Derivational Morphology in Valorik

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.

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.

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

The choice is lexically conditioned but phonologically regular.

Example

mɛnuːθəlɛn – eater (from mɛnuːθə “to eat”)

Diminutive

Expresses smallness, youth, or affection.

-ɪl
-niː

Examples

fɛniː – child
fɛniːniː – little child
kɑɪlɪl – small / lesser

Augmentative

Expresses largeness, intensity, or greatness.

-θɛɪn
-kɛɪn

Example

kɑɪləθɛɪn – very large, great

Place / Location

Forms nouns indicating a place associated with the root.

-nɔ

Example

fiːnənɔ – home, dwelling place (from fiːnə “house”)

Abstract Noun

Forms concepts, states, or temporal abstractions.

-ɛθə

Example

zɛnvɛθə – time, year, duration

Instrument / Tool

Forms nouns referring to tools or implements.

-klɛn

Example

d͡ʒɔklɛn – knife (from d͡ʒɔ “to cut”)

Compounding

Valorik makes extensive use of compounding. Compounds are lexical rather than inflectional and follow strict ordering rules.

General Rules

Compounds are typically head-initial.
Roots are concatenated directly.
No conjunctions or particles are inserted.

Common Patterns

noun + modifier
root + root

Examples

d͡ʒɔklɛn – cutting-tool
fiːnənɔzɛɪlə – house-on (upper floor / rooftop dwelling)

Sample Derivation Table

Base	Meaning	Diminutive	Augmentative	Agent	Place
fɛniː	child	fɛniːniː	fɛniːθɛɪn	fɛniːlɛn	fɛniːnɔ
mɛnuːθə	eat	mɛnuːθɪl	mɛnuːθɛɪn	mɛnuːθəlɛn	mɛnuːθənɔ
kɑɪlə	big	kɑɪlɪl	kɑɪləθɛɪn	—	—

Usage Notes

Gender prefixes attach before all other derivation.
Articles are never compounded.
Vulgar phonemes (q, χ, qχ) do not occur in derivational morphology.
Ancient derivational forms may survive only as fossilized roots.

Valorik Derivation