From d2da853b9eb430679e7238b93996f8e4651a39c1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: uakci
All Ithkuil formatives, whether functioning as nouns or verbs, @@ -138,20 +138,20 @@ composition, separability, compartmentalization, physical similarity or componential structure. This is best explained and illustrated by means of analogies to certain English sets of words.
-Consider the English word tree. In English, a +
Consider the English word âtree.â In English, a single tree may stand alone out of context, or it may be part of a group of trees. Such a group of trees may simply be two or more trees considered as a plural category based on mere number alone, e.g., two, three, or twenty trees. However, it is the nature of trees to exist in more contextually relevant groupings than merely numerical ones. For example, the trees may be of like species as - in a grove of trees. The grouping may be an assortment of different - kinds of trees as in a forest or occur in patternless disarray - such as a jungle.
-As another example, we can examine the English word person. - While persons may occur in simple numerical groupings such as a (single) - person or three persons it is more common to find persons + in a âgroveâ of trees. The grouping may be an assortment of different + kinds of trees as in a âforestâ or occur in patternless disarray + such as a âjungle.â
+As another example, we can examine the English word âperson.â + While persons may occur in simple numerical groupings such as âa (single) + personâ or âthree personsâ it is more common to find persons (i.e., people) referred to by words which indicate various groupings such as - group, gathering, crowd, etc.
+ âgroup,â âgathering,â âcrowd,â etc.Segmentation and amalgamated componential structure are further configurative principles which distinguish related words in English. The relationships between car versus convoy, hanger versus rack, @@ -162,18 +162,18 @@
Another type of contextual grouping of nouns occurs in binary sets, particularly in regard to body parts. These binary sets can comprise two identical referents as in a pair of eyes, however they are more often - opposed or mirror-image (i.e., complementary) sets as in limbs, + opposed or âmirror-imageâ (i.e., complementary) sets as in limbs, ears, hands, wings, etc.
In Ithkuil, the semantic distinctions implied by the above examples as they relate to varying assortments of trees or persons would be - accomplished by inflecting the word-stem for tree or person + accomplished by inflecting the word-stem for âtreeâ or âpersonâ into one of nine configurations. Additional semantic distinctions on the basis of purpose or function between individual members of a set could then be made by means of Affiliation (see Section 3.2 below) and by - the use of specific affixes. For example, once the words for forest - or crowd were derived from tree and person - via Configuration, the Ithkuil words for orchard, copse, - team or mob could easily be derived via affiliation + the use of specific affixes. For example, once the words for âforestâ + or âcrowdâ were derived from âtreeâ and âpersonâ + via Configuration, the Ithkuil words for âorchard,â âcopse,â + âteamâ or âmobâ could easily be derived via affiliation and affixes. (Such derivations into new words using affixes are explored in detail in Chapter 7: Using Affixes.)
@@ -217,14 +217,14 @@The DUPLEX configuration is marked by Grade 2 mutation of the C1 radical consonant and indicates - a related binary set. While it often refers to body parts, e.g., ones + a related binary set. While it often refers to body parts, e.g., oneâs eyes, ears, lungs, wings, etc., it can also be used to describe any set of two identical or complementary objects or entities, e.g., a matched pair of vases, a two-volume set, a set of bookends, mutual opponents. Thus, the Ithkuil word for spouse inflected for the DUPLEX configuration would translate as a man and wife or a married couple.
One context in which the DUPLEX appears - for both nouns and verbs is with events which contain two complementary halves + for both nouns and verbs is with events which contain two complementary âhalvesâ exemplified by English words such as bounce, flash, arc, wag, swing, switch, breathe/respiration, indeed, any concept which involves a dual-state notion of up/down, to/fro, back/forth, @@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ For example the word for hammer blow inflected for the UNIPLEX would signify the singular impact of the hammer, whereas the same word inflected for the DUPLEX signifies a single down-then-up cycle of - the swing of the hammer, the two complementary halves of the action + the swing of the hammer, the two complementary âhalvesâ of the action being divided by the impact.
For verbs, the DISCRETE signifies a single @@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ by Grade 9 mutation of the C1 radical consonant and is the most difficult to explain, as there is no Western linguistic equivalent. The MULTIFORM serves to identify the noun as an individual - member of a fuzzy set. A fuzzy set is a term which originates + member of a âfuzzyâ set. A fuzzy set is a term which originates in non-traditional logic, describing a set whose individual members do not all share the same set-defining attributes to the same degree, i.e., while there may be one or more archetypical members of the set which display the defining @@ -436,12 +436,12 @@ vary from this archetypical norm by a wide range of degrees, whether in physical resemblance, degree of cohesion or both. Indeed, some members of the set may display very little resemblance to the archetype and be closer to the archetype - of a different fuzzy set, i.e., fuzzy sets allow for the idea of gradient - overlap between members of differing sets.
+ of a different fuzzy set, i.e., fuzzy sets allow for the idea of âgradient + overlapâ between members of differing sets.It is difficult to accurately translate into English without resorting to paraphrase the sorts of concepts that Ithkuil easily expresses using the MULTIFORM. For example, the Ithkuil word for - tree inflected for the MULTIFORM configuration + âtreeâ inflected for the MULTIFORM configuration would mean something like a group of what appear to be trees, or better yet, a group of tree-like objects (i.e., some being trees, and others seeming less like trees). Essentially, any set of entities whose similarity @@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ normally applied to nouns in the UNIPLEX configuration when spoken of in a neutral way, since a noun in the UNIPLEX specifies one single entity without reference to a set, therefore the concept - of shared function would be inapplicable. Examples: a man, + of âsharedâ function would be inapplicable. Examples: a man, a door, a sensation of heat, a leaf. With verbs, the CONSOLIDATIVE would imply that the act, state, or event is occurring naturally, or is neutral as to purpose or design.
@@ -550,12 +550,12 @@ orchard.The ASSOCIATIVE affiliation can also be used with nouns in the UNIPLEX configuration to signify - a sense of unity amongst ones characteristics, purposes, thoughts, etc. + a sense of unity amongst oneâs characteristics, purposes, thoughts, etc. For example, the word person inflected for the UNIPLEX and ASSOCIATIVE would translate as a single-minded person. Even nouns such as rock, tree or work of art could be inflected this way, subjectively translatable as a well-formed - rock, a tree with integrity, a balanced work of art.
+ rock, a tree with integrity, a âbalancedâ work of art.With verbs, the ASSOCIATIVE signifies that the act, state or event is by design or with specific purpose. The CONSOLIDATIVE versus ASSOCIATIVE distinction could be used, for example, @@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ a rag-tag group, a dysfunctional couple, a cacophony of notes, of a mess of books, a collection in disarray. It operates with nouns in the UNIPLEX to render meanings such as a man at odds with himself, an ill-formed rock, - a chaotic piece of art, a lefthand-righthand situation.
+ a chaotic piece of art, a âlefthand-righthandâ situation.With verbs, the VARIATIVE indicates an act, state, or event that occurs for more than one reason or purpose, and that those reasons or purposes are more or less unrelated. This sense can probably @@ -615,16 +615,16 @@
The COALESCENT affiliation indicates that the members of a configurational set share in a complementary relationship with respect to their individual functions, states, purposes, benefits, etc. - This means that, while each members function is distinct from those of + This means that, while each memberâs function is distinct from those of other members, each serves in furtherance of some greater unified role. For example, the Ithkuil word translating English toolset would be the word for tool in the AGGREGATIVE configuration - (due to each tools distinct physical appearance) and the COALESCENT + (due to each toolâs distinct physical appearance) and the COALESCENT affiliation to indicate that each tool has a distinct but complementary function in furtherance of enabling construction or repair activities. Another example would be the Ithkuil word for finger inflected for the SEGMENTATIVE configuration and the COALESCENT affiliation, translatable - as the fingers on ones hand (note the use of the SEGMENTATIVE + as the fingers on oneâs hand (note the use of the SEGMENTATIVE to imply the physical connection between each finger via the hand). A further example would be using the COALESCENT with the word for (piece of) food to signify a well-balanced meal.
@@ -632,10 +632,10 @@ often in conjunction with the DUPLEX configuration since binary sets tend to be complementary. It is used, for example, to signify symmetrical binary sets such as body parts, generally indicating a lefthand/righthand mirror-image - distinction, e.g., ones ears, ones hands, a pair of wings. + distinction, e.g., oneâs ears, oneâs hands, a pair of wings. Pairs that do not normally distinguish such a complementary distinction (e.g., - ones eyes) can nevertheless be optionally placed in the COALESCENT - affiliation to emphasize bilateral symmetry (e.g., ones left and + oneâs eyes) can nevertheless be optionally placed in the COALESCENT + affiliation to emphasize bilateral symmetry (e.g., oneâs left and right eye functioning together).With verbs, the COALESCENT signifies that related, synergistic nature of the component acts, states, and events which @@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ specifically address the quantity to which a formative is instantiated within a given context, nor when it occurs relative to the present, but rather the manner in which it is spatio-temporally instantiated. Specifically, - Perspective indicates whether a noun or verb is to be identified as 1) a bounded + Perspective indicates whether a noun or verb is to be identified as 1) a âboundedâ contextual entity (i.e., having a spatio-temporally unified or accessible manifestation), 2) an unbounded entity (i.e., manifested as spatio-temporally separated or inaccessible), 3) as a unified collective or generic entity throughout spacetime, or 4) as @@ -676,21 +676,21 @@ Affiliation (see Secs. 3.1 and 3.2 above) already contain an implicit numerical element due to the fact that they usually describe - multi-membered sets. It is for all these reasons that the terms singular - and plural have been avoided.
+ multi-membered sets. It is for all these reasons that the terms âsingularâ + and âpluralâ have been avoided.Perspective with Verbs. For verbs, the aspect - of boundedness inherent in Perspective does not imply a quantitative - context but rather an aspect of spatio-temporal accessibility, + of âboundednessâ inherent in Perspective does not imply a quantitative + context but rather an aspect of spatio-temporal âaccessibility,â i.e., whether or not an act, state, or event can be viewed as a unified whole - within the present temporal context. This is a long way from the tense + within the present temporal context. This is a long way from the âtenseâ categories of Western languages. In Ithkuil, the notion of linearly progressive time is not inherently expressed in the verb (although it can be specified, if necessary, using various aspectual markers - see Sec. 6.4).
There are four perspectives in Ithkuil: MONADIC, UNBOUNDED, NOMIC, and ABSTRACT. - They are shown morpho-phonologically by shifts in a formatives syllabic - stress patterns. Each perspectives specific meaning and usage is detailed + They are shown morpho-phonologically by shifts in a formativeâs syllabic + stress patterns. Each perspectiveâs specific meaning and usage is detailed below.
The MONADIC signifies a bounded embodiment - of a particular configuration. By bounded embodiment is meant + of a particular configuration. By âbounded embodimentâ is meant a contextual entity which, though possibly numerous in membership or multifaceted in structure, or spread out through a time duration, is nevertheless being contextually - viewed and considered as a monad, a single, unified whole perceived + viewed and considered as a âmonad,â a single, unified whole perceived to exist within a literal or figurative psychologically uninterrupted boundary. This is important, since configurations other than the UNIPLEX technically imply more than one discrete entity/instance being present or taking place. For nouns, this boundary is physically contiguous, like a container, - corresponding to the surface of an object (whether literal or + corresponding to the âsurfaceâ of an object (whether literal or psychological). For verbs, this boundary is psychologically temporal, specifically - the present (which in Ithkuil might be better thought of as the - context at hand or the immediately accessible context). - This distinction as to how bounded embodiment is interpreted for + the âpresentâ (which in Ithkuil might be better thought of as the + âcontext at handâ or the âimmediately accessible contextâ). + This distinction as to how âbounded embodimentâ is interpreted for nouns and verbs is appropriate, given that Ithkuil considers nouns as spatially - reified concepts while considering verbs to be their temporally activized + reified
concepts while considering verbs to be their temporally âactivizedâ counterparts (see Section 2.6.1).Thus, using the word tree for example, while there might be many trees present in terms of number, the MONADIC @@ -726,16 +726,16 @@ an example, the MONADIC would mean there is only one AGGREGATIVE set of trees, i.e., one forest.
At this point, it should be noted in regard to Perspective - that Ithkuil makes no distinction between count and non-count - (or mass) nouns. In languages such as English, nouns differ between + that Ithkuil makes no distinction between âcountâ and ânon-countâ + (or âmassâ) nouns. In languages such as English, nouns differ between those that can be counted and pluralized (e.g., one apple, four boys, several nations), and those which cannot be counted or pluralized (e.g., water, sand, plastic, air, laughter). All nouns are countable in Ithkuil in that all nouns can exist as contextual monads. As a result, English translations - of certain Ithkuil nouns must often be contextual rather than + of certain Ithkuil nouns must often be âcontextualâ rather than literal, employing various conventions to put the noun in a numerical and pluralizable - context, e.g., some dirt, the air here or a - puff of air rather than a dirt or an air.
+ context, e.g., âsome dirt,â âthe air hereâ or âa + puff of airâ rather than âa dirtâ or âan air.âWith verbs, the MONADIC superficially corresponds in a very approximate fashion with Western present tense categories except in a habitual sense. As noted above, the bounded embodiment conveyed @@ -775,12 +775,12 @@ -
By accessible past or accessible future +
By âaccessible pastâ or âaccessible futureâ is meant a past or future where the speaker was (or will be) spatially present - at the time and the time elapsed between then and now is psychologically + at the time and the time elapsed between then and ânowâ is psychologically contiguous, i.e., the speaker views the passage of time from then till now as one continuous temporal flow of moments, not as disconnected memories, disconnected - predictions, or historical reports. Conversely, inaccessible would + predictions, or historical reports. Conversely, âinaccessibleâ would mean a past or future where the speaker was not or will not be present or which he/she knows only from memory, reports, or predictions.
The MONADIC is marked by penultimate @@ -795,19 +795,19 @@
The UNBOUNDED signifies unbounded - embodiment of a particular configurative entity, meaning that the noun +
The UNBOUNDED signifies âunbounded + embodimentâ of a particular configurative entity, meaning that the noun or verb manifests itself as not being contained within an uninterrupted boundary, - i.e., in contextually disconnected manifestations. For nouns, - the term plural has been avoided so as not to imply that the member + i.e., in contextually âdisconnectedâ manifestations. For nouns, + the term âpluralâ has been avoided so as not to imply that the member nouns are not being referred to quantitatively per se, but rather as a non-monadic (i.e., non-unified) manifestation of a configurative set. While the most convenient translation into English would be to use the plural, e.g., trees, groves, lumps of dirt, a semantically (if not morphologically) more accurate rendering would - be a tree here, a tree there, this grove and another and - another , dirt-lump after dirt-lump after dirt-lump . + be âa tree here, a tree there,â âthis grove and another and + anotherâŠ,â âdirt-lump after dirt-lump after dirt-lumpâŠ.â
-For verbs, unbounded embodiment means that the +
For verbs, âunbounded embodimentâ means that the psychological temporal boundary of an act, state, or event is not accessible from the present context. This would apply to an act, state, or event which:
With verbs, the ABSTRACT is used in verbal @@ -916,12 +916,12 @@
The ABSTRACT is marked in either of two ways: (1) by preantepenultimate stress, i.e., on the fourth-to-last syllable, or (2) by a combination of ultimate stress plus the addition of an anaptyctic - vowel -ï- or -a- in any morpho-phonologically + vowel -Ä- or -a- in any morpho-phonologically permissible position of the word (as previously described in Sec. 2.7.3.3). This extra vowel can be placed at any position within the word except within the stem, as long as the vowel does not lead to confusion or ambiguity in interpreting the phonological boundaries of any other suffixes to the stem. - (Note that in word-final position, only anatyctic -a, not -ï, + (Note that in word-final position, only anatyctic -a, not -Ä, is permitted.)
@@ -981,39 +981,39 @@

The graphic to the right illustrates
the spatio-temporal relationship of a noun or verbal concept in the PROXIMAL
- to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal present). |
+ to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal âpresentâ).
![]() |
The graphic to the right illustrates the spatio-temporal
relationship of a noun or verbal concept in the INCEPTIVE
- to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal present). |
+ to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal âpresentâ).
![]() |
The graphic to the right illustrates the spatio-temporal
relationship of a noun or verbal concept in the TERMINATIVE
- to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal present). |
+ to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal âpresentâ).
![]() |
The DEPLETIVE extension focuses on the - terminal boundary or trailing edge of a noun, where this terminus - is ill-defined, diffuse or extended to some degree, (i.e. the - at-hand context of the noun peters out or terminates gradually). + terminal boundary or âtrailingâ edge of a noun, where this terminus + is ill-defined, âdiffuseâ or extended to some degree, (i.e. the + at-hand context of the noun âpeters outâ or terminates gradually). Essentially, it applies to any context involving actual or figurative fading. It would be used in translating the words water, strength, and twilight in the sentences He drank the last of the water, I have little strength left, She disappeared into the twilight. With verbs, it is exemplified by the phrases to wind down, to fade out, to disappear - gradually and similar notions, e.g., Shes eating less and less + gradually and similar notions, e.g., Sheâs eating less and less these days.
The graphic to the right illustrates the spatio-temporal
relationship of a noun or verbal concept in the DEPLETIVE
- to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal present). |
+ to the context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal âpresentâ).
![]() |
The GRADUATIVE extension is the inverse - of the DEPLETIVE, focusing on a diffuse, extended fade-in + of the DEPLETIVE, focusing on a diffuse, extended âfade-inâ or gradual onset of a noun. It would be used in translating the words darkness, wonder, and music in the following sentences: Darkness came upon us, I felt a growing sense of wonder, The music was very soft at first. With verbs it is illustrated by verbs and phrases such as to fade in, to - start gradually, to build up, and similar notions, e.g., Shes + start gradually, to build up, and similar notions, e.g., Sheâs been eating more and more lately.
The graphic to the right illustrates the spatio-temporal
relationship of a noun in the GRADUATIVE to the
- context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal present). |
+ context at-hand (i.e., the spatio-temporal âpresentâ).
![]() |



Ithkuil uses the Focus category to accomplish the same options
that such vocal inflections accomplish in English. Any formative or formatives
within an Ithkuil sentence can be marked as FOCUSED to
@@ -1344,9 +1344,9 @@ of knowing the formative's nominal or verbal status.
Mother entered the room and she turned on the lights.
In the first sentence, the absence of the reduplicative pronoun
- she before turned implies that the entire sentence
+ âsheâ before âturnedâ implies that the entire sentence
is to considered as one reported event with no particular element having the
- focus. In the second sentence, however, the reduplicative she
+ focus. In the second sentence, however, the reduplicative âsheâ
implies the sentence is to viewed as two separate events, the first reported
as background, the second having the focus. (For example, one might utter the
second sentence as a complaint about the lights being turned on.) The Ithkuil
@@ -1354,9 +1354,9 @@ of knowing the formative's nominal or verbal status.
the nuances of the second sentence would be conveyed by marking the equivalent
of the verb form as FOCUSED.
Finally, Focus functions to disambiguate sentences such as - Chicago defeated Oakland, too, which means either (1) Chicago - was one of the teams that defeated Oakland, or (2) Oakland was - one of the teams that Chicago defeated. Ithkuil would mark one team name + Chicago defeated Oakland, too, which means either (1) âChicago + was one of the teams that defeated Oakland,â or (2) âOakland was + one of the teams that Chicago defeated.â Ithkuil would mark one team name or the other as FOCUSED to show which of these two meanings is implied.
The UNFOCUSED attribute is morpho-phonologically
@@ -1367,7 +1367,7 @@ of knowing the formative's nominal or verbal status.
For example, in our previous sentence A cat ran past the doorway, if we now place the cat, doorway, and act of running each into - the FUNCTIONAL, the cat no longer simply + the FUNCTIONAL, the âcatâ no longer simply identifies a participant, it makes its being a cat (as opposed to say, a dog) significant, e.g., because the speaker may fear cats, or because the cat could get into the room and ruin the furniture, or because cats are associated with - mystery, or because a neighbor has been looking for a lost cat, etc. The doorway + mystery, or because a neighbor has been looking for a lost cat, etc. The âdoorwayâ now conveys its purpose as an entry, reinforcing what the cat may do upon entering. - Likewise, the verb ran in the FUNCTIONAL + Likewise, the verb âranâ in the FUNCTIONAL now implies the furtive nature of the cat.
| - | natural environment | natural environment |
awareness |
@@ -1661,9 +1661,9 @@ of knowing the formative's nominal or verbal status.Revised Ithkuil: Ilaksh |
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