Irathient Grammar
As part of the design brief for the show Defiance, Irathient was intended to be maximally different from the Castithan language. In addition to the phonotactic constraints, the grammars were quite different, with Irathient having these typological features:
- Verb Object Subject word order
- Noun Adjective
- Noun Genitive
- Noun Relative
- Preposition Noun
- head-marking
In addition, a complete verbal sense, including all of person-marking, valency, tense, aspect, and mood, usually requires two parts, a kernel (an auxiliary) and shell (the lexical verb). For example:
z-ah-on
I-II-TR.PERF
e-kes-ə
ACT-notice-ACT
ha-rid-i
II-saboteur-II.SG
z-lo-e
I-singer-I.SG
'The singer noticed the saboteur.'
In this example the transitive auxiliary shon is in the perfect, which together with the active form of shekesu to notice completes the sense. This extensive cross-indexing means that different parts of the sentence can be dropped without losing much of the sense, especially in context. This flexibility was useful for show dialog.
Vowel Quadrangle
An important organizing feature of Irathient grammar is the vowel quadrangle:
| i | u | ||
| ə | |||
| e | a |
Several grammatical patterns are organized around alternating pairs of vowels, i ~ a and e ~ u. For example, the plural of nouns is formed by switching the final vowel with its opposite on the quadrangle:
- harathi alien, haratha aliens
- ugyure necklace, ugyuru necklaces
- tishuma human, tishumi humans
If a noun ends in a consonant, then the center of the quadrangle, ə, is used:
- nugyith tower, nugyithə towers
- undur rock, undurə rocks
The present, zaha, and imperfect, zahi, of the auxiliary verbs have this vowel exchange, as do the active, etu, and passive, utu, of non-auxiliary verbs.
The quadrangle is inspired by the conlang Afrihili.
Noun Classes
The other central feature of Irathient grammar is the 18 noun classes. All nouns, except multisyllabic words in the very large classes XVII and XVIII, take class prefixes. Verbs and adjectives take class marking for agreement.
| Noun Class | Noun | Modifier | Agent | Patient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class I (Irathi) | z(u)- -(e) | zw-/zu- | z- | -{e/u}z |
| Class II (Non-Irathi Sentient) | h(a)- -(i) | h(a)- | h- | -{a/i}h |
| Class III (Harmless Beasts) | t(i)- -(a) | t(i)- | t- | -{a/i}t |
| Class IV (Dangerous Beasts) | k(a)- -(i) | k(a)- | k- | -{a/i}k |
| Class V (Harmless Plants) | d(i)- -(a) | d(i)- | d- | -{a/i}d |
| Class VI (Dangerous Plants) | g(e)- -(u) | g(e)- | g- | -{e/u}g |
| Class VII (Harmless Instruments) | u(t)- -(e) | tw-/tu- | tw- | -{e/u}t |
| Class VIII (Dangerous Instruments) | e(k)- -(u) | k(e)- | k- | -{e/u}k |
| Class IX (Harmless Substances) | r(i)- -(a) | r(i)- | r- | -{a/i}r |
| Class X (Dangerous Substances) | s(a)- -(i) | s(a)- | s- | -{a/i}s |
| Class XI (Places, Passive Objects) | nu(n)- -(e) | n(u)- | n- | -{e/u}n |
| Class XII (Abstractions, Actions) | th(e)- -(u) | th(e)- | th- | -{e/u}th |
| Class XIII (Groups) | i(n)- -(a) | ny-/ni- | n- | -{a/i}n |
| Class XIV (Infinitives) | sh(e)- -(u) | sh(e)- | sh- | -{e/u}sh |
| Class XV (Diminutive Sentients) | t(i)- -(a) | h(a)- | h- | -{a/i}h |
| Class XVI (Diminutive Non-sentients) | t(i)- -(e) | n(u)- | n- | -{e/u}n |
| Class XVII (Augmentative Sentients) | gya(n)/Ø- -(a) | h(a)- | h- | -{a/i}h |
| Class XVIII (Augmentative Non-sentients) | gya(n)/Ø- -(e) | n(u)- | n- | -{e/u}n |
Notice that XV and XVII share the same modifier, agent, and patient affixes as II, and that XVI and XVIII share the same modifier, agent, and patient affixes of XI.
The XVII and XVIII prefix gya(n)- is only attached to monosyllabic roots.
The class suffix vowels are optional. If a noun ends in a consonant, the plural takes a suffixed -ə: undur rock > undurə. If the noun ends in a vowel other than a class suffix vowel, the copy consonant is suffixed, and then -ə is suffixed: zwinya daughter > zwinyazə.
Class I: Tvung Nǝzrathe (The Irathient Class)
| Nominal class prefix: z-/zu- | Agentive prefix: z- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -e/-u | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ez-/uz- |
| Copy consonant: z | Intransitive prefix: z- |
| Agreement prefix: zu-/zw- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: iza | 3pl Pronoun: uze |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -za/-zi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ze/-zu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): paza/pazi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): paze/pazu |
This class is reserved for Irathients. Terms for family members, for example, will be in this class, with class II used for aliens (including humans): zwinya (Irathient) daughter vs. hwinya (alien) daughter. Agent nouns are also in this class, such as zingma traveler (shingma to travel).
Examples(sg/pl): zrathe/zrathu Irathient, zmaine/zmainu Irathient woman, zushone/zushonu Irathient man, skir/skirə Irathient boy (note voicing assimilation of z- to s-), zwinya/zwinyazə Irathient daughter.
Class II: Tvung Nǝhazuhe (The Alien Class)
| Nominal class prefix: h-/ha- | Agentive prefix: h- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -i/-a | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ah-/ih- |
| Copy consonant: h | Intransitive prefix: h- |
| Agreement prefix: h-/ha- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: iha | 3pl Pronoun: uhe |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ha/-hi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -he/-hu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): paha/pahi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): pahe/pahu |
Class II is used for non-Irathient sentient beings. It can also be used for Irathients to indicate they are dangerous in some way, or in a pejorative sense.
Examples(sg/pl): harathi/haratha Earth-born Irathient, hamaini/hamaina alien woman, hashoni/hashona alien man, hakir/hakirə alien boy, hwinya/hwinyahə alien daughter.
Class III: Tvung Nǝtignome (The Harmless Beast Class)
| Nominal class prefix: t/ti- | Agentive prefix: t- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -a/-i | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): at-/it- |
| Copy consonant: t | Intransitive prefix: t- |
| Agreement prefix: t-/ti- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: ita | 3pl Pronoun: ute |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ta/-ti | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -te/-tu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lita/liti | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lite/litu |
Class III is for animals that pose no harm to Irathients. We know little about the Irathient home world, but earth animals that fit the general description will gradually work their way into this class as borrowings.
Examples(sg/pl): tignoma/tignomi harmless beast, tihurthra/tihuthri Irathient animal, twimbla/twimbli Irathient animal, tlanəs/tlanəsə Irathient animal, tirwa/tirwatə Irathient animal.
Class IV: Tvung Nǝkagnome (The Dangerous Beast Class)
| Nominal class prefix: k/ka- | Agentive prefix: k- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -i/-a | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ak-/ik- |
| Copy consonant: k | Intransitive prefix: k- |
| Agreement prefix: k-/ka- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: ika | 3pl Pronoun: uke |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ka/-ki | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ke/-ku |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lika/liki | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): like/liku |
Class IV is for animals that are carnivores or are otherwise dangerous to Irathients.
Examples(sg/pl): kagnomi/kagnoma dangerous beast, kadumbri/kadumbra Irathient animal, kagyonggi/kagyongga Irathient animal, klim/klimə Irathient animal, kabule/kabulekə Irathient animal.
Class V: Tvung Nǝdomre (The Harmless Plant Class)
| Nominal class prefix: d/di- | Agentive prefix: d- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -a/-i | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ad-/id- |
| Copy consonant: d | Intransitive prefix: d- |
| Agreement prefix: d-/di- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: ida | 3pl Pronoun: ude |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -da/-di | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -de/-du |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lida/lidi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lide/lidu |
Class V is for plants that are not dangerous, as well as food items and dishes native to Irathients.
Examples(sg/pl): domra/domri harmless ground-cover plant, dikpora/dikpori Irathient plant, digromba/digrombi Irathient plant, drurein/drurenə Irathient plant, dihagle/dihagledə type of Irathient fruit.
Class VI: Tvung Nǝgomre (The Dangerous Plant Class)
| Nominal class prefix: g/ge- | Agentive prefix: g- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -u/-e | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): eg-/ug- |
| Copy consonant: g | Intransitive prefix: g- |
| Agreement prefix: g-/ge- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: iga | 3pl Pronoun: uge |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ga/-gi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ge/-gu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): liga/ligi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lige/ligu |
Class VI is for plants that are dangerous (poisonous or somehow alive), as well as food items and dishes native to Irathients which are spicy.
Examples(sg/pl): gomru/gomre a poisonous ground-cover plant, gegubadu/gegubade Irathient plant, gemergu/gemerge Irathient plant, gwangin/gwanginə Irathient plant, grazbi/grazbigə Irathient plant.
Class VII: Tvung Nondure (The Rock Class)
| Nominal class prefix: ut-/u- | Agentive prefix: tw- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -e/-u | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): et-/ut- |
| Copy consonant: w | Intransitive prefix: t- |
| Agreement prefix: tw-/tu- | Adjectival modifier: ut-/u- > ot-/o- |
| 3sg Pronoun: ita | 3pl Pronoun: ute |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -twa/-twi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -twe/-dvu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): litwa/litwi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): litwe/lidvu |
Class VII is for plants objects created by Irathients or other sentient beings that aren't inherently dangerous. A lot of natural objects that don't fall into other classes also end up in Class VII.
Examples(sg/pl): utagwe/utagvu belt, ukerpe/ukerpu spoon, ugyure/ugyuru necklace, undur/undurə rock, uhegma/uhegmawə rope.
Class VIII: Tvung Naigane (The Fist Class)
| Nominal class prefix: ek-/e- | Agentive prefix: k- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -u/-e | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ek-/uk- |
| Copy consonant: k | Intransitive prefix: k- |
| Agreement prefix: k-/ke- | Adjectival modifier: ek-/e- > aik-/ai- |
| 3sg Pronoun: ika | 3pl Pronoun: uke |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ka/-ki | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ke/-ku |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lika/liki | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): like/liku |
Class VIII is for created objects that are inherently dangerous (such as weapons), as well as natural objects that could be dangerous (cliffs, storms). Degrees of danger are possible in made objects, with, for example, a butter knife in class VII and a steak knife in class VIII, as well as natural objects, such as tide (class VII) vs. undertow (class VIII).
Examples(sg/pl): eganu/egane fist, ekaru/ekare knife, eziru/ezire spear, egyonggur/egyonggurə gun, edonla/edonlakə cliff.
Class IX: Tvung Nǝrise (The Water Class)
| Nominal class prefix: r-/ri- | Agentive prefix: r- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -a/-i | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ar-/ir- |
| Copy consonant: r | Intransitive prefix: r- |
| Agreement prefix: r-/ri- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: ira | 3pl Pronoun: ure |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ra/-ri | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -re/-ru |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lira/liri | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lire/liru |
Class IX is for substances that are harmless to Irathients: liquids, gasses, some foods, some plants, plant and mineral byproducts. By there nature many of these words will be mass nouns and will not be pluralized. When they are it will refer to some conventional, countable variant of that, as in "bring me a (glass of) water."
Examples(sg/pl): risa/risi water, rivusha/rivushi air, rignogya/rignogyi sludge, rogur/rogurə soil (native to Irath), rilimu/rilimurə plasma.
Class X: Tvung Nǝsazre (The Fire Class)
| Nominal class prefix: s-/sa- | Agentive prefix: s- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -i/-a | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): as-/is- |
| Copy consonant: s | Intransitive prefix: s- |
| Agreement prefix: s-/sa- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: isa | 3pl Pronoun: use |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -sa/-si | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -se/-su |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lisa/lisi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lise/lisu |
Class X is for substances which are harmful to Irathients. The practice with plurals matches that of Class IX.
Examples(sg/pl): sazri/sazra fire, saktiri/saktira poison (general term), sahoshi/sahosha lightning, spom/spamə rotten or tainted meat, songmiku/songmikusə blood.
Class XI: Tvung Nǝnugyithe (The Tower Class)
| Nominal class prefix: nun-/nu- | Agentive prefix: n- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -e/-u | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): {e/ei}n-/un- |
| Copy consonant: n | Intransitive prefix: n- |
| Agreement prefix: n-/nu- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: nuna | 3pl Pronoun: nune |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -na/-ni | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ne/-nu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lina/lini | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): line/linu |
(Note that the singular and plural independent pronoun for class XI breaks the iCa/uCe pattern of most of the other classes.)
Class XI is for places and geographical areas, as well as objects that are used passively (chair, table), and most vehicles (others will be in class VII or VIII).
Examples(sg/pl): nugyekpe/nugyekpu' mountain, nunergze/nunergzu cave, nurathe/nurathu a separate Irathient-only settlement, nugyith/nugyithə tower, nukaivu/nukaivunə city.
Class XII: Tvung Nǝshelige (The Sleeping Class)
| Nominal class prefix: th-/the- | Agentive prefix: th- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -u/-e | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): eth-/uth- |
| Copy consonant: th | Intransitive prefix: th- |
| Agreement prefix: th-/the- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: itha | 3pl Pronoun: uthe |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -tha/-thi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -the/-thu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): patha/pathi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): pathe/pathu |
Class XII is for abstractions. Nouns in this class are often defined in opposition to nouns in other classes or verbs associated with the root.
Examples(sg/pl): thrathu/thrathe Irathient-hood (like "humanity"), theligu/thelige sleep, theganu/thegane nine, thegyonggur/thegyonggurə weaponry, artillery, thingma/thingmathə travel, traveling.
Class XIII: Tvung Naigane (The Handful Class)
| Nominal class prefix: in-/i- | Agentive prefix: n- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -a/-i | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): {a/o}n-/in- |
| Copy consonant: ny | Intransitive prefix: n- |
| Agreement prefix: ny-/ni- | Adjectival modifier: in-/i- > ain-/ai- |
| 3sg Pronoun: ina | 3pl Pronoun: ine |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -nya/-nyi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -nye/-nyu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): linya/linyi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): linye/linyu |
(Note that the singular and plural independent pronoun for class XIII breaks the iCa/uCe pattern of most of the other classes.)
Class XIII is for groups of things or people, objects that come in bunches, and other inherently plural or grouped objects.
Examples(sg/pl): iratha/irathi a group of Irathients, igana/igani handful, iglumba/iglumbi scrotum, igonur/igonurə soil sample, inegma/inegmanyə star cluster, constellation.
Class XIV: Tvung Nǝshemingge (The Waking Class)
| Nominal class prefix: sh-/she- | Agentive prefix: sh- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -u/-e | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): esh-/ush- |
| Copy consonant: sh | Intransitive prefix: sh- |
| Agreement prefix: sh-/she- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: isha | 3pl Pronoun: ushe |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -sha/-shi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -she/-shu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): pasha/pashi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): pashe/pashu |
Class XIV exclusively for verbal infinitives (which is sometimes used like a gerund, "running, jumping," etc.).
Examples(sg/pl): sheminggu/shemingge to wake up, awaken, sheligu/shelige to sleep, shedroru/shedrore to breathe, shrazu/shraze to drink, shingma/shingmashə to travel.
Class XV: Tvung Nǝtiwale (The Infant Class)
| Nominal class prefix: t-/ti- | Agentive prefix: h- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -a/-i | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ah-/ih- |
| Copy consonant: h | Intransitive prefix: h- |
| Agreement prefix: h-/ha- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: iha | 3pl Pronoun: uhe |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ha/-hi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -he/-hu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): paha/pahi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): pahe/pahu |
Class XV is primarily for diminutive or slang versions of sentient beings, including pet names, child versions of otherwise adult things, and miscellaneous derivations. Some non-Irathient sentient beings will also be in this class.
Class XV is a mixed agreement class: the noun marking looks like Class III, but the agreement pattern is Class II.
Examples(sg/pl): tishuma/tishumi human being, timaina/timaini babe (Irathient), tishona/tishoni dude, man (Irathient), tiwo/tiwalə infant, baby, cub (any species), twinya/twinyahə pet name for one's Irathient daughter.
Class XVI: Tvung Nǝtigyekpe (The Hill Class)
| Nominal class prefix: t-/ti- | Agentive prefix: n- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -e/-u | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): {e/ei}n-/un- |
| Copy consonant: n | Intransitive prefix: n- |
| Agreement prefix: n-/nu- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: nuna | 3pl Pronoun: nune |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -na/-ni | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ne/-nu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): lina/lini | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): line/linu |
Class XVI is primarily for diminutive or slang versions of non-sentient beings and other objects. It is also used to refer to parts of larger objects.
Class XVI is a mixed agreement class. The noun marking is like Class III, but the agreement pattern is Class XI.
Examples(sg/pl): tigyekpe/tigyekpu hill, tihoshe/tihoshu spark, telige/teligu nap, tindur/tindurə pebble, tingma/tingmanə a short trip, a day trip.
Class XVII: Tvung Nǝgyanawe (The Hero Class)
| Nominal class prefix: gyan-/gya-/Ø-/gy- | Agentive prefix: h- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -a/-i | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): ah-/ih- |
| Copy consonant: h | Intransitive prefix: h- |
| Agreement prefix: h-/ha- | Adjectival modifier: ə- |
| 3sg Pronoun: iha | 3pl Pronoun: uhe |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ha/-hi | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -he/-hu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): paha/pahi | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): pahe/pahu |
Class XVII is for sentient augmentatives, as well as borrowings that don't fit anywhere else. The gya- and gyan- prefixes are only added to monosyllabic roots. Other words take no prefix at all.
This is also the class for first names. Although the name may be in another noun class, agreement will be for class XVII.
Class XVII is a mixed agreement class. The noun marking is unique, but the agreement pattern is Class II.
Examples(sg/pl): gyarisha/gyarishi leader or chief of an Irathient village, gyamaina/gyamaini Irathient elder (female), gyashona/gyashoni Irathient elder (male), gyano/gyanawə hero (or otherwise exceptional individual), lokipa/lokipahə lawkeeper.
Class XVII: Tvung Nǝgyase (The Flood Class)
| Nominal class prefix: gyan-/gya-/Ø- | Agentive prefix: n- |
| Nominal class suffix (sg/pl): -e/-u | Patientive Prefix (dir/caus): {e/ei}n-/un- |
| Copy consonant: n | Intransitive prefix: n- |
| Agreement prefix: n-/nu- | Adjectival modifier: ə-/ən- |
| 3sg Pronoun: nuna | 3pl Pronoun: nune |
| 3sg Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -na/-ni | 3pl Possessive suffix (sg/pl): -ne/-nu |
| 3sg Possessive adjective (sg/pl): ??/?? | 3pl Possessive adjective (sg/pl): ??/?? |
Class XVIII is for non-sentient augmentatives, and borrowed nouns that don't go anywhere else.
Class XVIII is a mixed agreement class. The noun marking is unique, but the agreement pattern is Class XI.
Examples(sg/pl): gyase/gyasu flood, gyahoshe/gyahoshu lightning storm, raifo/raifalə rifle (Earth weapon), urth/urthə Earth, kaivu/kaivunə metropolis.