Ælis is an oligoanalytic language.
The oligo- part of this word means that the language is built with a minimal amount of basic speech concepts called 'root words'. Whereas regular languages have up to hundreds of thousands of words, Ælis only has a few hundred. The speech particles can be combined in order to form more complex words.
The analytic part of the word means that the language has no bound morphemes. A bound morpheme, for example, is the letter '-s' in the English word 'houses', where it indicates a plural. But the letter S is not an independent word in English, nor does it have the meaning of 'plural' wherever it appears. The fact that Ælis has no bound morphemes means that each morpheme always has the same meaning.
Some root words in the Ælis thesaurus are straightfoward stand-alone lexemes, meaning that they have a meaning like a word you can find in a dictionary. Examples include mA {ma} (man, male), tW {tæ} (color), or bI {bi} (funny, humor). But there are other root words that have a somewhat grammatical component to them as well. Learning what they are and how they work will be fundamental to understanding the how the morphology works.
In part 1 of this page, we will have a look at these special building blocks. In part 2, we'll go into detail about different ways to combine root words in order to form complex clusters.
PART 1: SPECIAL BUILDING BLOCKS
Number concepts
Along with the 21 common letters of the alphabet, Ælis uses a set of ten additional symbols called number concepts, from now on referred to as "Lisqa". Lisqa are proper root words which all have a numeric value:
Low range | High range | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol | 0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 | |
[IPA] {Rom.} |
[a] {a} |
[aɛ̯] {æ} |
[ɛ] {e} |
[i] {i} |
[ɒ] {o} |
[u̯a] {u̯a} |
[u̯aɛ̯] {u̯æ} |
[u̯ɛ] {u̯e} |
[u̯i] {u̯i} |
[u̯ɒ] {u̯o} | |
Num.Val. | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Lisqa are a noteworthy aspect of the languages' morphology, mainly because the underlying idea doesn't share any common ground with concepts found in the English grammar (or probably most human languages' grammar, for that matter). A first important remark is that these number concepts are not the same as cardinal numbers. Instead, they are present in words where the corresponding numeric value is somehow conceptually present. The most illustrative lisqa example can be found in the very name of the language: 1lIS {ælis} consists of 1 {æ} (1) and lIS {lis} (concept, idea), the concept of one meaning as much as 'peace' or 'harmony', or of course 'unity'.
Counting
0-9
Ælis does not have individual words for numbers, nor has it any separate symbols for ciphers. But as you might have guessed, the number concepts are used to express numbers: all numbers end with the fixed root word qA [qa], which can mean 'number', 'amount', 'countable' or 'unit'; with number concepts preceding it.
The first five numbers use the lisqa of the low range:
Ælis | 0qA |
1qA |
2qA |
3qA |
4qA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
[IPA] {Rom.} |
[aka] {aqa} |
[aɛ̯ka] {æqa} |
[ɛka] {eqa} |
[ika] {iqa} |
[ɒka] {oqa} |
Number | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
The numbers from 5 to 9 use the high range lisqa. Try to see it similarly to the fact we have two hands with 5 fingers each.
Ælis | 5qA |
6qA |
7qA |
8qA |
9qA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
[IPA] {Rom.} |
[u̯aka] {u̯aqa} |
[u̯aɛ̯ka] {u̯æqa} |
[u̯ɛka] {u̯eqa} |
[u̯ika] {u̯iqa} |
[u̯ɒka] {u̯oqa} |
Number | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
10+: Simple numbers
For all positive numbers 10 and up, in the simple system, multiple number concepts are combined as if they were digits. E.g.:
10qA |
11qA |
12qA |
20qA |
30qA |
100qA |
347qA |
{æ'aqa} | {æ'æqa} | {æ'eqa} | {e'aqa} | {i'aqa} | {æ'a'aqa} | {i'o'u̯eqa} |
10 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 30 | 100 | 347 |
10+: Complex numbers
In the complex system, repitions of the same number may be joined in with a multiplication-like system, comparable to English: 007 (zero-zero-seven) ⇔ 007 (double-o-seven). In Ælis, this is achieved by enclosing the amount of times that the following digit has to be repeated in the letter {d}, primary case to open, secondary case to close: 007 007qA {a'a'u̯eqa} ⇔ 007 d2D07qA {deda'u̯eqa} (two times zero, then seven).
The complex system becomes increasingly interesting for high numbers that contain identical adjacent digits. Compare:
Number | Simple | Complex |
---|---|---|
22 twenty-two |
22qA {e'eqa} two-two-number |
d2D2qA {dedeqa} two times two-number |
400 four hundred |
400qA {o'a'aqa} four-zero-zero-number |
4d2D0qA {odedaqa} four, then two times zero-number |
466 four hundred and sixty six |
466qA {o'u̯æ'u̯æqa} four-six-six-number |
4d2D6qA {odedu̯æqa} four, then two times six-number |
8,000 eight thousand |
8000qA {u̯i'a'a'aqa} eight-zero-zero-zero-number |
8d3D0qA {u̯ididaqa} eight, then three times zero-number |
1,000,000 one million |
1000000qA {æ'a'a'a'a'a'aqa} one-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-number |
1d6D0qA {ædu̯ædaqa} one, then six times zero-number |
1,000,000,000 one billion |
1000000000qA {æ'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'aqa} one-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-number |
1d9D0qA {ædu̯odaqa} one, then nine times zero-number |
1,111,000,000 one billion one hundred and eleven million |
1111000000qA {æ'æ'æ'æ'æ'a'a'a'a'a'aqa} one-one-one-one-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-number |
d4D1d6D0qA {dodædu̯ædaqa} four times one, then six times zero-number |
Personal pronouns
The number concepts also play a role in the construction of personal pronouns. If you look at them as the 'first/second/third person', the idea becomes more tangible. Personal pronouns exist in five grammatical persons, and three genders. The genders male, female and undefined are purely semantical, so they don't govern the declension of nouns or the like. Note that the category of undefined pronouns is not the same as a neuter grammatical gender. In Ælis, the undefined pronouns are used only if a speaker:
- is unaware of the gender;
- doesn't wish to specify a gender;
- refers to a group where both sexes are present.
Furthermore, the personal pronouns are only used for arguments that can be interpreted as having a character: people, or sometimes animals, anthropomorphized objects (in literature), ect. They are never used for referring to objects (as opposed to the English use of it).
Singular
The singular pronouns are formed as follows:
masculine | feminine | undefined | |
---|---|---|---|
1st p I, me |
1mA {æma} |
1nI {æni} |
1tE {æte} |
2nd p you |
2mA {ema} |
2nI {eni} |
2tE {ete} |
3rd p he, him / she, her |
3mA {ima} |
3nI {ini} |
3tE {ite} |
Ælis' "4th person" refers to someone other than me, you, or him/her. It may refer to either someone beyond eyesight, or to someone unknown: me, you, him/her, and 'the other':
masculine | feminine | undefined | |
---|---|---|---|
4th p someone else |
4mA {oma} |
4nI {oni} |
4tE {ote} |
The "0th person" refers to the generalizing 'one', as in 'one does not simply...'. The person that French refers to as on, in German man, etc.:
masculine | feminine | undefined | |
---|---|---|---|
0th p in general |
0mA {ama} |
0nI {ani} |
0tE {ate} |
Plural: simple
There are two methods to form plural personal pronouns in Ælis: the simple and complex pronouns. The latter are more natural to Ælis itself, but the former may be more intuitive to speakers from other languages. The simple plural pronouns take the same approach as the singular ones, only do they employ the first three lisqa of the high range rather than the low range.
masculine | feminine | undefined | |
---|---|---|---|
1st p we, us |
6mA {u̯æma} |
6nI {u̯æni} |
6tE {u̯æte} |
2nd p you |
7mA {u̯ema} |
7nI {u̯eni} |
7tE {u̯ete} |
3rd p they, them |
8mA {u̯ima} |
8nI {u̯ini} |
8tE {u̯ite} |
4th p 'the others' |
9mA {u̯oma} |
9nI {u̯oni} |
9tE {u̯ote} |
0th p 'people in general' |
5mA {u̯ama} |
5nI {u̯ani} |
5tE {u̯ate} |
Plural: complex
In the complex approach, the idea is not to use the high range lisqa instead of the low range ones, but instead, to use more than one lisqa. In essence, this is a way to compress two simple, singular pronouns into one. For example:
Inclusive 'we': | ||||
1mA {æma} |
+ | 2mA {ema} |
⇒ | 12mA {æ'ema} |
me(male) | you(male) | you and me(both male) |
Exclusive 'we': | ||||
1nI {æni} |
+ | 3nI {ini} |
⇒ | 13nI {æ'ini} |
me(female) | her | me and her(both female) |
If two or more people are not all the same gender, the undefined pronoun must be used:
1nI {æni} |
+ | 3mA {ima} |
⇒ | 13tE {æ'ite} |
me(female) | him | me and him(mixed) |
The complex system allows creative blends:
0nI {ani} |
+ | 2nI {eni} |
⇒ | 02nI {a'eni} |
women in general | you(female) | you, just like all other women |
Note that the lisqa ought to be placed strictly in ascending order:
21tE {e'æte} |
⇒ | 12tE {æ'ete} |
Use
Because Ælis attaches great value to the correct use of genders in personal pronouns, addressing someone face to face with 2tE {ete} (you, undefined) could be taken as an offense.
Addressing someone is often also done by merging a personal pronoun with a noun. Compare:
nIuE3rA | {ni'ue'ira} | = | "mother" (when speaking about someone's mother); |
2nIuE3rA | {eni'ue'ira} | = | "(you,) mother" (when addressing your own mother). |
It is even common and polite to prefix a personal pronoun (with the correct gender) to a given name:
kqEVINK | {qevin} | = | "Kevin"; |
2mAkqEVINK | {ema('re)'qevin} | = | "(youmale ) Kevin". |
ksARAK | {sara} | = | "Sarah"; |
2nIksARAK | {eni('re)'sara} | = | "(youfemale ) Sarah". |
ksANDERSK | {sanders} | = | "Sanders"; |
2mAksANDERS | {ema('re)'sanders} | = | "Mr. Sanders". |
keNDZZUZK | {endzzuz} | = | "Andrews"; |
2nIkeNDZZUZK | {eni('re)'endzzuz} | = | "Ms. Andrews". |
Qualifiers
Qualifiers are a set of five words that can be attached to other words, which will then express a certain amount, degree, extent or quality of of that word. The qualifiers are formed by prefixing Lisqa from 0 to 4 to the fixed root word {-ra}. Therefore, there are five qualifiers 'levels':
{ara}
(nothing)
{æra}
(little)
{era}
(moderate/middle/half)
{ira}
(much)
{ora}
(all/total)
Let's have a look at a few examples. Pay attention to which effect the qualifiers have to the base word:
nA {na} – "quality" | ||
nA0rA | {na'ara} | terrible |
nA1rA | {na'æra} | bad |
nA2rA | {na'era} | mediocre |
nA3rA | {na'ira} | good |
nA4rA | {na'ora} | perfect |
uB {ub} – "power" | ||
uB0rA | {ub'ara} | powerless |
uB1rA | {ub'æra} | weak |
uB2rA | {ub'era} | moderately strong |
uB3rA | {ub'ira} | strong |
uB4rA | {ub'ora} | almighty |
zU {zu} – "temperature" | ||
zU0rA | {zu'ara} | freezing |
zU1rA | {zu'æra} | cold |
zU2rA | {zu'era} | lukewarm |
zU3rA | {zu'ira} | warm, hot |
zU4rA | {zu'ora} | hot, blistering heat |
dI {di} – "volition" | ||
dI0rA | {di'ara} | prohibition |
dI1rA | {di'æra} | disadvice |
dI2rA | {di'era} | allowance |
dI3rA | {di'ira} | preference |
dI4rA | {di'ora} | obligation, demand |
vE {ve} – "value" | ||
vE0rA | {ve'ara} | worthless |
vE1rA | {ve'æra} | cheap |
vE2rA | {ve'era} | priceworthy |
vE3rA | {ve'ira} | valuable, expensive |
vE4rA | {ve'ora} | priceless |
dW {dæ} – "brightness" | ||
dW0rA | {dæ'ara} | pitch black |
dW1rA | {dæ'æra} | dark |
dW2rA | {dæ'era} | dim |
dW3rA | {dæ'ira} | bright |
dW4rA | {dæ'ora} | blinding |
These examples only show few of numerous possibilities; the qualifiers can attach to many root words, by which a fivefold of words is created. Getting a grasp on the qualifiers means getting a grip on what the Ælis language is all about.
Axes of time and space
Ælis' axes of time and space lay out the fundaments of what will later be the equivalent of many prepositions and also time tenses. The system exploits the mechanics of both the lisqa and the qualifiers, so that the entire system can be built around one root word. This is the root word dA {da}, which means 'axis', also 'axle' or '(straight) line'.
Let's start with space first. The Ælis paradigm can be compared to an X-Y-Z graph that you may remember from math class: each of the axes of Ælis corresponds to one of the dimensions in such a graph.
The axes of space use the root word aN {an} (space, place, location) in combination with the root word dA {da}, and lisqa added before the latter of these, to indicate which spatial axis is referred to.
As such, the axes of space are:
1) | aN1dA | {an'æda} | the horizontal axis, | which ranges from left to right; |
2) | aN2dA | {an'eda} | the vertical axis, | which ranges from bottom to top; |
3) | aN3dA | {an'ida} | the depth axis, | which ranges from back to front. |
Though the space we live in is threedimensional, Ælis has two more axes in its system: | ||||
4) | aN4dA | {an'oda} | the in-out axis, | which ranges from inside to outside; |
5) | aN0dA | {an'ada} | the absolute axis, | which describes the cardinal points. |
Then, an additional qualifier is added to indicate one of five points on the axis.
aN1dA {an'æda} – "horizontal" | ||
aN1dA0rA | {an'æda'ara} | leftmost |
aN1dA1rA | {an'æda'æra} | left |
aN1dA2rA | {an'æda'era} | middle |
aN1dA3rA | {an'æda'ira} | right |
aN1dA4rA | {an'æda'ora} | rightmost |
aN2dA {an'eda} – "vertical" | ||
aN2dA0rA | {an'eda'ara} | bottom |
aN2dA1rA | {an'eda'æra} | down/below |
aN2dA2rA | {an'eda'era} | middle |
aN2dA3rA | {an'eda'ira} | up/above |
aN2dA4rA | {an'eda'ora} | top |
aN3dA {an'ida} – "depth" | ||
aN3dA0rA | {an'ida'ara} | far back |
aN3dA1rA | {an'ida'æra} | back |
aN3dA2rA | {an'ida'era} | middle |
aN3dA3rA | {an'ida'ira} | front |
aN3dA4rA | {an'ida'ora} | far front |
aN4dA {an'oda} – "in-out" | ||
aN4dA0rA | {an'oda'ara} | deep inside |
aN4dA1rA | {an'oda'æra} | inside1 |
aN4dA2rA | {an'oda'era} | middle2 |
aN4dA3rA | {an'oda'ira} | outside3 |
aN4dA4rA | {an'oda'ora} | far outside |
|
aN0dA {an'ada} – "cardinal" | ||
aN0dA0rA | {an'ada'ara} | North |
aN0dA1rA | {an'ada'æra} | East |
aN0dA2rA | {an'ada'era} | center° |
aN0dA3rA | {an'ada'ira} | South |
aN0dA4rA | {an'ada'ora} | West |
° used to describe the absolute geographical middle. |
With the axes of space covered, we can now speak about time. This axis is slightly easier, because there is only one axis. Therefore, the first lisqa is dropped, as there is no need to determine a dimension. The temporal axis uses the root word for 'time' instead of the one for 'space': aSdA {asda}, which ranges from past to future:
aSdA0rA
{asda'ara}
far past
history
aSdA1rA
{asda'æra}
(recent) past
aSdA2rA
{asda'era}
present
aSdA3rA
{asda'ira}
(near) future
aSdA4rA
{asda'ora}
far future
eternity
Singular vs. Plural
In its core, Ælis does not have a notion of 'singular' vs. 'plural': all lexical root words of Ælis are seen as mass nouns. English examples of mass nouns, also called non-count nouns, include 'water', 'sand' or 'furniture'. This means that if you see any (root) word X, you ought to interpret it as "a(n unspecified amount of) X". This makes transcription to English a bit tricky sometimes, as, for example, tE {te} can mean both 'person' and 'people', qOrEmI {qoremi} can mean both 'cat' and 'cats', aN {an} can mean both 'place' and 'places', etc.
In practice, however, the amount implied can often be derived from context. If not, Ælis has two ways to specify the amount of a noun.
Method number one exists of none simpler than simply adding a cardinal number before the other word.
0qAtE
{aqa'te}
zero people
1qAtE
{æqa'te}
one person
2qAtE
{eqa'te}
two people
3qAtE
{iqa'te}
three people
4qAtE
{oqa'te}
four people
0qAqOrEmI
{aqa'qoremi}
zero cats
1qAqOrEmI
{æqa'qoremi}
one cat
2qAqOrEmI
{eqa'qoremi}
two cats
3qAqOrEmI
{iqa'qoremi}
three cats
4qAqOrEmI
{oqa'qoremi}
four cats
If it proves undesirable or even impossible to use this method (e.g.: with uncountables), method two consists of adding a qualifier to the root word qA {qa}, and prefix that to another word:
qA0rAtE
{qa'ara'te}
no people
no one
qA1rAtE
{qa'æra'te}
some people
qA2rAtE
{qa'era'te}
several people
qA3rAtE
{qa'ira'te}
many people
qA4rAtE
{qa'ora'te}
all people
everyone
qA0rAqOrEmI
{qa'ara'qoremi}
no cats
qA1rAqOrEmI
{qa'æra'qoremi}
some cats
qA2rAqOrEmI
{qa'era'qoremi}
several cats
qA3rAqOrEmI
{qa'ira'qoremi}
many cats
qA4rAqOrEmI
{qa'ora'qoremi}
all cats
every cat
PART 2: CHAINING
Basic word structure
The whole idea of the Ælis morphology is that the actual root words convey very basic concepts. But several root words can be combined to create derived, slightly more complex ideas:
Ælis | Transcribed | Roots | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
aQ | {aq} | length | length |
aQaN | {aqan} | length + place | → distance |
aQaS | {aqas} | length + time | → duration |
Ælis | Transcribed | Roots | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
uB | {ub} | force, effort | force, effort |
uBuM | {ubum} | force + body | → physical force |
uBeI | {ubei} | force + mind | → thinking effort |
When two root words are combined, then a hierarchy will grow between them automatically. The first root will have a nominal value, meaning that it can be compared to a noun. The second root will then be a descriptor of that noun, similar to an adjective or adverb. For example: the root word tE {te} can mean both "person" (noun), or "human" (noun/adj.). The word uB3rA {ub'ira} can mean both "strength" (noun) and "strong" (adjective).
If we combine them in this order, then tE {te} will be the noun 'person', and uB3rA {ub'ira} will be the adjective 'strong':
tEuB3rA {te>ubira} → strong person
If we flip the word order, we'll also turn the noun into an adjective and vice-versa:
uB3rAtE {ubira>te} → human strength
Another example.
eG1lIS {eg>ælis} → language>harmony → harmonious language
1lISeG {ælis>eg} → harmony>language → linguistic harmony ⇒ poetry
So, creating words in Ælis does not solely depend on which root words you pick, it is also important how you combine them.
Node particles
There are six root words that can be used to link two (root) words in special ways. Infixing such a node particle between one (root) word and the next will add an additional relationship between the two.
The characteristic particle
X
eM
Y
X
adj.
Y
X
which is
Y
X
with characteristic
Y
The characteristic particle, eM {em}, is a particle that can be used to create adjectives. Even though the relationship of noun-adjective is already present in two randomly joined root words, the characteristic particle allows one group of root words (i.e.: a word) to become an adjective of another group of root words. Again, the word order is relevant for the way in which the roles of noun and adjective are assigned:
nIaQ1rAaS {ni'aq'æra'as} girl |
⇒ |
nIaQ1rAaSeMeLeAnA3rAeN |
🔁 |
eLeAnA3rAeNeMnIaQ1rAaS |
+ | ||||
eLeAnA3rAeN {eleana'ira'en} beauty |
Another example:
aSdA0rA {asda'ara} history |
⇒ |
aSdA0rAeMnWoW4rA |
🔁 |
nWoW4rAeMaSdA0rA |
+ | ||||
nWoW4rA {næ'oæ'ora} unease, turmoil |
The referent particle
X
vW
Y
X
with regard to
Y
X
is compared to
Y
applies to
X
more than
Y
The referent particle, vW {væ}, is a particle that can be used to create a framework. This framework is limiting in nature, meaning that the rest of the utterance is only valid with regard to the referent, not to anything else. The referent particle {væ} could therefore be understood as meaning "when compared to". The particle can make itself useful in various ways.
Prepositions of time and place
The referent can connect to words that express a location or a point in time (cf. Axes of time and space) in order to make them relative. This way, they turn into prepositions:
aN1dA3rA {an'æda'ira} right-hand side |
⇒ |
aN1dA3rAvW3nI |
+ | ||
3nI {ini} she, her |
Another example:
aN2dA3rA {an'eda'ira} up, above |
⇒ |
aN2dA3rAvWknUiOOUQK |
+ | ||
knUiOOUQK {(re)nu ioouq} New York |
Or:
aSdA1rA {asda'æra} the past |
⇒ |
aSdA1rAvWlI1mAiI2mA |
+ | ||
lI1mAiI2mA li'æma'ii'ema} I give to you |
Fractions
The referent particle can also be used to express fractions. Its meaning then becomes "X out of Y":
1qAvW2qA |
3qAvW4qA |
65qAvW100qA |
By extension, the particle can also be used to highlight parts of a group in general:
4qAvW10qAmA |
3qAvWqOrEmI |
qA3rAvWgOE |
Comparative and superlative
The referent harbours the key to creating comparative, and by extension, superlative structures. The mechanism for comparative structures works a bit differently from English, where we create our comparative structure with either a predicative or adverbial phrase.
Predicative:
I am taller than you.
Adverbial:
I run faster than you.
The syntactical structure of Ælis is different. Two arguments are compared directly to one another in an otherwise regular, positive statement:
iA1tEvW2tEhAaQ3rAaN2dA
{ia'æte'væ'ete ha'aq'ira'an'eda}
I compared to you am tall.
lA1tEvW2tEhAaNiIvWaQ1rAaS
{la'æte'væ'ete ha'aniivæ'aq'æra'as}
I compared to you run quickly.
Ælis has no distinct superlative. Instead, the comparison is made to something much bigger. For example:
iA1tEvWqA4rAtEhAaQ3rAaN2dA
{ia'æte'væ'qa'ora'te ha'aq'ira'an'eda}
I compared to all people am tall.
lA1tEvWqA4rAtEhAaNiIvWaQ1rAaS
{la'æte'væ'qa'ora'te ha'aniivæ'aq'æra'as}
I compared to all people run quickly.
The activity particle
X
lO
Y
X
does
Y
X
causes
Y
X
initiates
Y
The activity particle, lO {lo}, is a particle that can be used to express actions. If it prefixes to another root word, it will transform that root word into an active verb. If it suffixes to another root word, it turns that root word into the subject of an action. The desired use of the activity particle is to have it play both of these roles at the same time, by infixining it between two other words, so that "X-{lo}-Y" conveys the idea of "something {that does} action":
tE {te} person |
⇒ |
tElOeGeN |
+ | ||
eGeN {egen} writing, script |
The passivity particle
X
iO
Y
X
affected by
Y
X
to whom
Y
is done
X
at whom
Y
is targeted
The passivity particle, iO {io}, is a particle that can be used to express arguments affected by actions. If it prefixes to another root word, it will transform that root word into a (passive) verb. If it suffixes to another root word, it turns that root word into the (in)direct object, or the target of an action. The desired use of the passivity particle is to have it play both of these roles at the same time, by infixining it between two other words, so that "X-{io}-Y" conveys the idea of "something {target of} action":
tE {te} person |
⇒ |
tEiOeGeN |
+ | ||
eGeN {egen} writing, script |
The origin particle
X
lI
Y
X
done by
Y
X
caused by
Y
X
originating from
Y
The origin particle, lI {li}, is a particle that can be used to express agents of actions. Essentially, it has the same role as the activity particle, but with reversed word order:
eGeN {egen} writing, script |
⇒ |
eGeNlI1mA |
+ | ||
1mA {æma} I, me |
The target particle
X
iI
Y
X
done to
Y
X
affecting
Y
X
going towards
Y
The target particle, iI {ii}, is a particle that can be used to express patients of actions. Essentially, it has the same role as the passivity particle, but again with reversed word order:
eGeN {egen} writing, script |
⇒ |
eGeNiI1mA |
+ | ||
1mA {æma} I, me |
Combinations
The aforementioned particles eM {em} (characteristic), vW {væ} (referent), lO {lo} (activity), iO {io} (passivity), lI {li} (origin), and iI {ii} (target) are to be used as 'nodes' between one word and the next. The amount of these node particles isn't restricted to one per word. Two or three, an a theoretical infinite amount is also possible.
Activity + characteristic | ||
---|---|---|
tElOeGeR {telo'eger} |
+ | eGeReM1lIS {egerem'ælis} |
⇓ | ||
tElOeGeNeM1lIS |
Activity + target | ||
---|---|---|
3nIlOeGeN {ini'lo'egen} |
+ | eGeNiI1mA {egenii'æma} |
⇓ | ||
3nIlOeGeNiI1mA |
Passivity + origin | ||
---|---|---|
3nIiOeGeN {ini'io'egen} |
+ | eGeNlI1mA {egenli'æma} |
⇓ | ||
3nIiOeGeNlI1mA |
Passivity + origin + characteristic | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
3nIiOeN {ini'io'en} |
+ | eNlIqOrEmI {enli'qoremi} |
+ | qOrEmIeMtWdW0rA {qoremi'emtædæ'ara} |
⇓ | ||||
3nIiOeNlIqOrEmIeMtWdW0rA |
The separator particle
It is key to understand that the node particles always link a word to the one immediately preceding it. Have a look at the following word:
nI {ni |
lO lo |
eG1lIS eg'ælis |
eM em |
eLeAnA3rAeN eleana'ira} |
In this word, the word "beautiful" refers to "Ælis", and therefore it means '(female) speaker of the beautiful Ælis language'. That is how the chaining principle of Ælis is inherently structured. But what do we do if we want both the words "(to speak) Ælis" and "beautiful" to refer to the "woman"?
In comes the separator particle, tA {ta}. The particle functions as a kind of "reset" button for the hierarchy within a word. We can place the particle before the word "beautiful" in order to make it refer back to the "woman":
nI {ni |
lO lo |
eG1lIS eg'ælis |
tA ta |
eM em |
eLeAnA3rAeN eleana'ira} |
⇒ Beautiful (female) speaker of Ælis. |
Hyper-noding (sentence words)
Ælis makes extensive use of both the node particles and the separator in order to create massive words. These words are so rich in meaning that they could be considered to be one word sentences. Let's have a look at an example of such a "hyper-noded"word:
qOrEmIeMtWdW0rAtAeMaQ3rAaNtAiOeLeAnA0rAlIqA4rAeRlI1mA {qoremi'emtædæ'ara ta'emaq'ira'an ta'io'eleana'ara'liqa'ora'erli'æma} |
First, let's determine the 'node' and the separator particles within this word:
qOrEmI {qoremi |
eM em |
tWdW0rA tædæ'ara |
tA ta |
eM em |
aQ3rAaN aq'ira'an |
tA ta |
iO io |
eLeAnA0rA eleana'ara |
lI li |
qA4rAeR qa'ora'er |
lI li |
1mA æma} |
Then, we need to know the meanings of the individual lexical words:
qOrEmI {qoremi cat |
eM em |
tWdW0rA tædæ'ara black |
tA ta |
eM em |
aQ3rAaN aq'ira'an big |
tA ta |
iO io |
eLeAnA0rA eleana'ara discomfort, unease |
lI li |
qA4rAeR qa'ora'er noise, loudness |
lI li |
1mA æma} I, me |
Finally, we add the roles of the nodes:
qOrEmI {qoremi cat |
eM em with attribute |
tWdW0rA tædæ'ara black |
tA ta and |
eM em with attribute |
aQ3rAaN aq'ira'an big |
tA ta and |
iO io affected by |
eLeAnA0rA eleana'ara discomfort |
lI li by |
qA4rAeR qa'ora'er noise |
lI li by |
1mA æma} me |
And so, we get:
qOrEmIeMtWdW0rAtAeMaQ3rAaNtAiOeLeAnA0rAlIqA4rAeRlI1mA {qoremi'emtædæ'ara ta'emaq'ira'an ta'io'eleana'ara'liqa'ora'erli'æma} |
Further reading