Proto-Sannan language

The Proto-Sannan language was the language spoken by the Proto-Sannan people and is the first documented language of the realm. It is the proto-language of the Sannan language family, to which all other languages in the realm belong.

Phonotactics

 * Maximum syllable structure: CVVX
 * X = nasal or liquid
 * minimum syllable: CV
 * no length distinction in vowels
 * no geminate consonants
 * Stress falls on
 * the first syllable if the word ends in a vowel
 * the final syllable if the word ends in a consonant and is exactly 2 syllables long
 * else, the penultimate
 * /u/ may never appear word-finally
 * if /u/ is a word's final vowel, it is always followed by /n/

Syntax and Grammar

 * VSO word order
 * verb morphology
 * momentane; root + -kun
 * imperfect/continuous; root + -rui
 * mirative marker; xa- + root
 * noun morphology
 * unmarked nominative
 * oblique case; ta- + root
 * singular number unmarked
 * plural number; root + -tun
 * collective number; root + -ra
 * various locatives marked with prepositions
 * ehl ; towards, to, into, in the direction of
 * ru ; inside, within, through, between
 * va ; from (locative), away from
 * lui ; of, related to, held by
 * oblique nouns following nominative nouns and pronouns get interpreted as adjectives
 * "ta" can also be used as a particle to mark relative clause
 * negative particle "jun" placed before verb
 * polar questions unmarked

Original English
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Proto-Sannan
text

Gloss
diverge.CONT road.PL two in OBL.forest yellow and NEG travel.CONT 1st.SING OBL.this and other and be OBL.traveler one, stand.CONT 1st.SING