Deshai

General Information
Deshai (natively /tsæʃɑːjuɬ/, literally this language, transliterated as 'Tsešaay-ul')

Classification and Dialects

 * Classical Deshai
 * Šánhis-Kátšis Deshai
 * Westosese Deshai

Consonants
m, n, g, p, p', t, t', k, k', ', ts, ts', tš, tš', tl, tl', s, s', š, j, j', h, l, l', w, r, y

Stress
Stress is non-contrastive. Words in isolation or at the end of a phrase are stressed on the last syllable. Words beginning or within a phrase, on the other hand, are stressed on their first syllable.
 * Thus, Nap'retš waatwis-šu-ul. /náp'rætʃ wɑːtwisʃúːɬ/ "We eat in the workshop."

Writing systems
There are primarily two writing systems for the dialects of Deshai: the classic script and the Westosese script.

Gender
Nouns are not declined for grammatical gender, yet they still fall into two broad and misnamed classes called Animate and Inanimate, which are needed for verb conjugation.

Articles

 * indefinite: 0
 * definite, proximal: -ul
 * distal: -ag

Possessives
possessive suffixes could not be applied to subjects

Derivational morphology
Nouns are derived from verbs by putting sounds in between the consonants of the verb's triconsonantal root.

CeCaaC: patient eCCuuC: instance aCaCaCi: art or skill CeeCiC: instrument CaaCCis: location iiCCeC: sentient actor sCiCuC
 * Tsešaay "language"
 * Letaaj "corpse"
 * Wetaaw "creation"
 * Etsšuuy "a conversation"
 * Eltuuj "a death"
 * Enp'uur "a meal"
 * Atsašayi "oration"
 * Agatani "sewing skills"
 * Akawat'i "philosophy"
 * Tseešiy "voice"
 * Weetiw "tool"
 * Neep'ir "eating utensil"
 * Tsaašyis "speech-hall, convention center"
 * Laatjis "cemetery"
 * Waahšis "race track"
 * Iitsšey "speaker"
 * Iiwtew "creator"
 * Iigten "seamstress"

Basics
Verbs are based on triconsonantal roots (much like in Arabic).

ex. kawat' a "to think/find out", lataja "to die", wahaša "to run", šatata "to freeze", l' ahaka "to slash", nap'ara "to eat", watawa "to create"

C-TAM-C-erg/others-C-abs

Person
Absolutive slot: Ergative slot:
 * Kuuwrat'etl! "They found out about us!" [kuːβ̞ˠɹɑt’ætɬ]
 * Kuuwalt'aap! "We found out about them!" [kuːβ̞ˠɑɬt’ɑːp]
 * Kwept'aap lnuri-l. "The kids don't think."
 * Tašusraap. "They love themselves."
 * Taštsiraap. "They love each other."

Numbers
Deshai numbers are base-10 up to 23, thereafter they become base-8 due to Westosese influence.
 * 11, 12, and 20 have unique names.
 * 1) The ku- in kuwewt (10) is optional, and is typically heard in formal speech.