Kiitra

General information
Kiitra is one of the six major indigenous languages of the planet Alplaa, and used through its solar system as a universal auxilliary language.

Historical background
The name Kiitra refers to a confederation of city-states, representing eight different ethnolinguistic groups (along with Saakh speakers along the western border, and Konarai speakers along the northern border). Over time, as trade and inter-community cooperation demanded a common language, a series of simplified combined lexicons ("pidgins" and "creoles" in Terran terminology) began to emerge. Eventually, the government of the Ferjaat Kiitra formed a commission to unify and standardize these into an official Kiitra language. The result was a highly regular agglutinative language, with a consistently phonetic writing system. It was so successful in terms of both adaptability and ease of learning that it displaced the other languages and dialects in the Ferjaat Kiitra within a few generations, and its alphabet and writing format would be adopted by the Konarai, Saakh and Krishkarha (the Baija would continue to use their own complex script).

The Kiitra Language Commission (hirajnashaijaat Kiitra) is still in existence after 1500 years, one of the oldest continuing government agencies on Alplaa. Its mission is to both research the evolution of Kiitra, and to maintain standards of usage.

When the United Nations Interstellar Ark arrived in Alplaa's solar system, and contact was made with the Terran settlers on board, the decision was made in short order to continue to use Kiitra as the mode of communication. Since the Alplai are descended from birds, and have beaks instead of lips, this limits some of the phonemes they are able to pronounce, compared to Terrans with their flexible lips. While Terrans continue to use their own languages (especially English), Kiitra retains its place as the focal point of communication for the Alplai people throughout the Gentakraat val Alplaa (Concordance government of the Alplai solar system).

Variety of verbal usage
When the modern Kiitra language was formulated, the main priority was grammatical word order and correct enunciation of phonemes. This left syllabic stress and tonal pitch open to interpretation by the user. As a result, a number of variant forms (what Terrans would call "dialects" and "accents") emerged within both the Ferjaat Kiitra and other regions of the Concordance. Many of these variants follow stress and pitch patterns of a speaker's native language.

Vocabulary
To find specific words in Kiitra, go to the separate Kiitra Lexicon page.

Alphabet
The Kiitra alphabet is highly phonetic, with each character representing one sound or closely-related sounds. There are eight vowels, nineteen consonants, and one glottal-stop marker: Note: The order above is for the convenience of English-speaking Terrans learning Kiitra; the actual order of the Kiitra alphabet (hirmekei) is as follows:

a, aa, o, i, ii, e, u, uu, ', h, s, g, k, kh, n, m, f, v, j, z, sh, p, b, d, t, l, r, rh

.─ .─: ╙ └ └: ╘ ╚'''╚: . ° .°: . ═ ┌ ╒ ╒° <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╓ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╔ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">├ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">├: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╞ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╞: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╞° <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">║ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╟ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╠ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">╠: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">.┴ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">.╨ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">.╨°                   '''

There are also two additional vowel sounds, represented by combining two vowel characters:

Restrictions
With the exception of ai and ei, there are no other cases of combined or "blended" vowels; in many words the glottal-stop marker is used to separate vowels from one another. This restriction is also present in other Aplaian languages, and even more so with Konarai having only one vowel sound (a). Combined with the restrictions of Alplai vocal physiology (ie, rigid beaks making it difficult to reproduce more nuanced labial sounds) and the absence of certain consonants and digraphs (ch, th, w), this makes it more difficult for Alplai to pronounce Terran words than for Terrans to pronounce Kiitra and other Alplai languages.

Punctuation and written format
Kiitra is written in continuous form; words are separated by a special punctuation mark instead of blank spaces. Paragraphs are formatted with hanging indents; this was originally adopted so that a recipient could write responsive notes in the margins. Also, Kiitra has only one letter case; proper names are designated by a special marker placed in front of the first letter. [1] = placed in front of sentence; [2] = placed in front of name

Numbers and mathematical symbols
The Alplai use a base-10 numerical system, with the nine positive numbers in groups of three, along with symbols for different mathematical operations: Additionally: Example : 502,374 = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">/.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">~<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">×<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">/ = ponk'shot'dof'mot'dol'shot'sipot'taz'n'got
 * 10 = taz
 * numbers 11 to 19 = taz'n' + [number 1-9]
 * 100 = shot
 * 1,000 = mot
 * 1 million = haalmot
 * 1 billion = jermot
 * 1 trillion = mormot

Negative numbers
To indicate a negative number, a zero and minus sign are placed in front; the compound word jon'k'niin is placed in front of the number.
 * -19 = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">~<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">˅<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">×:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> = jon'k'niin taz'n'nof

Decimal numbers
Tazeimek is the proper name for the decimal mark; in the name of a particular number, the separation point between the integer and the decimal fraction is called tazei, and decimal numbers less than one simply begin with tazei.
 * 1.1 = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">‿ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\ = okh tazei okh
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">0.365 = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">~ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">‿<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">/:<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">/. = tazei dol'zot'ponk

Fractions
A fraction is expressed by linking the divdend and divisor with the archaic word for division, tii, then adding the suffix -luu. When the number is a whole with a fraction, the word sed ("with") is placed between them; this is represented formulaically with the <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">˄. symbol.
 * one-half = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">▼ <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\.  = okh'tii'dofluu
 * one-quarter = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">▼<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">/   = okh'tii'gotluu
 * three-fifths = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">▼<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">/.  = dol'tii'ponkluu
 * one and two-thirds = <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">˄. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">▼<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">\:    = okh sed dof'tii'doluu

====<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Ordinal numbers     ==== <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">The suffix -luu is added to a number to indicate the ordinal form:
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">"first" = okhluu
 * "second" = dofluu
 * "sixteenth" = taz'n'zotluu

Nouns
Kiitra nouns have a highly regular pattern, with plural and possessive forms created by the addition of suffixes. Verbs, adjectives and nouns can likewise be made into certain concrete noun forms by adding specific suffixes.
 * Plural : add -jiit
 * Possessive : add -luu
 * Person : add -ai (example: "medical science" to "physician" = rekaavaag to rekaavaagai)
 * Group or organization : add -aat (example: "traditional" to "Traditionalist Party" = diirdezna to diirdeznaat)
 * Vehicle or craft : add -juush (example: "sea" to "boat"/"ship" = mura to murajuush)
 * Structure or complex : add -dara (example: "sky" to "airport" = eksa to eksadara)
 * Sub-unit of complex structure : replace -dara with -badra (example: eksabadra for "airport terminal")

Pronouns
There are fourteen pronouns, organized according to person (first, second, third), number, (singular, plural), gender (male, female, neuter, inanimate) and formality. The formal forms were used in the past for speaking to or about a person of higher social station; as Kiitra and Alplai society became more democratic, their use fell out of favor, and they are now restricted to either deities or highly esteemed decedents.

Familial relationships
Kiitra nouns for relatives are grouped into two general categories: Thus the basic words: Gender is indicated by prefixing either ada- for "male" or ava- for "female".
 * "Horizontal" relationships share the -aita root
 * "Vertical" relationships share the -idra root
 * jaita for "sibling"
 * laita for "cousin"
 * vidra for "parent"
 * pidra for "child/offspring"
 * kidra for "parent's sibling" (aunt or uncle)
 * zidra for "sibling's child/offspring" (niece or nephew)

Vertical relationships also have a system of conjugation for indicating generational "levels" based on comparative and superlative indicators:
 * second level ("grand-"): change root to -idriil
 * third level ("great-grand-"): change root to -idriikh
 * fourth level ("great-great-grand-"): prefix ekaa- to third level
 * fifth level ("great-great-great-grand-"): prefix ekiil- to third level
 * sixth level ("great-great-great-great-grand-"): prefix ekiikh- to third level
 * seventh level and above: continue adding prefix as in fourth through sixth level

Marital status and relationships
Marriage is indicate by the root word takra ("promise" or "pledge"). One's spouse is therefore takrai ("promised one"); gender-specific versions follow a more archaic form:
 * "husband" = takradai
 * "wife" = takravai

In-laws are indicated by adding the suffix -krai, followed by the appropriate possessive pronoun. Thus:


 * "my brother-in-law" = adajaitakrai mraluu.
 * "their daughter-in-law" = avapidrakrai airaluu

Additionally:
 * pekhtakrai = divorced person
 * mlenotakrai = widowed person
 * nitakrai = single or never-married person

Verbs
Kiitra verbs follow simple form and tense conjugation rules: Example: Some actions are indicated by "compound" verb forms, where two verbs are utilized to indicate a single action.
 * all verbs end in a consonant, both to better distinguish them from other words, and to better enable tense conjugation
 * the same tense form is used for all subject forms; thus there are no irregular verbs
 * past tense is indicated by adding the suffix -iit
 * future tense is indicated by adding the suffix -iis
 * adra hosh drof Marif = "He travels to Marif." or "He is traveling to Marif."
 * adra hoshiit drof Marif = "He traveled to Marif." or "He has traveled to Marif."
 * adra hoshiis drof Marif = "He will travel to Marif." or "He will be traveling to Marif."

Example 1 : persh + [person] + kijem = "to beg someone to forgive" = "to apologize" Example 2 : shrib + [person] + ozgar = "to help someone to remember" = "to remind someone"
 * mra persh shra kijem mra = "I beg you to forgive me." = "I apologize (to you)."
 * avra shribiit adra ozgar zaam val goja = "She helped him to remember time for food/meal." = "She reminded him about mealtime."

Etiquette regarding apologies
While it is grammatically feasible for anyone "to beg forgiveness" of or for anyone else, custom and courtesy places additional limitations:
 * 1) The word miirvan ("please") may be placed in front of an apology for emphasis, but the phrase miirvan belaam ("please allow") is seen as fawningly insincere.
 * 2) The imperative jalrii may be used but only if either the subject or object is in the third person, and never when the object is in the first person; in other words, you can insist that someone apologizes to someone else, but it is rude to demand an apology for oneself, and insincere to say one must apologize to the person you are addressing.
 * 3) When immediately responding to a minor breach (ie, bumping into someone), it is appropriate to use the informal kijem mra ("forgive me"); the equally simple response is kijemiit ("forgiven").

Adjectives, articles and determiners
With three exceptions, adjectives are prefixed to the subject noun; the exceptions are: In all of these exceptions, the adjective remains a separate word; quantifiers are placed in front of the subject noun, and the other forms are placed afterwards. Some allowances are made when a new compound word is introduced into the Kiitra lexicon, and strict formal usage creates an overly cumbersome term: Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs are made using the suffixes -iil and -iikh respectively: Kiitra has no indefinite article, and the definite article prefix id'- is used sparingly.
 * quantifiers
 * ethnic, linguistic and/or geographic designations
 * possessive noun forms
 * nuj = "north or northern"; okriina = "monorail"; nujokriina = "northbound monorail"
 * okh = "one"; adabaakh = "boy or juvenile male"; terai = "Terran"; okh adabaakh terai = "one Terran boy"
 * nela = "blue color"; bruu = "bowl"; adraluu = "his"; nelabruu adraluu = "his blue bowl"
 * The invention of telescreens led to the creation of the word bejafaaz (combining "sight" + "system")
 * When portable versions, like the Terran "smartphone" were developed, the word for "small" (orpa) was prefixed; this was eventually truncated to orbejafaaz
 * faan = "good"; faaniil = "better"; faaniikh = "best"
 * kulpaba = "soon"; kulpabiil = "sooner"; kulpabiikh = "soonest"

The Kiitra prefix determiner eja'- can translate as "this, that, these or those", but only in adjectival form. To distinguish between "this/these" and "that/those" add ega ("here") or efa ("there") respectively.
 * adra tolug eja'zokh ega = "He knows this person."
 * avra tolug eja'zokh efa = "She knows that person."

Pronoun forms would mean prefixing eja'- to the third person inanimate form, therefore eja'era for singular, and eja'iira for plural. Also, these pronoun forms are only for use as objects; for subjective use, correct Kiitra usage is as follows:
 * ega zon ... ("Here is/are ... ") for "This is ... " and "These are ... "
 * efa zon ... ("There is/are ... ") for "That is ... " and "Those are ... "

Adverbs and auxilliary verbs
Most modifications are placed before the verb's subject: When an adverb modifies the second verb in a serial verb form, it immediately precedes said verb: With complex sentences, one must be careful to place the adverb before the correct subject: The negative particle ni- can be prefixed to many verbs; one should be aware, however, of existing polar verb pairs (ie, ozgar and nuujar = "remember" and "forget") and use a verb's existing opposite whenever possible.
 * kulpa mra nuujariit = "I almost forgot."
 * aira gaziij faan kher eja'geinera = "they tried to do that job well"
 * "They saw her quickly take those bowls." = aira bejiit vroja avra reniit eja'brujiit

Necessitative modality
The word jalrii ("necessary" or "imperative") is used in much the same way as "must" or "should" in English; it is placed in front of the verb's subject in a sentence
 * jalrii avra tolug = "She must know"
 * inra lagon jalrii shra persh adra kijem = "We believe you should apologize to him."

Equivalent modes for "may/might"
For English speakers learning Kiitra, it is important to remember that "may" and "might" can be used to indicate one of two modes, for which Kiitra has two forms:

To indicate whether something is possible, the word shipaa is placed in front of the verb's subject; the opposite of shipaa is nipaa. To indicate whether something is permissible, the word belaam is placed in front of the verb's subject; the opposite of belaam is nipraam. The phrase miirvan belaam ("please allow") makes a sentence into a request for permission.
 * shipaa avra hosh abaten = "She likely travels today."
 * nipaa adra hoshiis bolsaten = "He will unlikely travel tomorrow."
 * belaam zra veled = "You are allowed to enter."
 * nipraam shra ren eja'era = "You are forbidden to take that."
 * miirvan belaam mra guujod aba = "Please allow me to eat now."

Questions and interrogative words
All interrogative words begin with f't- Non-interrogative forms (adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, determiners and/or relative pronouns) are created by changing f't- to p't-.
 * f'tama = "when"
 * f'tara = "who"
 * f'tazra = "why"
 * f'teda = "how"
 * f'tega = "where"
 * f'tejiit = "how many/much"
 * f'tera = "what"
 * f'tiira = "which"

There is also the "filler" interrogative f'taa placed in front of a spoken sentence to turn it into a question: ''F'taa? ''by itself is also an interrogative interjection, like "Huh?" or "Eh?" in English
 * hiirh zon deshal = "Everything is ready."
 * f'taa hiirh zon deshal? = "Is everything ready?"

Yes, No and Maybe
Kiitra has multiple words along a continuum for indicating agreement, disagreement or uncertainty:
 * shaa = "yes"; naa = "no"
 * shasha is an emphatic yes, and can also be used like the adverbs "very" and "definitely"; the antonym of this is neija
 * shipaa = "likely" or "probably"; nipaa = "unlikely" or "probably not"; shipaanipaa = "uncertain" or "don't know"
 * sheina = "yes" in contradiction to a negative statement, much like si in French or jo in Norwegian

Greetings
There are three Kiitra words used to greet someone: Responding to introduction w hen introduced to someone, the usual response is: zrhopa en nonsha = "An honor and a pleasure."
 * riikhaa = a general greeting, appropriate for all occasions
 * shifkhada = specific welcome for a newcomer
 * faandrakha = "good morning" specifically used between members of the same household

Salutations for letters
Letters are begun with zu shra = "for you", followed by either: A letter addressed to multiple people would be appropriately pluralized:
 * the addressee's name
 * emai = "friend"
 * adarja/avarja/azarja = "sir/madam" (the last version being gender-neutral)
 * zu zra, emaijiit = "for you, friends"
 * zu zra, azajrajiit = "for you, ladies and gentemen" or "for you, good people"

Inquiries about well-being
To ask someone how they are, the word fanuujaa is used; it is an archaic word, roughly translating: "Things are good, yes?"

To ask about the well-being of a third party, add the word sed ("with") and the pronoun or name of the person.
 * faanuujaa sed avra? = "How are things with her?" or "How is she?"

Responses to fanuujaa are usually quite simple: after responding positively, one might ask: enshii shra? = "also you?" or "and you as well?"
 * shaa = "yes" with the implication that one is well
 * faan = "good/well"
 * shasha faan = "very well" or "excellent"
 * nifaan = "not good"
 * nipaa faan = "not so good"
 * muur ("bad") and shasha muur ("really bad") are rarely used, especially about oneself

Thanks
The Kiitra word for "thank you" is degjaa; this can be intensified by saying: degjajiit ("many thanks"), or made specific by saying: degjaa zura ("thanks for it/this/that"). The customary response is nonsha kher = "Glad to do it."

Parting
When parting, the usual word is: fanituu; this is another archaic word, roughly meaning: "Good future."

A less common parting phrase is: faaniikh p'jema = "Best of luck."

Naming Conventions
The Alplai do not have surnames like many Terrans do. Instead, the proper name is followed by a phrase known as a vartoga; this roughly corresponds to a patronymic, but is not strictly patrilineal, and since there are different forms for various cultures (as well as for descendants of Saakh nobility and devotees of Murai) it is also indicates ethnic and/or other elements of one's background.

Kiitra
[name] + vara + [mother's name] + en + [father's name]

Fajrok vara Taluukadovej en Fajaran

Konarai
[name] + fala + [mother's name] + laja + [birthplace]

Shaladajana fala Tasharana laja Dajamarava

Saakh and Krishkarha
The Krishkarha adopted the Saakh convention while under the suzerainty of the ancient Saakh emperors.

[name] + vaar + [father's name]

Marok vaar Tonavon

Descendants of Saakh nobility
Individuals descended from the Saakh imperial nobility retain their own naming convention of following the father's name with uu'maaj ("of house of") and the name of their ancestral noble house; more formally, the name may be preceded with the courtesy title Rhas ("prince" or "lord")

Rhas Ganak vaar Jenzalak uu'maaj Jiiraan

Baija
[name] + khelaa + [father's name] + eglaa + [father's clan]

Toralok khelaa Zunarash eglaa Giiradra

Murai devotees
When the Murai religious movement began in the aquatic floating cities, some viewed it with suspicion and hostility, causing many devotees to be estranged from their families. In response, many, adopted a "spiritual" vartoga to emphasize their commitment to the Murai devotional community.

[name] + edravara + [spiritual mentor]

Keritanej edravara Duushranan

"Root" and "egg" names
Alplai individuals actually receive their names before hatching. This "egg name" (donibra) is gender-blind, and is easily changed to the person's regular name; transgender individuals can also change their given name to reflect their gender identity. The common body of a person's name is called the "root name" (marvibra).
 * A Kiitra egg name ends with the consonant -d, which is replaced once hatched.
 * A Saakh egg name (tenfrei) ends with the consonant -t, which is replaced once hatched.
 * A Krishkarha egg name (tenvra) ends with the consonant -f, which is replaced once hatched.
 * A Baija egg name (epkliire) ends with the suffix -heze, which is replaced once hatched.
 * A Konarai egg name (managalazta) is prefixed with apnakhatnasha'- ("beloved egg carrying ... ") and suffixed with -a'a; once hatched, the prefix is dropped, and the suffix adjusted or dropped to reflect the individual's biological sex.
 * Some parents, especially of mixed ethniticy, create an egg name ending with the consonant -z.

Gender distinctions in names
In most cultures, male names end in -k, -n or -sh; female names end in -g, -m or -j. These endings also correspond with one another:


 * k with g


 * n with m


 * sh with j.

This allows transgender individuals to easily change names by replacing the last letter with its counterpart.

Additionally, intersex and androgynous individuals use names ending with -z.

The exception to this is with the Konarai. Male names end with a consonant, female names end with a single vowel, and intersex/androgyous individuals use a double vowel separated by a glottal stop (-a'a); transgender individuals therefore drop or add a vowel as appropriate to their identity. Hence, after the child is hatched:
 * if identified as male, the entire suffix is dropped
 * if identified as female, the glottal stop and second vowel are dropped
 * if identified as intersex, the suffix is retained

Time measurements
The Alplai day (ten) is approximately 23 hours 12.5 seconds in Terran units. It is divided into twenty zamei, the first beginning around sunrise (or roughly 6:00am Terran time standard). Each zamei is divided into fifty megzamei, and each megzamei is divided into fifty enzamei. The approximate Terran units are: Additionally, the Alplai caledar is organized as follows Alplaa's actual solar year is 363.21 days. Every fifth year, a "leap day" (kadraten) is added, and a second leap day added every hundredth year.
 * 1 zamei = 1 hour 9 minutes 0.625 seconds
 * 1 megzamei = 1 minute 12.8125 seconds
 * 1 enzamei = 1.65625 seconds
 * 11 days = 1 kalfot
 * 3 kalfot or 33 days = 1 ater
 * 11 ater or 33 kalfot or 363 days = 1 Alplaian year (felja)

The names for the Alplai "months" or ater are: The vernal equinox for the northern hemisphere of Alplaa begins around the first day of the first month; this is not true for Totrana, however, due to a difference in its axial tilt, so its northern autumnal equinox begins about seven days before Alplaa's corresponding vernal equinox.
 * 1) Jedrater
 * 2) Biizagater
 * 3) Shuutater
 * 4) Ejadater
 * 5) Zefanater
 * 6) Vetrater
 * 7) Gerdegater
 * 8) Megriishater
 * 9) Bojater
 * 10) Maakhlater
 * 11) Pergonater

Nonverbal communication
The Alplai use different gestures and body language to convey concepts and emotions, due to both cultural and physiological differences. They do not, for example, shake hands as a greeting gesture, as this was only done between warriors in their ancient history (and is thus retained only as a ritual in Saakh fencing bouts). Another typical Terran greeting, waving a hand, is also interpreted differently in each Alplai culture:
 * In the Kiitra culture, it is seen as dismissive.
 * The Saakh view a raised hand as a command for silence.
 * The Konarai see a hand raised above the shoulder as a prelude to a violent strike, and will typically respond with fear.
 * The Krishkarha will see a raised hand as a challenge to a fight.
 * The Baija read a waving hand as: "Go away, I don't like you."

The ovetna and other greeting/parting gestures
The universal sign of greeting among the Alplai is to place the right hand over the chest with fingers spread, and bow slightly. This gesture, called the ovetna, may also be exchanged on parting. The ovetna evolved as a blending of traditional Saakh and Kiitra greeting gestures:
 * Saakh nobility and warriors would greet one another by placing the left hand behind in the small of the back, the right hand over the chest with fingers pointed left and elbow straight out, and popping up on the balls of the feet with a slight forward jerk.
 * The Kiitra would greet one another by turning both hands with palms facing out while bowing the head.

Krishkarha greeting and parting
The Krishkarha greet one another by two thumps of the right fist on the chest. When parting, the fist is placed in the center of the chest, followed by a stiff slight bow at the waist.

Baija greeting and parting
The Baija greeting gesture starts with raising the right fist, palm facing in, then extending the forearm and opening the hand. For parting, place the right fist inside the open left hand and extend forward.

Konarai greeting and parting
The Konarai have an elaborate greeting and parting ritual, along with a particular etiquette as to who initiates the greeting ritual: The ritual involves three major steps, all done while singing a song of thanksgiving to Ajamara: When a person approaches a Konarai village, all of the villagers will begin greeting them with the first step. The visitor is expected to engage in the full ritual with the nearest person; when a party of visitors approaches, the visitor nearest the village approaches the nearest villager, and other villagers then approach other visitors. Villagers will also welcome visitors with samplings of seasonal foods.
 * The individual who is most at home where the greeting takes place is expected to initiate.
 * When both are equally at home, or in a strange place, the person who sees the other first initiates.
 * The greeter folds both hands over the chest, then spreads them to shoulder height, palms up and fingers relaxed.
 * The respondent does the same, then places the left hand over the greeter's heart.
 * The greeter places the left hand over the respondent's heart, and each places their right hand over the other person's left.

The parting gesture is simpler. Each person places the left hand over the other person's heart, then places the right hand over the other person's left. This is usually accompanied with the saying: Ajamara vaza shara ("Ajamara be with you.")

Finger counting
The Alplai use a method for counting up to ten on one hand:
 * One - little finger extended
 * Two - ring and little finger extended
 * Three - middle, ring and little finger extended
 * Four - index, middle, ring and little finger extended
 * Five - thumb extended, other fingers folded
 * Six - thumb and index finger extended
 * Seven - thumb, index and middle finger extended
 * Eight - thumb, index, middle and ring finger extended
 * Nine - all five fingers extended
 * Ten - all five fingertips together and pointing up

Applause
Alplai applaud by slapping the palm against the thigh, sometimes using both hands when exuberant.

Beckoning
Bent arm raised, forearm horizontal, hand moving in circular motion at wrist.

Confusion
Alplai express confusion by tilting the head to one side.

Hand to shoulder
Placing a hand on another person's shoulder is done to acknowledge good news in a celebratory/congratulatory manner - the Alplai equivalent of a high-five or fist-bump.

Kissing
Alplai couples "bill" by gently tapping the sides of their beaks together.

Pointing
Alplai point with the third and fourth finger; it is also not considered rude to point at someone to gain their attention.

Signifying agreement or disagreement
To signify agreement, Alplai jerk the head upwards twice; to signify disagreement, the head is jerked downward twice.

"Smiling" and "frowning"
Alplai express pleasure by lifting the head with the beak open; displeasure is expressed by lowering the head with eyes fixed on the other person.

Stop
Bent arm raised, forearm horizontal, hand and fingers flat and stiff.

Trilling
Alplai "sigh" using a high-pitched trilling sound.

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