Averdonyan 3: Verbs: view article

Scholars have long debated which came first: the thing (noun) or the action (verb). Priests need point no further than the existence of the primal god, Taor, to prove that being (which is the quintessential rung on the Celestial Ladder) came first. For what is a verb without an agent to set it into motion? Moreover, Taor inscribed story glyphs upon the fabric of creation to invoke acts of creation, and each story glyph symbolizes a thing: Yailaam (the Word), Julkuun (the Fire), and so forth. Taken from this perspective, the thing preceded the action.

Few have dared to challenge this doctrinally-supported thesis, although a complementary interpretation has been suggested that the story glyphs betoken actions as much as they do things. The Word summons forth truth and understanding. The Fire blazes and reshapes the landscape. In the temporal plane, things can be defined as much by how they act on their environment as by their substance. Hheith (the Axe) symbolizes power because it cuts. In this way, each object represented by the story glyphs symbolizes a related action. For what is the Galienahtinga if not a story? And what is a story but a sequence of happenings?

If the story glyphs (which are considered to be indestructible artifacts of creation) also incorporate action, perhaps this helps to explain why Averdonyan verbs demonstrate a high degree of immutability. Each verb possesses a root form (which English would call an infinitive) that does not change regardless of conjugation, tense or aspect (with a few exceptions). Averdonyan verbs echo that same principle in nouns (which tend to have an unchanging core that takes endings), although tense formation depends upon auxiliary particles to a far greater degree.

[edit] [top]Root Form and Basic Conjugation

In its root form, the Averdonyan verb functions as both an infinitive and the basic unit in the formation of predicates where the subject is a common or proper noun. The root does not conjugate in either case (since Averdonyan does not possess a gender or class system).

e.g.
>DC.
daa (to be)

The man is old.
>NXNxk;GZN;DC.
Nenek gin daa.
nɛnɛk gɪn dɑ
Old man is.

>RO.
ruo (to have)

The girl has blue eyes.
>LAyo;KEV;avROyun;RO.
Leiyuo kiiv avruoyun ruo.
leɪjəʊ kiv ævrɔɪʌn rəʊ
Girl blue eyes have.

>leYCN.
liiyaan (to read)

The boy wants to read the book.
>RPN;MXLzk;yfMXQ;leYCN.
Ron melik yuumeth liiyaan.
run mɛlɪk jəmɛθ lijɑn
Boy book want read.

In the last example, both the primary verb (yuumeth - to want) and the secondary infinitive (liiyaan - to read) both exist in root form.

This immutability does not change when the verb takes a nominative pronoun. In fact, pronoun predicates are formed in exactly the same way as nouns with possessive pronouns (again with a couple of exceptions):

e.g.
>XNgxl.
engel (to understand)

1S	2S/P	3M	3F	1P	3P
>XNgxlZm.	XNgxlEs.	XNgxlA	XNgxlO	XNgxlZq	XNgxlEd
engelim	engeliis	engelei	engeluo	engelith	engeliid
ɛŋɛlɪm	ɛŋɛlis	ɛŋɛleɪ	ɛŋɛləʊ	ɛŋɛlɪθ	ɛŋɛlid

In this way, the pronouns (im, iis, ei, etc..) serve as both nominative and possessive pronouns. This further mirroring of noun and verb structure additional credence to the theory that the story glyphs represent both an object and a corresponding action.

The Inevitable Exceptions, Part 1

It has been said that exceptions prove the rule. This is largely a secular argument (since the immutability of the divine realm brooks no exceptions) but it is absolutely the case in a couple of Averdonyan's most common verbs. Perhaps frequent usage and the laziness of mortal beings have cracked this immutability in the same way that men find it difficult to cleave always to the way of virtue.

i.e.
>DC.
daa (to be)

1S	2S/P	3M	3F	1P	3P
>DCM.	DES.	DA	DO	DCQ	DED
daam	diis	dei	duo	daath	diid
dɑm	dis	deɪ	dəʊ	dɑθ	did

>RO.
ruo (to have)

1S	2S/P	3M	3F	1P	3P
>ROM.	ROS.	ROya	ROyo	ROQ	ROyed
ruom	ruos	ruoyei	ruoyuo	ruoth	ruoyiid
rəʊm	rəʊs	rɔɪeɪ	rɔɪəʊ	rəʊθ	rɔɪid

e.g.
I am an artist.
>SHTIMerGzn;DCM.
Shtaimiirgin daam.
ʃtaɪmirgɪn dɑm
Artist am I.

He has poor hearing.
>WCRzsh;HCLzd;ROya.
Waarish haalid ruoyei.
wɑrɪʃ hɑlɪd rɔɪeɪ
Poor hearing has he.

Every other Averdonyan verb in the present tense is immutable and follows the rules set forth above.

[edit] [top]Verbs Tenses

The Present Tense

ROOT or VARIANT FORM

The present tense is used to indicate an action currently happening, a present or general state, or a habitual action that continues into the present. It is formed using only the root form of the verb or the variant form of the root, as shown above.

The Imperative Mood

ROOT FORM - VERB FIRST IN SENTENCE ORDER

The imperative mood is a subset of the present tense and indicates a command or request. It also uses the root form of the verb. It does, however, change the expected sentence order from OBJECT - SUBJECT - VERB to VERB - OBJECT.

e.g.
Come here!
~KHXL;ENo`
Khel iinuo!
t͡ʃɛl inəʊ
Come here!

e.g.
Introduce me to your father!
~gfROV;NEyxm;aa;HAGznEs`
Guuruov niiyem aa heiginiis!
gərəʊv nijɛm ɑ heɪgɪnis
Introduce me to father your!

The Past Tense

"MUO" + ROOT FORM or VARIANT FORM

The past tense expresses an action that has happened or a state that previously existed. It is used when making a general statement without regard to how long ago it happened in the past. With most verbs, it is formed by preceding the root form of the verb with the past auxiliary particle, "muo", although a few exceptions to that rule exist which encapsulate the past in a single, variant form. The past particle is always an unstressed syllable.

e.g.
I wanted to be an artist.
>SHTIMerGzn;mo;yuuMXQzm;DC.
Shtaimiirgin muo yuumethim daa.
ʃtaɪmirgɪn məʊ jəmɛθɪm dɑ
Artist [past particle] want I be.

They got very sad when their cat died.
>TE;mo;VAKHxlEd;,;TOMe;LBPGrznEd;mo;CGor.
Tii muo veikheliid, tuomii laogriniid muo aaguor.
ti məʊ veɪt͡ʃɛlid təʊmi laʊgrɪnid məʊ ɑgəʊr
Very [past particle] become sad they, when cat their [past particle] die.

The Inevitable Exceptions, Part 2

Like the present tense, the past tense is largely uniform but with the following variants:

>DOV.
daa (to be) > duov

>RCL.
ruo (to have) > raan

>JXN.
jed (to go) > jin

>YUL.
yin (to do) > yul

Past variants do not take the past auxiliary particle:

e.g.
She was angry.
>ASHxk;DOVo.
Ashek duovuo.
æʃɛk dəʊvəʊ
Angry was she.

The Near Past Tense

"NAA" + ROOT or VARIANT PAST FORM

Actions that have only recently been done relative to the present moment are expressed using the root or variant past form preceded immediately by the past particle auxiliary, "naa". "Naa" takes the place of "muo" in all regular constructions, i.e. one does not say "naa muo engelim", but "naa engelim" (I just understood). The recent past particle is always an unstressed syllable.

e.g.
I just remembered what she said.
>Nc;vfVCNzm;,;TCGre;muo;RESo.
Naa vuuvaanim, taagrii muo riisuo.
nɑ vəvɑnɪm tɑgri məʊ risəʊ
[recent past particle] Remember I what [past particle] say she.

He just went to the hill.
>BndxleCNe;nc;JZNa.
Andeliiaanii naa jinei.
ændɛliɑni nɑ ʒɪneɪ
Hill toward [recent past particle] went he.

The Distant Past Tense

"KEI" + ROOT or VARIANT PAST FORM

Actions long removed from the present, usually by a gulf of years or even centuries, are expressed using the root or variant past form preceded immediately by the past particle auxiliary, "kei". This tense is found most often in historical and fictional accounts; in speech, it tends to be used in storytelling and exaggeration to communicate a feeling of antiquity. "Kei" takes the place of "muo" in all regular constructions, just like with the recent past. The distant past particle is always an unstressed syllable.

e.g.
The war began that year (long ago).
>HHORxg;cgKhalxvXLe;ka;TAV.
Hhuoreg aagkheilevelii kei teiv.
xəʊrɛg ɑgt͡ʃeɪlɛvɛli keɪ teɪv
War that year in [distant past particle] begin.

(Once upon a time) An old man lived by a mountain.
>NXNgzn;BndxlCNe;ka;MOG.
Nengin andelaanii kei muog.
nɛŋɪn ændɛlɑni keɪ məʊg
Elder mountain near [distant past particle] dwell.

Yes, I loved you (but that's ancient history).
>GRXN;,;NEyps;ka;kfRPQzm.
Gren, niiyos kei kuurothim.
grɛn nijus keɪ kəruθɪm
Yes, you [distant past particle] love I.

The Past Anterior Tense

"MUO" or "NAA" or "KEI" + ROOT or VARIANT PAST FORM + "RAAN"

The past anterior tense describes actions that happened before another action in the past. It can refer to actions described in the past tense "muo", the near past tense "naa" or the distant past tense "kei". Past anterior using "kei" is similarly deployed in historical accounts, storytelling, etc.. Whichever past auxiliary is used (or none if a variant form is required), the past anterior is formed by adding "raan" after the root or variant form, whether conjugated or not. The past auxiliary particle is always an unstressed syllable, but the past anterior root is always stressed.

e.g.
He had not heard about her death.
>CgrznYCRo;mo;HCLa;RCL.
Aagrinyaaruo muo haalei raan.
ɑgrɪɲɑrəʊ məʊ hɑleɪ rɑn
Death of her [past particle] hear he [past anterior particle].

I had just eaten when they arrived.
>nc;HCRqzm;RCL;TOMe;mo;DXGed.
Naa haarthim raan tuomii muo degiid.
nɑ hɑrθɪm rɑn təʊmi məʊ dɛgid
[near past particle] eat I [past anterior particle] when [past particle] arrive they.

There had been eighty-three men and now there were only thirteen (long ago).
>MXRo;KRETa;GZNyun;ka;CGdov;RCL;,;OJf;MEyf;ALyf;GBLxk;ka;CGdov.
Meruo kriitei ginyun kei aagduov raan, uojuu miiyuu eilyuu galek kei agduov.
ɛrəʊ kriteɪ gɪɲʌn keɪ ɑgdəʊv rɑn əʊʒə mijə eɪljə gælɛk keɪ ægdəʊv
Three eighty men [distant past particle] there were [past anterior particle], and thirteen now only [distant past particle] there were.

The Future Tense

"SAA" + ROOT FORM or VARIANT FORM

The future tense expresses an action that has not yet happened or a state that does not yet exist. Unlike the past tense, the future does not show gradients of form based on distance in time, perhaps exposing a prejudice for tradition in the Averdonyan mindset. With most verbs, it is formed by preceding the root form of the verb with the past auxiliary particle, "saa", although a few exceptions to that rule exist which encapsulate the past in a single, variant form. The future particle is always an unstressed syllable.

e.g.
I will talk to you tomorrow.
>NeypsEKHf;leCMzn;sc;TRXGzm.
Niiypsiikhuu liiaamin saa tregim.
nij*sit͡ʃə liɑmɪn sɑ trɛgɪm
You with tomorrow [future particle] talk I.

I will be there in the afternoon.
>mznKcreXLe;CGrf;DENzm.
Minkaariielii aagru diinim.
mɪnkɑriɛli ɑgrʌ dinɪm
Afternoon during there will be I.

The Inevitable Exceptions, Part 3

The future tense is largely uniform except for the following variants:

>DEN.
daa (to be) > diin

>rpWCR.
ruo (to have) > rowaar

>JUL.
jed (to go) > jul

>YES.
yin (to do) > yiis

Like the past tense, future variants do not take the past auxiliary particle:

e.g.
She will be angry.
>ASHxk;DENo.
Ashek diinuo.
æʃɛk dinəʊ
Angry will be she.

The Future Anterior Tense

"SAA" + ROOT or VARIANT PAST FORM + "RAAN"

The past anterior tense describes actions or events that are expected or planned to happen before a time of reference in the future. It is formed using the future tense "saa" and past anterior tense "raan" added after the root or variant form, whether conjugated or not. The future auxiliary particle is always an unstressed syllable, but the past anterior root is always stressed.

e.g.
I will have eaten by the time you arrive.
>le;HCRQzm;RCL;TOMe;sc;DXGes.
Lii harthim raan, tuomii saa degiis.
li hærθɪm rɑn təʊmi sɑ dɛgis
[future particle] Eat I [past anterior particle] when [future particle] arrive you.

She will have gone by then.
>CgoMCNe;JULo;RCL.
Aaguomaanii juluo raan.
ɑgəʊmɑni ʒʌləʊ rɑn
That time by will go she [past anterior particle]

The Conditional Tense

VERB (TENSE) + "TU"

The conditional tense refers to actions that could happen, might have happened, and we wish would happen/hadn't happened. It never refers to the zero conditional, i.e. if this happens, that happens, or any outcome that is real or expected, i.e. if you go swimming, you will get wet; such situations use the present or future tenses respectively in the main clause. When an outcome is uncertain, the conditional form uses the appropriate present or past verb (whether built with an auxiliary or a variant) and adds the particle "tu" after the verb (infinitive or conjugated). The conditional is usually accompanied by a subordinate condition using either if "iiyuu" or, in the case of some negative constructions, unless "daarin iiyu", although it can be used without a subordinate clause when expressing a desire or being polite. The conditional particle is always a stressed syllable.

e.g.
If you go, you may not come back.
>Eyf;JXDes;vo;DEKHxlEs;TU.
Iiyuu jediis, vuo diikheliis tu.
ijə ʒɛdis vəʊ dit͡ʃɛlis tʌ
If go you not return you [conditional particle].

Unless you go, you may die.
>DCRzn;Eyf;JXDes;,;CGorEs;TU.
Daarin iiyuu jediis, aguoriis tu.
ɑgəʊris tʌ dɑrɪn ijə ʒɛdis
Die you [conditional particle] except if go you.

If I had wanted a book, I would have said so.
>Eyf;MXLzk;mo;yfMXQzm;RCL;,;GRXN;mo;RESim;TU.
Iiyuu melik muo yuumethim raan, ren muo riisim tu.
ijə mɛlɪk məʊ jəmɛθɪm rɑn rɛn məʊ risɪm tʌ
If book [past particle] want I [past anterior particle], yes [past particle] say I [conditional particle].

I would like an apple.
>OLo;RPQzm;TU.
Uoluo rothim tu.
əʊləʊ ruθɪm tʌ
Apple like I [conditional particle]

The Negative

"VUO" + VERB (ALL TENSES)

The negative particle "vuo" precedes the main verb, whether it be the root form, the past or future auxiliary particles, the variant form of the verb in any tense and any auxiliaries that follow the main verb. This includes retaining its position before the verb in the imperative form. The negative particle is always an unstressed syllable.

e.g.
My grandfather doesn't like the heat.
>KCV;NXN;HAGzn;vo;RPQ.
Nen heigin kaav vuo roth.
mɛn heɪgɪn kɑv vəʊ ruθ
Old father heat not like.

e.g.
I didn't want to go.
>vo;mo;yfMXQzm;JXD.
Vuo muo yuumethim jed.
vəʊ məʊ jəmɛθɪm ʒɛd
Not [past particle] want I go.

e.g.
Don't look at me!
~vo;bVER;NeyxmCNe`
Vuo aviir niiyemaanii!
vəʊ ævir nijɛmɑni
Not look me toward.

e.g.
He will not believe us.
>NEyxq;vo;sc;KRAyxmA.
Niiyeth vuo saa kreiyemei.
nijɛθ vəʊ sɑ kreɪjɛmeɪ
Us not [future particle] believe he.

[edit] [top]Asking the Right Questions

Some say that asking questions is the root of knowledge while others caution that the overly curious may rue their lack of wisdom. Averdonyans are naturally inquisitive people who have turned their quest for knowledge into an empire that encompasses millions. Here, then, is how their curiosity manifests in language. Just be warned: some questions are best left unuttered.

Statement vs Question

Fundamentally, there is no grammatical difference between a basic Averdonyan statement and a question. When spoken aloud, a question is differentiated only by the intonation of the phrase. When committed to parchment, questions are distinguished by the use of punctuation: > . for a statement; ? / for a question.

e.g.
You are taking the book. (statement)
>MXLzk;KRXSHes.
Are you taking the book? (question)
?MXLzk;KRXSHes/
Melik kreshiis?
mɛlɪk krɛʃis
Book take you?

You remember the flower we saw yesterday. (statement)
>YXRo;dbl;moCMzn;mo;RCQzq;vfVCNes.
Do you remember the flower we saw yesterday? (question)
?YXRo;dbl;moCMzn;mo;RCQzq;vfVCNes/
Yeruo dal muoaamin muo raathith vuuvaaniis?
jɛrəʊ dæl məʊɑmɪn məʊ rɑθɪθ vəvɑnis
Flower that yesterday [past particle] see we remember you?

Averdonyan does possess an interrogative particle, >SA. - sei. Sei is not necessary to the construction of a question but is often used in formal or rhetorical language or to 'flavour' a question. It is sometimes heard when expressing frustration over repeating a question. It can also imply skepticism or surprise.

e.g.
Are you coming tonight or what?
?ENcr;sc;KHXLes;SA/
Iinaar saa kheliis sei?
inɑr sɑ t͡ʃɛlis seɪ
Tonight [future particle] come you [interrogative particle]?

Are you really going to eat that?
?CGrf;sc;HCRqes;SA/
Aagruu saa haarthiis sei?
ɑgrə sɑ hɑrθis seɪ
That [future particle] eat you [interrogative particle]?

[edit] [top]The Order of Things, Part 2

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