3
Balkvlain language
PronunciationVOWELS:
A = 'a' in father [a]
E = 'e' in ten [e]
I = 'e' in he [i]
O = 'o' in more [o]
U = 'oo' in pool [ u ]
' = glottal stop [ʔ]
CONSONANTS:
H = 'h' in hall [h]
K = 'c' in coffee [k]
L = 'l' in line [l]
M = 'm' in more [m]
N = 'n' in no [n]
P = 'p' in port [p]
W = 'w' in way [w]
Phonology:
* | Labial | Alveolar | Velar | Glottal |
Nasal | m | n | ||
Stop | p | k | ʔ | |
Fricative | h | |||
Sonorant | w | i |
Vowels:
* | Front | Central | Back |
High | i | u | |
Mid | e | o | |
Low | a |
Verbs
Every verb is regular and follows the pattern
Verb Conjugation
Verb | Non-Past Affirmative | Non-Past Negative | Past Affirmative | Past Negative |
Hahulalu (to talk) | Hahulalu | Hahulana | Hahulala | Hahulalana |
Komelu (to eat) | Komelu | Komene | Komele | Komelene |
Wiwilu (to live) | Wiwilu | Wiwini | Wiwili | Wiwilini |
Kaluwewu kehelu hahulalu meno i ekukukalu maku = Maybe you should talk less and listen more.
Ia pokene welu ua'pelikula kinu komelu po'puko'onu = She can't watch a movie without eating popcorn.
Alukuna kame pokene wiwilu kienu anoku = Some turtles can live over hundreds of years.
PRESENT:
1) To express an action that is being done at the very moment
2) To express an action that is regularly or habitually done
3) To express a general truth
4) To present a historical fact
5) To express any future action
6) To express uncertainty or probability
7) To use as a command, prohibition or obligation
8) To express courtesy
PAST:
1) To express an action that occurred in the past
2) To describe the past
3) An action that interrupted another action
4) To express an action that is already completed
Grammatical mood and voice are expressed by the tone of the speaker.
Indicative mood: plain, normal tone
Subjunctive mood: singsong and flowing, slightly higher in pitch
Imperative mood: rigid and forceful, slightly lower in pitch
Active voice: emphasis on the topic
Passive voice: emphasis on the subject
Nouns
All nouns can be turned into adverbs by adding the suffix "me'ke"
Adjectives
The dictionary forms of adjectives all end in -i.
Non-Past Affirmative | Non-Past Negative | Past Affirmative | Past Negative |
Honitoi | Honitonai | Honitota | Honitonata |
Mi kaka lohoi = my red house
Determiners
Definite Articles:
Singular: -'oo
Plural: -'aa
Indefinite Articles:
Singular: ua'-
Plural: ua'mau-
DEMONSTRATIVES
Kono = this; that
Ano = that over there
POSSESSIVES
1st person singular/plural: mi-
2nd person singular/plural: ku-
3rd person singular/plural: ku-
PRONOUNS (all pronouns are added after the noun)
1st person singular: -au
2nd person singular: -oe
3rd person singular: -ia
1st person plural: -ka'u
2nd person plural: -ka'oe
3rd person plural: -ka'ia
Syntax
Balkvlain follows a "subject-verb-object" order.
Example sentences
