The Sooni (or 'Sònaidh') language is based on Middle Gaelic.
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Phonetic Style:
- Vowels: Retain the broad (a, o, u) and slender (e, i) vowel distinction from Middle Gaelic. Broad vowels create a deeper, rounder sound, while slender vowels produce lighter, sharper sounds.
- Consonants: Consonant pronunciation should be softened in certain contexts, particularly between slender vowels. For example, "c" before slender vowels is pronounced as [k'], a more palatalized sound.
- Consonant Lenition: Continue the tradition of leniting consonants (softening them) after certain vowels or grammatical cases. For instance, "m" could become "mh," pronounced [v] in certain contexts.
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Grammar:
- Noun Cases: Maintain the system of noun cases from Middle Gaelic, especially nominative, genitive, and dative, but simplify the cases for easier modern usage. A specific preposition might trigger lenition or a genitive form.
- Verb-Subject-Object: Stick with the traditional VSO word order (Verb-Subject-Object), typical of Gaelic languages. Example: “Gabh mi an t-ainm” (I take the name) could evolve into something like “Gav mi'n a'nam.”
- Definite Articles: The definite article can follow similar rules as Gaelic, where the article changes based on gender, number, and case. For example: "an" (the) becomes "a’" before feminine nouns beginning with a vowel.
- Prepositional Pronouns: Keep the Gaelic practice of fusing prepositions with pronouns, e.g., "agam" (at me) derived from "aig mi."
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Verb Conjugation:
- Verbs are marked for tense using both internal vowel changes and suffixes. For example, past tense may involve a broadening of the vowels or the addition of a suffix. E.g., "gabh" (to take) might become "gabhainn" (I took).
- Present Progressive: Use a separate verb particle to indicate ongoing actions, similar to the use of "tha" in Gaelic. E.g., "Ta mi gabhail" (I am taking).
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Gender:
- Maintain gendered nouns (masculine and feminine), but simplify the gender rules from Middle Gaelic. Words ending in a vowel are feminine, while words ending in a consonant are masculine.
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Pluralization:
- Plural nouns are often marked by vowel changes, similar to Gaelic. For example, a broad vowel might shift to a slender vowel for the plural form, or an "-an" or "-e" suffix could be added. E.g., "lann" (blade) becomes "leinn" or "lanna" for plural.
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Lenition and Eclipsis:
- Words following possessive pronouns or certain prepositions undergo lenition. For example, “mo” (my) lenites: "mo charaid" (my friend).
- Eclipsis involves a prefixing of sounds like "b" turning into "m" before certain articles or prepositions: e.g., "ban" (white) becomes "mban" (in feminine singular).
- Tir: Land
- Beinn: Mountain
- Lann: Blade, sword
- Ciar: Dark, dusky
- Solas: Light, brightness
- Cath: Battle, conflict
- Dun: Fortress, stronghold
- Fonn: Song, tune, melody
- Ceol: Music
- Sgiath: Wing, shield
- Laoch: Hero, warrior
- "Tha dòchas agam gun dèanadh an diabhal àradh de chnàmhan do dhroma gus ubhail a thogail ann an gàrradh ifrinn." (HAW DOHK-uhss AH-gum goon JAN-akh an JAH-wahl AH-rahg deh KNAHV-ahn doh DROH-mah gooss OO-vahl ah HOH-gull AHN an GAH-rakh EE-frin): "I hope the devil makes a ladder out of your backbones to pick apples in the garden of hell."
- Literal Translation: "I have hope that the devil will make a ladder from your bones to lift apples in the garden of hell."
- Interpretation: A colorful curse implying that someone’s spine will be used as a ladder by the devil for his purposes in hell.
- "Thèid thu às aonais sgàil no solas, air chall eadar an t-saoghal seo agus an ath fhear." (HAYD hoo AH-s EH-nish SKAHL noh SOH-lahs, ayr KHALL EH-ter an TAH-gahl shoh AH-guss an ah ERR): "May you go without shadow or light, lost between this world and the next."
- Literal Translation: "You will go without shadow or light, lost between this world and the next."
- Interpretation: A curse condemning someone to an existence in limbo, with no belonging or respite in any realm.
- "Tha na h-Àrdain a’ diùltadh thu." (HAH na HAHR-dain ah DJOOL-tah hoo): "The Overseers reject you."
- Literal Translation: "The Overseers reject you."
- Interpretation: A brutal phrase implying that even the divine forces have forsaken someone.
- "Fucail" (FOO-kal): "fuck," "to have intercourse," "to mess up."
- Literal Translation: "To copulate" or "to spoil."
- Interpretation: Used as a vulgar term for sexual activity or as an expletive expressing frustration or anger.
- Usage Examples
- "Fucail leat!" (FOO-kal lyat): "Fuck you!"
- Literal Translation: "Go have intercourse with yourself."
- Interpretation: A direct insult expressing anger or disdain toward someone.
- "Fucail mi." (FOO-kal mee): "I fucked up."
- Literal Translation: "I messed up."
- Interpretation: Admitting to making a significant mistake.
- "Fucail an t-àite seo." (FOO-kal an TAH-tcheh shuh): "Fuck this place."
- Literal Translation: "Spoil this place."
- Interpretation: Expressing extreme frustration or dissatisfaction with a location.
- "Thalla fucail!" (HAH-lah FOO-kal): "Fuck off!"
- Literal Translation: "Go and copulate!"
- Interpretation: Telling someone to leave in a rude manner.
- "Seisich" (SHEH-sikh): "shit," "filth," or "waste."
- Literal Translation: "Sewage."
- Interpretation: Used to describe anything unpleasant or disgusting.
- Usage Examples
- "Seisich àite." (SHEH-sikh AH-tcheh): "Shitty place."
- Literal Translation: "Sewage place."
- Interpretation: Used to describe a filthy or undesirable location.
- "Loth seisich." (loh SHEH-sikh): "Worthless shit."
- Literal Translation: "Foul sewage."
- Interpretation: Insulting someone as both worthless and filthy.
- "Madadh" (MAH-dah): "bitch," "nag," or "vixen."
- Literal Translation: "Wolf."
- Interpretation: Used to describe someone aggressive or mean, often implying fierceness or cruelty.
- Usage Examples
- "Madadh àite." (MAH-dah AH-tcheh): "Bitchy place."
- Literal Translation: "Wolf's place."
- Interpretation: Insulting a hostile or aggressive environment.
- "Droch madadh." (drohk MAH-dah): "Evil bitch."
- Literal Translation: "Bad wolf."
- Interpretation: Insulting someone as both cruel and dangerous.
- "Amadan" (AH-mah-dan): "fool," "idiot," or "moron."
- Literal Translation: "Fool."
- Interpretation: Used to insult someone as unintelligent or clumsy.
- Usage Examples
- "Amadan àite." (AH-mah-dan AH-tcheh): "Foolish place."
- Literal Translation: "Fool's place."
- Interpretation: Describing a place filled with incompetence.
- "Droch amadan." (drohk AH-mah-dan): "Evil fool."
- Literal Translation: "Bad fool."
- Interpretation: Insulting someone as both foolish and harmful.
- "Mallachd" (MAL-akhd): "damn," "curse," or "condemn."
- Literal Translation: "Curse."
- Interpretation: Used to curse or damn someone, implying they are condemned to bad luck or fate.
- Usage Examples
- "Mallachd dhut." (MAL-akhd ghoot): "Damn you."
- Literal Translation: "Curse to you."
- Interpretation: Wishing misfortune or expressing deep anger.
- "Mallachd àite." (MAL-akhd AH-tcheh): "Cursed place."
- Literal Translation: "Damned place."
- Interpretation: Used to describe a place as cursed or ill-fated.
- "Easradh" (pronounced "ESS-rah"):
- Literal Meaning: "One who defies."
- Interpretation: A person who goes against the beliefs or teachings of the Overseers, considered a defier or blasphemer.
- Usage: This phrase has been adopted by the group known as the 'Heretics'.
- "Fìorradh" (pronounced "FEER-rah"):
- Literal Meaning: "One who is truly devoted."
- Interpretation: A person with extreme or fanatical devotion to the Overseers or religious beliefs, someone unwavering in their faith.
- Usage: This phrase has been adopted by the group known as the 'Zealots'.
- "Solas anns an ciar." (SOH-lass ahnss ahn keer): "Light in the darkness."
- "Bidh na h-Àrdain gad stiùireadh." (BEE na HAHR-dain gad STEW-rah): "May the Overseers guide you."
- "Tha toil an uile-chruinne beag ri do thoil fhèin." (HAH tohl an OO-luh-KHRIN-nuh bek ree doh thohl HAY-en): "The will of the universe pales in comparison to yours."
- "Tha na reultan nar coimhead." (HAH na REHL-tan nar COE-im-ed): "The stars are watching us."
- "Gabh air an t-soitheach mhòr." (GAHV air an TOE-yakh vohr): "Board the great ship."
- "Tha mi ann an àite nach eil fios aig duine." (HAH mee ann an AH-tcheh nahk el FIS aik DOO-neh): "I am in a place no one knows."
- "Gabh mi’n slighe troimh na speuran." (GAHV meen SLEE-eh troh nah SPYOO-rahn): "I take the path through the stars."
- "Tha an cruinne-cè na mo làmhan." (HAH an KROON-yeh-KYAY na mo LAH-vahn): "The galaxy is in my hands."
- "Bidh sinn beò anns an dorchadas." (BEE sheen byoh ahnss an DOHR-uh-kah-dass): "We will live in the darkness."