| Progress 78% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hohoho ho̞ho̞ho̞ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | |||
| Agglutinative | |||
| Alignment | |||
| Tripartite | |||
| Head direction | |||
| Final | |||
| Tonal | |||
| No | |||
| Declensions | |||
| Yes | |||
| Conjugations | |||
| Yes | |||
| Genders | |||
| No | |||
| Nouns decline according to... | |||
| Case | Number | ||
| Definiteness | Gender | ||
| Verbs conjugate according to... | |||
| Voice | Mood | ||
| Person | Number | ||
| Tense | Aspect | ||
General information[]
Hohoho was the language spoken in the land of Herrderrserr. It became extinct when the entire village was massacred by honey badgers. Hohoho means greater tool as derived from /ho/ which means tool. This language was worked on for approximately one week.
Phonology[]
Consonants[]
| Bilabial and labio-dental | Dental | Alveolar | Post-alveolar and retroflex | Palatal | Velar | Uvular and glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | p b | t d | ʈ ɖ | c ɟ | k g | q ɢ | |
| Fricative | f v | θ θʼ | s z | ʃ ʒ | x | h | |
| Approximant | ʋ | ɹ l | j | ||||
| Flap/tap | ɾ |
Vowels[]
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | oo (u) | ||
| Near close | o (o̞) | ||
| Near open | e (ɜ) | ||
| Open | a (æ) |
Transcription[]
| IPA | Transcription |
|---|---|
| θ | th |
| θʼ | th' |
| ɹ | rr |
| ɾ | r |
| ʋ | w |
| ʃ | sh |
| ʒ | zh |
| ʈ | tt |
| ɖ | dd |
| ɟ | dz |
| ɢ | gh |
| æ | ae |
| ɜ | e |
| o̞ | o |
Phonotactics[]
The syllable structure in Hohoho is CV(S), with C being any consonant and V being any vowel. S is any consonant except for /θʼ/ and /ɾ/. No consonant clusters are possible. Final consonants geminate when the next syllable has the same initial consonant. The first syllable of every word is stressed.
Grammar[]
| Gender | Cases | Numbers | Tenses | Persons | Moods | Voices | Aspects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verb | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nouns | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Adjectives | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Numbers | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Participles | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Adverb | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pronouns | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Adpositions | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Article | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Particle | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Nouns[]
The nouns decline with suffixes for case, gender, number and definiteness in that order. Noun phrases are formed with prepositional phrases after and determiners preceding. Nouns that have word modifying cases are treated as determiners.
Case/Gender[]
The case markers are initial consonants in the suffix. Some markers are required for certain postpositions.
| Initial | Case | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| th | ergative | subject of a transitive verb |
| rr | accusative | direct object of a transitive verb |
| k | absolutive | subject of an intransitive verb |
| p | instructive | means; how? |
| b | instrumental | means; using which thing? |
| l | genitive | noun modifying another noun |
| s | temporal | specifying a time |
| x | locative | specifying a location |
| h | orientative | specifying an orientation |
| d | motion | specyfing a motion |
| z | distributive-temporal | specifying frequency |
| dz | partitive | specifying amounts |
| zh | formal | specifying a quality |
| w | dative | shows recipient |
| q | semblative | shows similarity |
| gh | identical | shows something is identical |
| g | comitative | in the company of something |
| f | causal | cause; because of? |
| v | benefactive | for the benefit of; intended for |
| tt | aversive | avoiding or fear |
| j | neutral | dictionary form |
There are four genders marked by different vowels in the suffix and three optional sub-genders indicated by final consonants.
| Vowel/Final | Gender | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| u | human animate | people |
| ae | inhuman animate | animals |
| o | tangible inanimate | plants; objects; places |
| e | intangible inanimate | abstractions; actions |
| p | masculine | man; horse |
| t | feminine | woman; mare |
| unmarked | neuter | it; that |
Number/Definiteness[]
Number is marked by suffixes that begin with /j/ but vary in the vowel. The number suffix may also be added to quantifiers.
- Collective - unmarked
- Singulative - /je/
- Dual - /ju/
- Trial - /jae/
- Paucal (twelve or less) - /jo/
- Plural - /joth/
Definiteness is expressed by adding the prefix /ho/ to the word in question.
Determiners[]
There are many determiners that can be derived from the basic determiners listed here. Determiners can also be used as pronouns.
| Determiner | Meaning |
|---|---|
| hoc | proximal demonstrative |
| hulu | mesioproximal demonstrative |
| ghuk | mesiodistal demonstrative |
| ghefo | distal demonstrative |
| werr | all quantifier |
| qodd | no quantifier |
| ttudot | some quantifier |
| cutut | many quantifier |
| baepu | few quantifier |
| botde | a lot quantifier |
| ducve | odd numbered quantifier |
| popu | even numbered quantifier |
| pe | half quantifier |
| tto | quarter quantifier |
| pucbu | personal interrogative |
| bok | impersonal interrogative |
| bupe | location interrogative |
| kote | source interrogative |
| bae | goal interrogative |
| ddu | time interrogative |
| dze | manner interrogative |
| bopo | reason interrogative |
The personal and impersonal interrogatives can be modified to inquire of possession by changing the vowels to /e/
Numerals[]
Hohoho uses a quaternary number system based on the number of legs of a honey badger. Most numbers larger than twenty are achieved by using the multiplicative word /de/ before the multiplier. The larger number is usually the multiplicand. The word for honey badger is /saettu/, which is often abbreviated to /sae/ without declination when speaking of numbers. The honey badger at the end of the cardinal numbers is usually truncated when used in higher numbers. Numbers can be used as determiners or nouns.
| Number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tto sae | one; quarter honey badger |
| pe sae | two; half honey badger |
| ttojae sae | three; triple quarter honey badger |
| saettu; sae | four; honey badger |
| sae tto | five; four one |
| sae pe | six; four two |
| sae ttojae | seven; four three |
| pe sae sae | eight; two fours |
| pe sae sae tto | nine; two fours one |
| pe sae sae pe | ten; two fours two |
| pe sae sae ttojae | eleven; two fours three |
| ttojae sae sae | twelve; three fours |
| ttojae sae sae tto | thirteen; three fours one |
| ttojae sae sae pe | fourteen; three fours two |
| ttojae sae sae ttojae | fifteen; three fours three |
| saettu sae | sixteen; four fours |
| saettu sae tto | seventeen; four fours one |
| saettu sae pe | eighteen; four fours two |
| saettu sae ttojae | nineteen; four fours three |
| sae tto sae | twenty; five fours |
| sae tto sae de pe sae sae pe | two hundred; twenty times ten |
Prepositions[]
Prepositions are attached after a noun to form a prepositional phrase and then attached after the modified word. The modified word has a case corresponding to the type of preposition, but the modifier has a neutral case. Some motion prepositions can be used as temporal ones.
| Preposition | Meaning | Category |
|---|---|---|
| pudd | at time | temporal |
| tup | on day | temporal |
| baeshto | near | locative |
| buko | next to | locative |
| qutu | inside | locative |
| pette | outside | locative |
| pepup | between | locative |
| dupop | in contact with | locative |
| tuc | below | locative |
| ghepu | above | locative |
| ttoto | on top of | locative |
| petup | on the underside of | locative |
| to | to the left of | locative |
| pudz | to the right of | locative |
| betep | in front of | locative |
| betbu | behind | locative |
| tub | toward | orientative |
| bodd | backward | orientative |
| gopup | sideward | orientative |
| pupdu | upward | orientative |
| tetbutt | downward | orientative |
| ddute | away from | motion |
| qeb | beginning from | motion |
| debpe | out of | motion |
| putbu | into | motion |
| cudd | to | motion |
| budzaet | to the adjacency of | motion |
| tebed | under | motion |
| dobe | onto | motion |
| cubo | into | motion |
| bedo | as far as | motion |
| dubcu | along | motion |
| topebe | through | motion |
| ttet | by way of | motion |
| tutdzo | across | motion |
| bettett | at times | distributive-temporal |
| ttufubeb | at days | distributive-temporal |
| kaet | per | partitive |
| toddut | of the | partitive |
| tupu | as a shape | formal |
| dzuce | being like a quality | formal |
Adjectives[]
Adjectives in Hohoho are treated like determiners, but with the added ability to attach to verbs, filling the role of an adverb. The adjective order of Hohoho is this:
- Head
- Polarity
- Qualifier
- Quantifier
- Demonstrative/Interrogative
- Evidentiality/Mirativity/Probability/Necessity
An important adjective is the negative polarity adjective /cobe/.
Verbs[]
Verbs conjugate by voice, mood, tense, number, person and aspect. Not all of the slots in the template have to be filled.
| Voice | Subject | Object | Tense/Aspect | Stem | Mood/Number | Preposition Classifier |
|---|
Voice[]
Passive voice is indicated by the prefix /rro/ in the voice slot, while active voice is unmarked. The potential voice which expresses the ability to do something is indicated by the prefix /rre/ in the voice slot.
Pro-affixes[]
The pro-affixes inflect based on person and deixis. They may be attached to the Subject or Object slots.
| First Inclusive | First Exclusive | Second | Third | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | xo | xe | xu | xae |
| Proximal | wo | we | wu | wae |
| Mesioproximal | zho | zhe | zhu | zhae |
| Mesiodistal | fo | fe | fu | fae |
| Distal | dzo | dze | dzu | dzae |
Tense/Aspect[]
Tense and aspect are expressed through inflection of the affix in the Tense/Aspect slot.
| Perfective | Momentane | Progressive | Stative | Habitual | Inceptive | Inchoative | Terminative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past | tae | th'ae | vae | ddae | qae | rae | lae | cae |
| Nonpast | te | th'e | ve | dde | qe | re | le | ce |
Mood/Number[]
Mood and number are expressed through inflection of the Mood/Number affix. The number indicates how many times the verb has been performed.
| Indicative | Subjunctive | Conditional | Optative | Imperative | Jussive | Tentative | Interrogative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collective | shu | tebko | pepae | tepu | thute | poko | botu | guto |
| Singulative | shuj | tebkoj | pepaej | tepuj | thutej | pokoj | botuj | gutoj |
| Dual | shut | tebkot | pepaet | teput | thutet | pokot | botut | gutot |
| Trial | shuw | tebkow | pepaew | tepuw | thutew | pokow | botuw | gutow |
| Paucal | shuq | tebkoq | pepaeq | tepuq | thuteq | pokoq | botuq | gutoq |
| Plural | shuv | tebkov | pepaev | tepuv | thutev | pokov | botuv | gutov |
Preposition Classifier[]
The preposition classifier indicates whether the prepositional phrase after the verb affects the subject or object if there are pro-affixes. The affix /go/ indicates subject, while the affix /cep/ indicates object.
Copula[]
There are two copulas in Hohoho which link subject and predicate. The copula /guduko/ is used for a permanent state and /beporr/ for a temporary state.
Pro-words[]
Pro words are separate units unlike pro-affixes. They are substitutes for their respective words or word phrases. There are three pro-words that are a separate class for their function of referring to the previous clause. Referring to the subject, object, and verb are respectively the words /qebol/, /sheppu/ and /ghuj/.
Pronouns[]
Pronouns are able to be declined for case, gender and number. They are derived from the pro-affixes, so they have inherent deixis and person.
| First Inclusive | First Exclusive | Second | Third | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | xote | xenu | xurro | xaezu |
| Proximal | wote | wenu | wurro | waezu |
| Mesioproximal | zhote | zhenu | zhurro | zhaezu |
| Mesiodistal | fote | fenu | furro | faezu |
| Distal | dzote | dzenu | dzurro | dzaezu |
Pro-adjectives[]
There are two pro-adjectives in Hohoho: /kutu/ which means "like so", and /pogho/ which means "in this way".
Pro-verbs[]
There are two pro-verbs in Hohoho: /poded/ which means "to do", and /tucbu/ which means "to be".
Derivation[]
There is an extensive system of derivations in Hohoho. The declensions and conjugations are removed in the process.
| Derivation | Method |
|---|---|
| adjective to noun | prefix /jo/ suffix /fe/ |
| adjective to verb | prefix /ghu/ |
| adjective to semblative adjective | suffix /s/ and then vowel of previous syllable |
| adjective to comparative adjective | reduplicate |
| adjective to elative adjective | reduplicate twice |
| adjective to superlative adjective | suffix /juto/ |
| noun to adjective | reduplicate then change duplicate vowels to /u/ or /e/ |
| noun to verb | reduplicate then change original vowels to /ae/ or /o/ |
| verb to adjective | suffix /th/ and then vowel of previous syllable |
| verb to abstract noun | reduplicate and then suffix /po/ |
| verb to agent noun | prefix /wu/ suffix /l/ and then vowel of previous syllable |
| verb to action noun | prefix /jodo/ |
| any word to characteristic adjective | suffix /serr/ |
| organization to person in charge of it | suffix /ko/ |
| any word to place of word | suffix /loke/ or suffix /bow/ |
| any word to without word | prefix /co/ suffix /be/ |
| diminutive | suffix /sh-sh/ and then vowel of previous syllable |
| augmentative | reduplicate twice then change duplicate vowels to /o/ or /u/ |
| titles and geography | place word preceding modified |
| compounding | place word preceding modified |
Interjections[]
Conjunctions[]
The conjunctions are words that link clauses or words together. Some of them also express mirativity in inflection. They can be placed at the end of clauses or at the beginning. They are also placed after the word they modify.
| Conjunction | Usage | English |
|---|---|---|
| buddo | presents non contrasting items or ideas (clause and word) | and |
| buddop | presents surprising, ironic, or sarcastic non contrasting items or ideas (clause and word) | and apparently |
| dopep | presents a contrast or exception (clause) | but; yet |
| debeb | presents a surprising, ironic, or sarcastic contrast or exception (clause) | but apparently |
| budtode | presents a consequence (clause) | so |
| budtosh | presents a surprising, ironic, or sarcastic consequence (clause) | so apparently |
| topttop | presents an alternative idea (clause and word) | or |
| popodztu | presents a choice between one or the other (clause) | either or |
| pettu | presents rationale (clause) | for |
| cuttep | presents a solution (clause) | so should |
| tupttae | presents a problem (clause) | but the problem is |
| tu | listing (word) | and |
| pecu | action and purpose (word) | to |
| thepo | presents equal properties (word and clause) | just as so |
| dded | time to time (word) | from to |
| kaed | location to location (word) | from to |
Sentence Structure[]
The canon word order of Hohoho is SOV. Relative clauses must precede the modified word or clause and end with the relativizer /jukew/.
Vocabulary[]
Example text[]
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.