Azkali language: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox:Language|Speakers=16.8 million|LanguageFamily=Language isolate|AlternativeName=Askali, Askal|LanguageName=Azkali|NativeLanguage=Azkali Patua|LanguageNPrnnctn=[æs̻.'kali pa.tu.'a]|RegulatedBy=None|OfficialLanguage=[[Azkali]], [[Baphia]], Sunterian province of [[Kalilonde]]|3LetterCode=AZK|SignedForms=[[Azkali Sign Language]]|WritingSystem=[[Azkali alphabet]] [[Ukilen logographs]]}}<aside class="portable-infobox noexcerpt pi-background pi-theme-default pi-layout-default">
{{Infobox:Language|Speakers=31.8 million|LanguageFamily=Language isolate|AlternativeName=|LanguageName=Azkali|NativeLanguage=Azkali Patua|LanguageNPrnnctn=[æs̻.'kali pa.tu.'a]|RegulatedBy=None|OfficialLanguage=[[Azkali]], [[Baphia]], Sunterian province of [[Kalilonde]]|3LetterCode=AZK|SignedForms=[[Azkali Sign Language]]|WritingSystem=[[Azkali alphabet]] [[Ukilen logographs]]}}'''Azkali''' (''Azkali, Azkali Patua'' /as.kali/, [æs̻.'kali pa.tu.'a]) is a language or dialect continuum spoken throughout much of the continents of [[Ukilen]] and [[Brausia]], and across much of the rest of the world. It is the official language of [[Azkali]], also being an official language in [[Baphia]] and the Sunterian province of Kalilonde. In addition it is also a minority language throughout much of [[Sunteria]], [[Jkawi]], [[Loremesia]], and [[Alloti]]. A majority of the speakers of the Azkali language reside outside of [[Azkali]], primarily due to immigration following the [[1980 Azkali Plague|1980 plague]] outbreak.
==Official status==
</aside><span></span>


<span></span>
== History ==
The origins of the Azkali language are disputed. The leading theory is that Azkali originated in southeast Baphia, and that speakers of Proto-Azkali migrated south into the [[Azkali peninsula]]. The date of this hypothesized migration is unclear - however, most estimates place it as being approximately nine thousand years ago. There are other theories that have been proposed for Proto-Azkali's origins, most notably the [...] conondrum, positing an origin in [...], which would supposedly explain the similiarity of some words between Proto-Azkali and Proto-Mallo-Brausian, and the Brausian hypothesis, positing an origin in northern Brausia. All of these theories have substantial proof supporting them, but the hypothesis with the most is the Baphian hypothesis


'''Azkali''' (''Azkali, Azkali Patua'' /as.kali/, [æs̻.'kali pa.tu.'a]) is a language spoken throughout much of the continents of [[Ukilen]] and [[Brausia]], as well as across much of the rest of the world. It was the official and majority language of the [[Azkali|Azkali State]] during its existance. It also is an official language in [[Baphia]], aswell as being a large minority language throughout much of [[Sunteria]], [[Jkawi]], [[Loremesia]], and [[Alloti]]. A majority of the speakers of the Azkali language reside outside of [[Azkali]], primarily due to immigration following the [[1980 Azkali Plague|1980 plague]] outbreak. Most of these "international Azkali speakers" reside in [[Alloti]].
The Merwa complaint, dated around 5000 BCE, is the oldest extant text of Azkali writing. It is written in the Old Azkali alphabet 


Azkali is a [[W:Language isolate|language isolate]] - one of, if not the only of which still remains in Ukilen - with no relationship to any other language (aside from the dialect or sister-language of ''[[Ezkaudi]]'') having been concretely proven. It is one of, if not the only surviving language isolate in [[Ukilen]]. The current most substantiated theory on the [[Azkali origin theories|origin of the Azkali peoples]] is that the progenitors of the Azkali peoples resided in [[northeastern Baphia]]. Other theories claim a multitude of homelands, from northern [[Sunteria]] to the northernmost islands of [[Loremesia]].
=== Pataxea (8000-6000 BCE) ===
See main article: [[Pataxea]]  


Azkali is the native language of approximately 64.76% of [[Azkali]]; almost all Azkali citizens speak it to some degree. A majority of Azkali speakers reside outside of the territory of [[Azkali]].
=== Classical Azkali (1500 BCE) ===


== History ==
=== Contemporary Azkali (1200 AD) ===
The origins of the Azkali language are disputed. The leading theory is that Azkali originated in southwest Baphia, and that speakers of Proto-Azkali migrated south into the [[Azkali peninsula]]. The date of this hypothesized migration is unclear - however, most estimates place it as being ca. 6000-7000 years ago.


The oldest example of the Azkali language being written is from around 3000 BCE, in an ancient form of what is believed to be the [[Azkali alphabet]]. If true, this would make the Azkali alphabet one of the oldest extant writing systems in the world.
=== Modern Azkali (2005 AD) ===
=== Current evolution ===


=== Proto Azkali (6000-7000 BCE) ===
== Phonology ==


=== Early Azkali (500 BCE) ===
=== Vowels ===
According to most analyses, Azkali has a modest vowel system of five vowels, notably including the lack of a rounded back mid vowel, instead being unrounded. The estimated number of allophones of these vowels is between twenty and twenty four, though some dialects have as many as thirty. Some analyses posit these allophones as phonemic, possibly making Azkali the language with one of the largest vowel systems in the world. The chart shown below describes the Southern Azkali, Eastern Azkali, and Chekearoa dialect vowels, as well as the vowels of Standard Azkali.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Azkali vowel phonemes
!
!Front
!Back
|-
!Close
|'''i'''
/i/
|'''u'''
/u/
|-
!Mid
|'''e'''
/e/
|'''o'''
/ɤ/
|-
!Open
| colspan="2" |'''a'''
/a/
|}
The pronunciation of these vowels changes depending on the phonological environment that surrounds it. There are in general three main rules:


=== Classical Azkali (500 AD) ===
# (Phonemic) vowels at the end of words are heightened and or elongated.
# (Phonemic) vowels at the start of words are centralized.
# (Phonemic) vowels that are stressed are lowered.


=== Medieval Azkali (1000 AD) ===
From there, there are a larger number of sub-rules which modify each of the main rules. These are the rules for /i/:


=== Contemporary Azkali (1800 AD) ===
# At the start of a word, /i/ is pronounced as /ɨ:/.
# At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /i/ is pronounced as /ɨ/.
# In the sequences /ui/, /iu/, or /ei/, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ/.
## In the case of /iu/, if it is at the start of a word, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ:/.
# When stressed, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ/
## At the start of a word, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ:/.


=== Pre-Plague Azkali (1900-1980 AD) ===
These are the rules for /u/:


=== Plague Azkali (1980-2005) ===
# At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /u/ is pronounced as /ʊ̜:/
# In any sequence of /u/ and another vowel, regardless of order, /u/ is pronounced as /ʊ̜/
## If said sequence is at the start of the word, and /u/ is the first phoneme in the sequence, /u/ is pronounced as /ʊ̜:/
# When stressed, /u/ is pronounced as /ɘ̝/.


=== Modern Azkali (2005 AD) ===
These are the rules for /e/:
Modern Azkali denotes any form of the language occuring after the re-establishment of the Azkali State as a unified entity.  
 
# At the start of a word, /e/ is pronounced as /ɛ:/.
# At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /e/ is pronounced as /ɛ/.
# In any sequence of /e/ and another vowel, only when /e/ is the first vowel in the sequence, /e/ is pronounced as /ɵ:/.
## In the case of /ei/, however, /e/ is pronounced as /e/. However, if /ei/ starts a word, the /e/ is pronounced as /e:/.
# When stressed, /e/ is pronounced as /ɜ/.
# In a sequence of an affricate and /e/, the /e/ is pronounced as /ɛ/.
These are the rules for /ɤ/:


==== Standard Azkali (2016 AD) ====
# At the start of a word, /ɤ/ Is pronounced as /ɤ̞:/.
# At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ɤ̞/ (mid, instead of close-mid).
# In any sequence of /ɤ/ and another vowel, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ə/.
## If said sequence is at the start of the word, and /ɤ/ is the first phoneme in the sequence, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ɤ:/.
# When stressed, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ɜ/.


== Phonology ==
These are the rules for /a/:


=== Vowels ===
# At the start of a word, /a/ is pronounced as /æ:/.
The following two tables show the vowel phonemes of the four standard Azkali dialects. These two charts do not fully represent the amount of diversity in the Azkali language; they only show the most prominent dialects. Generally, Azkali vowels are not differentiated by length.
# At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /a/ is pronounced as /æ/.
# In any sequence of /a/ and an other vowel, /a/ is pronounced as /ə/.
## If said sequence is at the start of the word, and /a/ is the first phoneme in the sequence, /a/ is pronounced as /ɜ/.
# When stressed, /a/ is pronounced as /ɑ:/.


==== Domestic dialects ====
The following demonstrates every Azkali vowel phoneme and allophone. Phonemes are bolded, whilst allophones are italicized.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Vowel phonemes of domestic Azkali dialects
|+Azkali vowel phones
!'''Chekearoa Dialect'''
! rowspan="2" |
![[W:Front vowel|Front]]
! colspan="2" |Front
![[W:Back vowel|Back]]
! colspan="2" |Central
!'''Otzeipao Dialect'''
! colspan="2" |Back
![[W:Front vowel|Front]]
![[W:Back vowel|Back]]
|-
|-
|'''Close'''
!<small>short</small>
|i
!<small>long</small>
|u
!<small>short</small>
|'''Close'''
!<small>long</small>
|i
!<small>short</small>
|u
!<small>long</small>
|-
|-
|'''Close-Mid'''
!Close
|e
|'''i'''
|ɤ
|''<small>i:</small>''
|'''Close-Mid'''
|''<small>ɨ</small>''
| rowspan="2" |e̞
|''<small>ɨ:</small>''
|o
|'''u'''
|''<small>u:</small>''
|-
|-
|'''Open-Mid'''
!Near close
|ɛ
|''<small>ɪ</small>''
|ɔ
|''<small>ɪ:</small>''
|'''Open-Mid'''
|''<small>ɘ̝</small>''
|
|
|''<small>ʊ̜</small>''
|''<small>ʊ̜:</small>''
|-
|-
|'''Open'''
!Close mid
| colspan="2" |a
|'''e'''
|'''Open'''
|''<small>e:</small>''
|æ
|
|ɑː
|''<small>ɵ:</small>''
|}
|'''ɤ'''
{| class="wikitable"
|''<small>ɤ:</small>''
|+Vowel phonemes of international Azkali dialects
!Sunterian Azkali
![[W:Front vowel|Front]]
![[W:Back vowel|Back]]
!Allotian Azkali
![[W:Front vowel|Front]]
![[W:Back vowel|Back]]
|-
|-
|'''Close'''
!Mid
|i
|
|ʊ
|
|'''Close'''
|''<small>ə</small>''
|i
|
|u
|''<small>ɤ̞</small>''
|''<small>ɤ̞:</small>''
|-
|-
|'''Close-Mid'''
!Open mid
|e
|''<small>ɛ</small>''
|ɤ̞
|''<small>ɛ:</small>''
|'''Close-Mid'''
|''<small>ɜ</small>''
|e
|
|
|-
|'''Open-Mid'''
|ɛ
|
|
|'''Open-Mid'''
|
|
|ɔ
|-
|-
|'''Open'''
!Open
|æ
|''<small>æ</small>''
|''<small>æ:</small>''
|'''a'''
|
|
|'''Open'''
|
| colspan="2" |a
|''<small>ɑ:</small>''
|}
|}
In addition, all of these vowel phonemes can be lengthened, either for stress, emphasis, or distinctive reasons. The latter is extremely rare, however; this is usually written as a doubling of the letter of the vowel (i.e /e:/ is written as <ee>) or the addition of an acute on the vowel letter (i.e /e:/ is written as <é>).


In addition, domestic Azkali dialects contain the close front rounded vowel, /y/. This vowel phoneme is used rarely, only in several place names, nouns, and suffixes (one common suffix containing /y/ being '''hü-''', meaning "bad" or "wrong).
=== Consonants ===
 
The ''Standard Azkali'' dialect bases it's vowel phonemes on the Chekearoa dialect of Azkali.
 
==== Allophony ====
 
==== Mutated vowels ====
As a result of mutation, vowels often shift their pronunciation. The chart below shows their mutated forms:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Ordinary
!Mutated
|-
|i
|ʊ
|-
|u
|ɔ
|-
|e
|ɐ
|-
|ɤ
|ɑ
|-
|ɛ
|ʏ
|-
|ɔ
|ɛ
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |a<ref>In most Azkali dialects, /a/ is resistant to mutation. However, some dialects change /a/ to /ə/.</ref>
|}
=== Consonants ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Table of consonant phonemes in Standard Azkali
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! rowspan="2" |'''[[W:Bilabial consonant|Bilabial]]'''
! rowspan="2" |Bilabial
! colspan="3" |'''[[W:Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]'''
! colspan="2" |Alveolar
! rowspan="2" |'''[[W:Dental consonant|Dental]]'''
! rowspan="2" |Dental
! rowspan="2" |'''[[W:Palatal consonant|Palatal]]'''
! rowspan="2" |Palatal
! rowspan="2" |'''[[W:Velar consonant|Velar]]'''
! rowspan="2" |Velar
! rowspan="2" |'''[[W:Glottal consonant|Glottal]]'''
! rowspan="2" |Glottal
|-
|-
![[W:Laminal consonant|Lamino-dental]]
!Lamino-
![[W:Apical consonant|Apico-alveolar]]
dental
!'''[[W:Lateral consonant|Lateral]]'''
!Apico-
alveolar
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |'''[[W:Nasal consonant|Nasal]]'''
! colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|'''m'''
/m/
|
|
|n
|'''n'''
/n/
|
|
|
|('''gn''')
|ɲ
(/ɲ/)
|ŋ
|('''ng''')
(/ŋ/)
|
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |'''[[W:Plosive|Plosive]]'''
! colspan="2" |Plosive
|p
|'''p'''
|t
/p/
|
|'''t'''
/t/
|
|
|
|
|c
| rowspan="2" |'''ch'''
|k
/c~tɕ/
|'''k'''
/k/
|
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |'''[[W:Affricate|Affricate]]'''
! colspan="2" |Affricate
|
|
|t̪s̻
|'''tz'''
|t̺s̺  
/t̪s̻/
|tɬ
|'''ts'''
/t̺s̺/
|
|
|ɕ
|'''g'''
|ɡʟ̝  
/ɡʟ̝~g/
|
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[W:Fricative|Fricative]]'''
! rowspan="2" |Fricative
|'''Voiceless'''
!<sub>voiceless</sub>
|f
|s̻
|s̺
|ɬ
|θ
|tɕ
|
|
|h
|'''z'''
/s̻/
|'''s'''
/s̺/
|'''th'''
/θ/
|'''sh'''
/ɕ/
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |'''h'''
/h~ɦ~x/
|-
|-
|'''Voiced'''
!<sub>voiced</sub>
|v
|
|z̻
|z̺
|ɮ
|ð
|dʑ
|
|
|
|'''d'''
/ð/
|
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |'''[[W:Approximant|Approximant]]'''
! colspan="2" |Approximant
|w
|'''rr'''
| colspan="2" |ɹ̠ʷ
/ɹ̠ʷ/
|l
|
|
|j
|'''l'''
/l/
|
|'''y'''
/j/
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
| colspan="2" |'''[[W:Tap and flap consonants|Tap]]'''
! colspan="2" |Tap
|
|
|
|
|ɾ
|'''r'''
|
/ɾ/
|
|
|
|
Line 233: Line 249:
|
|
|}
|}
Generally, Azkali dialects are uniform in their consonant phonemes - though there are of course some minor differences in pronunciation between them.  
Contrasting with almost all of the languages that geographically surround it, Azkali has no true voiced stops. The only analog to a voiced stop, romanized as <g>, is a voiced velar lateral affricate ([ɡʟ̝]) in somewhat more than half of all recorded dialects. The other half pronounce it as /g/. Dialects that pronounce g as /ɡʟ̝/ are what are known as ''[[Zigeran (Azkali language)|zigeran]]'' dialects.


Uniquely, Azkali has a distinction between laminal and apical articulation in it's affricates and fricatives. With [s̻], the laminal alveolar voiceless fricative, friction occurs on the blade of the tongue; this is how most Ukilen and Brausian languages pronounce /s/. With [s̺], the apical alveolar voiceless fricative, friction occurs on the crest of the tongue. They are written like <z> and <nowiki><s> respectively. In addition, either of these two can be voiced, being written as <zz> and <ss> respectively. These four alveolar fricatives have been historically resistant to phonological evolution, with only a few dialects pronouncing them distinctly.</nowiki>
The Azkali consonant system is characterized by (1) four nasal phonemes, two of which, the voiced palatal and velar nasals (marked in parentheses in the above table), are fairly uncommon; (2) in most dialects, the lack of voiced stop altogether; (3) in about half of all dialects, the presence of the voiced velar lateral affricate /ɡʟ̝/, an extremely rare phoneme, in the place of a voiced velar stop; (4) the existence of a distinction between lamino-dental and apico-alveolar voiceless sibilant fricatives, a distinction seen in only a handfull of other languages; (5) the existence of voiceless and voiced dental fricatives, possibly due to aereal influences from Loremese; and (6), the distinction between the voiced labialized post-alveolar approximant and the voiced alveolar tap.


Unusually for Ukilen and Brausian languages, Azkali contains no trill phoneme. There is evidence showing that Medieval Azkali might have contained [r] as a phoneme; likewise, no significant dialect of Azkali has evolved to have [r] as a phoneme.
The phoneme /h/ is extremely variable — most dialects, including the Otzeipao, Chekearoa, Atzogui(riki), and Kalilondan dialects pronounce it as /h/. However, most inland dialects and the Achari dialect substitute /h/ with it's voiced variant /ɦ/. Further still, Northern dialects and the Hadheri neighborhood of Chekearoa, especially starting around the 1960s, have began to pronounce /h/ as /x/. In most dialects /h/ is pronounced as /x/ in rapid speech, but again this is not a universal phenomenon, as even in rapid speech Otzeipao dialects regularly keep the pronunciation as /h/.


=== Allophony ===
There are a large range of dialects, and many of them have radically different phonetic inventories compared to standard Azkali dialects.


==== Rhotics ====
== Orthography ==
Main article: ''[[Azkali rhotic-switching]]''
''See articles: [[Azkali alphabet]], [[Azkali orthography]]''


In Azkali, the two rhotic phonemes, /ɾ/ and /ɹ̠ʷ/ - representing the letters <r> and <rr> respectively - often switch pronunciation. This is most evident in the Turruist register, in which the pronunciations of <r> and <rr> are virtually impossible to pronounce via spelling alone. This also occurs in Colloquial Azkali dialects, albeit to a much lesser extent. This switching is triggered oftentimes via nearby words and grammatical particles.
=== Modes of writing Azkali ===


=== Syllable structure ===
==== Azkali alphabet ====
Generally, Azkali syllables are (C)(C)V(V)(C), and occasionally (C)V(V)(C). Very few consonants can cluster with each other, even when crossing syllable boundaries. The table below shows what consonants can cluster with each other:
''See main article: [[Azkali alphabet]]''
{| class="wikitable"
|+Consonant clusters in Azkali
!
!s̻
!s̺
!'''z̻'''
!z̺
!t̪s̻
!'''t̺s̺'''
!n
!t
|-
!'''s̻'''
!
!
!
!
!
!
|ns̻
!
|-
!'''s̺'''
!
!
!
!
!
!
|ns̺
!
|-
!'''t'''
|s̻t
|s̺t
|z̻t
|z̺t
!
!
!
!
|-
!'''k'''
|s̻k
|s̺k
|z̻k
|z̺k
|t̪s̻k
|t̺s̺k
!
!
|-
!ɕ
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
|ɕt
|}
Oftentimes, a short schwa (/ə/) sound is inserted between consonant clusters in certain dialects. However, most domestic Azkali dialects (aswell as Standard Azkali) do not do this.
 
== Orthography ==


=== Azkali alphabet ===
The most common way of writing Azkali in the modern age is the [[Azkali alphabet]]. Before the [[1980 Azkali Plague|plague]], [[Ukilen logographs]] and the Azkali alphabet were used alongside each other. However, due to the effects of the [[1980 Azkali Plague|plague]], the Azkali alphabet was used nearly exclusively by the [[Warlord Generation]], with Ukilen logographs largely falling out in standard use.
The most common way of writing Azkali in the modern age is the [[Azkali alphabet]]. Before the [[1980 Azkali Plague|plague]], [[Ukilen logographs]] and the Azkali alphabet were used alongside each other. However, due to the effects of the [[1980 Azkali Plague|plague]], the Azkali alphabet was used nearly exclusively by the [[Warlord Generation]], with Ukilen logographs largely falling out in standard use.


=== Ukilen logographs ===
Chronologically speaking, the Azkali alphabet is the oldest out of the three typical ways in which Azkali is written. The current modern alphabet is believed to have descended from an ancient alphabet. Some writings predating even the hypothesized point of time in which Proto-Azkali was spoken have been found in modern day Yamahat and [northern continent], but it is unclear if said writings constitute actual writing or proto-writing. Nonetheless, some similarities between the first documented form of the Azkali alphabet and these writings have been noted.
[[Ukilen logographs]] were a common form of writing Azkali, but nowadays are infrequently used among Azkali speakers globally.


=== Astseredontia ===
==== Ukilen logographs ====
In the past, [[Oikan]] Astseredontia was commonly used to write Azkali. Nowadays, it has been mostly superseded by the Azkali alphabet or Ukilen logographs. However, it still remains a common way of writing Azkali in communities along the Sunteria-Azkali border.  
[[Ukilen logographs]] were a common form of writing Azkali, but nowadays are infrequently used among Azkali speakers globally. In areas where [[Kaneedkind#Baphian Kaneeds|Baphians]] are of high population, especially the north, the logography is much more preferred, but it is not particularly rare to see it used alongside the Azkali alphabet.


== Grammar ==
==== Astseredontia ====
Azkali is a decisively [[W:Agglutinative language|agglutinative]] language. Azkali nouns contain '''two definitenesses''' (Definite, and Indefinite), '''6 cases''' (Nominative, Accusative, Dative, Ablative, Possessive, and Privative), and '''three numbers''' (Singular, Paucal, and Plural). Azkali verbs conjugate for '''three or four tenses''' (the Far Past, Past, and Non Past, with a dialectal future construction), '''3 moods''' (Indicative, Conditional, and the Imperative), and '''11 aspects''' (Perfective, Momentane, Perfect, Prospective, Imperfective, Habitual, Progressive, Stative, Gnomic, Inchoative, and Iterative,). Azkali verbs also contain 2 participle forms (Past and Present), the gerund, and the agentive.
In the past, [[Oikan]] Astseredontia was commonly used to write Azkali. Nowadays, it has been mostly superseded by the Azkali alphabet or Ukilen logographs. However, it still remains a common way of writing Azkali in communities along the Sunteria-Azkali border. Notably, Astseredontia is a co-official script in the Azkali city of [[Otzeipao]], alongside the Azkali alphabet.  


Due to the relatively large amount of marking that words can take in Azkali, particularly in verbs and nouns in the Turruist register of Azkali, the word order of Azkali has gradually become relatively free. Most sentences tend to roughly follow a SVO word order pattern, however the tendency to follow a strict word order has eroded. This is a fairly novel construct, only being attested around the mid 1800s; speech following a strict SVO pattern is often considered traditional, or old fashioned. Relatively strict word orders are also seen in certain dialects, particularly those of which are influenced by [[Oikan]].
=== Romanization ===


Another novel construct in Azkali is the prescence of consonant and vowel mutation. The prescence of mutation in Azkali is extremely new, only being attested around the upheavel of the warlord era of Azkali. This change occured within a generation, and thus was followed closely by linguists across the world as it evolved (see: ''[[Evolution of Azkali  grammatical mutation]]''). Although not always used to convey grammatical functions, it is nonetheless one of the most important aspects of Azkali's grammar. Oftentimes, mutation can differentiate two (or more, even) completely identical sentences. There are three different types of mutation, of which are described in it's corresponding section. Mutation is oftentimes one of the hardest aspects of Azkali grammar to learn, due to the precise cases of which each type of mutation appears in, and the irregularity in how mutation affects the meaning and pronunciation of whole words and sentences.
== Grammar ==
 
''See main article: [[Azkali grammar]]''
Azkali grammar is notably different from other languages in Ukilen. However, due to extensive contact with languages such as [[Oikan]] and [[Baphian language|Baphian]], Azkali's grammar shares some notable features with them. In the past, and continuing on up until around the 1980s, Azkali grammar was far more irregular and was more differentiated from languages in Ukilen.
 
=== Consonant and Vowel Mutation ===
Consonant and vowel mutation occurs in specific grammatical and phonological scenarios in Azkali. There are three main types of mutation, all occurring in different scenarios: White Mutation (''Kenaikois''), Gray Mutation (''Kesunokois''), and Purple Mutation''.'' (''Poihekois'') Mutation is not usually reflected in the spelling of the word of which is mutated.


Mutation is one of the most novel evolutions in Azkali, evolving only around the upheaval of the 1980s and 1990s. Most international Azkali speakers have evolved this form of mutation (with several isolated exceptions, however).
Azkali is one of the prime examples of an [[w:Ergative–absolutive_alignment|ergative language]]. In Azkali, the subject of an intransitive verb and the object of a transitive verb are rendered in the ''absolutive'' case - the subject of a transitive verb is rendered in the ''ergative'' case. This is in opposition to all extant Mallo-Brausian languages, which are what are known as accusative languages, whereby the subject of both transitive and intransitive verbs are in the nominative case, with the object of a transitive verb being in the accusative case. Ergativity in Azkali evolved from [[Proto-Azkali language|Proto Azkali]], which had a split-ergative system based on tense.


==== White Mutation ====
Azkali nouns are overtly declined for six grammatical cases (the '''ergative, absolutive, possessive, privative, dative,''' and '''instrumental''') and three numbers (the '''singular, paucal,''' and '''plural'''), lacking grammatical gender. Azkali verbs conjugate for four moods (the '''indicative, conditional, hypothetical''', and '''imperative'''), three tenses (the '''far past, past,''' and '''non past'''), and in two verbs, person. Azkali verbs also have past and future participle, gerundive, and agentive forms. Save irregular verbs, Azkali verbs have some seventeen unique verbal forms.
White Mutation (''Kenaikois'') can be described as a form of [[W:Lenition|lenition]], where plosives mutate into affricates or fricatives. White Mutation occurs in the following grammatical and phonological scenarios:
[[File:Old book gathering.jpg|thumb|The oldest surviving copy of the [[Azalyi Gazi Chixgartai Ka]], at the [[Museum of Azkali History (Otzeipao)|Museum of Azkali History]] in Otzeipao. The copy shown is estimated to have been written between 900 BCE to 1,100 BCE.]]
 
Azkali is usually considered an agglutinative language; for example, the noun ''[[Anakimateyagezereketara (song)|anakimateyagezereketara]]'' means "accomplished with the great relatives", or "with the help of the great relatives". This can be broken down as ''a-(n)-akimateya-gez-(e)-rek-(e)-tar-a'', where:
* After possessive pronouns 
* After the numerals three, four, and eight (''iriu, madhet,'' and ''ashti'' respectively)
* Conditional verbs
* The conjunction "if" (''moik'')
 
The table below shows what each consonant then mutates into (phonemes of which are not in the ''plain'' column do not usually face mutation):
{| class="wikitable"
|+White mutations
!Plain
!Mutated
|-
|p
|pɸ
|-
|t
|ts
|-
|c
|cç
|-
|k
|kx
|-
|t̪s̻
|s̻
|-
|t̺s̺
|s̺
|-
|ɡʟ̝
|ɣ
|-
|f
| rowspan="6" |h
|-
|s̻
|-
|s̺
|-
|ɬ
|-
|θ
|-
|tɕ
|-
|h
|Ø
|-
|w
|ʍ
|-
|l
|ɾ
|-
|j
|Ø
|-
|ɾ
|ɹ
|-
|ɹ
|Ø
|}
Sounds with a corresponding mutated form of <Ø> are not pronounced.
 
=== Pronouns ===
 
==== T-V Distinction ====
While Standard Azkali does not feature a true [[W:T-V distinction|T-V distinction]], there is a growing trend of using new invented pronouns to distinguish familiarity or respect. This started in the late 60's and early 70's in [[Otzeipao]], following the establishment of the [[Azkali|Azkali State]]. Nowadays, this phenomenon has spread to most cities within Azkali. These pronouns usually change between region, city, or neighborhood - however, generally, they follow the forms listed in the following chart. Respective pronouns use the standard pronouns.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Familiar pronouns
!
!2nd
!3rd
|-
!'''Nominative'''
|juli
|luikui
|-
!'''Accusative'''
|julen
|luikien
|-
!'''Dative'''
|juliet
|luitu
|-
!'''Ablative'''
|jukiz
|luiz
|-
!'''Possessive'''
|jeuk
|luikiz
|-
!'''Privative'''
|jukez
|luimez
|}
The 3rd person familiar pronouns do not usually distinguish between gender.
 
==== Demonstrative pronouns ====
 
==== Personal pronouns ====
Personal pronouns differentiate between all 6 cases and the singular and plural numbers. Notably, paucal numbers are expressed the same as plural numbers for pronouns: the origin of this rule is unknown. The personal pronouns feature some irregularity in case and number compared to other nouns.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! rowspan="3" |
! colspan="5" |Singular
! colspan="3" |Dual/Plural
|-
! rowspan="2" |1st
! rowspan="2" |2nd
! colspan="3" |3rd
! rowspan="2" |1st
! rowspan="2" |2nd
! rowspan="2" |3rd
|-
!Male
!Female
!Epicene
|-
!'''Nominative'''
|go
|tu
|mai
|kut
|hakel
|gok
|tuk
|keilek
|-
!'''Accusative'''
|goen
|tuen
|mein
|kun
|haken
|gon
|tunen
|kein
|-
!'''Dative'''
|goet
|tuet
|mait
|kuit
|haket
|gonet
|tuneut
|keiket
|-
!'''Ablative'''
|gokoz
|tukoz
|maikoz
|kuhoz
|hakez
|goinoz
|tuenoz
|kaikoz
|-
!'''Possessive'''
|goek
|tuek
|maik
|kuek
|hakeik
|gonek
|tunek
|keike
|-
!'''Privative'''
|goz
|tukoz
|maiz
|kuiz
|hakaiz
|gonoz
|tuneuz
|kakaiz
|}
 
=== Determiners ===
The two main demonstrative determiners are ''nazkuriz'' and ''kauli'' - their plural forms being ''nazkeuk'' and ''kaulek.''
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Singular
!Plural
|-
!'''Proximal'''
|nazkuriz
|nazkeuk
|-
!'''Distal'''
|kauli
|kaulek
|}
 
=== Nouns ===
 
==== Noun Case ====
In Azkali, nouns are marked for any of 6 noun cases. Generally, they follow these forms (using the word ''Eche'' - house as an example). In the past, Azkali used ''many'' more cases, but nowadays (except in the Turruist Azkali register) only these main 6 are used.  
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Word
!Case
!Result
!Meaning
|-
!'''Nominative'''
|eche
|Ø
|eche
|house
|-
!'''Accusative'''
|eche
| -n
|echen
|house
|-
!'''Posessive'''
|eche
| -k
|echek
|house's
|-
!'''Dative'''
|eche
| -t
|echet
|to the house
|-
!'''Privative'''
|eche
| -z
|echez
|not the house's
|-
!'''Ablative'''
|eche
| -koz
|echekoz
|from the house
|}
 
===== Nominative Case =====
 
===== Accusative Case =====
 
===== Dative Case =====
 
===== Ablative Case =====
 
===== Possessive Case =====
 
===== Privative Case =====
 
====== Extended Cases ======
''See Main article: [[Turruist Azkali grammar]]''
 
In Turruist Azkali, there are approximately 27 cases that nouns decline for. The following chart is a non-exhaustive list of the case forms used in Turruist Azkali (there are several more cases that are either rarely used, or dialectal - e.g. between different temples).
{| class="wikitable"
!Name
!Word
!Case
!Result
!Meaning
|-
! colspan="5" |Nuclear Cases
|-
!'''Nominative'''
|eche
|Ø
|eche
|house
|-
!'''Accusative'''
|eche
| -k
|echek
|house
|-
!'''Posessive'''
|eche
| -ko
|echeko
|house's
|-
!'''Dative'''
|eche
| -tol
|echetol
|to the house
|-
!'''Privative'''
|eche
| -zk
|echezk
|not the house's
|-
! colspan="5" |Locative Cases
|-
!'''Adessive'''
|eche
| -retl
|echeretl
|near the house
|-
!'''Antessive'''
|eche
| -otl
|echeotl
|before the house
|-
!'''Apudessive'''
|eche
| -okotl
|echeokotl
|adjacent to the house
|-
!'''Inessive'''
|eche
| -tutl
|echetutl
|inside the house
|-
!'''Intrative'''
|eche
| -motl
|echemotl
|between the houses
|-
!'''Pergressive'''
|eche
| -atzlhi
|echeatzlhi
|in the vicinity of the house
|-
!'''Superessive'''
|eche
| -katl
|echekatl
|below the house
|-
! colspan="5" |Motion Cases
|-
!'''Ablative'''
|eche
| -moshte
|echemoshte
|away from the house
|-
!'''Delative'''
|eche
| -tas
|echetas
|from the top of the house
|-
!'''Egressive'''
|eche
| -hashti
|echehashti
|beginning from the house
|-
!'''Elative'''
|eche
| -kopol
|echekopol
|moving out of the house
|-
!'''Initiative'''
|eche
| -ashti
|echeashti
|starting from the house
|-
!'''Lative'''
|eche
| -atzat
|echeatzat
|into the house
|-
!'''Sublative'''
|eche
| -kazte
|echekazte
|onto under the house
|-
!'''Superlative'''
|eche
| -morri
|echemorri
|onto ontop of the house
|-
!'''Perlative'''
|eche
| -tarinz
|echetarinz
|through the house
|-
! colspan="5" |Other Cases
|-
!'''Instrumental'''
|eche
| -kunge
|echekunge
|(using) with the house
|-
!'''Oblique'''
|eche
| -noul
|echenoul
|concering the house
|-
!'''Aversive'''
|eche
| -ajoti
|echeajoti
|fearing the house
|-
!'''Sociative'''
|eche
| -amoz
|echeamoz
|together with the house
|-
!'''Abessive'''
|eche
| -tuhirinz
|echetuhirinz
|lacking the house
|-
!'''Essive'''
|eche
| -l
|echel
|as the house
|}
 
==== Number ====
There are three grammatical numbers in Azkali. They are the singular, paucal, and plural. Uniquely, pronouns only decline for the singular and plural numbers; paucal groups take the plural marker. The singular number is not marked, being treated as the default number. The paucal number is marked with ''-(a)tz''. The plural number, meanwhile, is usually marked with ''-(e)k.'' All markers are placed at the end of the noun, with all other markings in the noun being placed before the number marking.
 
The paucal and plural numbers take slightly different forms based on what, if any case precedes them. The table below lists their forms:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!
!a-
!Paucal
!-(n)-
!Plural
!-akimateya-
|-
!-gez-
!Base Form
!(e)
| -(a)tz
!-rek-
| -(e)k
!(e)
|-
!tar
!Nominative
!-a
| rowspan="2" | -etz
| -ek
|-
!Accusative
| rowspan="3" | -ak
|-
!Possessive
| -otz
|-
!Dative
| -utz
|-
|-
!Privative
!Definite article
| -eutz
|epenthetic
| -ek
!Root: relative (family)
|-
!Instrumental case
!Ablative
|epenthetic
| -autz
!plural marker
| -auk
|epenthetic
!Superlative suffix
!Definite article
|}
|}
This example is somewhat misleading, as a more analytical construction would be used colloquially, but is still representative of most formal texts.


==== Articles ====
Azkali is a ''strictly'' subject-verb-object language, contrasting with its neighboring Mallo-Brausian and Paleo-Azkali languages. Azkali is primarily a head-initial language. Azkali nouns go before adjectives, auxiliary verbs go before main verbs, and possesses go before possessors. Notably, Azkali uses a combination of postpositions and prepositions, with prepositions predominating. Further still, a number of prepositions fuse with the noun they modify.
There are two main articles in Azkali that are used, being the definite and indefinite articles respectively. The indefinite article is usually not marked, and is treated as the default article. If clarification is needed, a particle '''than''' is inserted. The definite article is marked via a circumfix '''a- (...) -(n)a.'''


=== Verbs ===
== Argot and slang ==
 
==== Copula ====
 
===== Isan/Etz =====
There are two verb forms meaning ''to be'', ''isan'' and ''etz.'' Generally, ''etz'' is used for both the far past and past tenses, whilst ''isan'' is used for the non past (and future) tense(s). Despite the distinction of tense, both can be used in contexts of which do not match up with their tense.
 
====== Nuance ======
Like every other language, ''isan'' and ''etz'' are the most irregular verbs in Azkali; by itself, the verb ''to be'' can have 33 different forms - including nonfinite conjugations, there are 37 different forms.
 
===== Constructions requiring isan =====
 
===== Constructions requiring etz =====
 
====== Exceptions ======
 
==== Conjugation ====
 
===== Tense =====
 
===== Mood =====
 
==== Aspect ====
 
== Syntax ==
 
=== Word Order ===
The word order of Azkali in a given sentence varies by context and dialect. A given Azkali sentence usually follows a ''Subject-Verb-Object'' word order. However, the word order is much freer than in other Ukilen languages. The role of the noun is mostly determined by its position within the sentence - e.g. the most salient topic within the sentence is shifted to the front, and visa versa.
 
== Dialects ==
 
=== In Azkali ===
 
==== Otzeipao Dialect ====
 
==== Chekearoa Dialect ====
 
==== Southern Dialect ====
 
==== Northern Dialect ====
 
==== Interior Dialect ====
 
=== Abroad ===
 
==== Allotian Azkali ====
 
==== Baphian Azkali ====
 
===== Turku Azkali =====
 
==== Loremesian Azkali ====
 
==== Sunterian Azkali ====


== Vocabulary ==
== Vocabulary ==
Approximately 60% percent of Azkali's vocabulary comes from Proto-Azkali, 21% being from an unknown language (thought to be an extant Paleo-Azkali language). In the remaining 19%, some 12% come from [[Oikan]], 4% comes from Loremesian (most likely due to trading and long term contact between the speakers of Loremesian and Azkali), 2.5% are from Paleo-Azkali languages, and the remaining 0.5% are from the G'torrugh register.
=== Common words and phrases ===
=== Common words and phrases ===


Line 890: Line 324:
* '''Karia:''' Nice to meet you!
* '''Karia:''' Nice to meet you!
* '''Para:''' Please.
* '''Para:''' Please.
* '''Horaiztitu''': Thank you.
* '''Orrato''': Thank you.
* '''Maréche taikijo''': Welcome.
* '''Mareche taikiyo''': Welcome.
* '''Zan''': Yes.
* '''Eina''': Yes.
* '''Ketz''': No.
* '''Ketz''': No.
* '''Askomoren goen''' Excuse me. (getting one's attention)
* '''Askomoren en''' Excuse me. (getting one's attention)
* '''Goetzukuo:''' I'm sorry.
* '''Goetzukuo:''' I'm sorry.
* ''(Formally)'' '''Madherra:''' Farewell.
* ''(Informally)'' '''Chuziz:''' Bye.
* ''(Informally)'' '''Not:''' Bye.
* ''(Formally)'' '''Maerana:''' Farewell.
 
== Dialects and varieties ==
== Registers ==
''Main article: [[Azkali registers]]''
 
In Azkali, there are three 'registers' of speech that are commonly used. They are Colloquial Azkali, Turruist Azkali, and G'torrugh.
 
=== Colloquial Azkali ===
Colloquial Azkali is the unstandardized main dialect of Azkali used by all speakers. This article, unless specificated, describes the Colloquial Azkali register''.''
 
=== Turruist Azkali ===
''Main article: [[Turruist Azkali register]]''
 
Turruist Azkali refers to any register of Azkali of which is used in meetings and ceremonies of the [[Turruism|Turruist faith]]. Turruist Azkali is very different from Colloquial Azkali, and oftentimes sentences in the two registers are unintelligable; a large amount linguists have thusly claimed that the two are seperate languages (in the fields of which this is claimed, the Colloquial register is called ''Azkali Patua'' whilst the Turruist register is referred to as ''Turrupeutei''). The differences between the Colloquial Azkali and Turruist Azkali are not only in the differentiated words of the two - of which the latter's lexicon would be considered antique - but also in the grammar. Turruist Azkali marks nouns with an obscene amount of grammatical cases (between 27 and 29). Verbs in Turruist Azkali are barebone, with the most irregular verb in the Colloquail dialect, ''isan'' (to be), having only '''[placeholder]''' different conjugations.
 
=== G'torrugh ===
''Main article: [[G'torrugh]]''


G'torrugh is a register of Azkali that is rarely discussed, much less taught or understood. The origins of this register are not known; however, it is at the very youngest 500 years old (this age is claimed due to archaic grammatical rules that are typical to late-medieval Azkali). Nowadays, the register is only used by people living within or around the town of [[Harakoniaz]], in Southeastern Azkali, and in very specific contexts. These contexts usually are also entangled with religious events and activities, but are also used when discussing art. Generally, G'torrugh is used when expressing precise and difficult-to-explain concepts, and more novelly, new or invented concepts.
=== Atheinən ===
 
The G'torrugh register is difficult to learn for most Azkali speakers; a large amount of the colloquial register's vocabulary is replaced with words that are considered old, traditional, or out-of-style. In addition, there are several phonemes in G'torrugh that are not present in both Turruist and Colloquial Azkali - such as the glottal stop /ʔ/ and /g/.
 
== Relation to other languages ==
Azkali is a language isolate, having seemingly no relation to other languages. An extremely closely related sister language/dialect, [[Ezkaudi (language)|Ezkaudi]], was commonly spoken from around 1000 AD up until 1950. The last known speaker of [[Ezkaudi]] died in 2009. Efforts to revitalize the language are ongoing; however, there are no recorded native speakers of [[Ezkaudi]] as of 2021.
 
== Argot ==


== Examples ==
== Examples ==


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
[[Category:Languages]]

Latest revision as of 22:57, 30 July 2025

Azkali (Azkali, Azkali Patua /as.kali/, [æs̻.'kali pa.tu.'a]) is a language or dialect continuum spoken throughout much of the continents of Ukilen and Brausia, and across much of the rest of the world. It is the official language of Azkali, also being an official language in Baphia and the Sunterian province of Kalilonde. In addition it is also a minority language throughout much of Sunteria, Jkawi, Loremesia, and Alloti. A majority of the speakers of the Azkali language reside outside of Azkali, primarily due to immigration following the 1980 plague outbreak.

History

The origins of the Azkali language are disputed. The leading theory is that Azkali originated in southeast Baphia, and that speakers of Proto-Azkali migrated south into the Azkali peninsula. The date of this hypothesized migration is unclear - however, most estimates place it as being approximately nine thousand years ago. There are other theories that have been proposed for Proto-Azkali's origins, most notably the [...] conondrum, positing an origin in [...], which would supposedly explain the similiarity of some words between Proto-Azkali and Proto-Mallo-Brausian, and the Brausian hypothesis, positing an origin in northern Brausia. All of these theories have substantial proof supporting them, but the hypothesis with the most is the Baphian hypothesis

The Merwa complaint, dated around 5000 BCE, is the oldest extant text of Azkali writing. It is written in the Old Azkali alphabet

Pataxea (8000-6000 BCE)

See main article: Pataxea

Classical Azkali (1500 BCE)

Contemporary Azkali (1200 AD)

Modern Azkali (2005 AD)

Current evolution

Phonology

Vowels

According to most analyses, Azkali has a modest vowel system of five vowels, notably including the lack of a rounded back mid vowel, instead being unrounded. The estimated number of allophones of these vowels is between twenty and twenty four, though some dialects have as many as thirty. Some analyses posit these allophones as phonemic, possibly making Azkali the language with one of the largest vowel systems in the world. The chart shown below describes the Southern Azkali, Eastern Azkali, and Chekearoa dialect vowels, as well as the vowels of Standard Azkali.

Azkali vowel phonemes
Front Back
Close i

/i/

u

/u/

Mid e

/e/

o

/ɤ/

Open a

/a/

The pronunciation of these vowels changes depending on the phonological environment that surrounds it. There are in general three main rules:

  1. (Phonemic) vowels at the end of words are heightened and or elongated.
  2. (Phonemic) vowels at the start of words are centralized.
  3. (Phonemic) vowels that are stressed are lowered.

From there, there are a larger number of sub-rules which modify each of the main rules. These are the rules for /i/:

  1. At the start of a word, /i/ is pronounced as /ɨ:/.
  2. At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /i/ is pronounced as /ɨ/.
  3. In the sequences /ui/, /iu/, or /ei/, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ/.
    1. In the case of /iu/, if it is at the start of a word, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ:/.
  4. When stressed, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ/
    1. At the start of a word, /i/ is pronounced as /ɪ:/.

These are the rules for /u/:

  1. At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /u/ is pronounced as /ʊ̜:/
  2. In any sequence of /u/ and another vowel, regardless of order, /u/ is pronounced as /ʊ̜/
    1. If said sequence is at the start of the word, and /u/ is the first phoneme in the sequence, /u/ is pronounced as /ʊ̜:/
  3. When stressed, /u/ is pronounced as /ɘ̝/.

These are the rules for /e/:

  1. At the start of a word, /e/ is pronounced as /ɛ:/.
  2. At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /e/ is pronounced as /ɛ/.
  3. In any sequence of /e/ and another vowel, only when /e/ is the first vowel in the sequence, /e/ is pronounced as /ɵ:/.
    1. In the case of /ei/, however, /e/ is pronounced as /e/. However, if /ei/ starts a word, the /e/ is pronounced as /e:/.
  4. When stressed, /e/ is pronounced as /ɜ/.
  5. In a sequence of an affricate and /e/, the /e/ is pronounced as /ɛ/.

These are the rules for /ɤ/:

  1. At the start of a word, /ɤ/ Is pronounced as /ɤ̞:/.
  2. At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ɤ̞/ (mid, instead of close-mid).
  3. In any sequence of /ɤ/ and another vowel, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ə/.
    1. If said sequence is at the start of the word, and /ɤ/ is the first phoneme in the sequence, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ɤ:/.
  4. When stressed, /ɤ/ is pronounced as /ɜ/.

These are the rules for /a/:

  1. At the start of a word, /a/ is pronounced as /æ:/.
  2. At the end of a syllable that is not word final, /a/ is pronounced as /æ/.
  3. In any sequence of /a/ and an other vowel, /a/ is pronounced as /ə/.
    1. If said sequence is at the start of the word, and /a/ is the first phoneme in the sequence, /a/ is pronounced as /ɜ/.
  4. When stressed, /a/ is pronounced as /ɑ:/.

The following demonstrates every Azkali vowel phoneme and allophone. Phonemes are bolded, whilst allophones are italicized.

Azkali vowel phones
Front Central Back
short long short long short long
Close i i: ɨ ɨ: u u:
Near close ɪ ɪ: ɘ̝ ʊ̜ ʊ̜:
Close mid e e: ɵ: ɤ ɤ:
Mid ə ɤ̞ ɤ̞:
Open mid ɛ ɛ: ɜ
Open æ æ: a ɑ:

Consonants

Bilabial Alveolar Dental Palatal Velar Glottal
Lamino-

dental

Apico-

alveolar

Nasal m

/m/

n

/n/

(gn)

(/ɲ/)

(ng)

(/ŋ/)

Plosive p

/p/

t

/t/

ch

/c~tɕ/

k

/k/

Affricate tz

/t̪s̻/

ts

/t̺s̺/

g

/ɡʟ̝~g/

Fricative voiceless z

/s̻/

s

/s̺/

th

/θ/

sh

/ɕ/

h

/h~ɦ~x/

voiced d

/ð/

Approximant rr

/ɹ̠ʷ/

l

/l/

y

/j/

Tap r

/ɾ/

Contrasting with almost all of the languages that geographically surround it, Azkali has no true voiced stops. The only analog to a voiced stop, romanized as <g>, is a voiced velar lateral affricate ([ɡʟ̝]) in somewhat more than half of all recorded dialects. The other half pronounce it as /g/. Dialects that pronounce g as /ɡʟ̝/ are what are known as zigeran dialects.

The Azkali consonant system is characterized by (1) four nasal phonemes, two of which, the voiced palatal and velar nasals (marked in parentheses in the above table), are fairly uncommon; (2) in most dialects, the lack of voiced stop altogether; (3) in about half of all dialects, the presence of the voiced velar lateral affricate /ɡʟ̝/, an extremely rare phoneme, in the place of a voiced velar stop; (4) the existence of a distinction between lamino-dental and apico-alveolar voiceless sibilant fricatives, a distinction seen in only a handfull of other languages; (5) the existence of voiceless and voiced dental fricatives, possibly due to aereal influences from Loremese; and (6), the distinction between the voiced labialized post-alveolar approximant and the voiced alveolar tap.

The phoneme /h/ is extremely variable — most dialects, including the Otzeipao, Chekearoa, Atzogui(riki), and Kalilondan dialects pronounce it as /h/. However, most inland dialects and the Achari dialect substitute /h/ with it's voiced variant /ɦ/. Further still, Northern dialects and the Hadheri neighborhood of Chekearoa, especially starting around the 1960s, have began to pronounce /h/ as /x/. In most dialects /h/ is pronounced as /x/ in rapid speech, but again this is not a universal phenomenon, as even in rapid speech Otzeipao dialects regularly keep the pronunciation as /h/.

There are a large range of dialects, and many of them have radically different phonetic inventories compared to standard Azkali dialects.

Orthography

See articles: Azkali alphabet, Azkali orthography

Modes of writing Azkali

Azkali alphabet

See main article: Azkali alphabet

The most common way of writing Azkali in the modern age is the Azkali alphabet. Before the plague, Ukilen logographs and the Azkali alphabet were used alongside each other. However, due to the effects of the plague, the Azkali alphabet was used nearly exclusively by the Warlord Generation, with Ukilen logographs largely falling out in standard use.

Chronologically speaking, the Azkali alphabet is the oldest out of the three typical ways in which Azkali is written. The current modern alphabet is believed to have descended from an ancient alphabet. Some writings predating even the hypothesized point of time in which Proto-Azkali was spoken have been found in modern day Yamahat and [northern continent], but it is unclear if said writings constitute actual writing or proto-writing. Nonetheless, some similarities between the first documented form of the Azkali alphabet and these writings have been noted.

Ukilen logographs

Ukilen logographs were a common form of writing Azkali, but nowadays are infrequently used among Azkali speakers globally. In areas where Baphians are of high population, especially the north, the logography is much more preferred, but it is not particularly rare to see it used alongside the Azkali alphabet.

Astseredontia

In the past, Oikan Astseredontia was commonly used to write Azkali. Nowadays, it has been mostly superseded by the Azkali alphabet or Ukilen logographs. However, it still remains a common way of writing Azkali in communities along the Sunteria-Azkali border. Notably, Astseredontia is a co-official script in the Azkali city of Otzeipao, alongside the Azkali alphabet.

Romanization

Grammar

See main article: Azkali grammar

Azkali is one of the prime examples of an ergative language. In Azkali, the subject of an intransitive verb and the object of a transitive verb are rendered in the absolutive case - the subject of a transitive verb is rendered in the ergative case. This is in opposition to all extant Mallo-Brausian languages, which are what are known as accusative languages, whereby the subject of both transitive and intransitive verbs are in the nominative case, with the object of a transitive verb being in the accusative case. Ergativity in Azkali evolved from Proto Azkali, which had a split-ergative system based on tense.

Azkali nouns are overtly declined for six grammatical cases (the ergative, absolutive, possessive, privative, dative, and instrumental) and three numbers (the singular, paucal, and plural), lacking grammatical gender. Azkali verbs conjugate for four moods (the indicative, conditional, hypothetical, and imperative), three tenses (the far past, past, and non past), and in two verbs, person. Azkali verbs also have past and future participle, gerundive, and agentive forms. Save irregular verbs, Azkali verbs have some seventeen unique verbal forms.

The oldest surviving copy of the Azalyi Gazi Chixgartai Ka, at the Museum of Azkali History in Otzeipao. The copy shown is estimated to have been written between 900 BCE to 1,100 BCE.

Azkali is usually considered an agglutinative language; for example, the noun anakimateyagezereketara means "accomplished with the great relatives", or "with the help of the great relatives". This can be broken down as a-(n)-akimateya-gez-(e)-rek-(e)-tar-a, where:

a- -(n)- -akimateya- -gez- (e) -rek- (e) tar -a
Definite article epenthetic Root: relative (family) Instrumental case epenthetic plural marker epenthetic Superlative suffix Definite article

This example is somewhat misleading, as a more analytical construction would be used colloquially, but is still representative of most formal texts.

Azkali is a strictly subject-verb-object language, contrasting with its neighboring Mallo-Brausian and Paleo-Azkali languages. Azkali is primarily a head-initial language. Azkali nouns go before adjectives, auxiliary verbs go before main verbs, and possesses go before possessors. Notably, Azkali uses a combination of postpositions and prepositions, with prepositions predominating. Further still, a number of prepositions fuse with the noun they modify.

Argot and slang

Vocabulary

Common words and phrases

  • (Informally) Kaisho/Kaishua: Hello.
  • (Formally) Maikoto Ashua: Greetings.
  • Lereaztu?: How are you?
  • Oke, askiatoal: Fine, thank you.
  • Gaiku tu: What is your name/Who are you?
  • Go isan __: My name is ___./I am ___.
  • Karia: Nice to meet you!
  • Para: Please.
  • Orrato: Thank you.
  • Mareche taikiyo: Welcome.
  • Eina: Yes.
  • Ketz: No.
  • Askomoren en Excuse me. (getting one's attention)
  • Goetzukuo: I'm sorry.
  • (Informally) Chuziz: Bye.
  • (Formally) Maerana: Farewell.

Dialects and varieties

Atheinən

Examples

Notes

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