Maryan Coptic

Maryan /ˈmɛɹiən/ Coptic (Temutkhême, [təˌmut̚ˈkʰeː.mə]) is a conlang first created in 2017 by Castillerian.

As an a posteriori conlang, it takes heavy inspiration from Classical Coptic, a later stage of the Ancient Egyptian language. The creator's initial intent of this conlang is to construct a more modernized variant of Coptic, preserving most of its grammar, phonology (based off its reconstructed Classical pronunciation), and vocabulary. The majority of the vocabulary stems from the two most prominent Coptic dialects of Bohairic and Sahidic. The pronunciation is more or less based on an older variation of Bohairic Coptic, retaining its long vowels, aspirated plosives, and velar fricative /x/.

In June 2017, the first drafts of what would become Maryan Coptic were formed, initially called "New Coptic". It originally utilized a modified Latin alphabet (which was later replaced by a modified Coptic alphabet) and a pronunciation more in tone to modern-day Greco-Bohairic Coptic. At its peak, the conlang had a lexicon of over 1600 words.

Discontent with the current state of the conlang, in May 2019, Castillerian redrafted most of its phonology and grammar, along with its entire lexicon.

In early 2020, the creator reentertained the idea of an official Latin script, separate from the romanization script, and in April of the same year, a new Latin script was finalized. As of August 2020, a revised dictionary written entirely in the Latin script has entered development.

Classification and Dialects
If given status as a real-world language, it would be classified as an Afro-Asiatic language under the Egyptian branch.

Currently, there are four dialects: Central (aka Standard), Nahlic, Cholevic, and Thebian. Central is based on how the creator articules his conlang. Nahlic is based on how his significant other might articulate it based on her speech patterns and choice of phonemes. Cholevic is a more progressive dialect, intaking more Greek loanwords and a more evolved phonology. Thebian is a more conservative dialect, retaining an older phonology.

Writing System
Maryan Coptic uses a modified Latin alphabet for all forms of communication.

Coptic Alphabet
1 - Loan words only

Nouns
Nouns are classed as either masculine of feminine ; unfortunately, the appearance and/or definition of the word will mostly not give away its class, having its users to rely strictly on memorization. Borrowings of Greek/Latin origin are more predictable (even if all Greek Neuter nouns assume the Masculine gender in MC).

However, some noun prefixes have a predetermined class, and some words can be used as either masculine of feminine (mainly agent nouns): met- (abstract marker: F ), an- (abstract marker for numeral nouns: M ), cin- (gerund marker: M ), ref- (agent marker: M / F ), san- (profession marker: M / F ), etc.

Some nouns can be formed using the absolute state of a verb (i.e. ôsh [verb ► "to read" | noun ► "lesson"], sxai [verb ► "to write" | noun ► "letter"], bôk [verb -> "to serve, work", noun ► "servant, slave"]). The majority of these absolute verbal nouns carry the masculine gender.

Adjectives can be modified to be used as adjectival nouns (i.e. [môut "dead" ► neetmôut "the dead"], [hôu "evil" ► peet’hôu "the evil one"]). These also assume the masculine gender.

Verbs
Verbs can be divided into two categories: intransitive and transitive. Transitive verbs are the most abundant in Maryan Coptic and can follow one of 8 recognized patterns: (C)ô/u(C)(e), (C)ô/uCC, ⲧV(C)Cⲟ, (C)iCe, (C)ô/uCeC, (C1)C2oC3C2eC3, CCoC, and C1C2oC2 (each labeled as Class 1-8 respectively). An example for each would include: wôsh (to want), wônh (to show/appear), tubo (to purify), mise (to give birth), xôteb (to kill), xotxet (to examine), hrosh (to weigh), and kbob (to cool down).

Syntax
The standard word order of Maryan Coptic is SVO. However, when using a ce before the subject, sentences can also be V(O)S to emphasize the subject.

Examples (The bear is eating the fish): Adjectives are placed after the noun they modify.
 * Tearks eswem pitebt. - SVO
 * Eswem pitebt ce tearks. - SOV
 * Perôme lahlôh - the tall man
 * Ulaboi hêle - a fast lionness

Adjectives
Adjectives conjugate by gender, with its base form being its masculine form. Usually, when an adjective ends with a syllable containing a long vowel nucleus and an onset (i.e. thêt [united], menrit [beloved]), -e is added to create its feminine form (thêt + -e = thête  | menrit + -e = menrite). Rarely are there exceptions (bôn + -e = bone [bad]).

All adjectives of Greek origin end in -os or -on and have a feminine form of -a (koinos > koina [common] | akros > akra [utmost] | euporos > eupora [rich]).

Lexicon
The most current status of the conlang can be found on ConWorkShop, along with its current lexicon.

Central Dialect
Nerôme têr semesit n’remhé nem n’shêsh xen utajo nem hanmepsha. Seshôpe nem ulogos nem utamo woh entuchin nuerêu xen upneuma n’te temetmaison.
 * [nəˈɾoː.mə teːɾ sə.məˈsiːt‿ən.ɾəmˈɦɛʔ nəm‿ənˈʃeːʃ xən‿uˌtäˈjɔʔ nəm ɦam.məpˈʃäʔ | səˈʃoː.pə nəm‿uˈlɔ.kɔs nəm‿uˌtäˈmɔʔ wɔɦ‿ən.tu.ˈt͡ʃʰiːn nu.ʔəˈɾeˑu̯ xən‿uˈpnɛʊ̯.mä ʔənˌtə təˌmət.mäɪ̯ˈsɔn]

Nahlic Dialect
Perôme têr semesit n’remhé nem n’shêsh xen utajo nem hamepsha. Seshôpe n’ulogos nem utamo we entuchin nuerêu xen uneuma n’te temetmaison.
 * [nəˈɾɑː.mə te̞ːɾ sə.məˈsiˑt ə̆n.ɾə̆mˈhɛʔ nə̆m ə̆nˈʃe̞ˑʃ ɕə̆n‿ʉ.tæ̈ˈjɑʔ nə̆m hæ̈.məpˈʃæʔ | səˈʃɑː.pə nə̆m‿ʉˈlɑ.kɑs nə̆m‿ʉ.tæ̈ˈmɑʔ w̹ə ʔə̆n.tʉˈt͡ʃʰĩˑn nʉ.ʔəˈɾe̞ˑʊ̯ ɕə̆n‿ʉˈnɛʊ̯.mæ̈ ʔə̆nˌtə təˌmət.mæ̈ɪ̯ˈsɑ̃n]

Cholevic Dialect
Nerôme têr semesit n’nemhé men n’isos xen utajo men hanmepsha. Seshôpe men ulogos men usineidêsis wah enducin nuerêu xen upneuma n’temetmaison.
 * [nəˈɾo̞ː.mə te̞ːɾ sə.məˈsiːt ən.ɾəmˈhe̞ʔ mən ə.niˈso̞s çən ʊ.dɐˈʝo̞ʔ mən hɐm.məpˈʃɐʔ | səˈʃo̞ː.bə mən ʊˈlo̞.ɣo̞s mən ʊ.siˈni.di.sis wɐ(h) ən.dʊˈt͡ʃiːn nʊ.ʔəˈɾe̞ˑu̯ çən ʊˈpne̞u̯.mɐ ən.tə.mət.mɐɪ̯ˈso̞n]

Thebian Dialect
Nirômi têr semesit n’remhé nem n’shêsh hen utejo nem hanmepsha. Sexôpi nem ulogos nem utemo wah entuchin nuerêu hen upneuma n’te timetmeisan.
 * [nəˈɾɔː.mə tɛːɾ sə.məˈsiːt ən.ɾəmˈhe̞ʔ nəm ənˈʃɛːʃ hən uˑ.təˈjo̞ʔ nəm ham.məpˈʃʌʔ | səˈçɔː.pə nəm uˑˈlo̞.ko̞s nəm uˑ.təˈmo̞ʔ wah ən.tuˈt͡ʃʰiːn nu.ʔəˈɾɛːu̯ hən uˑˈpne̞u̯.ma ʔənˌtə tə.mət.məi̯ˈsan]