Alternian

A fan-conlang (fanlang?) of questionable quality, based on whatever the standard(?) language of Alternia from Andrew Hussie's Homestuck may or may not be.

Obviously, I do not own Homestuck or Hiveswap. This is a transformative work, done purely for fun.

The Alternian script used here is from Hiveswap, made by Hussie and What Pumpkin, and the font itself was compiled by OrangeyPeels on DeviantArt. The alphabet belongs to Hiveswap/What Pumpkin and Hussie, not me. Further information can be found on the "Credits" page via the sidebar.

This web is still being woven. Please don't be surprised if it changes slightly from time to time...

Phonology

FrontCentralBack
Closeiu
Close-Mideo o̰** o̰ː**
Midə*
Open-Midɛ
Opena a̰** a̰ː**ɑ* ɑ̰** ɑ̰ː**
Dipthongs

BilabialLabio-DentalDental + AlveolarPost-AlveolarVelarUvularGlottal
Nasalmnŋ̊* ŋ*
Plosivep~pʼ pʰ b~bʼt~tʼ tʰ d~dʼk~kʼ kʰ g~gʼ
Affricated͡ʒ*
Fricativef vs zʃ* ʒxχ* ʁ*h
Approximantlj
Tap/Flapɾ*
Trillʙ̥* ʙ*ʀ̥* ʀ

Co-Articulated Trills
f͡ʀ̥ v͡ʀ s͡ʀ̥ z͡ʀ

*Only present as allophones of other sounds, or in unusual cases.

**Not creaky voice - see "trills" section below!

Syllable structure (WIP): (S)(C)(R)V(N)(D), where:
S = s
C = any consonant or [kw], or if no S onset, [ks]
R = ʀ/l/j
V = any vowel
N = n/m/s/t/k/ʀ/z/h/b/d
D = Alveolar or Velar stops [kʼ][g][tʼ][d]

S is only available before unvoiced consonants, and D is only after [n].

Syllabic l̩ and ʁ are acceptable in word codas, usually from erosion of a final or penultimate vowel.

Syllable stress is a little unpredictable. It shifts preferentially to /ta/ and /ka/ syllables, dipthongs, or to syllables with geminated vowels or codas, or to other syllables with /kV/ and /tV/ or /ʀV/ patterns. Otherwise, it typically defaults to the second syllable for two syllable words, or the penultimate syllable in longer words.

/x/, /ɑ/ and /ʒ/ are found primarily in names, loanwords, highblood vernacular, and other particularly archaic terms.

Some general rules and patterns (very much subject to change as I figure out this bullshit phonology):

Trill Spreading and Trill "Theft" (or, "what the hell are those coarticulations??")

You've heard of nasal spreading, now get ready for: trill spreading. And trill theft sometimes. (Here's hoping I'm transcribing any of this correctly!)

Basically, the trill [ʀ] often spreads to and modifies neighboring sounds, adding a trilling influence to open and back vowels, some fricatives, and even a few bilabials.

Old historical rules (no longer in effect but maybe notable):

Troll Alphabet and Orthography

(If this isn't showing up for you as Hiveswap troll script, there's a problem, and this page won't be nearly as fun.)

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Alternian
a aw ar b c d e f g h hh i j k
IPA
a, ə ɑ a̰ː b d ɛ f g h x i ʒ k~kʼ
Romanized
a aw ar b c d e f g h hh i j k

Alternian
l m n o or pph r s t th
IPA
l m n o o̰ː p~pʼ ʀ~ʀ̥~χ~ʁ s t~tʼ
Romanized
l m n o or p ph r s t th

Alternian
u v x y z q
IPAu v z, ks j, aɪ z kw~qʷ
Romanized u v x y z q

Doubled letters are also meaningful. Normally they represent consonant or vowel gemination (making a sound longer than normal), with two notable exceptions. One, "hh" (/x/), is indicated above. The other, "ee", is pronounced as /iː/ rather than /ɛː/.

Some historical spellings use kh (kh) or ch (ch) for [kʰ].

In some highblood dialects aspiration becomes exaggerated and overcorrected as C/h/ or C/x/, while some lowblood dialects tend treat it as more equivalent to a generic non-ejective.

Grammar and Syntax

Basics

Descriptors and adjectives both precede their nouns. Word order is typically SOV, but flips to VOS for binary (yes/no) questions.

It has four noun classes: low (or "warm"), high (or "cool"), neutral (or "green"), and wild. It also has four-ish cases (nominative, accusative, dative/lative, genitive/ablative), optionally marked by prepositional particles which agree with the noun's class (with the exception of pronouns, which are conjugated by inflection and classed by implicit status -- blood caste, the speaker's opinion, etc.) These are only needed for definite articles (i.e. "the".)

Verbs conjugate by tense (past, present, future), subject noun class (low/mid versus high/wild), and five different registers of formality: honorific, humble, formal, informal, and intimate.

Verb Conjugation

Conjugation of verbs is fairly complex, involving tense, subject and object noun class, and several registers of formality/respect.

In most compounds, conjugation prefixes are applied directly to the root verb, after other prefixes.

Ex:

kakanga ([low or mid class noun] caused) --> kam'xemrikakangot (one [low or mid class] who caused [something] to be removed)
tiakanyi ([low class noun] shines) --> xanintiakanyi  ([low class noun] shines warmly)

Verb Conjugation (Prefixes)
PastPresentFuture Negative
Low/MidHigh/Wild Low/MidHigh/Wild Low/MidHigh/Wild. All
Honorific kaya- miya- tama- fro- raya- noya- vekya-
Humble kara- mina- ta- fo- rana- nona- veka-
Formal kir- min- ti- vi- rin- non- vek-
Informal ka- ma- - - ra- no-
Intimate ka- - - ro- ve-

In informal form, the final vowel of a verb becomes /a/. In intimate forms, the final vowel is discarded and the stem form is used instead.

Alternian has five commonly used registers of formality/intimacy:

Verbs beginning with a vowel /a/, /e/ or /i/ and non-geminated /t/, /r/, /l/, /s/ lose their initial vowel when conjugated with prefixes.

Kra eromma.
Kra eromma
I search.
Kra raromma.
Kra raromma
I'll (go) search.

Kra dokotavan aleda.
Kra dokotavan aledi.
I build bicycles.
Ka sum dokotavan vekleda.
Ka sum dokotavan vekledi
She did not build the bicycle.

Verbs beginning with /h/ also lose their initial consonant to prefixes ending in consonants.

Kra tihuski.
Kra tihuski.
I'm afraid.
Kra kiruski.
Kra kiruski
I was afraid.

Since a duplicate /k/ generally becomes /g/, and /kg/ is not allowed, verbs beginning in /k/ and /g/ will conjugate slightly irregularly for some negatives.

Gama kul ka
Gama kul ka
1ST-SG-INF-NOM 3RD-SG-M-INF-ACC INF-PRES.hate
I hate him.
Gama kul vekka
Gama kul vega
1ST-SG-INF-NOM 3RD-SG-M-INF-ACC NEG.hate.INF
I don't hate him.

Gama tu vigapyna
Gama tu kagapyna
1ST-SG-INF-NOM 3RD-SG-INAN-ACC PAST-INF-HIGH/WILD.touch
I touched it.
Gama tu vekgapyna
Vakan tu vegapyna
1ST-SG-INF-NOM 3RD-SG-INAN-ACC NEG-INF.touch.INF
I (did) not touch it.

Existence and Possession

The verb ni means both "to be" and "to exist".

To say someone has something, you say their [thing] is... unless the thing is an inherent part of the owner, in which case it is described with the verb di (animate) or ti (inanimate), which is to possess something as a quality or trait.

When listing multiple possessions of the same entity, possessions after the first are marked not with a full possessive, but with a genitive particle of the owner's noun class.

Ex:

Kro dokotavan so xa arikotavan na.
1ST-SG.GEN two.wheel.possess-inan.ADJ-INAN.device and GEN-L one.wheel.possess-inan.ADJ-INAN.device COP
I (l) have a bicycle and a unicycle.

Vocabulary

Particles

CLASSLowHighNeutralWild
Nominativesafatama
Accusativesumfutoo
Dativexifitivi
Genitivexaahoa

Pronouns

Alternian has a large collection of personal pronouns with varying implications, not entirely unlike, say, Japanese or Thai. Most or all can be conjugated for the four cases by their vowel ending, and are given in default nominative form here.

For conjugation: the final or penultimate vowel typically becomes /a/ for nominative, /u/ for accusative, /i/ for dative, and /o/ or rarely /i:/ for genitive.

ALTERNIAN
IPA
meaning
kokam
kʼokʼam'
I (very humble)
kokam
kra
kʀa
I (generic, usually a safe bet)
kra
muxa
muksa'
I (casual, somewhat feminine)
muxa
gama
gʼa'ma
I (casual)
gama
maz
maz
I (very casual, intimate register)
maz
tafra
taf͡ʀa'
I (humble)
tafra
maky
makʼaɪ'
I (arrogant, high-status - think JP. ore-sama)
maky*
vrota
v͡ʀo'ta
I (formal, higher-status)
vrota

enoky
ɛnokʼaɪ'
you (honorific)
enoky*
novras
nov͡ʀas'
you (respectful, generic)
novras
naxa
naksa'
you (casual)
naxa
sat
sat
you (casual, crude)
sat
ba
ba
you (disparaging, common for kismesis)
ba
ro
ʀo
you (archaic, typically older highbloods addressing lowbloods)
ro*
aka
akʼa'
you (intimate, usually reserved for quadrants)
aka

sotankya
sotʼaŋ'kjo
he/she/they (unfamiliar, dangerous)
sotankya
masmat
maʒmatʼ'
he/she/they (formal, neutral, somewhat distant)
masmat
akyomuxa
akjomuk'sə
he/she/they (familiar, friendly)
akyomuxa
kan
kʼan
he/she/they (informal) (sometimes archaically /kjan/)
kan
ga
ga
he/she/they (crude, somewhat demeaning, common w/ close friends)
ga
kalta
kʼal'ta
he (formal, respectful)
kalta
kal
kʼal
he (semi-informal)
kal
xokat
zokʼatʼ'
she (respectful, implies danger)
xokat
kakra
kakʀa'
she (formal, respectful)
kakra**
ka
kʼa
she (semi-informal)
ka**


ta
tʼa
it
ta

gakan
gakʼan'
this (one)
gakan
sakan
sakʼan'
that (one)
sakan
sotan
sotʼan'
that (one) over there
sotan
pra-
pʀa
any-
pra-

ullat
ulːatʼ'
all, everyone, everything
ullat

amir
amiʀ'
who
amir***
meer
miːʀ
what
meer*
mirok
miʀo̰kʼ'
why
mirok*
urak
uʀa̰kʼ'
when
urak
ankar
aŋkaʀ'
where
ankar

*Does not inherently conjugate.
**Conjugates with /i:/ for genitive.
***Irregular.

Pronouns that do not conjugate are given class particles as prefixes in dative and genitive cases. In formal speech, the accusative case gets a prefix as well.

Na ma meer gakan?
Na ma meer gakan?
INF-PRES.be ACC-WILD what NOM-this?
What is this?

Kan aenoky akafi kirygi.
Kan aenoky akafi kirygi.
3RD-SG-INF 2ND-SG-HON-GEN HON.coffee PAST-FML-LOW.drink
They (sg.) drank your [troll equivalent of] coffee.

The word for "what", amir, conjugates irregularly, inflecting with the first vowel instead of the last.

Naxa tu kirmari imir?
Naxa tu kirmari imir?
2ND-SG-INF-NOM 3RD-SG-INAN-ACC FML-PAST-LOW.sell DAT-who?
Who did you sell it to?

Nouns

Nouns pluralize with the prefix /va(t)/, added to the head/root word.

For example:

/uspe/ (shirt) --> /vatuspe/ (shirts)
/taʀkos/ (tube) --> /vadaʀkos/* (tubes)
/kaʀo/ (beast) --> /vakaʀo/ (beasts)
/miakaʀo/ (meowbeast) --> /miavakaʀo/ (meowbeasts)

*/tt/ --> /d/, though the word would still be written as vattarkos

A noun for a general concept needs neither a plural nor an article.

Kra sum miakaro favri.
Kra sum miakaro favri.
I like the meowbeast.

Kra miakaro favri.
Kra miakaro favri.
I like meowbeasts (in general).

Kra sum miavakaro favri.
Kra sum miavakaro favri.
I like the meowbeasts.

Nouns with numbers don't need to pluralize.

Kra do miakaro kasava.
Kra do miakaro kasava.
I saw two meowbeasts.

Historically, classic Alternian nouns inflected with a case system like pronouns and articles, but in modern Standard Alternian this is limited to two cases: nominative (default) and genitive. Due to large influxes of loanwords and slow erosion of the case system, only nouns ending in [a] or [a]C inflect in this way.

Low/Warm

akata
akʼa'tʼa
chitin, (thin) shell; skin (for mammal etc.)
akata
an
an
thing, tool
an
anak
an'akʼ
temperature, heat
anak
anakitiskis
anakʼ'itʼi'skis
refrigerator ("thermal hull")
anakyitiskis
een
iːn
thief (common, low)
een
gapyntab
gʼapaɪn'tab
finger ("touch stub"), toe (less common)
gapyntab
grubbel
grubːel
insect, crawling thing
grubbel
gu
gu
dirt, earth
gu
kafi
kʼa'fi
cave fungus used for a popular Alternian drink
kafi
kampavrot
kʼampav͡ʀ'otʼ
friend*
kampavrot
karo
kʼaʀo̰'
beast, animal
karo
keparal
kʼɛpaʀa̰l
name
keparal
keivah
kʼe'va(h)
bone
keivah
keivahdry
kʼevadʀaɪ'
bone bulge
keivahdry
kikam
kʼikʼam'
hatred (platonic)
kikam
kisam
kʼisam'
hatred (romantic)
kisam
kismesis
kʼis'mesis
kismesis (from kisam amesis)
kismesis
ko
kʼo
wheel (archaic), circle
ko
kyotonot
kʼjo'tonotʼ
friend, hatefriend*
kyotonot
ku
kʼu
cluster, blockage, clot
ku
dokotavan
dokʼotʼav'an'
bicycle (two-wheel-having-device)
dokotavan
okass
okʼas'
bottom, backside
okass
oakaro
oaka̰ː'ʁo
woofbeast, dog
oakaro
ota
o'tʼə
day
ota
otaz
otʼaz'
dream, hope
otaz
otanuk
otʼanukʼ
sun
otanuk
oxel
oksɛl'
end, back, after
oxel
pemmun
pʼɛmː'un
friendship (relationship)
pemmun
pemmunot
pʼɛmː'unotʼ
friend* (most literal English translation)
pemmunot
sakupa
sakʼup'a
mountain
sakupa
saquu
sakwu'
cartilage, gristle
saquu
savy
savaɪ'
fire, storm, cataclysm
savy
suhei
suhe'
wind
suhei
suhesavy
suhɛsavaɪ'
storm, windstorm
suhesavy
syki
saɪ'ki
psychic, psionic (troll)
syki
tab
tʼab
nub, stump, stub
tab
tallah
tʼalː'a
fat
tallah
tany
tʼanaɪ'
room, space, "block"
tany
tapa
tʼapa'
speck, crumb
tapa
tarkos
ta̰ːkos
tube, chute
tarkos
tara
taʀa̰
container, basket, trap
tara
tis
tʼis
face
tis
tinuyi
tʼənuji
house, hive
tinuyi
truvul
tʀuvul
hatefriend* ("tolerated one")
truvul
tiskis
tʼiskis
vessel, container, cooking pan
tiskis
tunyi
tʼunji
mask
tunyi
ultux
ultʼuks
rope
ultux
uspe
uspɛ
cloth, shirt
uspe

High/Cool

abitara
abita'ʀa
bathtub (ablution trap)
abitara
akyon
akjon'
person, enemy, friend* (rarely)
akyon
alteir
altʼeʀ'
troll (species)
alter (irreg. spelling)
alternia
altʼeʀː'nja
Alternia ("troll planet")
alternia (irreg. spelling)
amesis
ame'sis
sexual partner (sort of crude, connotations of "fuckbuddy")
amesis
an
an
device, machine
an
aqus
akwus'
strength, (physical) power
aqus
at
atʼ
pain
at
cupa
kʰupa'
hill
cupa
daz
daz
idea, concept
daz
eistos
es'tos
rage, wrath
eistos
evut
ɛvutʼ
leg (HV/archaic), limb, frond (of a plant)
evut
fafer
fafɛʀ
fish (animal)
fafer
feima
fe'ma
poem
feima
fret
f͡ʀɛtʼ
mistake, accident
fret
hanuk
hanukʼ
moon
hanuk
haro
ha'ʀo
sea, ocean
haro
harum
haʀum'
sea (archaic)
harum
harumsamot
haʀum'samotʼ
seadweller
harumsamot
harumvit
haʀum'vitʼ
pirate
harumvit
hi
hi
night
hi
hissu
hisː'u
mirror
hissu
hoota
hoː'tʼa
blood (trollish); status; value
hoota
hur
huʁ
sponge
hur
jegok
ʒɛgok'
deity, god (non-specific)**
jegok
rakya
ʀa'kjə
a period of time, life (a person's past)
rakya
rihem
ʀihɛm
language
rihem
ru
ʀu
beginning, front, future
ru
rum
ʀum
water
rum
vrit
v͡ʀit
thief (noble, implies cleverness, trickery)
vrit
vahha
vaxa'
river
vahha
xadavan
zadavan'
vehicle
xadavan

Neutral/Green

baz
baz
kind, type (of)
baz
bit
bit
ear (HV)
bit
gamya
gamjə
organ, brain
gamya
ikra
ikʀa̰
worth, value
ikra
kamya
kʼam'ja
mother, matron
kamya
kama
kʼa'ma
female lusus
kama
keigan
kʼeːgən
coin
keigan
keigar
kʼeːgəʁ
Caegar (traditional Alternian currency)
keigar
lloet
l:oɛtʼ
cloak, hood
lloet
lora
loʀa
mother*** (sometimes HV)
lora
mir
miʀ
question
mir
maryu
maʁju
leaf
maryu
meeakaro
mia'kaʁo̰'
cat (meowbeast)
meeakaro
mer
mɛʀ
hand, foot
mer
nak
nakʼ
stone
nak
namo
namo
head
namo
nara
naʀa
horn
nara
natu
natʼu
capacity, ability
natu
nia
nia
planet, world
nia
nok
nokʼ
grub, livestock animal (generic)
nok
perigee
pɛʀigi:
(subdivision of time)
perigee
por
po̰ː
tall, thin object, pole
por
ro
ʀo̰
chunk, solid piece (of something)
ro
xakos
zakʼos'
tube, sphincter, throat
xakos

Wild

husko
huʃko'
fear
husko
lusus
lusus'
caretaker beast, guardian
lusus
kror
kʀo̰ːʀ
(the) north
kror
makra
ma'kʀə
game
makra
nin
nin
thing (generic)
nin
pyn
paɪn
protrusion, feeler
pyn
saman
saman'
a common migratory fish
saman
sut
sut
feeling, emotion
sut
tevet
t'ɛvɛt'
(the) south
tevet
trol
t'əʀo̰l', tʀo̰l
troll (person), person (generic)
trol
tivrrol
tiv͡ʀʀo̰l'
archaic form of trol
tivrrol
tyr
tʼaɪʁ
Empress (conj. as high when given def. article)
tyr
vohut
vohutʼ'
ally
vohut

HV: Highblood Vernacular - this word is typically only used by cooler castes, due to linguistic drift/dialect differences.

* The words for things like "enemy" or "friend" in Alternian are... complex. Any troll who isn't a quadrant or extremely close (and indeed, even those who are) can be classified as "enemy" due to Alternia's constantly hostile social scene. The terms often translated as "friend" and/or "enemy" identify connections to other trolls not by positive or negative relationship, but by familiarity and attachment. In a society rife with hate-romance and rule by intimidation, the strength of connection is considered more important than positive or negative relation -- assumption is that any relationship could easily flip to hostile, under the right circumstances.

Additionally, and tying slightly into the psychology behind kismessitude: a personally known enemy is considered a different kind of dangerous than an unknown one. While not necessarily safer, it is often seen more favorably, so "known enemy" terms often translate as more positive than unknown ones. Thus "akyon ho muxa" (my enemy) becomes a descriptor for someone probably (but not guaranteed!) semi-friendly -- this is your enemy in particular, one you know and can deal with -- but "sotan akyo" (that enemy over there) suggest a more potentially threatening individual -- a distant enemy, unpredictable and unknown.

Of words given: pemmun and derivatives suggest familiarity, but not necessarily pity or hate. Truvul, translated as "hatefriend", is literally someone who is tolerated, and implies a lack of threat, with feelings of affection, annoyance, or both. Kampavrot can mean friend, but is something more like "ally" or "compatriot" - a person you share a situation or goal with. (It can also colloquially mean "roommate", especially offworld.)

TL;DR: troll relationship terms prioritize familiarity over positive or negative relationship, so there are lots of troll words for various degrees of familiarity, tolerance, wariness, and percieved threat, most of which translate as "friend" as easily as they do "enemy".

/end worldbuilding ramble

** This word (jegok) is actually an old loanword, now used primarily for obscenities, metaphor, and general reference to higher powers. Alternian culture is largely secular in the current era -- religion tends to be restricted to small movements and cults, most notable the indigo-caste clown cults. Most trolls consider the two concepts synonymous.

Verbs

Basic noun form of a verb can be made by using the verb stem (i.e. without the final [i].)

Generally gerunds are used for a general reference to an action, while stem form is used more for a single instance of a verb, or to a more general noun derived from the verb. (E.g. "the VERBing" = kam[VERB-STEM]i, "your verbing"/"a verbing" = [VERB-STEM])

The historical suffixes -ol and ul can sometimes be used to form "person who..." or "person (who is) ...", respectively.[

abi
abi
to wash, to submerge (in water)
abi
ahhi
axi
to laugh
ahhi
ati
ati
to hatch, to emerge, to be born
ati
avi
avi
to be casual with, to be ~friendly with
avi
(a)ledi
alɛdi
to construct, to assemble
(a)ledi
ankayi
aŋkaji
to shine, to glow
ankayi
ayi
aji
to be related to, to be associated with
ayi
biti
biti
to hear, to listen
biti
dagvari
dagvaʀi
to feel neutral toward
dagvari
daki
daki
to copulate (for animals, obscene)
daki
dani
dani
to blame, to accuse
dani
davi
davi
to strike (with a blunt object), to drum
davi
dei
de
to meet
dei
di
di
to have (a trait or quality) (anim.)
di
dokymi
dokaɪmi
to copulate (for trolls, not really a swear)
dokymi
dovrri
dov͡ʀʀi
to demand
dovrri
eni
ɛni
to arrive
eni
(e)rommi
ɛʀo̰m:i
to search
(e)rommi
(ei)stosi
estosi
to rage, to be wrathful, to be a highblood (inf.)
(ei)stosi
(e)trezi
ɛtʀɛzi
to argue
(e)trezi
favri
favʀi
to like, to be comfortable around
favri
festi
fɛsti
to sleep
festi
gapyni
gapaɪni
to touch, to sense
gapyni
gi
gi
to change
gi
(h)emmi
hɛm:i
to say
(h)emmi
(h)ori
hoʀi'
to wriggle, to squirm, to be alive
(h)ori
(h)oti
hoti
to blow (on), to push (for inanimate actor)
(h)oti
(h)uski
huʃki
to fear (something), to be afraid
(h)uski
iti
iti
to attempt
iti
iyequi
ijequi
to oblige, to require
iequi
iyytri
ijaɪtʀi
to wear (under something, or closely fitted)
iyytri
coi
kʰoi
to lose
coi
kangri
kaŋri
to cause
kangri
ki
ki
to hate
ki
kuni
kuni
to come (somewhere)
kuni
lamonsi
lamonsi
to confess, to admit
lamonsi
lozi
lozi
to use
lozi
llipi
l:ipi
to abandon, to depart (from)
llipi
makroi
makʀo̰i
to stab, to cut (with the point of a blade)
makroi
mari
maʀi
to sell, to trade away
mari
mati
mati
to desire, to want
mati
matori
matoʀi
to dance, to show off (from "matin hori", "writhe desirably")
matori
mayuvi
majuvi
to give (a gift)
mayuvi
mevi
mɛvi
to cut up, to divide, to split
mevi
miki
miki
to call out, to scream, to warn
miki
miri
miʀi
to ask, to interrogate
miri
moi
moi
to be fond of, to pity
moi
nafi
nafi
to fail; to die (passive)
nafi
nati
nati
to be able to; to be possible
nati
ni
ni
to be
ni
ninkri
niŋkʀi
to buy, to trade for (something)
ninkri
nodi
nodi
to kill
nodi
nayy
najaɪ
to speak (generic)
nayy
oji
oʒi
to pose, to show off
oji
otri
otʀi
to wear (outer layer, or loosely), to be dressed
otri
ovri
ov͡ʀi
to craft, to produce, to cause
ovri
pemmuni
pɛm:uni
to be familiar with, to know well
pemmuni
pevri
pev͡ʀi
to share
pevri
radi
ʀa̰di
to be lively, to be in good health
radi
ravi
ʀa̰vi
to give (something), to surrender
ravi
rei
ʀe
to do
rei
rihemi
ʀihɛmi
to speak (with)
rihemi
rofaxi
ʀofaksi
to cry
rofaxi
rovi
ʀovi
to mean; to intend
rovi
sami
sami
to dwell, to live (in)
sami
sati
sati
should... (aux.)
sati
savi
savi
to see, to observe, to pay attention to
savi
senkroi
sɛŋkro̰i
to cut (with a flat cutting blade)
senkroi
si
si
to strike, to stab
si
sommi
som:i
to fight
sommi
tanavri
tanav͡ʀi
to pick over, to examine
tanavri
tavi
tavi
to imagine, to concieve of
tavi
teuli
tɛuli
to agree, to accept
teuli
ti
ti
to have (a trait or quality) (inan.)
ti
tazi
tazi
to think
tazi
tisofi
tisofi
to watch
tisofi
tomi
tomi
to prepare for
tomi
trayi
tʀa̰ji
to protrude, to bulge
trayi
troli
tʀo̰li
to bother, to harass, to call out to
troli
truvi
tʀuvi
to tolerate
truvi
tukri
tukʁi
to know (of), to be aware (of), to speak (a language)
tukri
ullaxi
ul:aksi
to make, to cook
ullaxi
uski
uski
to run
uski
ussi
us:i
to write
ussi
vikaryi
vika̰:ji
to travel (a long distance)
vikaryi
virki
viʀki
to increase
virki
vrati
v͡ʀati
to follow
vrati
vri
v͡ʀi
to steal, to rob
vri
xadi
zadi
to go
xadi
qot... xaqi
kwot zakwi
to be greater than (comparator)
qot... xaqi
xemri
zɛmʀi
to remove, to doff
xemri
ygi
aɪgi
to eat, to drink
ygi

Verb Modifiers

kam
kam
(prefix indicating a gerund)
kam
vyo
vjo
(prefix for passive voice) (uncommon)
vyo
by
baɪ
(prefix for continuous action)
by
tom
tom
(perfect prefix, used like 'yet' or 'already')
tom

Adjectives

Adjectives are negated with prefix /vek/.

Verbs can become adjectives/modifiers by conjugating the final /i/ as /ot/, for animate nouns, or /av/ for inanimate, or by simply using the verb's stem (i.e. removing the final /i/.) The latter is more common in older, calcified terms; the former is more modern and sometimes has a different meaning to the verb-stem version of a compound.

Nouns can be adjective-ified by the verb /di/ or /ti/ (to possess a trait or quality, for animate and inanimate actors respectively) or /yi/ (relating to, being associated with.)

General

adia
adiə
whole, complete
adia
ar
one's own
ar
catat
kʰatʼatʼ'
strange
catat
eit
et
strong
eit
gam
gam
happy
gam
horot
hoʀo̰t'
juvenile, young
horot
kapyo
kap'jo
small, short (for time)
kapyo
kraro
kʀa̰ʀo̰
true, real
kraro
mihak
mihak'
close (distance)
mihak
myko
maɪ'ko
far
myko
my
maɪ
sharp
my
marka
maʁka̰'
dull, poor (quality), ineffective; weak
marka
rakek
ʀa̰kɛk'
(right) now
rakek
roqo
ʀo̰'kwo
skilled, competent
roqo
saquan
sakwan
big, great
saquan
sivik
sivik'
many, much
sivik
tavak
tavak
narrow, closed (space or opening), cramped, tight
tavak
van
van
all
van
kotro
ko'tʀo
high, tall
kotro
symit
saɪmit'
low, short
symit
qot
kwot
more
qot
ylla
aɪlː'a
broad, open (space or opening), wide, loose
ylla

Colors (vater)

ter
tɛʀ
color
ter
xan
zan
red (usually dark); warm; low (blood)
xan
ipan
ipan
brown, orange
ipan
xalu
zalu
yellow
xalu
goza
goza
gold (material)
goza
kriyy
kʀijaɪ
light/yellow green
kriyy
natek
natek
mid-green/"olive"
natek
kamyat
kamjat
jade
kamyat
tayoz
tajoz
teal
tayoz
xuv
zuv
cerulean, greener blue (from /xa iquv/, "blue (low)")
xuv
kroquv
kʀokwuv
indigo, purpler blue (from /kraro iquv/, "true blue")
kroquv
uskan
uskan
purple
uskan
rumter
ʀumtɛr
violet, "royal purple" (from /harum ter/ "sea color"); cold
rumter
tyrin
taɪʀin
pink (tyrian); royal
tyrin
tanivroder
taniv͡ʀodɛʀ
rust (from /ta nivrot ter/, "metal decay color")
tanivroder
xalukriyy
zalukʀijaɪ
yellow-green (spectrum)
xalukriyy
naktak
naktak
green (generic)
naktak
iquv
ikwuv
blue (generic); high (blood)
iquv
anka
aŋka
bright, light, luminous; pale
anka
pisit
pisit
dark, black
pisit

Adverbs

dam
dam
very, extremely
dam
ipor
ipoʀ
already
ipor
rakay
ʀa̰kaɪ
eventually, at last
rakay
ton
ton
probably
ton
uota
uota
ideally, perhaps, if (one is) lucky
uota
ulto
ulto
only
ulto

-n, -in, -on
-n, -in, -on
(adj -> adverb; for verb or noun, "for...")
-n, -in, -on

Conjunctions, Etc

az
az
but, however
az
hak
hak
as, while
hak
fen
fɛn
with, at (for high or neutral nouns)
fen
ken
kɛn
with, at (for low or wild nouns)
ken
krofa
kʀo̰fa
and then
krofa
kur
kuʁ
so, therefore
kur
ko
ko
too, as well
ko
so
so
and
so
tus
tus
in, within, in relation to
tus
vro
v͡ʀo
about
vro

Interjections, Etc.

y
hey, oy
y

Numbers

ari
aʀi
one
ari
do
do
two
do
xor
zo̰ː
three
xor
am
am
four
am
tox
tʼoks
five
tox
xat
zatʼ
six
xat
nu
nu
seven
nu
yo
jo
eight
yo
tam
tʼam
nine
tam
vik
vikʼ
ten
vik
vikar
vika̰ː
11
vikar
vikspat
vikspatʼ
12
vikspat
vixor
vikso̰ː
13
vixor
vikam
vikʼam
14
vikam
vixat
viksatʼ
16
vixat
vriko
viko
18
vriko
idovik
idovikʼ
20
idovrik
dovkari
dovkʼaɾi
21
dovkari
dovkido
dovkʼido
22
dovkido
dovixor
dovikso̰ː
23
dovixor
dovkam
dovkʼam
24
dovkam
doviktox
doviktʼoks
25
doviktox
dovikko
dovikkʼo
28
dovikko
zorvik
zo̰ːvikʼ
30
zorvik
zorvkari
zo̰ːvka̰ːi
31
zorvkari
zorvikido
zo̰ːvikʼido
32
zorvikido
-it
it
(ordinal suffix)
-it

art
a̰ːt
1st (irreg.)
art
idot
idot
2nd (irreg.)
idot
xort
zo̰ːt
3rd (irreg.)
xort

Number Variant - Highblood Vernacular

Highblood terms sometimes make use of more archaic numbers forms, which also inflect like pronouns for case. All are given in nominative form.

vrra
v͡ʀʀa
1
vrra
spat
spat
2
pat
sora
soʀa
3
sora
vam
vam
4
vam
coxa
kʰoksa
5
coxa
zak
zakʼ
6
zac
nahhu
naxu'
7
nahhu
ko
kʼo
8
ko
dama
dama
9
dama
vrrix
v͡ʀʀiks
10
vrrix
zorvik
zo̰v͡ʀːik
30
zorvik

Dialect Variations

Lowbloods

The /a/ sound is often raised slightly, closer to /æ/. Dropping of initial /ʀ/ in [ʀa̰] and [ʀo̰] after consonants, or reduction to [ha̰] and [ho̰], is not uncommon.

/ɑ/, being a fairly rare and archaic sound in modern Alternian, is also sometimes pronounced /aː/.

SAVFRODOVRRI IKRAVEKDOT HUMAN
sæv'f͡ʀo.dov͡ʀ.ʀi ik.hæ̰'vɛk.dot h(j)u.man
pay-attention.N.PRES-HON-HIGH.demand worth.NEG.have.ADJ human
GREETINGS, WORTHLESS HUMAN.

Indigos & Subjuggulators

The first person pronoun /maz/ and second person pronoun /aka/ are used more frequently, especially when speaking with other trolls within the church.

Some particles are doubled up for extra cases - ablative is constructed with genitive followed by nominative, lative is formed with dative and accusative, and instrumental is formed with dative and genitive.

Ejectives are less common and reserved more for emphasis.

Aka o ankir xadtaza?
a.kʼa o aŋ.kiʁ za.da.za
1ST-SG-INT ACC where-DAT go.think.PRES-INF
Where d'you think you're going to?

Seadwellers

Seadwellers typically turn initial [h] into a glottal stop, pronounce midword [h] as /j/, and drop the final h (h) sound. They also often slur the midword x (x, /ks/) as a /kʃ/ or /ktʃ/ sound, which is sometimes formalized in name pronunciations (ex. Peixes gets pronounced as /pekʃis/.)

/ʀ/ is commonly realized as /ʁ/ or even /ɾ/, and trilled vowels often go untrilled, through still appropriately lengthened. Occasionally long /a:/ gets converted back into /ɑ/ or /ɑ:/. Eridan probably sounds insufferably Troll British.

Vrota ka 'arumvrit kamnataza.
v͡ʀo.ta ka ʔaʁ.um.vʁit kʼam.na.tʼa.za
1ST-HON-SG-NOM 3RD-F-NOM pirate GERUND.PRES-INF.be.PRES-INF.think
Vrota ka 'arumvrit kamna taza.
I think she's a pirate.

Idioms and other fun stuff

"Dressed for your ninth"

xitamitatotan otri
zi.tʼam.(i)t.at.ota.n otʀi
DEF-LOW.nine.ORD.hatch.day.ADV be-dressed

(to be) dressed for the ninth hatchday

Sometimes also phrased variously as xitamitorotan otri ("dressed for the ninth wriggling day") or naxotamitin otri ("dressed for your ninth"), or even xitamitin otri ("dressed for the ninth").

To put on airs of maturity and importance. To be literally "dressed for [one's] ninth hatchday" is to be dressed for one's conscription day, when a young troll leaves the Alternian homeworld for enlistment into Imperial forces. Conscription is usually a young troll's first big interaction with the larger empire. Offworld, it suggests immaturity, in the sense of being young and inexperienced; on Alternia, it implies attempting to look older and more important than one actually is.

Translations

Subject to repeated changes and alterations. Might need to take with a grain of salt, depending on how recently I've made any drastic changes to the language and/or updated this.

CG: SAVFRODOVRRI IKRAVEKDOT HUMAN
CG: SAVFRODOVRRI IKRAVEKDOT HUMAN
sav.f͡ʀo.dov͡ʀʀi ikʀa̰ː.vɛk.dot hjuman
attention.PRES-HON-HIGH.demand worth.NEG.have.ADJ human

CG: GREETINGS (lit. "[DEMAND] ATTENTION") WORTHLESS HUMAN

CG: GAKAN SIT JEGOK KAMFRONAYY NA.
CG: GAKAN SIT JEGOK KAMFRONAYY NA.
gakʼan sit ʒɛgokʼ kʼam.f͡ʀo.najaɪ na
this-NOM you-GEN deity GERUND.PRES-HON-HIGH.speak INF.be

CG: THIS IS YOUR GOD SPEAKING.

CG: KALTA QOT SAT KAMUSKA ITAKARANATI XAQA SUTKISAMOT FROSTOSOT JEGOK FRONI.
CG: KALTA QOT SAT KAMUSKA ITAKARANATI XAQA SUTKISAMOT FROSTOSOT JEGOK FRONI.
kʼaltʼa kʷot sat kʼam.uska itʼa.kʼaʀa.nati zakʷa sutʼ.kisam.otʼ f͡ʀo.stos.otʼ dʒɛgok f͡ʀo.ni.
he-HON-NOM than you-NOM GERUND.PRES-INF-fear attempt.PAST-HUMBLE-LOW.be-able-to be-greater you-ACC romantically-hate.ADJ PRES-HON-HIGH.be-wrathful.ADJ deity PRES-HON-HIGH.be
CG: IT IS A WRATHFUL GOD WHO DESPISES YOU MORE THAN YOU COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DARED TO FEAR.


Another sample, with some different politeness and pronoun choices.

GA: Kra Ulto Kamtukritadovrri
GA: Kra Ulto Kamtukritadovrri
kʀa ulto kʼam.tukʀi.tʼa.dov͡ʀʁi
I-FML-NO only GERUND.know.HMBL-PRES-LOW.demand*
GA: I Just Want To Know

GA: Tomvinafi Novros Lusus
GA: Tomvinafi Novros Lusus
tom.vi.nafi nov͡ʀos lusus
yet.FML-PRES-H.die you-FML-GEN lusus
GA: Is Your Lusus Dead Yet

*Using the humble register changes the verb dovrri ('to demand') to something like 'to want' or 'to request'.


And, for even more fun:

enoky ankayon oja, vrix fitamitin otra
ɛnokʼaɪ aŋkʼajon oʒa, v͡ʀiks fitʼamitʼin otʀa
2ND-SG-HON bright.ADV PRES-INF.pose ten DEF-DAT-HIGH.nine.ORD.ADV PRES-INF.be-dressed
You pose brightly / A ten dressed for the ninth

vatku vatgamo mik so gotrakya vekbita
vatkʼu vatgamo mik so gotʀa̰'kja vɛkbitʼa
PL.clot (ear) PL.2ND-INF-GEN scream and PRES-INF.change.ADJ.time NEG-INF.hear
(Sponge) (c)lots deaf to our screaming / And to the changing times

frivatny by'umiba rumter vikunavpyni'xaqa
f͡ʀivatnaɪ baɪumiba ʀumtɛʀ vikʼənavk'ampaɪnzakʷa
in mention.PL CONT.swim.continue cold DAT-W.come.DOER-INAN.GERUND.sense.PRES-INF.outweigh
Keep swimming in mentions / too cold to feel the thing that's coming

mirok vakra vakamza fa - dan dan ulto frobita*
miʀokʼ vakʀa vakʼamza fa dan dan ultʼo f͡ʀobitʼa
why PL.1ST-INF PL.intention PRES-INF.disguise drum drum only HON-H.hear.INF*
Why do we hide intentions? You only hear drumming, drumming

*Technically grammatically incorrect - should be either bita or frobiti, but the mixed register is used colloquially sometimes to indicate sarcastic honorifics, which is the case here.

Bonus

Because I felt like it, I'm trying out some different homebrewed Alternian script fonts. You can see the test page here.

CreditsTop