Gerenian language: Difference between revisions

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'''Gerenian''' (''[engre] žerénies'') is a [[wikipedia:Artificial language|conlang]] spoken in the [[Gerenia|Republic of Gerenia]], where it has official status.
{{Language
|Name          = Gerenian
|NativeName    = Gherenies
|Logo          = [[File:KNSEZ_logo.png|200px]]<br>[[Gerenian Language National Commission]] logo
|Pronunciation  = xɛ'rɛnɪɛs
|NationSpoken  = [[File:Gerenia_flag.png|border|25px|Gerenia]] [[Gerenia]]
|LangFamily    = [[wikipedia:Constructed language|Constructed languages]]
|WritingSystem  = Latin
|Source        = English, Spanish
|EarlyForm      = Proto-Gerenian
|Dialect        = Northern, Middle, Southern
|NationOfficial = [[File:Gerenia_flag.png|border|25px|Gerenia]] [[Gerenia]]
|LangRegulator  = [[Gerenian Language National Commission]]
|ISO639Codes    = gr
}}


Most Gerenian vocabulary has been created with random letter sequences, while some words are derived from other languages, mainly [[wikipedia:English language|English]] and [[wikipedia:Spanish language|Spanish]].
'''Gerenian''' (self-designation: ''gherenies'' [xɛ'rɛnɪɛs]) is a [[wikipedia:Artificial language|conlang]] spoken in the [[Gerenia|Republic of Gerenia]], where it has official status.
 
Most of Gerenian vocabulary has been created with random letter sequences, while some words are derived from other languages, mainly [[wikipedia:English language|English]] and [[wikipedia:Spanish language|Spanish]].
 
Gerenian is written using the [[wikipedia:Latin script|Latin script]].


Gerenian is written using the Latin alphabet.
==History==
==History==
''Coming soon''
: ''See also: [[Gerenian alphabet#History]]
 
===Origin===
===Origin===
The origin of the Gerenian language can be found in mid-2004, when it was created the [[Gerakana]] script (in its "early" variant). Early Gerakana was composed of 28 letters, all but one of them being equivalent to the letters of the [[wikipedia:Spanish alphabet|Spanish alphabet]]. At the same time, it began the invention of "Proto-Gerenian", which had a few words in its vocabulary, most of them being common words, of daily use. The development of Proto-Gerenian came to a standstill during early 2005, and until the foundation of the then United Gerenian Republic, Gerakana was used to encode documents only.
Between 2005 and 2008, Proto-Gerenian developed as a [[wikipedia:Written language|written language]] irregularly.
===Development===
===Development===
With the foundation of the [[Republic of Gerenia]] as a [[Micronation|micronation]] (which was called at the time ''United Gerenian Republic'') in December 2011, it was revived the interest in a national language, which would become a major aspect of a forming culture. As a beginning, most of Proto-Gerenian vocabulary was discarded, and new words were created. In June 2012, after decreeing a set of ortography and grammar rules, the [[Government of Gerenia]] established the [[Gerenian Language National Commission]].
The Commission established definitive rules for Gerenian in every level. With regards to the writing system, the Commission rejected the adoption of Gerakana (either as the only one or co-official alongside Latin script). The Gerenian variant of the Latin script was adopted, and modified several times before the [[Gerenian alphabet#Modern alphabet|modern version]] was finally approved.
Despite Gerakana not being adopted as official script of Gerenia, its modern variant is used throughout the country.
==Grammar==
==Grammar==
Gerenian is an [[wikipedia:Fusional language|inflected language]] with three [[wikipedia:Grammatical gender|grammatical genders]].
Gerenian is an [[wikipedia:Fusional language|inflected language]] with four [[wikipedia:Grammatical gender|grammatical genders]].
 
===Nouns===
===Nouns===
Gerenian nouns inflect into:
Gerenian nouns inflect into:
* two cases: [[wikipedia:Nominative case|nominative]] and [[wikipedia:Genitive case|genitive]].
* two cases: [[wikipedia:Nominative case|nominative]] and [[wikipedia:Genitive case|genitive]].
* three genders: masculine, feminine, or neuter.
* four genders: masculine, feminine, neuter, or indefinite.
* two numbers: singular and plural.
* two numbers: singular and plural.
===Verbs===
===Verbs===
All Gerenian verbs are regular, and have a infinitive form characterized by the ending -in.
Inflection of standard Gerenian includes:
Inflection of standard Gerenian includes:
* three [[wikipedia:Grammatical person|persons]]: 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
* three [[wikipedia:Grammatical person|persons]]: 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
* two [[wikipedia:Grammatical number|numbers]]: singular and plural.
* two [[wikipedia:Grammatical number|numbers]]: singular and plural.
* three [[wikipedia:Grammatical mood|moods]]: [[wikipedia:Realis mood|indicative]], [[wikipedia:Imperative mood|imperative]], and [[wikipedia:Subjunctive mood|subjunctive]] (in addition to the infinitive).
* three [[wikipedia:Grammatical mood|moods]]: [[wikipedia:Realis mood|indicative]], [[wikipedia:Imperative mood|imperative]], and [[wikipedia:Subjunctive mood|subjunctive]] (in addition to the infinitive).
* two [[wikipedia:Voice_(grammar)|voices]]: active and passive.
* two [[wikipedia:Voice_(grammar)|voices]]: active and passive.
* three [[wikipedia:Grammatical tense|tenses]]: present, preterite, future, present perfect and past perfect.
* six [[wikipedia:Grammatical tense|tenses]]: present, present continuous, preterite, future, present perfect and past perfect.
 
Conjugation of Gerenian verbs consist on isolating the stem of the verb and adding one or two endings, depending on the sentence.


Conjugation of Gerenian verbs consist on isolating the stem of the verb and adding one or two endings, depending on the sentence.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
!width=120 |Mood
!width=120 |Mood
!width=150 |Tense
!width=200 |Tense
!width=80 |Prefix
!width=80 |Prefix
!width=80 |Suffix
!width=80 |Suffix
|-
|-
| rowspan=5|Indicative
| rowspan=6|Indicative
| Present
| Present
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| Present continuous
| —
| -ras
|-
|-
| Preterite
| Preterite
Line 62: Line 100:
| -(e)f
| -(e)f
|}
|}
If the stem of the verb ends in a consonant, a letter ''e'' is added to the suffix in order to make pronunciation easier.
If the stem of the verb ends in a consonant, a letter ''e'' is added to the suffix in order to make pronunciation easier.


When the subject is a [[wikipedia:Personal pronoun|personal pronoun]], such pronoun must be placed after the stem of the verb (and before the tense suffix, if any).
When the subject is a [[wikipedia:Personal pronoun|personal pronoun]], such pronoun must be placed after the stem of the verb (and before the tense suffix, if any).
===Articles and determiners===
===Articles and determiners===
Gerenian has two articles: a [[wikipedia:Definite article|definite article]], corresponding to English ''the'', and an [[wikipedia:Indefinite article|indefinite article]], corresponding to English ''a/an''.
Gerenian has two articles: a [[wikipedia:Definite article|definite article]], corresponding to English ''the'', and an [[wikipedia:Indefinite article|indefinite article]], corresponding to English ''a/an''.


The possessive [[wikipedia:Determiner (linguistics)|determiners]] are used to indicate the possessor of the noun they determine, and they are formed in adding to the noun the corresponding pronoun as a prefix.
The possessive [[wikipedia:Determiner (linguistics)|determiners]] are used to indicate the possessor of the noun they determine, and they are formed in adding to the noun the corresponding pronoun as a prefix. This is correct only to indicate strict possession, and not to express a sense of belonging or identification wit ha subject. The possessive forms of personal pronouns are formed by adding the suffix -es to the pronouns.
 
The demonstrative determiners can mean either "this" or "that", "these" or "those". In Gerenian, the word ''der'' is the only demonstrative determiner, and is placed before the noun in sentences.


The demonstrative determiners can mean either this or that, these or those. In Gerenian, the word ''der'' is the only demonstrative determiner, and is added to the noun as a prefix.
===Pronouns===
===Pronouns===
The personal pronouns are the following:
The personal pronouns are the following:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
Line 79: Line 121:
!width=130 |Pronoun
!width=130 |Pronoun
|-
|-
| rowspan=3|Singular
| rowspan=6|Singular
| 1st
| 1st
| io
| io
Line 86: Line 128:
| ni
| ni
|-
|-
|3rd
| rowspan=4 |3rd
| je, ja, de
| je  
|-
|-
| rowspan=3|Plural
| ja
|-
| de
|-
| ji
|-
| rowspan=6|Plural
| 1st
| 1st
| ios
| ios
Line 96: Line 144:
| nis
| nis
|-
|-
| rowspan=3|3rd
| rowspan=4 |3rd
| jei, jai, des
| jei  
|-
| jai  
|-
| des  
|-
|-
| ji
|-
|-
|}
|}
===Adjectives===
===Adjectives===
An adjective agrees in gender and number (except the neutral ones) with the noun it modifies, and it always appear after it.
An adjective agrees in gender and number (except the neutral ones) with the noun it modifies, and it always appear after it.


The feminine adjectives are formed by adding the suffix ''-ka'' (singular) or ''-kai'' (plural). Analogously, the masculine adjectives are formed by adding either the suffix ''-ke'' (singular) or ''-kei'' (plural). Regarding the neutral form, the suffix ''-es'' must be added, regardless of the number of the modified noun.
The feminine adjectives are formed by adding the suffix ''-ka'' (singular) or ''-kai'' (plural). Analogously, the masculine adjectives are formed by adding either the suffix ''-ke'' (singular) or ''-kei'' (plural). Regarding the neutral and the indefinite form, the suffixes ''-es'' and ''-ki'', respectively, must be added, regardless of the number of the modified noun.
 
In some cases, and depending in the context, the ending -es can be used when referring to any of the genders.
 
===Adverbs===
===Adverbs===
They are used to modify adjectives, other adverbs and verbs or clauses. All adverbs are formed by adding the suffix ''-so'' to the neutral form of the adjective they are derived from.
They are used to modify adjectives, other adverbs and verbs or clauses. All Gerenian adverbs are formed by adding the suffix ''-bi'' to the neutral form of the adjective they are derived from.
 
===Negation===
===Negation===
Negation in both the indicative and the subjunctive mood are formed in adding the prefix ''-dis'' to the verb. On the other hand, in order to express negation in the imperative mood, the word ''na'' is used.
Negation in both the indicative and the subjunctive mood are formed in adding the prefix ''dis-'' to the verb. On the other hand, in order to express negation in the imperative mood, the word ''na'' is used.


Examples:
Examples:
* «'''Dis'''eztjel'at sodki.» — "He did not see anybody."
* "'''Dis'''eztjel'at sodki." — "He did not see anybody."
* «'''Na''' ilbnim.» — "Do not come (here)."
* "'''Na''' ilbnim." — "Do not come."
 
===Word order===
===Word order===
There are two common word orders: one ([[wikipedia:Verb-subject-object|VSO]]) for sentences where the subject is a pronoun, and another ([[wikipedia:Subject-verb-object|SVO]]) for sentences where the subject is not a pronoun, and for questions.
There are two common word orders: one ([[wikipedia:Verb-subject-object|VSO]]) for sentences where the subject is a pronoun, and another ([[wikipedia:Subject-verb-object|SVO]]) for sentences where the subject is not a pronoun, and for questions.
==Vocabulary==
==Vocabulary==
Most Gerenian vocabulary is not derived from any language, but it has been created randomly.
Most Gerenian vocabulary is not derived from any language, but it has been created randomly.
Line 120: Line 180:
It is estimated that 20% of common Gerenian words are of foreign origin. About 26% of these foreign words come from [[wikipedia:English language|English]], followed by [[wikipedia:Spanish language|Spanish]] (17%). However, roughly a half of Gerenian words of foreign origin come from both English and Spanish at the same time, as the influence is the result of resemblance between an English word and its Spanish equivalent, or viceversa.
It is estimated that 20% of common Gerenian words are of foreign origin. About 26% of these foreign words come from [[wikipedia:English language|English]], followed by [[wikipedia:Spanish language|Spanish]] (17%). However, roughly a half of Gerenian words of foreign origin come from both English and Spanish at the same time, as the influence is the result of resemblance between an English word and its Spanish equivalent, or viceversa.


The size of the Gerenian vocabulary is in constant growth. According to the KNSEŽ (''Kamițianetoles'ar er Engre Žerénies'', Gerenian Language National Commission), Gerenian had 420 words as of mid-November 2012.
==Ortography==
==Ortography==
Gerenian is written in the Latin alphabet. In addition to 24 of the 26 standard letters (neither ''q'' nor ''x'' are used), Gerenian has three vowels with [[wikipedia:Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]]: ä, ö and ü, and the letters ž, î, ĵ, ý and ț. The vowels can be marked with an [[wikipedia:Acute accent|acute accent]] to mark stress, but they are not distinct letters in the alphabet.
Gerenian is written in the Latin script. In addition to 24 of the 26 standard letters (neither ''q'' nor ''x'' are used), Gerenian has three vowels with [[wikipedia:Diaeresis (diacritic)|diaeresis]]: ä, ö and ü, and the letters ž, î, ĵ, ŷ, ț, and č. The vowels a, e, i, y and o can be marked with an [[wikipedia:Acute accent|acute accent]] to mark stress, but they are not distinct letters in the alphabet.
 
===Gerenian alphabet===
===Gerenian alphabet===
Gerenian has 31 letters: 10 vowels and 21 consonants.
: ''Main article: [[Gerenian alphabet]]''
 
Gerenian has 33 letters: 11 vowels and 22 consonants.
 
{|class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
{|class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
|-
|bgcolor="#EFEFEF" align="center" colspan="31" | '''[[wikipedia:Capital letters|Capital letters]]'''
|bgcolor="#EFEFEF" align="center" colspan="33" | '''[[wikipedia:Capital letters|Capital letters]]'''
|-
|-
|width=3% align="center"|A||width=3% align="center"|Ä||width=3% align="center"|E||width=3% align="center"|B||width=3% align="center"|V||width=3% align="center"|F||width=3% align="center"|C||width=3% align="center"|S||width=3% align="center"|Z||width=3% align="center"|Ž||width=3% align="center"|D||width=3% align="center"|G||width=3% align="center"|H||width=3% align="center"|I||width=3% align="center"|Î||width=3% align="center"|J||width=3% align="center"|Ĵ||width=3% align="center"|Ý||width=3% align="center"|K||width=3% align="center"|L||width=3% align="center"|M||width=3% align="center"|N||width=3% align="center"|O||width=3% align="center"|Ö||width=3% align="center"|P||width=3% align="center"|R||width=3% align="center"|T||width=3% align="center"|Ț||width=3% align="center"|U||width=3% align="center"|Ü||width=3% align="center"|W
|width=3% align="center"|A||width=3% align="center"|Ä||width=3% align="center"|E||width=3% align="center"|B||width=3% align="center"|V||width=3% align="center"|F||width=3% align="center"|C||width=3% align="center"|Č||width=3% align="center"|S||width=3% align="center"|Z||width=3% align="center"|Ž||width=3% align="center"|D||width=3% align="center"|G||width=3% align="center"|H||width=3% align="center"|I||width=3% align="center"|Î||width=3% align="center"|J||width=3% align="center"|Ĵ||width=3% align="center"|Y||width=3% align="center"|Ŷ||width=3% align="center"|K||width=3% align="center"|L||width=3% align="center"|M||width=3% align="center"|N||width=3% align="center"|O||width=3% align="center"|Ö||width=3% align="center"|P||width=3% align="center"|R||width=3% align="center"|T||width=3% align="center"|Ț||width=3% align="center"|U||width=3% align="center"|Ü||width=3% align="center"|W
|-
|-
|bgcolor="#EFEFEF" align="center" colspan="31" | '''[[wikipedia:Lower case|Lower case]]'''
|bgcolor="#EFEFEF" align="center" colspan="33" | '''[[wikipedia:Lower case|Lower case]]'''
|-
|-
|align="center"|a||align="center"|ä||align="center"|e||align="center"|b||align="center"|v||align="center"|f||align="center"|c||align="center"|s||align="center"|z||align="center"|ž||align="center"|d||align="center"|g||align="center"|h||align="center"|i||align="center"|î||align="center"|j||align="center"|ĵ||align="center"|ý||align="center"|k||align="center"|l||align="center"|m||align="center"|n||align="center"|o||align="center"|ö||align="center"|p||align="center"|r||align="center"|t||align="center"|ț||align="center"|u||align="center"|ü||align="center"|w
|align="center"|a||align="center"|ä||align="center"|e||align="center"|b||align="center"|v||align="center"|f||align="center"|c||align="center"|č||align="center"|s||align="center"|z||align="center"|ž||align="center"|d||align="center"|g||align="center"|h||align="center"|i||align="center"|î||align="center"|j||align="center"|ĵ||align="center"|y||align="center"|ŷ||align="center"|k||align="center"|l||align="center"|m||align="center"|n||align="center"|o||align="center"|ö||align="center"|p||align="center"|r||align="center"|t||align="center"|ț||align="center"|u||align="center"|ü||align="center"|w
|}
|}
The following alternate spellings are allowed:
* ''ae'' instead of ''ä''
* ''ch'' instead of ''č''
* ''zh'' instead of ''ž''
* ''jh'' instead of ''ĵ''
* ''yh'' instead of ''ŷ''
* ''oe'' instead of ''ö''
* ''ts'' instead of ''ț''
* ''ue'' instead of ''ü''
==Phonology==
==Phonology==
===Vowels===
===Vowels===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; "
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; "
Line 146: Line 221:
!width=40|Î
!width=40|Î
!width=40|J
!width=40|J
!width=40|Y
!width=40|O
!width=40|O
!width=40|Ö
!width=40|Ö
Line 151: Line 227:
!width=40|Ü
!width=40|Ü
|-
|-
! pronunciation
! phoneme
| /a/ || /ɛ/ || /ɛ/ || /ɪ/ || /ə/ || /ɨ/ || /ɔ/ || /œ/ || /ʊ/ || /ʏ/
| a || ɛ || ɛ || ɪ || ə || ɨ || ɪ || o || œ || ʊ || ʏ
|}
|}
Gerenian vowels can form digraphs (in writing) and diphthongs (in pronunciation):
 
Gerenian vowels can form digraphs (in writing) and diphthongs (in pronunciation). The following imply a change in the expected pronunciation:
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; "
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; "
|-
|-
! spelling !! äe, ee, ei !! ou
! spelling !! äe, ee !! ou
|-
|-
! pronunciation
! pronunciation
| /ɛɪ/ || /aʊ/
| /ɛɪ/ || /aʊ/
|}
|}
===Consonants===
===Consonants===
''Coming soon''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; "
|-
! letter
!width=40|B
!width=40|V
!width=40|F
!width=40|C
!width=40|Č
!width=40|S
!width=40|Z
!width=40|Ž
!width=40|D
!width=40|G
!width=40|H
!width=40|Ĵ
!width=40|Ŷ
!width=40|K
!width=40|L
!width=40|M
!width=40|N
!width=40|P
!width=40|R
!width=40|T
!width=40|Ț
!width=40|W
|-
! phoneme
| b || v || f || ɕ || tʃ || s || θ || ʐ || d || g || h || x || ʃ || k || l || m || n || p || r || t || t͡s || w
|}
 
Notes:
* The letter ''t'' is [[wikipedia:Palatalization|palatalized]] when at the end of a word: the centre of the tongue is raised during and after the articulation of such consonant.
* The group ''gh'' is pronounced /x/.
* The group ''sh'', borrowed from English since the June Reform, represents the sound /ʃ/, like the letter ''ŷ''. However, while ''sh'' can be placed only at the beginning of a word, ''ŷ'' can be placed anywhere.
 
==Dialects==
 
There are three dialects in Gerenian: the Southern dialect, the Middle dialect, and the Northern dialect.
 
===Southern dialect===
 
The Southern dialect (also called ''Upper Gerenian'') is spoken in [[Adarma]], [[Sängeran]], and —to a lesser extent— in [[West]]. There are two varieties: the ''birsenes'' variety (spoken in some zones of [[Tawlkar (city)|Tawlkar]], and in the south of Adarma, but not in [[Victoria Island]]), and the ''lanmes'' variety.
 
In southern dialect, the last vowel of words are usually long. Speakers also tend to drop the last letter of words if it is a consonant. The letters ''b'', ''v'', ''d'', and ''t'' have a different pronunciation compared to the other dialects. This feature is more noticeable in the lanmes variety, while birsenes speakers have changed the pronunciation of the letter ''g'' (/g/) for /h/.
 
===Middle dialect===
 
The Middle dialect is spoken in [[Clements]], [[Erstveda]], and [[Ramez]]. Standard Gerenian is based on the middle dialect.
 
===Northern dialect===
 
The Northern dialect (or ''Lower Gerenian'') is mainly spoken in the provinces of [[Maremedres]] and [[Barzat]]. Its intonation makes it different from the other dialects. In the Maremedrian variety, the letter ''e'' is usually pronounced /ɪɛ/, and the ''n'' is often palatalized.
 
 
{{Gerenia topics}}


[[Category:Gerenia]]
[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Gerenian society]]
[[Category:Gerenian language]]

Latest revision as of 16:47, 1 March 2018

Gerenian
Gherenies
KNSEZ logo.png
Gerenian Language National Commission logo
Pronunciation xɛ'rɛnɪɛs
Spoken natively in Gerenia Gerenia
Language family

Constructed languages

  • Gerenian
Writing system Latin
Source English, Spanish
Proto-Gerenian
Dialects Northern, Middle, Southern
Official status
Official language in Gerenia Gerenia
Regulated by Gerenian Language National Commission
Language codes
MOS-9 codes gr

Gerenian (self-designation: gherenies [xɛ'rɛnɪɛs]) is a conlang spoken in the Republic of Gerenia, where it has official status.

Most of Gerenian vocabulary has been created with random letter sequences, while some words are derived from other languages, mainly English and Spanish.

Gerenian is written using the Latin script.

History

See also: Gerenian alphabet#History

Origin

The origin of the Gerenian language can be found in mid-2004, when it was created the Gerakana script (in its "early" variant). Early Gerakana was composed of 28 letters, all but one of them being equivalent to the letters of the Spanish alphabet. At the same time, it began the invention of "Proto-Gerenian", which had a few words in its vocabulary, most of them being common words, of daily use. The development of Proto-Gerenian came to a standstill during early 2005, and until the foundation of the then United Gerenian Republic, Gerakana was used to encode documents only.

Between 2005 and 2008, Proto-Gerenian developed as a written language irregularly.

Development

With the foundation of the Republic of Gerenia as a micronation (which was called at the time United Gerenian Republic) in December 2011, it was revived the interest in a national language, which would become a major aspect of a forming culture. As a beginning, most of Proto-Gerenian vocabulary was discarded, and new words were created. In June 2012, after decreeing a set of ortography and grammar rules, the Government of Gerenia established the Gerenian Language National Commission.

The Commission established definitive rules for Gerenian in every level. With regards to the writing system, the Commission rejected the adoption of Gerakana (either as the only one or co-official alongside Latin script). The Gerenian variant of the Latin script was adopted, and modified several times before the modern version was finally approved.

Despite Gerakana not being adopted as official script of Gerenia, its modern variant is used throughout the country.

Grammar

Gerenian is an inflected language with four grammatical genders.

Nouns

Gerenian nouns inflect into:

  • two cases: nominative and genitive.
  • four genders: masculine, feminine, neuter, or indefinite.
  • two numbers: singular and plural.

Verbs

All Gerenian verbs are regular, and have a infinitive form characterized by the ending -in.

Inflection of standard Gerenian includes:

Conjugation of Gerenian verbs consist on isolating the stem of the verb and adding one or two endings, depending on the sentence.

Mood Tense Prefix Suffix
Indicative Present
Present continuous -ras
Preterite -(e)l
Future -(e)r
Past perfect a- -(e)l
Present perfect a-
Imperative -(e)m
Subjunctive -(e)f

If the stem of the verb ends in a consonant, a letter e is added to the suffix in order to make pronunciation easier.

When the subject is a personal pronoun, such pronoun must be placed after the stem of the verb (and before the tense suffix, if any).

Articles and determiners

Gerenian has two articles: a definite article, corresponding to English the, and an indefinite article, corresponding to English a/an.

The possessive determiners are used to indicate the possessor of the noun they determine, and they are formed in adding to the noun the corresponding pronoun as a prefix. This is correct only to indicate strict possession, and not to express a sense of belonging or identification wit ha subject. The possessive forms of personal pronouns are formed by adding the suffix -es to the pronouns.

The demonstrative determiners can mean either "this" or "that", "these" or "those". In Gerenian, the word der is the only demonstrative determiner, and is placed before the noun in sentences.

Pronouns

The personal pronouns are the following:

Number Person Pronoun
Singular 1st io
2nd ni
3rd je
ja
de
ji
Plural 1st ios
2nd nis
3rd jei
jai
des
ji

Adjectives

An adjective agrees in gender and number (except the neutral ones) with the noun it modifies, and it always appear after it.

The feminine adjectives are formed by adding the suffix -ka (singular) or -kai (plural). Analogously, the masculine adjectives are formed by adding either the suffix -ke (singular) or -kei (plural). Regarding the neutral and the indefinite form, the suffixes -es and -ki, respectively, must be added, regardless of the number of the modified noun.

In some cases, and depending in the context, the ending -es can be used when referring to any of the genders.

Adverbs

They are used to modify adjectives, other adverbs and verbs or clauses. All Gerenian adverbs are formed by adding the suffix -bi to the neutral form of the adjective they are derived from.

Negation

Negation in both the indicative and the subjunctive mood are formed in adding the prefix dis- to the verb. On the other hand, in order to express negation in the imperative mood, the word na is used.

Examples:

  • "Diseztjel'at sodki." — "He did not see anybody."
  • "Na ilbnim." — "Do not come."

Word order

There are two common word orders: one (VSO) for sentences where the subject is a pronoun, and another (SVO) for sentences where the subject is not a pronoun, and for questions.

Vocabulary

Most Gerenian vocabulary is not derived from any language, but it has been created randomly.

It is estimated that 20% of common Gerenian words are of foreign origin. About 26% of these foreign words come from English, followed by Spanish (17%). However, roughly a half of Gerenian words of foreign origin come from both English and Spanish at the same time, as the influence is the result of resemblance between an English word and its Spanish equivalent, or viceversa.

Ortography

Gerenian is written in the Latin script. In addition to 24 of the 26 standard letters (neither q nor x are used), Gerenian has three vowels with diaeresis: ä, ö and ü, and the letters ž, î, ĵ, ŷ, ț, and č. The vowels a, e, i, y and o can be marked with an acute accent to mark stress, but they are not distinct letters in the alphabet.

Gerenian alphabet

Main article: Gerenian alphabet

Gerenian has 33 letters: 11 vowels and 22 consonants.

Capital letters
A Ä E B V F C Č S Z Ž D G H I Î J Ĵ Y Ŷ K L M N O Ö P R T Ț U Ü W
Lower case
a ä e b v f c č s z ž d g h i î j ĵ y ŷ k l m n o ö p r t ț u ü w

The following alternate spellings are allowed:

  • ae instead of ä
  • ch instead of č
  • zh instead of ž
  • jh instead of ĵ
  • yh instead of ŷ
  • oe instead of ö
  • ts instead of ț
  • ue instead of ü

Phonology

Vowels

letter A Ä E I Î J Y O Ö U Ü
phoneme a ɛ ɛ ɪ ə ɨ ɪ o œ ʊ ʏ

Gerenian vowels can form digraphs (in writing) and diphthongs (in pronunciation). The following imply a change in the expected pronunciation:

spelling äe, ee ou
pronunciation /ɛɪ/ /aʊ/

Consonants

letter B V F C Č S Z Ž D G H Ĵ Ŷ K L M N P R T Ț W
phoneme b v f ɕ s θ ʐ d g h x ʃ k l m n p r t t͡s w

Notes:

  • The letter t is palatalized when at the end of a word: the centre of the tongue is raised during and after the articulation of such consonant.
  • The group gh is pronounced /x/.
  • The group sh, borrowed from English since the June Reform, represents the sound /ʃ/, like the letter ŷ. However, while sh can be placed only at the beginning of a word, ŷ can be placed anywhere.

Dialects

There are three dialects in Gerenian: the Southern dialect, the Middle dialect, and the Northern dialect.

Southern dialect

The Southern dialect (also called Upper Gerenian) is spoken in Adarma, Sängeran, and —to a lesser extent— in West. There are two varieties: the birsenes variety (spoken in some zones of Tawlkar, and in the south of Adarma, but not in Victoria Island), and the lanmes variety.

In southern dialect, the last vowel of words are usually long. Speakers also tend to drop the last letter of words if it is a consonant. The letters b, v, d, and t have a different pronunciation compared to the other dialects. This feature is more noticeable in the lanmes variety, while birsenes speakers have changed the pronunciation of the letter g (/g/) for /h/.

Middle dialect

The Middle dialect is spoken in Clements, Erstveda, and Ramez. Standard Gerenian is based on the middle dialect.

Northern dialect

The Northern dialect (or Lower Gerenian) is mainly spoken in the provinces of Maremedres and Barzat. Its intonation makes it different from the other dialects. In the Maremedrian variety, the letter e is usually pronounced /ɪɛ/, and the n is often palatalized.