Eltave

General Information
The Eltave language (/ˈɛltɛɪv/, natively Médto Qéltuwis [ˈmætɔ ˈʔæltʰuwis])

Consonants

 * stops neutralize to tenuis syllable-finally a la Vlax Romani
 * /k/ is voiced intervocalically.

Vowels
Diphthongs: ɔj, äj, ɛw, äw

Stress
Stress is unpredictable.

Phonotactics
CV(C[-j, w, h])

Orthography
Eltave orthography writes most simple roots with logograms, and some affixes get this treatment too, but borrowed words and other affixes are written in an abjad.


 *  can also represent /ɔj/, /e/, and /aj/.
 *  can also represent /ɛw/, /o/, and /aw/.

Verbs
person-stem-voice-modality-tense Average verbs have 630 inflectional forms. The basic, dictionary form is the third person, active voice, indicative present

Tense
Nonpast <-0> vs. Past <-(o)g>

Syntax
Word order is SVO. Subject pronouns can be dropped due to subject marking on the verb. And object pronouns can be moved before the verb. Postpositional phrases modifying nouns go before them and when modifying verbs, go after.

Examples

 * Yab luglug? [ˈjäp lukˈluk] “Are you stupid/dumb/an idiot/my mother-in-law?” <2s.int l.g.l.g>
 * Noułgul sen medtiz. [ˈnoɬkul ˈsæn ˈmætiz] “I was told God speaks to you.” 
 * Vousirog mosa dtel. [ˈvosiɾɔk ˈmɔsä ˈtæl] “I guess I was able to have some melons.” <1s.have.pst melon dt.l>
 * Seq vendtusine. [ˈsæʔ vænˈtusinæ] “I could beat you up.” <2s.q 1s.fight.abil.hyp>
 * Yaraunneqag! [jäˈɾäwnːæʔäk] “You could have been eaten!” <2s.eat.n.hyp.ener.pst>