Saa

Saa (tli Saan /tɬi sa:n/) is a language isolate native to the islands of the Saa Archipelago south-east of Taraot.

Vowels
Saa features vowel harmony according to vowel backness. Neutral vowels /a/ and /ɨ/ can exist in any given word. Roots with only neutral vowels are considered front by default (kyyl /kɨ:ɮ/ "soul, consciousness" becomes plural kyylii /kɨ:ɮi:/), but in non-standard speech it is common for a speaker to treat it as if it were a back root (kyylŭŭ /kɨ:ɮɯ:/), especially in speakers with masculine gender expression.

Honorifics
Saa features four morphosyntactic honorific registers (formal, informal, extended familial, familial) speakers must adhere to in order to comply with social and cultural expectations of the Saa people. These classes effect personal pronouns of the first and second persons, demonstrative pronouns, verb conjugation, word order, and some phrasing.

Formal
The formal register (tli alzin) is used when addressing strangers, older acquaintances, employers, and individuals of higher relative status. Speakers of high status use this register when speaking to close advisors and colleagues. Formal is considered the standard for public speaking, academia, literature and storytelling, law, and spiritual matters.

Informal
The informal register (tli vŏrŭŭn) is used when speaking to peers of the same age, casual friends and employees. Informal indicates a shared sociocultural position within a community but asserts a high degree of social distance out of modesty. It is also typical for a speaker of high status to use the informal register when addressing a low-status guest or a member of their staff.

Extended Familial
The extended familiar register (tli rüön) is used when speaking with extended family, in-laws, older family-friends, and community elders. It is typically used to indicate a close community bond while asserting a low degree of social distance out of respect. Speakers of high status also use the extended familial register when speaking to the public or individuals of higher relative status.

Familial
The familial register (tli myyin) is used when speaking with family members within a shared home, close friends, romantic partners, or young children. It is typically used to indicate emotional intimacy and connection.

Indefinite Pronouns

 * 1) Formal
 * 2) Informal
 * 3) Extended Familial
 * 4) Familial

Verbs
Verbs conjugate according to tense, polarity, voice, and mood. All verb lemmas in Saa end in -tl, serving different functions when unconjugated depending on the context including infinitive, auxiliary, and familiar affirmative present tense. In total, Saa verbs conjugate into seven affirmative forms including three tenses (present, past, future), three moods (imperative, optative, and tentative), and one voice (potential). Each of these seven forms has a corresponding negative form and vary depending on honorific register. Other verb constructions rely on various auxiliary verbs.

Questions
Interrogative construction depends greatly on the honorific register.

Formal Questions
The first question pertaining to a topic at hand is introduced with the phrase "Zollorŭskŏ..." (May I ask) while any subsequent, relating questions are introduced with "Oh..." (And). There is no change in pitch or tone of the question.

Informal Questions
The interrogative particle no is used at the end of a question with a rising pitch.

Extended Familial Questions
The first question pertaining to a topic at hand is introduced with the phrase "Zollomyrzum..." (Can't I ask) while any subsequent, relating questions are introduced with "Oh..." (And). There is no change in pitch or tone of the question.

Familial Questions
The question has no change in wording or structure, but is said with a rising pitch.

Below is a comparison of a conversation with the same meaning, but under different honorific constraints.

Example Text
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

[o:tutɸɤr xean oβo:n ox øtrøik:i ziyki: ox ɸatɬ ynaɮ:em. ɤzɤ poɣak:ɤ kɨ:ɮ ox ɸatɬ atuɮ:ɤm, ia aoɤɬtɤ xɨxkɨxki zaran satɬ uararzum.]

'Ootutvŏr hean ovoon oh ötröikki ziükii oh fatl ünallem. Ŏzŏ poğakkŏ kyyl oh fatl atullŏm, ia aoŏltŏ hyhkyğki zaran satl uararzum.'