The Language of Tʼumwěgian[]
...and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind...
a to le fish qʼě qʼam a ǵula dǐ le mǐqʼ wě yě
Pronunciation: /a to le fiɬ qʼɛ qʼam a ˈɢula dɪ le mɪqʼ wɛ jɛ/
Tʼumwěgian word order: and he his hat holding stood and the wind to his wet face turned
nsonant inventory: b d f g j k kʼ l m q qʼ r s t tʼ w ɢ ɬ ɸ β χ
Click IPA symbols for audio
| ↓Manner/Place→ | Bilabial | Labiodental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | |||||
| Stop | b | t tʼ d | k kʼ g | q qʼ ɢ | ||
| Fricative | ɸ β | f | s | χ | ||
| Approximant | j | |||||
| Trill | r | |||||
| Lateral fricative | ɬ | |||||
| Lateral approximant | l |
Co-articulated phonemes
| ↓Manner/Place→ | Labial-velar |
|---|---|
| Approximant | w |
Vowel inventory: a e i o u ɔ ɛ ɪ ʊ
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| High | i | u |
| Near-high | ɪ | ʊ |
| High-mid | e | o |
| Low-mid | ɛ | ɔ |
| Low | a |
Syllable structure: (C)V(C) ?
Stress pattern: Penultimate — stress is on the second last syllable ?
Word initial consonants: d f j kʼ l m q qʼ r t tʼ w ɢ ɬ ɸ β χ
Mid-word consonants: b bb bd bj bl br bt bw d db dd dm ds dw f fj fm g gd gf gg gk j jl js jt k kb kd kl kr ks kʼ l lb lf ll lm ls lw m md mf mj ml mw q qd qt qʼ r rb rk rs rt rɬ s sb sd sg sl ss sχ t tf tm tr tt tw tʼ w wl wt ww wβ ɢ ɬ ɸ β βl χ χr
Word final consonants: b f g k kʼ m q qʼ r s tʼ ɢ ɬ ɸ β
Spelling rules:
| Pronunciation | Spelling |
|---|---|
| ɔ | aw |
| ɛ | ě |
| ɪ | ǐ |
| ʊ | ǔ |
| j | y |
| ɬ | sh |
| ɸ | p |
| β | v |
| χ | kh |
| ɢ | ǵ |
Grammar[]
Main word order: Subject (Prepositional phrase) Object Verb. “Mary opened the door with a key” turns into Mary with a key the door opened.
Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.
Adposition: postpositions ?
Nouns[]
Nouns have four cases:
- Nominative is the doer of a verb: dog bites man.
- Accusative is the done-to of a verb: man bites dog.
- Genitive is the possessor of something: dog’s tail hits man.
- Dative is the recipient of something: man gives ball to dog.
| Nominative | No affix
měkě /ˈmɛkɛ/ dog (doing the verb) |
| Accusative | Prefix ʊ-
ǔměkě /ʊˈmɛkɛ/ (verb done to) dog |
| Genitive | Prefix ji-
yiměkě /jiˈmɛkɛ/ dogʼs |
| Dative | If starts with vowel: Prefix kʼ-
Else: Prefix kʼu- kʼuměkě /kʼuˈmɛkɛ/ to (the/a) dog |
| Singular | No affix
měkě /ˈmɛkɛ/ dog |
| Plural | Prefix o-
oměkě /oˈmɛkɛ/ dogs |
Articles[]
Tʼumwěgian has no definite article ‘the’, or indefinite article ‘a’.
Pronouns[]
| Nominative | Accusative | Genitive | Dative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | rǔtʼ /rʊtʼ/
I |
faw /fɔ/
me |
daw /dɔ/
mine |
maw /mɔ/
to me |
| 2nd singular | tǔ /tʊ/
you |
mer /mer/
you |
e /e/
yours |
ye /je/
to you |
| 3rd singular masc | to /to/
he, it |
fǐk /fɪk/
him, it |
le /le/
his, its |
a /a/
to him, at it |
| 3rd singular fem | khawsh /χɔɬ/
she, it |
taw /tɔ/
her, it |
ra /ra/
hers, its |
she /ɬe/
to her, at it |
| 1st plural | fǔ /fʊ/
we |
ta /ta/
us |
pǔ /ɸʊ/
ours |
shu /ɬu/
to us |
| 2nd plural | im /im/
you all |
wu /wu/
you all |
ěf /ɛf/
yours (pl) |
pǐ /ɸɪ/
to you all |
| 3rd plural | ǵef /ɢef/
they |
kʼǔ /kʼʊ/
them |
yo /jo/
theirs |
kha /χa/
to them |
Possessive determiners[]
| 1st singular | daw /dɔ/
my |
| 2nd singular | e /e/
your |
| 3rd singular masc | le /le/
his |
| 3rd singular fem | ra /ra/
her |
| 1st plural | pǔ /ɸʊ/
our |
| 2nd plural | ěf /ɛf/
your (pl) |
| 3rd plural | yo /jo/
their |
Verbs[]
| Present | If starts with vowel: Prefix f-
Else: Prefix fɪ- fim /fim/ learn |
| Past | No affix
im /im/ learned |
| Remote past | If starts with vowel: Prefix kʼ-
Else: Prefix kʼi- kʼim /kʼim/ learned (long ago) |
| Future | Prefix i-
iim /ˈiim/ will learn |
Progressive aspect
The ‘progressive’ aspect refers to actions that are happening at the time of speaking, such as I am learning.
Tʼumwěgian uses a standalone particle word for progressive:
| Progressive | Particle before the verb: qiq -
qiq im /qiq im/ is learning |
Habitual aspect
The ‘habitual’ aspect refers to actions that happen habitually, such as I learn (something new every day), as opposed to actions that happen once (I learned something).
Tʼumwěgian uses a standalone particle word for habitual:
| Habitual | Particle before the verb: dʊ -
dǔ im /dʊ im/ learns |
Perfect aspect
The perfect aspect in English is exemplified in ‘I have read this book’, which expresses an event that took place before the time spoken but which has an effect on or is in some way still relevant to the present.
Tʼumwěgian uses an affix for the perfect aspect:
| Perfect | Prefix e-
eim /ˈeim/ have learned |
Numbers[]
Tʼumwěgian has a base-10 number system:
1 - du
2 - shig
3 - kʼǐv
4 - lǐ
5 - sho
6 - om
7 - wěr
8 - tʼatʼ
9 - tebǐvě
10 - mawb
11 - mawb a du “ten and one”
100 - rawf “hundred”
101 - rawf a du “hundred and one”
200 - shig rawf
1000 - tem “thousand”
Derivational morphology[]
Adjective → adverb = Suffix -aq
Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = Suffix -akʼ
Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Suffix -ɪm
Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -g
Else: Suffix -eg
Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Suffix -ɛkʼ
Noun to verb = Prefix ta-
Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -g
Else: Suffix -ɔg
Tending to = If starts with vowel: Prefix t-
Else: Prefix tɔ-
Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -s
Else: Suffix -ɔs
Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -k
Else: Suffix -ok
One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = If starts with vowel: Prefix m-
Else: Prefix mɛ-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = Prefix jʊ-
Diminutive = Suffix -u
Augmentative = Prefix la-
- a /a/ conj. and
- agdaf /ˈagdaf/ adv. behind, back
- alo /ˈalo/ v. grab, clutch, grasp, grip
- aqʼěq /ˈaqʼɛq/ n. mint
- atʼa /ˈatʼa/ v. perceive, foresee
- awfyi taǐs /ˈɔfji ˈtaɪs/ n. dictionary
- awm /ɔm/ n. space, room (space)
- awtʼaǔ /ɔˈtʼaʊ/ n. distance, length, range, span
- dab /dab/ n. tide
- dash /daɬ/ conj. since
- dě /dɛ/ v. join, tie, marry, connect, attach
- dem ǔm /dem ʊm/ n. liquor
- děshě /ˈdɛɬɛ/ n. gun, rifle
- dǐrshe /ˈdɪrɬe/ adj. perfect
- dǔ /dʊ/ n. matter
- e /e/ prep. for (a period of time or length of distance)
- ěf /ɛf/ pron. yours (pl)
- egkef /ˈegkef/ v. acquire
- elsa /ˈelsa/ n. dragon
- esbotwǔ /esˈbotwʊ/ prep. above
- fa /fa/ n. work
- faw /fɔ/ adv. now
- fe /fe/ pron. one
- femyawv /ˈfemjɔβ/ n. gender
- fiklas /ˈfiklas/ n. rod, shaft, bar, axle
- fiwaqʼ /ˈfiwaqʼ/ n. fiction
- fom /fom/ v. cause, induce, provoke, generate
- fǔ /fʊ/ pron. we
- ǵa /ɢa/ n. use
- ǵawf /ɢɔf/ n. image
- ǵawtfom /ˈɢɔtfom/ v. chase, stalk
- ǵef /ɢef/ n. industry
- ǵemfi /ˈɢemfi/ n. shape, form, constellation
- ǵětʼ /ɢɛtʼ/ n. top, mountain
- ǵiq /ɢiq/ n. shore, coast, rib
- ǵok /ɢok/ v. cast, fling
- ǵula /ˈɢula/ n. wind, breeze
- ǵǔslof /ˈɢʊslof/ n. edge, limit, verge, fringe
- idsě /ˈidsɛ/ n. quality, essence
- igaws /ˈigɔs/ n. behavior
- im /im/ pron. you all
- iqʼ /iqʼ/ adv. here
- iskhim /ˈisχim/ n. term
- ivǐbaws /iˈβɪbɔs/ n. flight
- khakʼ /χakʼ/ n. referendum
- khas /χas/ v. worry
- khawsh /χɔɬ/ pron. she, it
- khěmděrǐkʼ /χɛmˈdɛrɪkʼ/ n. orgasm
- khewtuti /χewˈtuti/ n. planet
- khǐqʼ /χɪqʼ/ n. building
- kholfěm /ˈχolfɛm/ n. accent (of language)
- khop /χoɸ/ v. like, love
- khǔf /χʊf/ n. trail
- khutʼ /χutʼ/ n. transport
- kʼar /kʼar/ n. lot
- kʼawqʼ /kʼɔqʼ/ n. boot
- kʼefeg /ˈkʼefeg/ adj. delicious
- kʼěs /kʼɛs/ n. boat, ship, canoe
- kʼig /kʼig/ n. period
- kʼobyǐ /ˈkʼobjɪ/ adj. private
- kʼǔěkʼ /ˈkʼʊɛkʼ/ adj. legal
- kʼus /kʼus/ n. step (one level of stairs)
- laqʼǐqǐ /laˈqʼɪqɪ/ n. trunk (of tree)
- lawf /lɔf/ prep. like
- lawqʼ /lɔqʼ/ n. perception
- lěakʼ /ˈlɛakʼ/ n. foreigner
- lěm /lɛm/ v. massage
- leshu /ˈleɬu/ n. story, fable
- lis /lis/ num. third
- lov /loβ/ adj. stupid, dumb, dull
- lǔpa /ˈlʊɸa/ n. cow
- maaw /ˈmaɔ/ adv. ever
- mamdě /ˈmamdɛ/ n. village, suburb
- matʼ /matʼ/ v. whistle
- mawǵaws /ˈmɔɢɔs/ n. proof
- mawqǐ /ˈmɔqɪ/ adj. quick
- mě /mɛ/ adj. good, great
- měeb /ˈmɛeb/ n. jaw
- měǵelwa /mɛˈɢelwa/ n. ruler
- měkě /ˈmɛkɛ/ n. dog
- měkʼǐrshe /mɛˈkʼɪrɬe/ n. editor
- měmawr /ˈmɛmɔr/ v. arrest
- měqiv /ˈmɛqiβ/ n. poet
- mes /mes/ v. improve
- mětʼub /ˈmɛtʼub/ n. lover
- měyǔtwa /mɛˈjʊtwa/ n. locksmith
- mikbe /ˈmikbe/ n. belly
- mipes /ˈmiɸes/ n. unit
- mirki /ˈmirki/ det. much
- mo /mo/ v. bring
- mosbo /ˈmosbo/ n. point
- muaw /ˈmuɔ/ n. owner
- mǔf /mʊf/ n. front, facade
- mǔlě /ˈmʊlɛ/ adj. certain
- mǔqǔ /ˈmʊqʊ/ v. suggest, imply
- muv /muβ/ n. egg
- odděs /ˈoddɛs/ v. suck
- or /or/ n. trouble
- pag /ɸag/ n. mail
- pawqě /ˈɸɔqɛ/ n. corner
- pělitʼ /ˈɸɛlitʼ/ n. happiness
- pǐ /ɸɪ/ conj. while
- pisu /ˈɸisu/ n. lower class
- porkě /ˈɸorkɛ/ v. screw, fuck
- pukʼ /ɸukʼ/ n. vision
- pǔv /ɸʊβ/ v. catch, capture, seize
- qagaws /ˈqagɔs/ n. pleasure
- qasgaw /ˈqasgɔ/ adv. about
- qawqe /ˈqɔqe/ v. finish, complete, close, shut
- qe /qe/ n. model
- qeqʼ /qeqʼ/ n. spring (season)
- qes /qes/ n. cat, vagina
- qifěv /ˈqifɛβ/ n. witch
- qirbok /ˈqirbok/ n. recipe
- qolwe /ˈqolwe/ v. damage, impair
- qulfa /ˈqulfa/ n. loop
- qʼag /qʼag/ v. kick
- qʼarsu /ˈqʼarsu/ n. file, folder, record
- qʼě /qʼɛ/ v. hold, grip, retain, support
- qʼequb /ˈqʼequb/ n. team, couple
- qʼětwu /ˈqʼɛtwu/ n. camera
- qʼikʼu /ˈqʼikʼu/ num. billion
- qʼǐrko /ˈqʼɪrko/ n. need
- qʼǐvuv /ˈqʼɪβuβ/ n. wedding
- qʼu /qʼu/ v. walk
- qʼumlǔ /ˈqʼumlʊ/ n. section, portion
- ra /ra/ pron. hers, its
- ragdap /ˈragdaɸ/ adj. fake
- rartou /rarˈtou/ v. agree
- rawf /rɔf/ num. hundred
- rě /rɛ/ adj. big, large, huge
- rěbwǐ /ˈrɛbwɪ/ n. comedy
- reo /ˈreo/ n. event, incident
- rǐǵě /ˈrɪɢɛ/ v. eat, drink
- rolberkěg /rolˈberkɛg/ adj. messy
- rǔbyum /ˈrʊbjum/ adj. warm
- rup /ruɸ/ v. sneeze
- sha duytaw /ɬa ˈdujtɔ/ n. camel
- shaqʼ /ɬaqʼ/ adj. crazy, insane, absurd
- shawr /ɬɔr/ n. study
- shekaggu /ɬeˈkaggu/ prep. per, for each
- shǐ /ɬɪ/ adj. available
- shis /ɬis/ adj. popular
- shotfǔ /ˈɬotfʊ/ n. roof, ceiling
- shukʼ /ɬukʼ/ n. puzzle
- shusawfǔ /ɬuˈsɔfʊ/ n. liver
- taawylǔ /taˈɔjlʊ/ v. authorize
- taǐs /ˈtaɪs/ n. list, catalog
- takʼ mǔyiǵ /takʼ ˈmʊjiɢ/ n. wire
- tap meg /taɸ meg/ n. dentist
- taraw /ˈtarɔ/ v. weigh
- taǔ /ˈtaʊ/ n. store, shop, business, arsenal
- tawawm /ˈtawɔm/ v. accompany
- tawggep /ˈtɔggeɸ/ n. cabinet, drawer
- tawsh /tɔɬ/ prep. during
- teb /teb/ prep. with (accompanied by), with (using)
- tekle /ˈtekle/ v. escape, dodge
- tequm /ˈtequm/ n. tea
- tetʼ /tetʼ/ n. research
- tǐag /ˈtɪag/ adj. greedy
- tǐkʼaws /ˈtɪkʼɔs/ n. decision
- tiqʼ /tiqʼ/ n. male
- tof /tof/ n. kitchen
- torbaw /ˈtorbɔ/ n. frame, cage, hull, crate
- tuakʼ /ˈtuakʼ/ n. difference
- tǔǵeg /ˈtʊɢeg/ adj. confident
- tumlavo /tuˈmlaβo/ v. drift
- tush /tuɬ/ n. wheel
- tʼaqe /ˈtʼaqe/ n. aunt
- tʼawdbe /ˈtʼɔdbe/ n. day, date, world
- tʼawwu /ˈtʼɔwu/ n. dish, bowl, cup, container, pot, bucket
- tʼe /tʼe/ v. take, collect, carry, catch, accept, eat, deposit, intercept
- tʼep /tʼeɸ/ adj. deep, serious
- tʼěttu /ˈtʼɛttu/ n. map
- tʼiqʼ /tʼiqʼ/ n. crack, fracture, accident
- tʼobmawqaw /tʼobˈmɔqɔ/ v. interrupt
- tʼub /tʼub/ v. love, admire
- tʼǔqʼ /tʼʊqʼ/ n. hunger
- ub /ub/ n. science
- ǔkba /ˈʊkba/ n. tool, weapon
- up /uɸ/ v. prepare, assemble
- uyěpam /uˈjɛɸam/ adv. soon, now
- vamǔq /ˈβamʊq/ n. size
- vawfma ǐg /ˈβɔfma ɪg/ n. agony
- veddaw /ˈβeddɔ/ n. place, location, site, venue, address
- věr /βɛr/ adj. old
- vig /βig/ adj. red, yellow, orange, brown
- vǐs /βɪs/ n. cave, hole, ditch, crater, cavity, trench
- voǵ /βoɢ/ n. chief
- vorshǔpaws /βorˈɬʊɸɔs/ n. existence
- vǔǵ /βʊɢ/ n. collar
- vǔtʼ /βʊtʼ/ v. test, analyze, inspect, examine, scrutinize
- wabyu /ˈwabju/ n. net
- wap /waɸ/ n. blade
- wawmde /ˈwɔmde/ n. soap
- wefaw /ˈwefɔ/ n. match (game), contest
- welěb /ˈwelɛb/ n. sand, shore, dirt, pornography
- werkus /ˈwerkus/ n. level, rank (position)
- wǐgkě /ˈwɪgkɛ/ adj. guilty
- wǐr /wɪr/ n. tray, platter
- wof /wof/ v. pass, cross, happen, occur, develop, advance, evolve, excel
- womǐ /ˈwomɪ/ n. task, chore
- wub /wub/ n. victim
- wus /wus/ n. desk, office
- yafe /ˈjafe/ n. box, crate
- yaqes /ˈjaqes/ n. reflection
- yawddo /ˈjɔddo/ n. island
- ye /je/ pron. to you
- yeg /jeg/ n. knee
- yeslu /ˈjeslu/ n. fowl
- yǐ /jɪ/ n. king
- yish /jiɬ/ n. police
- yolmawli /jolˈmɔli/ n. berry
- yuǵ /juɢ/ adj. sweet
- yǔmu /ˈjʊmu/ n. factory
- yutʼ /jutʼ/ adj. late