Chrol

Sample Text

Chrol

grych kkakkac-kkakkac gchan 6een jryylgryj c'ykkykr. ngan kcrolk'aes grych krk'vkh kgan ckvk. krcryl k'yk'ac krcryl k'yk'ac gchan 6een, kyyl k'yk'ac gchan kcrolk'aes jryylcyg ckvk. jryylcyg gheghlok' gool k'yk'ac xaech, ngan jwwx c'akqnen krcryl chkwk kgan 6een, krcryl gheghlok'. craecraecr ckvk krcryl xaggaal gchan kcrolk'aes jryylqyn ggaeklal. kyyl sses, krcryl krk'vkh kgan 6een jryylcyg ccwclal, ngan ggryj kcrolk'aes jryylgryj ccwclal-ccwclal kyyl krk'vkh xaech gchan ckvk. ngan 6een krcryl craeq grsak kgan ggryj kcrolk'aes. ggoo6vx 6een krcryl jlwkcoc khwkrol c'akqnen khwkrol c'akqnen.

ngan c'akqnen krcryl craeq-craeq-gcoc gool nlajrgog kgan cocrlwq lelgyg gaxlax kgan kkex lelgyg gaxlax. ngan nlvvl x6okhchech gool krk'vkh gchan 6een, ngan c'akqnen khwkrol ggac chkwk kyyl chkwk, ngan x6okhcheech khwkrol ggryj krcryl grkae6 xaech kgan 6een. nlvvl-nlvvl krvl c'vk' gchan x6okhcheech!

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

grych

kkakkac

gchan

6een

jryylgryj

c'ykkykr

PAST.NARR

walk

CONT

NOM

troll.same.clan

LOC

field

A troll was walking in a field.

ngan

kcrolk'aes

grych

krk'vkh

kgan

ckvk

ACC

fire.demon

PAST.NARR

see

ERG

3RD

He saw a fire-demon.

krcryl

k'yk'ac

krcryl

k'yk'ac

gchan

6een

PRES.NARR

run

PRES.NARR

run

NOM

troll

He started running,

kyyl

k'yk'ac

gchan

kcrolk'aes

jryylcyg

ckvk

PRES.REL

run

NOM

fire.demon

ALL

3RD

the demon chasing.

jryylcyg

gheghlok'

gool

k'yk'ac

xaech

ALL

cliff

PAST.REL

run

SUCCESS

Running up to a cliff,

ngan

jwwx

c'akqnen

krcryl

chkwk

kgan

6een,

krcryl

gheghlok'

ACC

long

branch

PRES.NARR

grasp

ERG

troll,

PRES.NARR

fall

the troll grabbed a vine and fell.

craecraecr

ckvk

krcryl

xaggaal

gchan

kcrolk'aes

jryylqyn

ggaeklal

MAL

3RD

PRES.NARR

growl

NOM

demon

ELL

above

The demon was growling at him from above.

kyyl

sses,

krcryl

krk'vkh

kgan

6een

jryylcyg

ccwclal

PRES.REL

tremble,

PRES.NARR

look

ERG

troll

ALL

down

Trembling, the troll looked down,

ngan

ggryj

kcrolk'aes

jryylgryj

ccwclal

kyyl

krk'vkh

xaech

gchan

ckvk

ACC

another

demon

LOC

down

PRES.REL

see

SUCC

NOM

3RD

where he saw another demon far below.

ngan

6een

krcryl

craeq

grsak

kgan

ggryj

kcrolk'aes

ACC

troll

PRES.NARR

eat

WANTING

ERG

other

demon

The other demon was waiting to consume the troll.

ggoo6vx

6een

krcryl

jlwkcoc

khwkrol

c'akqnen

khwkrol

c'akqnen

BEN

troll

PRES.NARR

save

INSTR

branch

INSTR

branch

Only the vine was sustaining the troll.

ngan

c'akqnen

krcryl

craeq

gcoc

gool

nlajrgog

kgan

cocrlwq

lelgyg

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

nlvvl

x6okhchech

gool

krk'vkh

gchan

6een

ACC

tasty

mushroom

PAST.REL

see

NOM

troll

The troll saw a tasty mushroom,

ngan

c'akqnen

khwkrol

ggac

chkwk

kyyl

chkwk

ACC

branch

INSTR

one

hand

PRES.REL

hold

Holding the branch with one hand,

ngan

x6okhcheech

khwkrol

ggryj

krcryl

grkae6

xaech

kgan

6een

ACC

mushroom

INSTR

other

PRES.NARR

pick

SUCC

ERG

troll

the troll picked the mushroom with his other hand.

nlvvl

krvl

c'vk'

gchan

x6okhcheech

tasty

NARR.PRES

SURPRISING

NOM

mushroom

It was so very tasty!

I. Phonology

I.1 Vowels

Practical Orthography

X-Sampa

	Front			Back
High			y	w
Mid	e		v		o
Low		ae		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	j	g	6
Voiceless	c	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 (ch), Ejective (c'), or Rhoticized (cr).
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	gchan
Dative	k'vgyn
Benefactive	ggoo6vx
Malefactive	craecraecr
Instrumental	khwkrol
Locative	jryylgryj
Allative	jryylcyj
Ellative	jryylqyj
Vocative	ccocok

There is no grammatical number marking on nominals (except for pronouns). To stress the number, 6xaj (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, ckvk-ckvk they.)

Person	Pronoun
1st	lyq
2nd	6ax
3rd	ckvk

Notice also that forms such as lyq-6ax, lyq-ckvk, lyq-lyq-6ax, lyq-6ax-6ax, lyq-lyq-6ax-6ax, etc. are also used sometimes.

III. Verbal Morphology

Verb Tense-Mood preverbal particles:

	Absolute	Narrative	Relative	Hypothetical
Past	gwc	grych	gool	k'eq
Present	kcvl	krcryl	kyyl	qvj
Future	6oj	6ryjh	6aeael	jrog

Copula forms:

	Absolute	Narrative	Relative	Hypothetical
Past	-wc	-krwc	-wcol	-wc'eq
Present	-vl	-krvl	-vlyk	-vlvg
Future	-oj	-kroj	-ojael	-ojrog

Postverbals:

Negative	c'aeaes
Imperative/Hortative	nqaek'
Success	xaech
Trying	gcoc
Wanting	grsak
Surprising	c'vk'
Often	(Reduplicate Tense-Mood Particle)
Continuous	(Reduplicate Verb)
Question (see below)	xoncon

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

Sentence-final evidentials:

General knowledge l6wkkvk'

First-hand, visual l6okkokh

First-hand, nonvisual l6yckvkh

Hearsay l6ekcak

Inference l6eccek

Maybe l6eq'vkr

Doubtful n6aejgaekr

General knowledge	l6wkkvk'
First-hand, visual	l6okkokh
First-hand, nonvisual	l6yckvkh
Hearsay	l6ekcak
Inference	l6eccek
Maybe	l6eq'vkr
Doubtful	n6aejgaekr

IV. Syntax

IV.1. Misc.

Basic OVS word order.

Comparatives are formed by full-word reduplication.
Superlatives are formed by appending krkwc 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 xoncon, with proclitic form -coon.

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: xoncon/-coon
Negative (no: 67): c'aeaes
Universal (every): xonkrjran/-jraan
Indefinite (any: 589): lonseen/-seen
Indefinite (some: 123): lonqwwn/-qwwn
Indefinite (what: 345): xlonccon/-coon

V. Examples

Extensive example:

Orthography	ngan	ckvk	gwc	grkae6	gcoc	kgan	lyq-lyq	l6okkok'
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 ckvk gwc grkae6 - grkae6 gcoc kgan lyq-lyq l6okkok' .

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

We were trying to claw him.
ngan ckvk gwc - gwc grkae6 gcoc kgan lyq-lyq l6okkok' .

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

We often tried to claw him.
ccocok (krk'vkh)! Hey!/Ho!/Hullo!/Hello! (standard greeting)
ccocok krk'vkh! kcvl gvgjaan k'vgyn lyq! Hey! That's my gold!
kcvl gheghlok' nqaek' kgan 6ax, ngan 6ax jrog craeq-grkae6-chkwk xaech kgan lyq! Put it down or I'll bite, claw, and rend you!
kcvl 6lvq - 6lvq gchan lyq , kcvl c'aeaes - 6lvq gchan 6ax l6wkkvk' .

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

I am stronger than you.
kcvl 6lvq - 6lvq - krkwc gchan lyq .

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

I am the strongest.
xoncon ngan ckvk gwc grkae6 kgan 6ax (l6eq'vkr)? Did you claw him?
ngan-coon ckvk gwc grkae6 kgan 6ax? Who did you claw?
ngan ckvk gwc grkae6 xoncon kgan 6ax? How did your clawing of him go?
jryylgryj crool-wc gchan ckvk l6ekcak He was on fire, they say.
kcvl gvgjaan k'vgyn lyq .

PRES.ABS gold DAT 1ST .

The gold is mine.
grych q'wqr c'vk' gchan 6xajjgryj6xaj chkwk jryylgryj ckvk !

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

He had 3 arms! (telling a story)
ngan *kryn* kcvl nlvvl-grsak kgan gaxlax l6wkkvk' Cats enjoy eating cream. (kryn for "cream" is a borrowing)
lelgyg-vl gchan gaxlax l6okkokh. ngan c'aeaes qvj craeq-c'aeaes kgan gaxlax l6eccek. ngan *kryn* qvj craeq-c'aeaes-c'aeaes l6eccek. This cat is thin, so he must not have eaten much of anything, much less cream.

VI. Sample Lexicon

6hlaalaan: lips; to talk/argue/think
grkae6: claw; to claw/pick
craeq: tooth; to bite/chew/eat
chkwk: arm; to rend/hold/grasp
krk'vkh: eye; to see/look
gheghlok': cliff; to drop/fall
xaggaal: throat; to growl/yell
laalgrlan: ear; to hear/listen
nlajrgog: nose; to start/begin
nlvvl: tongue; tasty; to lick
grsakjjel: stomach; to want
kkakkac: leg/foot; to walk/kick
jlwkcoc: comrade/friend; to save/help/aid
gvgjaan: gold
k'yckyn: hole/cave/dwelling
6lvq: big/large/strong/good
caeae6: sword/dagger/knive
crool: fire
: acid (lit. "cold fire")
cyylvj: armor/shield
q'wqr: to be attached
sses: to tremble/shake
cocrlwq: day/white/light
kkex: night/black/dark
ggryj: another/other
qqac: this (contrasting with ggryj)
lelgyg: small
gaxlax: cat/dog/etc. ("small gaxlax" = mouse/rat/etc.)
ggaeklal: up/above/sky
ccwclal: down/below/ground/earth
k'yk'ac: to run
6een: troll, same clan, adult
6enxvk: troll, different clan, adult
c'ae6en: troll, exiled
q'crwn: troll, same clan, non-adult
q'crwnxvk: troll, different clan, non-adult
kcrolk'aes: fire-demon
c'ykkykr: field/etc.
c'akqnen: tree/branch (vine=long branch)
jwwx: long
x6okhchech: mushroom

Numerals:

6xaj: 1
grgen6aj: 2
6xajjgryj6xaj: 3
grgen6ajgryj6xaj: 4
grgen6ajgryjgrgen6aj: more than 4

Main Conlang Page

Apollo Hogan, Berkeley, California, USA