Common Yalaerian (Language)

Common Yalaerin is the primary spoken language of the Yalaerin species. A highly analytical, object-subject-verb (OSV) language, it features a restricted but expressive phonology, an agglutinative classifier system for countable nouns, and a culturally significant base‑12 numeral structure. The language plays a central role in Yalaerin intellectual life and ritual, especially after the rise of the High Yalaerin caste.

Phonology

Common Yalaerin features a tightly regulated phonemic inventory and syllable structure.

Consonants

/d, m, k, t, j, l, z, s, v, f, ɹ, ʑ, ç, ɕ, n/

Vowels

/ɚ, ɪ, ɛ, ə, ɑ, ʊ, iː, æ/

Diphthongs

/ɑ̯ʊ/, /ɑ̯ɪ/, /ɛ̯ɪ/ /kʷ/ occurs as a labialized velar consonant.

Syllable Structure

Allowed syllables are strictly CV and CVC. Coda consonants must be nasals or stops (m, n, d, t, k).

Grammar

Word Order

Common Yalaerin uses **Object–Subject–Verb (OSV)** word order exclusively.

Example:

• ɪtɑ zɑ zɛtkə — "She eats fish."
• bɛtɑ tɑ kəmnʊt — "He will give the book."

Negation

The negation particle næ is placed directly before the verb.

• zɑ næ zɛtkə — "She does not eat."
• bɛtɑ tɑ næ kəmnʊt — "He will not give the book."

Gender and Plural Marking

Function	Suffix	Example	Gloss
Feminine	-nə	dæknə	female hunter
Masculine	-tɑ	nɑkətɑ	male figure
Plural	-mɛt	dæknəmɛt	female hunters

Tense Marking

Tense	Suffix	Example	Gloss
Present	-kə	kəmkə	gives
Past	-dɑk	kəmdɑk	gave
Future	-nʊt	kəmnʊt	will give
Near Future	-tɪk	kəmtɪk	will soon give
Distant Past	-kɑn	kəmkɑn	gave long ago
Distant Future	-næk	kəmnæk	will eventually give

Numerals

Yalaerin uses a base‑12 numeral system with dedicated roots for 0–11 and a multiplicative structure beyond that.

Digits 0–11

Decimal	Duodecimal	Word	Ordinal
0	0	zə	—
1	1	kɑ	kɑlɑ
2	2	nɪ	nɪlɑ
3	3	tʊ	tʊlɑ
4	4	mɛ	mɛlɑ
5	5	vɑ	vɑlɑ
6	6	dɛ	dɛlɑ
7	7	sɪ	sɪlɑ
8	8	lʊ	lʊlɑ
9	9	fɑ	fɑlɑ
10	A	jɛ	jɛlɑ
11	B	çɑ	çɑlɑ

Higher Numbers

• 12 (10₁₂) = tɑ
• 24 = nɪ tɑ
• 144 = tɑvɑ ("twelve twelves")

Classifier System

Yalaerin classifiers are required between numerals and countable nouns.

Structure

[Number] [Classifier] [Noun]

Classifiers

Classifier	Meaning / Use
nɑ	general object
dɪ	animate beings (people, animals)
vɛ	flat objects
sɑn	long rigid objects (sticks, weapons)
mɑ	containers, vessels
kʊ	round items
zɔ	tools, weapons
tʊn	buildings, structures
nɛ	plants, crops
çɛ	small animals

Examples

• tʊ dɪ mɑnə — "three people"
• mɛ sɑn zɔk — "four spears"
• lʊ tʊn lɛtɑ — "eight houses"

Colors

English	Yalaerin
Red	vɑt
Blue	zʊkə
Green	nɛtɑ
Yellow	kɛʑə
Black	tɛŋ
White	çɪl
Brown	dɑnə
Gray	sək
Orange	fɑzə
Purple	lɪmɑ

Vocabulary

English	Yalaerin
Person	tɑnə
Child	mɑnə
Man	nɑkətɑ
Woman	dæknə
Animal	sɛm
Fish	ɪtɑ
Food	tɪn
Water	nælə
Fire	tæk
House	lɛtɑ
Weapon	zɔk
Book	bɛtɑ
Sky	çɪn
Sun	tɪkə
To give	kəm–
To eat	zɛt–
To drink	nʊm–
To see	lɑt–

Sample Sentences

• ɪtɑ zɑ zɛtkə — "She eats fish."
• bɛtɑ tɑ kəmnʊt — "He will give the book."
• nælə mɑnə næ nʊmdɑk — "The child did not drink water."
• dæknəmɛt tɪn zɛtkɑ — "The women eat food."
• mɛ sɑn zɔk — "Four spears."

See Also

• Yalaerin
• High Yalaerin
• Yalae Prime
• Magicka (Galaxa)