Dwarfish language

## Grammar

### Word Forms

Verb forms are given in five forms: the quick active, the fat active, the imperative active, the quick passive, and the fat passive.

### Nouns

 Comitative-Genitive
 Instrumental
 Allative
 Dative
 Ergative
 Equative (also essive and similative)
 Locative

The plural is formed by reduplicating the last syllable

Nouns in Dwarfish have a special collective declension.  The seemingly singular noun refers to the objects as an undistinguished mass.  The singular is formed by adding the suffix -iya, which forms the so-called singulative.  The singulative form can be pluralized with the meaning of "different kinds of ...". (When more than 10 objects are counted, Dwarfish requires the noun to be in the singular.)

* **Example:** sakiddaḥ, “poems (in general); poetry”; sakkidaḥiya, “a poem”; sakkidaḥdaḥ, “these poems”; sakkidaḥiyaya, “a group of different kinds of poems”

### Verbs

A total of 13 forms exist for each of the two stems, specifying person (first, second or third); number (singular, dual or plural); and gender (masculine or feminine).

There are six separate moods in the non-past: indicative, imperative, subjunctive, jussive, short energetic and long energetic.

Anything that would, in other languages, be in the 2nd person is instead expressed as either an imperative or in the 1st person plural ("you" becomes "we")

 3rd person indicative
 1st person energetic
 3rd person energetic
 1st person jussive
 3rd person jussive
 1st person subjunctive
 3rd person subjunctive

### Conjunctions

* **aglut:** yet; but at the same time; but nonetheless
* **musk:** but
* **vas:** so
* **vil:** and
* **vilmus:** nor

### Prepositions

* **abat:** behind
* **bil:** above
* **dows:** on
* **dugus:** beside
* **heer:** to
* **heermot:** through
* **glot:** after
* **kagil:** for
* **kil:** below
* **kus:** in
* **mud:** under
* **nos:** with
* **taglat:** before

### Suffixes

* **-eul** */øːl/***:** indicates the action of the noun is being given to the following word
* **-lar:** our

#### Honorific suffixes

##### -gun /gʌn/

-Gun is an honorific suffix used by dwarfs of senior status addressing or referring to those of junior status, by anyone addressing or referring to male children or male teenagers, or among male friends.  It can be used by males or females when addressing a male whom they are emotionally attached to or have known for a long time.

Although -gun is generally used for boys, it is not a hard rule.  For example, -gun can be used to name a close personal friend or family member of any gender.  It can also be used by male teachers addressing their female students.

'-Gun' can mean different things depending on the gender.  "-Gun" for females is a more respectful name than calling them cute.  -Gun isn't only used to address females formally; it can also be used for a very close friend or family member.  Calling a female '-gun' is not insulting, and can also mean that the person is respected, although that is not the normal implication.  Sisters with the same name, such as '???,' may be differentiated by calling one '???-dam' and the other '???-gun.'  '-dam' and '-gun' sometimes mean similar things. Rarely, '-gun' means "sweet and kind."

##### -dam /dɑm/

-Dam is a diminutive suffix; it expresses that the speaker finds a person endearing.  In general, -dam is used for babies, young children, grandparents and teenagers.  It may also be used towards cute animals, lovers, close friends, any youthful woman, or between friends.  Using -dam with a superior's name is considered to be condescending and rude.

Although traditionally, honorifics are not applied to oneself, some dwarfs adopt the childish affectation of referring to themselves in the third person using -dam (childish because it suggests that one has not learned to distinguish between names used for oneself and names used by others).  For example, a young dwarf woman named ??? might call herself ???-dam rather than using a first person pronoun.  "-Dam" is only used between people who have known each other for a long time or who are of the same gender.  Otherwise, using this for someone, especially adults, only known for a short period of time, can be seen as offensive.

##### -ḥild /ħɪld/

-Ḥild is the most commonplace honorific and is a title of respect typically used between equals of any age.  Although the closest analog in English are the honorifics "Mr.", "Miss", "Ms.", or "Mrs.", -ḥild is almost universally added to a person's name; "-ḥild" can be used in formal and informal contexts and for dwarfs of any gender.  Because it is the most common honorific, it is also the most often used to convert common nouns into proper ones, as seen below.

-Ḥild may be used in combination with workplace nouns, so a bookseller might be addressed or referred to as ???-ḥild ("bookstore" + -ḥild) and a butcher as ???-ḥild ("butcher's shop" +-ḥild).

-Ḥild can be attached to the names of animals or even inanimate objects. For example, a pet rabbit might be called nutowr-ḥild /nʌʔʌurħɪld/, and fish used for cooking can be referred to as ???-ḥild, but both would be considered childish (akin to "Mr. Fish" in English) and would be avoided in formal speech.  Married dwarfs always refer to their spouse with -ḥild.

Due to -ḥild being gender neutral and commonly used, it can be used to refer to people who are not close or to whom one does not know.  However, it may not be appropriate when using it on someone who is close or when it is clear that other honorifics should be used.

## Root Vocabulary

**WhNT**

**WhW'**, things related to the sea

* *Form I base verb:* **whawa'a, yawhwu'u, uwhu'u, whuwi'a, yuwhwa'u**, "to slit, to cut lengthwise; to split; to enlarge, to make wide"
* *Form II denominative verb:* **whawwa'ash, yuwhawwi', whawwi'ash, whuwwi'a, yuwhawwa'**, "to travel by sea, to take a voyage"
* *Form III verb of co-participatory action:* **whawa'a, yuwhawi', whawi'u, whuwi'a, yuwhawa'**, "to stretch with or against; to put into poetic meter, to learn by questions or arguments"
* *Form IV causative transitive verb:* **awhwa'a, yuwhwi'u, awhwi'ow, uwhwi'a, yuwhwa'u**, "to send (someone) far away; to see (someone) off on a sea voyage; to inspire (someone) to a course of study"
* *Form V reflexive verb:* **whawhawwa'a, yawhawhawwa', whawhawwa', djuwhuwwi', yuwhawhawwa'**, "to penetrate deeply, to delve into; to study (subject) thoroughly" [relies on the metaphor of learning as "widening one's knowledge" and as a journey]
* *Form VI reciprocal verb:* **whawhawa'a, yawhawhawa', whawhawa', djuwhuwi', yuwhawhawa'**, "to stretch between; to play poetry games together; to study together"
* *Form I verbal noun:* **whwi'** /xʍwɪʕ/, "sea"

**KLS**, things related to food

**KLNg**, things related to bells

**KLY**, things related to left-handedness

**KLR**, things related to bread

**KNZ**, things related to darkvision

**KGM**, things related to giving

**KHN**, things related to brightness and glittering

**KYG**, things related to the number five

**KRK**, things related to scouts and scouting

**KRN**, things related to enemies and hating

**KRM**, things related to bags

**KR'**, things related to farness

**KTN**, things related to cutting

* *Passive participle:* **beekteun** /biːktøːn/, "that which has been cut; having been cut"

**KChL**, things related to caps and hats

**KSG**, things related to cheese

**KSKh**, things related to walking

**KZN**, things related to war

**KThR**, things related to the number four

**K'S**, things related to ugliness

**K'Ch**, things related to heads

* *Root noun:* **ka'ch** /kɑʕʧ/, "head"

**LWh'**, things related to earth

**LKS**, things related to light

**LGhM**, things related to teardrops

**LND**, things related to luck

**LBR**, things related to freedom and teaching

**LSS**

**LTT**, things related to embroidery

**NLD**

**NYR**, things related to axes

**NTR**, things related to rabbits

* *??:* **nutowr** /nʌʔʌur/, "rabbit"

**NWS**, things related to swords

**NWR**, things related to gems, color, and painting

**NMS**, things related to consequences

**N'R**, things related to bravery

**N'Y**, things related to whiteness

**N''**, things related to stone

**GWhN**, things related to green

**GWhM**, things related to steel

**GLD**, things related to ??

**GLS**, things related to day

**GLM**, things related to healing

**GND**, things related to calling (as in magic?)

**GNR**, things related to gnomes

**GRK**, things related to being raised

* *Form XII active participle:* **garuki**, "youth, adolescent"
* *Form XXI noun of place:* **thugrakaḥ**, "??"

**GRN**, things related to poison

**GRM**, things related to beards

**GST**, things related to meat

**GS'**, things related to going

**GWL**, things related to goodness

**DWhR**

* *Form XV noun:* **adawhra**, "dwarf"

**DNR**, things related to monarchs

**DGN**, things related to dragons

**DG'**, things related to mustard/spice

**DḤR**, things related to the sky

**DH'**, things related to the number two

**DSK**, things related to bulkiness

**DSM**, things related to celestials

**DMK**, things related to anvils

**DMTh**, things related to ??

**DR'**, things related to iron

**DWG**, things related to smartness

**DWR**, things related to shields

**D'K**, things related to strength

**D'G**, things related to nearness and closeness

**ḤLD**, things related to ??

**ḤLM**, things related to taking

**ḤRN**, things related to the number one

**ḤGS**, things related to cabbage rolls

**ḤRM**, things related to humans

**BYKh**

* *??:* **byakhee** /bjɑxiː/, "the aberration dwarfs who die of old age become"

**BRT**, things related to demons

* *Form XV intensive noun:* **baragan** /bɑrɑgɑn/, "blind person"

**BRT**, things related to demons

**BT'**, things related to hems and borders

**BWTh**, things related to winning

**B'R**, things related to the color red

**SKD**, things related to experiencing

* *Root noun:* **sakdaḥ** /sɑkdɑħ/, "self, truth, reality, essence, poetry"
* *Form I noun of place:* **thuskad** /θʌskɑd/, "warrior-poet-saint, truth-exemplar, experiencer of Ultimate Reality" *(lit., “the place where truth happens”)*

**SKZ**, things related to a type of stew

**SLG**, things related to ??

**SNTh**, things related to clans and swarms

**SGR**, things related to being untouched, free from conflict, transcendent, beyond corruption, to be a sanctuary; to be sacred, holy, sanctified

* *Form XV intensive noun:* **sagaran** /sɑgɑrɑn/, ???
* *Form XXI noun of place:* **thusgaraḥ** /θʌsgɑrɑħ/, "sanctuary, shrine"

**SPN**, things related to hanging or causing to hang

**SRY**, things related to bronze

**SRS**, things related to sourness

**SRCh**, things related to shawls

**SGh'**, things related to ??

**NgGR**, things related to ??

**NgDR**, things related to mithril

**NgRL**

**FLS**, things related to scrolls and writing

**FL'**, things related to rope and twisting

**FRL**, things related to leather

**FRN**

**FRS**, things related to animals

**FR'**, things related to bigness

**FT'**, things related to skirts

**HNN**

**HNNg**, things related to halflings

**HRN**, things related to rain

**HRM**, things related to clerics and priests

**HRT**, things related to fewness

**YS'**, things related to serving

* *??:* **yas'**, "servant"

**YR'**, things related to the color yellow

**YRL**, things related to leading

**RLNg**,

**RGL**, things related to chests

**RHJ**

**RYS**

**RY'**

**RWR**, things related to stripes

**RM'**, things related to speaking

**R'S**, things related to weapons

**R'Sh**, things related to spears

**TLN**

**TLR**, things related to fire

**TNG**, things related to bows

**TGY**, things related to wool

**TḤS**, things related to thieves

**TSR**, things related to pants and trousers

**THN**, things related to smallness

**TRR**, things related to souls

**TThN**, things related to arrows

**ChWhL**, things related to eating

* *??:* **beechwhula** /biːʧxʍʌlɑ/, "feast"

**ChKN**, things related to ?

**ChBS**, things related to ??

**ChMNg**, things related to carp

**ChNZ**, things related to the number three

**ChRL**, things related to men, husbands, and peasants

**ThST**, things related to greed

**ThRL**, things related to working

**ThGhN**, things related to accompanying

**Th'G**, things related to coming

**VKG**, things related to bribing

**VLG**, things related to fleeing

**VNTh**, things related to always

**VDR**, things related to cowardice

**VVR**, things related to loyalty

**V'L**, things related to the color blue

**V'S**, things related to wood

**WRN**, things related to ale

* *??:* **awaran**, "drinking"

**JKR**, things related to hospitality

* *Form XV noun:* **jakaran**, "city"
* *Form XVIII noun:* **bistajkran**, "home"

**JSD**, things related to destroying

**JR'**, things related to manyness

**MLG**, things related to stupidity

**MNK**, things related to runes

**MNN**, things related to magic

**MHT**,

**MRN**, things related to dieing and stopping

**MRD**, things related to ??

**MRR**, things related to clothing

**MRZ**, things related to rottenness and putridity

**MR'**, things related to mountains

**M'G**, things related to the color black

**M'R**, things related to friends

**KhSL**

**KhLR**, things related to tables

**'WhN**, things related to hummingbirds

**'G'**, things related to armor

**'DR**, things related to evil

**'WN**, things related to water

**'WS**, things related to hammers

**'LF**, things related to air

**'LV**, things related to elfs

**'ThN**, things related to beauty, carving, faces, direction, and justification (equivent to Arabic WJH)

**'ML**, things related to truth

**'Y'**, things related to blouses

**'RK**, things related to orcs

**'ZN**, things related to nights

**''Ng**, things related to silver

Note for later: gladi and inggar are words used in a compound word below but with no meaning assigned yet. Galasan means "year", rama'an means "song", whamaranautahin means "to rest", aturrow means "deity". I don't know where PNZ "cotton" & PNCh "shoes" & P'L "beneath, under" & MRM "headkerchief" & ZL' & ZLN "something to do with wizard-king" (cuz of Z) & VShN & PRS & KPTh go in the alphabet, is SRY alphabetized wrong

## Derived and Non-Root Vocabulary

* **whwi'nutowr** */xʍwɪʕnʌʔʌur/***:** merbunny; sea-rabbit (compound word from whwi' + nutowr)
* **ka'chbeekteun** */kɑʕʧbiːktøːn/***:** beheaded; headless
* **gladeenggar** */glɑdiːŋgar/***:** a name-rune carved into a deep mountain cavern
* **gladeenggargun** */glɑdiːŋgargʌn/***:** rite of passage into adulthood for men
* **gladeenggardam** */glɑdiːŋgardɑm/***:** rite of passage into adulthood for women
* **awaranbistajkran:** tavern (lit., a drinking-home)
* **bibarritufaril:** horse (lit. leathery demon)
* **ugawhima'ad'ak:** adamantine (lit., stronger steel)
* **ugawilalanda:** good luck (noun)
* **ava'saugawhin:** tree (lit., green wood)
* **ava'sana'agwhan:** young tree (lit., greener wood)
* **bistav'sanugawhin:** forest
* **biḥarrimfar'ani:** giant (lit., very big human)
* **agalsaukari':** tomorrow (lit., far-day)
* **mus:** no
* **mug:** yes
* **talirowmari''aḥ:** forge (lit., fire-mountain)

## Orthography

Dwarfin runes are not a phonetic form of writing, but a conceptual one, with each rune delineating an idea or implying a range of ideas depending on placement.  A single rune might convey pages of human or elf writing or be as simple as a sign saying “stairs.”  It‘s a matter of knowing what the rune means and how it is to be interpreted in context.  Dwarfin runes do not contain conjunctions or pronouns, but proper names are represented by altering an existing rune.  This makes runes difficult for other races to understand, and dwarfs consider themselves superior to races who cannot read even the most simple of them.