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Valorik (Language)/Derivation: Difference between revisions

Valorik (Language)/Derivation
 
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[[Valorik (Language)|< Valorik (Language)]]
[[Valorik (Language)|< Valorik (Language)]]


== Derivational Morphology and Word Formation ==
= Derivational Morphology in Valorik =
Valorik uses both prefixes and suffixes to create new words and to indicate nuances such as agency, location, size, and more.


=== Common Derivational Prefixes ===
Valorik forms new words through a structured system of prefixes, suffixes, and compounding. Derivational morphology is productive, regular, and closely constrained by phonotactics and social register.


; Gender/Class
== Overview ==
Derivation in Valorik is used to express:
* grammatical class (gendered or neuter reference)
* agency and role
* size and intensity
* location and instrumentality
* abstraction and conceptual states
 
Most derivational morphology attaches directly to lexical roots without internal sound change.
 
== Gender and Class Prefixes ==
Valorik marks grammatical and social class using prefixes. These prefixes are productive across nouns, titles, and certain derived forms.
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Prefix !! IPA !! Function
|-
| zɛl- || /zɛl/ || Feminine
|-
| duːr- || /duːɹ/ || Masculine
|-
| pɛk- || /pɛk/ || Neuter
|}
 
These prefixes always occur at the beginning of the word and precede all other derivational material.
 
; Examples
:
:
* '''zɛlfɛniː''' – female child
* '''duːrmɛɹɪk''' – male progenitor
* '''pɛkfiːnə''' – neutral dwelling / structure
== Derivational Suffixes ==
=== Agent (Doer of an Action) ===
Used to derive nouns referring to one who performs an action.
* '''-ʃɛn'''
* '''-lɛn'''


* '''zɛl-''' (feminine), '''duːr-''' (masculine), '''pɛk-''' (neuter)
The choice is lexically conditioned but phonologically regular.


; Agent (one who does X)
; Example
:
:
* '''mɛnuːθəlɛn''' – eater (from '''mɛnuːθə''' “to eat”)
=== Diminutive ===
Expresses smallness, youth, or affection.


* '''-ʃɛn''' or '''-lɛn''' (from “one who Xs”)
* '''-ɪl'''
** Example: **mɛnuːthəlɛn** – eater (from “to eat”)
* '''-niː'''


; Diminutive (smallness or endearment)
; Examples
:
:
* '''fɛniː''' – child
* '''fɛniːniː''' – little child
* '''kɑɪlɪl''' – small / lesser
=== Augmentative ===
Expresses largeness, intensity, or greatness.


* '''-ɪl''' or '''-niː''' (attached at end)
* '''-θɛɪn'''
** Example: '''fɛniː''' – child, '''fɛniːniː''' – little child
* '''-kɛɪn'''


; Augmentative (largeness, greatness)
; Example
:
:
* '''kɑɪləθɛɪn''' – very large, great
=== Place / Location ===
Forms nouns indicating a place associated with the root.


* '''-θɛɪn''' or '''-kɛɪn''' (attached at end)
* '''-'''
** Example: '''kɑɪlə''' – big, '''kɑɪləθɛɪn''' – very big


; Place/Location
; Example
:
:
* '''fiːnənɔ''' – home, dwelling place (from '''fiːnə''' “house”)
=== Abstract Noun ===
Forms concepts, states, or temporal abstractions.


* -'''''' (place associated with root)
* '''-ɛθə'''
** Example: fiːnənɔ – house, home (from fiːnə “home”)


; Abstract noun (concept, state)
; Example
:
:
* '''zɛnvɛθə''' – time, year, duration
=== Instrument / Tool ===
Forms nouns referring to tools or implements.


* '''-ɛθə''' (attached at end)
* '''-klɛn'''
** Example: '''zɛnvɛθə''' – year, time (from '''zɛn-''' + time root)


; Instrument/Tool
; Example
:
:
* '''d͡ʒɔklɛn''' – knife (from '''d͡ʒɔ''' “to cut”)


* '''-klɛn''' (used for devices/tools)
== Compounding ==
** Example: '''d͡ʒɔklɛn''' – knife (from '''d͡ʒɔ''' "cut")
Valorik makes extensive use of compounding. Compounds are lexical rather than inflectional and follow strict ordering rules.


=== Compound Words ===
=== General Rules ===
Valorik builds new meanings through straightforward compounding, typically **noun + modifier** or **root + root**:
* Compounds are typically '''head-initial'''.
* Roots are concatenated directly.
* No conjunctions or particles are inserted.


* Order is usually left-to-right, head-first (main idea comes first).
=== Common Patterns ===
* noun + modifier
* root + root


; Examples
; Examples
:
:
* '''d͡ʒɔklɛn''' – cutting-tool
* '''fiːnənɔzɛɪlə''' – house-on (upper floor / rooftop dwelling)


* fʊɹɪʃnə – canidae large (fʊɹ “canidae” + ɪʃ “large”)
== Sample Derivation Table ==
* d͡ʒɔklɛn – cutting tool (d͡ʒɔak “cut” + klɛn “tool”)
* fiːnənɔzɛɪlə – house on (compound place phrase)
 
Particles, adjectives, and number markers can be compounded as well for specificity.
 
=== Derivation Table (Examples) ===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Base
! Base !! Meaning !! Diminutive !! Augmentative !! Agent !! Place
!Meaning
!Diminutive
!Augmentative
!Agent/Doer
!Place/Location
|-
|-
|fɛniː
| fɛniː || child || fɛniːniː || fɛniːθɛɪn || fɛniːlɛn || fɛniːnɔ
|child
|fɛniː-iːl
|fɛniːθɛɪn
|fɛniːlæn
|fɛniːnə
|-
|-
|mɛnuːθə
| mɛnuːθə || eat || mɛnuːθɪl || mɛnuːθɛɪn || mɛnuːθəlɛn || mɛnuːθənɔ
|eat
|mɛnuːθiːl
|mɛnuːθɛɪn
|mɛnuːθɛlæn
|mɛnuːθɛnə
|-
|-
|kɑɪl
| kɑɪlə || big || kɑɪlɪl || kɑɪləθɛɪn || — ||
|big
|kɑɪliːl
|kaileθɛɪn
|
|
|}
|}


=== Typical Compounding Rules ===
== Usage Notes ==
 
* Gender prefixes attach before all other derivation.
# If the second root starts with a vowel, use a hyphen or glottal stop (optional for clarity).
* Articles are never compounded.
# Gender prefixes are always attached at the very start of the compound.
* Vulgar phonemes (q, χ, ) do not occur in derivational morphology.
# Articles (zɛluːn, duːroʊn, etc.) are ''not'' compounded—always separate words.
* Ancient derivational forms may survive only as fossilized roots.
 
; Example
:
 
* zɛluːn fɛniːniː – a little (female) child
* d͡ʒɛklɛnfiːnənə – a kitchen (lit. “knife-tool house”)


== See Also ==
* Valorik Grammar
* Valorik Naming Conventions
* Valorik Honorifics
* Ancient Valorik


[[Category:Valorik Language]]
[[Category:Valorik Language]]
[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Languages]]