Assi Language

Pronunciation

"C" is always hard. "G" is hard and never pronounced like "J".-If paired with an "A" or "E" the "G" is soft and guttural. "I"s are always short when they end a word. -An "I" preceded by a vowel always has a soft sound; "ai = ah, oi = oh, etc.". This also occurs if "I" and another vowel are paired together anywhere else in a word. However an "I" by itself in the middle of a word is almost always short. Other rules regarding apply normally to a solitary "I" -"S" can also be used so soften the sound of an "I" at the end of a word (Assi sounds like AS-sah). In this respect S behaves like a vowel when paired with "I". -An "I" preceded by two vowels in succession has a long sound (Seai sounds like (SEE-aye). Vowels repeated in proper nouns and names are always short (Uranadatai sounds like UR-ah-nah-dah-TH-ah). Vowels repeated in all other words are only short if the same vowel is repeated more than once or preceded by an "E" (In seai, for example, the E has the long sound and the A has the short sound). "T" has a TH sound when followed by a vowel (Torai sounds like TH-or-ah). "TH" is always soft and quick, sounding more like a straight "T" (Thorvasi sounds like T-or-VAH-sah) unless it is followed by a vowel. The first syllable in a word is always stressed. If the word has four or more syllables then the second to last syllable is also stressed if, and only if, the word ends with an "I". An "E" at the end of a word is always silent.

Verb Structure

Assi verb structure appears to be unique, with the possible exception of Arangothian. However, it is unclear if the two languages are related at all. The verb for Being (to be, etc.) is Cai and has nine basic forms. They are: csi = I am (to describe onself or one's actions).

cui = I am (to one's state of being).

cai = You are.

cath = It is, he/she is.

caei = They are.

cami = I will, you will, he/she/it will be/do.

caemi = They will be/do.

corsi = I have, you have, he/she/it has been/done.

coresmai = They have been/done.

In additon to the nine forms of Cai, different suffixes can be added. These suffixes are, in fact, the verbs themselves. It is a structure quite similar to the participle in Arangothian, however these verb suffixes becomes part of the word. Where in Arangothian the two parts of the verb remain separate.

-ti = To give.

-tui = To take.

-gahi = To watch.

-msei = To act, to act on.

-vasi = To fight.

-mormi = To die.

etc... For example:

Caiti = You give.

Csitui = I take.

Caemivasi = They will fight.

Coresmaimormi = They have died.

When written (It should be noted that Assi itself is not considered a written language. Most rules regarding the written use of Assi grammar have only came about in the last two to three hundred years. The traditional written language of the Assi consists of an archaic language consisting of pictographs and the like. Often times when Assi words are written they are spelled phonetically.) often times the prefix and suffix will be separate by a '. So it would be Cai'ti instead of Caiti. The infinitive is formed by attacking an A, E, or I to the suffix, depending on the word. For example: -ti would be Ati, -mormi would be Amormi, -gahi would be Agahi, etc. The general rule is this; a verb ending with an "I" adds an "A", a verb ending in any other vowel besides "I" or with an "S" gets an "E", and a verb ending in any other consonant gets an "I".

Other Suffixes

-ith = the

-si = Plural, often separated from the word by a '.

-gahi = Diminutive, not to be confused with the verb Agahi.

-ci/-cti = -ness/-hood, rarely used to form abstract nouns. Only used in archaic forms of address or in formal address, often separated from the word by a '.

-te/-ta = Respectful form of address, equivalent to Mr. or Mrs. Separated from the name by a '.

-ais = forms a noun from an adjective.

Pronouns

Normal Possessive

ain = I amai = mine (Amai dtai = My sword)

ein = we aimil = our (Amil dtai = Our sword)

dah = you aei = your (Aei dtai = Your sword)

diani = you (plural) aein = your(plural) (Aein dtai = Your(plural) sword)

dahn = he/she/it andah = his/hers/its (Andah dtai = His/Her sword)

moi = this

mai = that

miten = them amoind = their (Amoind dtai = Their sword)

mesi = these

meai = those

Numbers:

1 = nai,

2 = dai,

3 = setai,

4 = cemi,

5 = gahmi,

6 = temi,

7 = dcri,

8 = con,

9 = laitum,

10 = tai.

Prepositions

te = to;

doi = of, informal;

doisi = of,semi-formal (doisi'Cyasmai = Son/Daughter of Cyasmai);

daei = of, formal (daei'Cyasmai = Of the blood of Cyasmai);

an = together with;

ansai = from;

esai = apart from, excluded from, an exception to;

ten = by/at;

efah = over;

meiti = under;

de = for, on behalf of;

caite = through;

camaite = across;

n = in;

nasi = upon;

enai = without.

Assi-English Vocabulary

ati = give

atui = take

agahi = watch

amsei = to act, to act on

avasi = fight

amormi = die

aeitesi = run

agai = go

anei = stop

agahai = hunt

aith = wolf, usually in reference to the wolf-spirit

aite = tree

boishai = cow, boishai'si cattle

ceesai = a celebration, usually religious in nature

cesi = comb

Ceicoi = warrior of high rank, a lord but not tribal royalty

Caicon = male war leader, Chieftain

coite = man (coite'gahi = boy)

daite = dragon

daithsi = easy

daicei = dagger

dtai = sword

dteai = carpet

dgai = soup

degrai = music

Eluvrei = female war leader, Chieftess

eith = hawk, usually in refrence to the hawk-spirit

emeiste = come

egaite = walk

eingaite = enter

enegaite = exit

fainaihai = beer

falvsi = iron

gaegai = cloak

gaesi = nail, spike

gahmai = fire

haithsi = wood

hui = red

ineith = fly

imeirith = break, wound, or damage

ltesi = excellent

moinafte = price

nsicei = beautiful

oith = newt(usually in reference to the newt-spirit), salamander, frog, or lizard.

saihalt = clothing, usually made from wool

sainoi = bread

saith = horse, usually in refrence to the horse-spirit

uith = bird or reference to the sparrow or song-bird spirit

uimte = stone, earth, or soil

Common/Useful Phrases

Lteai bahnai te'dah - Good day to you.

Lteai bahnai te'te - Good day to you, sir.

Cacei cai doi? - Where are you from? (literally, "where are you of?").

Csi doi... - I am from... (used when describing one's nationality or place of birth).

Cui doi... - I am from... (used when describing places where one has just came from or where one has just been).

Saite aei sainte? - What it your name?

Amai sainte... - My name is...

Cacei cath... - Where is... ?

Ltesi te'aie gaith'si./Moinafte bahnai'si te'dah. - Goodbye (May your paths be excellent/Beautiful days to you).