Motsian Language

The Language of Motsian

Natively known as: mots /moːts/

...and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind...

lo ha puws pǎpåt ha ketthi lo chǎch ha håǎt lal iå che

Pronunciation: /loː haː puːws ˈpəpɜt haː ˈkeːtthiː loː ʧəʧ haː ˈhɜət laːl ˈiːɜ ʧeː/

Motsian word order: and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face the wind to

Spelling & Phonology

Consonant inventory: h k l m n p s t w z ʤ ʧ

Manner/Place

Bilabial:

Nasal = m

Stop = p

Alveolar:

Nasal = n

Stop = t

Fricative: s z

Lateral Approximant = l

Palato-alveolar:

Affricate = ʧ ʤ

Velar:

Stop = k g

Glottal

Fricative = h

Co-articulated phonemes

Manner/Place Labial-velar

Approximant = w

Vowel inventory: aː eː iː oː uː ə ɜ

Co-articulated phonemes

Manner/Place: Labial-velar

Approximant = w

Front:

High = iː

High-mid = eː

Low = aː

Central:

Mid = ə

Low-mid = ɜ

Back:

High = uː

High-mid = oː

Pronunciation/ Spelling

aː = a

e = e

i = i

o = o

u = u

ɜ =

å

ə = ǎ

ʤ = j

ʧ = ch

Vː = VV

Nouns

Singular:

No affix

molz /moːlz/

dog

Plural:

Reduplicate first part of first syllable

momolz /ˈmoːmoːlz/

dogs

Articles

Definite:

pa /paː/

the

Indefinite :

kas /kaːs/

a, some

Uses of definite article that differ from English:

• Used for personal names in third person: 'The Maria has left for school'

• Used for languages: 'The English'

• Used with place names: 'The London'

Pronouns

Nominative Accusative

1st singular :

mo /moː/

I hum /huːm/

me

2nd singular:

mu /muː/

you ki /kiː/

you

3rd singular masc:

ha /haː/

he, it me /meː/

him, it

3rd singular fem:

chatm /ʧaːtm/

she, it po /poː/

her, it

1st plural :

cho /ʧoː/

we chu /ʧuː/

us

2nd plural:

pa /paː/

you all mi /miː/

you all

3rd plural:

ko /koː/

they på /pɜ/

them

Possessive determiners

1st singular

mo /moː/

my

2nd singular:

mu /muː/

your

3rd singular:

masc ha /haː/

his

3rd singular:

fem chatm /ʧaːtm/

her

1st plural:

cho /ʧoː/

our

2nd plural:

pa /paː/

your (pl)

3rd plural:

ko /koː/

their

Verbs

Present No affix

mǎnza /ˈmənzaː/

learn

Past If ends with vowel: Suffix -ws

Else: Suffix -iːws

mǎnzaws /ˈmənzaːws/

learned

Remote past Suffix -oːn

mǎnzaon /mənˈzaːoːn/

learned (long ago)

Future Suffix -uː

mǎnzau /mənˈzaːuː/

will learn

Progressive aspect

The 'progressive' aspect refers to actions that are happening at the time of speaking, such as I am learning.

Motsian uses a standalone particle word for progressive:

Progressive Particle before the verb: liː -

li mǎnza /liː ˈmənzaː/

is learning

Habitual aspect

The 'habitual' aspect refers to actions that happen habitually, such as I learn (something new every day), as opposed to actions that happen once (I learned something).

Motsian uses an affix for habitual:

Habitual If ends with vowel: Suffix -ws

Else: Suffix -uːws

mǎnzaws /ˈmənzaːws/

learns

Perfect aspect

The perfect aspect in English is exemplified in 'I have read this book', which expresses an event that took place before the time spoken but which has an effect on or is in some way still relevant to the present.

Motsian uses an affix for the perfect aspect:

Perfect Reduplicate first part of first syllable

mǎmǎnza /məˈmənzaː/

have learned

Numbers

Motsian has a base-20 number system:

1 - pǎ

2 - lǎ

3 - pu

4 - mes

5 - hǎ

6 - kålpt

7 - pezt

8 - chǎ

9 - chemsu

10 - pach

11 - kåot

12 - chusplemå

13 - lǎws

14 - chozǎj

15 - chiklehlålp

16 - kuts

17 - kelj

18 - lastka

19 - pej

20 - hazo

21 - hazopǎ "twenty-one"

400 - håh "fourhundred"

401 - håh lo pǎ "fourhundred and one"

800 - lǎ håh "two fourhundred"

8000 - piz "eightthousand"

Derivational morphology

Adjective → adverb = Suffix -uːn

Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = Suffix -aː

Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Suffix -eːʤ

Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = Suffix -ɜʧ

Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Suffix -eːnʧ

Noun to verb = If ends with vowel: Suffix -h

Else: Suffix -aːh

Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = Suffix -ə

Tending to = Suffix -aːtm

Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -lz

Else: Suffix -eːlz

Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -t

Else: Suffix -uːt

One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Suffix -ə

Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = Suffix -aːh

Diminutive = Suffix -aːz

Augmentative = Suffix -aː

Motsian - English Dictionary

Key: spelling /pronunciation/ part of speech. definition(s)

adj. adjective | adv. adverb | art. article | conj. conjunction | det. determiner | interj. interjection | n. noun | num. numeral | prep. preposition | pron. pronoun | v. verb

• a /aː/ v. think, consider, analyze, ponder, inspect, scrutinize, assume

• åhlihka /ɜˈhliːhkaː/ n.cost

• ålp /ɜlp/ n. bug

• ǎlz /əlz/ n. subject

• ǎnno /ˈənnoː/ v. fire (from job)

• ǎs /əs/ n. thunder

• åszåtelz /ɜsˈzɜteːlz/ n.service

• aws /aːws/ n. scale (instrument for weighing)

• chǎ /ʧə/ num. eight

• chåeizt /ʧɜˈeːiːzt/ n.cauldron

• chåi /ˈʧɜiː/ n. recipe

• chǎka /ˈʧəkaː/ n.range, spectrum, extent

• chål /ʧɜl/ n. standard, average, model

• chǎlp /ʧəlp/ n. cloud

• chǎlpt /ʧəlpt/ conj.when

• cham /ʧaːm/ n. finger, toe, hook

• chǎmlesks /ˈʧəmleːsks/ n. vagina

• chamwe /ˈʧaːmweː/n. style, design, grace

• chǎnktame /ʧənkˈtaːmeː/ n. guide

• chånspoa /ʧɜnsˈpoːaː/n. trunk (of tree)

• chåpplu /ˈʧɜppluː/ n.south

• chås /ʧɜs/ v. write

• chǎspt /ʧəspt/ prep.inside

• chåt /ʧɜt/ n. bottle

• chåtto /ˈʧɜttoː/ adj.general, generic

• chǎwsǎ /ˈʧəwsə/ n.conquest

• chǎzt hos /ʧəzt hoːs/n. copyright

• chelpå /ˈʧeːlpɜ/ n.effort

• chenjmå /ˈʧeːnʤmɜ/v. know (be acquainted with)

• cheps /ʧeːps/ v. cut, slash

• chews /ʧeːws/ n. bar (pub)

• chil /ʧiːl/ n. debt

• chin /ʧiːn/ v. could

• chis /ʧiːs/ n. tool, appliance

• cho /ʧoː/ det. our

• chol /ʧoːl/ n. tree, wood

• chomch /ʧoːmʧ/ adj.popular

• chosks /ʧoːsks/ num.billion

• chozǎj /ˈʧoːzəʤ/ num.fourteen

• chuktsus /ˈʧuːktsuːs/v. moan

• chulwå /ˈʧuːlwɜ/ n.cat

• chumoa /ʧuːˈmoːaː/ n.height

• chupech /ˈʧuːpeːʧ/prep. beside

• chutm /ʧuːtm/ v.lean, tilt, drift

• ej /eːʤ/ n. side, border, boundary

• ens /eːns/ adv. away

• ha /haː/ det. his

• håch /hɜʧ/ n.environment

• haj /haːʤ/ v. include

• hǎlå /ˈhəlɜ/ n. flavor

• halj /haːlʤ/ v. like, enjoy

• hǎlplǎ /ˈhəlplə/ v.jump, leap

• hǎlzah /ˈhəlzaːh/ v.weigh

• hamwet /ˈhaːmweːt/n. frost

• hankletunz /haːnˈkleːtuːnz/ v. carry

• hånz /hɜnz/ adj. nice

• hås /hɜs/ n. mind

• hastki /ˈhaːstkiː/ v.miss (not hit), miss (not take advantage of)

• hǎt potmå /hət ˈpoːtmɜ/ n. astronomy

• haws /haːws/ n.prostitute

• håzt /hɜzt/ n. rate

• hek /heːk/ n. team, couple, gang

• hema /ˈheːmaː/ n.silence

• hesklå /ˈheːsklɜ/ v.understand, comprehend

• hijåch /ˈhiːʤɜʧ/ adj.successful

• himch /hiːmʧ/ v.separate, divide, segregate, isolate

• hinthǎch /ˈhiːnthəʧ/ v.order

• hisptatm /ˈhiːsptaːtm/adj. careful

• hiwzåh /ˈhiːwzɜh/ adj.big, great (very large), huge, massive, enormous, heavy, popular

• holps /hoːlps/ n. tooth

• hontwǎnch /ˈhoːntwənʧ/ n. line, wire

• hotm /hoːtm/ adj.white

• huanǎ /huːˈaːnə/ n.visitor

• hultåt /ˈhuːltɜt/ adj.rare, funny

• hunza /ˈhuːnzaː/ n.candy, vagina (slang)

• hutthåpa /huːttˈhɜpaː/n. minute

• iksmo /ˈiːksmoː/ v. let, allow (let), enable

• isnå /ˈiːsnɜ/ v.appreciate

• izu /ˈiːzuː/ n. race, ethnicity

• kåch /kɜʧ/ n. joint

• kaj /kaːʤ/ n. bird

• kǎl /kəl/ n. hunger

• kǎlmnilz /ˈkəlmniːlz/n. discovery

• kålpt /kɜlpt/ num. six

• kåm /kɜm/ n. elbow

• kǎmchelz /ˈkəmʧeːlz/n. explanation

• kǎmu /ˈkəmuː/ n. toy

• kǎnch /kənʧ/ n.throne

• kǎns /kəns/ n.interest

• kǎnuk /ˈkənuːk/ n.dirt

• kåp /kɜp/ adj.attractive

• kas /kaːs/ det. a, some

• kǎskt /kəskt/ n. castle, palace

• kǎssulps /ˈkəssuːlps/v. crack

• kåsts /kɜsts/ adj. light (weight), easy

• kǎtm /kətm/ n. law

• kåttǎ /ˈkɜttə/ n.holiday, vacation

• kǎz /kəz/ n. return

• kechut /ˈkeːʧuːt/ n. lie

• kelkel /ˈkeːlkeːl/ v.suggest

• kems /keːms/ n.trouble

• kes /keːs/ n. front, facade

• ki /kiː/ pron. you

• kij /kiːʤ/ n. match (for fire)

• kilz /kiːlz/ n. shade, shadow, hue

• kipǎ /ˈkiːpə/ v. miss (long for)

• kitlmelpt /ˈkiːtlmeːlpt/ v.emphasize

• kokmu /ˈkoːkmuː/ n.justice

• kon /koːn/ n. right, entitlement, privilege

• koselz /ˈkoːseːlz/ n.destruction

• ku /kuː/ v. would

• kuh /kuːh/ prep. like

• kulmǎ /ˈkuːlmə/ n.athlete

• kunw /kuːnw/ n.book, magazine, manual

• kut /kuːt/ v. embrace

• lǎ /lə/ num. two

• låh /lɜh/ v. leave (let remain), abandon, desert

• laka /ˈlaːkaː/ v.display, expose, show off, advertise, demonstrate, reveal

• lalj /laːlʤ/ v. clean

• lalps /laːlps/ v. ask (enquire), inquire, consult

• lålwǎpa /lɜˈlwəpaː/ n.shoe, boot

• låmip /ˈlɜmiːp/ v. send

• lån /lɜn/ n. eyelid

• lånla /ˈlɜnlaː/ n.campaign, crusade

• lǎnthunzelz /ləntˈhuːnzeːlz/ n. value

• laps /laːps/ adj.normal, regular

• låsa /ˈlɜsaː/ n.happiness

• lǎt /lət/ v. start, begin

• latmimǎ /laːtˈmiːmə/n. bitch

• låws /lɜws/ v. agree, compromise

• lechi /ˈleːʧiː/ n.poison, venom

• lelch /leːlʧ/ adj. free

• lemstoskt /ˈleːmstoːskt/ n.attitude

• leps /leːps/ v. guess, estimate, predict

• lich /liːʧ/ n. plan, tactic

• lilmiǎ /liːlˈmiːə/ n.letter (of an alphabet)

• lis /liːs/ v. teach, instruct, educate, train

• loch chap /loːʧ ʧaːp/n. lower class

• loltså /ˈloːltsɜ/ n. size

• lonw /loːnw/ v. focus, aim, attempt, intend

• loth /loːth/ n. present (time)

• luchmo /ˈluːʧmoː/ n.compliment

• luksmǎ /ˈluːksmə/ n.cigarette

• lumch ems /luːmʧ eːms/ n. pub

• luts /luːts/ n. bill, check

• maåaåch /ˌmaːɜˈaːɜʧ/adj. long

• maesks /ˈmaːeːsks/ n.tower

• mǎk /mək/ v. gain, earn

• måkspe /ˈmɜkspeː/prep. despite

• mål /mɜl/ n.forehead, brow

• mǎlp /məlp/ n.husband

• mǎlts /məlts/ v.remember

• mǎmǎ /ˈməmə/ n.dragon

• mams /maːms/ n.piece, member

• månaz /ˈmɜnaːz/ adj.cheap

• måno /ˈmɜnoː/ v. keep (not return)

• manz /maːnz/ n. cell, compartment

• mǎp /məp/ v.respond, answer, reply

• måsǎ /ˈmɜsə/ adj.frequent

• mǎspu /ˈməspuː/ v.share

• math /maːth/ v. lead

• mawå /ˈmaːwɜ/ v. ask (request), request, ask (invite)

• måzǎ /ˈmɜzə/ n. task, chore

• mehǎntså /meːˈhəntsɜ/ n. manner

• meltsi liklǎ /ˈmeːltsiː ˈliːklə/ n. footprint

• mep /meːp/ n. shore

• mettǎts /ˈmeːttəts/ v.defecate

• mih /miːh/ n. activity

• milp /miːlp/ n.hallway, corridor, lobby

• mintke /ˈmiːntkeː/ n.sleep

• miz /miːz/ n. cloth, material

• mohwo /ˈmoːhwoː/ n.cabinet, drawer

• molz /moːlz/ n. dog

• molzaz /ˈmoːlzaːz/ n.puppy

• mops /moːps/ v.catch, capture, seize

• mot /moːt/ n. altitude

• mu /muː/ det. your

• muh /muːh/ n. thing, stuff, property, object, item

• mumǎ /ˈmuːmə/ v.drag, pull, tow

• mups /muːps/ adv.somewhat, fairly, pretty

• muzunch /ˈmuːzuːnʧ/n. sand

• oltsa /ˈoːltsaː/ n. apple

• openz /ˈoːpeːnz/ n.present, gift, souvenir

• otm /oːtm/ v. chase

• pa /paː/ det. your (pl)

• pachǎ /ˈpaːʧə/ n.square, block, brick

• pǎh /pəh/ v. build, construct, erect, mold

• pahwanzench /paːˈhwaːnzeːnʧ/ adj.economic

• pal /paːl/ n. night, evening

• pålp /pɜlp/ n. site, location

• pamch /paːmʧ/ adv.why

• pan /paːn/ adv. ever

• påns /pɜns/ v. hide, lurk

• pånzla /ˈpɜnzlaː/ n.ant

• påps /pɜps/ v. choose, select

• pǎsks /pəsks/ n.match (game), contest

• pǎt /pət/ v. roast

• pǎtu /ˈpətuː/ n.intervention

• pǎz /pəz/ n. phone

• peh /peːh/ n. wall, barrier

• pelz /peːlz/ n.perception

• pespt /peːspt/ n.ground

• pi /piː/ adv. not

• piljǎ /ˈpiːlʤə/ n.editor

• pis /piːs/ v. help, assist, cater, improve

• pis /piːs/ n. help

• poj /poːʤ/ v. wear, put on

• pons /poːns/ adj.round

• potut /ˈpoːtuːt/ n.drawing

• puhtu /ˈpuːhtuː/ n.beast

• pumi /ˈpuːmiː/ n.industry

• pus /puːs/ det. same

• puts /puːts/ adj. stiff, stubborn, sturdy

• uh u /uːh uː/ n. dusk

• un /uːn/ n. thigh

• uts /uːts/ adj. whole, entire