Chrol

Sample Text

Chrol

g^rιč^H kkakkač-kkakkač gč^Han γeen ĵ^rιιlg^rιĵ č⁷ιkkιk^r. ngan kč^rolk⁷æs g^rιč^H k^rk⁷υk^H kgan čkυk. k^rč^rιl k⁷ιk⁷ač k^rč^rιl k⁷ιk⁷ač gč^Han γeen, kιιl k⁷ιk⁷ač gč^Han kč^rolk⁷æs ĵ^rιιlčιg čkυk. ĵ^rιιlčιg g^Heg^Hlok⁷ gool k⁷ιk⁷ač xæč^H, ngan ĵωωx č⁷akqnen k^rč^rιl č^Hkωk kgan γeen, k^rč^rιl g^Heg^Hlok⁷. č^ræč^ræč^r čkυk k^rč^rιl xaggaal gč^Han kč^rolk⁷æs ĵ^rιιlqιn ggæklal. kιιl sses, k^rč^rιl k^rk⁷υk^H kgan γeen ĵ^rιιlčιg ččωčlal, ngan gg^rιĵ kč^rolk⁷æs ĵ^rιιlg^rιĵ ččωčlal-ččωčlal kιιl k^rk⁷υk^H xæč^H gč^Han čkυk. ngan γeen k^rč^rιl č^ræq g^rsak kgan gg^rιĵ kč^rolk⁷æs. ggooγυx γeen k^rč^rιl ĵlωkčoč k^Hωk^rol č⁷akqnen k^Hωk^rol č⁷akqnen.

ngan č⁷akqnen k^rč^rιl č^ræq-č^ræq-gčoč gool nlaĵ^rgog kgan čoč^rlωq lelgιg gaxlax kgan kkex lelgιg gaxlax. ngan nlυυl xγok^Hč^Heč^H gool k^rk⁷υk^H gč^Han γeen, ngan č⁷akqnen k^Hωk^rol ggač č^Hkωk kιιl č^Hkωk, ngan xγok^Hč^Heeč^H k^Hωk^rol gg^rιĵ k^rč^rιl g^rkæγ xæč^H kgan γeen. nlυυl-nlυυl k^rυl č⁷υk⁷ gč^Han xγok^Hč^Heeč^H!

Semi-literal Translation

One of our trolls was leg-legging in a field. He eyed a fire-demon. Our troll runs, he runs, fire-demon is running after him. Ran up to a cliff, our troll arms a long branch, falling. The fire-demon is throating from above at him. Trembles, our troll eyes downward, he eyes another fire-demon, down-down. That fire-demon is wanting to tooth our troll. For our troll, was saving with the branch! But starting-trying-toothing the branch, a small white animal, a small black animal. Our troll eyed a tonguey mushroom, with one hand, handling the branch, our troll claws the mushroom up with the other hand. Wow, it is tonguey-tonguey mushroom!

Interlinear

g^rιč^H

kkakkač

gč^Han

γeen

ĵ^rιιlg^rιĵ

č⁷ιkkιk^r

PAST.NARR

walk

CONT

NOM

troll.same.clan

LOC

field

A troll was walking in a field.

ngan

kč^rolk⁷æs

g^rιč^H

k^rk⁷υk^H

kgan

čkυk

ACC

fire.demon

PAST.NARR

see

ERG

3RD

He saw a fire-demon.

k^rč^rιl

k⁷ιk⁷ač

k^rč^rιl

k⁷ιk⁷ač

gč^Han

γeen

PRES.NARR

run

PRES.NARR

run

NOM

troll

He started running,

kιιl

k⁷ιk⁷ač

gč^Han

kč^rolk⁷æs

ĵ^rιιlčιg

čkυk

PRES.REL

run

NOM

fire.demon

ALL

3RD

the demon chasing.

ĵ^rιιlčιg

g^Heg^Hlok⁷

gool

k⁷ιk⁷ač

xæč^H

ALL

cliff

PAST.REL

run

SUCCESS

Running up to a cliff,

ngan

ĵωωx

č⁷akqnen

k^rč^rιl

č^Hkωk

kgan

γeen,

k^rč^rιl

g^Heg^Hlok⁷

ACC

long

branch

PRES.NARR

grasp

ERG

troll,

PRES.NARR

fall

the troll grabbed a vine and fell.

č^ræč^ræč^r

čkυk

k^rč^rιl

xaggaal

gč^Han

kč^rolk⁷æs

ĵ^rιιlqιn

ggæklal

MAL

3RD

PRES.NARR

growl

NOM

demon

ELL

above

The demon was growling at him from above.

kιιl

sses,

k^rč^rιl

k^rk⁷υk^H

kgan

γeen

ĵ^rιιlčιg

ččωčlal

PRES.REL

tremble,

PRES.NARR

look

ERG

troll

ALL

down

Trembling, the troll looked down,

ngan

gg^rιĵ

kč^rolk⁷æs

ĵ^rιιlg^rιĵ

ččωčlal

kιιl

k^rk⁷υk^H

xæč^H

gč^Han

čkυk

ACC

another

demon

LOC

down

PRES.REL

see

SUCC

NOM

3RD

where he saw another demon far below.

ngan

γeen

k^rč^rιl

č^ræq

g^rsak

kgan

gg^rιĵ

kč^rolk⁷æs

ACC

troll

PRES.NARR

eat

WANTING

ERG

other

demon

The other demon was waiting to consume the troll.

ggooγυx

γeen

k^rč^rιl

ĵlωkčoč

k^Hωk^rol

č⁷akqnen

k^Hωk^rol

č⁷akqnen

BEN

troll

PRES.NARR

save

INSTR

branch

INSTR

branch

Only the vine was sustaining the troll.

ngan

č⁷akqnen

k^rč^rιl

č^ræq

gčoč

gool

nlaĵ^rgog

kgan

čoč^rlωq

lelgιg

gaxlax

kgan

kkex

gaxlax

ACC

branch

PRES.NARR

chew

CONT

TRYING

PAST.REL

start

ERG

white

small

cat

ERG

black

cat

A white mouse and a black mouse started gnawing bit-by-bit through the vine.

ngan

nlυυl

xγok^Hč^Heč^H

gool

k^rk⁷υk^H

gč^Han

γeen

ACC

tasty

mushroom

PAST.REL

see

NOM

troll

The troll saw a tasty mushroom,

ngan

č⁷akqnen

k^Hωk^rol

ggač

č^Hkωk

kιιl

č^Hkωk

ACC

branch

INSTR

one

hand

PRES.REL

hold

Holding the branch with one hand,

ngan

xγok^Hč^Heeč^H

k^Hωk^rol

gg^rιĵ

k^rč^rιl

g^rkæγ

xæč^H

kgan

γeen

ACC

mushroom

INSTR

other

PRES.NARR

pick

SUCC

ERG

troll

the troll picked the mushroom with his other hand.

nlυυl

k^rυl

č⁷υk⁷

gč^Han

xγok^Hč^Heeč^H

tasty

NARR.PRES

SURPRISING

NOM

mushroom

It was so very tasty!

I. Phonology

I.1 Vowels

Practical Orthography

X-Sampa

	Front			Back
High			ι	ω
Mid	e		υ		o
Low		æ		a

	Front			Back
High			1	M
Mid	E		@		O
Low		a		Q

Vowels can occur short or long. Long vowels are written by repeating the vowel.

I.2 Consonants

In the tables below, where appropriate, pairs are given of voiceless and voiced.

Practical Orthography

X-Sampa

	Palatal Affricate	Velar Stop	Uvular Stop
Voiced	ĵ	g	γ
Voiceless	č	k	q

	Palatal Affricate	Velar Stop	Uvular Stop
Voiced	d-\Z	g	G\
Voiceless	t-\S	k	q

Each of the above consonants can occur: Plain (c), Aspirated (c^H), Ejective (c⁷), or Rhoticized (c^r).
There are also three uvular non-obstruents, and one fricative:

l /L\/
x /R/
n /N\/
s /x\/

I.3 Remarks

Syllable canon is C(C)V(C) or CV:(L), where L denotes one of l,x,n,s.
All word-final syllables must be closed.
Note that geminate consonants have double release. (For example, in kkal, there are two distinct releases for the k.)
Stress is on the initial syllable.

II. Nominal Morphology

III.1 Case Marking

Case is marked on nouns via preposed particles:

Case	Particle
Ergative	kgan
Accusative	ngan
Nominative	gč^Han
Dative	k⁷υgιn
Benefactive	ggooγυx
Malefactive	č^ræč^ræč^r
Instrumental	k^Hωk^rol
Locative	ĵ^rιιlg^rιĵ
Allative	ĵ^rιιlčιĵ
Ellative	ĵ^rιιlqιĵ
Vocative	ččočok

There is no grammatical number marking on nominals (except for pronouns). To stress the number, γxaĵ (one) is used. To show plurality, either the exact number or many may be used, or one can topicalize the nominal and indicate number on the corresponding pronoun, (e.g. "troll, they are ..." for "trolls are...").

III.2 Pronouns

Plurality is indicated on pronouns by reduplication. (For example, čkυk-čkυk they.)

Person	Pronoun
1st	lιq
2nd	γax
3rd	čkυk

Notice also that forms such as lιq-γax, lιq-čkυk, lιq-lιq-γax, lιq-γax-γax, lιq-lιq-γax-γax, etc. are also used sometimes.

III. Verbal Morphology

Verb Tense-Mood preverbal particles:

	Absolute	Narrative	Relative	Hypothetical
Past	gωč	g^rιč^H	gool	k⁷eq
Present	kčυl	k^rč^rιl	kιιl	qυĵ
Future	γoĵ	γ^rιĵ^H	γææl	ĵ^rog

Copula forms:

	Absolute	Narrative	Relative	Hypothetical
Past	-ωč	-k^rωč	-ωčol	-ωč⁷eq
Present	-υl	-k^rυl	-υlιk	-υlυg
Future	-oĵ	-k^roĵ	-oĵæl	-oĵ^rog

Postverbals:

Negative	č⁷ææs
Imperative/Hortative	nqæk⁷
Success	xæč^H
Trying	gčoč
Wanting	g^rsak
Surprising	č⁷υk⁷
Often	(Reduplicate Tense-Mood Particle)
Continuous	(Reduplicate Verb)
Question (see below)	xončon

The Negative marker is also used with nouns and other word elements, to which it is appended.

Sentence-final evidentials:

General knowledge lγωkkυk⁷

First-hand, visual lγokkok^H

First-hand, nonvisual lγιčkυk^H

Hearsay lγekčak

Inference lγečček

Maybe lγeq⁷υk^r

Doubtful nγæĵgæk^r

General knowledge	lγωkkυk⁷
First-hand, visual	lγokkok^H
First-hand, nonvisual	lγιčkυk^H
Hearsay	lγekčak
Inference	lγečček
Maybe	lγeq⁷υk^r
Doubtful	nγæĵgæk^r

IV. Syntax

IV.1. Misc.

Basic OVS word order.

Comparatives are formed by full-word reduplication.
Superlatives are formed by appending k^rkωč to the comparative form.
To say that X is A-er than Y, use the form: X is A-er, Y is not A.
For the Equative (X is as A as Y is), use the form: Y is A-er, X is A-er

IV.2. Questions

The basic question word/particle is xončon, with proclitic form -čoon.

Sentence-initially it behaves as a general (yes/no) question former. The sentence is then often marked with the "Maybe" evidential.
It can appear as a noun, case-marked, in which case it is acts as a "Wh"-word, e.g. who/what/etc.
It can occur in the post-verbal slot, indicating "How".
It can appear as the verb, forming a general question.

IV.3. Correlatives

Question: xončon/-čoon
Negative (no: 67): č⁷ææs
Universal (every): xonk^rĵ^ran/-ĵ^raan
Indefinite (any: 589): lonseen/-seen
Indefinite (some: 123): lonqωωn/-qωωn
Indefinite (what: 345): xlonččon/-čoon

V. Examples

Extensive example:

Orthography	ngan	čkυk	gωč	g^rkæγ	gčoč	kgan	lιq-lιq	lγokkok⁷
Interlinear	ACC	3RD	ABS.PAST	claw	TRYING	ERG	1ST.PL	VIS.WITNESS
Free Translation	We tried to claw him, (I was there).
X-SAMPA	N\gQN\ tSk@k gMtS gr\kaG\ gtSOtS kgQN\ L\1q-L\1q L\G\OkkOk_>
IPA

ngan čkυk gωč g^rkæγ - g^rkæγ gčoč kgan lιq-lιq lγokkok⁷ .

ACC 3RD PAST.ABS claw - claw TRYING ERG 1ST.PL 1STHAND.VIS .

We were trying to claw him.
ngan čkυk gωč - gωč g^rkæγ gčoč kgan lιq-lιq lγokkok⁷ .

ACC 3RD PAST.ABS - PAST.ABS claw TRYING ERG 1ST.PL 1STHAND.VIS .

We often tried to claw him.
ččočok (k^rk⁷υk^H)! Hey!/Ho!/Hullo!/Hello! (standard greeting)
ččočok k^rk⁷υk^H! kčυl gυgĵaan k⁷υgιn lιq! Hey! That's my gold!
kčυl g^Heg^Hlok⁷ nqæk⁷ kgan γax, ngan γax ĵ^rog č^ræq-g^rkæγ-č^Hkωk xæč^H kgan lιq! Put it down or I'll bite, claw, and rend you!
kčυl γlυq - γlυq gč^Han lιq , kčυl č⁷ææs - γlυq gč^Han γax lγωkkυk⁷ .

PRES.ABS strong - strong NOM 1ST , PRES.ABS NEG - strong NOM 2ND GEN.KNWLDGE .

I am stronger than you.
kčυl γlυq - γlυq - k^rkωč gč^Han lιq .

PRES.ABS strong - strong - -EST NOM 1ST .

I am the strongest.
xončon ngan čkυk gωč g^rkæγ kgan γax (lγeq⁷υk^r)? Did you claw him?
ngan-čoon čkυk gωč g^rkæγ kgan γax? Who did you claw?
ngan čkυk gωč g^rkæγ xončon kgan γax? How did your clawing of him go?
ĵ^rιιlg^rιĵ č^rool-ωč gč^Han čkυk lγekčak He was on fire, they say.
kčυl gυgĵaan k⁷υgιn lιq .

PRES.ABS gold DAT 1ST .

The gold is mine.
g^rιč^H q⁷ωq^r č⁷υk⁷ gč^Han γxaĵĵg^rιĵγxaĵ č^Hkωk ĵ^rιιlg^rιĵ čkυk !

PAST.NARR be.attached SURPRISING NOM three arm LOC 3RD !

He had 3 arms! (telling a story)
ngan *k^rιn* kčυl nlυυl-g^rsak kgan gaxlax lγωkkυk⁷ Cats enjoy eating cream. (k^rιn for "cream" is a borrowing)
lelgιg-υl gč^Han gaxlax lγokkok^H. ngan č⁷ææs qυĵ č^ræq-č⁷ææs kgan gaxlax lγečček. ngan *k^rιn* qυĵ č^ræq-č⁷ææs-č⁷ææs lγečček. This cat is thin, so he must not have eaten much of anything, much less cream.

VI. Sample Lexicon

γ^Hlaalaan: lips; to talk/argue/think
g^rkæγ: claw; to claw/pick
č^ræq: tooth; to bite/chew/eat
č^Hkωk: arm; to rend/hold/grasp
k^rk⁷υk^H: eye; to see/look
g^Heg^Hlok⁷: cliff; to drop/fall
xaggaal: throat; to growl/yell
laalg^rlan: ear; to hear/listen
nlaĵ^rgog: nose; to start/begin
nlυυl: tongue; tasty; to lick
g^rsakĵĵel: stomach; to want
kkakkač: leg/foot; to walk/kick
ĵlωkčoč: comrade/friend; to save/help/aid
gυgĵaan: gold
k⁷ιčkιn: hole/cave/dwelling
γlυq: big/large/strong/good
čææγ: sword/dagger/knive
č^rool: fire
: acid (lit. "cold fire")
čιιlυĵ: armor/shield
q⁷ωq^r: to be attached
sses: to tremble/shake
čoč^rlωq: day/white/light
kkex: night/black/dark
gg^rιĵ: another/other
qqač: this (contrasting with gg^rιĵ)
lelgιg: small
gaxlax: cat/dog/etc. ("small gaxlax" = mouse/rat/etc.)
ggæklal: up/above/sky
ččωčlal: down/below/ground/earth
k⁷ιk⁷ač: to run
γeen: troll, same clan, adult
γenxυk: troll, different clan, adult
č⁷æγen: troll, exiled
q⁷č^rωn: troll, same clan, non-adult
q⁷č^rωnxυk: troll, different clan, non-adult
kč^rolk⁷æs: fire-demon
č⁷ιkkιk^r: field/etc.
č⁷akqnen: tree/branch (vine=long branch)
ĵωωx: long
xγok^Hč^Heč^H: mushroom

Numerals:

γxaĵ: 1
g^rgenγaĵ: 2
γxaĵĵg^rιĵγxaĵ: 3
g^rgenγaĵg^rιĵγxaĵ: 4
g^rgenγaĵg^rιĵg^rgenγaĵ: more than 4

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Apollo Hogan, Berkeley, California, USA