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, but bears a mild similarity to Arangothek.
The verb for Being (to be, etc.) is Cai.
Present tense of the copula
| Pronoun | Conjugated form of "cai", "to be" | |
| I (1ps) | csi (self or action) | cui (state of being) |
| You (2ps) | cai | |
| He/She/It (3ps.m/f/n) | cath | |
| They (3pp) | cai |
Future tense of the copula
| Pronoun | Conjugated form of "cai", "to be" |
| I (1ps), You (2ps), He/She/It (3ps.m/f/n) | cami |
| They (3pp) | caemi |
Past tense of the copula
The original notes listed these as being equivalent to "____ has been done" or "has been done". I list it here as the past tense, as it's the only one we've got. -bornfor
| Pronoun | Conjugated form of "cai", "to be" |
| I (1ps), You (2ps), He/She/It (3ps.m/f/n) | corsi |
| They (3pp) | coresmai |
Verb Suffixes and notes on similarity to Arangothek
In addition 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.
| Affix | Meaning in English | Example usage |
| -ti | to give | Caiti, you give. |
| -tui | to take | Csitui, I take. |
| -gahi | to watch | |
| -msei | to act, to act on | |
| -vasi | to fight | Caemivasi, They will fight. |
| -mormi | to die | Coresmaimormi, They have died. |
Forming Infinitives in Assi
The infinitive is formed by attaching 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".
Writing the Assi language
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.
When Assi IS written, often times the prefix and suffix will be separated by a '. So one would write Cai'ti instead of Caiti.
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
| Pronoun | Assi base Pronoun | Assi Posessive form | Example usage | ||||
| I (1ps) | ain | amai | Amai dtai, My sword. | ||||
| We, (1pp) | ein | amil | Amil dtai | ||||
| You, (2ps) | dah | aei | Aei dtai, Your sword. | You, (2pp) | diani | aein | Aein dtai, Your(pl.) sword. |
| He/She/It (3ps.m/f/n) | dahn | andah | Andah dtai, His/Her/Its sword. | They (3pp) | miten | amoind | Amoind dtai, Their sword. |
Demonstratives in Assi
| Demonstrative | Assi demonstrative |
| This | moi |
| That | mai |
| These | mesi |
| Those | meai |
Numbers:
| English | Assi |
| One | nai |
| Two | dai |
| Three | setai |
| Four | cemi |
| Five | gahmi |
| Six | temi |
| Seven | dcri |
| Eight | con |
| Nine | laitum |
| Ten | tai |
Prepositions
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|Prepositon | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|Assi | align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|Example |- | to||te || |- | of, informal||doi|| |- | of,semi-formal ||doisi||(doisi'Cyasmai = Son/Daughter of Cyasmai) |- | of, formal||daei || (daei'Cyasmai = Of the blood of Cyasmai) |- | together with ||an|| |- | from ||ansai|| |- | apart from, excluded from, an exception to ||esai|| |- | by/at ||ten|| |- | over ||efah|| |- | under ||meiti|| |- | for, on behalf of ||de|| |- | through ||caite|| |- | across ||camaite|| |- | in ||n|| |- | upon ||nasi|| |- | without.||enai|| |- | |}
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).