Perlisian

Writing System

Perlisian uses a phonemic abugida, where each consonant carries an inherent vowel (/a/). Other vowels are marked with diacritics placed above, below, or next to the consonant. The script is written left to right (LTR) and features a structured yet calligraphic aesthetic.

Structure of the Script

Consonant-Vowel System:

• Each consonant symbol has an inherent /a/ vowel.
• Other vowels are written using diacritic marks.
• Standalone vowels have their own full-sized letters.

Final Consonants:

• Only /r, l, n, s/ can appear word-finally.
• Final consonants are written as full-sized letters.
• Final voiced stops devoice (e.g., /d/ → /t/, /g/ → /k/), and a diacritic marks this change in writing.

Consonant Clusters & Ligatures:

• All consonant clusters merge into ligatures to maintain fluidity.
• Ligatures are optional in casual writing but common in formal texts.

Aesthetic & Cultural Influence:

• The script balances elegance and precision, with straight lines and artistic curves.
• There is no division between sacred and everyday writing—all texts use the same script.

Phonology

Vowels

Perlisian has seven vowel phonemes:

Front	Central	Back
/i, y/	---	/u/
/e/	---	/o/
/ɛ/	/a/	/ɔ/

Diphthongs:

• Perlisian features two diphthongs: /eɪ/ and /aɪ/.
• These diphthongs trigger palatalization of velar consonants (/k, g, x/ → /c, ɟ, ç/).
• Hiatus is allowed (not all vowel sequences merge into diphthongs).
• Vowel length is not phonemic, though stressed vowels may sound slightly longer.

Unstressed Vowel Reduction:

• In casual speech, unstressed vowels weaken slightly but remain distinct.

Consonants

Perlisian features 22 consonant phonemes:

Labial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Plosives	/p b/	/t d/	---	/k g/
Fricatives	/f v/	/s z/	/ʃ ʒ/	/x ɣ/
Affricates	---	/t͡s d͡z/	/t͡ʃ d͡ʒ/	---
Nasals	/m/	/n/	---	---
Liquids	---	/l, r/	---	---
Glides	/w/	/j/	---	---

Phonological Rules

Gemination: All consonants except /z/ can be doubled (geminate):

• Geminates occur only between vowels (never at the beginning or end of words).
• Geminate consonants are held longer, creating a rhythmic effect in speech.

Rhotics:

• /r/ is a trill at the beginning of words and in geminates.
• Otherwise, it taps [ɾ] in casual speech.

Palatalization:

• /x/ and /ɣ/ change depending on the following vowel:
• Before front vowels (/i, e/): /x, ɣ/ → /ç, ʝ/.
• Before back vowels (/a, o, u/): They remain /x/ and /ɣ/.

Consonant Clusters:

• Word-initial clusters are common.
• Mid-word clusters follow syllabic rules.
• No final consonant clusters—words end in vowels or a single consonant.

Final Stop Devoicing:

• Word-final voiced stops devoice.

Syllable Structure

• Preferred: (C)V(C).
• Perlisian prefers open syllables ending in vowels, but allows final /r l n s/.
• Glides /w/ and /j/ are common.

Stress & Intonation

Stress is fully phonemic—it can change word meaning.

Intonation is melodic, with a natural rising-falling pattern.

• Yes/no questions: Rising pitch at the end.
• Statements: Falling intonation.

Morphology

Nouns

Number: Singular and plural.

Plural Formation:

• Singular words never contain plural vowels and vice versa.
• Plural vowels shift as follows: /o, a, e/ → /i, e, i/

Articles:

• Definite: il (m. sg.), la (f. sg.), i (m. pl.), le (f. pl.)
• Indefinite: un, una (no plural indefinite article).
• Plural indefinite is implied.

Possession

• No indefinite possession—the definite article is always used.
• Expressed with possessive adjectives instead of genitive case.

Adjectives

• Agree with nouns in number but not in gender.

Verbs

Perlisian verbs conjugate for:

• Person (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
• Number (Singular, Plural)
• Tense (Present, Past Imperfect, Simple Past, Future, Conditional, Subjunctive, Imperative)
• Aspect (Completed vs. Ongoing)
• Mood (Indicative, Subjunctive, Conditional, Imperative)

Three Conjugation Classes

• /-are/ verbs
• /-ere/ verbs
• /-ire/ verbs

Subjunctive System (Limited Tenses):

• Exists only in key tenses: Present Subjunctive; Past Imperfect Subjunctive; Future Subjunctive; Simple Past Subjunctive
• Conditional and Perfect Subjunctives do not exist—circumlocution is used.

Pronouns

• Subject pronouns are usually omitted due to verb inflection.
• Pronouns are used for emphasis or clarity.
• Clitic pronouns are always separate words and must precede the verb.

Negation

• Marked with a suffix on the verb (rather than a separate word).
• Clitic pronouns remain before the verb, and negation is applied to the verb stem.

Syntax

Word Order

• Strict SVO (Subject-Verb-Object).

Adjective Placement:

• Default: Adjectives come after nouns.
• For emphasis: Adjectives can come before nouns.

Pronouns:

• Subject pronouns are usually omitted due to verb inflection.
• Pronouns are used for emphasis or clarity.
• Clitic pronouns are always separate words and must precede the verb.

Relative Clauses:

• Perlisian has invariant relative pronoun /ke/ for "who/that/which."
• Number is indicated by other words (articles, verbs).

Subordinate Clauses:

• Perlisian has a unique conjunction /to/ for "that."
• Used in declarative clauses.

Question Formation:

• Yes/no questions: Intonation only (no word order change).
• WH-questions: Interrogative words at the beginning.

Vocabulary

Nouns

Names

Native Anglicised	Perlisian Anglicised	Perlisian IPA
Perlé	Perlé	/pɛr.lɛ/
Nikolic	Nicolék	/nicolɛk/
Kyirnet Ronikolic	Cyrnet	/cɪrnɛt/
Kyirnetana Ronikolic	Cyrnetan	/cɪrnɛtan/
Rynadye Ronikolic	Rinajé	/rinad͡ʒɛ/
Rongyonikolic	Ronyonicolék	/roɲonicolɛk/

Successor Languages

• Common

Spoken by

• Perlisian