Noalath Grammar
Nouns
Nouns decline for number. Most nouns have singular and plural number. Some nouns have basic forms which are notionally plural, and a singulative can be formed from these by means of a suffix -ach.
Noun Derivation
From other nouns:
- Augmentative: -ath e.g. noal “tongue” > noalath “grand tongue (name of the language)”
- Characterized by: -(d/t)rik e.g. lead “tree” > leadrik “druid”
From verbs:
- Agentive: -(a)dash e.g. por “to shift” > poradash “Changeling”
- Implement: -et e.g. dulva “to curse” > dulvet “curse”
From adjectives or verbs:
- Nominalization: -arach e.g. alan “free” > alanarach “freedom”
From any part of speech:
- Place: -(a)vak e.g. deam “book” > deamavak (meaning not listed, probably something like “library”)
Adjectives
Adjectives are compared to three forms of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
Adjective Derivation
From other adjectives:
- Negative: fi- e.g. thik “ripe” > fishik “unripe”
- Intensive: sin- e.g. rano “new” > sindano “brand new”
From nouns:
- Adjectival: -(i)m e.g. shail “elf” > shailim “elven/elfin”
Adverbs
Adverbs can be regularly formed from adjectives (and their forms of comparison) using the suffix -(a)sh.
Verbs
Verb Derivation
From other verbs:
- Frequentative/Continuative: -(r)od e.g. ker “to measure” > kerod “to count”
- Opposite: ru(h)- e.g. aich “to grab” > ruhaich “to drop”
From adjectives:
- Inchoative: fen- -a e.g. laid “still, unmoving” > fennáida “to settle”