Erinian dialect of Erinevian

Spoken around Supki, particularly to the south-west. Some say this dialect may constitute a full language due to how much difference in word vocabularies and how words are constructed. Yet other linguistics point out that the grammar for sentence structure is almost verbatim that of Erinevian. It has similar consonants and vowels, but the sound changes, especially for certain consonants, has made the dialect very distinct. It is possible the vocabulary is from a now extinct language that got assimilated into the Erinevian phoneme and sentence structures. Also unlike its parent language, Erinian has vowel tones: mid, rising, and falling, which again hints at the influence of an now extinct language.
Most speakers of Erinian consider their dialect to be the actual mother tongue, from which Erinevian is derived. There is very little written evidence of Erinian exiting before it's parent language however.

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Grammar

Main word order: Subject Object (Prepositional phrase) Verb. “Mary opened the door with a key” turns into Mary the door with a key opened.
Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.
Adposition: prepositions

Grammar Basics

There are three number classes that are recognized as distinct in this language: singular, plural, and paucal. Articles are always placed before the word they reference.

Pronouns

	Singular	Plural	Paucal
1st person	on /on/ or za̖zra̖i,/zɑːˈzɹɑːi/ I, me, mine	nae /næ/ we, us, ours	az /ɑz/ few of us
2nd person	es̃ /eʨ/ or ñe,/ŋe/ you, yours	ev /ev/ you all, yours (pl)	ñou /ˈŋou/ few of you
3rd person	ta̖tra̖i /tʼɑːˈtʼɹɑːi/ or uq,/uqʼ/ he, she, him, her, his, hers, it, its	ñe̖ññe̖u /ŋeːŋˈŋeːu/ they, them, theirs	ñu̖ae /ˈŋuːæ/ few of them

Articles

	Singular	Plural	Paucal
Definite	t̰o̖ /ʦoː/ the	ato̖ /ˈɑtʼoː/ the	nu /nu/ few of the
Indefinite	ka /kʼɑ/ a	ko̖kño̖u /kʼoːkʼˈŋoːu/ some	rae /ɹæ/ few

Affixes

This language is aggulinative, as in affixes are added to the end of a root word to inflect it with class, number, tense, mood, aspect, etc.

Noun number

Singular	No affix s̃o̖ /ʨoː/ cat
Plural	Suffix -ætʼ s̃o̖aet /ˈʨoːætʼ/ cats
Paucal	If ends with vowel: Suffix -ʦ Else: Suffix -e s̃o̖t̰ /ʨoːʦ/ few cats

Noun Class

Nominative	No affix s̃o̖ /ʨoː/ cat (doing the verb)
Accusative	Suffix -ekʼ s̃o̖ek /ˈʨoːekʼ/ (verb done to) cat
Genitive	Suffix -uqʼ s̃o̖uq /ˈʨoːuqʼ/ catʼs
Illative	Suffix -oz s̃o̖oz /ˈʨoːoz/ into/toward (the/a) cat
Inessive	If ends with vowel: Suffix -tʼ Else: Suffix -æ s̃o̖t /ʨoːtʼ/ inside (the/a) cat
Elative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -v Else: Suffix -i s̃o̖v /ʨoːv/ out of (the/a) cat
Comitative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -n Else: Suffix -ɑ s̃o̖n /ʨoːn/ with (the/a) cat
Essive	Suffix -iʦ s̃o̖it̰ /ˈʨoːiʦ/ denotes period of time cat exists doing x
Locative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -qʼ Else: Suffix -ɑ s̃o̖q /ʨoːqʼ/ near/at/by (the/a) cat
Ablative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -s Else: Suffix -ɑ s̃o̖s /ʨoːs/ away from (the/a) cat
Instrumental	Suffix -eɹ s̃o̖er /ˈʨoːeɹ/ with/by (the/a) cat
Subessive	If ends with vowel: Suffix -n Else: Suffix -o s̃o̖n /ʨoːn/ under (the/a) cat
Superessive	Suffix -eʥ s̃o̖ez̃ /ˈʨoːeʥ/ on (the/a) cat
Temporal	Suffix -ɑʨ s̃o̖as̃ /ˈʨoːɑʨ/ when/at (the/a) cat

Numbers

Erinian has a base-10 number system:

1. 1 - ñoñno
2. 2 - s̃o̖ñvo̖
3. 3 - aroaño̖
4. 4 - ve
5. 5 - v̰uq
6. 6 - ot̰u̖ku
7. 7 - aesoku̖
8. 8 - s̃a̖t
9. 9 - ñaevu̖et̰o̖
10. 10 - aeraele

• Hundred - sovu̖aes̃
• Thousand - ena̖
• Million - rus̃o̖
• Billion - aru̖qohe
• Infinity - ze̖zre̖ima̖

Writing System

Spelling rules:

Pronunciation	Spelling
pʼ	p
ʣ	d
θ	f
ʋ	v̰
ɑː	a̖
ɑ	a
ɰ	j
tʼ	t
ɱ	m
ŋ	ñ
eː	e̖
kʼ	k
ħ	h
ʥ	z̃
ʨ	s̃
uː	u̖
u	u
i	i
oː	o̖
qʼ	q
ɹ	r
ʟ	ll
æ	ae
e	e
o	o
ʦ	t̰

Geographical Distribution

South-west of Supki and in sections of Supki itself due to migrations from earthquakes.

Phonology

Spelling & Phonology

Consonant inventory: kʼ l n pʼ qʼ s tʼ v w z ħ ŋ ɰ ɱ ɹ ʋ ʟ ʣ ʥ ʦ ʨ θ

↓Manner/Place→	Bilabial	Labiodental	Dental	Alveolar	Alveolo-palatal	Velar	Uvular	Pharyngeal
Nasal		ɱ		n		ŋ
Stop	pʼ			tʼ		kʼ	qʼ
Affricate				ʦ ʣ	ʨ ʥ
Fricative		v	θ	s z				ħ
Approximant		ʋ		ɹ		ɰ
Lateral approximant				l		ʟ

Co-articulated phonemes

↓Manner/Place→	Labial-velar
Approximant	w

Vowel inventory: e eː i o oː u uː æ ɑ ɑː

Tones: ̄ ̀ ̂ ̌  (mid, rising, falling) All vowels start out at mid tone, they change to rising or falling after certain consonants (those within the L and J phonemes) or at the end of a word.

	Front	Back
High	i	u uː
High-mid	e eː	o oː
Near-low	æ
Low		ɑ ɑː

Morphology

Derivational morphology

• Adjective → adverb = Prefix ɰi-
• Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = Suffix -ez
  
• Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Prefix le-
• Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -n Else: Suffix -e
  
• Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -ʦ Else: Suffix -æ
  
• Noun to verb = Suffix -uqʼ
• Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = Prefix pʼi-
  
• Tending to = Prefix ɹɑ-
  
• Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = Prefix ʟo-
  
• Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = Prefix ʦɑ-
  
• One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Suffix -okʼ
  
• Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -tʼ Else: Suffix -i
  
• Diminutive = If ends with vowel: Suffix -s Else: Suffix -i
  
• Verb → adjective (likely to do [verb]) = Prefix ɱe-
  
• Noun → verb (to create [noun]) = Prefix ʣe-
  
• Augmentative = Suffix -uɹ

Common Roots

These roots are combined with other words to create compound words.

• acce (accrete, add) : root = ɹɑːuɹθiv
• acti : root = ŋeːetʼæŋeː
• anti : root = oŋsɹuːekʼɑ
• aqua : root = ukʼoːtʼuː
• arach : root = iʦoːiŋɑːenɑ
• astro : root = oniŋo
• bari : root = ɑɹħŋɑː
• beaut : root = uɱɑːzuː
• bi : root = æʨoʥuː
• bio : root = uv
• boun : root = ɑŋoŋoː
• bureau : root = vŋɑːɰɑː
• cal : root = kʼɑːzŋuː
• cath : root = ɑŋsuː
• chan : root = æɱeːɰ
• chem : root = ŋæʨeːweʨ
• cir : root = suːve
• col : root = æʨɑːŋoː
• dia : root = tʼɑː
• dis : root = uɹoːʦɑn
• edi : root = ʨoveː
• em : root = ɑɹ
• epi : root = tʼekʼoʥɑ
• ex : root = ʋutʼzuː
• foc : root = oʦise
• frac : root = ŋŋeːikʼi
• gamma : root = pʼuv
• geo : root = noqʼʟoː
• gran : root = æɹɑː
• grav : root = iɹoːɹeːʦoː
• hab : root = zŋuːʦoː
• heli : root = ɹæʥeːʣoː
• indi : root = ɹozeɹ
• jus : root = neɱeː
• ki : root = iʥ
• lab : root = enɑːenu
• lang : root = ħiʥ
• li : root = sŋun
• lin : root = nuʥŋŋuːeleː
• loc : root = ɹukʼuv
• log : root = ætʼuæʥuː
• lum : root = ɑŋoːnoː
• lux : root = ɹoɑʦu
• mach : root = æʥɑqʼɑʣu
• mag : root = ɹokʼwoː
• mech : root = ŋeuneqʼeː
• medi : root = ono
• meme : root = uɹ
• merch : root = ikʼeɹoɰɑː
• meso : root = oʦu
• mid : root = tʼŋeːuŋ
• min : root = tʼɹuːineeɹ
• mod : root = oʦuvoŋ
• mole : root = eŋŋo
• mono : root = ʦeɹeːŋus
• morph : root = ɱɑːɑnɑ
• mosqui (stinging insect) : root = ʦuʦ
• mount : root = ɹuːozo
• mule (infertile beast) : root = kʼuː
• multi : root = ʣokʼe
• musi : root = ħuʦɹeːunu
• noc : root = oneŋ
• oct : root = vuːle
• org : root = eqʼɑ
• para : root = ɹæiqʼuː
• ped : root = sɹeːoqʼuː
• phys : root = æqʼɑː
• plasm : root = otʼuːuve
• plat : root = ɹæɑŋ
• pol (type of) : root = oɹnnuː
• poly : root = uɹoːħu
• prag : root = tʼɑʟiv
• pro : root = iʦɑːeʦ
• psych : root = ɹuːnus
• quad : root = ŋkʼuːħuː
• quant : root = nuʥtʼuː
• sapro : root = utʼetʼuː
• scalar : root = ɑʣi
• sec : root = ʦuwiθɑz
• sib : root = iŋɹuːʥækʼ
• spec : root = ŋpʼi
• stat : root = ɑɹqʼpʼoʦ
• stub : root = æŋæŋ
• sub : root = oʦuzeː
• sup : root = ʨuʦʨ
• sus : root = ɹivoː
• sym : root = ɹoseːino
• tech : root = esuːŋɹi
• tele : root = ŋeːtʼæqʼeː
• temp : root = ise
• ultra : root = ʨeeɹeː
• uni : root = ɑʨæotʼ
• veg : root = æʨeːese
• vio : root = ŋukʼʦuː
• yester : root = uʨuɹæθuː
• zygo : root = lætʼekʼeː
• neut : root = eɹɹæqʼe

Phonetics

Phonemes:
C = pʼ qʼ kʼ tʼ ʋ w ɹ ɰ ħ ʦ ʨ ʣ ʥ s z n ɱ l ʟ ŋ θ v
L = qʼ kʼ tʼ ɹ ʦ ʨ ʥ s z n v
J = ɹ ŋ
V = i e æ ɑ o u
X = oː eː ɑː uː
Word Construction Phoneme Sets:
S = CV VCV VJ CX VCX
T = LV VL CVL VLV LX VLX
W = JV LJX CJX J JX VJX L C
Allowed constructions of the sets:

• S
• T
• SS
• TT
• ST
• TS
• WT
• WS
• TW
• SW
• SWT
• TWS
• WST
• WTS
• pronoun = VL OR WV
• determiner = T OR WV

When compared to Erinevian the sound changes are as follows:

Sound changes (in order of application):

• The first consonant and second consonant will tend toward a vowel between them unless the consonant is of the J phoneme class
• the ʟ - spelled as ll - this sound will change toward a stop or ejective sound such as g'
• n will adjust its sound to match the area of mouth of the consonant before it
• θ, spelled as f, will tend toward an h when before an a or an e but not after an o
• ʥ and dz, these two sounds tend toward a j or z sound at the start of a word
• unvoiced nasal consonants are often dropped
• The first consonant and vowel of a word is often repeated, especially for certain nouns, adjectives, and verbs

Tenses

Verbs

The affix for a verb are added to the infinitive form in the following order: -Mood -Aspect -Tense
This differs from Erinevian proper as the tense is placed first before the mood or aspect affixes.

Verb tense

Past	If ends with vowel: Suffix -n Else: Suffix -i ote̖ri /oˈtʼeːɹi/ learned
Present	No affix ote̖r /ˈotʼeːɹ/ learn
Future	Prefix tʼɑ- taote̖r /tʼɑˈotʼeːɹ/ will learn

Verb mood

Indicative	Suffix -un ote̖run /oˈtʼeːɹun/ factual statement or witnessed observation
Conditional	Suffix -iʦ ote̖rit̰ /oˈtʼeːɹiʦ/ event is conditional on something else
Subjunctivei	If ends with vowel: Suffix -qʼ Else: Suffix -i ote̖ri /oˈtʼeːɹi/ hypothetical situations
Subjunctiveii	Suffix -ɑʦ ote̖rat̰ /oˈtʼeːɹɑʦ/ expressing emotions or how the body feels
Subjunctiveiii	Suffix -uʨ ote̖rus̃ /oˈtʼeːɹuʨ/ expressing opinions
Imperative	Suffix -æz ote̖raez /oˈtʼeːɹæz/ commands
Optative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -s Else: Suffix -u ote̖ru /oˈtʼeːɹu/ expressing wishes or hopes
Potential	If ends with vowel: Suffix -tʼ Else: Suffix -u ote̖ru /oˈtʼeːɹu/ probability something will happen
Presumptive	If ends with vowel: Suffix -v Else: Suffix -ɑ ote̖ra /oˈtʼeːɹɑ/ expressing a hypothesis or statement that is not factual
Presumptivei	Suffix -itʼ ote̖rit /oˈtʼeːɹitʼ/ expressing doubt or concern
Inferential	Suffix -ɑv ote̖rav /oˈtʼeːɹɑv/ reporting on event without confirming it
Interrogative	Suffix -oz ote̖roz /oˈtʼeːɹoz/ expressing a question

Verb aspect

Perfective	Suffix -iz ote̖riz /oˈtʼeːɹiz/ learn
Habitual	Prefix ʦo- t̰oote̖r /ʦoˈotʼeːɹ/ learn (often)
Continuous	Suffix -eqʼ ote̖req /oˈtʼeːɹeqʼ/ learning
Perfect	If ends with vowel: Suffix -n Else: Suffix -e ote̖re /oˈtʼeːɹe/ have learned
Cessative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -ʥ Else: Suffix -o ote̖ro /oˈtʼeːɹo/ done learning
Ingressive	Suffix -oʦ ote̖rot̰ /oˈtʼeːɹoʦ/ start learning

Sentence Structure

The can ran down the road.
Erinian: t̰o̖ s̃o̖ lo̖tzo̖ t̰o̖ aqazre̖pez̃ez̃ t̰os̃ire̖uz̃a̖uni
Pronunciation: /ʦoː ʨoː ˈloːtʼzoː ʦoː ɑˌqʼɑzɹeːˈpʼeʥeʥ ʦoˌʨiɹeːˌuʥɑːˈuni/
Gloss:

t̰o̖	s̃o̖	lo̖tzo̖	t̰o̖	aqazre̖pez̃ez̃	t̰os̃ire̖uz̃a̖uni
The	cat-SG:N-NOM:N	down	the	road-SUP:N	run-IND:PART-HAB:V-PST:V

• SG = singular
• N = noun
• NOM = Nominative class
• SUP = Superessive class
• IND = Indicative Mood
• HAB = Habitual Aspect
• PST = Past
• V = Verb

Adjective Order

Adjective number

Singular	No affix t̰eot̰ /ˈʦeoʦ/
Plural	Prefix kʼu- kut̰eot̰ /kʼuˈʦeoʦ/
Paucal	Suffix -ekʼ t̰eot̰ek /ʦeˈoʦekʼ/

Adjective affixes

Adjective affixes will always match the class of the noun that it references. The following is using the word "big" as an example.

Nominative	No affix t̰eot̰ /ˈʦeoʦ/
Accusative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -z Else: Suffix -u t̰eot̰u /ʦeˈoʦu/
Genitive	Suffix -okʼ t̰eot̰ok /ʦeˈoʦokʼ/
Illative	If ends with vowel: Suffix -qʼ Else: Suffix -u t̰eot̰u /ʦeˈoʦu/
Inessive	If ends with vowel: Suffix -ɹ Else: Suffix -ɑ t̰eot̰a /ʦeˈoʦɑ/
Elative	Prefix wɑ- wat̰eot̰ /wɑˈʦeoʦ/
Comitative	Suffix -eʦ t̰eot̰et̰ /ʦeˈoʦeʦ/
Essive	If ends with vowel: Suffix -tʼ Else: Suffix -u t̰eot̰u /ʦeˈoʦu/
Locative	Suffix -ɑʦ t̰eot̰at̰ /ʦeˈoʦɑʦ/
Ablative	Suffix -iz t̰eot̰iz /ʦeˈoʦiz/
Instrumental	Suffix -ɑʥ t̰eot̰az̃ /ʦeˈoʦɑʥ/
Subessive	If ends with vowel: Suffix -ʥ Else: Suffix -o t̰eot̰o /ʦeˈoʦo/
Superessive	Prefix ʣu- dut̰eot̰ /ʣuˈʦeoʦ/
Temporal	Suffix -æs t̰eot̰aes /ʦeˈoʦæs/

Dictionary

9140 Words.

Root Languages

• Erinevian

Common Unisex Names

• Uko̖wra̖ /uˈkʼoːwɹɑː/
• Ira̖ra̖ /iˈɹɑːɹɑː/
• Ra̖reaz̃ae /ˌɹɑːɹeˈɑʥæ/
• Ov̰a̖or /oˈʋɑːoɹ/
• Re̖alu̖ /ɹeːˈɑluː/
• Ra̖rsa̖rus̃ /ɹɑːɹˈsɑːɹuʨ/
• Wuaevae /wuˈævæ/