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Joins
When English would pack several things that play the same role into one slot (a dog and a cat, walks and runs), Agazan writes those items in a row and then one join word after them. That last word is how you know the list has ended. We call that pattern a right-close fence: items, then the join. The join starts with the same role letter as the items (z for subjects, v for verbs, x for whole clauses).
Sometimes you only care that the items belong together, with no ranking among them (and, or, not). We call that a set. Sometimes you care which item comes first (X first, A before B). We call that a rank.
The join’s vowel is the vowel series you just mapped: the first letter matches the items’ role; a adds, o picks one, e orders, u undoes.
On this page
Beginner
And-lists (a)
When English would say and, write every item, then the join. Use vowel a on that join: you are adding the items as a group. (cue: a ≈ add.)
The join’s first letter matches the items: zam after two /z/ nouns, vam after two /v/ verbs.
Ending -l is ordinary English with no extra words: these are the only items. Ending -m means other members may exist: add (and possibly more). When unsure, prefer -m.
zodogal zagadul zal.[z-dog | z-cat | z-and]
"a dog and a cat."
zodogal zagadul zam.[z-dog | z-cat | z-and.open]
"a dog and a cat (and possibly more)."
zazawan zalahen zam.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and.open]
"Azawan and Alahen (and possibly more)."
vowogal varahal vam.[v-walk | v-run | v-and.open]
"walks and runs (and possibly more)."
Right-close fence
Write the items first, then the join. Readers treat everything up to that join as one role in the clause, filled by several members. One join finishes the row.
Two full clauses are the one exception: the join that starts with x goes between them, so you hear how the clauses relate before the second one starts. See clause joins.
Objects and extra nouns list the same way. Two /d/ objects close with dal; two /b/ recipients close with bal.
zazawan dodogal dagadul dal vahahal.z-Azawan | [d-dog | d-cat | d-and] | v-see
"Azawan sees a dog and a cat."
zazawan balahen bahaben bal vezebel.z-Azawan | [b-Alahen | b-Ahaben | b-and] | v-tell
"Azawan tells Alahen and Ahaben."
Choice (o)
When English would offer a menu and ask to pick one, or leave the pick (optional), use vowel o. Closed -l (zol) means pick one of the listed items. Open -m (zom) means the pick is optional. (cue: o ≈ one.)
zedehel zagavel zol.[z-tea | z-coffee | z-or-exactly-one]
"tea or coffee (pick one)."
zagavel zom.[z-coffee | z-or.open]
"coffee (optional)."
How many items
The join still comes last when there is only one item, or none. How many items sit before it is the arity:
| Arity | Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| List (2+) | A B zam | close a multi-item set | ordinary and / or |
| Single-item (1) | A zal | that one item is the whole story | just X |
| Standalone (0) | zam | the join alone | nothing, as far as I know |
zazawan zal.[z-Azawan | z-and]
"just Azawan."
Single-item -l also covers English just in the sense merely: the one item is all there is, with nothing more to it.
zazawan dagadul dal vahahal.z-Azawan | [d-cat | d-and] | v-see
"Azawan sees just a cat." — only a cat, nothing more
A standalone join fills its slot with no items. In the object slot, dal is nothing; in the extra-noun slot, bal is nobody.
zazawan dal vahahal.z-Azawan | d-none | v-see
"Azawan sees nothing."
zazawan bal vezebel.z-Azawan | b-none | v-tell
"Azawan tells nobody."
Negation (u)
When English would deny the listed items, use vowel u. One item before zul is not X. Two items before zul is neither A nor B; more items is none of these. The join alone (zul / zum) is no. (cue: u ≈ undo.)
gamadam gul.[g-challenge | g-not]
"not challenging."
zazawan zul.[z-Azawan | z-not]
"not Azawan."
zedehel zagavel zul.[z-tea | z-coffee | z-not]
"neither tea nor coffee."
Everything (ua)
When English would say everything / everyone, stack u then a on a standalone join (zual). One item before that join is everything but that item. Write the stacked vowels as one word (zual); say first vowel, then next, then the ending. (cue: u ≈ undo, then a ≈ add.)
zual.z-everything-but
"everything" / "everyone."
Rank (e)
The and / or / not joins above are set joins: the items share a slot as a group, and writing one before the other does not rank them. A rank join is the other English job: you care which item comes first (priority, favorite, A before B).
Write the items in that order, then a join with vowel e. The earlier item outranks the later. One item before zel means only X matters; before zem, X first / mainly X. (cue: e ≈ order.)
zazawan zel.[z-Azawan | z-rank/more]
"only Azawan matters."
Unspecified member (-r)
You can name a list without saying which member you mean (someone / something in it). Put ending -r on the join for that unspecified member. Use -r on single-vowel a / o / e / u only.
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
zar / var / xar | unspecified member of an add-set | something / do something / something happened | a ≈ add |
zor / vor / xor | unspecified member of a menu | anything / do anything | o ≈ one |
zer / ver / xer | unspecified member of a ranking | whatever ranks highest | e ≈ order |
zur / vur / xur | unspecified leftover | something else / someone else | u ≈ undo |
zar.z-something
"something" / "someone."
zobel zar.[z-person | z-something]
"some (unknown) person."
zedehel zagavel zar.[z-tea | z-coffee | z-something]
"something among tea and coffee."
Write A and B, then zar: the join still ends both items, and -r means some member of that pair (you are not saying which).
Compare with: on a content word, -r resumes the last match. On a join, -r is an unspecified member. Standalone -rl / -rm (darl, barl) is a stand-in for the next sentence, not a join and not something.
Vowels and endings (recap)
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
| a | inventory join | and | a ≈ add |
| o | exclusive choice | exclusive or | o ≈ one |
| u | deny the listed | not / neither / none of / standalone no | u ≈ undo |
| ua | universal; one listed item is the leftover | standalone everything; one item everything but | u ≈ undo, then a ≈ add |
| e | rank among items | A before B; one item only X matters | e ≈ order |
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
| -l | the listed items are the only ones in play | (no extra words) | l ≈ locked list |
| -m | other items may exist | (and possibly more); empty: as far as I know | m ≈ maybe more |
| -r | unspecified member of the join | someone / something in the list | r ≈ member you have not named |
The same vowels and endings work under /d/ /b/ (dal, dam, …), /v/ (val, vam, …), /ɡ/ (gal, gul, …), and /x/ (xal, xam, …). Match the join’s first letter to the items.
Beginner forms
Two or more items still take the same vowel and ending as the lists above. The table below is the readings when the join stands alone, or when only one item sits before it.
| Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
zal / zam | standalone | nothing / nobody · nothing, as far as I know |
zol / zom | standalone | no options · no pick, as far as I know |
zul / zum | standalone | no · no, as far as I know |
zual / zuam | standalone | everything / everyone · everything, as far as I know |
zal + NP | single-item | just X / only X |
zam + NP | single-item | X, for one / X (and possibly more) |
zol + NP | single-item | the only option is X |
zom + NP | single-item | X (optional) |
zul / zum + NP | single-item | not X · not X (and possibly more) |
zual + NP | single-item | everything but X |
zel / zem | standalone | no favorite · no favorite, as far as I know |
zel + NP | single-item | only X matters |
zem + NP | single-item | X first / mainly X |
Clause joins (/x/)
A clause is long, so a join that waits until the end would leave you holding two whole sentences before you learn how they relate. A clause join that starts with x therefore goes between the clauses: first clause, join, second clause. Every other join still closes its list on the right.
zazawan vowogal xam zalahen varahal.[z-Azawan | v-walk | x-and.open | z-Alahen | v-run]
"Azawan walks and Alahen runs (and possibly more)."
zazawan vowogal xol zalahen varahal xol zahaben vezebal.[z-Azawan | v-walk | x-or-exactly-one | z-Alahen | v-run | x-or-exactly-one | z-Ahaben | v-sleep]
"Azawan walks, or Alahen runs, or Ahaben sleeps: exactly one of the three."
Repeat the same join word and the list stays flat. Switch to a different join word and everything before it closes as one group: A xol B xal C is (A or B) and C (clause forms). The set joins a / o / u do not care about order, so you can put the group you want first. For a group on the right, end the sentence and start the next one with the join: the join then takes the whole next sentence. After a stand-in such as dorl or barl, every clause joined in the same sentence belongs to the dependent (stand-ins), so a clause for the main sentence also starts a new sentence.
zazawan vowogal. xan zalahen varahal xol zahaben vezebal.z-Azawan | v-walk . x-and-then | [z-Alahen | v-run | x-or-exactly-one | z-Ahaben | v-sleep]
"Azawan walks. Then Alahen runs or Ahaben sleeps."
A clause join never sits on one clause alone. To deny or single out one clause, put the join on the part you mean: vowogal vul does not walk, zazawan zal only Azawan.
A join word with no clause before it stands for a clause of its own: xal. nothing happened, xar something happened, xur something else happened, xual everything happened. You can use that stand-in as one item of a clause list:
| Agazan | English |
|---|---|
zazawan vowogal xam xar. | Azawan walks, for one (and something else happened too) |
zazawan vowogal xol xal. | Azawan may walk (Azawan walks, or nothing happens) |
zazawan vowogal xel xur. | mainly, Azawan walks (that outranks anything else) |
For everything happened except that A, put the except hook after the stand-in xual.
Compare with: a sentence linker (therefore, however) also starts the next sentence, but it is a content word with its own meaning (continue).
Translation practice
Short drills for Beginner. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a market stall
Roots used here:
| English | Agazan | Same root as |
|---|---|---|
| Azawan | azawan | |
| Alahen | alahen | |
| Ahaben | ahaben | |
| bread | ebevul | |
| tomato | adedol | |
| mango | amegol | |
| melon | emehol | |
| grape | egebal | |
| basket | abezal | |
| cart | agegal | |
| see | vahahal | ahahal eye |
| punch | vabahel | abahel punch |
| scream | vezugel | ezugel scream |
| lie | valahal | alahal lie |
English → Agazan
1. bread and a tomato (and possibly more)
Show answer
zebevul zadedol zam.
[z-bread | z-tomato | z-and.open]
2. a mango or a melon (pick one)
Show answer
zamegol zemehol zol.
[z-mango | z-melon | z-or-exactly-one]
3. just Ahaben
Show answer
zahaben zal.
[z-Ahaben | z-and]
4. a grape (optional)
Show answer
zegebal zom.
[z-grape | z-or.open]
5. not the cart
Show answer
zagegal zul.
[z-cart | z-not]
6. something among bread and a tomato
Show answer
zebevul zadedol zar.
[z-bread | z-tomato | z-something]
7. only Azawan matters / Azawan first
Show answer
zazawan zel.
[z-Azawan | z-rank/more]
8. Alahen punches and Azawan sees Ahaben (and possibly more).
Show answer
zalahen vabahel xam zazawan dahaben vahahal.
[z-Alahen | v-punch | x-and.open | z-Azawan | d-Ahaben | v-see]
Agazan → English
1. zagegal zam.
Show answer
[z-cart | z-and.open]
a cart, for one / a cart (and possibly more)
2. zual.
Show answer
z-everything-but
everything / everyone
3. zabezal zar.
Show answer
[z-basket | z-something]
some (unknown) basket
4. zamegol zemehol zul.
Show answer
[z-mango | z-melon | z-not]
neither a mango nor a melon
5. zahaben zam.
Show answer
[z-Ahaben | z-and.open]
Ahaben, for one / Ahaben (and possibly more)
6. zahaben zel.
Show answer
[z-Ahaben | z-rank/more]
only Ahaben matters / Ahaben first
7. zalahen dabezal vabahel xam zazawan vezugel.
Show answer
[z-Alahen | d-basket | v-punch | x-and.open | z-Azawan | v-scream]
Alahen punches a basket and Azawan screams (and possibly more).
8. zalahen vezugel xam zazawan valahal.
Show answer
[z-Alahen | v-scream | x-and.open | z-Azawan | v-lie]
Alahen screams and Azawan lies (and possibly more).
Intermediate
Rank joins
When English would say two people are as ADJ as each other, write a rank join and put the adjective immediately after it so it grades the whole list.
ae is a tie: several names, then zael (or zaem), then the adjective. The order of the names does not matter in a tie.
zazawan zalahen zael gamadam.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-equal-rank | g-challenge]
"Azawan is as challenging as Alahen."
Compare with: more / most and least use e / ue plus the same shared adjective — comparatives.
Invert (ua / uo / ue)
Beginner already used everything but (ua). Leading u on o and e completes that invert map.
| Agazan | Use | English | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|
| ua | invert add | everything but the listed | u ≈ undo + a ≈ add |
| uo | invert menu | anything but the listed (free choice outside) | u ≈ undo + o ≈ one |
| ue | invert rank | A after B after C (last first) | u ≈ undo + e ≈ order |
Kind / domain for ua / uo is context or SHARED /ɡ/ — universals, domains, and generics. Optional is only …om. -r still attaches only to single-vowel a / o / e / u.
zedehel zagavel zual.[z-tea | z-coffee | z-everything-but]
"everything but tea and coffee."
zazawan zalahen zahaben zuel.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-Ahaben | z-rank/less]
"Ahaben, then Alahen, then Azawan." (last first)
Compare with: plain u is not / none of the listed, not an invert stack. Every cat uses SHARED kind after zual: zual gagadul.
Sequence (oe)
Rank e puts the first item at the top (A matters more than B). When English would instead say A, then B (an itinerary, a turn order, from 3 to 5), the first item is the start, not the winner. Write the items in that order and close with oe.
zazawan zalahen zahaben zoel.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-Ahaben | z-in-order]
"Azawan, then Alahen, then Ahaben."
| Arity | Closed -l | Open -m |
|---|---|---|
| Multi (2+) | A B zoel A, then B | A B zoem roughly A, then B |
| Single-item | X zoel start with X / from X on | X zoem maybe start with X |
| Standalone | zoel in no particular order / any order | zoem not sure where to start |
A sequence does not say which item is better. With a SHARED quality it sorts the list from low to high. Two numbers in a sequence are two values in order (zrarel zraval zoel = 3, then 5); a band from 3 to 5 is a range (zrarel al zraval). (cue: o ≈ one + e ≈ order — one after another)
Compare with: clause and then between sentences is sequence xan. zoel orders nouns inside one slot.
Respectively (wazem)
Two and-lists in one clause do not say who goes with what. zazawan zalahen zal vahahal dagadul dodogal dal. could mean each of them saw both animals. When English says respectively (the first item goes with the first, the second with the second), put wazem right before the join word of the second list.
zazawan zalahen zal vahahal dagadul dodogal wazem dal.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | v-see | [d-cat | d-dog | w-respectively | d-and]
"Azawan and Alahen saw a cat and a dog, respectively."
Azawan saw the cat, and Alahen saw the dog. The lists pair up by position, so they must have the same number of items:
zazawan zalahen zahaben zal vahahal dagadul dodogal debedul wazem dal.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-Ahaben | z-and] | v-see | [d-cat | d-dog | d-bird | w-respectively | d-and]
"Azawan, Alahen, and Ahaben saw a cat, a dog, and a bird, respectively."
| Rule | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Where | right before the a join word (-l or -m) of the later list |
| Partner | another a list in the same clause with the same number of items |
| Only there | wazem goes nowhere else, and no other /w/ word goes before a join word |
The lists can be of different roles. A list of adjectives or verbs pairs with the subject list the same way: put wazem before the join word that closes it.
zazawan zalahen zal gelavam gamazam wazem gal.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | [g-big | g-small | w-respectively | g-and]
"Azawan and Alahen are big and small, respectively."
zazawan zalahen zal vowogal varahal wazem val.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | [v-walk | v-run | w-respectively | v-and]
"Azawan and Alahen walk and run, respectively."
Azawan is big and Alahen is small; Azawan walks and Alahen runs. An adjective right after a noun join, with no wazem later in its row, is still SHARED over every noun. The wazem that closes the row is what tells the lists apart: a row of adjectives closed by wazem and gal is a list of its own, so its first adjective is not the shared one.
Without wazem, who got which is left open. (cue: 🧦 socks: sort them into matched pairs)
Full single-item and standalone inventories
Beginner already used single-item just X and standalone nothing / everything. The tables below are the rest of those phrase-level readings. The series also works under /v/: Join across roles. Clause /x/ joins have standalone and stand-in readings but no single-item one (clause joins).
Rank — single-item
| Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
…el (zel / …) | closed rank of one | only X matters / X, period; + SHARED scale → superlative — comparatives |
…em (zem / …) | open rank of one | X first / mainly X; + SHARED scale → open superlative |
…ael (zael / …) | closed tie of one | X tied for / equal priority to X |
…aem (zaem / …) | open tie of one | X about tied for / soft equal priority |
…aen (zaen / …) | stock tie of one | X tied for (stock / conventional draw label) |
…oem (zoem / …) | open sequence start | maybe start with X |
…oel (zoel / …) | closed sequence start | start with X / from X on |
…uel (zuel / …) | closed last place | X last; + SHARED scale → least |
…uem (zuem / …) | open last place | mainly leave X for last |
…en (zen / …) | stock first | X first (stock) / X, as usual |
…er (zer / …) | unspecified ranked member | preferably some X / X as a priority |
Rank — standalone
Standalone e says nothing is on top (no favorite; with a SHARED scale, there is no biggest). Standalone ue says nothing is at the bottom (no least, no veto). Neither says why: a tie is ae, and whichever is on top is zer. Closed -l is a fact about the set; open -m is a shrug.
| Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
…el (zel / …) | closed empty rank | no favorite / nobody's first; + SHARED scale → there is no biggest |
…em (zem / …) | open empty rank | no favorite, as far as I know; + SHARED scale → no biggest comes to mind |
…ael (zael / …) | closed empty tie | it's a draw / tie |
…aem (zaem / …) | open empty tie | probably a tie / looks even |
…aen (zaen / …) | stock empty tie | it's a draw (stock) |
…oem (zoem / …) | open empty sequence | not sure where to start |
…oel (zoel / …) | closed empty sequence | in no particular order / any order |
…uel (zuel / …) | closed empty last | no least-favorite / nobody's last; + SHARED scale → there is no smallest |
…uem (zuem / …) | open empty last | no objection (not naming a veto) |
…en (zen / …) | stock empty rank | no favorite (stock) |
…er (zer / …) | unspecified empty rank | whatever's most important |
Set — single-item
| Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
…al (zal / …) | closed add of one | just X / only X |
…am (zam / …) | open add of one | X, for one / X (and possibly more) |
…ol (zol / …) | closed menu of one | the only option is X |
…om (zom / …) | open menu of one | X (optional) |
…ual (zual / …) | closed invert-add of one | everything but X |
…uam (zuam / …) | open invert-add of one | everything but X (and possibly more) |
…uol (zuol / …) | closed invert-menu of one | anything but X |
…uom (zuom / …) | open invert-menu of one | anything but X (and possibly more) |
…aol (zaol / …) | closed inclusive of one | X is enough / X'll do |
…aom (zaom / …) | open inclusive of one | at least X / X would work |
…ar (zar / …) | unspecified add | some (unknown) X |
…or (zor / …) | unspecified menu | any X |
…ul (zul / …) | closed deny of one | not X |
…um (zum / …) | open deny of one | not X (and possibly more) |
…un (zun / …) | stock denial of one | not X (stock / conventional) |
…ur (zur / …) | unspecified leftover | something other than X |
…un is the stock denial: a conventional not X (a set phrase). Ordinary denials use …ul / …um.
Set — standalone
| Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
…al (zal / …) | closed empty add | nothing / nobody |
…am (zam / …) | open empty add | nothing, as far as I know |
…an (zan / …) | named empty add | null / void (with items, -n instead names the bundle — named phrase) |
…ol (zol / …) | closed empty menu | no options / we're stuck |
…om (zom / …) | open empty menu | no pick, as far as I know |
…ual (zual / …) | closed empty invert-add | everything / everyone |
…uam (zuam / …) | open empty invert-add | everything, as far as I know |
…uan (zuan / …) | stock empty invert-add | everyone / everything (stock); + SHARED kind → the kind itself |
…uol (zuol / …) | closed empty invert-menu | anything (goes) |
…uom (zuom / …) | open empty invert-menu | anything offered |
…aol (zaol / …) | closed empty inclusive | all set / nothing more needed |
…aom (zaom / …) | open empty inclusive | nothing needed, as far as I know |
…ul (zul / …) | closed empty deny | no |
…um (zum / …) | open empty deny | no, as far as I know |
…un (zun / …) | stock empty deny | No (stock) |
…ar (zar / …) | unspecified empty add | something / someone |
…or (zor / …) | unspecified empty menu | anything / anyone |
…ur (zur / …) | unspecified empty leftover | something else / someone else |
Yes/no, offer, emptiness, and fill-ask on a lone join: questions. The same series on /v/ and /x/, including its -n forms, is in join-series forms.
Exclusivity, negation, and distribution
When English would allow several listed items at once (and/or), stack a then o (ao). o alone is still at most one: closed -l is pick one; open -m is (optional). On ao, even -m still needs at least one of the listed items.
When English would deny a whole join, not applies to each item and the join vowel stays the same. Not (walk and run) is still an and of two denials; not (walk or run) is still an or of two denials.
vowogal varahal val vul.[[v-walk | v-run | v-and] | v-not]
"not (walk and run): not walk, and not run."
vowogal varahal vol vul.[[v-walk | v-run | v-or-exactly-one] | v-not]
"not (walk or run): not walk, or not run."
Universals, domains, and generics
When English would say every cat rather than everything but the cat, write ua and put the kind as a shared adjective after the join (zual gagadul). Any nouns listed before that join are leftovers excluded from that kind. The same ua join covers both every K and everything but X.
| Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
standalone zual | empty invert-add | everything / everyone |
zual + SHARED /ɡ/ | closed every-kind | every K (zual gagadul = every cat) |
zuam + SHARED /ɡ/ | open every-kind | every K, as far as I know; English often says K in general |
zuan + SHARED /ɡ/ | the kind itself | the K as a species |
single-item zual X (no SHARED) | leftover only | everything but X |
zual gagadul.[z-everything | g-cat]
"every cat."
The kind word after ua / uo takes no -x: every cat already covers every member.
With a plain verb, every cat acts one by one: zual gagadul vehahel. is each cat sits. For all of them acting together, put collective -x on the verb (vehahelx).
To limit every cat to one place or group (all the cats at the house), add an extra-noun hook for the place right after the kind. With no hook, the cats are the ones the situation is about.
zual gagadul ol bahazal vehahel.[z-everything | g-cat] | [at | b-house] | v-sit
"Every cat at the house sits."
No cat is the same shape with u: zul plus the kind.
zul gagadul vehahel.[z-no | g-cat] | v-sit
"No cat sits."
The same shape with no verb says there is none of that kind (there is no …), like a lone noun saying a thing exists. Keep the order: zodogal zul. puts the dog before the join and means not a dog.
zul godogal.[z-no | g-dog]
"There is no dog."
With zual / zuam, a further /ɡ/ after the kind is a property of every member: every K is ADJ. The listener can already pick out every fire, so the clause does not say there is ….
zual gavahel gahadul.[z-everything | g-fire] | g-hot
"Every fire is hot."
Open zuam makes the same claim but leaves the list of exceptions open, the way -m leaves any list open: every cat, as far as I know. You do not say whether you know of exceptions; you only do not rule them out. English says this as the everyday general claim (cats are sleepy, cats in general). A resumed noun is one cat already in the talk.
zuam gagadul gezebul.[z-everything.open | g-cat] | g-sleepy
"Cats are sleepy."
zagadul vowogal. zagadur gezebul.z-cat | v-walk . z-←cat | g-sleepy
"A cat walks. The cat is sleepy."
In the sentence after a barl on a general claim, a resume of the kind means the same member, one at a time: zual gagadul vezebal thoyem barl zagadur gezebul. is every cat sleeps if it is sleepy, each cat with its own sleepiness.
With zul the two readings say the same thing: zul godogal gabagol. is both no dog is black and there is no black dog.
SAME with no /b/, on a shared thing after a joined subject, compares each member with the others: the same one for all of them.
zazawan zalahen zal dubugal gugol varadal.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | [d-book | g-SAME] | v-write
"Azawan and Alahen write the same book."
For English whoever / whatever, the kind is a role compound: every walker is whoever walks. Use the agent compound (a) for whoever, and the undergoer compound (u) for whatever.
zual gaxowogal vezehel.[z-everything | g-agent-x-walk] | v-sing
"Whoever walks sings."
Use closed zual plus kind when the claim allows no exceptions, and open zuam plus kind when you leave the exceptions open. To say how you know a general claim (by definition, going by the pattern, per the rules), add a channel. Free-choice any cat will do uses zor.
For always, use: bare habitual hual — restrictors.
Not the same job as: plural -x (plurality) names an anchor and associates, not every K.
The kind itself (zuan)
English the dodo is extinct and someone invented the megaphone are not about any one dodo or megaphone, or about every one. They are about the kind: the one thing that lasts while its members come and go. Write zuan and put the kind as a shared adjective after it (zuan gododul). The -n names the kind the way it names a person: one individual, not a set of members.
zuan gododul gododum.[z-the-kind | g-dodo] | g-obsolescence
"The dodo is extinct."
zar duan gemegol vobogam.z-something | [d-the-kind | g-megaphone] | v-innovation
"Someone invented the megaphone."
The kind is one individual, so its verb and adjectives stay singular, and the kind word takes no -x. The kind is a known thing, so a further /ɡ/ is a property claim, not there is ….
To choose, ask whether one member could have the property. If none could, the claim is about the kind: no single wolf is rare, extinct, or invented. Wolves are sleepy is about the members, since one wolf can be sleepy, so it takes zual or zuam.
zuan guwuval guyugom.[z-the-kind | g-wolf] | g-rarity
"The wolf is rare."
| Agazan | Covers | English |
|---|---|---|
zual gagadul | each cat in this situation, no exceptions | every cat |
zuam gagadul | the members, as a rule | cats in general |
zuan gagadul | the kind itself, one individual | the cat (as a species) |
zual gagadul + /v/…-x | all the members in one shared act | all the cats together |
A cause or condition on a zuan clause is about the kind, not each member: why the kind is the way it is.
People in general (oben)
English one, generic you, and people sit between the closed and open every-kind joins and the pronouns. The generic pronoun oben is the pronoun-sized form of the open every-kind zuam gobel: a default that tolerates exceptions, not a universal.
| Form | Picks | English |
|---|---|---|
ehodon | the person actually listening | you |
unan | one unidentified individual who exists | someone |
oben | nobody in particular; true of people as a rule, with exceptions | one, generic you |
zuam gobel | people in general, as far as I know | people in general |
zual gobel | every person, no exceptions | everyone |
zuan gobel | humankind as a kind | people (the species) |
For everyone, no exceptions, use zual gobel. As a topic, xoben (now, about people in general) makes the topic pronoun mean one.
SHARED after the join
When an adjective or extra noun is meant for the whole list (both challenging, Azawan's dog and cat), write it immediately after the join. That material describes every member together. A modifier that belongs to one item only stays on that item (after its head, or gl- before it).
zodogal zagadul zal gamadam.[z-dog | z-cat | z-and | g-challenge]
"(challenging dog) and (challenging cat)."
A hook belongs to one item the same way. Put the hook and its /b/ right after that item, before the join word: em plus a resume gives Azawan and his dog.
zazawan zodogal em bazawar zal vowogal.[z-Azawan | [z-dog | [used-by | b-←Azawan]] | z-and] | v-walk
"Azawan and his dog walk."
Only the item just before the join word takes a hook this way. A hook anywhere else in the clause stays an extra noun of the clause.
zodogal zagadul zam gegabem bazawan.[z-dog | z-cat | z-and.open | [g-ownership | b-Azawan]]
"Azawan's dog and cat (and possibly more)."
A plain /ɡ/ after that SHARED pair describes its /b/, as in complex chaining.
zodogal zagadul zam gegabem bazawan gubuhel.[z-dog | z-cat | z-and.open | [g-ownership | [b-Azawan | g-blue]]]
"Blue Azawan's dog and cat (and possibly more)."
Compare with: part of / contents of / made of / origin from use of relations, not egabe. A sakes need on /ɡ/ already means the speaker’s belonging (gulothal my … serves competence).
| Join family | Use of SHARED /ɡ/ |
|---|---|
| a | distributive property (both ADJ) or bundle description |
a + /ɡ/…-x | collective (ADJ together) |
| ae + SHARED scale | equative (/ɡ/ or /h/) |
| e / ue on NP | comparison scale (/ɡ/ or /h/) |
| oe on NP | sorted low to high (/ɡ/ or /h/) |
| ua / uo | kind / domain for universals |
Further matching-role heads belong before the join.
SHARED material has to be able to describe what the join lists. After a noun join, a /ɡ/ describes every noun, and an /h/ is only a scale after rank e / ue, equative ae, or sequence oe. After a verb join, only an /h/ is SHARED. Nothing describes a list of adjectives, so after a /ɡ/ join the next /ɡ/ is simply the next item. Any other /h/ after a join is an ordinary adverb on the verb:
zazawan zalahen zal hahegem vowogal.[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | h-intensity | v-walk
"Azawan and Alahen walk intensely."
Fence nesting
When one list sits inside another ((tea or coffee) and water), write the inner items, then their join, then the outer item, then the outer join. Each join sits after only the stretch it closes. You nest by stacking right-close joins; a flat list still uses one join after every member. Clause joins group by position instead (clause joins).
| Pattern | Agazan | English |
|---|---|---|
| flat | zedehel zagavel zowodel zol | tea or coffee or water |
| nested | zedehel zagavel zol zowodel zal | (tea or coffee) and water |
| nested adjectives | geredal gamazam gul gelavam gal | (neither red nor small) and big |
Translation practice
Short drills for Intermediate. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a wedding
Roots used here:
| English | Agazan | Same root as |
|---|---|---|
| Azawan | azawan | |
| Alahen | alahen | |
| Ahaben | ahaben | |
| wine | awahel | |
| flower | avavul | |
| ring | erehal | |
| veil | evewal | |
| tuxedo | adozel | |
| sleepy | ezebul | |
| see | vahahal | ahahal eye |
| kiss | vegezal | egezal kiss |
| punch | vabahel | abahel punch |
| respectively | wazem | azel socks |
| big | elavam | |
| small | amazam | |
| walk | vowogal | |
| run | varahal |
English → Agazan
1. everything but wine and a flower
Show answer
zawahel zavavul zual.
[z-wine | z-flower | z-everything-but]
2. every ring
Show answer
zual gerehal.
[z-everything | g-ring]
3. (sleepy Azawan) and (sleepy Alahen)
Show answer
zazawan zalahen zal gezebul.
[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and | g-sleepy]
4. (wine or a flower) and a ring
Show answer
zawahel zavavul zol zerehal zal.
[[z-wine | z-flower | z-or-exactly-one] | z-ring | z-and]
5. Azawan and Alahen see Ahaben.
Show answer
zazawan zalahen zal dahaben vahahal.
[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | d-Ahaben | v-see
6. at least Ahaben
Show answer
zahaben zaom.
[z-Ahaben | z-and/or.open]
7. anything but the wine
Show answer
zawahel zuol.
[z-wine | z-anything-but]
8. Alahen last, period
Show answer
zalahen zuel.
[z-Alahen | z-rank/less]
9. Azawan kisses first, then Alahen.
Show answer
zazawan zalahen zoel vegezal.
[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-in-order] | v-kiss
10. Ahaben kisses first, then Alahen, then Azawan.
Show answer
zahaben zalahen zazawan zoel vegezal.
[z-Ahaben | z-Alahen | z-Azawan | z-in-order] | v-kiss
11. Azawan and Alahen see the ring and the veil, respectively.
Show answer
zazawan zalahen zal vahahal derehal devewal wazem dal.
[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | v-see | [d-ring | d-veil | w-respectively | d-and]
12. Azawan and Alahen are big and small, respectively.
Show answer
zazawan zalahen zal gelavam gamazam wazem gal.
[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | [g-big | g-small | w-respectively | g-and]
13. Azawan and Alahen walk and run, respectively.
Show answer
zazawan zalahen zal vowogal varahal wazem val.
[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | [v-walk | v-run | w-respectively | v-and]
Agazan → English
1. zavavul zual.
Show answer
[z-flower | z-everything-but]
everything but the flower
2. zuam gerehal.
Show answer
[z-everything.open | g-ring]
every ring, as far as I know
3. zevewal zual.
Show answer
[z-veil | z-everything-but]
everything but the veil
4. vegezal vahahal vam dahaben.
Show answer
[v-kiss | v-see | v-and.open] | d-Ahaben
kisses and sees Ahaben (and possibly more)
5. vegezal vabahel val vul.
Show answer
[[v-kiss | v-punch | v-and] | v-not]
not kiss, and not punch
6. zawahel zavavul zol.
Show answer
[z-wine | z-flower | z-or-exactly-one]
wine or a flower (pick one)
7. zawahel zavavul zerehal zel.
Show answer
[z-wine | z-flower | z-ring | z-rank/more]
wine first, then the flower, then the ring
8. zadozel zuom.
Show answer
[z-tuxedo | z-anything-but.open]
anything but the tuxedo (and possibly more)
9. zahaben zoel derehal vahahal.
Show answer
[z-Ahaben | z-in-order] | d-ring | v-see
Starting with Ahaben, they see the ring.
10. zazawan zalahen zal gamazam gelavam wazem gal.
Show answer
[z-Azawan | z-Alahen | z-and] | [g-small | g-big | w-respectively | g-and]
Azawan and Alahen are small and big, respectively.
Advanced
Scope islands
When same-role words sit next to a smaller list, wrap that stretch and its join in { … }. The join inside the island takes members only from between those marks. One island per clause; material outside needs its own outer join. An island holds at most one phrase and may close partway through it (scope islands).
| Agazan | English |
|---|---|
zazawan { zowodel zal } zam | Azawan and (just water) |
zazawan { zal } zam | Azawan and nothing |
{ zowodel zal } | just water alone in the slot |
zazawan { zowodel zal } zam.[z-Azawan | SCOPE[z-drinking-water | z-and] | z-and.open]
"Azawan and (just water)."
Compare with: islands bound only join and /h/ scope. An evidential or as-of that should cover several clauses is written or resumed on each host instead.
Named phrase -n
When a phrase list is an established bundle (Stop–Drop–Roll), end the join with -n under /z/ /d/ /b/. That -n titles the package (titled phrases). Members keep their usual endings unless a member is itself a name.
zebevul zabodel zan.NAME[z-bread | z-butter | z-and]
"bread and butter" (the familiar bundle)
Standalone …an (no items) is null / void. Under /ɡ/ /h/, -n forms join-derived relations; see Join across roles.
Compare with: clause xan is and then, not a named package.
Allowed joins by PoS
Join vowels stack at most two letters. Endings by role letter:
| Role | Join endings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
/z/ /d/ /b/ | -l / -m / -n / -r ( -r only on a / o / e / u) | phrase lists; -n is a named package |
/w/ | none | not a phrase list: the only /w/ before a join word is wazem, with -l or -m |
/ɡ/ /h/ | same series as restrictors allow | restrictors; -n forms are join-relations |
/v/ | -l / -m / -r | parallel -n forms are join-act verbs |
/th/ | -l / -m / -r ( -r only on a / o / e / u) | stance joins on stance words (not because…) |
/x/ | -l / -m / -n / -r ( -r only on a / o / e / u) | between clauses, not after them (clause joins); forms: Join across roles |
Word shape: phonology.
Constraints
These limits apply to every join.
| Limit | Pattern |
|---|---|
| One slot per chain | one subject, object, unhosted /b/ recipient, /ɡ/ stack, or /w/ / /h/ / /th/ unit; hosted /b/ stays on its /ɡ/, /h/, or /th/ |
| Matching role letter | every item head and the join share the first letter |
| One right-close per flat list | nest as fence nesting |
| Shared modifiers | only immediately after each join |
| Phrase -r | only …ar / …or / …er / …ur |
| Verb+object packages | verb-phrase /v/; full sentences use /x/ (forms) |
| Revising one item | in-clause including / rather / instead / except are hooks |
Several manners on /h/ /w/ | juxtaposition (hadehul halahol) |
Compare with: prefix-less al / am / … are hooks. Under /h/ /w/, the unit is a restrictor, not sibling and.
Because / if use /th/ plus /b/ barl. Floating /h/ or /th/ inside a noun, adjective, or /b/ join does not end the list. Verb-chain /h/ scope: VP and clause forms. Each clause-level item is a full clause body.
Translation practice
Short drills for Advanced. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a treaty table
Roots used here:
| English | Agazan | Same root as |
|---|---|---|
| Azawan | azawan | |
| Alahen | alahen | |
| Ahaben | ahaben | |
| page | abehel | |
| pen | ebewel | |
| dove | adevel | |
| seal | ezevom | ezevol seal |
English → Agazan
1. a page or a pen (the usual named menu)
Show answer
zabehel zebewel zon.
NAME[z-page | z-pen | z-or-exactly-one]
2. null / void
Show answer
zan.
NAME[z-and]
3. any of a dove, a page, or a pen is fine (no order)
Show answer
zadevel zabehel zebewel zor.
[z-dove | z-page | z-pen | z-anything]
4. Azawan and (just Ahaben)
Show answer
zazawan { zahaben zal } zam.
[z-Azawan | SCOPE[z-Ahaben | z-and] | z-and.open]
5. someone other than Alahen
Show answer
zalahen zur.
[z-Alahen | z-something-else]
Agazan → English
1. zaen.
Show answer
NAME[z-equal-rank]
it's a draw (stock)
2. zadevel zabehel zebewel zer.
Show answer
[z-dove | z-page | z-pen | z-whatever-ranks]
whichever of a dove, a page, or a pen ranks highest
3. zazawan { zal } zam.
Show answer
[z-Azawan | SCOPE[z-none] | z-and.open]
Azawan and nothing
4. zuol.
Show answer
z-anything-but
anything (goes)
5. zezevom zabehel zur.
Show answer
[z-imprimatur | z-page | z-something-else]
something other than the seal and the page
Reference tables
Lookup grids that restate forms taught above; nothing here is new.
Rare arities and edge readings
Most other phrase joins need two or more items. These edge readings keep a defined sense at every arity, or mix two joins by nesting.
| Agazan | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
| …ul / …um / …un | deny at every arity | standalone no; one item not X; multi none of |
| …ar / …or / …er / …ur | unspecified member at every arity | unspecified -r |
| …aen / …en / …an standalone | stock empty rank / named empty | it's a draw; no favorite (stock); null / void |
| …ual / …uol standalone | empty invert | everything; anything (goes) |
zobel vs zobel zar | content -l vs join -r | a person vs some person, unknown who |
A B C zor vs … zer | menu vs rank unspecified | any of them is fine vs pick by ranking |
A B zar / zur / zual | among / leftover / invert | some one among; some one other than; everything but |
A B zel vs A B zoel | rank vs sequence | A matters more than B vs A, then B |
zedehel zagavel zowodel zor.[z-tea | z-coffee | z-drinking-water | z-anything]
"any of tea, coffee, or water is fine (no order)."
For except, use: hook ul / um — hooks. Prefixed zur is unspecified something else. Nest when you need a rare mix (pick one of a closed list, but the pick is optional: zedehel zagavel zol zom).
See also
- Prefix-less revision (including / rather): hooks.md
- Applicability when under
/h//w/: restrictors.md - Fill-ask and yes/no on single-item/standalone joins: questions.md
- Join series across roles: join-across-roles.md
- Titled phrases: word-endings.md