Alegna

General information
Aleña (/al.'e.ɲa/) is a Romance inspired language spoken in modern day Portuagal, Spain, and Southern France. It is regulated by the Academy of Aleñal Culture and Language. (AACL).

Consonants
/k, g/ turn into [s, ʒ] before /i, e, j/

Diphthongs
[aɪ, aʊ, je, wo]

Orthography

 * Only used before [ ɛ, e, ẽ, i, ĩ, and j ]
 * To break up a dipthing, place an accent on the first vowel
 * Final e or ẽ is always silent (but not final ê). It exists to make c/g go from [k/g --> s/ʒ]. It may also exist after y/ñ
 * I will often give IPA.

Punctuation
Periods

Aleña uses periods to end a complete sentence or abbreviate a verb. 

Commas

Aleña uses commas to depedent clauses or preposition phrases to the beginning of a sentence or to separate ideas in a list. Commas are not used before a conjunction joining to complete sentences. It is also used where a semi colon is used in English.

Question Marks

Question marks appear at the end of an interrogative sentence

Quotation marks

Aleña uses < > instead of quotation marks.

Stress
Stress in Alenã falls on the penultimate syllable, except in infinitves, where it maintained Latin's stress on the V̄́re. Stress is important, as it led to many sound changes.

Sandhi
There is a process of contractions explained later.

Le Nuomai (Nouns)
While heavily simplified, Aleña kept Latin's case system. Nouns in Aleña decline for 3 cases: Nominative, Oblique, and Vocative (glossed NOM, OBL, and VOC respectively). Unlike Latin, the Vocative case developed a distinct ending from the Dative case (the Oblique case draws from the Accusative case in Latin).

The Nominative case is always used to mark the subject of the sentence and is also the "infinitive" state of the noun, i.e.the state of the noun when it does not need to be declined. The Oblique case marks the direct or indirect object of the sentence and also serves as the object of a prepositional phrase. The Vocative case is used to address something and to highlight a topic deemed important.

Aleña nouns also indicate gender. Most feminine nouns stayed feminine and most masculine nouns stayed masculine. While most netuer nouns became feminine, some netuer nouns became feminine (e.g. nuomêz [nwom ɛz]  - noun, feminine < nōmen - name, neuter).

Finally, Aleña nouns also indicate 2 numbers: singular and plural.

The citation form of all nouns is the singular, nominative form of each noun. Usually gender is obvious from the citation form, but should be memorized for the irregulars (piedêz ['pje.d ɛz]  - poet, masculine < poēta - poet, masculine).

The genetive is constructed with di [di] + the possessing noun (lit. of the noun). Note that di is always followed by a definite article.

Some verbs can be turned into nouns by dropping the infinitve at adding du (usually, though there are exceptions).

Le Dechinêdai (Declensions)
Aleña combined all of Latins' declensions into just 2 declensions: one for feminine nouns (mostly 1st and 5th declension), and one for masculine nouns (2nd, 3rd, and 4th declensions). They are listed below. 1st Declensions nouns are feminine and end in -êz or -du; 2nd declension nouns are masucline and end in ''-oz. ''

Dechinêdai I (Declension I)
The declensions are listed in the chart below Ex. nuomêz ['nwo.mɛz] (noun or name; from nōmen)
 * All nouns gain an accent on the penultimate vowel in the singular vocative ending (unless there is already an accent in the noun).

Dechinêdal II (Declension II)
The declensions are listed in the chart below Ex. nuómêroz ['nwo.mɛ.ʁɔz] (number, from numerus)
 * All nouns gain an accent on the penultimate vowel in the singular vocative ending (unless there is already an accent in the noun).

Irregular Nouns
Certain nouns are irregular. Nouns ending in -yêz or -yoz are irregular in the vocative plural, y --> gu.

Ex. aimiyoz - friend Other nouns have irregular gender. Most nouns ending in Vdêz or Vlêz where V is a vowel are masculine (example. piêdez, poet, and aicuolêz [aɪ.'kwo.lɛz] < agricola, farmer).

Prepositions and Noun Cases
Most prepositions require that the object of the noun be in the oblique case, for example: suovê lê duom uz  - over the house. However, some prepositions require different cases. The most notable of these are di and ''cu. Di almost always requires the nominative case, for example, di lê duom oz  - ''of the house. Cu' usually requires the vocative case, Su 'cu muoz ami guiz  - I am with my friends.

Le Pronuomai (Pronouns)
Aleña's pronouns maintained more of Latin's cases than other nouns and decline for the nominative, accusative, dative/reflexive, and a possesive (~genitive, glossed POS) case. They are listed in below. While Aleña did not maintain a T-V distinction, it does has separate pronouns for discussing very specific things (i.e. substituing the name of a romantic interest with a pronoun). In the 3rd person it is masculine/feminine. Because of sound changes, some of the inflections have been flattened some since Latin. Demonstrative Pronouns
 * Caution: these pronouns usually have a romantic or sexual implied meaning (especially the dative), and are always written with a verb.
 * The object of a preposition is always the dative case in Aleña

Demonstrative pronouns and adjectives are the same in Aleña, context usually separates them. They lost Latin's cases. Interrogative Pronouns.

Interrogative pronouns also lost Latin's cases.

Li Agêctivuz (Adjectives)
Adjectives in Aleña lost their cases entirely, but still decline for number and gender. Note that the feminine gender is dominate in a group of a nouns; if there is one feminine noun, the entire group is considered feminine and the adjective(s) used to describe the group must be in the feminine form.

Placement
Most adjectives are placed after the noun they modify in Aleña, i.e. nuómêroz vuorzo - strong number. However, a few adjectives change meaning depending on wear they are placed.

Declensions
The declension for all of Aleña's adjectives from Latin's -a, -um, -us adjectives (other adjectives merged into this declension). Feminine adjectives end in -ê, and masculine adjecitves (coming from -um, the neuter form), end in -o or -õ. They are declined as follows. Note that like Spanish, Aleña requires a double negative.
 * ĭ > e /_ but e > 0 /_#.

Comparitives/Superlatives, and Comparisons
Aleña has separate constructions for comparatives/superlatives (very) and comparisons. In English, we use very to emphasize and adjective. Aleña uses an inflection instead, which derives from Latin's -issimus. To make an adjective a superlative, add -(e)moz to the stem of the adjective. While the adjective still declines for gender and number, it is indicated by the second to last vowel. Be careful not to confuse this ending with the 1st person singular of verbs.

The dictionary entry is the feminine singular form.

Ex. vuorcê ['vwoɹ.sɛ] - strong
 * The spelling change occours because of the co and is not specific to all adjectives.

Aleña uses puz chai and mienoz chai to compare adjectives


 * Use puz to indicate that one adjective is more than another


 * Use mienoz to indicate that one adjective is less than another.

There are a few irregular adjectives

Articles
Aleña's artices agree in number and gender with the noun they modify, and there are separate indefinite and definite articles. They are listed in the table below. Also note that the definite article is used more often than in English, as it is used  in general statements. For example, I am drinking water is ''Su bievez unêchê. [unê achê]. Notice the use of unê. ''(The contraction process will be explained later).

Adverbs
Adverbs in Aleña are simple and most adverbs are formed the same way. Start with the feminine singular form of the adjectivee and add -yêr. For example, vuorcê becomes vuorcêyez [~strongly]. Most adjectives are placd after the verb they modified.

The Adverb Soloz
There are a few adverbs in Aleña that change meaning depending on where they are placed. The most common on is soloz (only). When placed after the verb, it means that the speaker is only doing that (i.e. I only did it once, Elu Viezai soloz). When placed before the verb, it is used to distinghush ones actions from a group (i.e. I am the only one (in the room) that does it this way, Soloz elu viezai). Note that when placed before the verb, adverbs go before any pronouns associated with the verb.

The adverb soloz can also serve to mark direct objects and indirection objects as unique. This is done by dropping the -oz (or just the z if the pronoun starts with a consonant) and attatching on to the beginning of the pronoun. The first o also gains an accent. If the pronoun has an l in it, the sól(o) --> sóy  For example, I love only him = Sóyelu/Sóleyu amus and He loves only me = Sóyomie amace. Occassionally, soloz may merge with a definitite article to express the same idea about a thing. For example, I love only it = ''Sóyoli amus. While in these context, soloz'' may seem to function as an adjective, Aleña treats it as modifying how you do something.

Verbs
Verbsa are the most complex part of Aleña's grammar. The conjugate for 5 moods (indicative, subjunctive, imperative, conditional I, conditional II), 3 tenses (present, past, future), and 3 aspects (perfect, progressive, imperfective). Like other langauges, it formed a new future tense and conditional moods by combinding an equivalent of habeō (vêyer) with the infinitive. Aleña uses the past participle to turn the verb into an adjective and to form the perfect tense, and it uses the preesnt participle to form the progressive tenses, alonger with ''êser - to be. ''

Latin's 4 conjugations were merged into 3 conjugations: -êr, -ier, and -ir verbs (from āre, ēre, ere, and īre), with most ere verbs becoming -er verbs.

As a note, Aleña is pro-drop, except for the emphatic pronouns.

Infinitives
As mentioned above, there are 4 endings for Aleña's verbs: -êr, -ier, and ''-ir. The infinitive state is used when following another conjugated verb, e.g. dêvu bevier'' - I should drink. The infinitive is also used in constructions where the verb followed by the conjugated verb is dropped (in English this is like saying I wanted to (do something), e.g. I didn't do it, even though I wanted to (do it). In Aleña, this construction is achieved by using just the infinitive ending of the dropped verb (-ar, -ier, or -ir), e.g. Non elu viezai, sê vêlievê ier, I didn't do it, but I wanted to. This construction is also exempt from the contraction process.

Finally, the infinitive can be used to form the supine, along with puor, taking the form of puor + infinitive.

Conjugations
The conjugations for each conjugation is listed below. The perfect tense are formed with fêlier + the past particple and will not be listed to save space. The conjugation of fêlier will be listed below in the irregular verbs section.

Conjugation I Very few irregulars are in this conjugation, however, note that verbs that end in -cêr or -gêr have a spelling change when followed by an a or ''u (c --> s, g --> y). ''

Conjugation II Conjugation III

Irregular Verbs

Use of Verbs
There are a few aspects of Aleña's verbs that can be a bit difficult to master. In particular, these are Preterite vs. Imperfect, Subjunctive vs. Indicative, and Conditional I vs. Conditional II. They will each be explored below

Preterite vs. Imperfect

The difference in usage between the preterite and imperfect is pretty similar to most languages. The preterite is used for completed actions and the imperfect is used for ongoing actions/repeated actions in the past. As a general rule of thumb, if in English, the construction is "was doing" or "used to do," then use the imperfect. However, there are a few fine points of the preterite vs. imperfect that can be a bit hard to master.

Descrptions

Descrptions in Aleña can be either preterite or imperfect.

1. Use the preterite for descriptions in the past where the state of the object is the same today

Ex. The house was white (and still is today) = Lê duomoz faiveyo (fai aiveyo).

2. Use the imperfect for descriptions where the state of the object is not the same today

Ex. The house was white (and isn't today) = ''Lê duomoz êrê veyo (êrê aiveyo). ''

3. When describing an event that took place, use the preterite

Ex. There was a war = ''Fêyóce unaz bêluz. ''

4. When describing a scence, use the  imperfect

Ex. There were 3 houses =  Fêyevê  trez duomê.

The verb êsier

The verb êsier changes meaning depending on whether it is in the preterite or the imperfect

1. Use the preterite to describe a transformation

Ex. Lê duomoz fai soveyo - The house became dirty

2. Use the imperfect to describte location, dates, and time.

Ex.  Êrê  l'1 d'otuovoz - It was the first of October.

3. For other descriptions, see above.

Subjunctive vs. Imperfect

This is perhaps the most difficult part of Aleña verbs to master because of the wide range of uses of the subjunctive, even compared to the other Romance languages. While many of its uses are in subordinate clauses, many times the subjunctive will be used by itself. Because the usage is so broad, and there are many gray areas, not every usage of the subjunctive will be covered here.

General Usage

Use the subjunctive when there is doubt, wishes, desire, or speculation.

1. Use the subjunctive to explain uncertain outcomes.

Ex. Dêsê muoz exêmuz - I failed my test (and I haven't gotten it back yet)

2. Use the subjunctive to express speculation of future events.

Ex. Êroyêri casenoz - It will rain tomorrow (speculation)/It is predicted to rain tomorrow.

Use the  Present Subjunctive  in the following cases

1. With verbs of suggestion/recommendation

Ex. Suoyêrus chai vêñaz cumie - I suggest you come with me

2. With impersonal expressions

Ex. Ês nêcêsêro chai  vêñaz cumie - It's necessary that you come with me

3. With statements of desire

Ex. Vuolus chai vêñaz cumie - I wish you would come with me.

4. With statements of belief

Ex. Cogeyê chai vêñaz cumie - I think you are coming with me.

5. With statements of doubt

Ex. Duvitus chai vêñaz cumie - I doubt you are coming with me.

6. With statements of blessing

Ex.  Viyus  vêzo - May you live long and prosper.

7. Use to express reported speech

Ex. Oyus chai vêñaz cumie - I hear that you are coming with me

Usage of the Past Subjunctive 

1. Use with rêcodêr to express memories

Ex. Rêcuodus chai vêngirez cumie - I remember that you came with me

2. Use to express events that ocurred in the past with unknown outcomes (Note this usually doesn't have chai in the construction)

Ex. Dêsê muoz exêmuz - I failed my test (and I haven't gotten it back yet)

3. Use to express reported speech in the past where it is not know if the event actually occured

Ex. Olivai chai vêngirece cumie - I heard that he came with me.

4. Use to express the very distant past.

Ex. Êrêvê muzaiñez chênu vêngirez cumie - It was many years ago when you came with me.

5. Use in if clauses with the conditional

Ex. Sai puosez, vênirevaz cumie - If you were able to, you would come with me.

Example text
UDHR Article 1

Todi le pêrsoñai nêcê libri c'êgêli puor deñetez êce direyez. Tieñê

Common Sayings

Aleña: Ch'elu chai pasêri, pasêrece

IPA: [kelu kaɪ pasɛʁi, pasɛʁes]

Gloss: May'it-ACC that happen-SBJ.FUT.3RD.SNG, happen-IND.FUT.3RD.SNG

Literal: May it which may happen, happen

Translation: Whatever happens, happens (Anything could happen, go with the flow).

Aleña: Elu chai pasêrece, pasêrece

IPA: [Elu  kaɪ  pasɛʁes,  pasɛʁes]

Gloss: It-ACC that happen-IND.FUT.3RD.SNG, happen-IND.FUT.3RD.SNG

Literal: It which will happen, whill happen

Translation: Whatever happens, happens (Used in a religious sense, God's plan, fate, etc.).