Nellen[ʲnɛllen] is a language of Efhang origin, featuring a complex noun declension.
As a North Efhang language, r is pronounced as [ʀ].
Words are stressed on the first syllable, except when an unstressed prefix is used.
Phonology[]
Consonants[]
[p]
[t]
[k]
[b]
[d]
[g]
[θ]
[x]
[ð]
[s]
[ʃ]
[z]
[dʒ]
[m]
[n]
r [ʀ]
[l]
[j]
[w]
The plosive consonants have fricative allophones, used at the end of syllables:
[p] -> [ɸ]
[t] -> [θ]
[k] -> [x]
[b] -> [β]
[d] -> [ð]
[g] -> [ɣ]
The allophones for [t] and [d] merge with the original [θ] and [ð]. For most speakers, [ɣ] merges with [ʀ] as well.
Vowels[]
Vowels are:
a [a] (unstressed), [æ](stressed)
e [e] (unstressed), [ɛ](stressed)
i [ɪ]
o [o] (unstressed), [ɔ](stressed)
u [ʊ]
ö [ø](unstressed), [œ](stressed)
y [y]
Morphology[]
Nouns[]
There are three gender of nouns: masculine, feminine and neuter.
Nouns are declined according to two numbers: singular and plural; definiteness (definite, indefinite); and to five cases, viz.:
Nominative (subject)
Accusative (direct object)
Dative (indirect object)
Ablative
Genitive (possessive)
Masculine Nouns[]
Indefinite Declension
Example: uwnan "a man", "a person"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-
-uð
Accusative
-o
-oð
Dative
-uk [-x]
-es
Ablative
-um
-em
Genitive
-ik [-x]
-is
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
uwnan[ʲuwnan]
uwnanuð[ʲuwnanuð]
Accusative
uwnano[ʲuwnano]
uwnanoð[ʲuwnanoð]
Dative
uwnanuk[ʲuwnanux]
uwnanes[ʲuwnanes]
Ablative
uwnanum[ʲuwnanum]
uwnanem[ʲuwnanem]
Genitive
uwnanik[ʲuwnanix]
uwnanis[ʲuwnanis]
Definite Declension
Example: uwnanin "the man", "the person"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-in
-un
Accusative
-on
-onð
Dative
-ung
-ens
Ablative
-im
-ejn
Genitive
-ing
-ins
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
uwnanin[ʲuwnanin]
uwnanun[ʲuwnanun]
Accusative
uwnanon[ʲuwnanon]
uwnanonð[ʲuwnanonð]
Dative
uwnanung[ʲuwnanuŋg]
uwnanens[ʲuwnanens]
Ablative
uwnanim[ʲuwnanim]
uwnanejn[ʲuwnanejn]
Genitive
uwnaning[ʲuwnaniŋg]
uwnanins[ʲuwnanins]
Feminine Nouns[]
Indefinite Declension
Example: henrejh "a family"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-
-eð
Accusative
-ö
-eʃ
Dative
-ek
-es
Ablative
-um
-em
Genitive
-ik
-is
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
henrejh[ʲhɛnʀejh]
henrejheð[ʲhɛnʀejheð]
Accusative
henrejhö[ʲhɛnʀejhø]
henrejheʃ[ʲhɛnʀejheʃ]
Dative
henrejhek[ʲhɛnʀejhex]
henrejhes[ʲhɛnʀejhes]
Ablative
henrejhum[ʲhɛnʀejhum]
henrejhem[ʲhɛnʀejhem]
Genitive
henrejhik[ʲhɛnʀejhix]
henrejhis[ʲhɛnʀejhis]
Definite Declension
Example: henrejhan "the family"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-an
-að
Accusative
-ön
-aʃ
Dative
-ang
-as
Ablative
-am
-en
Genitive
-ang
-as
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
henrejhan[ʲhɛnʀejhan]
henrejhað[ʲhɛnʀejhað]
Accusative
henrejhön[ʲhɛnʀejhøn]
henrejhaʃ[ʲhɛnʀejhaʃ]
Dative
henrejhang[ʲhɛnʀejhaŋg]
henrejhas[ʲhɛnʀejhas]
Ablative
henrejham[ʲhɛnʀejham]
henrejhen[ʲhɛnʀejhen]
Genitive
henrejhang[ʲhɛnʀejhaŋg]
henrejhas[ʲhɛnʀejhas]
Neuter Nouns[]
Indefinite Declension
Example: ðejtet "a city", "a town"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-
-ið
Accusative
-y
-iʃ
Dative
-uk
-is
Ablative
-um
-im
Genitive
-ik
-is
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
ðejtet[ʲðɛjteθ]
ðejtetið[ʲðɛjtetið]
Accusative
ðejtety[ʲðɛjtety]
ðejtetiʃ[ʲðɛjtetiʃ]
Dative
ðejtetuk[ʲðɛjtetux]
ðejtetis[ʲðɛjtetis]
Ablative
ðejtetum[ʲðɛjtetum]
ðejtetim[ʲðɛjtetim]
Genitive
ðejtetik[ʲðɛjtetix]
ðejtetis[ʲðɛjtetis]
Definite Declension
Example: ðejtetin "the city", "the town"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-in
-inð
Accusative
-yn
-inʃ
Dative
-ung
-uns
Ablative
-im
-im
Genitive
-ing
-ins
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
ðejtetin[ʲðɛjtetin]
ðejtetinð[ʲðɛjtetinð]
Accusative
ðejtetyn[ʲðɛjtetyn]
ðejtetinʃ[ʲðɛjtetinʃ]
Dative
ðejtetung[ʲðɛjtetuŋg]
ðejtetuns[ʲðɛjtetuns]
Ablative
ðejtetim[ʲðɛjtetim]
ðejtetim[ʲðɛjtetim]
Genitive
ðejteting[ʲðɛjtetiŋg]
ðejtetins[ʲðɛjtetins]
Adjectives[]
Adjective declension follows basically that of nouns, except that the only vowel allowed in endings is -i.
muh "new", "young"[]
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muh[ʲmuh]
muhið[ʲmuhið]
Accusative
muhi[ʲmuhi]
muhið[ʲmuhið]
Dative
muhik[ʲmuhix]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Ablative
muhim[ʲmuhim]
muhim[ʲmuhim]
Genitive
muhik[ʲmuhix]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muhin[ʲmuhin]
muhin[ʲmuhin]
Accusative
muhin[ʲmuhin]
muhinð[ʲmuhinð]
Dative
muhing[ʲmuhiŋg]
muhins[ʲmuhins]
Ablative
muhim[ʲmuhim]
muhijn[ʲmuhijn]
Genitive
muhing[ʲmuhiŋg]
muhins[ʲmuhins]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muh[ʲmuh]
muhið[ʲmuhið]
Accusative
muhi[ʲmuhi]
muhiʃ[ʲmuhiʃ]
Dative
muhik[ʲmuhix]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Ablative
muhim[ʲmuhim]
muhim[ʲmuhim]
Genitive
muhik[ʲmuhix]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muhin[ʲmuhin]
muhið[ʲmuhið]
Accusative
muhin[ʲmuhin]
muhiʃ[ʲmuhiʃ]
Dative
muhing[ʲmuhiŋg]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Ablative
muhim[ʲmuhim]
muhin[ʲmuhin]
Genitive
muhik[ʲmuhix]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muh[ʲmuh]
muhið[ʲmuhið]
Accusative
muhi[ʲmuhi]
muhiʃ[ʲmuhiʃ]
Dative
muhik[ʲmuhix]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Ablative
muhim[ʲmuhim]
muhim[ʲmuhim]
Genitive
muhik[ʲmuhix]
muhis[ʲmuhis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muhin[ʲmuhin]
muhinð[ʲmuhinð]
Accusative
muhin[ʲmuhin]
muhinʃ[ʲmuhinʃ]
Dative
muhing[ʲmuhiŋg]
muhins[ʲmuhins]
Ablative
muhim[ʲmuhim]
muhim[ʲmuhim]
Genitive
muhing[ʲmuhiŋg]
muhins[ʲmuhins]
Kelmt "great"[]
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmt[ʲkɛlmθ]
kelmtið[ʲkɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmti[ʲkɛlmti]
kelmtið[ʲkɛlmtið]
Dative
kelmtik[ʲkɛlmtix]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmtik[ʲkɛlmtix]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
Accusative
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
kelmtinð[ʲkɛlmtinð]
Dative
kelmting[ʲkɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins[ʲkɛlmtins]
Ablative
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
kelmtijn[ʲkɛlmtijn]
Genitive
kelmting[ʲkɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins[ʲkɛlmtins]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmt[ʲkɛlmt]
kelmtið[ʲkɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmti[ʲkɛlmti]
kelmtiʃ[ʲkɛlmtiʃ]
Dative
kelmtik[ʲkɛlmtix]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmtik[ʲkɛlmtix]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
kelmtið[ʲkɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
kelmtiʃ[ʲkɛlmtiʃ]
Dative
kelmting[ʲkɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
Genitive
kelmtik[ʲkɛlmtix]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmt[ʲkɛlmt]
kelmtið[ʲkɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmti[ʲkɛlmti]
kelmtiʃ[ʲkɛlmtiʃ]
Dative
kelmtik[ʲkɛlmtix]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmtik[ʲkɛlmtix]
kelmtis[ʲkɛlmtis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
kelmtinð[ʲkɛlmtinð]
Accusative
kelmtin[ʲkɛlmtin]
kelmtinʃ[ʲkɛlmtinʃ]
Dative
kelmting[ʲkɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins[ʲkɛlmtins]
Ablative
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
kelmtim[ʲkɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmting[ʲkɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins[ʲkɛlmtins]
Comparative Form[]
Superiority[]
The suffix -yl- is added to the stem of the adjective. Ex.:
kelmt "large", kelmtyl "larger"
muh "new", muhyl "newer"
pun "good", punyl "better"
Equality[]
Inferiority[]
Superlative[]
The suffix -ejn- is added to the stem of the adjective, which is then used in the definite form. Ex.:
kelmt "large", kelmtejnin "the largest"
muh "new", muhejnin "the newest"
pun "good", punejnin "the best"
Pronouns[]
Pronouns follow the same declension system used for nouns and adjectives, with little differences in some forms.
Personal[]
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3nd. sing. m.
3nd. sing. f.
3nd. sing. n.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3nd. pl. m.
3nd. pl. f.
3nd. pl. n.
Nominative
jyn
don
rin
ran
rin
mun
hun
run
rað
rið
Accusative
nyn
dyn
ron
rön
ryn
monð
hunð
ronð
raʃ
rinʃ
Dative
nuk, nung
duk, dung
rung
rang
rung
mis, mins
his, hins
rens
ras
runs
Ablative
num
dum
rim
ram
rim
mim
him
rejn
ren
rim
Genitive
nik
dik
ring
rang
ring
mis
his
rins
ras
rins
Possessive[]
Possessives are not declined at all. They require the noun to be in the definite form, while any accompanying adjective must be in the indefinite form.
Person
Singular
Plural
1st
ni
mi
2nd
di
hi
3rd m., f. and n.
ið
uð
Examples:
mi henrejhan "my family"
mi ðejtetin "my town"
mi elnehun "my brothers"
di har enejkin "your old friend"
di hari enejkun "your old friends"
Demonstrative[]
There is only one demonstrative er, which may stand for "this", "that", "such". The deictic particles jen "here", ha "there (next to you)", re "there", "over there" may be added after the noun for specification. The same as with possessives, demonstratives require the noun to be definite and any accompanying adjective to be indefinite. The demonstrative er itself does not decline. Ex.:
er gesan "this/that/such a house"
er gesan jen "this house"
er gesan ha "that house (next to you)"
er gesan re "that house (over there)"
er muh gesan jen "this new house"
er harið gesað re "those old houses (over there)"
Interrogative[]
Interrogatives have an unstressed prefix a-, so they are stressed on the second syllable.
arij[aʲʀij] "what"
arawn[aʲʀæwn] "who"
agor[aʲgɔʀ] "which"
agun[aʲgun] "how"
atir[aʲtiʀ] "where"
amtor[amʲtɔʀ] "when"
Relative[]
The only relative pronoun is ra[ɾæ], standing for "that", "which", "who".
Indefinite[]
erkon[ʲɛʀkon] "some", "any"
mejhon[ʲmɛjhon] "no", "none"
dut[duθ] "all", "every"
ret[ʀɛθ] "each", "every"
Numbers[]
Cardinal Numbers[]
0 mor[mɔʀ]
1 hon[hɔn]
2 tejd[tɛjð]
3 deð[dɛð]
4 hel[hɛl]
5 ðeg[ðɛɣ]
6 zið[zið]
7 ðawd[ðæwð]
8 hejd[hɛjð]
9 muw[muw]
10 tawð[tæwð]
11 hontawð[ʲhɔntað]
12 tujawð[ʲtujað]
13 deðawð[ʲdɛðað]
14 hellawð[ʲhɛllað]
15 ðengawð[ʲðɛŋgað]
16 zijawð[ʲzijað]
17 ðawdawð[ʲðæwdað]
18 uytawð[ʲujtað]
19 muwawð[ʲmuwað]
20 hemd[hɛmð]
21 hemd hon[hɛmð hɔn]
30 lemd[lɛm(ð)]
40 helemd[ʲhɛlem(ð)]
50 ðengemd[ʲðɛŋgem(ð)]
60 zihemd[ʲzihem(ð)]
70 ðawdemd[ʲðæwdem(ð)]
80 hejdemd[ʲhɛjdem(ð)]
90 muhemd[ʲhuwem(ð)]
100 ðawn[ðæwn]
Ordinal Numbers[]
Ordinal numbers are regular adjectives.
1 bellin[ʲbɛllin]
2 ðikemd[ʲðikemð]
3 delðij[ʲdɛlðij]
4 golled[ʲgɔlleð]
5 ðemmed[ʲðɛmmeð]
6 zihejð[ʲzihejð]
7 ðawdejn[ʲðæwdejn]
8 hejdeh[ʲhɛjdeh]
9 mujim[ʲmujim]
10 tawðejn[ʲtæwðejn]
Conjunctions[]
Coordinating[]
roj[ʀɔj] "for"
ge[ge], [gɛ] "and"
mah[mæh] "nor"
ðawt[ðæwθ] "but"
ho[hɔ] "or"
ihted[ʲihteð]"yet"
ðejn[ðɛjn] "so"
Correlative[]
henep … ge … [ʲhɛneɸ ... ge] "both … and … "
ho … ho … "either … or … "
mah … mah … "neither … nor … "
me … ðawt … [mæ ... ðæwt] "not … but … "
með … denep … [mɛð ... ʲdɛneɸ] "not only … but also … "
Nellen incorporates old pronominal elements to the endings used in verb conjugation.
The infinitive ends in -l, and old thematic vowels are kept, except in the present tense in which it is optional for all persons but third singular.
Active Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
hejt-(i)-ni-m
hejt-(i)-di-ð
hejt-i-θ-k
hejt-(i)-mi-n
hejt-(i)-hi-ð
hejt-(i)-ju-n
hejt-i-nd
hejt-i-l
Perfective
danim hejt-oθ
dadið hejt-oθ
daθk hejt-oθ
damin hejt-oθ
dahið hejt-oθ
dajun hejt-oθ
hejt-o-θ
dil hejt-oθ
Aorist
hejt-i-sna-m
hejt-i-sta-ð
hejt-i-sa-k
hejt-i-sma-n
hejt-i-sxa-ð
hejt-i-sa-wn
hejt-i-s
hejt-i-sa-l
Future
hejt-i-ti-m
hejt-i-ti-ð
hejt-i-ti-k
hejt-i-ti-n
hejt-i-ti-ð
hejt-i-ti-n
hejt-ol
hejt-i-ti-l
Imperative
-
hejt-ø
hejt-ø-e-k
hejt-ø-e-n
hejt-ø-e-ð
hejt-ø-e-n
-
-
Passive Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
hejt-es-i-m
hejt-es-i-ð
hejt-es-i-k
hejt-es-i-n
hejt-es-i-ð
hejt-es-u-n
hejt-es-ned
hejt-es-i-l
Perfective
desim hejt-oθ
desið hejt-oθ
desik hejt-oθ
desin hejt-oθ
desið hejt-oθ
desun hejt-oθ
hejt-es-o-θ
desil hejt-oθ
Aorist
hejt-es-a-m
hejt-es-a-ð
hejt-es-a-k
hejt-es-a-n
hejt-es-a-ð
hejt-es-a-wn
hejt-es-as
hejt-es-a-l
Future
hejt-es-ti-m
hejt-es-ti-ð
hejt-es-ti-k
hejt-es-ti-n
hejt-es-ti-ð
hejt-es-ti-n
hejt-es-ol
hejt-es-ti-l
Imperative
-
hejt-es
hejt-es-e-k
hejt-es-e-n
hejt-es-e-ð
hejt-es-e-n
-
-
Irregular Verbs[]
Sejel "be"[]
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
sim
sið
sik
smin
sið
sun
sind
sejel
Perfective
danim sej-oθ
dadið sej-oθ
daθk sej-oθ
damin sej-oθ
dahið sej-oθ
dajun sej-oθ
sej-o-θ
dil sej-oθ
Aorist
sej--sna-m
sej--sta-ð
sej--sa-k
sej--sma-n
sej--sxa-ð
sej--sa-wn
sej-e-s
sej-e-sa-l
Future
sej--ti-m
sej--ti-ð
sej--ti-k
sej--ti-n
sej--ti-ð
sej--ti-n
sej-ol
sej-e-ti-l
Imperative
-
sej-ø
sej-ø-e-k
sej-ø-e-n
sej-ø-e-ð
sej-ø-e-n
-
-
Dil "have"[]
Active Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
danim
dadið
daθk
damin
dahið
dajun
damind
dil
Perfective
danim doθ
dadið doθ
daθk doθ
damin doθ
dahið doθ
dajun doθ
doθ
dil doθ
Aorist
da--sna-m
da--sta-ð
da--sa-k
da--sma-n
da--sxa-ð
da--sa-wn
da--s
da--sa-l
Future
dam--ti-m
dam--ti-ð
dam--ti-k
dam--ti-n
dam--ti-ð
dam--ti-n
dam-ol
dam--ti-l
Imperative
-
dam-ø
dam-ø-e-k
dam-ø-e-n
dam-ø-e-ð
dam-ø-e-n
-
-
Passive Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
d-es-i-m
d-es-i-ð
d-es-i-k
d-es-i-n
d-es-i-ð
d-es-u-n
d-es-ned
d-es-i-l
Perfective
desim doθ
desið doθ
desik doθ
desin doθ
desið doθ
desun doθ
dam-es-o-θ
desil doθ
Aorist
dam-s-a-m
dam-s-a-ð
dam-s-a-k
dam-s-a-n
dam-s-a-ð
dam-s-a-wn
dam-s-as
dam-s-a-l
Future
dam-s-ti-m
dam-s-ti-ð
dam-s-ti-k
dam-s-ti-n
dam-s-ti-ð
dam-s-ti-n
dam-s-ol
dam-s-ti-l
Imperative
-
dam-s
dam-s-e-k
dam-s-e-n
dam-s-e-ð
dam-s-e-n
-
-
Vocabulary[]
Swadesh List: Here we give the Swadesh List for North Efhang.
Sample[]
"Dutin uwnanun meðjun rejlið, tejkemtetum ge tejlijdem. Run dajun lesö ge gemzejzö, ge tihjun eʃejl hon hollung spejlejdum helnemtetik."
[ʲdutin ʲuwnanun ʲmɛðjun ʲʀɛjlið, ʲtɛjkemtetum ge ʲtɛjlijdem. ʀun ʲdæjun ʲlɛsø ge ʲgɛmzejzø, ge ʲtihjun ʲɛʃejl hɔn ʲhɔlluŋg ʲspɛjlejdum ʲhɛlnemtetix.]
("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.")