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This is a work in progress. Questions and comments are welcome.

The Sedunnic Language

Sedunnic
Sedunnejj

Pronunciation:
Native to: Sedunn (mainland)
Ethnicity: Sedunners
Native speakers: 15.7 million (2016)
Language family: Sedunnic/Beilltemmic
Early forms: Sedunnic/Beilltemmic -> Old Sedunnic -> Sedunnic
Writing system:
Signed forms: Sedunnejj unnvoll (Sedunnic sign language)
Official language in:

• [Image: 6wlI3vs.png] Sedunn
  
• [Image: gNHuBeP.png] South Pacific Treaty Organisation
  

Regulated by: Sedunnejj Vollstovd (Sedunnic Language Authority)
Sedunnic-speaking areas:
[Image: hjCCrW8.png]

Contents:

Phonology

Phonology

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You've seen it here and there, the Sedunnic language, but how do you really pronounce it? Below is a less formal guide with references to the English language on how to pronounce Sedunnic words. Did you get it right from the beginning?

Vowels
If you know how the Swedes, Finns and Italians pronounce their vowels, you're half way there!

The vowels in Sedunnic are A/a, E/e, I/i, O/o, U/u, and Y/y. Standard Sedunnic does not have any diphthongs, but all vowels come in short and long versions.

Long vowels:
a /ɑː/
e /eː/
i /iː/
o /uː/
u /ʉː/
y /yː/

- English approximations:
a as /a/ in "lard"
e as first /e/ in "here"
i as /ee/ in "bee"
o as /oo/ in "boo"
u no English equivalent; it is pronounced approximately as the Swedish u, an o produced by letting the tip of the tongue be closer to the teeth.
y (no good example) as long version of /y/ in "physical"

Short vowels:
a /ɑ/
e /e/
i /i/
o /u/
u /ʉ/
y /y/

- English approximations:
a as /a/ "sofa"
e approximately between /e/ in "bed" and /i/ in "bid"
i as /i/ in "bid"
o as /ou/ "could"
u short version of above description
y as /y/ in "physical"

How do you know when a vowel is short or long?
Vowels before double consonants are always short. Vowels in the end of single-syllable words are often short. Inflections ending with a vowel, like -e for present tense singular, are always short, except for possessive (-o).

Consonants
The consonants in Sedunnic are B/b, D/d, F/f, G/g, H/h, J/j, K/k, L/l, M/m, N/n, P/p, R/r, S/s, T/t, and V/v.

Continuous consonants (consonants pronounced by continuous airflow):
f /f/
h /h/
j /j/
m /m/
n /n/
r /r/
v /v/

- Dental:
l /l̪/
s /s̪/

F, h, m, n, s, and v are pronounced approximately as in English. J is pronounced as /y/ in "yellow". L is pronounced like in Swedish or Italian. R is pronounced as in Italian, Swedish, or Finnish (rolling r).

Stop/plosive consonants (consonants that cannot be pronounced by continuous airflow):
b /b/
d /d/
g /ɡ/
k /k/ or /kʰ/ if it is the first letter in the word
p /p/ or /pʰ/ if it is the first letter in the word

- Dental:
t /t̪/ or /t̪ʰ/ if it is the first letter in the word

B, d, k, and p are approximately pronounced like in English. T is pronounced like in Spanish or Swedish.

Lexical/word stress
Learning how to stress words in a foreign language is difficult and is often what takes the most time to master. How you normally stress words in your native language is often reflected on the new language, giving you a foreign accent.

In Sedunnic you normally stress the first syllable. You do this by pronouncing the vowel occurring first more loudly.

Examples
Let's try and put this together. Here are a few examples.

Short vowels are indicated by upper-case letters, long by lower-case letters, syllables by dashes, and stressing by bold letters.

Allpfe (Good): Allp-fe (two-syllable word with short first vowel)
Ufel (We): u-fel (no double consonants)
Dre (To): drE (one-syllable word)
Kassei (imperative mood of to doubt) kAss-e-I (short first vowel, imperative inflection)
Sedunn: se-dUnn (short vowel in second syllable)
Sedunnejj (Sedunnic): se-dUnn-Ejj (short vowel in second syllable, double consonants)
vannu (to have): vAnn-U (inflection)

Note, these are only approximations.

Grammar

Grammar

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Nouns
Sedunnic nouns are genderless.

Forms

	Singular	Plural
Indefinite form	-	-le (-e)
Definite form	-d (-ed)	-led

No suffix for the singular indefinite form. If the noun ends with a plosive consonant the definite form is -ed,
except for words ending with a d. In that case the preceding vowel becomes short.
If a noun ends with an l, only -e is added.

Examples:

• nevv (student); nevvle (students); nevvd (the student); nevvled (the students)
  
• vassat (university); vassatle (universities); vassated (the university); vassatled (the universities)
  
• dreyvell (admission); dreyvelle (admissions); dreyvelld (the admission); dreyvelled (the the admissions)
  

Determiners
In Sedunnic the article sy or sydd, is used for expressing determination for both singular and plural form nouns. The indefinite form is vol, which also is the cardinal number 1. No inflection is added to the noun in either case.

Examples:

• vol lim (a house)
  
• sy lim (this house); sy limle (these houses)
  
• sydd lim (that house); sydd limle (those houses).
  

Genitive
To express possession, the suffix -o is added to the noun, unless the word already ends with an o.

Example

• [vu] nuvno ([a] friend's); nuvnleo (friends'); nuvndo (the friend's); nuvnledo (the friends')
  

Pronouns
Sedunnic pronouns work similar to as in English (or even more so to Swedish, and to some extent French).

Personal pronouns:

Singular:

Person	Nominative	Objective	Possessive: singular/plural
1	um (I)	jum (me)	sum/sume (my, mine)
2	ann (you)	jann (you)	sann/sanne (your, yours)
3 Masculine	gro (he)	jagro (him)	sugro (his)
3 Femenine	gre (she)	jagre (her)	sugre (hers)
3 Common	ver (it)	javer (it)	suver (its)
3 Indefinite	sve (one)	jasve (-)	susve (one's)
(3 Reflexive)	-	jed ("self")	sujed (-)

 

Plural:

Person	Nominative	Objective	Possessive: common/plural
1	ufe (we)	jufe (us)	sufe (our, ours)
2	afe (you)	jafe (you)	safe (your, yours)
3	grel (they)	jagrel (them)	sugrel (their, theirs)
(3 Reflexive)	-	jed ("selves")	sujed (-)

Adjectives

Construction
Adjectives can be constructed from nouns and verbs by adding -et to the stem. If the stem ends with a long e only -t is added.

Example:

• Nuvnet (friendly, from nuvn - friend)
  
• Ileet (immature, from ile - child)
  
• Lannet (lively, from lanneu - to run)
  

Comparison
The Sedunnic language has (just like English) morphological comparison, meaning an inflection is added to the adjective. For the comparative form -y is added, and for the superlative form -yvv is added. The y is short in both cases. If the adjective ends with y, and the y is long, it becomes short. If the y is short it becomes a short i in the comparative form, but the superlative form is the same as for the other cases.

Example:

• rass (smart); rassy (smarter); rassyvv (smartest)
  
• long y: fay (bad); fay (worse); fayvv (worst)
  
• short y: hy* (thin); hi (thinner); hyvv (thinnest)
  

*Remember, if the word is single-syllable and ends with a vowel, the vowel is short.

Verbs
There are no irregular verbs in Sedunnic, and verbs do not inflect for person or number other than for present tense plural. Sedunnic verbs, on the other hand, inflect for most established tenses and moods, namely: the present, future, and past tense and imperative, subjunctive, conditional, optative, potential, and hypothetical mood. This is done by adding a suffix to the stem (that is, removing the infinitive form). If the last letter in a suffix is a vowel, it is always short.

Infinitive
Infinitive is a single word in Sedunnic. All verbs in their basic form end with u. New verbs are easily created by adding -u to, for example, a noun. If the word already ends with a short u, no inflection is added.

Examples:

• oppu (to be), where 'opp' is the stem
  
• gjellu (to confirm), where 'gjell' is the stem
  
• eleu (to plan), where 'ele' is the stem, originating from the noun 'ele' (plan)
  
• tu (to get), where 'tu' also is the stem
  

Present tense
For present tense singular, -e is added, and -ess for plural. If the stem ends with a short e, the plural form is also used for singular.

Examples:

• oppe (is), oppess (are)
  
• gjelle (confirms), gjelless (confirm)
  
• eless (plans/plan)
  
• te (gets), tess (get)
  

- Present progressive:
When something is happening at the exact moment of speech or taking place in general, -se is added to the stem.

Examples:

• oppse (is/are walking)
  
• gjellse (is/are confirming)
  
• else (is/are planning)
  
• tuse (is/are getting)
  

Imperative
In strictly formal or older Sedunnic, or in certain dialects, commands, requests, and instructions are constructed by adding -i  to the present tense form (plural if addressing more than one person). I daily speech in standard Sedunnic, however, the -u from the infinite form is often removed to produce imperative.

Examples (formal):

• oppei (be!)
  
• gjellei! (confirm!)
  
• elessi! (plan!)
  
• tei! (get!)
  

Examples (informal):

• opp! (be!)
  
• gjell! (confirm!)
  
• el! (plan!)
  
• tu! (get!)
  

Future tense
There are two forms of future tense, expressing probability (what is expected to happen) and intent (what is planned to be made happen) respectively.

-Probability form:
If something is expected to happen in the future, like "it will rain" or "the train is going to be late", -im is added to the stem. If the stem already ends with a long i, only -m is added.

Examples:

• oppim (will/shall/going to be)
  
• brim (will/shall/going to choose), where 'bri' is the stem in 'briu' (to choose)
  

-Intent form:
If you plan to do something, like you "will eat" something or "going to go" somewhere, -er can be added instead to express this. If the stem ends with a long e, only -r is added.


Past tense
There are three forms for the past tense.

-Unspecified past:
Unspecified past is used for single complete events in the past without specifying a time for the occurrence. -a is added, unless the stem already ends with a short a.

Examples:

• oppa (has/have been)
  
• havvmya (has/have contacted)
  
• pasa (has/have spoken), where the stem is 'pasa' with a short a
  

-Specified past:
Specified past is used for single complete events in the past when time is specified (e.g. yesterday, last year, an hour ago). The suffix -add is added, unless the stem already ends with a short a, then only -dd.

Examples:

• oppadd (was)
  
• havvmyadd  (contacted)
  
• pasadd (spoke), where the stem is 'pasa' with a short a
  

-Progressive past:
Passed ongoing actions are constructed by adding -mm to the unspecified past-form.

Examples:

• oppamm (was/were being)
  
• havvmyav (was/were contacting)
  
• pasamm (was/were speaking)
  

Passive voice
When the subject receives the action of the verb, like in "the cat is fed by the mother", -v is added to the verb, which can be in the infinitive, present, past or future tenses. If the verb ends with a vowel, -ev is added.

Examples:

• herrtyppuv (to be fooled)
  
• havvmyamm (was/were contacted)
  
• mahitev (is/are kissed)
  

Vocabulary

The Sedunnic language is highly conservative and has few foreign words in its vocabulary. Existing foreign words are often words associated with unique cultural phenomena or standard units for measuring, etc. Foreign geographical features are often transcribed using the Sedunnic alphabet, some are translated for various reasons (see map below). New words are formed by compounding or suffixes.

A Sedunnic dictionary can be accessed here.


Basic conversation

Phrase	Sedunnic	Comments
hello; hi	narose; myt	informal
good morning/day/night etc	sum/sufe rommn	formal, sufe if speaking on behalf of a group
welcome	baola
what's up?	(sak) alamnese?	informal, alamnese can be used with sak (what)
how are you?	allpom, karhe ann/afe?
very well, thanks	lit, gyj luv	formal
good	laurrm	informal
not well	irr luv
and you?	gjī ann/afe?
goodbye; farewell; good morning/day/night etc	allp dai/etull/mov	formal
bye; goodbye	sele; ukse	informal
see you	vabaola
excuse me	kjes(ei) jum	more formal by adding -ei
where is …?	kad, oppe …?
how much is …?	ell, sebune …?	price
it's/it costs … Tenn(le)	ver sebune … Tenn(le)
what time is it?	ell, tarre destremd?
it's … o'clock	re …
when?	tarr?
thank you	lit
you are welcome	nyrvelom
do you speak …?	..., pasae(ss) ann/afe?
yes	he
(unfortunately,) no	(oposom,) des
I would like (to order/a etc)	um vannsila (lognu/vol)	formal
I will have a/the	um akse vol/
a/an …, please	vol …, ammnom
can we have the check, please?	plivvd, saffsila avmeru?
what's your name?	sak, laeffe ann?
my name is …	um laeffe …
do you understand?	mirkasske ann?
I understand	um mirkasske
I don't understand	um irr mirkasske
OK	mie
what?	sak?
where are you from?	kad vu, oppe ann?
I'm from …	um oppe vu …
how old are you?	ell mensi, oppe ann?
I'm … years old	um vanne … angle
let's go	vattsila	informal

Etymology

Here you will find the history behind some Sedunnic words, names and terms.

-Placenames

Placenames
In this section etymology, or the history of words, will be discussed, starting with some common geographical compounds (i.e. toponymy).

Refer to this map fore some of the major localities.

Most Sedunnic placenames are compounds consisting of two parts. The second part, or the root, often refers to the geography, describing the place in a general term, or a main feature of the settlement. The first part is often either a geographical word, a noun, or an adjective further describing the place, or a person's name. Not all placenames have a clear meaning, below are the non-contested listed.

Geography related roots:

• -a, -u: places where the bedrock is exposed, derived from Proto-Sedunnic ia, meaning "bare".
  
• -enn, -unn: natural clearings in the forest, derived from jann, meaning "light", "not dark".
  
• -enst: bays, often bays without a river outlet.
  
• -re: dried swamps/marshlands (suitable for farming), derived from re with the same meaning. Sometimes the determinate form -d has been added, Not to be confused with -red, see below.
  
• -ull, -oll: a stream in a natural ditch, derived from a/ollnaid [leje], meaning "walking/slowly running water".
  
• -nes: meaning "forest".
  
• -er: a leeward place, derived from Old-Sedunnic meaning "calm".
  

Settlement related roots:

• -red: an official market place/market town with obligatory permission from the crown, meaning "market place". The official use was abolished during the 18th century.
  
• -vem: a harbour or port.
  
• -ivv: a castle or fort, derived from Old-Sedunnic with the same meaning.
  
• -ed: a town, derived from Old-Sedunnic ejdu, meaning "to clear [the ground]"
  
• -ne: a man-made river crossing, derived from Old-Sedunnic njeu, "to fly", "to jump".
  
• -fle: sand.
  
• -ends, -moll, -hodd, -sob: all can be translated to town/village.
  

The meaning of the Sedunnic cities on the regional map:
Grovne: "Important [River] Crossing"
Lomared: "Upstream Market Town"
Lityre: "Outer Farmland"
Goends: "Metal Town"
Aeffer: "Aeff's leward place"
Ullenst: "Calm Bay"
Kodull: "Low River"
Tavenst: "Fortress Bay"
Savvered: "Flatlands' Market Town"
Flered: "Sand Market Town"

-National names

[Image: S0DGKzJ.png]
Map of roleplaying nations, oceans, continents and other geographical features in the Sedunnic language.
The green lines are continental borders (based on the Tectonic Map by B&N).
Link to full version: http://i.imgur.com/S0DGKzJ.png.

Etymology

Below is an explanation of some of the names in Sedunnic. Most of the nations have had their names respelled, the pronunciation is as close as possible to the original. Some nations have seemingly completely different names.

• -temm: old Sedunnic for a vast landmass
  
• beill: north (old Sedunnic)
  
• skes: south (old Sedunnic)
  
• sevvd: sea
  
• Ninnd Plannsevvd: literally "Little Enclosed Sea" (often only referred to as Plannsevvd)
  
• Laurmmd Plannsevvd: literally "Great Enclosed Sea"
  
• dered: east
  
• leve: west
  
• ness: island (plural: nessle)
  
• iddnu: territory
  
• fonb: ice (old Sedunnic)
  
• inyoetunn: birthday
  
• dommurev: governance
  
• Ksavbyu: no modern meaning, it may refer to an old people of travellers and explorers or highly desired trade goods
  
• Jokfuvea: old Sedunnic meaning "Distant Lands"
  
• Karnettvorejj ravad: Karnetvorian Strait
  
• Hanlivvugskred: literal translation of the Solar System Scope (sometimes the abbreviation TSSS is also used in Sedunnic)
  
• Goruvinn: literal translation of "the dark strait" (goru = black)
  
• Nerenessle: neren means border or boundary
  
• Innt Dellmd: means United Kingdom
  
• Seslinn: older Sedunnic meaning in "belly" or "treasure", referring to the rich trade
  

Sedunnic in use

This is a collection of various printed work in Sedunnic.
 

[Image: 7mu0OFt.png]

[Image: KyFgnzQ.png]

[Image: YOAYlB4.png]

 

[Image: jsiDcsK.png]

Roleplayer
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My roleplay nations

Pacifica canon

Sedunn      Quick facts - Population: 26,016,343 - GDP: $1.53 trillion - Military: 354,000‬ personnel, 3.8% of GDP - King: Vimmru II - Foundation: Late Iron Age - Member of the WF and CPSC

Transsuneria Quick facts - Population: 1,003,504 - GDP: $20.637 billion - Military: 5,500‬ personnel, 0.75% of GDP - President: Emil Palmann - Foundation: 1905 - Member of the WF

A1-0 canon

Treecuu Star Empire

Aurora canon

Orawak Tribe

(This post was last modified: 10-30-2021, 07:32 PM by Qwert.)

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This is really nice.

I am Zadiner/Zak. Part of Assembly, some other stuff, Founder of some other region.
Hey, I have a bunch of issues. You don't need to care.
Emoji of the week:  :dodgy:

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Detailed

"毎日の小さな努力の積み重ねが歴史を作っていくんだよ。"

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Put a little effort everyday and it will stack up and create a foundation for you.

- Doraemon


Treasure Island Awards Best Roleplay 2020
Treasure Island Awards Best Roleplayer 2020
Cocos Winner for Best Character Writer 2017
Cocos Winner for Best International Event 2017
Cocos Winner for Best Overall RP 2017

Things to know: Medical Intern and Biomedical Scientist from Indonesia, Muslim, 188 metres tall, loves trains

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Almost like a real language! Cool Wiki-style intro, as well.

The Lord of Space and Protector of the TARDIS Keys of
The Solar System Scope

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[Image: T5F5a5I.png]

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Thank you for your encouraging comments

Grammatical rules for nouns added.

Roleplayer
Manager of the TSP and A1-0 maps
Roleplay moderator

My roleplay nations

Pacifica canon

Sedunn      Quick facts - Population: 26,016,343 - GDP: $1.53 trillion - Military: 354,000‬ personnel, 3.8% of GDP - King: Vimmru II - Foundation: Late Iron Age - Member of the WF and CPSC

Transsuneria Quick facts - Population: 1,003,504 - GDP: $20.637 billion - Military: 5,500‬ personnel, 0.75% of GDP - President: Emil Palmann - Foundation: 1905 - Member of the WF

A1-0 canon

Treecuu Star Empire

Aurora canon

Orawak Tribe

Reply

Really neat! :3

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<33

Reply

^ Thanks!

Grammatical rules for personal pronouns and adjective comparison added.

Roleplayer
Manager of the TSP and A1-0 maps
Roleplay moderator

My roleplay nations

Pacifica canon

Sedunn      Quick facts - Population: 26,016,343 - GDP: $1.53 trillion - Military: 354,000‬ personnel, 3.8% of GDP - King: Vimmru II - Foundation: Late Iron Age - Member of the WF and CPSC

Transsuneria Quick facts - Population: 1,003,504 - GDP: $20.637 billion - Military: 5,500‬ personnel, 0.75% of GDP - President: Emil Palmann - Foundation: 1905 - Member of the WF

A1-0 canon

Treecuu Star Empire

Aurora canon

Orawak Tribe

Reply

I've started to work on the grammar for verbs. Infinitive, present, imperative, and future added.

Roleplayer
Manager of the TSP and A1-0 maps
Roleplay moderator

My roleplay nations

Pacifica canon

Sedunn      Quick facts - Population: 26,016,343 - GDP: $1.53 trillion - Military: 354,000‬ personnel, 3.8% of GDP - King: Vimmru II - Foundation: Late Iron Age - Member of the WF and CPSC

Transsuneria Quick facts - Population: 1,003,504 - GDP: $20.637 billion - Military: 5,500‬ personnel, 0.75% of GDP - President: Emil Palmann - Foundation: 1905 - Member of the WF

A1-0 canon

Treecuu Star Empire

Aurora canon

Orawak Tribe

Reply

I do like to see a fellow conlanger (or creator of constructed languages) at work.

Founder of the Church of the South Pacific [Forum Thread] [Discord], a safe place to discuss spirituality for people of all faiths and none (currently looking for those interested in prayer and/or "home" groups);
And The Silicon Pens [Discord], a writer's group for the South Pacific and beyond!

Yahweo usenneo ir varleo, ihraneo jurlaweo hraseu seu, ir jiweveo arladi.

Salma 145:8

translate

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Psalm 145: 8

Reply

Ah! Maybe you can show us some of yours?

Roleplayer
Manager of the TSP and A1-0 maps
Roleplay moderator

My roleplay nations

Pacifica canon

Sedunn      Quick facts - Population: 26,016,343 - GDP: $1.53 trillion - Military: 354,000‬ personnel, 3.8% of GDP - King: Vimmru II - Foundation: Late Iron Age - Member of the WF and CPSC

Transsuneria Quick facts - Population: 1,003,504 - GDP: $20.637 billion - Military: 5,500‬ personnel, 0.75% of GDP - President: Emil Palmann - Foundation: 1905 - Member of the WF

A1-0 canon

Treecuu Star Empire

Aurora canon

Orawak Tribe

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