Lánc

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Lantian (in language: Lánc) is a constructed fantasy language. It is quite different from English, but its grammar and syntax doesn't differ very much from other Indo-European languages.

Láncon mór (ébšum ó Lánc wámát) čejnát mór ér. Étérvan émedmo na indo-ewropáryojon móryo vylča, hejunon gramatika ši sintaks vnosum émedmo ét eruke.
Language English Italiano Deutsch Español Français Русский Български Český Ελληνικά Dansk
Name Lantian Lanzio Lanzisch Láncio Lancien Ланцкий Ланцки Láncký
Láncština
Λαντσικά Lantsisk
Language Suomi Català Magyar Lietuvių Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски Latviešu Українська Svenska
Name Laantsen kieli Lanzià Lánc nyelv Ląncų kalba Lancčina Láncščina Ланцки Lāncu valoda Ланцька Lantsiska
Language Polski Hrvatski Nederlands
Name Lancski Lancki Laantsisch

Introduction

Lantian is written with the Latin alphabet, with some letters modified to adapt to its phonetic conformation. The distinction between long and short vowels has a great importance. Most evidently it has an SOV shape, i.e. the verb comes at the end of its sentence, after subject and object. Nouns, adjectives and pronouns make an extensive use of cases to show their syntatical role inside the sentences. Also the verbs make an extensive use of subjunctive and optative moods, instead of conditional, and participles have great relevance. In verbs each person has its own verbal ending and personal subject pronouns are not mandatorily required.

Phonology

Main article: Lánc phonology

Basical pronounce

The pronounce is simple and clear. For every letter corresponds only one sound, and they are always pronounced, even if at the end of the words. Vowels must be pronounced clearly, paying attention for the distinction between long and short vowels. There is not reduction, as stress is usually fixed on the first syllable of the words and it's weak.

  • a = like a in father
  • á = like a in father, but pronunced twice longer
  • b = as in English
  • c = like ts or tz as in Tzigane
  • č = always like ch in church
  • d = as in English
  • = an unique sound, as g in George or j in join
  • e = like e in men (close-mid front unrounded vowel)
  • é = like e in men, but pronunced twice longer
  • f = as in English
  • g = always like g in get
  • h = like ch of Scottish loch
  • i = always like ee in meet
  • í = always like ee in meet, but pronunced twice longer
  • j = always like y in you
  • k = as in English
  • l = always like l in lane
  • m = as in English
  • n = as in English
  • o = like o in rock
  • ó = like o in rock, but pronunced twice longer
  • p = as in English
  • r = rolled Italian/Spanish-like r
  • s = as in English, but can only be unvoiced
  • š = like sh in shop
  • t = as in English
  • u = like u in put
  • ú = like u in put, but pronunced twice longer
  • v = as in English
  • y = a vowel pronounced with a sound between [i] and [u].
  • ý = as the y, but pronunced twice longer
  • w = as in English
  • z = as s in rose
  • ž = as j in French journal

Nouns

Nouns have no genre, as in English, but they flect according for number and case. The case show the role the word plays in sentences. In English it is shown by the position of the word within its sentence, but here nouns are flected by adding some endings to their root.

The root of a name usually is the nominative singular form.

There are 8 cases, and their main roles:

  • Nominative: it plays the role of the subject.
  • Genitive: it shows possession, proper or indirect.
  • Dative: it plays the role of the indirect object.
  • Accusative: it plays the role of the direct object
  • Instrumental: it has many roles, the main one is that of preposition with.
  • Locative: it shows the static position.
  • Adlative: it shows the destination of a movement.
  • Delative: it shows the origin of a movement.

For number, nouns flect in singular, plural and dual forms. The dual number indicates a pair of things. It has a lesser number of endings, only four, with consonant and vowel counteparts.

Declension

There are two separated declension patterns, one for the nouns which end in consonant, and one for the nouns which end in vowel.

Singular
Case Consonant Vowel
Nominative - -
Genitive -u -w
Dative -a -ja
Accusative -o -wo
Instrumental -en -jen
Locative -ot -jot
Adlative -ás -jás
Delative -ád -jád

If a noun already ends with -u, the genitive ending in the singular melds with this vowel and becomes .

  • mázu (house) ‣ mázú
Plural
Case Consonant Vowel
Nominative -y -j
Genitive -yw -ju
Dative -ya -jay
Accusative -yo -joy
Instrumental -yen -jeyn
Locative -yt -jyt
Adlative -ýs -jýs
Delative -ýd -jýd
Dual
Case Consonant Vowel
Nominative
Accusative
-et -t
Genitive
Dative
Adlative
-etu -ču
Instrumental
Delative
-etyn -čyn
Locative -ec -ciw
Examples:
stuv = village, town
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative stuv stuvy stuvet
Genitive stuvu stuvyw stuvetu
Dative stuva stuvya stuvetu
Accusative stuvo stuvyo stuvet
Instrumental stuven stuvyen stuvetyn
Locative stuvot stuvyt stuvec
Adlative stuvás stuvýs stuvetu
Delative stuvád stuvýd stuvetyn
mila = woman
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative mila milaj milat
Genitive milaw milaju milaču
Dative milaja milajay milaču
Accusative milawo milajoy milat
Instrumental milajen milajeyn milačyn
Locative milajot milajyt milaciw
Adlative milajás milajýs milaču
Delative milajád milajýd milačyn

Palatalized declension

Some nouns, even if they end with a consonant, follow the vowel declension pattern. In this case their last consonant undergoes palatalization, except for the nominative, genitive and accusative in the singular, and for all cases in dual. If there is a long vowel, when palatalization occurs, the vowel gets short.

krís = king
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative krís krišy kríset
Genitive krísu krišu krísetu
Dative kriša krišay krísetu
Accusative kríswo krišoy kríset
Instrumental krišen krišeyn krísetyn
Locative krišot krišyt krísec
Adlative krišás krišýs krísetu
Delative krišád krišýd krísetyn

Other nouns which undergo palatalization are: ák (water ‣ plur. ačy), héd (mother ‣ plur. hedžy), lók (head ‣ plur. ločy), nát (father ‣ plur. načy), pýk (fire ‣ plur. pyčy), úk (name ‣ plur. učy)

Nasalized declension

A very few nouns, ending with a vowel in nominative singular, adds an -n- or an -m- in the other cases, and follow a special declension, mixed between the vowel and consonant declension.

ílu = snow
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative ílu ílumy ílumet
Genitive ílumu ílumju ílumetu
Dative íluma ílumjay ílumetu
Accusative ílumo ílumjoy ílumet
Instrumental ílumen ílumjeyn ílumetyn
Locative ílumot ílumjyt ílumec
Adlative ílumás ílumjýs ílumetu
Delative ílumád ílumjýd ílumetyn

Other nouns which add a nasal consonant are: béčo (kiss ‣ plur. béčomy), núrma (rule ‣ plur. núrmany), púne (dress ‣ plur. púnemy), pwo (seed ‣ plur. pwomy)

Initials' declension

Some nouns are expressed by initials, as abbreviations of a multi-word name, like NMA (Núčelačy Mjáwej Amerikaw, United States of America), or EN (Ewropár Núčeltjám, European Union). They are often pronounced as initials, also in spoken language, and they decline according to the pronounce of their last letter:

Case EN NMA
Nominative EN NMA
Genitive EN-u NMA-ju
Dative EN-a NMA-jay
Accusative EN-o NMA-joy
Instrumental EN-en NMA-jeyn
Locative EN-ot NMA-jyt
Adlative EN-ás NMA-jýs
Delative EN-ád NMA-jýd

They are pronounced as a single name: in the USA - onyt NMA-jyt [onɨt enemajɨt]

Note: Núčelačy Mjáwej Amerikaw is plural, and its initials NMA remain plural too

Article

There is only the form for the definite article (the): ó. It has to be declined according to its noun.

ó = the
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative ó ony ont
Genitive onu onju onču
Dative ona onja onču
Accusative ono onjo ont
Instrumental onen onjen ontyn
Locative onot onyt onec
Adlative onás onýs onču
Delative onád onýd ontyn
For the rules of article usage, see Lantian syntax page

Adjectives

The adjectives must agree with their nouns in number and case, but only in attributive position. In prepositive position adjectives are not declined:

  • Attributive position: nom.: dén mila (a good woman), gen.: dénu milaw (of a good woman)
  • Prepositive position: ó mila dén ér (the woman is good), ony milaj dén eruk (the women are good)

Declension

The adjectival declension follows the nominal declension's pattern, with the distinction between consonant and vowel endings. Adjectives always come before their nouns, except for participles, that can occur after.

If the adjective comes before a nouns which is definited, it melds with the article, and it uses the definite adjectival declension.

  • Dén mila: a good woman
  • Dénon mila: the good woman
  • Dényenon milajeyn: with the good women

Here there are samples from two adjectives:

dén = good
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative dénon dényjon déneton
Genitive dénun dénywon dénetun
Dative dénan dényajon dénetun
Accusative dénon dényojon déneton
Instrumental dénenon dényenon dénetynon
Locative dénoton dényton dénecon
Adlative dénáson dénýson dénetun
Delative dénádon dénýdon dénetynon
pana = high
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative panan panajon panaton
Genitive panawon panajun panačun
Dative panajan panajayn panačun
Accusative panawon panajoyn panaton
Instrumental panajenon panajeynon panačynon
Locative panajoton panajyton panaciwon
Adlative panajáson panajýson panačun
Delative panajádon panajýdon panačynon

If the adjective falls after the noun, it never use the definite declension, and the article appears before the noun:

  • ó mila okeláv = the woman who loved

Adjectives, indicating a quality of a person, can be used alone without a substantive, as nouns. In this case they are treated like nouns and don't adopt the definite adjectival declension.

  • the poor men: fedenyjon mony
  • the poor people: ony fedeny.

Comparison

There are two degrees of comparison: the comparative form and the superlative form:

They are formed by adding prefixes to the normal form of the adjective:

  • Comparative: add pu- (mantaining the -): dén ‣ pu-dén
  • Superlative: add saj- (mantaining the -): dén ‣ saj-dén

The second term of the comparison for comparative form is introduced by ča:

  • lak mila pu-méra ča šik ér: this woman is more beautiful than that one

Pronouns

Personal

These are the forms of personal pronouns:

Case I You (thou) He She It
Nom. to za héj
Gen. kiju tow zaw hiju heju
Dat. kija toja zaja hija heja
Acc. kijo zao hijo hejo
Instr. kijen tojen zajen hijen hejen
Loc. kijot tojot zajot hijot hejot
Adl. kijás tojás zajás hijás hejás
Del. kijád tojád zajád hijád hejád
Case We You (plur.) They (m) They (f) They (mixed)
Nom. vój
Gen. voju riju ziju biju miju
Dat. vojay rijay zijay bijay mijay
Acc. vojo rijo zijo bijo mijo
Instr. vojen rijen zijen bijen mijen
Loc. vojyt rijyt zijyt bijyt mijyt
Adl. vojýs rijýs zijýs bijýs mijýs
Del. vojýd rijýd zijýd bijýd mijýd
Case We two You two They two
Nom. vóje rije mije
Gen. vojču ríjču mijču
Dat. vojču ríjču mijču
Acc. voje rije mije
Instr. vojčyn rijčyn mijčyn
Loc. vojciw rijciw mijciw
Adl. vojču ríjču mijču
Del. vojčyn rijčyn mijčyn

The second person in plural form () is also used as a polite form, when someone talks with another unknown person.

Possessive

Possessive adjectives/pronouns are built by adding to the genitival form of personal pronoun a -n, and then they decline as an adjective.

  • kí (I) ‣ kiju (of me) ‣ kijun (my, mine)
  • za (he) ‣ zaw (of him) ‣ zawn (his)

Possessive adjectives can adopt the definite adjectival declension, differently from English. The article is not used before parental nouns (nát (father), héd (mother), etc..).

  • My name is Mark: Kijunon úk Mark ér.
  • I talked to your mother: Towna hedža malževu.

Reflexive

There is only one form of reflexive pronoun, meaning that the expressed action falls on the subject of the action itself. The pronoun declines for cases and number (singular, plural and dual).

Case Singular Plural Dual
Nom. (sí) (sí) (sije)
Gen. siju sijyw sijču
Dat. sija sijay sijču
Acc. sijo sijoy sije
Instr. sijen sijeyn sijčyn
Loc. sijot sijyt sijciw
Adl. sijás sijýs sijču
Del. sijád sijýd sijčyn

The reflexive pronoun is the same for all grammatical persons, and reflects the action of the verb on the subject:

  • I wash myself ‣ sijo míču
  • She cuts herself ‣ sijo vwéžev
  • Do they like themselves? ‣ sijay málek?

From the genitive it can be built three reflexive possessive pronoun, sijun, sijywn, sijčun, which imply that the subject and the possessor are the same. Although they can be used with every personal pronoun, their use has been limited in time to the third persons:

  • She watches her own home: hí sijunon mázuwo sélve
  • They washed their own cars: sijywnyjon awtojoy míjevek

Using the other possessive pronouns indicates that the possessor and the subject aren't the same:

  • hí sijuno monsono kele: she loves her own hubsand
  • hí hijuno monsono kele: she loves her (of another woman) husband

Relative

These are the forms of the relative pronoun:

ksé = that, which, who
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative ksé kší kset
Genitive ksew kšú kseču
Dative kšá kšáy kseču
Accusative ksewo kšóy kset
Instrumental kšén kšéyn ksečyn
Locative kšót kšýt kseciw
Adlative kšás kšýs kseču
Delative kšád kšýd ksečyn

These forms are used more rarely than in English, because in relative sentences participles are more actively used.

Interrogative

má = what
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative maj mjet
Genitive maw mju mječu
Dative maja mjay mječu
Accusative mjoy mjet
Instrumental mén mjeyn mječyn
Locative mjot mjyt mjeciw
Adlative mjás mjýs mječu
Delative mjád mjýd mječyn


mé = who
Case Singular Plural Dual
Nominative mej mejet
Genitive mew meju meječu
Dative meja mejay meječu
Accusative mewo mejoy mejet
Instrumental mejen mejeyn meječyn
Locative mejot mejyt mejeciw
Adlative mejás mejýs meječu
Delative mejád mejýd meječyn

Interrogative pronoun/adjective (they are declined):

  • Which: máke
  • How much: móse

Indeclinable pronouns:

  • How: swé
  • Where (status): swot
  • Where (motion): swás
  • From where (status): swád
  • When: swíz
  • Why: méske

Numbers

Numbers are treated like adverbs. They don't decline, except for nók, one (dat.: noča, it has no plural forms), which also means unique.

Number Name
1 nók
2 džis
3 klik
4 pali
5 majt
6 šuk
7 poč
8 vát
9 lém
10 tóčy

Numbers from 11 to 19 are built by adding -af- (on) + -tóč (a simplified form of 10) to the primary numbers:

Number Name
11 čaftóč
12 džisaftóč
13 klikaftóč
14 paljaftóč
15 majtaftóč
16 šukaftóč
17 počaftóč
18 vátaftóč
19 lémaftóč

The only two irregularities are bolded.

Names of tens are built by simply adding -tóč (a simplified form of 10) to the primary numbers:

Number Name
20 džistóč
30 kliktóč
40 palitóč
50 majttóč
60 šuktóč
70 počtóč
80 váttóč
90 lémtóč

Other numbers are:

Number Name
100 tóček
200 džistóček
300 kliktóček
1,000 pastó
2,000 džispastó
3,000 klikpastó
1,000,000 miljón
1,000,000,000 miljárd

Miljón and miljárd are treated and declined like nouns (plur. miljóny, miljárdy). After them nouns are declined in genitive case:

- The Sun is one hundred fifty millions kilometres from Earth: Ó Lós vašwate tóček majttóč miljárdyo kilométryw ód ono Páno.

The ordinal numbers are formed by adding the ending -ov to the numbers. There are some irregularities:

Number Name
1 čov
2 džisov
3 klikov
4 paljov
5 majtov
6 šukov
7 počov
8 vátov
9 lémov
10 čov
11 nóčaftóčov
20 džistóč
100 tóčkov
1,000 pastóv
1,000,000 miljónov

In composed numbers, the ending is added only on the last number:

- 2,602,094th: miljónet šuktóček džispastó lémtóč paljov

Adverbs

There is a small number of original adverbs, without a clear etymologic origin. Some adverbs are fixed forms from declined nouns:

  • tomorrow: tefadžo (from fád, day)

Most adverbs come from adjectives. They are formed by adding the suffix -(j)um to the adjective:

  • good: dén ‣ well: dénum
  • human: čésár ‣ humanly: čésárum

Verbs

Verbs have a rich system of conjugation. There are one infinitival form, 3 participles, 4 moods and at least 5 tenses in the indicative mood. Verbs do conjugate according to the person, with different endings for each person, in singular, plural and dual. Each form has a passive counterpart, because there is a separated passive conjugation.

Verbs are divided in two conjugation patterns, depending on their infinitival endings:

  • 1st conjugation = -uč
  • 2nd conjugation = -or

By dropping these endings we'll get the verbal root, basis of verbal conjugation.

Infinitive

This is the infinitival form, that you'll find in dictionaries.

We'll use two sample verbs, to show the conjugation:

to Love to Eat
Keluč Setor

Participles

Verbs have three participles: present participle, past participle, and future participle, which doesn't exist in English, but express the same meaning of the other two participles but in the future.

Present Past Future
keláv okeláv tekeláv
setáv osetáv tesetáv

The past participle has an active meaning; osetáv doesn't mean that has been eaten, but which has eaten.

The vowel in the -áv ending gets short when declined:

  • nom. keláv (loving) ‣ gen. kelavu (of loving)

Participles are very important in the construction of relative sentences.

Indicative

The indicative mood is the mood of reality, that shows happenings, tales, indications, etc. It has 5 tenses. Two tenses are simple, three tenses add prefixes.

Present

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. kelu setu
2nd sing. keluc setec
3rd sing. kele sete
1st plu. kelun seten
2nd plu. keluj setej
3rd plu. keluk setek
1st dual kelune setene
2nd dual keluje seteje
3rd dual keluke seteke

Past

The past tense marks an action, occured in the past. It is formed by adding the infix -uv- for the 1st conjugation or -ev for the 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, except for the 3rd person in singular, which adds nothing.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. keluvu setevu
2nd sing. keluvec setevec
3rd sing. keluv setev
1st plu. keluven seteven
2nd plu. keluvej setevej
3rd plu. keluvek setevek
1st dual keluvene setevene
2nd dual keluveje seteveje
3rd dual keluveke seteveke

Future

The future tense marks an action, which will occur in the future. It is formed by adding the infix -us- for the 1st conjugation or -es for the 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, and by adding the prefix te(k)- before the main root.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. tekelusu tesetesu
2nd sing. tekelusec tesetesec
3rd sing. tekeluse tesetese
1st plu. tekelusen tesetesen
2nd plu. tekelusej tesetesej
3rd plu. tekelusek tesetesek
1st dual tekelusene tesetesene
2nd dual tekeluseje teseteseje
3rd dual tekeluseke teseteseke

Plusquamperfect

The plusquamperfect tense marks an action, occured in the past of another past action. It is formed by adding the prefix o(k)- to the forms of the past tense.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. okeluvu osetevu
2nd sing. okeluvec osetevec
3rd sing. okeluv osetev
1st plu. okeluven oseteven
2nd plu. okeluvej osetevej
3rd plu. okeluvek osetevek
1st dual okeluvene osetevene
2nd dual okeluveje oseteveje
3rd dual okeluveke oseteveke

Future in the past

The future in the past tense marks an action, occured in the future of another past action. It is formed by adding the prefix o(k)- to the forms of the future tense.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. otekelusu otesetesu
2nd sing. otekelusec otesetesec
3rd sing. otekeluse otesetese
1st plu. otekelusen otesetesen
2nd plu. otekelusej otesetesej
3rd plu. otekelusek otesetesek
1st dual otekelusene otesetesene
2nd dual otekeluseje oteseteseje
3rd dual otekeluseke oteseteseke

Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is the mood of doubt, uncertainty, possibility, etc. It is very used in subordinate clauses. It has 3 tenses. Two tenses are simple, one tense adds prefixes. Subjunctive is marked by the infixed vowel -a-, which replaces the -e/u- alternance in the indicative.

Present

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. kela seta
2nd sing. kelac setac
3rd sing. kela seta
1st plu. kelan setan
2nd plu. kelaj setaj
3rd plu. kelak setak
1st dual kelane setane
2nd dual kelaje setaje
3rd dual kelake setake

Past

The past tense marks a possible, uncertain action, which could occur in the past. It is formed by adding the infix -av- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, except for the 3rd person in singular, which adds nothing.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. kelavu setavu
2nd sing. kelavec setavec
3rd sing. kelav setav
1st plu. kelaven setaven
2nd plu. kelavej setavej
3rd plu. kelavek setavek
1st dual kelavene setavene
2nd dual kelaveje setaveje
3rd dual kelaveke setaveke

Future

The future tense marks a possible, uncertain action, which can occur in the future. It is formed by adding the infix -as- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, and by adding the prefix te(k)- before the main root.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. tekelasu tesetasu
2nd sing. tekelasec tesetasec
3rd sing. tekelase tesetase
1st plu. tekelasen tesetasen
2nd plu. tekelasej tesetasej
3rd plu. tekelasek tesetasek
1st dual tekelasene tesetasene
2nd dual tekelaseje tesetaseje
3rd dual tekelaseke tesetaseke

Optative

The optative is the mood of whish, probability, will. It is very used in subordinate clauses. It has 3 tenses. Two tenses are simple, one tense adds prefixes. Optative is marked by the infixed vowel -i-, which replaces the -e/u- alternance in the indicative.

Present

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. keli seti
2nd sing. kelic setic
3rd sing. keli seti
1st plu. kelin setin
2nd plu. kelij setij
3rd plu. kelik setik
1st dual keline setine
2nd dual kelije setije
3rd dual kelike setike

Past

The past tense marks a wish, a probability, which could occur in the past. It is formed by adding the infix -iv- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, except for the 3rd person in singular, which adds nothing.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. kelivu setivu
2nd sing. kelivec setivec
3rd sing. keliv setiv
1st plu. keliven setiven
2nd plu. kelivej setivej
3rd plu. kelivek setivek
1st dual kelivene setivene
2nd dual keliveje setiveje
3rd dual keliveke setiveke

Future

The future tense marks a wish, a probability, which can occur in the future. It is formed by adding the infix -is- for the 1st and 2nd conjugation, and then the present endings of the 2nd conjugation, and by adding the prefix te(k)- before the main root.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. tekelisu tesetisu
2nd sing. tekelisec tesetisec
3rd sing. tekelise tesetise
1st plu. tekelisen tesetisen
2nd plu. tekelisej tesetisej
3rd plu. tekelisek tesetisek
1st dual tekelisene tesetisene
2nd dual tekeliseje tesetiseje
3rd dual tekeliseke tesetiseke

Imperative

The imperative mood is the mood of orders. It has only one tense with special endings.

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. - -
2nd sing. kel set
3rd sing. kela seta
1st plu. keljen setjen
2nd plu. kel set
3rd plu. kelak setak
1st dual keljene setjene
2nd dual kelače setače
3rd dual kelake setake

If the root already ends with -[j], one of them falls by adding the 1st plural and dual endings:

  • verb to go, rokor, verbal root: rój-rójen (let's go), rójene (dual form)

Passive declension

Verbs form their passive counterparts by adding a suffix, not as in English. So there is a separated passive declension:

  • He opens the door: ono erkowo pále
  • The door is opened by him: ó erko zajen páles

The passive form is formed by adding the suffix -s after a vowel, and -is after a consonant.

Examples: The present tense:

Person Keluč Setor
1st sing. kelus setus
2nd sing. kelucis setecis
3rd sing. keles setes
1st plu. kelunis setenis
2nd plu. kelujis setejis
3rd plu. kelukis setekis
1st dual kelunes setenes
2nd dual kelujes setejes
3rd dual kelukes setekes

The agent of the passive sentence is expressed by the instrumental case:

  • The pen was broken by his mother: ó poljasma zawnen hedžen okrujzuvis

Participles takes different endings to form their passive counterparts:

Present Past Future
kelát okelát tekelát
setát osetát tesetát

They follow the declension of palatalizated nouns with vowel shortening of the final vowel:

  • osetát (eaten) ‣ osetačy (plur.)

Verb Ervuč (to Be)

The verb ervuč (to Be) is irregular. These are its forms:

Indicative Present Past Future Plusquamperfect Future in the past
1st sing. eru ervu tekersu okervu otekersu
2nd sing. erc ervec tekersec okervec otekersec
3rd sing. ér erev tekerse okerev otekerse
1st plu. ern erven tekersen okerven otekersen
2nd plu. ery ervej tekersej okervej otekersej
3rd plu. eruk ervek tekersek okervek otekersek
1st dual erne ervene tekersene okervene otekersene
2nd dual erje erveje tekerseje okerveje otekerseje
3rd dual eruke erveke tekerseke okerveke otekerseke
Subjunctive Present Past Future
1st sing. era eravu tekerasu
2nd sing. erac eravec tekerasec
3rd sing. era erav tekerase
1st plu. eran eraven tekerasen
2nd plu. eraj eravej tekerasej
3rd plu. erak eravek tekerasek
1st dual erane eravene tekerasene
2nd dual eraje eraveje tekeraseje
3rd dual erake eraveke tekeraseke
Optative Present Past Future
1st sing. eri erivu tekerisu
2nd sing. eric erivec tekerisec
3rd sing. eri eriv tekerise
1st plu. erin eriven tekerisen
2nd plu. erij erivej tekerisej
3rd plu. erik erivek tekerisek
1st dual erine erivene tekerisene
2nd dual erije eriveje tekeriseje
3rd dual erike eriveke tekeriseke
Imperative Present
1st sing. -
2nd sing. ér
3rd sing. era
1st plu. erjen
2nd plu. érč
3rd plu. erak
1st dual erjene
2nd dual erče
3rd dual erake

The participles are:

Present Past Future
eráv okeráv tekeráv

Verb Esor (to Have)

The verb esor (to Have) is irregular. These are its forms:

Indicative Present Past Future Plusquamperfect Future in the past
1st sing. esu esvu tekesesu okesvu otekesesu
2nd sing. esec esvec tekesesec okesvec otekesesec
3rd sing. és esev tekesese okesev otekesese
1st plu. esn esven tekesesen okesven otekesesen
2nd plu. esy esvej tekesesej okesvej otekesesej
3rd plu. esuk esvek tekesesek okesvek otekesesek
1st dual esne esvene tekesesene okesvene otekesesene
2nd dual esje esveje tekeseseje okesveje otekeseseje
3rd dual esuke esveke tekeseseke okesveke otekeseseke
Subjunctive Present Past Future
1st sing. esa esavu tekesasu
2nd sing. esac esavec tekesasec
3rd sing. esa esav tekesase
1st plu. esan esaven tekesasen
2nd plu. esaj esavej tekesasej
3rd plu. esak esavek tekesasek
1st dual esane esavene tekesasene
2nd dual esaje esaveje tekesaseje
3rd dual esake esaveke tekesaseke
Optative Present Past Future
1st sing. esi esivu tekesisu
2nd sing. esic esivec tekesisec
3rd sing. esi esiv tekesise
1st plu. esin esiven tekesisen
2nd plu. esij esivej tekesisej
3rd plu. esik esivek tekesisek
1st dual esine esivene tekesisene
2nd dual esije esiveje tekesiseje
3rd dual esike esiveke tekesiseke
Imperative Present
1st sing. -
2nd sing. és
3rd sing. esa
1st plu. esjen
2nd plu. esač
3rd plu. esak
1st dual esjene
2nd dual esače
3rd dual esake

The participles are:

Present Past Future
esáv okesáv tekesáv

The most important feature of this verb is that its behaviour is different from its English countepart's one. The possession is expressed by another construction: The owned object is in the nominative case (i.e. it becomes the sentence's subject), then the verbs agree with it and the owner is declined in dative case. This occurs both for proper or aquired possession.

  • Lók bányajon čésya és: All human beings have a head (lit.: A head to all human beings has)
  • Poljasma kija és: I have a pen (lit.: A pen to me has)

Conjugation tables

See also Lánc conjugation tables for more information


Word formation

Noun → Noun

  • To form a noun which refers to someone who sells something, the ending -jaš is added. This ending could palatalize the last consonant of palatalizable nouns, losing the [j]:

- Tále (book) ‣ tálejaš (bookseller)

  • To form a noun which refers to the place, where something is sold, the ending -(o)rám (from rámek, shop) is added:

- Tále (book) ‣ tálerám (bookshop)

  • To form a noun which refers to place where a certain person has a power, linked with his/her title, the ending -pót is added. This ending could palatalize the last consonant of palatalizable nouns. It almost corresponds to English ending -dom.

- Krís (king) ‣ krišpót (kingdom)

Noun → Adjective

  • One of the most common endings to turn a noun into its corrispective adjective is -ár. If the noun already ends with -r, the ending changes in -ál. When attached to a noun which usually undergoes palatalization with vowel shortening, these phenomena occur.

- čés (human being) ‣ čésár (human)
- úk (noun) ‣ učár (nominal)
- výr (world) ‣ výrál (world)

  • The adjectival ending for nouns, ending in a vowel, is -jer.

- mila (woman) ‣ milajer (feminine)

  • The adjectivizer forms -ár/-ál/-jer are used also to form the adjective related to a country.

- Frans (France) ‣ fransár (French)
- Litva (Latvia) ‣ litvajer (Latvian)

There are some relevant irregularities/exceptions:

- Ewropa (Europe) ‣ ewropár (European)
- Ingland (England) ‣ inglišár (English)
- Itália (Italy) ‣ itáljár (Italian)
- Ellada (Greece) ‣ ellenár (Greek)
- Dojčland (Germany) ‣ dojčár (German)
- Denmark (Denmark) ‣ danskár (Danish)
and other...

These adjectival forms can be used also as the country population's noun:

- Itália (Italy): itáljáron hranu (the Italian food) / ony itáljáry (the Italians)

Verb → Noun

  • Ending -(o)tjám. This ending indicates the concrete or abstract result of the action of the verb. The -o- is inserted when the verbal root ends with two consonants (except -jC- or -wC-) or with -t or -d. It almost corresponds to English ending -tion.

- nýnoluč (to modificate, to change) ‣ nýnoltjám (modification, changement)
- čejnuč (to build) ‣ čejntjám (building)
- siwnor (to collect) ‣ siwntjám (collection)
- zálvuč (to create) ‣ zálvotjám (creation)

  • Ending -(o)sén. This ending indicates the process of the action of the verb. The -o- is inserted when the verbal root ends with two consonants (except -jC- or -wC-) or with -s. It almost corresponds to English ending -ing.

- šmanor (to cook) ‣ šmansén (cooking)
- čejnuč (to build) ‣ čejnsén (construction)
- šušmor (to spread) ‣ šušmosén (spreading)

  • Ending -ačan. This ending indicates the subject who carries out the action of the verb. It almost corresponds to English ending -er or -tor.

- zálvuč (to create) ‣ zálvačan (creator)
- plákor (to be in debt) ‣ plajačan (debtor)
- klásor (to play) ‣ klásačan (player)
- lakuč (to bear) ‣ lájačan (parent)

  • Ending -asma. This ending indicates the mean with which the subject carries out the action of the verb.

- toltuč (to cover) ‣ toltasma (blanket)
- vwedor (to cut) ‣ vwéžasma (knife)

Verb → Verb

  • Prefix vre(k)-. This prefix indicates that the action of the verb is repeated one or more times. The -k- is inserted when the verbal root begins with a vowel. It almost corresponds to English adverb -again or the latin prefix re-.

- toljuč (to do, to make) ‣ vretoljuč (to do again, to make again)
- salmor (to see) ‣ vresalmor (to see again)
- lolor (to say) ‣ vrelolor (to say again, to repeat)

Verb → Adjective

Except for participles, there are other kinds of adjective which can be formed from verbs.

  • Ending -omša. This ending indicates that we can do the action of the verbs on/with the object, with a meaning of which can be [verb]-ed. It almost corresponds to English ending -able.

- mýzdor (to understand) ‣ mýzdomša (understandable)
- žinkor (to drink) ‣ žinjomša (drinkable)

Adjective → Noun

  • To form the noun of the quality, which a basic adjective espresses, the ending -(j)eče, is added to the adjective. The product can indicate a quality or also something more concrete. The -j- is inserted when the verbal root ends with a vowel. It almost corresponds to English ending -ness or -ity.

- ban (real) ‣ baneče (reality)
- mlop (dark) ‣ mlopeče (darkness)

Syntax

Main article: Lánc syntax

Lexycon

Main article: Lánc-English-Lánc dictionary

Alphabet order

The Lantian alphabet has 33 letters (35, if included two foreign letters):


Uppercase A Á B C Č D E É F G H I Í J K L M N O Ó P Q* R S Š T U Ú V W X* Y Ý Z Ž
Normal a á b c č d e é f g h i í j k l m n o ó p q* r s š t u ú v w x* y ý z ž
IPA [a] [aː] [b] [ʦ] [ʧ] [d] [e] [eː] [f] [g] [x] [i] [iː] [j] [k] [l] [m] [n] [o] [oː] [p] [k] [r] [s] [ʃ] [t] [u] [uː] [v] [w] [ks] [ɨ] [ɨː] [z] [ʒ]

*These two letters don't represent a Lantian sound, and they are not used in Lantian alphabet. Nevertheless they can appear in foreign names or loanwords (but very rarely).

The digraph  represents a single sound [ʤ], but it is not considered as a single letter.

Letter names

Letter a á b c č d e é f g h i í j k l m n o ó p
Name a á be ce če de e é ef ge ha i í jod ka el em en o ó pe
IPA [a] [aː] [be] [ʦe] [ʧe] [de] [e] [eː] [ef] [ge] [xa] [i] [iː] [jod] [ka] [el] [em] [en] [o] [oː] [pe]
Letter q* r s š t u ú v w x* y ý z ž
Name qu* er es te u ú ve wa ex* y ý ze že
IPA [ku] [er] [es] [eʃ] [te] [u] [uː] [ve] [wa] [eks] [ɨ] [ɨː] [ze] [ʒe]

Everyday lexycon

  • ehoj!: Hi, Hello
  • déno nóšfadžo! Good morning (before 12.00 am)
  • déno fádwo!: Good day (after 12.00 am)
  • déno joštéro!: Good evening (after sunset)
  • déno štádwo!: Good night
  • málajč ér!: Nice to meet you
  • dénum okátjáv!: Welcome
  • swé erc?: How are you?
    • dénum!: Fine
  • džanu!: Thank you, Thanks (1st person of verb džanor, to thank)
  • vnosum džanu!: Thank you very much
    • dólbu: You're welcome (1st person of verb dólbor, to pray, fixed form)
  • swé wámecis?: What's your name?
    • .... wámus: My name is ....
  • mósej yšy toja esuk?: How old are you?
  • puka!: Bye
  • dóvresalmor: Goodbye

Some elucidations

  • Greetings are in accusative because an entire sentence is implied: toja déno nóšfadžo volvu - I wish you a good morning.
  • If more people thank, the verbs has to agree with the number: džanen (from many people), džanene (from two people)
  • If more people are welcomed, the participle has to agree with the number: dénum okátjavy (to many people), dénum okátjavet (to two people)

Days of the week - Fadžy onu počfadžu

English Lantian
Monday lúkufád
Tuesday arsúfád
Wednesday epurlowfád
Thursday krišlowfád
Friday joštenufád
Saturday hajnzúfád
Sunday lósufád

Months of the year - Lučery onu ýsu

English Lantian English Lantian
January janvár July julju
February febrwár August awgúst
March marc September septembri
April ápril October oktobri
May maj November novembri
Juny junju December dekémbri

Seasons of the year - Dwánšy onu ýsu

English Lantian
Spring nočiš
Summer éšti
Autumn
Fall
paraši
Winter tašmiš

Dialogues

Main article: Lánc dialogues

Some texts

Lord's prayer

Vojun nát, eráv bálot
Townon úk svútutolas
Townon krišpót átja
Townon šalja toljas
Džú bálot džú pánot
Lakfadžo vojay vojunon banfadžáro bágwo kál
Ši vojay vojunyojon plačoy gwalč
Džú vój vojunyajon plajačanay mijo gwalčen
Ši vojo onás gorávtjámás ét majv
Ýbo vojo ód ono gráwno nálutol.
Amen

Babel text

Bánon výr nókwon móro malžev ši medmojoyn porejoy nošev.

Kapálád okátjavy, ony čésy žylvanajás onot pánot Šinearot asátjuvek ši cefátevek.

Mí lolevek «Átjač, šmanačoy vičálojoy pyčen toljen!» ší vičálojoy žočot spríšu ši bitúmewo žočot spriškovu noševek.

Mí lolevek «Átjač, málowo ši panawo pšáltero dó bálás čejnjen ši mejžov erátjen, džu onás výrás ét tešušmesenis»

Ó Lást dóprójev ši ono pšáltero ši ono málowo sáljev, čejnátwo čésáryenon píkujeyn.

Ó Lást lolev «Sálj, nók čésmok eruk ši nókwo móro malževek; héj ó čalžotjám mijunun twáku ér: čuk báno toljuč omšek, mí šáljavy hejo»

«Dóprój ši mijunon móro džusm, džú ža étčés ono móro nunun čésu mýzda»

Ši ó Lást mijo onás výrás šušmev ši ono šmanséno onu málow cefátevek.

Džu ó Lást ona máloja ono úkwo Babél kálev, méske kájot ó Lást ono móro onu pánu džusmev ši kájád mijo onás výrás šušmev.

Holy Mary

Ave Maria, žwýn pnakejen
ó Lást ša tojen ér
mízt onyt milajyt dénlolecis
ši ó tlóž townun ževútu Jesu denloles
Svútu Maria, héd Dáw
dér vojay gervačanya dólb
čuk ši onot húrejot vojunun rímu
Amen

Genesis 1, 1-13

Čalžot Dá ono bálo ši ono páno žalvuv. Ona pána bášt ét esev ší héj kilkane erev, ši ó mlopeče ono zgwenčečewo toltuv ší ó mwín Dáw af onas ačas gláčev. Dá lolev: «Ó váne era». Ši ó váne erev. Dá sáljev ža ó váne dén erev ši ono vánewo ód ono mlopečewo blezduv ši vanewo “fádwo” ši mlopečewo “štádwo” wámev. Ši joštér erev ši nóšfadž erev: nóčov fád. Dá lolev: «Ó bál mízt onyt ačyt era, blezdáv onjo ačoy ód onjo ačoy». Dá ono bálo žalvuv ši ono ákwo, eráv dóp onot bálot, ód ono ákwo, eráv af onot bálot, blezduv. Ši džú pópeluv. Dá hejo “pradíso” wámev. Ši joštér erev ši nóšfadž erev: džisov fád. Dá lolev: «Ó ák, eráv dop onot bálot, onás nočás žočas šanúčelor njube ši ó zmélvát pán znápa». Ši džú pópeluv. Dá ono zmélvátwo páno “Páno” wámev ši onjo ošanúčelavyo ačoy “nwíno”. Ši Dá sáljev, ža dén erev. Ši Dá lolev «Ó Pán lájónyo temóhnese, kréžonejoy, temóhnavoy pwomjoy, ši vnučoy, temóhnavoy tlóžyo pwomjeyn bánot pánot». Ši džú pópeluv: ó pán lájónyo móhnev, kréžonejoy, móhnavoy pwomjoy, ši vnučoy, móhnavoy tlóžyo pwomjeyn. Dá sáljev, ža dén erev. Ši joštér erev ši nóšfadž erev: klikov fád.

The ant and the grasshopper - Ó pémavač ši ó framil

Ájerev vnoso čépo pjérmá pémavač, pémáv bánon éštiwo; hí framilo sáljev, siwnáv hranuwo dér ona tašmiša. Ó pémavač ona framila lolev: "Taméske džú twačec? Čefát ši ša kijen pém!" Ó framil fánev: "Hranuwo dér ona tašmiša siwnu, to kokwe njubec!". Ó pémavač lolev: "Ét! Čuk vnos hranu ájér!". Počle tašmov tašmiš átjev, ši ó pémavač béf zahranu rímev. Onás framilás rójev ši hija mánéwo hranuwo cážev. Ó framil cážev: "Mó bánon éštiwo toljuvec?". Hí fánev: "Pémevu", ši ó framil lolev: "Dénum! Čuk žum!"

Once upon a time there was a grasshopper, which sang all summer; she saw an ant, collecting food for (the) winter. The grasshopper told the ant: "Why do you work in this way? Stop and sing with me!" The ant answered: "I am collecting food for (the) winter! You too shall (do it)!" The grasshopper said: "No! There's much food now!" Then a cold winter came, and the grasshopper was starving. She goes to the ant and asked her for some food. The ant asked: "What did you do during all (the) summer?". She answered "I sang", and the ant said: "Well, now dance!"

The scorpion and the frog - Ó grág ši ó skorpjon

Skorpjon onot rejvot fósu grága cážev: "Kija wáč, ono fóswo dánmenor njubu!" Ýbo ó grág fánev: "Ét! Jék toja wáču, kijo tepínktesec". Ó skorpjon lolev: "Jék tó ačot tepínktasu, kí kokwe terímasu. Ét tetoljusu!" Ó grág akranuv ši ono skorpjono majvuv. Swíz onot dimíčot onu fósu ervuke, ó skorpjon ono grágo pínktev. Hí taméske cážev ši ó skorpjon fánev: "Znodžu žá terímesu, ýbo kijunon jefáža ér! Skorpjon eru!"

A scorpion on the bank of a river asked a frog: "Help me, I have to cross the river!" But the frog answered: "No! If I help you, you will sting me". The scorpion said: "If I'll sting you in the water, I also will die. I won't do it!". The frog accepted and carried the scorpion. When they were in the middle of the river, the scorpion stung the frog. She asked why and the scorpion answered: "I know I will die, but that's my nature! I'm a scorpion!"

World War II - Džisov výrál krák (from Wikipedia - Wikipediajád)

Džisovon výrál krák mízt Osočelačyton Omšačanečejyt ši onyt Omšačanečejyt Axew nakračevis. " Výrál krák" wámevis, méske vnosy mjáwej penr bányton kontinentyt šagensevekis, ši ony nakračsény vnosyt žastyt onu výru žókwo gensevek. Bánywon ivná onakračačyw kraču džisovon výrál krák saj-rowde, saj-undov ší saj-prótemajvač erev. Dwonu 72 miljónet čésyw rímevek. Ód 1939 dó 1945 rubrev.

World War II was fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers. It was called a "World War" because many countries from almost all continents were involved, and fighting took place over many parts of the world. Of all the wars ever fought, World War II involved the most countries, cost the most money, and killed the most people. About 72 million people died. It lasted from 1939 until 1945.

The leaning tower of Pisa - Remdávon pšálter Pizaw (from Wikipedia - Wikipediajád)

Remdávon Pšálter Pizaw čejntjám Pizajot, Itáliajot, ér. Klóngár pšálter ér. Mejžov ér, dérža ludžás remde. Omenavot ó pšálter pu-rowdejen remdávečejen čownuv, ýbo podarum čefátev ža pare.

Ó pšálter pana dwonu 55 métryo ér. Dwonu 14.500.000 kilográmyo ydže. Hejunon čukár remdáveče 5,5 grady ér. Ona pšáltera 294 afrójasmadaly ésuk.

Zlévža klikovon etaž 1178-ot očenuvis, ó pšálter čalžev ža remde, béf évnosum zgwenčyw byldevačnaju (nočnum klik métry). Ó projekt onu pšálteru onád čaldžád kropuv. Ó čejnsén dwonu 100 yšoy čefátevis dérža ony pizajery mú zróšm Dženovaw, Lukkaw, ši Firéncew nakračevek.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a building in Pisa, Italy. It is a bell tower. It is famous because it leans to one side. The tower was once leaning more and more to the ground, but recently it has stopped falling.

The height of the tower is about 55 metres from the ground. Its weight is about 14,500 tonnes. It currently leans at about 5.5 degrees. The tower has 294 steps.

After the third floor was built in 1178, the tower started to lean, due to small foundation (only three meters). The project of the tower was wrong from the beginning. Construction was stopped for almost 100 years because the Pisans were often at war with Genoa, Lucca, and Florence.