Snakonic

I. Phonology

There are 7 classes of sound segments:

Class	Practical Orthography	X-SAMPA
0	a / e / i	`6_0 / @_0 / 1_0`
1	t	`T`
2	sj / s / sy	`s_+ / s / s_-`
3	cj / c / cy	S / s` / C
4	x / z	`x / x\`
5	h / q / l	`h / ? / l_0`
6	m / n / r	`m_0 / n_0 / r_0`

All segments can be of one of four lengths: short (s' [s_X]), normal (s [s]), long (s: [s:]), double (s:: [s::]). Syllables have onset of the form C(C(C)) or C:(C) or C:: and coda of the form ((C)C)C or (C)C: or C::, where C is any segment (short or normal length) from class 1-6, subject to the proviso that no two adjacent consonants may come from the same class. Syllable nuclei are of the form V' or V or V: or V::. For example,

s:tis:: = [s:T1_0s::] = ()
s:almi:sy::rah = [s:6_0 . l_0m_01_0:s_-:: . r_0a_0h] = ()
s'casjt = [s_Xs`6_0s_+T] = ()
But forbidden is *sjsar since sj and s are both class 2

II. Verbal Morphology

Verbs have the form: Subject-(Object)-(IndObj)-Re/Irr-Verb-Aspect-Tense-Mode (Person markers are separated by -i- for topic and -é- otherwise.) With the following markers:

Person/Number
Person	Sing	Dual	Plur	Hive
1	-s-	-s:-	-s::-	-s'-
2	-cj-	-cj:-	-cj::-	-cj'-
3	-h-	-h-	-x-	-x-
-	-q-	-q-	-q-	-l-

Aspect
Completed	-qa-
Non-completed	- -
Habitual	-rere-

Tense
Past	-mi-
Nonpast	- -

Re/Irr
Realis	- -
Irrealis	-t:aqa-

Mode
Assert	-za
Evid(2)	-m:ta
Evid(3)	-qi:sy
Evid(1)	-x:naqma
Neg	-x:qi
Doubt	-sji:ml:et:
Assum	-hemt:sa
Deduced	-qár:xhi::

III. Syntax

III.1. Question Particle

The standard way to form a question is: s::t:sj - sentence - s:t:sj

III.2. Warning Particle

A particle of warning is qáqáqáq

IV. Examples

Sample Sentences

séhs:tiza = I see her.
séhta:qas:tix:qi = I don't see her.
séhs:tiqamiza = I saw her.
séhta:qas:tiqamix:qi = I didn't see her.
sixtar:ci:qamix:naqma = I was bitten by the hive.
hiqtar:ci:qamiqi:sysji:ml:et: = They say they(2) were bitten (but I doubt it).
xéta:qasa:mix:qihemt:sa = Apparently there was no hive.
s::t:sj - s:ticj - s:t:sj = Do you smell that?
lsaarereza = hive lives (there)!
qáqáqáqsixtar:ci:xcjel::ázti:nraqamix:naqmaqáqáqáq = I killed them, biting and poisoning; so watch out...!

qáqáqáq

tar:ci:

xcjel::á

zti:nra

-qa

-mi

-x:naqma

qáqáqáq

WARNING

1sg-

TOPIC-

3pl-

REALIS-

bite

poison

kill

-COMPLET

-PAST

-EVID(1)

WARNING

I killed them, biting and poisoning; so watch out...!

V. Sample Lexicon

Verbs

sa:: to be
s:ti: to smell/see
tar:ci:: to bite
xcjel::á: to poison
zti:nra: to kill

Main Conlang Page

Apollo Hogan, Berkeley, California, USA