Abyssal

Writing System

Abyssal uses a featural alphabetic writing system in which similar phonemes share visual elements. The script is written from bottom to top, with letters stacking vertically to form words. Instead of spaces, a special word divider symbol separates words. Sentence structure is inferred from context, so punctuation is unnecessary.

Phonetic Structure & Representation

• Alphabetic: Each phoneme has a distinct symbol.
• Featural Design: Shared phonetic properties (e.g., voicing, aspiration, clicks) influence glyph design.
• Clicks: Click consonants have unique symbols.
• Vowels: Vowels are separate letters rather than diacritics.

Writing Direction

• Bottom-to-top: Abyssal is read vertically from bottom to top.
• Letter Stacking: Letters are arranged in vertical stacks.
• Word Division: A special divider symbol separates words.
• No Punctuation:Sentence structure is clear from word order and meaning.

Numeral System

Abyssal uses a Base-6 numeral system:

• Numbers 1-9 have unique symbols.
• Numbers greater than 9 are written using combinations of the symbol for 1-6.

Proper Name Markers

Proper names are preceded by special markers that indicate respect, neutrality, or derogation. Some markers replace the name entirely.

Respectful Markers

Marker	Meaning
Ruler Marker	Used for high-ranking leaders
Heroic Marker	Used for warriors, champions, honored individuals
Familial Marker	Shows deep personal respect for a relative
Friendly Marker	Indicates casual, friendly respect

Neutral Markers

Marker	Meaning
Generic Marker	Used when no special respect or insult is intended
Unknown Marker	Replaces the name when it is unknown, forgotten, or deliberately obscured

Derogatory Markers

Marker	Meaning
Mocking Marker	Used for mocking and mild insults
Dishonored Marker	Used for traitors or disgraced individuals
Deceased Marker	Used when referencing the dead with disrespect

Special Markers

Marker	Meaning
Mythic Marker	Replaces the proper name for Ux

Phonology

Consonant Inventory

Abyssal has a rich phonological system featuring a diverse set of consonants, vowels, and a high-low tonal distinction. The language allows a wide range of phonemic contrasts, including the rare feature of clicks in all syllable positions.

Clicks

Abyssal has four primary click types, all of which can carry various accompaniments such as voicing, aspiration, or nasalization:

• Dental Clicks: /ǀ/ (as in a "tsk" sound against the teeth)
• Alveolar Clicks: /ǀ̟/ (a sharp, central click)
• Lateral Clicks: /ǁ/ (tongue clicks made at the side of the mouth)
• Postalveolar Clicks: /ǃ/ (a strong "pop" sound)

Clicks may be voiced, aspirated, or nasalized. Clicks can appear in all positions, including word-initial, medial, and coda positions. They can also occur in consonant clusters and undergo environmental changes, such as /ǃ/ → /ǁ/ before certain vowels.

Stops

Abyssal distinguishes between voiceless and voiced stops, as well as aspirated variants:

• Voiceless: /p, t, k/
• Voiced: /b, d, g/
• Aspirated: /pʰ, tʰ, kʰ/

Interaction with Clicks: Voiced clicks trigger voicing in adjacent stops, while aspirated clicks trigger aspiration in a following stop. (e.g., /gǃta/ → [gǃda], /kǃʰta/ → [kǃʰtʰa].)

Affricates

Abyssal includes the following affricates:

• Voiceless: /tʃ/ (as in "ch" in chat)
• Voiced: /dʒ/ (as in "j" in judge)

Fricatives

Both voiceless and voiced fricatives are present:

• Voiceless: /f, s, ʃ, x, h/
• Voiced: /v, z, ʒ/

Laterals and Nasals

• Lateral Approximant: /l/
• Lateral Fricative: /ɮ/ (contrasts with /l/ in all positions)
• Nasals: /m, n, ŋ/

Vowel Inventory

Abyssal has a simple five-vowel system:

• /i, e, a, o, u/

Vowels do not harmonize or change tone in any context.

Tonal System

Abyssal employs a high-low tonal system, where tone can distinguish word meanings. Tones apply at the syllabic level and can spread due to tonal interactions:

• Aspirated stops tend to raise the tone of the following vowel.
• Voiced clicks tend to lower the pitch of adjacent syllables.

Syllable Structure and Phonotactics

• Allowed syllable structures: (C)V(C) and CCV.
• Clicks can appear in any position within a syllable, including codas.
• Any consonant can appear in coda position.

Phonological Rules

Click Voicing Spreads to Adjacent Stops

• Voiced clicks cause adjacent stops to become voiced.
• Aspirated clicks cause aspiration in a following stop.

Click Alternations

• /ǃ/ → /ǁ/ before certain vowels.

Tonal Influence from Consonants

• Aspirated stops raise pitch.
• Voiced clicks lower pitch.

Morphology

Abyssal is a morphologically rich language with noun class suffixes, reduplication-based pluralization, and auxiliary-driven verb tense/aspect marking.

Noun Class System

Abyssal features 15 noun classes, each associated with a specific semantic category. Noun class markers appear as suffixes, and plurality is marked by reduplicating the suffix rather than the entire word.

Noun Classes & Suffixes

Class	Category
1	People
2	Animals
3	Natural Elements
4	Abstract Concepts
5	Body Parts
6	Tools & Weapons
7	Small Objects
8	Large Objects
9	Groups & Collectives
10	Magic Items
11	Liquids & Substances
12	Spells & Enchantments
13	Time & Events
14	Locations & Places
15	Borrowed & Foreign Words

Note: Class 11 (Magic Items): Includes legendary swords, sentient objects, and all magical artifacts (even if they possess intelligence).

Pronoun System

Abyssal uses class-specific pronouns, which correspond to the noun class of the referent. Plural pronouns are formed by reduplicating the singular pronoun.

Pronoun Table

Class	Category	Singular Pronoun	Plural Pronoun
1	People	/ti/	/titi/
2	Animals	/su/	/susu/
3	Natural Elements	/ke/	/keke/
4	Abstract Concepts	/no/	/nono/
5	Body Parts	/mi/	/mimi/
6	Tools & Weapons	/si/	/sisi/
7	Small Objects	/li/	/lili/
8	Large Objects	/la/	/lala/
9	Groups & Collectives	/za/	/zaza/
10	Mythical & Sacred Beings	/ʃa/	/ʃaʃa/
11	Magic Items	/sa/	/sasa/
12	Spells	/pa/	/papa/
13	Time & Events	/ka/	/kaka/
14	Locations & Places	/ma/	/mama/
15	Borrowed & Foreign Words	/fa/	/fafa/
—	Unknown Noun Class	/ta/	/tata/

Verb Morphology

Abyssal verbs do not conjugate for tense or person. Instead, tense, aspect, and negation are expressed using auxiliary words that follow the verb.

Auxiliaries

Meaning	Auxiliary
Past	/ka/
Present	/ta/
Future	/na/
Progressive	/su/
Completed	/ru/
Negation	/mi/

Verb & Adjective Reduplication

• Reduplication marks plurality in verbs and adjectives.
• Verb and noun reduplication occur independently.

Possession

Abyssal marks possession using word order or possessive particles.

Structure	Example	Meaning
Juxtaposition	Ti sati-sa.	"Their spear."
Particle Possession	Ti ne sati-sa.	"The spear of them (person)."

Syntax

Word Order

Abyssal follows a strict SVO-Auxiliary word order:

• Standard sentence: Ti faya ta. → "They (person) are fighting."
• With negation: Ti faya mi. → "They (person) did not fight."

Negation is expressed using auxiliary words that follow the verb. Negation only applies to the nearest verb.

Possession

• Either juxtaposition or particles indicate possession.

Serial Verb Constructions

• Abyssal allows unrestricted verb serialization, meaning multiple verbs can occur in sequence without conjunctions.
• Subjects can change within a serialized verb chain.
• Negation applies only to the verb it follows.

Questions

• Wh-questions place the question word at the beginning, but verbs do not change form.
• No other elements shift in question formation.

Successor Languages

• Infernal