Lucid International Language, LIL

This engineered conlang aims to be as expressive as possible while using the least possible number of morphemes created and used by allowing words to move freely across syntactic categories, including grammeme ones, with few dedicated grammemes. Reliance is placed on their interrelations that can be intuitively understood.

LEL has an extensive means of disambiguating, but, in the name of brevity, allows various means to inform meaning. One is context. A system of defaults is another. But beyond those, understandable prosody and even paralinguistic features are made overt.

Summary

The most common and important function words (grammemes) are CV. CV+C turns it into a full CVC word. All content words are CVC. Vowels (+v) mark Verbs, Complements, Nouns, and Modifier: CVC+v. The only time a CVC is not followed by (+v) is when a punctuation follows. Punctuation is made explicit in the spoken language by there being a C followed by a C

Please note: This is a work in progress. As soon as I am satisfied with it and am ready to supply the lexicon, I will be able to clean this page up and repost it as anew page with with a comprehensive table of contents

Classification and Dialects
As an engelang, LEL intends to minimize the use of phones and phonotactics the peoples from various languages have difficulty distinguishing or pronouncing. However, LEL does use more difficult ones. though, restricting them to special uses, like a system for expressing emotions

Consonants
(1) These are varieties of the 9 most common consonants in the languages of the world. /ŋ/, orthographically ⟨q⟩, /f/, /x/ are added because LEL has a system of sets of three. Among those, approximant /l/ is placed in the /j/, /w/ set: [1] k > t > p > k; [2] x > s > f > x; [3] q > n > m > q; [4] j > l > w > j

(2) The more difficult ones used are any nonapproximant ⟨ r ⟩, (tap, flap, trill) in a set of its own; and any laryngeal stop, orthographically ⟨ ; ⟩, any fricative /h/, any laryngeal "approximant", orthographically ⟨ ^ ⟩. “Any” is because they are difficult and are only used for special uses. In advanced LEL, the different kinds of /r/ and laryngeals do become significant.

(3) Those with laryngeals are considered to be a special type of root word. Other consonants may be used to make words, but they will not be considered root words

Vowels
As LEL requires there be sets of 3 among the consonants, it also requires sets of 3 among the vowels. The 6 vowels used are maximally distant from one another: [5] /i/, ⟨y⟩, /o/; [6] /e/, /a/, /u/. What they are like phonetically will vary with the individual and context, of course.

(note) the sonorants, ⟨q⟩, /n/, /m/ may, at times, also take on the modifying features of the vowels (eg, length, tone, stress)

Tones
LEL uses tone to impart semantic meaning to words with a pitch overlay. But because of the Set of Three system, they are not overly critical and are mainly used (to counteract monotony) to impart “flavor” and distinguish “false” homophones. They are: rising ⟨ ‘ ⟩, level ⟨ - ⟩, falling ⟨ , ⟩.

(note) The -V grammemes are neutral and take the tone of their CVC, unless a tone is used as comment

Pitches
(1) When prosodically made stronger than the surrounding tones, they are doubled: ⟨ ‘’ ⟩, ⟨ = ⟩, ⟨ ,, ⟩.

(2) ⟨ < ⟩ is for showing the tone begins/ends higher than the normal tone, ⟨ > ⟩ for when it begins/ends lower (eg, ⟨ <’ / ‘<⟩, ⟨ >- / -> ⟩). They can be used to indicate intonations.

(3) ⟨ _ ⟩ is for stress. A number beside it can indicate the degree of loudness, eg, ⟨ _4 ⟩

(4) ⟨ [ ⟩ and ⟨ ] ⟩ show the beginning and ending of the normal level of speaking; ⟨ ( ⟩ and ⟨ ) ⟩ for when the vocal registry is below normal (in importance); ⟨ { ⟩ and ⟨ } ⟩ for when its above. They are most commonly used at the ends of sentences, but may be placed anywhere inside a sentence as well. ⟨ ^ ⟩ indicate upsteps within these voice levels that carry significance; ⟨ . ⟩ for downsteps

Phonotactics
(1) All languages have CV, and LEL has (below)

(#) Most basic roots: (10 C × 6 V = 60 CV) + (3 L × 6 V = 18 L-CV with laryngeals) = 78

And all languages intuitively know the proper, preferred shapes of their native words. The core of LEL aims to maintain its course to be phonologically and, thus, grammatically and lexically, minimal but comprehensive. Allowing for an open ended number of roots (the world’s worst offender being English) does not encourage restraint. Therefore, all (root) words are monosyllabic

(2) CVC is allowed as well.

(#) Most basic roots: (60 CV × 10 C = 600 + 60 = 660) + (18 L-CV × 13 = 234 ^ + 78) = 834^912 possible root words native to LEL. Possible, but perhaps not used. Times 3 tones that can impart semantic meaning gives: 2736

(note) Other syllable shapes may be used, but they are considered root words

(2.1) CVC yet all proper LEL words must be followed by a vowel, a CV grammeme, or a break in the flow of speech (this last termed "punctuation"). So, CVC is usually heard as CVCV (ie, CVC-V)

Punctuation Breaks

(3) CVC+V must drop the +V before a unit break. Like a comma, this is a listing method. What follows is then heard as separate from what came before, not merged. It is a covert “and”. Also like a comma it separates adjuncts and topics from the rest of the sentence. It can also be like a colon and a semicolon, and put to their uses. Whether it is like a period/full stop depends on how the speaker wishes to “end” their sentence (eg, sentence, CVC: used to tell the hearer the speaker’s intention)

Interestingly, used properly, they can allow for free floating segments within a sentence, more or less independent of syntax

⟨r⟩ Tap, Flap, Trill

(4) Any vowel not inside a CVC is a grammeme. The ⟨r⟩ separates the vowels of two grammemes, while letting them remain grammemes since ⟨r⟩ is not recognized as a CV or CVC consonant. (All CVs have a CVC form when they are used as a word)

Vowel Lengthening and Dividing

(3+2.1.1) The glottal stop being lexically absent allows two vowels to come next to each other inside a word and form the phonotactic profiles of CVV or CVVC word (i.e., [CV:] or [CV:C]). LEL makes overt use of length in a semantic-prosody system

(3)  Lengthened vowels and diphthongs  work together as part of a semantic-prosody gradient system, with the approximates, naturally, being weaker than a single vowel and diphthongs being weaker than a lengthened vowel and [CV:/CV:C > CV.V/CV.VC] divided/double vowels. (The dot representing various suprasegmental ways of making one vowel into two)

(#) So there are more than 1632 acceptable LEL words. /w/u/ and /j/i/ is 2 × 4 vowels (/wu/ and /ji/ doesn’t count) = 8 possibilities. 8 × 1632 = 13056 + 1632 = 14688. But a reminder, changes to a rood words vowels is just that, changes, and can be considered as a form of affixation, not independent words in their own right

(note) A LEL rule of thumb is that whatever can be done with vowels can also be done with the other sonorants, /m/, /n/, /q/, /l/. (For the sake of practicality, a nonphonemic central vowel may be inserted if need be). This increases the possibilities of a language that's restricting other means of verbal expression

Vowel Lengthening

(5) Length is used to mark the most important word in a NP and in the sentence itself. (5.2) Compounding Words: (5.2.1) The Endocentric ones shift the length over to the root of the modifier. (5.2.2) The Copulative one has length on both roots. (5.2.3) The Exocentric one has the length on the linking -V grammeme

(aside) a -V-r- is inserted before the linking -V grammeme to differentiate different meanings (such as CVC-ar-_, the employer vs CVC-yr-_, the employee) and can be used instead of or as part of a compound

Vowel Dividing

(6) A lengthened vowel can become two syllables, each with their own tone, pitch, stress. This is done to bring extra notice to and comment on a word or phrase

Writing System
Qwerty is used because it is internationally the most common Latin keyboard and does not require extra strokes beyond the Shift key (though when I do surrender, it is with the Extended Keyboard).

That means                                                   >:<  ! My Chromebook is glitchy with these tables !

Grammar
-V Grammemes

(1) (The basic idea of these were inspired by Mini by S.C. Gruget and was the final spark the lit LEL. I have used a different system of vowels, though. The different types of verbs was inspired by the Valences of Ithkui; by John Quijada)

/e/ = Modifier, but it is really the +V grammeme used for everything else, the dummy vowel that ensures any CVC word can become CVCV in normal situations.

/a/ = Subject; /y/ = Indirect Object; /i/ = Direct Object; /o/ = Complement ; /wi/ = Verb, Completive /u/ = Verb, Conjunctive, /wy/ = Verb, Partial, /wo/ = Verb, Unilateral

-V Grammemes as Prefixes, Valences and Conjunctions

(2) The intention is that the same basic meanings of the -V grammemes are carried over to their use as prefixes, and can be more or less intuituvely understandable, reducing the need for rote learning of excessive rules

(Organized by -V suffixes)

/-e/

(2.1) e-CVC-e / e-CVC = non-discursive commentary, and is able to indicate what it is commenting on by being near it. By being in the right position, it can be on a word, phrase, clause, sentence, and, perhaps, even larger linguistic units (Say being on a word meaning "paragraph" or “chapter”)

(2.1.1) When it is free floating, the e-CVC(-e) prefix = further specification through the CVC word.

(2.2) a-CVC-e | y-CVC-e | i-CVC-e = a N used as a modifier, and is similar to a genitive in that way, but called an Associative (a la Ithkuil).

(2.2.1) /a-/ = the active associations: (2.2.1.1) Productive, creator, (2.2.1.2) Interpretive, context, (2.2.1.3) Originative, source | /y-/ = the receiving associations: (2.2.1.4) = Possessive, alienable¹: physical, (2.2.1.5) Proprietive, alienable²: sanctioned  | /i-/ = the having associations: (2.2.1.6) Genitve, inalienable¹: unremovable, (2.2.1.7) Attributive, inalienable²: experienced,

(2.3) o-CVC-e = a complement brought into a NP

(2.4) u-CVC-e = Participle, a VP acting as a modifier to and within a NP(2.2.1.3) = a complement brought into a NP

/-a/, /-y/, /-i/

(2.5) e-CVC-a | e-CVC-y | e-CVC-i = The modifier made a NP

(2.6) a-CVC-a = (2.6.1) Movable S; (2.6.2) with another S (which keeps the pov), this is considered to be a “2nd” S > conjunction: with, accompany, companion; the point of view is shared when both Ns take /a-/

(2.7) y-CVC-y = (2.7.1) Movable IO; (2.7.2) conjunction

(2.8) i-CVC-i = (2.8.1) Movable DO; (2.8.2) conjunction

(2.9) y-CVC-a = The S is also the IO, intended

(2.10) a-CVC-y = The S is also the IO, unintended (or not an active goal)

(2.11) i-CVC-a = The DO is also the S, makes themself be the acted upon

(2.12) a-CVC-i = The S is also the DO, Reflexive (incidentally)

(2.13) i-CVC-y = The IO is also the DO, say, to repair them (for their benefit)

(2.14) y-CVC-i = The DO is also the IO, say, to act as a messenger for another's benefit

(2.15) o-CVC-a | o-CVC-y | o-CVC-i = The complement made a NP

(2.16) u-CVC-a | o-CVC-y | o-CVC-i = The verb made a NP, the Gerund

/-o/

(2.17) e-CVC-o = A modifier made a complement. Adjective or Adverb?

(2.18) a-CVC-o | y-CVC-o | i-CVC-o = the S | IO | DO brought into/referenced by the complement

(2.19) u-CVC-o vs o-CVC-u = stative verb made dynamic; dynamic verb made stative

/-u/ The default verb affix

(2.20) e-CVC-u = Indicating which word not S, IO, DO a serial verb may be referencing

(2.21) a-CVC-u | y-CVC-u | i-CVCu = Indicating which NP a serial verb is referencing, with /a-/ being the default and usually unmarked

(2.22) u-CVC-u =

/-wi/, /-u/, /-wy/, /-wo/

Valence Affixes, -V Prefixes and Conjuctions

(3.1) /wi/, /wy/, /wo/, when between nouns, are conjunctions: Reciprocal, Complementary, Contingent.

(3.2) /wi/, /wy/, /wo/, when affixed to a verb, mark its completion: mostly, partially, hardly. When used with the conjunctives (above) Reciprocal, Complementary, Contingent, they indicate how well they compare with what the verb describes

CV Grammemes

LEL is to have as many words in its core put into tables that can, first, inform their phonological shapes and, second, establish mnemonic relationships. Below are all of the CV grammemes. Further explanation of them will come later, but most of it was inspired by the Ithkuil of John Quijada (I wish this wiki allowed me to format the tables my way. I hate having to have double-space between lines when items belong closer one under the other)

1st 9, ½ of 18

ki | ky | ko | Expectation | Existential | Ontologic

ti | ty | to | Generic | Functional | Epistemic

pi | py | po | Habitual | Representational | Imputational

2nd 9, ½ of 18

ke | ka | ku | Foreground: Focus (also a referent) | Expressive (Self-referent, 1p) | Deixis (visible: within reach)

te | ta | tu | Middle ground: Frame (relative ref.) | Vocative (You-referent, 2p) | Deixis (present + reach + visible,)

pe | pa | pu | Background: Topic (also a referent) | Performative (Authority-ref) | Deixis (-present +lost touch with)

3rd 9, ½ of 18  Scales + added (¹   ²   ³   	| ⁴   ⁵   ⁶) and/or "T / U / F"

je | ja | ju | Analog: Degree, Intensity | but, except | Frequency

le | la | lu | Reality: Evidential / Judgment | Alternative Reality | Irrealis

we | wa | wu | Ordered: Set | Ordinal | Iterative

4th 9, ½ of 18

ji | jy | jo | Miscellaneous: and, plus, (etc) | -specific, not pinpointed | Distance   (note) the addition of, among other things, Scale CVs gives and/or, and inclusive or vs exclusive or to | ji |. Scale (etc) can put a CVC to another use than its established one (or return it to one of its previous meanings after semantic drift has occurred). Scale with | jo| shows how near or far the reference point is from something else

li | ly | lo | Value: Truth, Positive Answer | Not Certain of Answer | False, Negative Answer (note) these are used with subordinate clauses and Evidentials

wi | wy | wo | Conjunctions: Reciprocal | Complement | Contingent. (note) These Valences are more useful as conjunctions between arguments that affixes to verbs

1st 18, ½+½ The scale is attached

qi | qy | qo | Interrogative: Word Answers | Yes / Maybe / No | Mirror Yes / Maybe / No

qe | qa | qu | Span: Long | Average | Short    (note) Besides showing a length of something, they also expand or contract the range of a word, phrase or even clause. For example: The red-headed boy and girl stayed home can become The red-headed boy and (red-headed) girl.

ni | ny | no | Deontic: Assertive | Admonitive |  Emotive, including Politeness or not

ne | na | nu | Deontic: Directive |  Volitive  | Dynamic

mi | my | mo | Scale: used with conjunctions and and or, Irrealis, Degree, Reason, etc. and those CVs (and CVCs) that are scaled in themselves to provide even further gradations. How a scale is to be interpreted is indicated by the grammemes it goes with (or is implied when those are dropped)

me | ma | mu | Scale: these are used with Scale above for finer or different distinctions

2nd 18, ½+½

si | sy | so | Adpositional: From  | At / On / In | To

se | sa | su | Linear: Start, Begin; Middle, Continuing; End. Final

fi | fy | fo | Design: Natural | Kludge | Planned

fe | fa | fu | Extra Information: Manner | Causative | Purpose

xi | xy | xo | null | ØD | 0D

xe | xa | xu | 1D | 2D | 3D

3rd 18, ½+½ Which Emotions the rhotic goes on may change/be switched

;i | ;y | ;o | Basic: Satiated | Lack of Stimulation ; Relief | Urge

;e | ;a | ;u | Basic: Surprise | Boredom ; Standard Stress Level | Fear

hi | hy | ho | Insular: Pleasure | Ennui; Numbness | Pain

he | ha | hu | Insular: Accepted | Take for Granted ; Callousness | Rejected

^i | ^y | ^o | Executive: Anger | Be Off-Guard; Tolerate | Disgust

^e | ^a | ^u | Executive: Play | Art | Work

Mnemonic sorters ("Determiners" as used in describing ideographs)

If the voiced plosives and fricatives. /b, d, g; v, z, c/, can kept from becoming involved in the CV grammeme systems, then they can be used (as separable modifiers, not affixes) to distinguish between homophones that's secondary to the tone system. This allows words like: West, front, red, 4, quadruped, 4-wheel vehicle, etc to all be related and be members of a memorable word, phrase or sentence just by dropping the sorters. e.g., the number 444: red car front/West/Sunset

Ideally /b, d, g; v, z, c/ would be the only times they would be heard, marking them as distinctly sorters, not to be confused (too much) from voiceless plosives and fricatives

(7) Adpositions and their Modifiers  The same processes can also occur with metaphoric comparison within a VPs. But adpositions - default prepositions - start out as analogous to the cases the syntactic ones (i.e., the vowel grammemes /-a/,/-i/, /-y/) do not manage. (note) When not in their adposition positions, they can be brought into the NP to disambiguate the modifiers it uses while they are an adposition

There is a limited number of words, all CV, that can perform the "adposition" functions and as such they themselves do not have to be marked. They are put into groups with a set of three vowels - /e, a, u/ or /i, y, o/ - sharing the same initial consonant. They have inherent, lexical tone because outside of their use as adpositions, they are also used as full content words. But as adpositions, they usually have a neutral tone, taking on that of the phrase they govern. (Reminder, tone should seldom be have critical importance and are there as an additional way to disambiguate false homophones. Tones use as marking degrees is another matter)

The (etc) is to remind that the word used may (have to) be translated by different word(s). See Lexicon

LEL uses /jy/ to mark something as less specific

(7.1) Three of the most useful are those that form the basis of  from  (etc) /si/ ~ at (etc) /sy/ ~ to (etc) /so/, made more explicit in the lexicon. Of note is how jy makes them less specific: not (confidently) know or relevant but mentioned because something has to be used for it to be useful as an adposition. / si jy / applied to the origin or source: from the direction of, back as far as. /sy  jy / applied to the location: around, about. /so jy/ applied to the destination: toward, go for.

(7.1.1) Besides the  from-to  /si so/ and conversely to-from /so si/ compounds obvious use, it can also be used with NPs that carry such modifiers as "substitute", "new", "old", "large", "small", etc. Reduplication making the modifiers less (or more?) specific

(7.2) To these three are added three that are the similar but are temporal based trio. The spatial uses inform how their metaphoric twins are to be used. They are used inside VPs to supply tense and other uses other languages employ affixes, auxiliaries, and the like to express. When there is no direct metaphoric comparison with the spatial, then consideration should be given to using the equivalent form to missing in-VP uses with no easily or economy of form fix

(7.2.1) Are the equivalent of (6.1.1), /si so/ and conversely /so si / only temporally based. Added modifiers can result in a combined meaning of "former/ex-", "wannabe-", "future-", "later-", etc. Reduplication making the modifiers less (or more?) specific

(7.3) The Dimensions, immediately below, can be used to indicate how extensive the representation is intended. For example, adding 1D to the adposition and using it with a NP modifiers (overtly? covertly?) tagged 3D means that the discussion is restricted to one level; 2D means that the discussion is, perhaps, on what level to place something relative to the other members. But they can be dropped if marking the dimension is not important. The adposition's noun may be enough to establish the dimension

(7.3.1) (*D) /xi/ Time, the most basic dimension. /xi/ is added when context isn't clear whether the adposition is temporal or spatial, otherwise it can be dropped, especially inside a VP. (ØD) /xi xy/ = relative to, from the point of view. (OD) /xi xo/ = point in time (jy = circa, approximately when). (!D) /xi xe/ = a line in time, (jy = a timeline). (2D) /xi xa/ = a period in time (jy = an era, etc.). (3D) /xi xu/ = age (jy = geological/etc age when many events are occurring at (about) the same time - a volume)

(7.3.2) (ØD) /xy/ Where something is not restricted, but is free to be related to anything else within the system. jy = loosely, even free association. /xy/ can be used with /si/ to indicate landmark (etc) and /so/ to indicate target (etc)

Yet to be explored is using /xy/ as a "ordinal" that allows expressions like "he went head-1st"

(7.3.3) (0D:) /xo/ =  point  (jy = indefinite point: atom, pixel); the nodes, juncture points. names (jy = nicknames¹); surnames (jy = nicknames²; titles (jy = nicknames³);  etc. are examples until they are put into a greater system, say a (2D) genealogical tree

(7.3.4) (1D:) /xe/ =  line  (jy = also has a surface, but the line is considered more relevant: e.g., road, ribbon); direct comparison, jy = the context of the comparison

(7.3.5) (2D:) /xa/ =  surface  (redup. = also has volume: grass, slide); The component(s) of something, jy = the substance something is made of

(7.3.6) (3D:) /xu/ =  volume  (redup. = something 0D/1D/2D relates to it: tunnel, penetration); the classification system. jy = a loose classification of something

(note) The dimensions can be added to each other for greater specification. Like 3D 2D = surface on a volume.

(7.4) There is also a temporal version, marking changes over time, dynamic decision points, etc. (6.4.1 to 6.4.5)

(7.5) After (vowel grammeme) Case and (Adposition) Location~Motion Spatially and Temporally, the next most useful grammeme is "use" itself. It, too, is expressed through a set of three phonologically related morphemes. (1) use atypically (jy = to continue to use something atypically, to repurpose); (2) use typically (jy = to not use strictly as intended); (3) have but not use (jy = to be in the way, considered useless).

note) It is possible for a spatial to be used inside a VP as well, used as immediate, utterance-tensed, Meta for the speaker on the sentence level (e.g., relevant or not, put aside for later consideration). Or a meta trio similar to the spatial and temporal 'adpositions' may be instituted, to give free range of employment, outside as well as in the predicate

Modifiers with an Adposition's NP can further specify and disambiguate. None, though, are grammatically mandatory like the adpositions have to be for them just function syntactically. There are two places for these: the adposition and its NP modifies the adposition, the one inside the NP itself modifies the NP. Unlike the CV adposition grammemes, they all have CVC + e

They are also among the most essential words of the lexicon and for that reason are listed below to highlight their importance. The member with lexical level tone is the default, assumed to be present when relevant even when they are not overtly mentioned

Direction

(01) Spatially: axis (etc) ~ front (etc) ~ back (etc). (jy makes them more specific: (body) parts)                                                                                                                                                                (01) Temporally: present - future ~ past  (present-future is the default) These are also used to mark tense within the VP (jy marks them as specific units, that is, say, a past era or period of a life)

(02) Spatially: level (etc) ~ top (etc) ~ bottom (etc). /jy/ makes them more specific: (body) parts                                                                                                                                                                   (02) Temporally: (mean)while: non-causal support - 'in view/interactable' - 'out of sight'

(03) Spatially: middle ~ right ~ left. (jy = makes them more specific: (body) parts)  (03) Temporally: the present, future, past of the time of the utterance

(note) Adding the word for "mirror", of course, changes it the p.o.v. as seen from a mirror, i.e., the other person's

(04) Spatially: nexus ~ West ~ North ; unknown ~ East ~ South. (jy = makes them less definite, "or so") (04) Temporally: these are metaphorically used to map time

(05) Octants This comes from Ithkuil and maps out position on a 3D (or 2D) grid. LEL uses 3 sets of 3 (the ¹,²,³) root words to express the coordinates, with a 9th for 'at rest relative to.

(note) These are among the Mnemonic Candidates. These form a table of homophones that would make for maximal confusion without additions to disambiguate them. (say, West ~ purple ~ nine ~ letter j ). And that is the whole purpose of a mnemonic. They help the memory by creating ad hoc stories the brain can more easily hold onto by utilizing action, color, image, emotional, etc, Thus, 1, 780 can become "river-green-spider-donut"). The one of the best way to remember a lexicon is supposed to be through mnemonic randomization. LEL has the ability to both disambiguate  and ambiguate - at the same time

Distance

Gap, the space between, is the default setting: Assume it until expressed otherwise - default

(06) Spatial: in "view' (there) ~ close (here) ~ invisible (yonder).  (jy = have no idea where ~ coming in view is judged possible ~ within easy reach) (06) Temporally: immanent (etc) ~ soon (etc)  ~ later (etc)

Contact

(07) Spatially: abutting ~ inserted/overlapping ~ coexisting. (jy =  )                                                                                                                                                                 (07) Temporally:

(08) Spatially: attached ~ merging ~ a part of.  (jy =   )                                                                                                                                                                                                         (08) Temporally:

Span, there is no relevant gap.

(09) Spatially: average (etc) ~ long (etc) ~ short (etc). (jy =  )                                                                                                                                                                 (09) Temporally:

(10) Spatially: average (etc) ~ wide (etc) ~ narrow (etc). (jy =  )                                                                                                                                                                                            (10) Temporally:

(11) Spatially: average (etc) ~ deep (etc) ~ shallow (etc). (jy =  )                                                                                                                                                                                       (11) Temporally:

Comparison

(12) Spatially: equal (etc) ~ more (etc) ~ less (etc)  (jy =   )                                                                                                                                                                                                          (12) Temporally:

(13) Spatially: similar (etc) ~ same (etc) ~ different (etc) (jy =  )                                                                                                                                                                                               (13) Temporally:

Nouns
Nouns are only required to have their case grammemes.

Everything else is optional. There is a list of options that the speaker should keep in mind to add if context does not provide adequate clarity. LEL is meant to allow language to be lucid without being burdensome.

Pronouns                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Each one is followed by a vowel grammeme unless it comes before a punctuation break. That's what makes them different from the CV's other uses

(Expressive) Self-referent, 1p - I, me, my:  ka  -ra/-ri/-ry/-re. karu means something like "doing me/myself"; karo = "being me/myself"

(Vocative) You-referent: 2p - you, your  ta   -ra/-ri/-ry/-re. karu = "doing you/yourself"; karo = "being you/yourself"

(Performative) Authority-referent:  pa  -ra/-ri/-ry  (usually not present and only referred to + tacitly)

(Deixis: within reach or visible) ku used as 1st anaphora with -ra/-ri/-ry/. kuru = "doing them/themself"; kuro = "being them/themself"

(Deixis: not within reach, not visible but thought to be present) tu used as 2nd anaphora with -ra/-ri/-ry. turu; turo

(Deixis: not visible and not thought to be present or have lost track of) pu used as 3rd anaphora with -ra/-ri/-ry; puru; puro

Those below may be better  usage  than ku, tu, pu. When they are used to replace ka or ta, then nuanced meaning is added (note that they are always anaphoric as the use of the bare CV is (almost?) always present nearby)

(Focus) used as a referent:  ke -ra/-ri/-ry. keru; kero

(Frame) used to mark or refer to the head of a relative clause:  te -ra/-ri/-ry. teru; tero

(Topic) used as a referent: pe -ra/-ri/-ry. peru; pero

Verbs and Predicate
Verbs are only required to have their -V grammeme marker.

Everything else is more or less optional, depending how much the speaker wishes to, or not, make themselves understood with little as little ambiguity as possible. The more used at any one time becomes a measure of how formal or technical the speaker is being. There is, however, a list of options that the speaker should keep in mind to add if context does not provide adequate clarity. These are "defensive driving" reminders

Note that these options can be moved out of the predicate in order to link them up with what has come before, demote or promote them. An example would be the word used to mark an assertion mood that continues with the same force, is made less confidently or made more emphatically.

Evidential | le | may be dropped if the context allows. They normally are found in the VP, verb phrase

'''Hearsay: Trustworthy? Verifiable?''' The | li | ly | lo | combinations are not to be confused with those used at the juncture of a subordinate and main clause

li li = Presumptive 1; li ly = Presumptive 2; li lo= Purportive 1; ly li = Purportive 2; ly ly = Conjectual; ly lo = Dubitive; lo li = Tentative; lo ly = Putative; lo lo = Improbable

Bases are CVC-e words that name how the evidence came to be and how dependable it is thought to be

Unmarked and by pragmatics assumed to be the basis is Confirmative (direct observation/knowledge and (li) verifiable by others)

Affirmative (direct observation/knowledge but (ly) unknown verifiable by others); Reportive (direct observation/knowledge but (lo) unverifiable by others); Inferential	li (inference but (li) verifiable by others); Inferential ly (inference but (ly) unknown venerability by others); Inferential lo (inference but (lo) unverifiable by others); Intuitive li (intuition/feeling but (li) verifiable); Intuitive ly (intuition/feeling but (ly) unknown venerability by others); Intuitive lo (intuition/feeling but (lo) unverifiable by others); dreams ; out-of-body experience ; extrasensory perception ; hallucination ; etc

Judgment | le |

Judgment is what | le | indicates is being used when those words listed for Hearsay or Bases are not used with it. It can turn a wide variety of CVC words into judgment words.

| ko | to | po | used inside the VP, verb phrase, can express a Judgment without using the | le | (but adding it adds an extra nuance). | ko |. the Ontologic, bases the truth judgment on what they consider is (to a very large degree) an obvious even "scientific" fact that peoples from many different backgrounds can agree on and so should be respected. | to |, the Epistemic, basis the truth judgment on what they consider is (to a very large degree) an established fact or stance or those with (a) particular background(s) and expects the hearer to respect that. | po |, the Imputative, is basically, as far as know, I'll consider it true until I can be shown otherwise. Various ways are used to add shades of nuance to all of these, like one or both of the Scales | mi |, | my |, | mo | ; | me |, | ma |, | mu |.

(note) that | kore | is similar to

| ni | ny | no |; | ne |, | na |, | nu | are the Deontics; they follow the aboves and have to do with the use or not of the power relation. | ni |, the Assertive, indicates, in fact or not, that the other one has a free choice (eg, advice, promise, etc). | ny |, the Admonitive, the other one doesn't, in fact or not, has as much of a free choice as they may like (eg, warning, cautioning, etc). | no | the Emotive, pressure is put on, or to relieve it, the other one (eg, threat, vow, etc). | ne |, the Directive, where the other one is expected to comply (eg, request, requirement, command, etc). | na |, the Volitional, expectation is, in fact or not, low (eg, want, wish, hope). | nu |, the Dynamic, the actual deed its and is the closest to where tense could be (eg, know-how, capable, will-do)

The Each Deontic, though, has a default meaning when used by itself, without a word. The Deontics, though, are normally used to define how a word is to be interpreted, but itself may be dropped when context is considered good enough. The Scales can be one of those words, of course, be used to change the degree of interpretation (eg, making a directive more or less polite)

Syntax
The relative positions listed below is the standard, moving any member to a different position places the nuances that come with that position onto the member

(Expressive > Performative > Vocative) > (discourse M) > (background_M(Adjunct) > background_NP(Topic)) > NP -a > (Adp > Adp_M >) VP-u(-wi/-wy/-wo) > (N-y) > N-i (←)Adp > Adp_M > NP-a/-y/-i ) > (foreground_M > foreground_N) > (sentence_tags) > (Vocative > Performative > Expressive)

SVO — The Indirect Object usually comes before the Direct Object, and can even come next to the Subject

(CV_Adp > CV_D¹ + e (CV(C)_Adp_M >) NP — Where the Adposition is Spatial unless otherwise marked overtly or by context; they may also be used in conjunction with certain Noun Modifiers

N-a/-y/-i (> D²-e > ((e-)M-e/punctuation_break > M-e /punctuation_break) > (Meta) (note) There are two positions for Determiner. D¹ is for their use of sets, D² is for the number, or, if a D¹ set is marked before the NP, D² is for individual members of the set. Rule of Thumb: D² has an open class of membership, D¹ doesn't

(note 1) D = Determiners, are a limited class and so doesn't have its own separate vowel grammeme. (note 2) The 2nd Modifier modifies the 1st unless there is a punctuation break.between them

N-a/-y/-i > a-/y-/-i-N-e = 2nd N modifies the 1st

(CV_Adp > CV(C)_Adp_M >) VP (> Evidential/Judgment > Ontologic/Epistemic/Imputative > Deontics) > ((e-)M)-e > (Meta)

(note) Where the Adposition is a Time or Aspect word unless otherwise marked overtly or by context; they may also be used in conjunction with certain Verb Modifiers

Verb-u/-wi/-wy/-wo > M -e/punctuation-break > Modifier-e /punctuation-break > Meta

Verb-u/-wi/-wy/-wi > Verb+u = 2nd verb is a serial verb which can replace an Adposition

Interrogatives

qi | qy | qo |; | qe | qa | qu | can go just about anywhere, either taking the slot of the missing information or being adjacent to what more information is wanted to be given.

| qi | is the all-purpose interrogative that can fill in for any word. Without a following vowel, then it is a slotholder. The Scales can give it additional nuances, like, I can't remember the name offhand, or Guess, I'll tell you a little later

| qy | is the interrogative for asking for a Yes/Maybe/No answer when the underlying sentence (etc) is positive. By itself, it is Yes

| qo | is the same, but is for when the underlying sentence is negative. Yes/No means the responder is agreeing/disagreeing with a negative. By itself, it is No

| qe | is the Echoic, where the interrogative or another is answered with another interrogative. It is usually the same sentence (etc), but it doesn't have to be with nuanced additions (eg, Give me time to think; I'm not interested in answering). By itself, it is letting the other one continue (I'm following what you are saying)

| qa | is the Socratic, where the answer is for the interrogator to look for the answer in their own knowledge and experience. Additions add nuances, of course (eg, Together we can find the answer, or I think we both know the answer to that). By itself, it is encouraging the other one to continue

| qu | is the Rhetoric, where the question is not really a question. (eg, I'll answer that myself, or This is a crossroad in the talk and this is the way I want it to go). By itself, it is a tells the other one that they intend to continue talking

The Speaker-Hearer Relationships

ka | ta | pa | are normally found in the deictic parts of sentences, among the very first things talked about it (if forethought) or the very last (if afterthought), though it can be found elsewhere but then they carry extra nuance

ta | is the default Vocative (the You pronoun without its case vowels). When used, it marks the speaker wants to get somebody else's attention. Various ways can be used to indicate which "you" is meant. Even the deixes (ku, tu, pu)

ka | is the Expressive (the I/me pronoun without its case vowels). When used, the speaker lets any who may be hearing him that he was not talking to any in particular. The speaker was just expressing themselves. Various ways can be used to indicate such things as: I'm talking to my own self; I'm saying (and doing) this just because I want to (and could turn various words into an Interjection); I'm doing a performance for whoever

pa | is the Performative (a pronoun that is not used in any natlang as far as I know). Using it, the speaker is telling others that they do not speak for themselves, but for or by another Authority. The variants can be: Denial. I'm not saying this, I'm just repeating what I heard; the Illocutive of Perlocution, like the one officiating at wedding saying, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife

(note) None of these or their various specifiers are manditory, just advisable if the speaker wishes to avoid possible confusion

Mood / Subordination

li | ly | lo | Truth, Real, Positive Answer | Not Certain of Answer | False, Unreal, Negative Answer | are placed at the juncture of a subordinate and main clause. The default, unmarked order is: Presupposition, Statement. li, ly = Subjunctive ; ly, li = Assumptive; ly, ly = Speculative; lo, li = Counterfactive; lo, ly = Hypothetical; li lo, li lo = Implicative; li lo, ly ly = Ascriptive

li | ly | lo | can be used with the Scale 1 | mi | my | mo | for showing | lu | Irrealis probabilities, | je | Degrees of certainty, | we | Reason, etc. The Scale 2 | me | ma | mu | can be used with or without Scale 1, depending on whether there are points that the other one can't unambiguous mark

(note) li | ly | lo | are also combined with Evidential | le | to indicate evaluate Hearsay. | le | can be dropped in the proper context, | li | ly | lo | cannot. Since when they are used anywhere outside of the VP brings extra attention to themselves, I have placed their heading under the Verb heading

"Adjuncts"

ke | te | pe | Are what can loosely be called sentence separators

pe | separates more than just the Topic from the rest of the sentence. The topic itself carries a case vowel, while the background information (like Manner, fe; Place; Time, xi; Iteration, wu; Frequency, ju, de; Degree, je; Reason, we) do not. It can be found inside the body of the sentence, but a second | pe | has to be used to close it off from the rest of the sentence

ke | The Focus grammeme is placed within the body of the sentence to mark what is separated out from the other words as being the most important item in it. Having more than one in a sentence adds extra nuance. Each individual one requires a punctuation break. Without a punctuation break expands the scope to include whatever words are included between the two | ke |. A higher vocal register is usually used to further highlight the importance of a focus

te | The Frame is in the body of the sentence, but it is a part of what could be changed into a proper sentence if it weren't being used to directly modify a NP. The | ke | Frame is used as the Head of the Frame, referring back to the NP being modified. A second | te | isn't needed if one of the vocal registers is used. A high register marks the Frame as Relative in the Modifier sense, cogent; a low register marks it as Nonrelative, incidental

Lexicon
The strategy of this engelang is to first firmly establish the necessary grammemes and their lexical tone. From there a list of false homophones can be made distinguished from one another by having different tones, but not relying on tone as they should also be shown to be different by them individually being appropriateness or not in different, ideally non-overlapping, contexts.

Mnemonic tables are, then, to be drawn up, relating different categories of words randomly to others (say, West - red - spider - star). A system of phonolgoical and morphemic additions will then allow them to be distinguished - or not, if that is the mnemonicist's wish. Learning a lexicon can be made vastly more easy if its members can have free, even surrealistic, association (inside and outside of the language itself)

(n) 	head noun

(m) 	modifier (adjective or adverb)

(vt) 	verb, transitive

(vi) 	verb, intransitive

(p) 	quasi-preposition

(c)	conjunction

(d)  * meta

(i)	interjection

A work in progress. (Below is mostly, but not all, taken from Marq Thompson's ta ti. *will mark my own additions)

LEL has a system where CVC words have CV- roots that group members of mnemonic group together, the final -C differentiating the members. This limits the number of core words, which is a goal. (12 C × 6 V = 72 × 12 C = 864; 18 C × 6 V = 108 × 18 = 1944). But LEL is open to letting technical and other words be homophones if they can usually be separated out by context. Ways will be found to make them distinct as well, like, perhaps, only using /b, d, g, v, z, rr/ or other phonemes with those, or CGVC

Wuxing (Chinese: 五行; pinyin: wǔxíng), usually translated as Five Phases or Five Agents, is the basis for the mnemonic groups. As in it, there are vowels associated with them. a = Wood, i = Fire, u = Earth, e = Metal, o = Water. (note) Standard Chinese /a/ is "fronted central"; LEL has two low open vowels. /a/ may be later changed to /y/ if there is a good reason to. The extra vowel will be put to another use, like when members of two or more of the V-Headed groups are combined or brought into comparison

What makes these good as mnemonic groups is that its members have been selected by metaphor over generations and with deep reflection

(note) An asterisk marks my changes to the system. Changes that make more sense to me. I will be coming back to it to tweak, adjust and add more members

 The Basic Mnemonic Groups 

/A/ Wood, gas, air, breath, soul (hun), wind, thunder; Spring (Equinox), morning, 3-9th hours; 45-135°; East, movement, *back(ward), up(ward), Jupiter, Pluto; Thursday; rectangle; liver, gallbladder; ligament, tendon, nerve; eye, sight, see, view, watch, vigil; tear; sour; rancid; azure: green-blue, (purple?); index finger, *#1, *one;, unit(e), *monoplex; *shellfish, *unicycle; calling, shouting; plan, planner, benefit, benefactor, benevolence (REN), father, son, early childhood; idealism, spontaneity, curiosity, sensitive, creative, vitality, mana, blooming, flourishing, luxury, calm happiness; health; crushing, across the line of attack (while turning over). collapsing in on self; scales, dragon, dog, toads; rice, minerals, copper, ink, acid, rubber, paper, wax, plywood; mutilate, detain; *w, *l, *y

/I/ Fire, plasma, flames, blaze, mind, combustion, heat, thermal radiation, infrared beams, ultraviolet rays, visible light; Summer (Solstice), noon, 9-15th hours; 135-225°; South, *left(ward), *up and down; zenith, apex, climax; Mars, Tuesday; angular; heart, pericardium, pulse, San Jiao, small intestine; blood vessels; tongue, taste, gustation; sweat;large; hot; *spicy, scorch; red, crimson; middle finger, *#2, *two, divide, fraction; *duplex, pair; *biped, *bicycle, laugh; rule, ruler, minister, proper, propriety (LI), pre-pubescent, creative, enthusiasm, passion, swell(ing), brim(ming), bloom(ing), flower(ing), intense happiness, hate, resolve; stabilizing, pounding, exploding outward (like a cannon while blocking), expansive; feather, phoenix, sheep, goat, snake, barley/wheat, iron, soap, rust, bleach, oil, glass, mass, clay; tattoo, fine; *f, *s, *x, *v, *z, *R

/U/	Earth, transition,  in-between; spirit, mana, brain, thought; (Summer into Autumn),  afternoon, 15-18th hours; 225-310°; Axis, polar (star), pivot, point of view, *spin; Uranus, Saturn; Saturday; square; stomach, spleen, pancreas, muscle (fibers); mouth, lips, touch feel, textile, texture, saliva, damp, sweet, fragrant; yellow, brown; *ring finger, *#3, *three, join(er), cube number; *multiplex; *tripod, *tricycle; Sing(ing); lead, leader, intermediate, husband, wife, fidelity, honesty, agree(able), (XIN), adolescent; anxious, anxiety, joy(ful), obsess(ion), worry, clarity, nurturing, peace, center, balance, equilibrium, stability, security, leveling and dampening (moderation), fruition; mountain, field; Crossing; across the line (of attack while turning over), stabilizing; naked, human, cattle, lizard; millet; cauldron, rock, gold, carbon, dust, sand, energy, powder, space, sugar, smoke, gems, ash, gravity, earthquakes; maim, exile; *i, *e, *y, *a, *o, *u

/E/ Metal, solid, will, intuition, rationality, mind; Autumn (Equinox); evening, 18-21st hours; 225-315°; West; front, forward, down(ward); Neptune, Venus; Friday; round, ring, circle, ball, sphere, *revolution; lungs, large intestine, skin, (body) hair; nose, smell, sniff, olfactory; mucus, *fart; umami, pungent, *bitter, rotten; dry; clear, dry, light shade, white, silver; *little finger, *#4, *four; *identiforms; *quadruped, *4-wheeler; cry, grieve, sorrow, lament, guilt; manager, righteousness (YI); friend; appreciate; adult(hood); ambition, determination, progress, persist, bravery; split(ting), like an axe chopping (up and *forward), contracting; harvest, collect, gather; heaven, lake, marsh; fur, tiger, chicken, centipedes; beans; gold, platinum, holy water, snow, ice, frost, alloys, forge, nimbus clouds, ether, milk; execution, death; *;, *h, *^

/O/ Water, liquid; soul (pe), agile mind, brightness, mental strength, spontaneous, aptitude; Winter (Solstice); night, 21-3rd hours; 310-45°; North, nadir, *right(ward), *down and up; Mercury; Wednesday; float; undulating, wavy; kidneys, reproductive (organ), urinary bladder; (head) hair, teeth, bone, marrow; ear, hear, listen, attention, sound, noise, auditory; *(ear) wax, urine, blood(?); salty, acrid, putrid; little; cold; black, dark; thumb, *5, *five, *non-identiforms; *starfish, *creatures (etc) with more than 4 limbs; *vehicles with more than 4 wheels; sigh (deeply), groan; coordinator, liaison, wisdom (ZHI), erudition, resourceful, wit; elder, elderly, younger, youngster; old age, conception; retreat, storage, pervade, stillness, fear(ful), gentle(ness), gratitude; drilling, forward horizontally (like a geyser), conserving; shell, turtle, chicken, scorpion; corn, vegetation; silver, the sea, electrical currents, storms, rain, steam, fluid, mud, slime, sludge, salt, time, pressure, glass mirror, shadows; castration, shun; *m, *n, *q

Alternative Mnemonic System

Like with the Wuxing system, the meanings are related only by metaphor

(1) The mnemonic groups are connected through the  C V C  consonants, 12 initial Cs are the Headings and the 12 final Cs differentiates further: 144  C V C 

(2) The CVC vowels specify through categorizing meaning as "opposite 1", the 2nd "In-between", the 3rd "opposite 2". (When the underlying semantics is not tri-polar, then there is a free place to fill it by metaphor).

(2.1) The CVC vowels are in 3 sets: /i > y > o/ and /e > a > u/ giving 144 × 2 = 288 CVC, so far. This is just for sorting things for mnemonic purposes

(2.1.1) But any vowel of the set can be "opposite 1", "in-between" or "opposite 2". Know that, say, /a/ is opposite 1, then you know in-between is the next vowel in the set, /u/, and opposite 2 is /e/. So the actual total is 144 × 3 = 432

(2.2) But that creates 3 possible homophones. (In one word /a/ is opposite 1, in another in-between, and opposite 2 in a third). The tones /  ' /, / - /, / , / are useful for differentiating the "false" homophones. But the tones are not usually critical. The homophones are related only by metaphor and context will usually provide what us needed for the hearer to sort out which was meant. 432 × 3 = 1296

(3) Reduplication increases the number of semantic contrasts possible. Without the tones, there is only 2 'Degrees': 432 × 2 = 864

(3+2.2) With the tones, the Original+3_tones × Reduplicant = 6 'Degrees'; the Original+3_tones × Reduplicant+3_tones = 9 'Degrees'; the Original × Reduplicant+3_tones = 12 'Degrees': 1296 × 2 = 2592 + 129

 Numbers 

All mathematical words may drop their m-affix except the final one that ends a unit. (eg, 521,744 > 'je,no,xi'kam ,fu'se'sem / ,no,xi'ka'jem ,fu'se'sem. Tone sandhi is permissible as long as it doesn't lead to confusion)

,qym = 0, no/not;  'kam = one, all; ,xim = 2, pair;  'jum = 3 (multi-?);  'sem = 4; ,nom = 5; ,lam = 6;  'tim = 7; ,fum = 8;  'pom = 9

 'kim = 10, deca;  'xum = 100, 102, hecta;  'jem = 1,000, 103 kilo;  'som =10,000, 104, myriad;  'nam = 100,000, 105, lakh;  'lim = 1,00,000, 106, mega;  'tom = 10,000,000, 107; tum = 100,000,000, 108;  'fum = 1,000,000,000, 109, giga; ,pam

,jom = 1012, tera; 'lum = 1015, peta; ,pim = 1018, exe;...; ,jam = 1021, zetta; ,lum = 1024, yotta; ...

mVm = different kinds of numbers:  'mim = ordinal; ,mym = infinitesimal, decimal point; .mom = smaller non-decimal unit (eg, 2 h 22 m 10 s); ,mem = fraction;  'mam = set;  'mum = cardinal; muim = hyperreal ; muym = surreal; 'miam = y-axis; 'mium = x-axis; etc

wVm = different kinds of operations:  'wim = addition; ,wym = subtraction;  'wom = (un)ary; ,wem = multiplication;  'wam = division; ,wum = ?; ,wiam = root;  'wiem = exponentiation ; etc