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Difference between revisions of "Middle Olgish language"
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From the mid-twelfth century, the Middle Olgish Unrest begins to diminish, although it will not fully subside for another four hundred years. This second, more stable and consistent, stage of the language is considered '''Middle Olgish proper''' and the idiom generally referred to by the term ''Middle Olgish'' alone. It shows significant divergences from Liturgical Middle Olgish, from which it is over a century removed, but remains intelligible with the holy language, especially to those intimately familiar with Fádin’s Lonsorigi and their, from the Middle Olgish perspective, rather peculiar vocabulary. | From the mid-twelfth century, the Middle Olgish Unrest begins to diminish, although it will not fully subside for another four hundred years. This second, more stable and consistent, stage of the language is considered '''Middle Olgish proper''' and the idiom generally referred to by the term ''Middle Olgish'' alone. It shows significant divergences from Liturgical Middle Olgish, from which it is over a century removed, but remains intelligible with the holy language, especially to those intimately familiar with Fádin’s Lonsorigi and their, from the Middle Olgish perspective, rather peculiar vocabulary. | ||
While official religious texts themselves are always kept in their Liturgical Middle Olgish form, many prayers, formulas, and other turns of phrase popularized in Fádin’s formal register are eventually ‘colloquialized’ into a form closer to spoken Middle Olgish, often retaining the original wording and structure but adjusting pronunciation and sometimes grammar to more closely resemble the vernacular. | |||
After more than three centuries of relative stability, the final waves of the Unrest begin to emerge in the early third century L.R. (the 16th century E.B.), as the number of everyday Olgish speakers rapidly dwindles in an increasingly cosmopolitan [[Lécaron]]. The ensuing sound changes again are significant, and Middle Olgish transitions into [[New Olgish]] around the mid-third century. In Seligon, the dialect of the Olgish-speaking but linguistically fairly isolated [[Northern Feldin]] diverges independently from Middle Olgish around 200 years later and is considered an independent language, [[Northern Feldic]]. | After more than three centuries of relative stability, the final waves of the Unrest begin to emerge in the early third century L.R. (the 16th century E.B.), as the number of everyday Olgish speakers rapidly dwindles in an increasingly cosmopolitan [[Lécaron]]. The ensuing sound changes again are significant, and Middle Olgish transitions into [[New Olgish]] around the mid-third century. In Seligon, the dialect of the Olgish-speaking but linguistically fairly isolated [[Northern Feldin]] diverges independently from Middle Olgish around 200 years later and is considered an independent language, [[Northern Feldic]]. | ||
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==Syntax== | ==Syntax== | ||
Syntax in Middle Olgish matrix clauses follows a verb-second pattern, with the additional limitation that only subjects and topicalized prepositional phrases and adverbial modifier phrases can appear in C /spec, with subjects being by far the most common. Base-generated word order seems to be SVO, and the vast majority of clauses also follow this pattern on the surface, including all subordinate clauses. | Syntax in Middle Olgish matrix clauses follows a verb-second pattern, with the additional limitation that only subjects and topicalized prepositional phrases and adverbial modifier phrases can appear in C /spec, with subjects being by far the most common. Base-generated word order seems to be SVO, and the vast majority of clauses also follow this pattern on the surface, including all subordinate clauses. | ||
Determiner phrases follow the general pattern '''[Determiner [Numeral [Noun Adjective]]]'''. Possession can be coded for in two ways, i) by forming a possessive adjective from the possessor noun with the suffix ''-in'' (heavily preferred by [[Saint Fádin|Fádin]] and the only possessive permitted in Liturgical Middle Olgish) or ii) by forming a possessive compound wherein the possessor precedes the possession (common in Old Olgish and informal Middle Olgish, but moribund already in Fádin’s time and practically out of use by the end of the Middle Olgish period). | |||
===Serial IP constructions=== | ===Serial IP constructions=== | ||
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This rule broadly extends to all syntactically independent nouns in Olgish, although for most non-subjects the possible applications of this construction are largely limited to that of a quasi-relative clause. In this context, such a construction may also (and possibly more usefully) analysed as a nominalized clause as a whole, rather than an IP nested in an NP. | This rule broadly extends to all syntactically independent nouns in Olgish, although for most non-subjects the possible applications of this construction are largely limited to that of a quasi-relative clause. In this context, such a construction may also (and possibly more usefully) analysed as a nominalized clause as a whole, rather than an IP nested in an NP. | ||
Any nominal can further take on an IP containing its referent as a non-subject argument or modifier in the same manner. In this case, a pronoun | Any nominal can further take on an IP containing its referent as a non-subject argument or modifier in the same manner. In this case, a pronoun coreferential with the noun in question will appear immediately following the verb, bare if it is a direct object or in a Prepositional Phrase if it is a modifier or indirect object. This special case is the only instance where the Olgish languages permit VOS order; this can be modelled as the lower V projection as a whole being raised to the I head while the subject remains in its base position in ''v''P /spec (assuming the serialized/noun-dependent IP does not generate beyond the I head/the governing noun sits in a virtual IP /spec). | ||
As there is no overt relative construction in the Olgish languages, serial IPs are the most widely used form of clausal apposition. | As there is no overt relative construction in the Olgish languages, serial IPs are the most widely used form of clausal apposition. | ||
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===The definite article=== | ===The definite article=== | ||
Middle Olgish shares the universal definite article, '''terg''', with Liturgical Middle Olgish. Unlike in the latter, this is used rarely and somewhat irregularly in colloquial Middle Olgish, comparable to the similar development in Biblical Greek. Most nouns appear without an article, whether definite or indefinite; ''terg'' is used only to denote very particular topical items, somewhere between the specificity of a definite and a demonstrative, and to form periphrastic possessives with pronouns. Notably, the article is often elided to a clitic '''t’=''' attaching either to the following noun or, most commonly, to a preceding preposition. | |||
While the definite article is often preserved in colloquialized prayers and turns of phrase to a degree not seen in authentic spoken Middle Olgish, elision is usually applied where it would be in the spoken register, oftentimes creating the most notable distinctions between a prayer’s formal and colloquial variants. | |||
==Writing system== | ==Writing system== | ||
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Prior to Fádin’s day, the most widely used writing system is the [[Old Olgish alphabet]], which more directly corresponds to the [[Old Olgish runes]]. Considered a mere style variant rather than an independent script, it is used alongside Lécaronian writing for centuries, only gradually falling in disfavour for its more cumbersome letter shapes. It remains in sporadic use until the [[Late Imperial Era]], particularly in the context of inscriptions, dedications, and other short texts meant to evoke the [[Lonsorigi#Book of Belkondíl|age of Olgish heroes]]. | Prior to Fádin’s day, the most widely used writing system is the [[Old Olgish alphabet]], which more directly corresponds to the [[Old Olgish runes]]. Considered a mere style variant rather than an independent script, it is used alongside Lécaronian writing for centuries, only gradually falling in disfavour for its more cumbersome letter shapes. It remains in sporadic use until the [[Late Imperial Era]], particularly in the context of inscriptions, dedications, and other short texts meant to evoke the [[Lonsorigi#Book of Belkondíl|age of Olgish heroes]]. | ||
==Language | ==Language Samples== | ||
[[The Hunter’s Plea]], example of a formal prayer colloquialized into Middle Olgish: | |||
<blockquote>''Käronin, Awolin, Delgorin! T’detúnor hwénir tapa kálara närm dwa t’detáram dérita i dikara. Hínas tú náma darek i ‘ekos dimórino. Ílgarin, Elgekan, Noldáran! T’detúnor hwénir tapa jána närm dírika i nioma. Hínas tú náma darek i ‘ekos dimórino. Dúrita i ‘ébeka dem dérinem!''<br / ><br /> | |||
‘I call upon the powers of Käron, Awol, and Delgor! Bestow your protection upon our journey so that on your land we be successful and remain unharmed. We will take only according to our needs and nothing you cannot spare. I call upon the powers of Ílgar, Elgeka, and Noldára! Bestow your protection upon our hunting so that we accomplish great feats and keep our way. We will take only according to our needs and nothing you cannot spare. This is the oath for our hunt!’</blockquote> | |||
The LCC11 Conscript Relay torch in Middle Olgish: | |||
<blockquote>''Ním ilisek kéla ahandärnek nauko. Dua té lárnur halne gelnau ráne dí kassa duat’ hern, nert elikún hárár. Binne eta wiss, eta Sosk, eta hína tér dua ilon. Duat’ lárnur kórek lár muin dé ilgib gissún kase gissún jeris gissún denwis närt bess jeskílár. Kondre nauko: Mort kínek idro dua Sosk. Gimmortik ilínare terg túrada bernet kassa eldírik nauda. Kéla ilínare kóris nau énos lár kassa ilis.''<br /><br />‘If all were well, I would be polite with you. Sometimes in the evening, I wonder why I work so hard preparing food at home despite so many other, more relaxing options; options like the inn, a Sosk, or all the things at the market. Tonight, the prospect of food with much salt and oil and sugar would make me happy, despite the greater cost. Let me tell you: It would be good if you went to the Sosk. A wise person remembers when their mother cooked the best food for them; and so also what pleasure good food is for the family.’</blockquote> | |||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
Middle Olgish, along with the [[Olgish writing#Lécaronian Alphabet|Lécaronian Alphabet]], was used for the LCC11 Conscript Relay in 2025. | Middle Olgish, along with the [[Olgish writing#Lécaronian Alphabet|Lécaronian Alphabet]], was used for the [https://conlang.org/language-creation-conference/lcc11/lcc11-relay/ LCC11 Conscript Relay] in 2025. | ||
[[Category:Olgish languages]][[Category:Languages]] | [[Category:Olgish languages]][[Category:Languages]] | ||