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Ancient Lathian

2014-08-21T03:49:48Z

Asteria91: /* Second Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''Ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααν || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααν || θάλαας
| ταάτααν|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αν || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναν || δέιναας
| σάδαν|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινασς || δέινααν
| σάδασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αν stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αν || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αν stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραν || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάρασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilun-iuta'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υν || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυν || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ισς || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Vocative
| -ι || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Accusative
| -ιν || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Dative
| -εει || -εις
| -εει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -εισς || -ααν
| -εισς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: φίλισς (''friend'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάνι (''neck'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| φίλισς || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Vocative
| φίλι || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Accusative
| φίλιν || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Dative
| φίλεει || φίλεις
| μάνεει || μάνεις
|-
! Genitive
| φίλεισς || φίλααν
| μάνεισς || μάνααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-21T03:48:15Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''Ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααν || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααν || θάλαας
| ταάτααν|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αν || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναν || δέιναας
| σάδαν|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινασς || δέινααν
| σάδασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αν stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αν || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αν stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραν || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάρασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilun-iuta'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ισς || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Vocative
| -ι || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Accusative
| -ιμ || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Dative
| -εει || -εις
| -εει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -εισς || -ααν
| -εισς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: φίλισς (''friend'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάνι (''neck'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| φίλισς || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Vocative
| φίλι || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Accusative
| φίλιμ || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Dative
| φίλεει || φίλεις
| μάνεει || μάνεις
|-
! Genitive
| φίλεισς || φίλααν
| μάνεισς || μάνααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-21T03:47:48Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''Ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααν || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααν || θάλαας
| ταάτααν|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αν || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναν || δέιναας
| σάδαν|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινασς || δέινααν
| σάδασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αν stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αν || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραν || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάρασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilun-iuta'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ισς || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Vocative
| -ι || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Accusative
| -ιμ || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Dative
| -εει || -εις
| -εει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -εισς || -ααν
| -εισς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: φίλισς (''friend'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάνι (''neck'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| φίλισς || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Vocative
| φίλι || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Accusative
| φίλιμ || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Dative
| φίλεει || φίλεις
| μάνεει || μάνεις
|-
! Genitive
| φίλεισς || φίλααν
| μάνεισς || μάνααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-21T03:43:34Z

Asteria91: /* Alphabet */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''Ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilun-iuta'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ισς || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Vocative
| -ι || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Accusative
| -ιμ || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Dative
| -εει || -εις
| -εει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -εισς || -ααν
| -εισς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: φίλισς (''friend'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάνι (''neck'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| φίλισς || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Vocative
| φίλι || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Accusative
| φίλιμ || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Dative
| φίλεει || φίλεις
| μάνεει || μάνεις
|-
! Genitive
| φίλεισς || φίλααν
| μάνεισς || μάνααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T08:37:09Z

Asteria91: /* Diagraphs */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilun-iuta'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ισς || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Vocative
| -ι || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Accusative
| -ιμ || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Dative
| -εει || -εις
| -εει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -εισς || -ααν
| -εισς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: φίλισς (''friend'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάνι (''neck'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| φίλισς || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Vocative
| φίλι || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Accusative
| φίλιμ || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Dative
| φίλεει || φίλεις
| μάνεει || μάνεις
|-
! Genitive
| φίλεισς || φίλααν
| μάνεισς || μάνααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T08:17:16Z

Asteria91: /* Second Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilun-iuta'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ισς || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Vocative
| -ι || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Accusative
| -ιμ || -ιις
| -ι || -ια
|-
! Dative
| -εει || -εις
| -εει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -εισς || -ααν
| -εισς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-ι stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: φίλισς (''friend'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάνι (''neck'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| φίλισς || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Vocative
| φίλι || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Accusative
| φίλιμ || φίλιις
| μάνι || μάνια
|-
! Dative
| φίλεει || φίλεις
| μάνεει || μάνεις
|-
! Genitive
| φίλεισς || φίλααν
| μάνεισς || μάνααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T08:02:53Z

Asteria91: /* Second Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilun-iuta'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T08:02:22Z

Asteria91: /* Alphabet */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλυν'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιυύτα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ρυυ'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλυν'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilon-iota'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T07:59:08Z

Asteria91: /* Second Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists of masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns with '''-υ''' and '''-ι''' (called the ''upsilon-iota'' declension) at the end of the stem. It is derived from PIE u-stems and i-stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -υσς || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Vocative
| -υ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Accusative
| -υμ || -υυς
| -υ || -υα
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -υις
| -ει || -υις
|-
! Genitive
| -ευσς || -ααν
| -ευσς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''-υ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ζένυσς (''cheek'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δάρυ (''tree'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ζένυσς || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Vocative
| ζένυ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Accusative
| ζένυμ || ζένυυς
| δάρυ || δάρυα
|-
! Dative
| ζένει || ζένυις
| δάρει || δάρυις
|-
! Genitive
| ζένευσς || ζένααν
| δάρευσς || δάρααν
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T07:43:05Z

Asteria91: /* Phonetic Notes */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T07:42:48Z

Asteria91: /* Vowels */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}

===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
* /o/ and /oː/ are found only in loanwords.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T05:04:34Z

Asteria91: /* Phonetic Notes */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
* /o/ and /oː/ are found only in loanwords.

==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T05:03:00Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέιναις
| σάδααι || σάδαις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: δαάραμ (''gift'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| δαάραμ || δαάραα
|-
! Dative
| δαάρααι || δαάραις
|-
! Genitive
| δαάραασς || δαάρααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T04:56:35Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέινααις
| σάδααι || σάδααις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Neuter -αμ stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative/Accusative
| -αμ || -αα
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T04:51:03Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: δέινας (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: σάδας (''road; path; way'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| δέινας || δέιναας
| σάδας || σάδαας
|-
! Vocative
| δέινε || δέιναας
| σάδε || σάδαας
|-
! Accusative
| δέιναμ || δέιναας
| σάδαμ|| σάδαας
|-
! Dative
| δέινααι || δέινααις
| σάδααι || σάδααις
|-
! Genitive
| δέιναασς || δέινααν
| σάδαασς || σάδααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T04:42:01Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

The second part of the first declension is comprised mainly of masculine & neuter nouns with a short alpha (-α) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small number of feminine nouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -ας stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ας || -αας
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -αμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -αις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T04:27:45Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -αασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine: ταάταα (''daddy; dad'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| ταάταα || ταάταας
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| ταάτααμ|| ταάταας
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| ταάτααι || ταάτααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλαασς || θάλααν
| ταάταασς || ταάτααν
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T04:19:25Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems. The first part of this declension is comprised mainly of feminine nouns with a long alpha (-αα) at the end of the stem. It also includes a small group of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T04:10:23Z

Asteria91: /* Grammar */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension (called the ''a-stem'' or ''alpha declension'') comprises the largest class of nouns. It is derived from both PIE athematic a(eh₂)-stems and o-stems

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.

==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T04:00:51Z

Asteria91: /* First Declension */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="3" | '''Masculine & Feminine -αα stem'''
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα || -αας
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ || -αας
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -ασς || -ααν
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:44:12Z

Asteria91: /* Consonants */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:43:46Z

Asteria91: /* Diagraphs */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:42:10Z

Asteria91: /* Diagraphs */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''λλ'''
|/ʎ/
|-
|'''νν'''
|/ɲ/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.

===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:40:31Z

Asteria91: /* Alphabet */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:39:48Z

Asteria91: /* Alphabet */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ηη'''
|'''ηεέτα'''
|/h/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}

===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:38:11Z

Asteria91: /* Phonotactics */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic).
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off in Ancient Lathian and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:37:24Z

Asteria91: /* Phonotactics */

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
* Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian (or maybe as far back as Proto-Nesic.
* /h/ may not be in the coda position. Syllable-final /h/ was dropped off and the previous vowel was subsequently lengthened.

==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:31:57Z

Asteria91:

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian.
==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:29:15Z

Asteria91:

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian.
==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:27:28Z

Asteria91:

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Approximant !! Central
|
|
|
|j
|w
|
|-
! style="" |Lateral
|
|
|l
|ʎ
|
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian.
==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:24:52Z

Asteria91:

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Gergalic Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, also known as the Lathian Dark Ages, in which the once united kingdom had become a collection of warring city-states. During this time, Greek colonies were also established on the eastern coast of Lathia. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stability, unite its city-states, and take over the Greek colonies on its coasts. Shortly after, a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE, known as Classical Lathia. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
! style="width: 70px; " |Glottal
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|ɲ̩
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|h
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Approximant
|
|
|l
|j
|w
|
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian.
==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2014-08-08T03:15:02Z

Asteria91:

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικαα Láthikā
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰikaː]
|region = Lathia, Thamilia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|fam3 = Eastern Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Koiné Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, known as the Lathian Dark Ages. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stabiity and a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Approximant
|
|
|l
|j
|w
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian.
==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2013-11-05T02:14:31Z

Asteria91:

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικυ Láthiku
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰiku]
|region = Lathia, Aconia, Missia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Koiné Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, known as the Lathian Dark Ages. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stabiity and a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Approximant
|
|
|l
|j
|w
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian.
==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -εες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -εες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -εες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδεες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδεες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδεες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδεις
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Nesic languages]]

Ancient Lathian

2013-11-04T06:55:44Z

Asteria91: Created page with "{{Infobox language |name = Ancient Lathian |nativename = Λάθικυ Láthiku |pronunciation = [ˈlatʰiku] |region = Lathia, Aconia, Missia |era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium..."

{{Infobox language
|name = Ancient Lathian
|nativename = Λάθικυ Láthiku
|pronunciation = [ˈlatʰiku]
|region = Lathia, Aconia, Missia
|era = Mid to Late 1st Millennium BCE
|familycolor = Indo-European
|fam1 = [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European]]
|fam2 = Nesic
|ancestor = Archaic Lathian
|iso1 = lt
|iso2 = lt
|iso3 = ltk
|script = [[w:Greek Alphabet|Greek]] (Lathian Alphabet)
|agency =
}}

'''Ancient Lathian''' is the form of Lathian used during the period of time spanning from about the 7th century to the 2nd century BCE in ancient Lathia and other parts of the ancient world. It was predated in the late 2nd millennium and early 1st millennium BCE by Archaic Lathian. It would be later replaced by Koiné Lathian in the late 1st millennium BCE.



==Background==
===External history===

After several attempts, and later deletions, I managed to create my first ''a posteriori'' conlang based on Proto-Indo-European. Originally, Lathian was meant to be a substrate language for a Romance conlang I was also working on, but in the end I decided to go ahead only with Lathian, and creating a modern Lathian conlang at some point in the future.

===Internal history===

Ancient Lathian was the language of the ancient Lathians, an Indo-European people that settled on the island of Lathia in the Mediterranean Sea, between modern day Libya and Greece. It is set in the distant past, beginning in the mid 1st millennium BCE. Before then, an earlier form called Archaic Lathian had been spoken not only in Lathia but also in other parts of the Mediterranean, such as Malta, Sicily, and northern Africa, as part of the Lathian Empire.

After losing a number of its colonies to Greece and Carthage, Lathia and its remaining colonies fell into a period of cultural and economic deterioration, known as the Lathian Dark Ages. After a number of years, however, Lathia managed to regain economic stabiity and a new period of prosperity began in the mid 1st millennium BCE. During this time, trade with other Mediterranean civilizations, especially Greece, increased.

One of the most important innovations in the development of the Lathian language came from the Greeks: the Lathian Alphabet. Lathians borrowed the Greek alphabet and modified it to suit their language. Before this, Lathian had been written with a system called the Lathic Syllabary. During the dark ages, Archaic Lathian underwent numerous changes, and by the 6th century BCE a new form of Lathian, written with a new alphabet, had emerged.

==Phonology==
===Consonants===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " colspan="2" |
! style="width: 70px; " |Labial
! style="width: 70px; " |Dental
! style="width: 70px; " |Alveolar
! style="width: 70px; " |Palatal
! style="width: 70px; " |Velar
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Nasal
|m
|
|n
|
|
|-
! style="" rowspan="3" |Plosive !! Voiceless
|p
|t
|
|
|k
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|b
|d
|
|
|g
|-
! style="" |Aspirated
|pʰ
|tʰ
|
|
|kʰ
|-
! style="" rowspan="2" |Fricative !! Voiceless
|
|
|s
|ʃ
|
|-
! style="" |Voiced
|
|
|z
|ʒ
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Trill or Tap
|
|
|r
|
|
|-
! style="" colspan="2" |Approximant
|
|
|l
|j
|w
|-
|}

===Vowels===
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 540px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 90px; "|
! style="width: 90px; " |Front
! style="width: 90px; " |Central
! style="width: 90px; " |Back
|-
! style="" |Close
|i iː
|
|u uː
|-
! style="" |Mid
|e eː
|
|o oː
|-
! style="" |Open
|
|ä äː
|
|}
===Phonetic Notes===
*/t/, /d/, and /tʰ/ are denti-alveolar.
*/l/ and /n/ become homorganic to following obstruents.
*/r/ is prototypically an alveolar tap /ɾ/. It becomes an alveolar trill /r/ word-initially. In the syllable-final position, either a trill or tap could occur with no semantic difference.
*/s/ and /ʃ/ become voiced before voiced consonants.
==Phonotactics==
Any vowel may end a word, as well as any nasal, liquid, or fricative. If a stop ended a word in PIE, it was dropped in Ancient Lathian.
==Orthography==
===Alphabet===
Ancient Lathian was written with an adapted version of the Greek Alphabet, which began to appear around the 7th century BCE.
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Letter
! style="width: 70px; " |Name
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''Αα'''
|'''Άλφα'''
|/ä/
|-
|'''Ββ'''
|'''Βεέτα'''
|/b/
|-
|'''Γγ'''
|'''Γάμμα'''
|/g/
|-
|'''Δδ'''
|'''Δέλτα'''
|/d/
|-
|'''Εε'''
|'''Έφσιλον'''
|/e/
|-
|'''Ζζ'''
|'''Ζεέτα'''
|/z/
|-
|'''Θθ'''
|'''Θεέτα'''
|/tʰ/
|-
|'''Ιι'''
|'''Ιοότα'''
|/i/
|-
|'''Κκ'''
|'''Κάππα'''
|/k/
|-
|'''Λλ'''
|'''Λάμβδα'''
|/l/
|-
|'''Μμ'''
|'''Μυυ'''
|/m/
|-
|'''Νν'''
|'''Νυυ'''
|/n/
|-
|'''Οο'''
|'''Όμικρον'''
|/o/
|-
|'''Ππ'''
|'''Πιι'''
|/p/
|-
|'''Ρρ'''
|'''Ροο'''
|/r/
|-
|'''Σσς'''
|'''Σίγμα'''
|/s/
|-
|'''Ττ'''
|'''Ταυ'''
|/t/
|-
|'''Υυ'''
|'''Ύφσιλον'''
|/u/
|-
|'''Φφ'''
|'''Φιι'''
|/pʰ/
|-
|'''Χχ'''
|'''Χιι'''
|/kʰ/
|-
|}
===Diagraphs===
There following diagraphs are used in Ancient Lathian:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="width: 610px; text-align:center;"
! style="width: 70px; " |Diagraph
! style="width: 70px; " |IPA
|-
|'''αα'''
|/äː/
|-
|'''εε'''
|/eː/
|-
|'''ιι'''
|/iː/
|-
|'''οο'''
|/oː/
|-
|'''υυ'''
|/uː/
|-
|'''σσ'''
|/ʃ/
|-
|'''ζζ'''
|/ʒ/
|-
|}
Any other doubled consonant indicates germination.
===Diacritics===
The only diacritic used in Ancient Lathian is the acute accent (′), which is used to indicate stress. In a diphthong, the accent in placed on the first vowel (ex. '''''άυμερυ'''''; '''''σμεέικρυ'''''). In a long vowel diagraph, the accent is placed on the second vowel (ex. '''''αρθαά''''').
==Grammar==
Ancient Lathian grammar, similar to that of other [[w:Indo-European_languages|Indo-European languages]], is highly inflective, with complex declension and conjugation systems.
===Nouns===
Lathian nouns have three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter); two numbers (singular & plural); and five cases (nominative, vocative, accusative, dative, genitive). There are three declensions for Lathian nouns:

====First Declension====
The first declension consists mainly of feminine and neuter nouns ending in '''-αα''' in the nominative singular, as well as a small number of masculine nouns.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -αα/-α || -αας
| -αα/-α || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ααμ/-αμ || -αας
| -ααμ/-αμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -ααι || -ααις
| -ααι || -ααις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''First declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: θάλαα (''flower; blossom'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: νιοόμα (''soul; spirit'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| θάλαα || θάλαας
| νιοόμα || νιοόμε
|-
! Accusative
| θάλααμ || θάλαας
| νιοόμαμ|| νιοόμε
|-
! Dative
| θάλααι || θάλααις
| νιοόμααι || νιοόααις
|-
! Genitive
| θάλυνς || θάλοον
| νιοόμυνς || νιοόμοον
|}

====Second Declension====
The second declension consists mainly of masculine and neuter nouns ending in '''-ο''' and '''-υ''' in the nominative singular respectively. It also contains a small group of feminine nouns ending in '''-ο''' in the nominative singular.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| -ο || -οος
| -υ || -ε
|-
! Accusative
| -ομ || -οος
| -υμ || -ε
|-
! Dative
| -οι || -οις
| -οι || -οις
|-
! Genitive
| -υνς || -οον
| -υνς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Second declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: δέινο (''day'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: μάχυ (''unmarried youth'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| δέινο || δέινοος
| μάχυ || μάχε
|-
! Accusative
| δέινομ || δέινοος
| μάχυμ || μάχε
|-
! Dative
| δέινοι || δέινοις
| μάχοι || μάχοις
|-
! Genitive
| δέινυνς || δέινοον
| μάχυνς || μάχοον
|}

====Third Declension====
The third declension consists of nouns of all three genders ending in either a consonant or '''-ε''' in the nominative singular. A number of nouns from the third declension have irregular oblique stems.

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| -ε/-cons. || -ες
| -ε/-cons. || -ιε
|-
! Vocative
| -ε || -ες
| -ε || -ιε
|-
! Accusative
| -εμ || -ες
| -εμ || -ιε
|-
! Dative
| -ει || -εις
| -ει || -εις
|-
! Genitive
| -ονς || -οον
| -ονς || -οον
|}

{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 500px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="5" | '''Third declension'''
|-
! style="width: 200px; " |
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Masculine & Feminine: ρααζ (''root'')
! colspan="2" style="width: 200px; " | Neuter: φίλισς (''friend'')
|-
! style="width: 100px;" | Case !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural !! style="width: 100px;" | Singular !! style="width: 100px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative
| ρααζ || ραάδες
| φίλισς || φίλιε
|-
! Vocative
| ραάδε || ραάδες
| φίλε || φίλιε
|-
! Accusative
| ραάδεμ || ραάδες
| φίλεμ || φίλιε
|-
! Dative
| ραάδει || ραάδες
| φίλει || φίλεις
|-
! Genitive
| ραάδονς || ραάδοον
| φίλονς || φίλοον
|}

===Pronouns===
====Personal Pronouns====
Personal pronouns are highly irregular. The dual number inherited from PIE and lost in nouns and adjectives has been preserved in pronouns.
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg collapsible collapsed" style="width: 890px; text-align: center;"
! colspan="11" | Personal pronouns
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width: 90px;" | Case !! colspan="3" | First person !! colspan="3" | Second Person !! colspan="3" | Third person !! style="width: 90px;" rowspan="2" | Reflexive
|-
! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural !! style="width: 90px;" | Singular !! style="width: 90px;" | Dual !! style="width: 90px;" | Plural
|-
! Nominative/Vocative
| εζοό || ευέ || ευέι || ετύ || ειύ || ειυύ || αυτόm, αυταάf, αυτύn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf, αυτέn || -
|-
! Accusative
| μεweak, μέζεstrong || νοο, νοόζε || νος, νόζζε || τε, τέζε || υοο, υοόζε || υος, υόζζε || αυτόμm, αυταάμf, αυτύμn || αυτύιm/f/n || αυτοόςm, αυταάςf αυτέn || σε, σέζε
|-
! Dative
| μοιweak, μόιζεstrong || νοοι, νοόιζε || νοι, νόιζζε || τοι, τόιζε || υοοι, υοόιζε || υοις, υόιζζε || αυτόιμm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυτόιςm/f/n || σοι, σόιζε
|-
! Genitive
| μόιυ* || νοόιυ* || νόσυ* || τόιυ* || υοόιυ* || υόσε* || αυσσόm/f/n || αυτύιμm/f/n || αυσόμm/f/n || σέιυ*
|-
|}
The genitive pronouns marked with an asterisk (*) are declined in the 1st and 2nd declensions to agree in number and case with the thing possessed.
==Syntax==



[[Category:Conlangs]]