Sîshksøq

General information
Sîshksøq is the main language of the Ice Empire or Sîshrike in the world of Bidunia.

Consonants
All consonants are voiceless, with the exception of the four approximants (w, r, j, l).

Nobility Speech:

/j/ is a voiced palatal fricative [ʝ] at the end of words such as prathsaj [pɹæθsæʝ], meaning pronoun.

/w/ is a voiced bilabial fricative [β] in a final position such as slaw [slæβ], meaning mud.

In Common Speech, these are realised as vowels [i] and [u], respectively.

Vowels
Nobility Speech: Dialectal Change:


 * /a/ is realised in N obility Speech as [æ], but in Common Speech as [ɑ].
 * /ø/ is sometimes raised or lowered.

Plural Formation
Plurals are formed by forming a rising diphthong out of the first vowel.


 * a [æ] --> ai [æi]


 * e [ɛ] --> ei [ɛi]


 * î [ɪ] --> îi [ɪi]


 * i [i] --> ii [iʔi], Common Speech realisation is [i:]


 * ø [œ] --> øi [œi]


 * y [y] --> yi [yi]

Alphabet
Linguistic Alphabet (stops, frics, appr, liq, vowels):

P, T, K, F, TH, LH, S, SH, X, Q, H, W, L, J, R, I, Y, Î, E, Ø, A

Official Alphabet (always used):

i, r, p, h, a, s, lh, q,ø, j, t, f, e, th, x, y, w, l, î, sh, k

Phonotactics
V = vowels (including diphthongs)

S = stops

F = fricatives

A = Approximates

(F)(S)(F)(A)V(A)(S)(F)(S)

Verbs
Verbs have three persons (first, second, and third) and two numbers (singular and plural). There are five tenses (present, past, habitual, future, and conditional), three aspects (standard, perfective, and progressive), and two moods (Indicative and imperative). Infinitives always end in -el, such as køqel, meaning to do or make. Note: Common Speech does not use aspect.

Standard Aspect
In Standard, the said activity may or may not have been completed and/or be still occurring.
 * Present tense: This is just like English, describing an event or activity. I love nerdy things. Replace the -el with -øl, -il, -al, -øil, iil, -ail (1s, 2s, 3s, 1p, 2p, 3p respective inflections). e.g. køqøl
 * Past tense: This is just like English, describing a singular event that took place in the past. Han shot first. Replace the -el with -øs, -is, -as, etc. e.g. køqøs
 * Habitual tense: This tense is similar to the habitual aspect found in other languages and indicates an activity performed more than once in the past. I many times played football. Replace the -el with -øth, -ith, -ath, etc. e.g. køqøth
 * Future tense: This is just like English, describing a planned event that will take place. I will eat my supper. Replace the -el with -øk, -ik, -ak, etc. e.g. køqøk
 * Conditional tense: This is a hypothetical tense in which the speaker indicates what would, could, or should happen in the present or future. The sky could snow tomorrow. It would be nice if it did. Replace the -el with -ølh, -ilh, -alh, etc. e.g. køqølh

Perfective Aspect
In the Perfective aspect, the said activity has been completed and is not occurring in the present.
 * Present Perfect: Just like English, this tense refers to an activity that has already been completed by the present time. Anakin Skywalker has gone to the Dark Side. Replace the -el with -ølt, -ilt, -alt, etc. e.g. køqølt
 * Past Perfect: Just like English, this tense refers to an activity that has already been completed by an event or time in the past. Anakin Skywalker had been destined as the chosen one, before siding with Senator Palpatine. Replace the -el with -øst, -ist, -ast, etc. e.g. køqøst
 * Habitual Perfect: This tense refers to activities performed multiple times in the past that are no longer being completed as of a past event or time. It is identical to the past perfect, but referring to multiple activities instead of just one. Harry Potter had several times survived the attacks of Lord Voldemort, before the latter rose to power in 1995. Replace the -el with -øtht, -itht, -atht, etc. e.g. køqøtht
 * Future Perfect: Just like English, this tense refers to an activity that will be completed by an event or time in the future. Harry Potter will have destroyed all of the horcruxes, before killing Voldemort. Replace the -el with -økît, -ikît, -akît, etc. e.g. køqøkît
 * Conditional Perfect: This tense is different than other perfect tenses. It refers to a hypothetical activity that would have, could have, or should have occurred in the past. Severus Snape could have been sorted into Gryffindor. He and Lily would have been together forever. Replace the -el with -ølht, -ilht, -alht, etc. e.g. køqølht

​Progressive Aspect
The Progressive aspect indicates that the verb or activity is being performed at the moment of the tense.


 * Present Progressive: Just like English, this tense refers to an activity being performed immediately in the present. Hermione is taking notes, whilst Harry and Ron are daydreaming. Replace the -el with -ølî, -ilî, -alî, etc. e.g. køqølî
 * Past Progressive: Just like English, this tense refers to an activity that was being performed in the past. Harry was opening his golden egg when Moaning Murtle appeared. Replace the -el with -øsî, -isî, -asî, etc. e.g. køqøsî
 * Habitual Progressive: This tense implies that you had been performing an activity multiple times and still continued to do so. Harry was many times circling the quidditch pitch before he saw the snitch. Replace the -el with -øthî, -ithî, -athî, etc. e.g. køqøthî
 * Future Progressive: Just like English, this tense refers to an event or activity that will be being performed in the future (not as common as in English. usually is replaced by simple future). The Weird Sisters will be playing at the Yule Ball when the students begin to dance. Replace the -el with -økî, -ikî, -akî, etc. e.g. køqøkî
 * Conditional Progressive: This tense refers to an event or activity that would be, could be, or should be happening in the present or future. If Harry had researched how to breathe underwater, he could be sleeping and he wouldn't be stressing about the Second Task for tomorrow. Replace the -el with -ølhî, -ilhî, -alhî, etc. e.g. køqølhî

​Imperative Mood
The imperative form is very simple. Just replace the infinitive morpheme with the personal vowel.
 * 1s: add "ø". This form is only rarely used when a speaker is either talking to herself or responding to a 2s command (most would use a 1s progressive instead). Come! I come (I am coming). Ksøwi! Hø ksøwø (ksøwølî).
 * 2s: add "i". This commands the recipient of the speaker to perform the specified verb. Go to the volcano! Kseji tafylkara!
 * 3s: add "a" This shows obligation, that the subject had better perform the verb. He better read a book. Lha sasta selip.
 * 1p: add "øi". This indicates that we better all do the verb. Let's give a book to a good friend. Kepsøi frilstir kytrist selip.
 * 2p: add "ii". This shows obligation, that y'all better do the verb. Y'all better play in the mud. Spilii wøslawa.
 * 3p: add "ai" This articulates that they better do the verb. They better have happy plants. Hapsai feixtep lyikixpext.

Participle Formation
Participles are verbs transformed to express that which has been verbed. They are usually attached to a 'sesk' form. All participles are formed by replacing -el with -esh to the ending of the verb. ''He is gone. Lha sask ksejesh. The good book will have been read by me. Seli kytasi saskît hør sastesh.''

Gerund Formation
Gerunds are nouns that express the action of the verb (eg. losing) and may be formed by adding the noun suffix (as, ep, ir, i, yk, a/as) or the adjective to the verb. ''Running is good. Killing is always bad. Eating makes me happy. Lhelas sask kyt. Tøthelas sask shekst îwa. Ethelas køqal hør lykix. ''

Noun Formation
If I want to express the thing (noun) that directly correlates to its verb, then replace the ending of the verb with "sa". E.g. ''I think a thought (think -> thought). Hø tsethøl tsethsa. You are eating food (eat -> food). Thi ethilî ethsa. She likes to play games (play -> games). Spiilsa thøfkail sar spilel.''

Example Paradigm
Here is a paradigm of all possible conjugations for the verb lhel: to run [ɬɛl]

​Nouns
Sîshksøq has three noun genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. It also has six cases or declensions: nominative (-), accusative (-p), dative (-r), genetive (-i), instrumental (-k), and prepositional (-a, -as). These six are similar to Russian.

Nominative Case
The nominative case is for nouns that are the subject of the sentence. Nouns in this case are characterised by their lack of morphological distinction, compared to the other cases. This is their dictionary form. Snape was in love with Lily Evans.

Masculine
Nouns in the masculine nominative case always end in a fricative or stop that is immediately preceded by a vowel. ''Kasîs ksejas taksøiqa. The water goes to the mountains.''

Feminine
Nouns in the feminine nominative case always end in a vowel. Seili'' saisk kyt. Books are good.''

Neuter
Nouns in the neuter nominative case end in liquids, approximates, and any consonant that is not immediately preceded by a vowel (affricates and such). ''Shaixil saisk kraslak. Rooves are scary. ''

Accusative Case
The accusative case denotes nouns that are the direct object of the sentence, the thing being verbed. The morpheme "p" is always associated with the accusative case. Prince Zuko learned how to redirect lightning.

Masculine
The morpheme "ep" is added to a nominative masculine noun to make it accusative. ''Hø skwøl qelhep satsapelh. I see weird lightning.''

Feminine
The morpheme "p" is added to a nominative feminine noun to make it accusative (this includes all pronouns. Høi hapsøis slep. We had snow. 

Neuter
Similar to the masculine, "ap" is added as the suffix. ''Hø tøthøkî tilap kraslakpal. I will be killing the scary leaf.''

Dative Case
The dative case desribes nouns that are the indirect object in the sentence, the receiver of the direct object of the verb. The morpheme "r" is always associated with the dative. Sirius Black gave Hagrid his flying motorbike.

Masculine
The suffix "ir" is added to signify the dative. Kepsis prøtir høwi kasîsep'. You gave my brother some water.'

Feminine
The morpheme "r" is added onto feminine nouns and pronouns. ''Sasti hør saqap! Read me a story!''

Neuter
In the neuter case, the morpheme "er" is added to the noun. ''Kepsøis tsyrer shpiltsap. I gave the tower a spire.''

Genetive Case
The genetive case denotes belonging or possession. It is formed by adding a final "i". ''My friend's house is bad. OR The house of my friend is bad. Hawisa frilsti høwi sask shekst.''

Masculine
Add "i" to the end of the noun. ''Liixt pathixi shithaisk satsa. The lights of the store seem weird.''

Feminine
Add "i" to the noun, even if the noun already ends in "i". ''Railht rikei taisk shekst. The country's rights are not bad.''

Neuter
Add "i" to the noun. ''Pesjøl tili thøfkal hør. I like the leaf's petiole. (The petiole of the leaf pleases me).''

Instrumental Case
The instrumental case requires a tool and often answers the question of how, or by means of. It becomes very regular in its meaning. It is formed by adding a form of "k" to the end of the noun. ''Ksejøs thasyk tahawisas. I went home by foot. ''

Masculine
Add "yk" to the end of the noun. ''Halhi ksejath ksøqyk tasîshrikas. Halhi would go to Sîshrike by means of the mountain.''

Feminine
Just add a "k" to the end of a noun. ''Høi kepsøis thir Søthak selip. We gave you a book by means of the Lord. (The Lord gave you a book from us.)''

Neuter
Add "ik" to the end of the noun. ''Lha tøthas fylkarik Sekwøsep. He killed Sekwøs by means of the volcano''.

Prepositional Case
The prepositional case is more abstract than its siblings. As a circumfix, it has both a prefix and a suffix. The prefix consists of the preposition and is simply attached to the beginning of the word. If the word begins with an "h", then it is eliminated. In Nobility Speech, now that we've eliminated the "h", if there are two vowels next to each other, they are both pronounced in separate syllables with a glottal stop in between (E.g. to the house = taawisa = [,tæʔ'æwisæ] / to the child = taølt = [,tæʔ'œlt]). In Common Speech, after we've eliminated the "h", if there are to vowels next to each other, they are pronounced in one syllable as a diphthong. If there are to of the same vowel next to each other, then it is lengthened (taawisa = [tɑːwisɑ] / taølt = [tɑ͡œlt])

For the suffix, an "a" or "as" is added to the end. Similar to German two-way prepositions, which suffix used depends on the motion. If the preposition indicates a motion to or there is a change of scene, then the "as" is added. If one is already there, then an "a" is added. e.g. ''You are going into the store = Ksejilî wøpathixas. She is going in the store (already in the store, but going around) = Ksejalî wøpathixa.''

Masculine
The preposition is attached to the front and an "a" or "as" is placed finally. ''Shîwølî wøkasîsa. I am swimming in the water (not into the water).''

Feminine
The preposition is attached and the final "a" is omitted, leaving the final vowel. The "s" is attached to the end if it is required. ''Tîireth spilaith hîltawisa. The people played many times behind the house. Kasîs ksøwas fefailkîs. The water came from the clouds.''

Neuter
The preposition is attached to the front and the suffix attaches at the end. ''Lha tøthatht skepjap førtsyra hastelhi. He has many times killed animals in front of the tower of the castle.''

Adjective Formation
To turn a noun into an adjective, just add "îq". E.g. friend-friendly frilst-frilstîq, water-watery kasîs-kasîsîq, mud-muddy slaw-slawîq.

Reflexives
In Nobility Speech, reflexives are just declined personal pronouns. E.g. He killed himself = Lha tøthas lhap.

In Common Speech, however, reflexives have their own pronoun, replacing the vowel with an "e". E.g. Sa tøthas sep.

Adjectives
Adjectives take on the case, number, and usually the tail of the noun they modify. They come after the noun. The tail is the last fricative or last letter or both, depending on the dialect. Common folk speech only uses the last letter of neuter nouns unless preceded by an "s". The following section and examples are of Nobility speech. E.G. Shaxil=l, Qelh=lh, Parik=k, Kasîs=s, Frilst=st, or Fext=xt

Masculine Adjective:
Nom: The good water is good. ''Kasîs kytsas sask kyt. (kyt.sa.s kyt.NOM.tail)''

Acc: I make good ice.'' Hø køqøl sîshep kytpesh. (kyt.pe.sh kyt.ACC.tail)''

Dat:

Gen:

Instr: He is going to the store via the white mountain. ''Lha ksejalî ksøqyk fesîjkyq tapathixa. (fesîj.ky.q fesîj.INS.tail)''

Prep:

Feminine Adjective :
Nom:

Acc:

Dat:

Gen:

Instr:

Prep:

Neuter Adjective :
Nom:

Acc:

Dat:

Gen:

Instr:

Prep:

Masculine Adjective:
Nom:

Acc:

Dat:

Gen:

Instr:

Prep:

Feminine Adjective :
Nom:

Acc:

Dat:

Gen:

Instr:

Prep:

Neuter Adjective :
Nom:

Acc:

Dat:

Gen:

Instr:

Prep: She will be coming to our bad house. ''Sa ksøwakî tahawisas shekstas høiwi. (shekst.a.s shekst.PREP.tail)''

Masculine Adjective:
Nom:

Acc:

Dat: I will give a book to my good friend. ''Hø kepsøk frilster kytrest høwi selip. (kyt.re.st kyt.DAT.tail)''

Gen: The scary plant's leaves have dark green stripes. Tiil fexti kraslakixt hapsal railhtap klyispalht'. '(kraslak.i.xt kraslak.GEN.tail; kly.i.s.pe.lht kly.PL.s.ACC.tail)

Instr:

Prep:

Feminine Adjective :
Nom:

Acc:

Dat:

Gen:

Instr:

Prep:

Neuter Adjective :
Nom:

Acc:

Dat:

Gen:

Instr:

Prep:

 satsasas'    satsa.Nom.tail  M: f The water is weird. Kasîs sask  satsa'.   The weird water is weird  .'   Kasîs satsasas sask satsa. M: n'' F: first add case letter ([a]s=nom [e]p=acc [i]r=dat i=gen [y]k=inst), then add final vowel from noun.  Seli '  satsasi, setsasa hawisa ''The book is weird. seli sask satsa. The books are weird. seili saisk saitsa.  The weird book is weird. seli '   satsasi'  sask satsa.   I have read the weird books. hø sastølt seili '  saitsapi. N: '

Adverbs
Adverbs formed from an adjective are left plain (eg. kyt = well)

Nouns cannot be used to form adverbs. Use a preposition instead.

Syntax
Sesk verbs are verbs like sesk: Sesk - to be - Søsk tîreth kytsath - I am a good person Tesk - to not be; to not - Tøsk tîreth sastath; Tøsk sîshep hapsel - I am not a weird person; I have no ice Shithesk - to seem - Sa Shithask tîreth shekstsath - She seems like a bad person

Word Order
Standard word order is SVO. Nobility speech doesn't like verbs next to each other, and so will break this rule with modal verbs. In NS, modal verbs push the other verb to the end of the sentence.

E.g. Harry Potter must be  the Chosen One with the power to defeat the Dark Lord.

Harry Potter must the Chosen One with the power to defeat the Dark Lord be.

Cases also have a specific order in sentences, but it is only strictly adherred to in the most formal of occasions. The verb is followed in order by the dative, instrumental, prepositional, and accusative. The genetive follows that which it modifies, anywhere in the sentence. Even in common speech, the accusative most always tends to come last. The other cases may float around and swap a bit, but the accusative usually stays put.

E.g. I (nom) bought for the cat (dat) by means of bartering (inst) in a store (prep)  the ball (acc) of yarn (gen).

Relative Clauses
To begin and mark a relative clause, use a relative pronoun:

-syi(s)/-shyi(s) -qyi(s)/-kyi(s)

Rules and Exceptions

 * 1) All relative clauses begin with their corresponding relative pronoun, except genitives (see e.g. 10).
 * 2) The relative clause may directly follow the pronoun it describes (see e.g. 1). They may also come at other parts of the sentence, for the relative pronoun declines for the same person and number as the noun it represents.
 * 3) The relative pronoun takes the case that is appropriate in the relative clause, not the case of the noun it represents like the person and number.
 * 4) If the relative pronoun is nominative, use standard SVO order. If the the rp is not nominative, then the subject must come next, followed by standard word order: the verb, the dative, the instrumental, and finally the accusative. Genitive fluidly goes where it must.

Examples:
 * I, who went home, ate well. Hø, hy ksejøs taawisas, ethøs kyt.
 * We, to whom he gave a plant, were happy. Høi søisk lykix, hyir lha kepsas fextap.
 * He, whom I love, is new. Lha sask lith, lhyp hø karskøl.
 * 1) They (the boys), who like to run, are running. Lhai lhail, lhyir lhelts thøfkal.
 * 2) The book, that I gave you, is not good. Seli task kyt, qyp hø kepsøs thir.
 * 3) The castles, that we saw, are very tall! Haistelh, qyip høi skwøis, saisk hixîl er!
 * 4) She, who allowed the others to play, is short. Sa, sy kaletfas arathep spilel, sask støt.
 * 5) They (the girls), who have brown hair, seem weird. Sai, syi hapail qailhap parlypalh, shithaisk sasta.
 * 6) You, whom we found behind the tall tower, played there. Thi, thyp høi fîltøis hîlttsyra hixîla, spilis lhal.
 * 7) You guys, whose book is right there, are cooking food. Thii, seli thyii sask îrtha, køshail ethsap.

Stress
Stress naturally falls on the first syllable on every word/root except for vowel-final words. Their stress is on the penultimate syllable. páthix, kásîs, taksǿta

Numbering System
Sîshrike employs a dozenal or duodecimal system of counting, meaning that they count up to 12 before going into double digits. As they have six fingers on each hand, this is only natural.


 * one = ir
 * two = øts
 * three = ak
 * four = arf
 * five = røl
 * six = es
 * seven = ip
 * eight = eq
 * nine = øsh
 * ten = jalh
 * eleven = aw
 * twelve = îks

==Vocabulary==

Example text
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 1.

Tîireth alhsath saisk kitfyrthasa sash kitaiweqli frîithixsas sash keixsas fathesh. Hapsail tsathep sash tseithsap, sash sølail tasaratha frilstîqhatelasyk hatel.

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.