The ECL0 language

cþF34 (2023-12-09)

Experimental Conlang 0 (tentative name).

Orthography and phonology

Letter	IPA
a	a
b*	b
d	d
e	e
f*	f
g	g
h	h (+ ʲ → ç)
i	i
k	k
l	r (word-initially) ~ l (elsewhere)
m	m
n	n (+ ʲ → ɲ)
o	o
p*	p
r	ɹ (+ ʲ → j)
s	s (+ ʲ → ʃ)
t	t
u	u
v*	v
x	ɬ
z	z (+ ʲ → ʒ)

Table 1: Alphabet of ECL0 with IPA values. Asterisks indicate letters used only in loanwords.

Syllable structure is (C)(C)V(V)(N), where

the onset clusters allowed are dl, dr, gl, gr, kl, kr, sk, sl, sm, sn, st, tl, tr, zd, zg, zl, zm, and zn, plus bl, br, fl, fr, pl, pr, vl, vr in loanwords
the codas allowed are k, l, n, r, s, t, and z
the diphthongs allowed are ai, ei, oi, ui, ia, ie, and iu. An i as the first vowel in a diphthong palatalizes the preceding consonant. An i as the second vowel in a closed syllable palatalizes the coda and is not pronounced: kia → [kʲa], kai → [kai̯], kain → [kaɲ], kair → [kai̯].

Nouns

ECL0 nouns have eight cases as outlined by Table 2.

Name	Use
Direct	The unmarked form of the noun: S in intransitive clauses, A in accusative clauses, and O in ergative clauses.
Accusative	O in accusative clauses.
Ergative	A in ergative clauses.
Dative	The R argument of a ditransitive verb.
Possessive	Indicates possession. Not used for composition or description (uses derived adjectives instead) or for kinship relationships (uses a dedicated preposition).
Partitive	Used to indicate a whole from which a part is derived (e.g. many of the people) or something that is measured (e.g. a cup of tea, a group of men). Also used in place of the accusative when the action is irresultative, O is nonspecific, or O is modified by a small numeral.
Locative	Indicates the location of something.
Vocative	Used for addressing something or someone. This form is often identical to the nominative form.

Table 2: The cases of ECL0.

Across all paradigms, most nouns are pluralized by prepending the vowel of the initial syllable if the root is consonant-initial or prepending x if vowel-initial. A few nouns, however, have suppletive forms.

Declension class I (vowel-final nouns)

Case	Ia	Ib	Ic
Direct	-a	-ia	-u
Accusative	-e	-ie	-on
Ergative	-ak	-ek	-uk
Dative	-an	-in	-un
Possessive	-o	-o	-o
Partitive	-i	-i	-ui
Locative	-az	-iz	-uz
Vocative	-∅*	-e	-u

Table 3: Declensions for class I.

For class Ia nouns, the vocative form has a null affix if phonotactics permit; otherwise, it has the same affix as the direct case.

Declension class II (non-vowel-final nouns)

The final consonant of the stem has two variants: one used for the direct and vocative forms and the other used for the rest.

Label	Dir/Voc	Others
a	n	m
b	n	n
c	t	d
d	s	t
e	s	st
f	k	h
g	k	g
h	z	r
i	l	l
j	∅	h

Table 4: Consonant grades in ECL0.

Case	Suffix
Direct	-∅
Accusative	-a
Ergative	-u
Dative	-ui
Possessive	-e
Partitive	-ai
Locative	-ez
Vocative	-∅

Table 5: Declensions for class II.

Verbs

Verbs are conjugated for person, number, alignment, tense, polarity, and evidentiality. Direct evidentiality is unmarked, while indirect evidentiality is marked with the affix -og- after the verb stem. Imperatives require specifying the purported beneficiary of the desired action: A for the speaker, B for the listener, or C for a third party.

				Polarity / Number
				Affirmative		Negative
Mood	Tense	Alignment	Person	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Indicative	Present	Accusative	1	-az	-at	-azmai	-asmai
			2	-ak	-at	-akmai	-asmai
			3	-e	-ei	-emai	-imai
		Ergative	*	-a	-ai	-amai	-amai
	Past	Ergative	*	-ar	-air	-armai	-armai
Subjunctive	Present	Accusative	1	-uz	-uiz	-uzrai	-uzrei
			2	-uk	-ui	-ukrai	-urei
			3	-ui	-ut	-urei	-ukrai
		Ergative	*	-el	-eil	-elai	-elei
	Past	Ergative	*	-as	-ais	-atrai	-atrei
Imperative	Present	Accusative	A	-ok	-ake	-okrai	-akerai
			B	-on	-eke	-onnai	-ekerai
			C	-at	-uke	-atrai	-ukerai

Table 6: Conjugation of verbs in ECL0.

Lexicon

znaha, znahe: n. sun