Vovtarlan language

The **Vovtarlan language** is the language of the Vovtarlan people, who live on the planet-kingdom of Vovtarla.

## Alphabetical order

k, zh, sh, s, o, n; w, v, h, hg, a, u; g, l, j, r, m, f; t, d, e, p, b, i, z; tch, dzh, nv, nj, hw

ka, zha, sho, so, wo, no; wa, va, ha, ahga, aí, vu; gi, li, ja, ra, mi, fa; te, de, eí, pe, be, i, za; tcha, dzho, nveí, nja, hwo

## Pronouns

Vovtarlan has a complex system of pronouns, which differ by the social rank of the speaker.

### Category 1

merchant/default - king - worker - slave - noble - masculine - feminine

* I: lai- - lazhe- - lau- - lu- - -leja - lavoi- - livai- > il-lai = "I am"

* me: -lai - -lazhe - -lau - -lu - -luei - -lai - -lje

* my: lerul- - lazheral- - larol- - lurol- - leiral- - loirol- - liral-

### Category 2

inferior - equal - superior - classical - royal/to king

* thou: ul- - wil- - wial- - swa(l)- - walzhe- > ul-il = "thou art"

* thee: -rul - -roil - -rjol - -rwal - -ruizhe

* thy: ulrul- - wirral- - wiarol- - -weral - walzheral-
* he/she: - lu-/le- - lore-/lori- - lorjol-/lorjal- - lowai-/lei- - lazhe-/lazhei- > lore-ul = "he is"
	+ (for him/her, place the affixes after the word)
* his/her: - lor-/loi- - larra-/larwial- - lorjol-/lorwal- - loran-/leiran- - lazheral-/lazheiral-
* we: wane- - wanve- - wienoun- - weina- - wiezhan- > wane-ul = "we are"
* us: -wania - -wenvia - -wieval - -wejei - -wiezhan
* our: warul- - warual- - wievol- - -weiral - wiezhoral-
* you: luv- - luivo- - lulle- - voi(l)- - luzhe-
* ye: -vul - -vulie - -vulle - -vojol - -luizhe
* your: olvul- - oivul- - volle- voirol- - luzherol-
* they: e- - je- - unje- - jonja(l)- - jenzhe-
* them: -ue - -uje - -unjal - -jonoi(l) - -jezha
* their: -uerul - -jeitul - -ujeral - -joirol - -zhoral
* they (for enemies): dor-
* them (for enemies): dore-
* their (for enemies): dorul-

The masculine and feminine pronouns are rarely used in daily speech, reserved for poetry and romantic works.

### Miscellaneous

* Ranjo - (Vozonid, collective) we
* -jan, -skuen - -self

* jan- - self-
* -ne - (genitive)
* se - X of Y

### Sample

la-swaítcha - I celebrate; wane-swaítcha(-kreu) - we celebrate

## Name suffixes

In Vovtarlan law, every citizen must have a suffix at the end of his or her name to represent what rank does he or she belong to.

* -ln - king
* -l - merchant (as in "Azdorti-**l**")
* -m - soldier
* -n - commoner
* -nm - worker
* -h - slave

## Verbal tenses

* (T) - tu- - honorary verb, present tense:
	+ present, perfect, continuous: (do, has done, doing)
	+ tu-, due-, sue-
	+ passive forms: (was done by:)
	+ -tri, -rim, -ruis
	+ past tense forms:
	+ toerul-, kuerul-, suerul-
	+ ~~past passive: (obsolete)~~
	+ ~~-tostri, -dustri, -ruesti~~
	+ future tense forms:
	+ tuwaé-, duwaé-, suwaé-
	+ ~~future passive: (obsolete)~~
	+ ~~-tuzeri, -duzeri-, suzeri-~~
	+ passive affix: -rim
	+ do-. duor-, suor-
	+ past tense forms:
	+ doir-, kajar-, suor-
	+ future tense forms:
	+ dowa-, duowar-, suowa-
	+ passive suffix: -tu
* (K) - -kreu - common verb/default, present tense:
	+ present, perfect, continuous:
	+ -kreu, -dreu, -kreves
	+ ~~passive forms:~~
	+ ~~-kuri, -druim, -kruis~~
	+ past tense forms:
	+ -kradul, -dredul, -kretsul
	+ ~~past passive:~~
	+ ~~-rasti, -rimal, -ruisal~~
	+ future tense forms:
	+ -krowaé, -krodaé, -krezaé
	+ passive: -rim (formerly only for future, now applies to all tenses)

## Affixes

### Location

* di - between
* -do - to, towards
* -dzhre, -dzhe, -zhre - in, inside, within
* ura - out
* (kja)rade - over here
* (kja)razhir - over there
* jehnoí - under
* sagnei - over
* raitchok - back
* raitchon - behind
* zien - in front of

### Time

* kja - now
* il - now
* ilto - right now
* jez, jaéza - almost, nearly
* zaí - so, therefore

### Amounts

* ozoi, ohoi - only
* are - any
* jawande, jande - many
	+ becomes "jowande/jonde" after a word ending in a or e
* otcha - very, much
* tchesa - first, starting
* kosma - last, final
* notch - other
* kash(no) - before
* auskon(o) - after
* glara - all
* -kloi - whole, all
* vreh(an)- - great
* vreda(r) - greater
* bavol- - (V) great
* garba, garb(a/o)- - big
* drob - large
* di- - small
* sgai-, skai- - very little
* vim-, vin- - (V) little
* skeiju - lesser

### Miscellaneous

* -an, -de, -ze, -za, -sja, -ni, -noi, -droi - (adjective)
* zhe, she - with
* -ja, -jo - ness

* -vonsh, -vensh - (plural)
	+ -vonsh after e, -vensh after o or a
* la(r)- - this
* li(r)- - that
* vola(r)- - these
* voli(r)- - those
* -ri - inhabitant (formal)
* -gir - inhabitant (informal)
* -(m)or, -(m)ar - doer, user of
* -krota, -krat - place of
* -sor - son of
* -nai(tcha) - daughter of
* -kor - being of, creature of

## Question words

* lo(n)- , eilon - what
* im- , eihmo - where
* el- , elhwo - why
* ehwe- , ehwa - when
* sab- , eisab - who
* der- , der'ho - how

## Basics

* il - to be, am, is
* kamba(u) - to have
* raig(u)an-(K) - to continue
* ale - sure, surely
* voh(ti) - true
* ei(n) - certainly
* dajo - hurrah
* haípeka-luei - help me
* ei - yes
* bon - without
* hon - no, not
* (o)tch-sa - like
* ... da - and
* jolt-, jols- - or
* dzhai - (V) however

## Greetings

* lweíwon - welcome
* haunarjo(z) - (V) welcome, salutations, salve/benevente
* sawai - hello
* kaé - hi there
* (wir)tausah - thank you
	+ zarezho (common)
	+ dandzho(ne) (Tarruskesh dialect)
* wirrauda - you are welcome
* vohnom - goodbye
* sawaí ... - may you have a happy (festival)
* ... (ne) nawaí - please
* heuson - a good gift, good luck, all the best
* Sawaí Gonsareu! - Happy Birthday!

## Numbers

0; 1-10:

* (common) gi; au, won, senna, tchusen, lonvi, swehvi, sonli, lor(ra), hejau, nizh
* (formal) giruwa; awa, wena, saine, shorisen, lunove, sajehve, sonelle(i), larra, hoiwa, nozhe
* (common prefix) aug-, vo-, sen-, luon-, sonel-,
* (formal prefix) agow-, vow-, senn-, lonn-, sell-,

11-20

* (common) aunizh, nizhwon, nizhsen, nizhotchen, nizholei, suonariz, nizhsonel, nizhlor, nizheu, vonizh
* (formal) sezhai (16), voazh (20)
* (common prefix) vazh- (20)
* (formal prefix) vozh- (20)

## Trivia

###  Pronunciation

* a:
	+ [ɒ-] when stressed at the start of a word
	+ [o-] when the stressed part at the start of a word is the latter part of a compound word
	+ [a-] (sometimes [ə-]) when unstressed at the start of a word, stressed and/or unstressed elsewhere
	+ [ʌ], [ə] when unstressed elsewhere
* b - [b], [pʼ-] at the start of a word
* d:
	+ [d]
	+ [dʲ] before and after i (unless before a consonant)
	+ [d͡r] before r
	+ [ɟ] before w (dw [ɟʷ])
* dzh: [d͡ʐ], [d͡ʑ] before j or i
* e:
	+ [e]
	+ [ɛ] or [æ] unstressed or in diphthongs
	+ [æ] always within the word se ("of")
* f - [ɸ]
* g:
	+ [k'~g] at the start of a word, also in compound words
	+ [g] elsewhere
	+ [x] after h (hg [x(ː)])
* h - [x]
* hg - [x(ː)]
* hw - [xʷ]
* j - [j]
* k - [k], [kʰ-]
* l:
	+ [l]
	+ [-ɭ] in formal usage (declining), [-l] in common usage
	+ [ɫ] after h, r, t, and d
* nj - [ɲ]
* nv - [nʷ], [nʋ] before o or e
* o:
	+ [o]
	+ [o̞] unstressed
	+ [ɔ] unstressed in some words, usually before n
* p - [p], [pʰ-]
* r - [r], [rʲ] before and after i (unless before a consonant)
* sh - [ʂ], [ɕ] before or after j or i
* t:
	+ [t]
	+ [tʰ-] at the start of a word
	+ [tʲ] before and after i (unless before a consonant)
	+ [t͡r] before r
	+ [c] before w (tw [cʷ])
* tch - [t͡ʂ], [t͡ɕ] before j or i
* u:
	+ [u]
	+ [ʊ] sometimes when unstressed
	+ [-ʊ̯] diphthong
	+ [ɯ-] before n in most words (especially in native vocabulary)
* v:
	+ [v]
	+ [ɸ] before a consonant
	+ [-ʷ-] between a consonant and a vowel, but [-ʋ-] in nvo and nve except at the start of a word
* w - [w], [-ʷ-] between a vowel and a consonant
* z - always [z]
* zh - [ʐ], [ʑ] before or after j or i

### Diphthongs

* ae:
	+ [ɒjɛ] stressed
	+ [ɔɪ̯-] unstressed at the start of a word
	+ [əɪ̯] unstressed
* aé
	+ [ɒjɛ] stressed
	+ [ajɛ-] unstressed at start of word
	+ [ʌjɛ] unstressed
* ai
	+ [ɛɪ̯] stressed (sometimes [ai] in important words and names)
	+ [ʌɪ̯] unstressed
	+ [aɪ̯] unstressed in some words
* aí
	+ [aɪ̯] usually stressed
	+ [ʌɪ̯] usually unstressed
* au
	+ [aʊ̯] stressed
	+ [ʌʊ̯] unstressed
* ei
	+ [æɪ̯] stressed
	+ [iː] unstressed
* eí
	+ [eɪ̯] stressed
	+ [ɛɪ̯] unstressed
* eu
	+ [æʊ̯] stressed
	+ [ɛʊ̯] unstressed
* eú
	+ [eʊ̯] stressed (less common)
	+ [ɛʊ̯] unstressed
* oe
	+ [ujɛ] stressed
	+ [uːɪ̯] unstressed
* oé
	+ [oe̯]
* oi
	+ [ɔɪ̯] stressed
	+ [uɪ̯] unstressed
* ua
	+ [wɒ-] stressed at start of word
	+ [wa-] unstressed at start of word
	+ [wʌ~wə] unstressed elsewhere
* ue
	+ [we] stressed
	+ [wæ(ɪ)] unstressed
* ué
	+ [uwɛ]
* ui
	+ [weɪ̯] stressed
	+ [wɛɪ̯] unstressed
* uo
	+ [wo] usually stressed
	+ [wɔ] or [wo̞] unstressed

## Samples

**Zolusja neí Olno, se Rolshan Kossua!**

[zoˈlusjʌ neɪ̯ ˈolno sæ rolˈʂan ˈkʰosːwʌ]

Many-years for King, of Kingdom White-horse!

Long Live the King, of the Kingdom of the White Horse!

**Man Ranjo, Vovtarlavensh, tu-darotcha ombo se mahantar Kofajusa-Sarrelona sue-revaí meguria, au ara tu-gaumantu ilue doba-kreu jenei duru.**

[mɒn ˈrɒɲo̞ ˈvoɸtʌrɫəvɛɳʂ tʰudaˈrot͡ʂə ˈombo̞ sæ maˈxantʌr ˈkʰoɸəjusʌ səˈrːelo̞nʌ swɛˈrevʌɪ̯ ˈmegurjə ʌʊ̯ ˈɒrʌ tʰuˈgɒʊ̯mantʊ ˈilwæɪ̯ ˈdobʌkrɛʊ̯ jɛˈnæɪ̯ ˈdurʊ]

*May We-the-people, Vovtarlan-PLU, PRES-preserve torch of nobility Gauvajut-Sarmelonid PRESCONT-burn age-PLU, a light PRES-guide are-them stumble-PRES in dark.*

May we, the Vovtarlans, keep the torch of Gauvajut-Sarmelonid high culture burning throughout the ages, a light to guide those who stumble in darkness.

**«Eihmo Aíhai ilwanve zorai-kreu?»**

[ˈæɪ̯xmo̞ ˈaɪ̯xʌɪ̯ ɪlˈwɒnʋɛ ˈzorʌɪ̯krɛʊ̯]

*"Where North are-we need-PRES?"*

"Where is the North when we need it?"

**Illai-legunni punve-lar.**

[ˈilːʌɪ̯ lɛgunːɪ ˈpɯnʋɛlʌr]

*Am-I lost world-this.*

I am lost in this world.

**Shana Vovtarla-ne so-olli Punvo-'vtarla kloi. Nivai-ter au olnoshan.**

[ˈʂɒnʌ ˈvoɸtʌrɫʌnɛ ˈsolːɪ ˈpɯnvoɸtʌrɫʌkloɪ̯ ˈnivʌɪ̯tɛr ʌʊ̯ ˈolnoʂʌn]

*Nation Vovtarla-of PRES-rule World-[Vo]vtarla whole. Is-it a monarchy.*

The nation of Vovtarla rules over the whole planet of Vovtarla. It is a monarchy.

**Laiwa-kres rohdo nas-Veuga-tchosse.**

[ˈlɛɪ̯wʌkrɛs ˈroxdo̞ nʌsˈvæʊ̯gʌt͡ʂosːæ]

*Come-PRESCONT transmission from-Hero-City.*

Incoming transmission from Veugatchosse.

**Nas-sunjo, munomar-do.**

[nʌsˈsuɲo̞ ˈmɯno̞mʌrdo̞]

*From-teacher, student-to*

From teacher to student.

**Nas-pando soron-do, da nas-njeja naitcha-do.**

[nʌsˈpɒndo̞ ˈsoro̞ndo̞ da nʌsˈɲejʌ ˈnɛɪ̯t͡ʂʌdo̝]

*From-father son-to, and from-mother daughter-to.*

From father to son, and from mother to daughter.

**Eilon? Illai Nandaro-gi glio-kreu** ˈ**roil-do ale?**

[ˈeɪ̯lɔn ˈilːʌɪ̯ ˈnɒndʌro̞gɪ ˈgljokrɛʊ̯ rɔɪ̯ldo̞ ˈɒlæ]

*What? Am-I Nandaro-ian resemble-PRES thee-to sure?*

"What? Do I look like a Nandarovian [Nandegakkovian] to you?"

**Hun** **sawa-kreu doi-tcha koz jenei ulti-motcha.**

[xun saˈwakrɛʊ̯ ˈdɔɪ̯t͡ʂʌ kʰoz jɛˈnæɪ̯ ʊltɪˈmot͡ʂʌ]

*No look-PRES gift horse in its-mouth.*

Do not look at a gift horse by the mouth.

## See also

* Vovtarlan glossary
* Vovtarlan calendar
* Vovtarlan mythology