Ithradic Dwarven Language

As do all dwarven civilizations, the Ithradic language reaches back millennia, perhaps to the Age of Dragons and Ice. Ithradic and the ancient dwarven language of the Amandal Plateau are mutually unintelligible, but Ithradic is related to the tongue of the dwarven city-states of the Jaggudorns, and distantly related to the dwarven tongue of Emegul-Thaudh. There is no evidence that it is related to the dwarven languages of the new world, including Jekhra-Toonguese. A dialect of Ithradic is spoken in Ruby Gates, Barathorn.

NOTE

The writing system is no longer Cuneiform. The writing system is indeed quite old and dwarves are among the first of the literate humanlikes, but their writing system is optimized for stone, not clay.

Writing System

Ithradic Cuneiform value for the number 11515, the years since the founding of the city Tauhad which corresponds with the year 2571 AS

The Ithradic langauge is written in Dwarven Cuneiform, suitable for carving in stone or pressing into wet clay.

rua'ahadan

Phonology

p, b, w, m

t, s, t', d, z, d', l, r, n

j sh, zh, dzh, tsh

k, g, kh, ng

q, h

’

a, e, i, o, u, au, ai, ei

consonant blends: few, if any consonant blends. (nasal combos are dialectal: nd, mb, nt, nk, etc.)

ID words usually begin with a vowel and end with a consonant.

Syntax

Noun

In Ithradic, nouns inflect to show number (singular or plural) and definiteness (definite or indefinite). Similar to human language, Ithradic distinguishes between reverential and profane words (See ach-phris differentiation).

Reverential and Profane forms

Ithradic dwarven shows deference to natural forces with contrasting reverential and profane forms for many nouns and verbs. Traditionally, these are called ‘holy’ and ‘unholy’ forms, though the term ‘unholy’ is a bit of a misnomer as such forms are commonly used without any irreverent stigma.

singular is suffixal doubling of consonant—Singular is the marked form. plural lacks doubling—plural is the unmarked form. (except nouns ending in ‘i’ and ‘u’)

a+ sometimes denotes difference between noun & adjective, or definite and indefinite.

NOUN INFLECTIONS: u-infictive, a-prefictive, u-ending

u-infictive

tauhúdid, lode

	Definite Singular	Definite Plural	Indefinite Singular	Indefinite Plural	Adjectival
Ithradic	tauhúdid	tauhád	tahúdid	tahád	tauhud
English	the lode	the lodes	a lode	lodes, some lodes	pertaining to the lode

shirt of mail mukúbib: the mail, the shirt of mail mukáb: the shirts of mail mikúbib: a shirt of mail mikáb: shirts of mail, some shirts of mail mukúb:

fire da’aúna the fire da’úna the fires da’áun a fire da’ún fires, some fires dá’an: fiery, pertaining to fire

forge sa’aúta: the forge sa’úta: the forges sa’áut: a forge sa’út: forges, some forges sá’at: pertaining to forges, smithing

mountain (from exterior) profane form u’akik: the mountain ú’ak: the mountains ú’kik: a mountain u’ík: mountains, some mountains ú’aki: pertaining to mountains, montane

mountain (from interior) reverential form adánan: the mountain adáin: the mountains adénan: a mountain dena: mountains, some mountains déni: pertaining to mountains, montane

a-infictive

spiced mushroom beer anámim: the spiced mushroom beer anáim: the spiced mushroom beers ánmim: a spiced mushroom beer ánim: spiced mushroom beer, some spiced mushroom beer námi: pertaining to spiced mushroom beer

a-definite dragon adimákik: the dragon adímek: the dragons dimákik: a dragon dímek: dragons dímak dragonly, draconian

goblet aqadálil: the goblet aqádil: the goblets qadálil: a goblet qádil: goblets, some goblets qádil: pertaining to goblets, like a goblet

u-ending

father deku: the father duk: the fathers diku: a father dik: fathers, some fathers dekdek: paternal, fatherly

invasions dzhehiu: the invasion dzhuh: the invasions dzhihu: an invasion dzhih: invasions, some invasions dzhehdzheh: pertaining to invasions

Compound deku-sá’at

Verb

The verb does not show person, number, or gender of subject. It does have indirect object suffixes (pronouns). -i / -u simple -iku / -uku completive -isak / -usek potential (compare subjunctive, imperative)

simple, completive, potential unstated, successful, unsuccessful,

Successful vs unsuccessful outcome

to carve: dzhapah (dzhapi, dzapahu; dzhapahiku, dzhapahuku; dzhapahisak, dzhapahusek) to breathe: antshang

Pronouns

In Ithradic, pronouns do not have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, person in most circumstances as they do in typical human languages. Instead, they differ by classifiers and by demonstrative refference. In effect, one says 'this big one,' 'those stout ones,' 'these red-clothed ones' and so forth. The classifiers have the weight of pronouns.

Personal Status

Personal pronouns show deference to the observed social status of the referent. Status in this regard is evaluated on the basis on dwarf vs. non-dwarf; kin vs. non-kin; and dwarven ruler vs. subordinate.

Prepositional and Verbal Personal Pronoun Objects PERSONAL Proximity (Social) to speaker, Dwarven Status Proximity: a) Patriarch/Soulmate, b) Kin, c) same tribe/clan (later same gov’t), d) foreign dwarf, e) non-dwarf Dwarven Status in relation to referent: a) much higher than referent, b) higher than referent, c) equal to referent, d) lower than referent, e) much lower than referent

Patriarchal Kin Tribal Foreign Non-Dwarf

++ + = - --

Impersonal Proximity (physical or familiarity) to speaker, material worth

Adjectives

The adjective does not agree with the noun. It follows the noun.

Prepositions

The preposition is placed after the noun, and after the verb in compounds. The Preposition is suffixed to the noun and to the adjective, if present.

ukka: of, pertaining to adímek “the dragons” + ukka “of, pertaining to” adimekukka “of the dragons” [but usually expressed more often than not by the adjectival, dimek]

(u)pet, upe: to, towards, ‘motion towards’ adimekupet: to the dragons

Dialects

Dagdorian

-akik, -ashish --> -áik, -áish

Tauhadic

-akik, -ashish --> -áki, -áshi

Lexicon

Main article: Ithradic Dwarven Language:Lexicon

Da’un Kebar: volcanic mountain deku: father Dzhehiu Dimak: Dragon Invasions (period of time from ca 4250 to ca 3950 BA in Pytharnia)

beard smithy father king rich royal master mastersmith tunnel natural tunnel carven tunnel earth water spring god (dwarven god) god (Isxinthion god) outsider (from other plane) tutelary spirit (similar to nature spirit) bellows metal gold (various terms, depending upon the purity) silver gemstone alloy copper bronze brass tin hammer, tool lever, lit: wedge-hammer to cut (a gemstone) sword dig to craft war son daughter dwarf (male) dwarf (female) law mighty honor valiant strong steadfast obedient true

See Also

• Dwarven Languages
• Dwarves
• Ithradic Dwarven Language:Lexicon
• Ithrad Mountains
• List of Ithradic Dwarven Personal Names