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{{Infobox language | |||
| name = Sen | | name = Sen | ||
| familycolor = Conlang | | familycolor = Conlang | ||
| creator = [[Cárlẃmm Frinn]] | | creator = [[Cárlẃmm Frinn]] | ||
| posteriori = [[Phyrean language|Phyrean]], [[Woru languages]], [[Vuru language|Vuru]], [[Toamts language|Toamts]], [[Ragham]], among others | | posteriori = [[Phyrean language|Phyrean]], [[Woru languages]], [[Vuru language|Vuru]], [[Toamts language|Toamts]], [[Ragham]], among others | ||
}} | |nativename={{cs|jrt|sen}}<br>''Sen''}} | ||
'''Sen''' (/sen/) is a constructed language created by writer and novelist [[Cárlẃmm Frinn]] throughout the 1650s to 70s as a personal exercise in linguistic neutrality and minimalism, with great liberties taken. The objective, to her, was to make a language able to form short, concise and understandable sentences with a small vocabulary. Modern linguists are still debating as to whether this goal was achieved by the time Sen reached completion around 1678, with the release of the last personally published book by Frinn, ''[[Sen: A Complete Guide]]'', shortly before her death in 1679. It derives most of its vocabulary from several natural languages such as [[Phyrean language|Phyrean]], [[Vuru language|Vuru]], [[North Woru|North]] and [[South Woru]], [[Toamts language|Toamts]], [[Ragham]], among many others, modified to suit the language's phonology, along with some words formed ''a priori''. Sen has amassed a large community of learners and speakers of varying fluency along the years, many of whom propose the language as a candidate for international communication. | '''Sen''' ({{cs|jrt|sen}} /sen/) is a constructed language created by writer and novelist [[Cárlẃmm Frinn]] throughout the 1650s to 70s as a personal exercise in linguistic neutrality and minimalism, with great liberties taken. The objective, to her, was to make a language able to form short, concise and understandable sentences with a small vocabulary. Modern linguists are still debating as to whether this goal was achieved by the time Sen reached completion around 1678, with the release of the last personally published book by Frinn, ''[[Sen: A Complete Guide]]'', shortly before her death in 1679. It derives most of its vocabulary from several natural languages such as [[Phyrean language|Phyrean]], [[Vuru language|Vuru]], [[North Woru|North]] and [[South Woru]], [[Toamts language|Toamts]], [[Ragham]], among many others, modified to suit the language's phonology, along with some words formed ''a priori''. Sen has amassed a large community of learners and speakers of varying fluency along the years, many of whom propose the language as a candidate for international communication. | ||
== Phonology == | == Phonology == | ||
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! colspan="2" |Nasal | ! colspan="2" |Nasal | ||
| | | | ||
|'''m''' /m/ | |{{Cs|jrt|m}} '''m''' /m/ | ||
| | | | ||
|'''n''' /n/ | |{{Cs|jrt|n}} '''n''' /n/ | ||
| | | | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
|- | |- | ||
! colspan="2" |Plosive | ! colspan="2" |Plosive | ||
|'''p''' /p/ | |{{Cs|jrt|p}} '''p''' /p/ | ||
|'''b''' /b/ | |{{Cs|jrt|b}} '''b''' /b/ | ||
|'''t''' /t/ | |{{Cs|jrt|t}} '''t''' /t/ | ||
|'''d''' /d/ | |{{Cs|jrt|d}} '''d''' /d/ | ||
| | | | ||
|'''k''' /k/ | |{{Cs|jrt|c}} '''k''' /k/ | ||
|'''g''' /g/ | |{{Cs|jrt|g}} '''g''' /g/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
! rowspan="2" |Fricative | ! rowspan="2" |Fricative | ||
!<small>Plain</small> | !<small>Plain</small> | ||
|'''f''' /f/ | |{{Cs|jrt|f}} '''f''' /f/ | ||
| | | | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
| Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
!<small>Sibilant</small> | !<small>Sibilant</small> | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
|'''s''' /s/ | |{{Cs|jrt|s}} '''s''' /s/ | ||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
| | | | ||
|'''r''' /r~ɾ/ | |{{Cs|jrt|r}} '''r''' /r~ɾ/ | ||
| | | | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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!<small>Plain</small> | !<small>Plain</small> | ||
| | | | ||
|'''w''' /w/ | |{{Cs|jrt|w}} '''w''' /w/ | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
|'''y''' /j/ | |{{Cs|jrt|j}} '''y''' /j/ | ||
| | | | ||
|('''w''' /w/) | |({{Cs|jrt|w}} '''w''' /w/) | ||
|- | |- | ||
!<small>Lateral</small> | !<small>Lateral</small> | ||
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| | | | ||
| | | | ||
|'''l''' /l/ | |{{Cs|jrt|l}} '''l''' /l/ | ||
| | | | ||
| colspan="2" | | | colspan="2" | | ||
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|- | |- | ||
!Close | !Close | ||
|'''i''' /i/ | |{{Cs|jrt|i}} '''i''' /i/ | ||
| | | | ||
|'''u''' /u/ | |{{Cs|jrt|u}} '''u''' /u/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Mid | !Mid | ||
|'''e''' /e/ | |{{Cs|jrt|e}} '''e''' /e/ | ||
| | | | ||
|'''o''' /o/ | |{{Cs|jrt|o}} '''o''' /o/ | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Open | !Open | ||
| | | | ||
|'''a''' /a/ | |{{Cs|jrt|a}} '''a''' /a/ | ||
| | | | ||
|} | |} | ||
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== Grammar == | == Grammar == | ||
All "lexical" words (i.e. not purely grammatical, like pronouns) in Sen may take the role of verbs, nouns, adjectives or adverbs depending on the context. | All "lexical" words (i.e. not purely grammatical, like pronouns) in Sen may take the role of verbs, nouns, adjectives or adverbs depending on the context. | ||
{{Quote|''kiena kara'' "hot food"<br> | {{Quote|{{cs|jrt|ciena cara}} ''kiena kara'' "hot food"<br> | ||
''kara kiena'' "edible fire"<br> | {{cs|jrt|cara ciena}} ''kara kiena'' "edible fire"<br> | ||
''kiena en kara'' "the food heats up"}} | {{cs|jrt|ciena en cara}} ''kiena en kara'' "the food heats up"}} | ||
=== Word order and head direction === | === Word order and head direction === | ||
Sen word order is flexible, but for general statements it tends to be Subject-Object-Verb. | Sen word order is flexible, but for general statements it tends to be Subject-Object-Verb. | ||
{{Quote|''lega o kiena en pilka''<br> | {{Quote|{{cs|jrt|lega o ciena en pilca}} ''lega o kiena en pilka''<br> | ||
person OBJ food PRED cook | person OBJ food PRED cook | ||
"the person cooks the food"}} | "the person cooks the food"}} | ||
| Line 133: | Line 133: | ||
!Third / Distal | !Third / Distal | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''el'' / Ø | |{{cs|jrt|eḷ}} ''el'' / Ø | ||
|''os'' | |{{cs|jrt|os}} ''os'' | ||
|''an'' | |{{cs|jrt|an}} ''an'' | ||
|} | |} | ||
These pronouns are appended at the beginning of verbs to mark person. Usually, a verb by itself with no marked person will tacitly carry the first person. | These pronouns are appended at the beginning of verbs to mark person. Usually, a verb by itself with no marked person will tacitly carry the first person. | ||
{{Quote|''mea''<br> | |||
{{Quote|{{cs|jrt|mea}} ''mea''<br> | |||
"to know" ''or'' "I know"}} | "to know" ''or'' "I know"}} | ||
A pronoun may also be appended at the end of a noun to indicate possession or deixis, depending on context. | A pronoun may also be appended at the end of a noun to indicate possession or deixis, depending on context. | ||
{{Quote|''kiena'''an'''''<br> | {{Quote|{{cs|jrt|cienaan}} ''kiena'''an'''''<br> | ||
"(it is) his food" ''(as opposed to'' ankiena ''"he eats")'' ''or'' "(it is) that food"}} | "(it is) his food" ''(as opposed to'' ankiena ''"he eats")'' ''or'' "(it is) that food"}} | ||
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!Non-past | !Non-past | ||
|''Unmarked'' | |''Unmarked'' | ||
|''muon'' "I (will) rise" | |{{cs|jrt|muon}} ''muon'' "I (will) rise" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Past | !Past | ||
| -en | | {{cs|jrt|-en}} -en | ||
|''muonen'' "I rose" ''or'' "I have risen" | |{{cs|jrt|muonen}} ''muonen'' "I rose" ''or'' "I have risen" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Imperative | !Imperative | ||
| -ebi | | {{cs|jrt|-ebi}} -ebi | ||
|''muonebi'' "rise!" | |{{cs|jrt|muonebi}} ''muonebi'' "rise!" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Iterative | !Iterative | ||
|ti- | |{{cs|jrt|ti-}} ti- | ||
|''timuon'' "I (will) rise again" | |{{cs|jrt|timuon}} ''timuon'' "I (will) rise again" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Passive | !Passive | ||
| -iri | | {{cs|jrt|-iri}} -iri | ||
|''muoniri'' "I will be risen" | |{{cs|jrt|muoniri}} ''muoniri'' "I will be risen" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Reflexive | !Reflexive | ||
| -me | | {{cs|jrt|-mẹ}} -me | ||
|''muonme'' "I rise myself" | |{{cs|jrt|muonme}} ''muonme'' "I rise myself" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Optative/Hortative | !Optative/Hortative | ||
| -is | | {{cs|jrt|-is}} -is | ||
|''muonis'' "please rise" ''or'' "I wish to rise" | |{{cs|jrt|muonis}} ''muonis'' "please rise" ''or'' "I wish to rise" | ||
|} | |} | ||
A verb may take a non-pronoun subject by using the predicate marker ''en.'' | A verb may take a non-pronoun subject by using the predicate marker ''en.'' | ||
{{Quote|''lea '''en''' timuon''<br> | |||
{{Quote|{{cs|jrt|lea en timuon}} ''lea '''en''' timuon''<br> | |||
"the sun will rise again"}} | "the sun will rise again"}} | ||
It may also take an object by using the object marker ''o''. | It may also take an object by using the object marker ''o''. | ||
{{Quote|''ye '''o''' lega en sibiki''<br> | {{Quote|{{cs|jrt|je o lega en sibici}} ''ye '''o''' lega en sibiki''<br> | ||
"the beast leads the man"}} | "the beast leads the man"}} | ||
=== Particles === | === Particles === | ||
There are three main particles in Sen: ''en'', the "predicate marker," introduces a verbal phrase, ''o'' marks the direct object of a verb, and ''u'' serves as a benefactive ("for (the sake of)") or causative marker ("because of"). | There are three main particles in Sen: {{cs|jrt|en}} ''en'', the "predicate marker," introduces a verbal phrase, {{cs|jrt|o}} ''o'' marks the direct object of a verb, and {{cs|jrt|u}} ''u'' serves as a benefactive ("for (the sake of)") or causative marker ("because of"). | ||
[[Category: Languages]] [[Category: Constructed languages]] | [[Category: Languages]] [[Category: Constructed languages]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:22, 29 March 2026
| Sen | |
|---|---|
| sen Sen | |
| Created by | Cárlẃmm Frinn |
| Purpose | |
| Sources | Phyrean, Woru languages, Vuru, Toamts, Ragham, among others |
Sen (sen /sen/) is a constructed language created by writer and novelist Cárlẃmm Frinn throughout the 1650s to 70s as a personal exercise in linguistic neutrality and minimalism, with great liberties taken. The objective, to her, was to make a language able to form short, concise and understandable sentences with a small vocabulary. Modern linguists are still debating as to whether this goal was achieved by the time Sen reached completion around 1678, with the release of the last personally published book by Frinn, Sen: A Complete Guide, shortly before her death in 1679. It derives most of its vocabulary from several natural languages such as Phyrean, Vuru, North and South Woru, Toamts, Ragham, among many others, modified to suit the language's phonology, along with some words formed a priori. Sen has amassed a large community of learners and speakers of varying fluency along the years, many of whom propose the language as a candidate for international communication.
Phonology
Consonants
Sen makes use of a small set of 15 phonemes.
| Labial / Labiodental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unvoiced | Voiced | Unvoiced | Voiced | Unvoiced | Voiced | |||
| Nasal | m m /m/ | n n /n/ | ||||||
| Plosive | p p /p/ | b b /b/ | t t /t/ | d d /d/ | c k /k/ | g g /g/ | ||
| Fricative | Plain | f f /f/ | ||||||
| Sibilant | s s /s/ | |||||||
| Trill or tap | r r /r~ɾ/ | |||||||
| Approximant | Plain | w w /w/ | j y /j/ | (w w /w/) | ||||
| Lateral | l l /l/ | |||||||
Vowels
Sen uses 5 vowels.
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i i /i/ | u u /u/ | |
| Mid | e e /e/ | o o /o/ | |
| Open | a a /a/ |
Vowels may never form diphthongs or long vowels, at least phonemically. Sequences of vowels contacting are always broken up by a hiatus−even two of the same vowel.
Grammar
All "lexical" words (i.e. not purely grammatical, like pronouns) in Sen may take the role of verbs, nouns, adjectives or adverbs depending on the context.
ciena cara kiena kara "hot food"
cara ciena kara kiena "edible fire"
ciena en cara kiena en kara "the food heats up"
Word order and head direction
Sen word order is flexible, but for general statements it tends to be Subject-Object-Verb.
lega o ciena en pilca lega o kiena en pilka
person OBJ food PRED cook
"the person cooks the food"
It is also usually head-initial, and lexical words may be modified concatenating other words after them.
Pronouns
Sen has three pronouns, displayed below.
| First / Proximal | Second / Medial | Third / Distal |
|---|---|---|
| eḷ el / Ø | os os | an an |
These pronouns are appended at the beginning of verbs to mark person. Usually, a verb by itself with no marked person will tacitly carry the first person.
mea mea
"to know" or "I know"
A pronoun may also be appended at the end of a noun to indicate possession or deixis, depending on context.
cienaan kienaan
"(it is) his food" (as opposed to ankiena "he eats") or "(it is) that food"
Verbs
Verbs in Sen are conjugated by appending affixes at either ends.
| Conjugation | Affix | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Non-past | Unmarked | muon muon "I (will) rise" |
| Past | -en -en | muonen muonen "I rose" or "I have risen" |
| Imperative | -ebi -ebi | muonebi muonebi "rise!" |
| Iterative | ti- ti- | timuon timuon "I (will) rise again" |
| Passive | -iri -iri | muoniri muoniri "I will be risen" |
| Reflexive | -mẹ -me | muonme muonme "I rise myself" |
| Optative/Hortative | -is -is | muonis muonis "please rise" or "I wish to rise" |
A verb may take a non-pronoun subject by using the predicate marker en.
lea en timuon lea en timuon
"the sun will rise again"
It may also take an object by using the object marker o.
je o lega en sibici ye o lega en sibiki
"the beast leads the man"
Particles
There are three main particles in Sen: en en, the "predicate marker," introduces a verbal phrase, o o marks the direct object of a verb, and u u serves as a benefactive ("for (the sake of)") or causative marker ("because of").