʤd/ with/using him |
| 3rd singular fem | dai /daɪ/ she | shoirn /ʃɔɪɹn/ her | trafs /tɹɑːfs/ hers | gloosk /ɡlʊsk/ to her | bla /blɑ/ at her | ar /ɑːr/ from her | barts /bɑːɹts/ with/using her |
| 3rd singular neut | lere /lɛə/ it | blaved /blɑvd/ it | porrs /pɔːɹz/ its | glear /ɡlɪə/ to it | eiled /eɪld/ at it | porsk /pɔːsk/ from it | blun /blʌn/ with/using it |
| 1st plural | shoirm /ʃɔɪɹm/ we | dured /dʌɹt/ us | oorn /ʊɹn/ ours | sno /snoʊ/ to us | hoi /hɔɪ/ at us | vu /vuː/ from us | theish /theɪʃ/ with/using us |
| 2nd plural | i /iː/ you all | whorngd /ʍɔːŋd/ you all | quarth /kwɑːɹθ/ yours (pl) | trur /tɹɜː/ to you all | orr /ɔːɹ/ at you all | theins /theɪns/ from you all | eer /iːr/ with/using you all |
| 3rd plural masc | sto /stoʊ/ they (masc) | thai /θaɪ/ them (masc) | spasped /spɑːspt/ theirs (masc) | squere /skwɛə/ to them (masc) | o /oʊ/ at them (masc) | gloodged /ɡlʊʤd/ from them (masc) | tho /ðoʊ/ with/using them (masc) |
| 3rd plural fem | frear /fɹɪə/ they (fem) | sprearr /spɹɪər/ them (fem) | whark /ʍɑːɹk/ theirs (fem) | slere /slɛə/ to them (fem) | storrth /stɔːɹθ/ at them (fem) | sprear /spɹɪə/ from them (fem) | slear /slɪə/ with/using them (fem) |
| 3rd plural neut | streired /stɹeɪɹt/ they (neut) | streesp /stɹiːsp/ them (neut) | sploigs /splɔɪɡz/ theirs (neut) | duns /dʌnz/ to them (neut) | ouned /aʊnd/ at them (neut) | eimped /eɪmpt/ from them (neut) | mo /moʊ/ with/using them (neut) |
Possessive determiners
| 1st singular | ear /ɪə/ my |
| 2nd singular | scrar /skɹɑr/ your |
| 3rd singular masc | uths /ʌðz/ his |
| 3rd singular fem | crun /kɹʌn/ her |
| 3rd singular neut | oolm /ʊlm/ its |
| 1st plural | scy /skiː/ our |
| 2nd plural | gloofed /ɡlʊft/ your (pl) |
| 3rd plural masc | shrur /ʃɹɜː/ their (masc) |
| 3rd plural fem | sprou /spɹaʊ/ their (fem) |
| 3rd plural neut | tho /ðoʊ/ their (neut) |
Verbs
| Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | Prefix æ- aplere /æˈplɛə/ | If starts with vowel: Prefix k- Else: Prefix kɛ- ceplere /kɛˈplɛə/ | If starts with vowel: Prefix sm- Else: Prefix smɛ- smeplere /smɛˈplɛə/ |
| Past | If starts with vowel: Prefix sm- Else: Prefix smiː- smeeplere /smiːˈplɛə/ | Prefix ɛə- ereplere /ɛəˈplɛə/ | Prefix ʌ- uplere /ʌˈplɛə/ |
| Remote past | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɡ- Else: Prefix ɡɪə- gearplere /ɡɪəˈplɛə/ | Prefix ɔː- orplere /ɔːˈplɛə/ | Prefix eɪ- eiplere /eɪˈplɛə/ |
| Future | Prefix ʊ- ooplere /ʊˈplɛə/ | Prefix bɹɪ- briplere /bɹɪˈplɛə/ | If starts with vowel: Prefix spl- Else: Prefix splɔɪ- sploiplere /splɔɪˈplɛə/ |
Progressive aspect
The ‘progressive’ aspect refers to actions that are happening at the time of speaking, such as I am learning.
Oungcsian uses a standalone particle word for progressive:
| Progressive | Particle before the verb: hɔɪ - hoi plere /hɔɪ plɛə/ is learninɡ |
Habitual aspect
The ‘habitual’ aspect refers to actions that happen habitually, such as I learn (something new every day), as opposed to actions that happen once (I learned something).
Oungcsian uses a standalone particle word for habitual:
| Habitual | Particle before the verb: daɪ - dai plere /daɪ plɛə/ learns |
Perfect aspect
The perfect aspect in English is exemplified in ‘I have read this book’, which expresses an event that took place before the time spoken but which has an effect on or is in some way still relevant to the present.
Oungcsian uses an affix for the perfect aspect:
| Perfect | Prefix ʊ- ooplere /ʊˈplɛə/ have learned |
Numbers
Oungcsian has a base-10 number system:
1 - uled 2 - storsh 3 - seis 4 - cruge 5 - sploi 6 - eeved 7 - irched 8 - scrut 9 - aige 10 - bla 11 - uled crarned bla “one and ten” 100 - nai “hundred” 101 - nai uled “hundred one” 200 - storsh nai 1000 - smints “thousand”
Derivational morphology
Adjective → adverb = Prefix ɛ- Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = Prefix ɡlɪə- Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Prefix tɹɑː- Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix sp- Else: Prefix spɑː- Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Prefix snoʊ- Noun to verb = If starts with vowel: Prefix pl- Else: Prefix plɛə- Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix ɡ- Else: Prefix ɡʊ- Tending to = Prefix dɹʊ- Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix ʍ- Else: Prefix ʍɑː- Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = If starts with vowel: Prefix ɡl- Else: Prefix ɡlɪə- One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Prefix tɹɑː- Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = If starts with vowel: Prefix th- Else: Prefix theɪ- Diminutive = If starts with vowel: Prefix kw- Else: Prefix kwɑː- Augmentative = If starts with vowel: Prefix sl- Else: Prefix slɪə-
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