User:Alessa/Sandbox/Maurit

Maurit
Lìnnua maurit
/'lin.nwä mɔ'ɾit/
Official in	Mauretia
Also spoken in	Mauroi diaspora in Federal States and elsewhere
Estimated number of speakers	~16.3 million (L1) ~5.7 million (L2, estimated)
Regulating body	Sa Qollegiat Maurit
Signed form	Signed Maurit
Recognized dialects	Kabeyit, Azigit, and Tangereyit
Language family	Romantish (Southwestern, Ghetorian)
Maurit Alphabet
Aa Bb Gg Dd Ee Ff Zz Hh Ṭṭ [Øð] Ii Yy Kk Ll Mm Nn Ss Oo Pp Cc Qq Rr Xx Tt Uu Vv Ww
Norms of linguistic structure
Common constituent word order	VSO (verb–subject–object)
Modifier placement	Immediately after except if numbers, determiners, or select exceptions
Noun declensions Case Gender Number
Verb conjugations Aspect Mood Number Person Tense Voice
Adjective declensions Case Gender Number

Maurit, rarely and incorrectly Mauretian, is a Romantish language found in southwestern Uletha. It is spoken in and the official language of Mauretia and the principal liturgical language of the Mauroi Church. The language is still commonly spoken among first and second-generation Mauroi abroad, particularly in places like the Federal States. Maurit evolved from a regional Vulgar Romantish that was highly influenced by the local cultures. The language also developed with nearly nine hundred years of cultural isolation. As a result, Maurit has some notable distinctions from other Romantish languages.

History

Maurit is a Romantish language that is a descendant of a local dialect of Romantish spoken in antiquity. Romantish supplanted the local languages over the course of four centuries. Many words, idioms, and even a few grammatical tendencies became embedded into the regional Romantish dialect. In the seventh century, Old Maurit became the language of the royal court, aristocracy, and merchants of the new "unified" Maureti kingdom. Regional idiosyncrasies continue to the present in pronunciation and vocabulary. The language was unofficially standardized in 1793 with the Royal Lexicon, an official dictionary of Maurit terms and phrases. The lexicon introduced the use of ⟨Ṭ, ṭ⟩ in place of the theta-derived ⟨Ø, ð⟩ pair. It also attempted to remove the ambiguity of a "c duru" (/q/ or /k/) and a "c morru" (/ts/) that remained in about seventy words common enough to appear in the document. Official standardization took place in 1889, as part of wider education and societal reforms. By this point, however, the spellings of the Royal Lexicon were by far the most common in the country. The standardized language protocol allows for three officially recognized dialects, each of which has itself a degree of standardization. All government publications and official commerical documents are required to be in standard Maurit by law, although certain regionalisms do appear in print with regularity.

Othography and phonology

Maurit uses a version of the standard Romantish alphabet as its alphabet. Owing to its Semetic and Hellanesian substrata, the standard alphabet is in a different order than its Romantish counterpart. A few glyphs also represent different sounds than what is found in most Romantish languages. The Maurit alphabet contains 26 letters:

Aa • Bb • Gg • Dd • Ee • Ff • Zz • Hh • Ṭṭ • Ii • Yy • Kk • Ll • Mm • Nn • Ss • Oo • Pp • Cc • Qq • Rr • Xx • Tt • Uu • Vv • Ww

The language has one digraph, ⟨au⟩ that operates as a single sound (/ɔ/). The digraph is included on the chart below on account of its singular sound, but it is not a constituent member of the alphabet in its own right. The digraph ⟨au⟩ is distinguished from the diphthong ⟨aù⟩ by the use of a diacritic. Diacritics do not alter the sound of the vowel in any other instances and are not considered separate letters.

Maurit alphabet

Letter	A	B	G	D	E	F	Z	H	Ṭ
Maurit name	alfa	beya	gama	dela	e	fa	zaya	hes	ṭeya
Phonetic value	/aː/	/b/	/g/	/d/	/e/, /ɛ/	/f/	/z/	/h/	/θ/
Letter	I	Y	K	L	M	N	S	O	P
Maurit name	id	yod	kaù	la	me	nu	so	oì	pe
Phonetic value	/i/	/j/	/k/	/l/	/m/	/n/	/s/	/o/	/p/
Letter	C	Q	R	X	T	U	V	W	AU
Maurit name	ce	quf	rex	xix	taya	umea	ve	uà
Phonetic value	/t͡s/	/q/	/r/, /ɾ/	/ʃ/	/t/	/uː/ or /y/	/v/	/w/	/ɔ/

Regionally pronounced as /χ/

Although not a unique entry in the alphabet, it is the only digraph in Maurit that represents a single sound. A diphthong of /a/ and /u/ is represented by ⟨aù⟩ to distinguish it from the digraph.

Pronounced as /ʔ/ in interior dialects or allophonic with /k/ in southern cities.

When not marked by a diacritic, syllabic accents are always on the penultimate syllable. There are two notable points to explain: if words end in ⟨i⟩ plus another vowel (⟨–ia⟩, ⟨–io⟩, ⟨–iu⟩), the two vowels together are treated as a single syllable in function; and diacritics mark syllabic accents in places other than the prescribed rule. The type of diacritic used to indicate a rising or falling inflection on the accent, but this fell out of use by the sixteenth century outside aristocratic circles. In modern practice, the direction of diacritic is simply useful to distinguish homophones in written or printed text.

Grammar

Word order

Basic word order: Primary word order in Maurit is verb–subject–object (VSO). Compound sentences that have subordinate clauses or negative conjunctions flip the verb to the end. Interrogatives (questions) also use a subject–object–verb (SOV) structure to mark their syntactic role. In some cases, participles can be separated from their auxiliary verbs with the subject and object in between.

Amat Diana maritu seu. ("Diana loves her husband.")

Amat Diana maritu seu qi xartografiam desinnat. ("Diana loves her husband who draws maps.")

Diana xartografiam desinnat? ("Does Diana draw maps?")

At Diana xartografiam desinnadu. ("Diana has drawn maps.")

Modifiers: In most cases, adjectives follow the noun that is being modified. The exceptions are all numbers, all determiners, and a set collection of eleven words. Adjective order is important in most cases, as well. Quantities, some subjective opinion words (e.g. "beautiful"), some words related to size or age proceed the noun, while size, shape, color, and material follow. If a noun has a prepositional clitic attached to it, non-numerical adjectives that proceed it also receive the clitic. Similarly, most adverbs follow the verb that is being modified. In instances of auxiliary verbs, the adverb follows the auxiliary verb and not the participle.

Declensions and conjugations

Nouns: In Maurit, nouns can decline (be altered) based on number. Number is marked in three values: singular, dual, and plural. A dual number indicates two of something and is marked by the addition of ⟨–n⟩. In rare cases if a noun ends in a consonant other than ⟨r⟩, the original accent is marked by a diacritic on the accented syllable, and the ⟨–en⟩ suffix is added to indicate a dual number. Plural suffixes indicate three or more of a noun and are marked by ⟨–m⟩ or, in the rare instance, ⟨–em⟩.

Construct state: Nouns also can decline to indicate grammatical possession by using a construct state on the possessed noun. Construct states affect the first of two nouns only and are not used with pronouns. An example would be the phrase "the hill of the queen." Another way to say it is "the queen's hill," with the ⟨'s⟩ added to indicate which item is possessing. Contrastingly, Maurit marks the possessed item with a suffix. The phrase in Maurit would be "sa qollinat melka," where "hill" (qollina) is marked as the possessed item and not "queen" (melka). There are two potential suffixes that can be added, each reflecting a relation between the two nouns. The construct suffix is added after the dual or plural suffix.

Affix	Explanation	Example
⟨–s⟩	Used primarily in formal instances. Indicates that the first noun is on behalf of the second noun or standing in representation of the second noun.	su documentus linnarore ("the carpenter's identification papers")
	Uncommon. Indicates that the first noun is a general or communal gift from or on behalf of someone.	sa donatios su linnarore ("the carpenter's donation")
⟨–t⟩	Indicates that the first noun is a constituent part or portion of the second noun.	su qappot su linnarore ("the head of the carpenter")
	Indicates that the first noun is a owned by or in bond with the second noun.	sa famiriat su linnarore ("the family of the carpenter")

Pronouns and verbs: It is common in Maurit sentences to exclude a pronoun if it is the subject of a sentence. This is permitted because the pronoun is implied by the conjugation of the verb by person and number. The exception is with the verb essere ("to be"). This verb is highly irregular and is typically dropped when in the present perfect and always when a pronoun is the subject. Essere is not dropped, however, when the verb is in a different tense or mood; it is also not dropped when an auxiliary verb. It is considered extremely bad etiquette in particular to say "seo eo" (I am) in virtually any setting.

Desinno xartografiam. ("I draw maps.") Not desinno eo xartografiam.

Eo xartografiadoro. ("I am a cartographer.") Not seo eo xartografiadoro.

Qi et? Eo mihi. ("Who is? I am [lit. I myself].")

Sample translation

Excerpt from "Life, A Modern Fable" (by Alessa Purpurioi, 1999)

Ingerish text

Maurit text

They have seen and have conquered it all: the sea, the land, and the sky. Boats traverse the waves and cross the oceans. One could say every bay has a city, and every river has a village. From their cities and villages come roads and railways. Valleys are filled with their farms, and mountains host their games. The roads and railways connect them all. But, even the sky is theirs. They take to the sky and travel to places far away, connecting other people like themselves: people who have seen and have conquered it all.

An bidu u an bintu issom ad-onne: sam ṭassam, sam terram, u su qelu. Abbulant nabem as-undam u as-ṭassam. Didicit iste qisqu'abaya una urbe ayé, u qisque frumme unu uiku ayé. Erradiant sam viam u sam ferruviam es-urbem u es-uikum. Et ballem ad-agrom issorum impreu, u hospitant sum harm yogum issorum. Qoligent sam viam u sam ferruviam al-onne. Mai, issoru su qelu et. Micint ad-qelu upos abbulant al-loqotarem lonyetàm, qoligando ad-genti arteru siqut issomque: unu genti qi ad-onne an bidu u an bintu.

Reading Maurit on the map

Directions and map legend

Maurit word	Translation	Notes
ausriu nm	south
ausru, –a adj	southern
bolebro nm	southeast
brealiu; breu nm	north
breu, –a adj	northern
disi nm	west
kauru nm	northwest
ocidenci, –a adj	western
orienci, –a adj	eastern
solano nm	east
tarfe nm	southwest
tramutta nm	northwest

Physical geography and landforms

Maurit word	Translation	Notes
abaya nf	bay
akta nf	beach
arbolaria nf	forest
arbore nm	tree
arrupe nf	cliff
arxipèlago nm	archipelago
balle nf	broad valley
desertu nm	desert
emka nf	valley	heights on three sides
fossa nf	canal
frumme nf	river
har nm	mountain	Regionally: hor
isla nf	island	d: iln; p: ilm
istannu nm	lagoon
laqu nm	lake	Diminutive: laquna (nf)
litoria nm	coast
nama nf	stream
okeana nf	ocean
pratu nm	meadow	Regionally: praù
praya nf	shoreline
qambu nm	field	Contracted to qamb– in proper names
qappo nm	peninsula	Cognate of "head"
qelu nm	sky
qollina nf	hill
sol nm	sun
ṭassa nf	sea

Materials and products

Maurit word	Translation	Notes
aer nm	air	Most commonly in the irregular plural (arim)
auru nm	gold
ferru nm	iron
fosfro nm	phosphorus
ismaraggi nm	emerald
karpa nm	cotton
lepi nm	rock
linnu nm	wood
maya nf	water	Most commonly in the plural (mayam)
olibe nf	olive
petra nf	stone
pixe nm	fish
purpura nf	purple dye
saxu nm	pebble

Political and social geography

Maurit word	Translation	Notes
albilla nm	village
alegatia nf	embassy
biqu nm	neighborhood
cibitate nm	citizenship
dobana nf	customs
etno nm	nationality
famiria nf	family
géneya nf	clan	Familiar division below tribe
geno nm	tribe	Familiar division below nation
isorio nm	boundary
mauro, –a adj	Mauro ethnicity
mauroi adj	ethnicity of those with Mauro culture	Occasionally declines to maurai
medna nf	city center
metròpoli nf	metropolis
natio, –onala adj	national
nationa nf	nation
pago nm	country
poli nf	city (generic)
probincia nf	province	Learned form, since 16th c.
pubrane nm	ward	Division of city
qolna nf	city with rights
qommune nm	community, settlement
uiku nm	hamlet, settlement
urbe nf	town	Also, city but without rights
–i suffix	defines ethnicity or progeny of a people group

Transportation and movement geography

Maurit word	Translation	Notes
abenida nf	avenue
anella nf	ring, ring road
ariaportu nm	airport
autodroma nf	motorway	Originally autovia, hence nf
bikuklodrome nm	cycleway
cirqu nm	roundabout
ferrovia nf	railroad
isqambiatoro nm	interchange
israta nf	highway
isrintu nm	alley
istatio nm	train station
nodu nm	junction, intersection
pevia nm	footway, sidewalk
peyodrome nm	running track
ponte nm	bridge
porṭémino nm	ferry, ferryboat
portu nm	port
qalla nf	street
sedaro nm	boulevard
via nf	road

Buildings and facilities

Maurit word	Translation	Notes
agro nm	farm
amfiṭeatro nm	amphitheater
basiliqa nf	basilica
biblioṭeqa nf	library
domu nm	house
emporio nm	market
eqlicia nf	church	Regionally, "eklicia"
foro nm	forum
frabilia nf	forge
funtana nf	fountain
galleria nf	mall
horto nm	garden
hospitale nm	hospital
introtto nm	entrance
isperqa nf	climbing parapet
isqola nf	school
istadiu nm	stadium
mayemeya nf	marina
murru nm	wall
museo nf	museum
osaria nf	cemetery	Lit. "place of bones"
palacia nf	palace
parqe nm	park
porta nf	door
pracia nf	plaza
pulla nf	gate in city walls
qapella nf	chapel
qasra nm	castle
qatedrala nf	cathedral
qentenaria nf	pasture
tempru nm	temple
ṭeatro nm	theatre
terrebevarm nmpl	catacomb, burial ground
turre nm	tower
università nf	university

Miscellaneous words

Maurit word	Translation	Notes
albu, –a adj	white
bellu, –a adj	beautiful
bene adv	well
betru, –a adj	old
birdi, –a adj	green
bonu, –a adj	good
kalaino, –a adj	cyan, turquoise
kianeo, –a adj	blue
melka nf	queen
meloke nm	king
nigru, –a adj	black
niu, nea adj	new
numa nf	Maureti currency
prannu, –a nm	flat
rosso, –a adj	red
sansu, –a n	saint