Nellen['nɛllen] is a language of Efhang origin, featuring a complex noun declension.
As a North Efhang language, r is pronounced as [ʀ].
Words are stressed on the first syllable, except when an unstressed prefix is used.
Phonology[]
Consonants[]
[p]
[t]
[k]
[b]
[d]
[g]
[θ]
[x]
[ð]
[s]
[ʃ]
[z]
[dʒ]
[m]
[n]
r [ʀ]
[l]
[j]
[w]
The plosive consonants have fricative allophones, used at the end of syllables:
[p] -> [ɸ]
[t] -> [θ]
[k] -> [x]
[b] -> [β]
[d] -> [ð]
[g] -> [ɣ]
The allophones for [t] and [d] merge with the original [θ] and [ð]. For most speakers, [ɣ] merges with [ʀ] as well.
Vowels[]
Vowels are:
a [a] (unstressed), [æ](stressed)
e [e] (unstressed), [ɛ](stressed)
i [ɪ]
o [o] (unstressed), [ɔ](stressed)
u [ʊ]
ö [ø](unstressed), [œ](stressed)
y [y]
Morphology[]
Nouns[]
There are three gender of nouns: masculine, feminine and neuter.
Nouns are declined according to two numbers: singular and plural; definiteness (definite, indefinite); and to five cases, viz.:
Nominative (subject)
Accusative (direct object)
Dative (indirect object)
Ablative
Genitive (possessive)
Masculine Nouns[]
Indefinite Declension
Example: uwnan "a man", "a person"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-
-uð
Accusative
-o
-oð
Dative
-uk [-x]
-es
Ablative
-um
-em
Genitive
-ik [-x]
-is
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
uwnan['uwnan]
uwnanuð['uwnanuð]
Accusative
uwnano['uwnano]
uwnanoð['uwnanoð]
Dative
uwnanuk['uwnanux]
uwnanes['uwnanes]
Ablative
uwnanum['uwnanum]
uwnanem['uwnanem]
Genitive
uwnanik['uwnanix]
uwnanis['uwnanis]
Definite Declension
Example: uwnanin "the man", "the person"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-in
-un
Accusative
-on
-onð
Dative
-ung
-ens
Ablative
-im
-ejn
Genitive
-ing
-ins
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
uwnanin['uwnanin]
uwnanun['uwnanun]
Accusative
uwnanon['uwnanon]
uwnanonð['uwnanonð]
Dative
uwnanung['uwnanuŋg]
uwnanens['uwnanens]
Ablative
uwnanim['uwnanim]
uwnanejn['uwnanejn]
Genitive
uwnaning['uwnaniŋg]
uwnanins['uwnanins]
Feminine Nouns[]
Indefinite Declension
Example: henrejh "a family"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-
-eð
Accusative
-ö
-eʃ
Dative
-ek
-es
Ablative
-um
-em
Genitive
-ik
-is
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
henrejh['hɛnʀejh]
henrejheð['hɛnʀejheð]
Accusative
henrejhö['hɛnʀejhø]
henrejheʃ['hɛnʀejheʃ]
Dative
henrejhek['hɛnʀejhex]
henrejhes['hɛnʀejhes]
Ablative
henrejhum['hɛnʀejhum]
henrejhem['hɛnʀejhem]
Genitive
henrejhik['hɛnʀejhix]
henrejhis['hɛnʀejhis]
Definite Declension
Example: henrejhan "the family"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-an
-að
Accusative
-ön
-aʃ
Dative
-ang
-as
Ablative
-am
-en
Genitive
-ang
-as
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
henrejhan['hɛnʀejhan]
henrejhað['hɛnʀejhað]
Accusative
henrejhön['hɛnʀejhøn]
henrejhaʃ['hɛnʀejhaʃ]
Dative
henrejhang['hɛnʀejhaŋg]
henrejhas['hɛnʀejhas]
Ablative
henrejham['hɛnʀejham]
henrejhen['hɛnʀejhen]
Genitive
henrejhang['hɛnʀejhaŋg]
henrejhas['hɛnʀejhas]
Neuter Nouns[]
Indefinite Declension
Example: ðejtet "a city", "a town"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-
-ið
Accusative
-y
-iʃ
Dative
-uk
-is
Ablative
-um
-im
Genitive
-ik
-is
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
ðejtet['ðɛjteθ]
ðejtetið['ðɛjtetið]
Accusative
ðejtety['ðɛjtety]
ðejtetiʃ['ðɛjtetiʃ]
Dative
ðejtetuk['ðɛjtetux]
ðejtetis['ðɛjtetis]
Ablative
ðejtetum['ðɛjtetum]
ðejtetim['ðɛjtetim]
Genitive
ðejtetik['ðɛjtetix]
ðejtetis['ðɛjtetis]
Definite Declension
Example: ðejtetin "the city", "the town"
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
-in
-inð
Accusative
-yn
-inʃ
Dative
-ung
-uns
Ablative
-im
-im
Genitive
-ing
-ins
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
ðejtetin['ðɛjtetin]
ðejtetinð['ðɛjtetinð]
Accusative
ðejtetyn['ðɛjtetyn]
ðejtetinʃ['ðɛjtetinʃ]
Dative
ðejtetung['ðɛjtetuŋg]
ðejtetuns['ðɛjtetuns]
Ablative
ðejtetim['ðɛjtetim]
ðejtetim['ðɛjtetim]
Genitive
ðejteting['ðɛjtetiŋg]
ðejtetins['ðɛjtetins]
Adjectives[]
Adjective declension follows basically that of nouns, except that the only vowel allowed in endings is -i.
muh "new", "young"[]
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muh['muh]
muhið['muhið]
Accusative
muhi['muhi]
muhið['muhið]
Dative
muhik['muhix]
muhis['muhis]
Ablative
muhim['muhim]
muhim['muhim]
Genitive
muhik['muhix]
muhis['muhis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muhin['muhin]
muhin['muhin]
Accusative
muhin['muhin]
muhinð['muhinð]
Dative
muhing['muhiŋg]
muhins['muhins]
Ablative
muhim['muhim]
muhijn['muhijn]
Genitive
muhing['muhiŋg]
muhins['muhins]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muh['muh]
muhið['muhið]
Accusative
muhi['muhi]
muhiʃ['muhiʃ]
Dative
muhik['muhix]
muhis['muhis]
Ablative
muhim['muhim]
muhim['muhim]
Genitive
muhik['muhix]
muhis['muhis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muhin['muhin]
muhið['muhið]
Accusative
muhin['muhin]
muhiʃ['muhiʃ]
Dative
muhing['muhiŋg]
muhis['muhis]
Ablative
muhim['muhim]
muhin['muhin]
Genitive
muhik['muhix]
muhis['muhis]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muh['muh]
muhið['muhið]
Accusative
muhi['muhi]
muhiʃ['muhiʃ]
Dative
muhik['muhix]
muhis['muhis]
Ablative
muhim['muhim]
muhim['muhim]
Genitive
muhik['muhix]
muhis['muhis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
muhin['muhin]
muhinð['muhinð]
Accusative
muhin['muhin]
muhinʃ['muhinʃ]
Dative
muhing['muhiŋg]
muhins['muhins]
Ablative
muhim['muhim]
muhim['muhim]
Genitive
muhing['muhiŋg]
muhins['muhins]
Kelmt "great"[]
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmt['kɛlmθ]
kelmtið['kɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmti['kɛlmti]
kelmtið['kɛlmtið]
Dative
kelmtik['kɛlmtix]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmtik['kɛlmtix]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
Accusative
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
kelmtinð['kɛlmtinð]
Dative
kelmting['kɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins['kɛlmtins]
Ablative
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
kelmtijn['kɛlmtijn]
Genitive
kelmting['kɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins['kɛlmtins]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmt['kɛlmt]
kelmtið['kɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmti['kɛlmti]
kelmtiʃ['kɛlmtiʃ]
Dative
kelmtik['kɛlmtix]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmtik['kɛlmtix]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
kelmtið['kɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
kelmtiʃ['kɛlmtiʃ]
Dative
kelmting['kɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
Genitive
kelmtik['kɛlmtix]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Indefinite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmt['kɛlmt]
kelmtið['kɛlmtið]
Accusative
kelmti['kɛlmti]
kelmtiʃ['kɛlmtiʃ]
Dative
kelmtik['kɛlmtix]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Ablative
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmtik['kɛlmtix]
kelmtis['kɛlmtis]
Definite
Number
Singular
Plural
Nominative
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
kelmtinð['kɛlmtinð]
Accusative
kelmtin['kɛlmtin]
kelmtinʃ['kɛlmtinʃ]
Dative
kelmting['kɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins['kɛlmtins]
Ablative
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
kelmtim['kɛlmtim]
Genitive
kelmting['kɛlmtiŋg]
kelmtins['kɛlmtins]
Comparative Form[]
Superiority[]
The suffix -yl- is added to the stem of the adjective. Ex.:
kelmt "large", kelmtyl "larger"
muh "new", muhyl "newer"
pun "good", punyl "better"
Equality[]
Inferiority[]
Superlative[]
The suffix -ejn- is added to the stem of the adjective, which is then used in the definite form. Ex.:
kelmt "large", kelmtejnin "the largest"
muh "new", muhejnin "the newest"
pun "good", punejnin "the best"
Pronouns[]
Pronouns follow the same declension system used for nouns and adjectives, with little differences in some forms.
Personal[]
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3nd. sing. m.
3nd. sing. f.
3nd. sing. n.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3nd. pl. m.
3nd. pl. f.
3nd. pl. n.
Nominative
jyn
don
rin
ran
rin
mun
hun
run
rað
rið
Accusative
nyn
dyn
ron
rön
ryn
monð
hunð
ronð
raʃ
rinʃ
Dative
nuk, nung
duk, dung
rung
rang
rung
mis, mins
his, hins
rens
ras
runs
Ablative
num
dum
rim
ram
rim
mim
him
rejn
ren
rim
Genitive
nik
dik
ring
rang
ring
mis
his
rins
ras
rins
Possessive[]
Possessives are not declined at all. They require the noun to be in the definite form, while any accompanying adjective must be in the indefinite form.
Person
Singular
Plural
1st
ni
mi
2nd
di
hi
3rd m., f. and n.
ið
uð
Examples:
mi henrejhan "my family"
mi ðejtetin "my town"
mi elnehun "my brothers"
di har enejkin "your old friend"
di hari enejkun "your old friends"
Demonstrative[]
There is only one demonstrative er, which may stand for "this", "that", "such". The deictic particles jen "here", ha "there (next to you)", re "there", "over there" may be added after the noun for specification. The same as with possessives, demonstratives require the noun to be definite and any accompanying adjective to be indefinite. The demonstrative er itself does not decline. Ex.:
er gesan "this/that/such a house"
er gesan jen "this house"
er gesan ha "that house (next to you)"
er gesan re "that house (over there)"
er muh gesan jen "this new house"
er harið gesað re "those old houses (over there)"
Interrogative[]
Interrogatives have an unstressed prefix a-, so they are stressed on the second syllable.
arij[a'ʀij] "what"
arawn[a'ʀæwn] "who"
agor[a'gɔʀ] "which"
agun[a'gun] "how"
atir[a'tiʀ] "where"
amtor[am'tɔʀ] "when"
Relative[]
The only relative pronoun is ra[ɾæ], standing for "that", "which", "who".
Indefinite[]
erkon['ɛʀkon] "some", "any"
mejhon['mɛjhon] "no", "none"
dut[duθ] "all", "every"
ret[ʀɛθ] "each", "every"
Numbers[]
Cardinal Numbers[]
0 mor[mɔʀ]
1 hon[hɔn]
2 tejd[tɛjð]
3 deð[dɛð]
4 hel[hɛl]
5 ðeg[ðɛɣ]
6 zið[zið]
7 ðawd[ðæwð]
8 hejd[hɛjð]
9 muw[muw]
10 tawð[tæwð]
11 hontawð['hɔntað]
12 tujawð['tujað]
13 deðawð['dɛðað]
14 hellawð['hɛllað]
15 ðengawð['ðɛŋgað]
16 zijawð['zijað]
17 ðawdawð['ðæwdað]
18 uytawð['ujtað]
19 muwawð['muwað]
20 hemd[hɛmð]
21 hemd hon[hɛmð hɔn]
30 lemd[lɛm(ð)]
40 helemd['hɛlem(ð)]
50 ðengemd['ðɛŋgem(ð)]
60 zihemd['zihem(ð)]
70 ðawdemd['ðæwdem(ð)]
80 hejdemd['hɛjdem(ð)]
90 muhemd['huwem(ð)]
100 ðawn[ðæwn]
Ordinal Numbers[]
Ordinal numbers are regular adjectives.
1 bellin['bɛllin]
2 ðikemd['ðikemð]
3 delðij['dɛlðij]
4 golled['gɔlleð]
5 ðemmed['ðɛmmeð]
6 zihejð['zihejð]
7 ðawdejn['ðæwdejn]
8 hejdeh['hɛjdeh]
9 mujim['mujim]
10 tawðejn['tæwðejn]
Conjunctions[]
Coordinating[]
roj[ʀɔj] "for"
ge[ge], [gɛ] "and"
mah[mæh] "nor"
ðawt[ðæwθ] "but"
ho[hɔ] "or"
ihted['ihteð]"yet"
ðejn[ðɛjn] "so"
Correlative[]
henep … ge … ['hɛneɸ ... ge] "both … and … "
ho … ho … "either … or … "
mah … mah … "neither … nor … "
me … ðawt … [mæ ... ðæwt] "not … but … "
með … denep … [mɛð ... 'dɛneɸ] "not only … but also … "
Nellen incorporates old pronominal elements to the endings used in verb conjugation.
The infinitive ends in -l, and old thematic vowels are kept, except in the present tense in which it is optional for all persons but third singular.
Active Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
hejt-(i)-ni-m
hejt-(i)-di-ð
hejt-i-θ-k
hejt-(i)-mi-n
hejt-(i)-hi-ð
hejt-(i)-ju-n
hejt-i-nd
hejt-i-l
Perfective
danim hejt-oθ
dadið hejt-oθ
daθk hejt-oθ
damin hejt-oθ
dahið hejt-oθ
dajun hejt-oθ
hejt-o-θ
dil hejt-oθ
Aorist
hejt-i-sna-m
hejt-i-sta-ð
hejt-i-sa-k
hejt-i-sma-n
hejt-i-sxa-ð
hejt-i-sa-wn
hejt-i-s
hejt-i-sa-l
Future
hejt-i-ti-m
hejt-i-ti-ð
hejt-i-ti-k
hejt-i-ti-n
hejt-i-ti-ð
hejt-i-ti-n
hejt-ol
hejt-i-ti-l
Imperative
-
hejt-ø
hejt-ø-e-k
hejt-ø-e-n
hejt-ø-e-ð
hejt-ø-e-n
-
-
Passive Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
hejt-es-i-m
hejt-es-i-ð
hejt-es-i-k
hejt-es-i-n
hejt-es-i-ð
hejt-es-u-n
hejt-es-ned
hejt-es-i-l
Perfective
desim hejt-oθ
desið hejt-oθ
desik hejt-oθ
desin hejt-oθ
desið hejt-oθ
desun hejt-oθ
hejt-es-o-θ
desil hejt-oθ
Aorist
hejt-es-a-m
hejt-es-a-ð
hejt-es-a-k
hejt-es-a-n
hejt-es-a-ð
hejt-es-a-wn
hejt-es-as
hejt-es-a-l
Future
hejt-es-ti-m
hejt-es-ti-ð
hejt-es-ti-k
hejt-es-ti-n
hejt-es-ti-ð
hejt-es-ti-n
hejt-es-ol
hejt-es-ti-l
Imperative
-
hejt-es
hejt-es-e-k
hejt-es-e-n
hejt-es-e-ð
hejt-es-e-n
-
-
Irregular Verbs[]
Sejel "be"[]
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
sim
sið
sik
smin
sið
sun
sind
sejel
Perfective
danim sej-oθ
dadið sej-oθ
daθk sej-oθ
damin sej-oθ
dahið sej-oθ
dajun sej-oθ
sej-o-θ
dil sej-oθ
Aorist
sej--sna-m
sej--sta-ð
sej--sa-k
sej--sma-n
sej--sxa-ð
sej--sa-wn
sej-e-s
sej-e-sa-l
Future
sej--ti-m
sej--ti-ð
sej--ti-k
sej--ti-n
sej--ti-ð
sej--ti-n
sej-ol
sej-e-ti-l
Imperative
-
sej-ø
sej-ø-e-k
sej-ø-e-n
sej-ø-e-ð
sej-ø-e-n
-
-
Dil "have"[]
Active Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
danim
dadið
daθk
damin
dahið
dajun
damind
dil
Perfective
danim doθ
dadið doθ
daθk doθ
damin doθ
dahið doθ
dajun doθ
doθ
dil doθ
Aorist
da--sna-m
da--sta-ð
da--sa-k
da--sma-n
da--sxa-ð
da--sa-wn
da--s
da--sa-l
Future
dam--ti-m
dam--ti-ð
dam--ti-k
dam--ti-n
dam--ti-ð
dam--ti-n
dam-ol
dam--ti-l
Imperative
-
dam-ø
dam-ø-e-k
dam-ø-e-n
dam-ø-e-ð
dam-ø-e-n
-
-
Passive Voice
Singular
Plural
1st sing.
2nd. sing.
3rd sing.
1st pl.
2nd. pl.
3rd pl.
Participle
Infinitive
Present
d-es-i-m
d-es-i-ð
d-es-i-k
d-es-i-n
d-es-i-ð
d-es-u-n
d-es-ned
d-es-i-l
Perfective
desim doθ
desið doθ
desik doθ
desin doθ
desið doθ
desun doθ
dam-es-o-θ
desil doθ
Aorist
dam-s-a-m
dam-s-a-ð
dam-s-a-k
dam-s-a-n
dam-s-a-ð
dam-s-a-wn
dam-s-as
dam-s-a-l
Future
dam-s-ti-m
dam-s-ti-ð
dam-s-ti-k
dam-s-ti-n
dam-s-ti-ð
dam-s-ti-n
dam-s-ol
dam-s-ti-l
Imperative
-
dam-s
dam-s-e-k
dam-s-e-n
dam-s-e-ð
dam-s-e-n
-
-
Vocabulary[]
Swadesh List: Here we give the Swadesh List for North Efhang.
Sample[]
"Dutin uwnanun meðjun rejlið, tejkemtetum ge tejlijdem. Run dajun lesö ge gemzejzö, ge tihjun eʃejl hon hollung spejlejdum helnemtetik."
['dutin 'uwnanun 'mɛðjun 'ʀɛjlið, 'tɛjkemtetum ge 'tɛjlijdem. ʀun 'dæjun 'lɛsø ge 'gɛmzejzø, ge 'tihjun 'ɛʃejl hɔn 'hɔlluŋg 'spɛjlejdum 'hɛlnemtetix.]
("All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.")