Kanaenuibanashi Language
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Overview
Kanaenuibanashi (Tavupohon; Kanji: 鼎縫噺) is a language spoken by the Pohon tribe residing along the Masinha tundra and Tususi glacier north of Sol ciel. The language was once put into moribund state, but after the Protection of Ethnic Ar ciel Languages treaty proposed by El elemia Ethnic Language Research Institude, it has become vibrant again, with over 1,600 native speakers and about 5,000 non-native capable of speaking it fluently. It is used as a first language in all villages and towns along the northernmost coast of Sol ciel, and there is a growing body of speakers, mainly linguists and tourists who are interested in the Pohon culture.
No connection between Kanaenuibanashi and other ethnic Ar ciel languages has been established, although there are starking similarities in vocabulary between it and the Gambarin languages such as Endar and Yukar, despite the incredible distance between Sol ciel and El karenda. It could be possible that the Pohon people originated from El karenda, and migrated to Sol ciel before Grathnode Inferia took place - in that case, that would make Kanaenuibanashi one of the most ancient Ar ciel language not related to Hymmnos still alive (and vibrantly, in fact). Another theory of its relationship with extinct languages once spoken in El elreittsel was also proposed, with little support.
Kanaenuibanashi is an analytic language, words exhibit no inflection - neither declension of nouns nor conjugation of verbs. Even noun plurality and verb tense/mood must be indicated using standalone function words. There is no affix either. However, compound words exist, as can be seen from the language's name itself - Tavupohon is composed of tavu (language) and pohon (the Pohon people). As a result, some words can be quite long, such as kukipilelunpuovi (an Interactive Telemo), composed of kukipi (device), lelun (to contact) and puovi (mobile). Other than that, Kanaenuibanashi grammar is incredibly simple, making it easy for studying.
Dialects
The two main dialects of Kanaenuibanashi are essentially the ones being spoken in the two largest areas north of Sol ciel - Masinha tundra and Tususi glacier. The Masinha dialect tends to be more modern, adopting sounds and vocabulary from surrounding languages, especially Shell, while the Tususi dialect is more traditional, preserving some older sounds and words. A standard form was brought forth, combining features from both dialects, and this form is what children are taught at schools. The daily newspaper Vôce ("Hope") is also printed in this standard form.
Orthography
Kanaenuibanashi uses an alphabet for transliteration, and it's a phonemic alphabet. There is a 1:1 mapping between letters and sounds, each letter only has one possible pronunciation (except the letter n which has two, but the alternate pronunciation is limited to only the coda position, therefore is perfectly regular). The alphabet was designed by the Pohon linguist, Liisa Soräne.
The Kanaenuibanashi alphabet, consisting of 21 letters, is as follows: A Ä C E H I K L M N O Ö P R S T U Y V Â Ô
In situations where diacritics are not available (such as when transliterating into other scripts, Hymmnos for example), one can substitute ae for ä, oe for ö, eu for â and eo for ô. This causes a few minimal pairs to occur, but context will help with distinguishing. Some reformists insist on using ü instead of y, but in cursive writing, ü looks very similar to ii (which can already be found in the name Liisa Soräne) and is therefore avoided to prevent confusion.
Phonology
Kanaenuibanashi is among those languages with poorest consonant inventory in Ar ciel, only 12. However, it also has 10 distinct vowels, which is fairly rich compared to the standard 5~7 of many others. Consonant length (germination) is phonemic, and so is vowel length. Compare tavu [tɑʋu] (language) VS taavu [tɑːʋu] (up, above), and pati [pɑti] (to receive) VS patti [pɑtːi] (a hundred) VS paati [pɑːti] (a party, a group of adventurers). Only plosives can be germinated.
The consonants c, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t and v are mostly pronounced the same as in IPA. Nasals are bilabial [m], alveolar [n] and velar [ŋ] (written n, can only be found in coda position). Plosives are bilabial [p], alveolar [t], palatal [c] and velar [k]. Fricatives are alveolar [s] and glottal [h]. Both liquids are alveolar, including approximant [l] and trill [r]. As for the letter v, it's generally labial approximant [ʋ], but depending on region it can also be realized as [β], [w] or even [v]. Some speakers might also use [ʁ] for /r/. No distinction is made between voiced and voiceless consonants. The plosives are never aspirated.
The vowels e, i and u are pronounced the same as in IPA: [e], [i] and [u]. a represents the back vowel [ɑ]. ä represents [æ] (raised to [ɛ] for Masinha dialect speakers). o is almost always [o] but some speakers might use [ɔ] instead. ö and y are front equivalents of o and u, which means they represent [ø] (rarely [œ]) and [y] respectively. â represents the rare back unrounded [ɯ]. Finally, ô represents an even rarer sound, [ɤ] (shifted to [ə] in Masinha dialect). There is no semivowel or diphthong, when several vowels come together, they are to be pronounced separately and clearly.
Phonotactics is significantly simple: an optional syllable onset which can be any of the consonants other than /ŋ/, a required nucleus being any vowel, and an optional coda which can only be /ŋ/ (but assimilates into [m] when preceding bilabial, and [n] when preceding alveolar and palatal consonants).
Grammar
As mentioned, Kanaenuibanashi has a very simple and straightforward grammar. Standard syntax is SVO (Subject - Verb - Object), though SOV and OSV (through topic-comment structure) are also observed. There is little distinction between word roles, a single word lapie can be a noun (love), a verb (to love), an adjective (lovely, beloved) and an adverb (lovelily) depending on context.
The language is mostly right-branching: adjectives follow nouns, adverbs follow verbs; however numerals precede nouns, and objects can either precede or follow verbs depending on the speaker's preference, more commonly the latter.
Pronouns
Pronoun system in Kanaenuibanashi is not exceptionally complex, but distinguishes between genders and levels of politeness. There are two types of pronouns, stressed and unstressed. Unstressed pronouns are only used before a verb as a direct object or after a noun as a possessive pronoun. In all other cases, the stressed forms are used. Some pronouns can be used as both stressed and unstressed, and particularly in informal speech, all unstressed forms can be used as stressed forms. Pronouns can be, and are often, dropped when clarified by context.
First person singular pronouns include kana, kumi, nara and kä. kana is the gender-neutral, polite and most "basic" word for "I" which means it can be used in almost every situation and should be used unless the speakers are already acquaintances. The unstressed counterpart of kana is ky. kumi is only used by female in informal situations, it gives off a feminine and intimate but still polite feeling. Meanwhile, nara is only used by male, and even then it's not often used, since it is deemed rude and tends to express that the speaker is superior to the listener. In fact, in informal situations male speakers often use kä (which is also the unstressed form of both kumi and nara). Female can also sometimes use kä as stressed pronoun, this is considered a "boyish" method of speech. Some female, especially young girls, can also use their own name to refer to themselves in a "cute" way.
Second person singular pronouns include tene, tä and cô. Just like kana, tene is the "right" pronoun to call the listener in virtually all situations, from polite to colloquial to intimate. There are two unstressed forms for tene, ty and tä which are polite and informal respectively. cô (used as both stressed and unstressed) is a rude pronouns that only male use, similar to nara it expresses superiority over the listener.
Third person singular pronouns include vypy, nura and lumi. They have no unstressed form (ie. the unstressed forms are identical). vypy and nura are essentially "he/him/his" and "she/her" respectively. lumi means "it(s)" but can also be "that" (as in "That is..." etc.)
There is a special first person dual form aionte (unstressed ante) that is only used when the speaker and the listener are lovers, or a pair of two girls (who may or most likely may not necessarily be in romantic same-sex relationship with each other). Generally used only by young people, this pronoun is almost never used anymore after the age of 30.
First person plural pronouns include kanata and kökkö. kanata (unstressed kata) is inclusive-we, meaning the listener is included ("you and me" or "you and us"), while kökkö and unstressed kö are exclusive-we, meaning the listener is not included ("we, not including you").
Second person plural pronouns include tene and câmô. tene is identical to the singular counterpart, but with a different unstressed form te (used both politely and informally). câmô is the plural equivalent of cô and is considered very, very rude, probably used only when fighting or despising a group of listeners.
Third person plural pronouns include lerakô and lumi. lerakô (unstressed lera) is used to refer to human, while lumi (unstressed identical) is used to refer to anything non-human.
Topic marker nä
The word nä is the topic marker. It is very commonly used and stresses whatever that comes before it, which can be pretty much anything. Compare the example "I understand that" in several different ways:
- (Kana) Uipa lumi (standard)
- Kana nä (kana) uipa lumi (stresses subject, subject can be repeated for even more emphasis: "As for me, I understand that")
- Lumi nä (kana) uipa (stresses object: "As for that, I understand")
- Uipa lumi nä (kana) uipa (stresses verb, verb must be repeated: "As for understanding that, I do)
In the first two examples, lumi can be put before uipa (as an unstressed pronoun, SOV syntax), but in the fourth example, the phrase preceding nä must always be VO order and not OV.
In informal speech nä is also used in place of onyva as an answer to yes/no questions.
Common phrases
- Hello: Mu nâsen! (formal, lit. "Good day!"); Lôran! (informal)
- Goodbye: Huvan vuku (tene); Lôran! (informal); Väi! (colloquial)
- Good night: Ättu nâsen; Ättu! (informal)
- How are you?: Tene nä sööme hau?; Sööme? (colloquial)
- What is your name?: Sorea ty nä â?
- My name is ... : Sorea (ky) nä ... ; Kana nä ...
- Please: Cinhä; Kana tori tene (formal, lit. "I ask you"); Ty tori
- Excuse me: Cinhä
- Thank you: Sappi (informal); Kana nä sappi (formal)
- Sorry: Kana ren viôn; Nä kana pati viôn ty (formal); Viôn (colloquial)
- Yes: Onyva
- No: Nacce
- I understand: Kana uipa; Lumi nä (kana) uipa
- I don't understand: (Kana) Uipa nacce
- I don't know: (Kana) Yvö nacce
- I love you: Tä lapie; Kä tä lapie (male to female); Kumi tä lapie (female to male); Antela (colloquial)
