Sarràno

An Iberian language spoken by the inhabitants of Sarranna.

General information
An important note : this conlang began as an entry to the romlang challenge that took place from April to July 2015. There is a page dedicated to the version submitted to voting, called Xarrano. Thus, further updates to the language will be presented on this page from now on.

. Sarran (endonym Sarràno /sæ'ræno/) is a romlang mainly inspired by Iberian Romance languages at their earliest times, also showing influence from Neapolitan. The goal is that it resemble a language of the Iberian family while having a vowel alternating plural system due to specific sound changes.

Its family tree can be traced as Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Western Romance, Ibero-Romance, Sarran.

Its speakers live in Sarrany (endonym: Sarranna /sɑ'rɑɲɑ/, "land of the Sierra"), a country that lies on a fictitious peninsula stretching from the southeastern part of Spain, as seen on the map.

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External history
There is a belief among the Sarran people that their homeland would have been originated after an ancient volcano emerged from the sea and rose a piece of land with it. This volcano is called Ezgo, from a Celtic source meaning "elder", and has had brief periods of activity through the centuries.

The first Latin settlers came from a region around Campania in Italy, including citizens of the extinct city of Pompei, which founded the capital city of POMPĒIA NOVA (now Nuàva Pompegha) at the foot of the volcano. The whole region was called SERRĀNIA because of its characteristic sierras and tall coasts, being important as strategic places to build fortresses to keep control over the southwestern part of the Mediterrean Sea.

When the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula, the Sarrans sought help from their Italian trade partners. The difficult access to the region by land together with well guarded fortresses and a joint navy allowed them to resist the constant Moorish attacks. The local citizens organized themselves into the Kingdom of Sarrany (Rrenno rela Sarranna) under the command of Plinno I and his descendants, but, by the time of the Reconquista, the eastern side of the Kingdom refused to get involved in the successive battles to repel the invaders out of Iberia and split off as the Kingdom of Sarra Vaxa, while the western side changed its name to Kingdom of Sarra Alta. Shortly after the Reconquista had been completed, the two Kingdoms reunited under the modern name of Sarranna. The new country slowly opened its gates to a common Iberian market and served as an important bridge between its neighbors on land and its allies from nearby islands and Italy.

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Historical sound changes
When compared to other Iberian languages, Sarran shows some conservative features, such as distinction between voiceless and voiced fricatives, while having innovated in other areas like its six-vowel system, the coalescence of alveolar consonants with /j/ and palatalization of final /s/, eventually causing the loss of distinction between masculine and feminine in most plural forms.

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General sound changes
a) Loss or lenition of final consonants:

AMAT, VĪTAM (polysyllables) > àma, vida

AUT, QUEM, SĪC (monosyllables) > o, quiàn (< *quene?), xi

b) Loss of /h/:

/h/ ADHAESIONEM,HABĒRE,PREHENDERE > /-/ adeson (learned), aver, prender

c) Monophthongization of AE and OE:

/ai, oi/ CAELUM, GRAECUM, POENAM > /ɛ, e/ > /(j)æ, e/ zàlo, gràgo, pena

d) Minor changes:

/VnsV/ MENSEM, PREHENSUM > /VzV/ mes, preso

/CCC/ ASSŪMPTUM, FUNCTIONEM > /CC/ assunto, funzon

/lle#/ ILLĒ, MĪLLE, PELLEM > /l#/ el, mil, piàl

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Changes related to Western Romance
a) Monophthongization of AU (also in Italo-Western):

/au/ AURICULAM, *autoricare, PAUCUM, TAURUM > /o/ oregha, otorgàr, poco, toro

b) Assimilation processes (also in Italo-Western):

/bt, pt/ OBTENĒRE, SEPTEM > /tt/ > /t/ otener, sete

/bs, ps/ ABSOLŪTUM, PSALMUM > /ss/ > /s/ assoluto, salmo

c) Lenition of intervocalic plosives (not including semivowels):

/b, d, g/ BIBERE, NŪDUM, *vagativu > /v, -, -/ bever, nuo, vadio

/p, t, k/ capitia, RECIPERE, PRĀTUM, FOCUM > /v, d, g/ cavezza, rrecever, prado, fuàgo

/pp, tt, kk/ STUPPAM, GUTTAM, PECCĀTUM > /p, t, k/ estopa, gota, pecado

d) Early process of syncope (between sonorants and plosives, and the sequence /sVt/):

/VCVCV/ COLAPHUM, OPERAM, COMITEM, POSITUM > /VCCV/ golpo, obra, conde, posto

/VCVCV/ *cosutura, NŌBILEM, LEPOREM, OCULUM, VIRIDEM > /VCCV/ costura, noble, lebre, ogho, verde

e) Palatalization processes:

/eV, iV/ FORTIAM, VĪNEAM > [jV] > /*V/ forza, vinna

/#j, VjV/ IAM, IEIŪNUM, IŪSTUM, MĀIOREM > /#ʒ, V(j/ʒ)V/ > /#ʒ, V(ɟ/ʒ)V/ ja, gejuno, justo, maghor

/ki, ke/ ACCEPTUM, CIRCĀ, CĪVĪLEM > [(c)cV] > /(t)tsV/ > /θV/ accecho, cerca, civil

- /Vki, Vke/ > ACĒTUM, COCĪNAM, LŪCEM > [VcV] > /VtsV/ > [VdzV] > /VðV/ acedo, cocina, luz

/gi, ge/ GENERUM, *pagense, VIGINTI > /jV/ > /ʒV/ or /-V/ gendro, país, vinte

/ski, ske/ PISCEM, CRĒSCERE > [scV] > /ʃʃV/ > /ʃV/ pexe, crexer

/tj, kj/ ALTIĀRE, BRA(C)CHIUM, FACIEM, LINTEOLUM > [(t)ts, (c)c] > /ts/ > /θ/ alzàr, brazzo, facce, lenzuàlo

/dj, gj/ *gaudia, INVIDIAM, RADIUM > /ʒ/ or /j/ goja, enveja, rraio > /ʒ/ or /ɟ/ goja, enveja, rragho

- /V(d/g)(i/e)#/ HŌDIE, LEGEM, MAGIS > /Vj#/ > oi, lei, mai > /*/ güe, lé, mai

/stj, skj/ BESTIAM, FASCIAM, QUAESITIONEM, SCIENTIAM > /st, ʃ/ vesta, faxa, queston, xenza

/ptj, ktj/ ACTIONEM, OPTIONEM, *ruptia > /Cts/ > (C)θ/ azzon, ozzon, rrozza

/#sj, ssj/ *bassiu, MANSIONEM, PASSIONEM, RUSSEUM > /Vʃ/ vaxo, paxon, rroxo

/VsjV/ BĀSIUM, ECCLĒSIAM, *grisiu, PENSIONEM > /V(¨)ʒ/ bejo, egleja, grijo, pejon

/rj/ AREAM, CORIUM, DĒNĀRIUM, GLORIAM > /jr/ > /(¨)r/ era, qüero, denero, glera (< gloira)

/nj, lj/ FOLIAM, IŪNIUM, *maneana > /ɲ, ʎ/ folla, Junno, mannana > /ɲ, ɟ/ fogha, Junno, mannàna

f) Development of /kt/:

/kt/ FACTUM, FRUCTAM, NOCTEM, OCTŌ > /jt/ > /(¨)c/ echo, prucha, noche, ocho

g) Prothesis of initial /sC/:

/#sC/ SCĀLAM, SPATIUM, SPHINGEM, STĀRE > /#esC/ escàla, espazzo, esfinge (semi-learned?), tàr (< estàre)

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Changes related to Iberian Romance
a) Loss of final front vowels after single, dental/alveolar, voiced consonant:

/e#, i#/ FĒCĪ, MENSEM, PĀNEM, VĒRITĀTEM > feci, mese, pane, verdade > /#, (¨)#/ fiz, mes, pàn, verdàz

b) Palatalization of geminated N and L:

/nn, gn, mn/ ANNUM, AUTUMNUM, DOMINAM, PUGNUM > [nn] > /ɲ/ anno, otonno, ronna, punno

/ll/ CASTELLUM, COLLĀREM, ILLAM > /ʎ/ castello, collar, ella > /ɟ/ castegho, coghàr, egha

c) Development of /kʷ/ and /gʷ/ (also in Gallo-Romance):

/gʷ/ *guadaniare, *guerra, *guidare, LINGUAM, SANGUINEM > /g/ gannàr, garra, guiàr, lenga, sangre

/kʷ/ LIQUOREM, QUANDŌ, QUINTUM, SQUĀMAM > /k, kw/ licor, quan, quinto, escàma

- /Vkʷ/ AEQUALITĀTEM, ANTĪQUUM, AQUAM > [Vgw] > /Vg(w)/ egualdàz, antigo, água

- (some) /kʷi, kʷe/ LAQUEUS, QUĪNQUE, TORQUERE > [ki, ke] > [(c)cV] > /tsV/ > /θV/ lazzo, cinque, torcer

d) fragmentaion of /ks/:

/ksC/ DEXTERUM, EXPRESSIONEM, EXTENSUM > /(¨)sC/ destro, espresson (learned), esteso

- /kske, kski/ EXCELSUM, EXCEPTUM, EXCITĀRE > /kkV/ > [ccV] > /tsV/ > /θV/ eccelso, ecceto, eccitàr (learned)

/VksV/ COXAM, EXSŪCĀRE, FLUXUM, VEXĀMEN > /VʃʃV/ > /VʃV/ coxa, exugàr, ploxo, vexambre

/VksV/ AUXILIUM, EXAGIUM, MAXIMUM, PROXIMUM > /VssV/ > /VsV/ ossegho, essagho, mássimo, próssimo

/VksV/ EXHAURĪRE, EXŌTICUM, EXSULTĀTIONEM > /VzV/ esaurir (l.), esótico (l.), esultazzon

e) Evolution of consonant groups with /l, r/:

/Vbr, Vdr, Vgr/ CATHEDRAM, *libretto, NIGRUM > /Vbr, V(¨)r, V(¨)r/ cadera, libreto, nero

/Vpr, Vtr, Vkr/ SACRĀRE, MACRUM, OPERA, PETRAM > /Vbr, Vdr, Vgr/ sagràr, màgro, obra, piàdra

/Vppr, Vttr, Vkkr/ LETTERAM, QUATTUOR > /Vpr, Vtr, Vkr/ letra, quatro

/#fl, #pl, #kl/ CLĀMĀRE, FLŪMEN, PLŌRĀRE > /#c/ chamàr, chumbre, choràr

/#fl, #pl, #kl/ CLĒMENTIA, FLUXUM, PLATEAM, *subflare > /#pl, #kl/ clemenza, ploxo, plazza, soplàr

/Vp(V)l, Vt(V)l, Vk(V)l/ ARTICULUM, POPULUM, ROTULUM > /Vbl, Vʎ/ > /Vbl, Vɟ/ artegho, puàblo, rrogho

/bl, dl, gl/ *blanco, COĀGULĀRE > /bl, ʎ/ > /bl, ɟ/ blanco, quaghàr

MASCULUM, MŪSCULUM, UNGULAM, VINCULUM > maxo, buxo, unna, vencho

f) Later processes of syncope:

/nVr, mVr/ GENERUM, *nomine, HONŌRĀRE > [mr, nr] > /mbr, ndr/ gendro, nombre, ondràr

/inV/ DOMINAM, SĒMINAM, SŌLITŪDINEM, TERMINUM > /*/ ronna, sembra, soltuz, tarmo

/V/ ARBOREM, MŪSCULUM, SIMILĀRE, UNGULAM > /-/ arble, buxo, semblàr, unna

/CVC/ ADVĒRIFICĀRE, CAPITĀLEM, CUBITUM, DŪBITAM > /*C/ averiguàr, caduàl, codo, ruda

/CVC/ DECIMUM, FATIGĀRE, HOSPITĀLEM, PORTATICUM > /*C/ rezmo, azgàr, ostàl, portazgo

/CVC/ *quassicare, RECITĀRE, TRĪTICUM, UNDECIM, VINDICĀRE > /*C/ cascàr, rrezàr, trizgo, once, vengàr

g) Interactions between /l/ and /r/:

/l...l, r...r/ ARBOREM, *lusciniolu, MARMOREM, RŌBOR(EM) > /r...l/ arble, ruxinguàlo, marble, rroble

/l...l, r...r/ LOCĀLEM > /l...r/ logàr

/r...l/ MĪRACULUM, PARABOLAM, PERĪCULUM > /l...r/ milagro, palabra, peligro

/r/ BURSAM, PAPYRUM, TENEBRĀS > /l/ bolsa, papel, tenneble

h) Minor or incomplete changes:

GAUDIUM, RATIONEM, TRAHERE > [VtsV, VdzV] > /VdzV > /VðV gozo, rrazon, tracer

/l, n, r/ ANIMAM, LAMPADAM, LĀXĀRE, LIBELLUM, -MEN > alma, lampra, dexàr, nivegho, -mbre

/k/ *cocchleariu, NĒC ŪNUM, PECTEN > [ŋ] > /n, ng/ conchero, nennuno, prente (< pentre)

/j, r/ CRĪBRA, PARIĒTEM > /-/ criva, parede

/ls, rs/ *ad traversu, INSULSUM, PERSŌNAM, VERSICUM > /s/ atraves, insosso, pessona, vesco

CAPSAM, CAPULUM, CRYPTAM, MĀTTIANA, PULSĀRE > caxa, cacho, grota, mazzàna, puxàr

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Specific changes in Sarran
a) Semivocalization of final /s/ with posterior changes:

(stressed) /s#/ MAGIS, DVŌS, NŌS, TRĒS > /j#/ mai, roi, noi, trei > /*/ mai, rue, nue, tre

(unstressed) /as#, es#, os#/ > [aj#, ej#, oj#] > /e#, i#, u#/ > [e#, (¨)e#, (¨)o#] > (analogy) /(¨)e#/

b) Evolution of the vowel system:

Stage 1: Shift from vowel quantity to vowel quality (also in Italo-Western):

/iː, i, eː, e, a(ː), o, oː, u, uː/ > /i, e, e, ɛ, a, ɔ, o, o, u/, with long allophones on stressed open syllables

Stage 2: First open vowel shift and rise of new diphthongs:

(stressed open syllable) [ɛː, aː, ɔː] CAELUM, CANEM, BONUM > [eə, aə, oə] > /iə, əː, uə/ cialo, cane, buano

(other syllables) /ɛ, a, ɔ/ SEMPER, PARTEM, NOSTRAM > /e, a, o/ sempre, parte, nostra

CŌGITĀRE, FACTUM, GLORIAM, MAGIS, NŌS, LEGEM > /aj, ej, oj, uj/ cuidar, feito, gloira, mai, noi, lei

CASĀS, MANŪS, PONTĒS > [aj#, ej#, oj#] > /e#, i#, u#/ case, manu, ponti

CAPITĀLEM, CĪVITĀTEM, CUBITUM, EQUAM, VIDUUM > /aw, ew, iw, ow/ caudale, ciudade, coudo, euga, veudo

Stage 3: New loss of vowel quantity and shift from decrescent to crescent diphthongs:

/iə, əː, uə/ cialo, cane, buano > /jɛ, ɛ, wɛ/ ciàlo, càne, buàno

/aj, ej, oj, uj/ cuidar, eito, gloira, mai, noi, lei > /aj, e, we, wi/ or /VCʲ/ cughar, echo, gluera, mai, nue, lé

(final unstressed) /e, i, u/ case, manu, ponti > [e, (¨)e, (¨)o] > (analogy) /(¨)e/ càse, mene, punte

/e.(')V, i.(')V, o.(')V, u.(')V/ coallare, coerente, leone > /jV, wV/ quallàr, qüerente, lion

/aw, ew, iw, ow/ caudale, ciudade, coudo, euga, veudo > /aw/wa, jo/ju, ju, o/u/ caduàl, ciudàz, codo, ioga, viuda

Stage 4: Second open vowel shift and decrease of diphthongs:

/tj, jt, dj, jd/ cuidàr > /c, ɟ/ cughàr

/sj, js, zj, jz/ eglesia > /ʃ, ʒ/ egleja

/nj, jn, lj, jl/ colonia, liàve, lion, niàbla > /ɲ, ɟ/ colonna, gheve, ghon, nnàbla

/θj, ðj, rj/ ciudàz, eccion/faccion (learned), riàz, vigario (learned) > /θ, ð, r/ zudàz, ezzon/fazzon, ràz, vigaro

(other) /Cj/ quiedo, principio (learned), rra(b)bia, vision (l.) > /C(j)/ quiedo, principo, rraba, vison

/Cw/ arduo, guarra, individuo (learned) > /C(w)/ ardo, garra, individo

/Clj, Clw, Crj, Crw/ cliente (learned), gluera, griàgo, pruàva > /Cl, Cw/ clente, glera, gràgo, pràva

(stressed) /ɛ, a/ buàno, ciàlo, càn, danza, ha > /æ, ɑ/ buàno, zàlo, càn, danza, ha

(unstressed) /a/ casca, danzàr, mazzàna > /æ ~ ɑ/ casca, danzàr, mazzàna (*vowel harmony with stressed vowel)

c) Rhotacism of /d/ (at the time of general plosive lenition):

/d/ CAUDAM, DĒ, DECEM, DUPLUM, DVŌS > /ɾ/ cora, re, ràz (< riàz), roblo, rue

/d/ DĀRE, DEXTERUM, DĪRECTUM, DORMĪRE = /d/ dàr, destro, drecho, dormir (blocked by a near /ɾ/)

d) Merging of /j/ and /ʎ/ to become a voiced counterpart to /c/:

EGŌ, AD HERĪ, MEDIUM > /j/ io, aier, meio > /ɟ/ gho, agher, megho

CUBICULUM, FAMILIAM > /ʎ/ covello, amella > /ɟ/ covegho, amegha

e) Fortition of initial /w/:

AUDĪRE, HODIĒ, HOMŌ, OVUM > /#oV, #oj, #we/ oir, oi, huàmo, huàvo > /gwV/ güir, güe, guàmo, guàvo

f) Merging of /b/ and /v/ as well as the remaining /p/ and /f/ when before the sonorants /ɾ, l/:

* blancu, *haver hemos, PAUPER > /bl, br, vl, vr/ blanco, avremo, pobre > /bl, br/ blanco, abremo, pobre

FLOREM, FRĪGIDUM, PLACERE, PRŌVIDENTIAM > /fl, fr, pl, pr/ > /pl, pr/ plor, prio, placer, prudenza

g) Loss of final unstressed /n/:

ILLŌS AMANT, IUVENEM, VIRGINEM > /n#/ ellu àman, joven, vergen > /#/ eghe àma, jove, verge

(some) NŌN, *ad sic, HABENT > /n#/ non, axin, han > /#/ no, axí, ha (the latter is by analogy)

h) Opening of /ɛ/ before coda /r/, and some before other /r/:

/ɛr/ LACERTAM, *muliera, SERPENS > [ær] > /ar/ > /ɑr, ær/ > lagarta, mughàra, sarpe

ERVILIAM, VERRERE, *versoria > /ær ~ ɑr/ arvegha, varrer, vassura (subject to vowel harmony)

i) Minor changes:

* ad si, LĪLIUM, QUASĪ, SĪC, SŪCUM, VENĪRE, VESĪCAM > axí, ghigho, quàge, xi, xugo, vennir, vexiga

/nde#, ntV#/ *ad onde, CENTUM, GRANDEM, QUANTUM, SANCTUM > /n/ ron, cen, gran, quan, san

/b/ *barone, *bassiu, BUCCAM, EPISCOPUM > /v/ varon (sir, lord) / baron (baron) (borrowed), vaxo, voca, vispo

/Cr, Cs/ ABROGĀRE, EXAGIUM > /r, s/ arrogàr (*abrrogàr), essagho (< *ensagho)

QUATERNUM, PECTEN, PIGNORAM > cardano, prente, prenda (< pendra)

PLUVIAM, RECEPTAM > chuva (< chouva < choiva), rrececha

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Sample texts
Below are some examples of texts and excerpts from common sources used by conlangers.

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 Declarazzon Universal rele Dreche Umane  (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

"Tode pessone naxe libre e egüele en rennidàz e dreche. Pue sende rotàde re rrazon e coxenza, eghe se reve trechàr con espírito re germandàz."

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 Pàdre nostro  (Lord's Prayer)

Pàdre nostro que é nel zàlo:

se santifique lo tu nombre,

ca venna lo tu rrenno,

se azza la tu voluntàz

nela tarra e tambiàn nel zàlo.

Ne da güe lo nostro pàn jornàl,

e ne perdona le nostre ghode,

axí como perdonàmo le nostre ghodure,

e no ne dexa cair en tentazzon,

mai ne libra rel màlo.

(Pue son tue lo rrenno, lo poder e la glera per sempre. Amen.)

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 El Vento Norde e el Sol  (The North Wind and the Sun)

''El Vento Norde e el Sol tàva contennende quàl era mai forte, quan ghen vinna un viagero envolto en un manto caldo. Eghe ha exàde que quiàn exisse àr primo lo viagero togher lo manto reva ser consideràdo mai forte quel altro.''

Repué el Vento Norde ha soplàdo lo mai forte que podia, pero quan mai el soplàva, mai vecino lo viagero roblàva lo manto entorno; e, enfin el Vento Norde ha rrenunzàdo al entento.

''Repué ta brighàdo calorosamente el Sol, e re soto lo viagero ha tolto lo manto. E axí el Vento Norde se ta obligàdo a confessàr quel Sol era el mai forte rele rue.''

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