Catharian

This is the primary language of the Cathar tribes that are scattered across known space. It is the general term that encompasses both the root language and the dialects spoken by each Cathar tribe.
The language itself has a musical sound that developed out of the ancient custom of singing laws and history in their oral traditions and culture. Now, when spoken, the tone can play as much a part in the communication of a word as the word itself.

Writing System

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In the written form, Catharian evolved from the practice of knot tying and braiding. Each 'letter' is a symbol derived from a knot or a particular twist of a braid in a chain.
When written, each letter represents both a sound and a meaning.

Phonology

Note: consonants and vowels and other letters are presented in Galactic Basic instead of the native Cathar braid language for brevity and understanding.
Consonant inventory
/ h k l m n p ʋ ʔ/
(Note: 'ʋ' sounds like a 'w' and 'ʔ' sounds like 'ah')

Stress pattern
Penultimate — stress is on the second last syllable
Word initial consonants
h, k, l, m, n, p, ʋ, ʔ
Mid-word consonants
h, k, l, m, n, p, ʋ, ʔ
Word final consonants
N/A
Vowel inventory
/a ae ai ao au aː e ei eu eː i iu iː o oi ou oː u uː/
Diphthongs
ae, ai, ao, au, ei, eu, iu, oi, ou

Morphology

Definite article
No definite article.
Indefinite article
No indefinite article.
Plurals
Plurals are determined by context with "counter" words such as "a few" or "various".
Perfect aspect ( i.e. ‘have studied’ ): No perfect aspect.
Progressive aspect (i.e. ‘am studying’): Uses the word for ‘be’ before main verb.
Noun morphology

Verb morphology

Personal Prounouns

Imperative (i.e. ‘study!’ , as a command ):

• First person: Prefix: pou- /pou-/
• Second person: Prefix: p(a)- /p(a)-/

Negation
Prefix on verb: a- /aː-/
Tense affixes come between the root verb and the negative affix.
Derivational morphology
Adjective → noun = prefix nai-
Noun → adjective = prefix la-
Noun → verb = prefix lao-
Verb → noun = prefix lai-
Verb → adjective = prefix la-
Adjective → adverb = prefix lai-
One who Xs (e.g. paint → painter) = prefix lae-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = prefix ma-
Diminutive = prefix la-
Augmentative = prefix ha-

Syntax

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Main word order: Subject-Object-Oblique-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: postpositions

Vocabulary

Contents

• Common Phrases
• Syntax
• Vocabulary
• Alphabet

Dictionary

3883 Words.

Common Phrases

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pahae

pronunciation /paa-hay/
hello

ne ke‘oihai a

pronunciation /nee kee'ohiay A/
Thank you. My thanks to you.

kaki

pronunciation /kaakEE/
no (as an interjection)

moine

pronunciation /moine/
no (as a determiner)

laovei

pronunciation /laoveye/
yes

naomo

pronunciation /nayeomo/
stop ( also used for arrest )

la'hahaekimo lumaovai Kitlik la'nelai

pronunciation /lah hahehkemo loomaoveye Ketlek laa nelay/
"Beating the grass to startle the Kitlik" or to agitate/flush someone or something out of hiding

naomao haoki nainai haumemai meu kaupaihaelae!

pronunciation /naomao haoke naynay haoomemay meoo kaoopayhaelae/
"Big stupid pile of stinking meat!" or a general insult about a person's current worth at a given moment

vai kailae hiu?

pronunciation /wae kaelae heoo/
Do we have an understanding? Do you get it?