Language of the Valley

General
The Language of the Valley exists in a fictional word. It was spoken by an ancient Elf race, living in a prosperous valley before the Human race began to exist. When Humans migrated to the valley, Elves were already vanished and nobody knew where they are gone, nor if they were still alive.

The language is inspired by the following natural languages:
 * 7 vowel sounds: /a, e, ɛ, o, ɔ, u/ like in Spanish and Italian, but the couple /e, ɛ/ and /o, ɔ/ are mere allophones.
 * consonants are 14, pronounced like in Spanish or Italian.
 * musicality of the words is similar to Japanese, yet it has some sounds that Japanese doesn't.
 * as in Japanese again, there's not a real stress of the syllables, or better, not grammatically structured.
 * is isolated and agglutinative like Turkish or Japanese.

Internal history
Humans settled in the valley, living in those partially restored ruins and they began to study the ancient inscriptions, manuscripts and books. They adopted the Language of the Valley for its cultural worth and named it as the Educated Speech, while their own mother tongue became the Common Speech.

After many centuries, Humans adopted the Elf script for the Educated Speech, but the common people kept using the Rune script, an easier system.

External history
The creator of the conlang had to look for a script similar to the Japanese/Chinese kanji system, that matched the syllabical core of the language. He definitively chose the Hangeul system and worked on it to matched the Language of the Valley's requirements.

Script
Note: It's an adaptation of the Korean Hangeul. Vowels and consonants are linked together in a squared block.

Exemples: They are mostly used as ideograms than phomenes, yet don't lose their phonological role: The only exception is -m for the first singolar person of the verb. It can be written both: The 1° is considered as a contraction of 2°, but is more common.
 * bol (pot) = 봏
 * jom (fire) = 촘
 * hus (beauty) = 웃
 * kun (smooth) = 쿤
 * mos (defend) = 못
 * 쿤이(kun-hi) and not 쿠니 (ku-ni) [beautiful]
 * 봏아니 (bol-ha-ni) and not 보하니 (bo-la-ni) [in the pot]
 * 1) 실아짐 (zir-ha-shim) > zirashim = I am
 * 2) 실아지므 (zir-ha-shi-m) > zirashim = I am

Note: when reductions or reinforcement occured (see), the syllable changes:
 * 1) 촴joam (reinforced) = forest-fire
 * 2) 좀jom (basic) = fire
 * 3) 죰jyom (reduced) = flame

Syllable structure
Type: CVC


 * 1) Head (or initial consonant): all the consonants.
 * 2) Body (or simply vowel): all the vowels.
 * 3) Tail (or final consonant): all the consonants except B (ㅂ ), G (ㄱ ), D (ㄷ ), Z (ㅅ ).

Note: All the final voiced consonants ("tail") between 2 simple vowels become voiceless.

Consonants
Note:


 * T/D = sounds like Spanish or Italian, not like in English.


 * G = voiceless like in "Guardian"


 * J = can be pronounced in 3 different way: "ch" like in church, "j" like in "joke", but more commonly "j" like in "jarden" (french)


 * Z = sound like "s" in "rose"

Vowels, grammatical and natural diphtongs


Reduction and reinforcement
Reduction and reinforcement is a way to semantically reduce or reinforce a syllable meaning and affects the central vowel of the syllable itself. Generally adding y- reduces the meaning, w- reinforces it. However, some sounds cluster isn't allowed (e.g. basic -o = red. yo = reinf. oa // basic -i = red. wi = reinf. ei).

Exemple of reduction and reinforcement:


 * Bol = pot/casserole/basket (basic meaning: container/holder/receptacle)


 * Byol (reduced) = basin/bowl/dish (as per a smaller container)


 * Boal (reinforced) = barrel/cask (as per a bigger container)


 * Jom = fire / burn


 * Jaom (reinforced) = bushfire / forestfire

Word fusion
When 2 or more syllables merge together to make a new word, the final consonats of the 1st syllable merge with the first consonant of the 2nd syllable (cVc + cVc = cVCCVc; where "c" is a consonant and "CC" is a new consonant cluster after the junxion)

1° Group: -P, –T, –K, –S, –Sh, –J:


 * Cause the gemination of the next consonants and are assimilated.


 * S+R, SH+R and J+R = always JJ.

2° Group: -M, -N:


 * Become M- before P, B, M.


 * Become N- before T, D, K, G, S, Z, SH, J e N.


 * M+L and N+L = ND.


 * M+R and N+R = NJ.

3° Group: -L, -R:
 * Keep the same before P, B, T, D, K, G, M, N.


 * Cause the gemination before S, Z, SH, J and are assimilated.



Word Order
1. Topic = has not a specific grammatical marker, but is always at the first place of the sentence. It can collide with the subject in nominative form. It could be also in the genitive (subject's or object's attribute), locative (expressing time like "in summer" or places like "at home") or even vocative (like in the sentence: "Oh John, I used your pen!").

2. Subject = the actor of the action.

3. Dative = the actor receiving the action.

4. Object = the object of the action.

5. Verb = the action.

6. Other oblique cases.

This could be a standard phrase: John gave me a piece of the apple at home.

"Apple" is genitive because is refered to "a piece" (a piece of apple), not to John and since it's the topic of what we are talking about, goes to the first place.

Noums
Syllables (often CVC) are inflected by cases.

Suffix
Suffixes mediate between the radix and the case. It can be considered as part of the case itself, however it has its own meaning (static vs dynamic).
 * State: radix + -a (ㅏ )
 * Movement: radix + -i (ㅣ )

Exemple:
 * Bolani (static + -ni = locative): [it is] in the pot.
 * Bolini (dynamic + -ni = illative): [it goes] to the pot.

Plural
It goes after the case.
 * Radix + suffix + case + -ri (리 )

Exemple:
 * ​Bola (the pot) ->  bolari (the pots)
 * Bolani (in the pot) -> bolaniri (in the pots)
 * Bolini (to the pot) -> boliniri (to the pots)

Dynamic cases (movement suffix)


Positive grade (or zero grade)
Exemple:
 * Radix + -i (ㅣ ) (Invariable).


 * huzi = good, genuine (from hus "genuinity")

Comparative grade
Exemples:
 * Majority: adjective + -ka (카 )
 * Minority: adjective + -shi (<span lang="KO" style="font-family: 바탕;mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">지 <span style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕; mso-fareast-language:KO">)
 * Equality: adjective
 * huzi = good / as good as
 * huzika = better
 * huzishi = less good

Comparative word order
Exemples:
 * With noums: adjective + comparative + genitive.
 * With adjectives: majority + minority


 * wih noums: huzika masho = better than me (litt. better of me)


 * with adjectives: huzika ranishi = better than happy (litt. more good and less happy, e.g. "she's more good than happy")

Superlative grade
It uses the same comparative form with nothing next.

Exemple:


 * huzika = the best

Demostrative adjectives/pronoums and adverbs
Since they end with -h, they aren't really pronouns, nor adjectives (-i). They are adverbs but act like adjectives too.


 * Sheh (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family: 바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">정 ): "here", but also "this/these".


 * Teh (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family: 바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">텅 ): "there", but also "that/those".

Exemples:


 * This girl = the "here" girl, the girl here, near to me.


 * That boy = the "there" boy, the boy there, near to you.

Adjectival Verb (nominal phrase)

 * Adjective + -z (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅅ ) + verbal inflection.

An adjectival verb is simply an adjective merged with a contraction (-z-) of the verb "to be" (zir). It acts as a verb.

Exemple:


 * I am good = huzizam (litt. "good-be-me").

As adjectives do, an adjectival verb can get superlative grade too.

Exemple:


 * I am better/the best = huzikazam (litt. "good-more-be-me").

Participle

 * Active (acts like a noun or adjective): radix + -ari (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅏ리 ) (e.g. teaching, but also teacher)


 * Passive (acts like an adjective): radix + -ui (<span lang="KO" style="font-family: 바탕;mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅟ ) (e.g. teached)


 * Potential (acts like an adjective): radix + -idi (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅣ디 ) (e.g. teachable)

The active participle is used as a nominalization of the verb and can stand for: Exemples:
 * Agent noun: the agent of the action, otherwise the "thing" performing the action.
 * Adjective: it turns a verb into an adjective.
 * jom = fire (radix)
 * jomi = warm, hot (adjective)
 * jomari = (adj.) burning / (n.) kettle [ <= burn-er] (active participle)
 * jomui = burned (passive participle)
 * jomidi = inflammable (potential participle)

Personal pronoum: sha (he/she)
Note: It doesn't distinguish the gender.

Verb structure
Verbs are structured as following.

Exemple using all the stems: Let's break the verb down: Another exemple: Let's break it down:
 * 1) Radix = the meaning-career part of the verb
 * 2) Diathesis = the voice that express the relationship between verbs and their arguments.
 * 3) Mood = the modality which the speaker expresses their attitude toward the action.
 * 4) Aspect = indicates if the action is ended or continous.
 * 5) Person = indicates who's doing the action.
 * 6) Number = indicates singolarity or plurality.
 * Junijishimi = We can see each other (but also "we can meet").
 * 1) Jun = the radix syllable meaning "to see".
 * 2) -ij- = diathesis/voice that express reciprocity and can evolves the verb from "see each other" to "meet". "Seen each other" means "we stand one in front of the other, we meet each other".
 * 3) -i- = potential mood, expressing possibility.
 * 4) -shi- = imperfective indicates that the action is actual and it's not yet over.
 * 5) -m- = first person.
 * 6) -i- = plural for the first person.
 * Junagutekari = You (plural) would had the desire to show.
 * 1) Jun = the radix syllable meaning "to see".
 * 2) -ag- = diathesis/voice that express causativity and can evolves the verb from "see" to "make see/show".
 * 3) -u- = optative mood, expressing desire or will.
 * 4) -te- = perfective indicates that the action is over.
 * 5) -ka- = second person.
 * 6) -ri- = plural for the second and third person.

Note: Since the language was originally spoken by an Elf race, the language itself prefers aspects than tences. For an almost immortal Elf, time/tence is not that important. He doesn't care if the action was in the past, in the future or is happening right now. The point is "Is it already done/finished?". A verb like huzizashim means a sort of "I'm good and I'm continuing to be like that", while huzizatem means "I am good and I've finished to be like that".

Diathesis (voice)

 * Active: zero-stem


 * Passive: -ib- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅣㅂ )


 * Reflexive: -em- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅓㅁ )


 * Reciprocal: -ij- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅣㅊ )

Diathesis can make the verb evolving into what in English seems to be another verb.
 * Causative: -ag- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅏㄱ )

Exemple: Even mixing each other:
 * Junib = passive "been saw"
 * Junem = reflexive "see myself"
 * Junij = reciprocal "see each other" -> "meet"
 * Junag = causative "make see / let see" -> "show"
 * Johnada hol em am = reflexive "I call myself John" -> "my name is John" [hol = "call, name"]
 * Holag = causative "send someone to call someone else" -> "to summon".
 * Jomag = causative "make something burns" -> "boil, coock" [jom = "fire"].
 * Junijib = reciprocal + passive "been met"
 * Junijem = reciprocal + reflexive "meet myself"
 * Junagem = causative + reflexive "show myself, be present at something, preside, take part in"

Mood

 * Indicative: -a- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅏ ) ( I see)


 * Optative: -u (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅜ ) (I want to see, I would like to see, I desire to see, I would see)


 * Potential: -i (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅣ ) (I can see, I could see)

Exemples:
 * Imperative: -oa (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅘ ) (I must see, I have to see, I should see)
 * Junam = I see.
 * Junum = I want to see, I would see, I would like to see, I desire to see.
 * Junim = I can see, I could see, there's a chance, probability or possibility that I see.
 * Junoaka = See!, you must see, you have to see, you should see.

Aspect

 * Aorist: zero-stem


 * Imperfective: -shi- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">지 )


 * Perfective: -te- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">터 )

Exemple: Again: We can say also:
 * Future: -ra- (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">라 )
 * zira = it is (undeniable truth over times)
 * zirashi = it is (still running)
 * zirate = it is (over)
 * zirara = it will be
 * Johnada ziram = I'm John, I'm always been John and will be John even when I'll be dead.
 * Johnada zirashim = at the moment, I'm John
 * Johnada ziratem = I'm John nomore, I finished to be John (it's not really a past or a negation, it simply states that the "action of been John" is done, is over).
 * Johnada ziraram = I will be John, one day...
 * Aorist = the door is always opened, forever.
 * Imperfective = I'm closing the door.
 * Perfective = the door is closed.
 * Future = the door isn't closed yet, but it will be.

Note 1: As we stated before, the language is more aspectual than temporal. However the imperfective has a sense of present, while perfective has a sense of past. For instance, we can state that "I'm sitting, I sit" is imperfective, while "I'm seated" is perfective.

Note 2: as per the verb zir (to be), the future plays an unexpected effect. Let's see below:


 * I will be in the town (static) = kemani ziraram (town.LOC be.IND.FUT.1sp)


 * I go to the town (dynamic) = kemini ziraram (town.ILL be.IND.FUT.1sp)

"I will be" somehow also express that "I go" (...so I will be there.)

Also with verbal adjective contrustions (let's remember that -z is a contraction of zir)​:


 * I'm good = huzizam (genuinity.ADJ.be.IND.1sp)


 * I become good = huzizaram (genuinity.ADJ.be.IND.FUT.1sp)

"I will be good" express that "I become good" (... so I will be good). Thus, we can assume that the verb zir (to be) can also mean "to become" and/or "to go" by the future aspect.

Person

 * First: -m (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family: 바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">므 )


 * Second: -ka (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">카 )


 * Third: zero-stem

Number

 * Singolar: zero-stem.
 * Plural for the first person: -i (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕; mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">ㅣ <span style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕; mso-fareast-language:KO">)
 * Plural for the other persons: -ri (<span lang="KO" style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family:바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕; mso-fareast-language:KO">리 <span style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family: 바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO">)

Flection of jom (fire)
Basic syllables and derivations <span style="font-family:바탕;mso-hansi-font-family: 바탕;mso-bidi-font-family:바탕;mso-fareast-language:KO"> Plural (valid for any forms: noun and verbs) Cases Adjectives and derivations Participles Diathesis or voices
 * Radix: jom = basic meaning "fire, to burn"
 * Reduced: j y om = flame
 * Reinforced: j o am = forestfire
 * Plural (nominative): jyoma ri  = flames
 * Nominative: jom a  = the fire (subject)
 * Vocative:  a jom a  = oh the fire!
 * Accusative: jom ada  = the fire (object)
 * Genitive: jom asho  = of the fire
 * Locative: jom ani  = in the fire (without motion)
 * Dative: jom ida  = to the fire, for the fire
 * Ablative: jom isho  = from the fire (with motion)
 * Illative: jom ini  = to the fire, in the fire, toward the fire (with motion)
 * Adjective: jom i  = warm, hot
 * Comparative of majority: jomi ka = warmer, hotter
 * Comparative of minority: jomi shi  = less warm, less hot
 * Adjectival verb: jomi z - = to be warm, to be hot
 * Active: jom ari  = burning / "bern-er" -> kettle
 * Passive: jom ui  = burned
 * Potential: jom idi  = inflammable
 * Active: jom- = to burn
 * Passive: jom ib - = to be burned
 * Reflexive: jom em - = to burn oneself -> to get burned

Moods Aspects (in the indicative mood) Persons (plus indicative mood and imperfective aspect)
 * Reciprocal: jom ij - = to burn each other -> to talk excitedly (figurative)
 * Causative: jom ag - = to make burn -> to boil, to coock
 * Indicative: jom a - = burn
 * Optative: jom u - = would burn, want to burn
 * Potential: jom i - = could burn, can burn
 * Imperative: jom oa - = should burn, must burn, have to burn
 * Aorist: joma- = (never-ending) burn
 * Imperfective: joma shi - = is/are burning (right now)'
 * Perfective: joma te - = is/are done with burning (burning is over)
 * Future: joma ra - = will burn, going to burn
 * First: jomashim = I'm burning
 * Second:  jomashika = you are burning
 * Third: jomashi = he/she/it is burning