Appearance
Reference suffix
Every content word ends with a reference suffix: a final letter that says how the root enters the talk. You add that letter (and the role letter) when you use the word.
On this page
Beginner
The four endings
Use role letter + root + ending as one word (zazawan). The ending answers how does this root enter the talk? Mnemonics: -l literal, -m metaphor, -n name, -r resume.
A bare -l / -m word always introduces. To point back, use -r. How resume chooses what it points to: pronouns.md.
`zodogol gelulul.`
gloss: `z-dog` · `g-blue`
*A dog is blue.* (first mention, literal)`zazawan vawalal.`
gloss: `z-grace@` · `v-walk`
*Azawan walks.* (named person)`zazawar vawalal.`
gloss: `z-←grace` · `v-walk`
*He/she/it walks.* (resume: same stem as the prior mention; see [pronouns](pronouns.md))Prefer a published root when the English meaning matches; use -m when the match is the published metaphorical sense.
| Ending | Job | Mnemonic |
|---|---|---|
| -l | First mention in the literal sense (a / some X) | literal |
| -m | First mention in a metaphorical sense | metaphor |
| -n | Named / definite by label (Azawan, Paris) | name |
| -r | Resume an already-introduced referent | resume / refer back |
Word shape
[role letter] + root + endingWrite that string as one token (zazawan). Full writing rules: core.md § Writing words.
- Role letter: job in the sentence (core.md). Outside a sentence, omit it for a citation (
odogol,azawan). - Root: the published stem.
- Reference suffix: -l, -m, -n, or -r.
Optional plural -sh comes after the ending (plurality.md).
Proper names on nouns (starter)
-n marks a named designation: you treat the root as a definite, established label. Usual first cases are people and places (/z/…-n, /d/…-n). Prefix-less …n outside a clause cites a name or the word-as-label (citation forms). Writing stays lowercase; namedness is the ending (capitalization). Usual named people in examples: Azawan, Ululon, Uhubun.
-n on other role letters, multipart names, and titled events are Intermediate (proper name).
Translation practice
Short drills on this Beginner band. Try each item before opening Show answer. Choose -l (new literal), -m (new metaphor), -n (named), or -r (resume). Citation items are prefix-less.
Roots used here: azawa grace (name Azawan) · ululo courage (name Ululon) · uhubu beauty (name Uhubun) · odogo dog · agada cat · abogo book · elulu blue · uzumu smile → happy (-m) · awala walk · elebe sleep · uwuru write · aju sit
English → Agalan
1. A dog is blue.
Show answer
zodogol gelulul.
2. Azawan walks.
Show answer
zazawan vawalal.
3. A dog walks.
Show answer
zodogol vawalal.
4. Ululon is happy.
Show answer
zululon guzumum.
5. Azawan walks. He/she/it sleeps.
Show answer
zazawan vawalal. zazawar velebel.
6. Citation form of the name Azawan.
Show answer
azawan
7. A cat sits.
Show answer
zagadal vajul.
8. Uhubun writes a book.
Show answer
zuhubun dabogol vuwurul.
Agalan → English
1. zodogol gelulul.
Show answer
A dog is blue.
2. zazawan vawalal.
Show answer
Azawan walks.
3. zodogol vawalal.
Show answer
A dog walks.
4. zululon guzumum.
Show answer
Ululon is happy.
5. zazawan vawalal. zazawar velebel.
Show answer
Azawan walks. He/she/it sleeps.
6. azawan
Show answer
Azawan (name, cited)
7. odogol
Show answer
dog (literal kind, cited)
8. zuhubun dabogol vuwurul.
Show answer
Uhubun writes a book.
Intermediate
Proper name (-n)
-n is available on any role letter. The letter says what job the word plays now; -n says you are invoking a title, proper label, or conventionally unique name.
Join words are the one place where -n is not a name: fence joins, clause sequence, and closed join-act / join-relation stems use -n as join packaging or join content.
More of the token
Adjectives may take an extra left-bound l after the role letter (/ɡ/ → gl-) when the adjective sits before its host (left-bound adjectives). That l is part of the role spelling, not the reference suffix.
Compounds join roots with mid-word x (phonology.md).
Nouns (/z/, /d/, /b/)
Named individuals, places, one-off objects, titled works: Azawan, Paris, the Odyssey. Argument nouns under a complex adjective or adverb can be -n when that participant is a named entity (book by [Rowling]).
Phrasal proper names (mid-word x)
Multipart proper names (given + family, compact multi-token place names, and similar one-referent labels) are one content word when short enough to stay handy. Roots join left to right (ordinary compound order): first root is the kind or given name; later roots narrow or continue the title.
| Shape | Example | Reading |
|---|---|---|
Nativized multipart (Agalan roots + mid-word x) | zodunaxalanen | Odunaxalanen (wish×guidance: one person) |
| same under other slots | dodunaxalanen, bodunaxalanen | one named place / person as object or argument |
| Sense / shop label (two or more lexicon roots) | zuzuzuxogoven, zuzuzuxogovexadedan | Sushi-Coffee; Sushi-Coffee-Tea |
Adjacent bare same-role words (zodunan zalanen) are two people in a join. One x-compound is one resume target and one slot filler. A lexical compound is also one slot-filler: one stem, not x (zohohulabedel bedroom).
Named handles
A long official title (bureau, act, titled group) may also have a handle: one published root plus -n, the same as any proper name. First mention may be the handle alone.
| Form | Shape | Example | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handle | one root + -n | zabogon | default talk, including first mention |
| Long title | phrasal proper (ROOT x ROOT … + -n) | zabogoxululon | full legal / ceremonial name of the same office |
`zabogon vawalal.`
gloss: `z-book@` · `v-walk`
*Abogon walks.* (office handle on first mention)`zabogoxululon.`
gloss: `z-book-x-courage@`
*Book-Courage* (full title of that office)Resume the handle like any name. If its letter-pronoun (through the 2nd vowel) would pick the wrong antecedent, use the full root + -r (zabogor).
The office as referent takes -n in a noun slot (zabogon). A mention packages the form (z{abogo} = the word Abogon). Foreign letter-names stay loans or opaque spans (z<FBI>n).
Verbs (/v/)
A named action, rite, or event: not a generic instance. English parallels: perform [Hamlet], run [the Boston Marathon], observe [Ramadan]. The verb root names the kind of doing; -n says you mean that titled occurrence.
Adjectives (/ɡ/)
A named category, style, or affiliation on the host, when the point is the proper designation. English parallels: [Art Deco] furniture, [Buddhist] monastery, [iOS] app. A first-mention kind uses -l (a buddhist text); -n when the tradition’s name is the frame.
Adjective extras (/w/)
Rare. -n marks a named scale, grade, or criterion for reading the preceding /ɡ/. English parallels: spicy [Scoville], large [King-size]. Ordinary degree stays -l / -m. Judgment benchmarks (worse than Professional, …) are -n comparees on a ranked fence: comparatives.md.
Adverbs (/h/)
A named standard, channel, or official frame for the clause. Aligns with number -n. English parallels: according to [GAAP], in [Q3] as the named quarter. Manner roots usually stay -l / -m unless the manner is itself a proper name.
Turn (/j/)
| Subclass | -n? |
|---|---|
| Vocatives | address by name (jazawan). Kind-based address (everyone) stays -l; titled group (Team Alpha) takes -n. |
| Interjections | Mostly -l / -m. Use -n for a named formula ([Amen], branded catchphrases). Closed polar stance particles use -l / -m. |
| Speech act | Closed jal / jol / … set (speech act). |
Continue (/x/): overview
| Family | Ending job |
|---|---|
| Linkers (but, therefore, …) | Stay -l / -m |
Named continue (other /x/ roots) | -n = titled agenda / section label: thread shift (let’s now talk about X) |
| Clause joins | -n = sequence (and then xan, …): not phrase named-list -n; full table coordination.md |
Prefix-less discourse revisers keep reviser endings including named -n.
Nativized loans and multipart names
Nativized loans (adapted Agalan root + ordinary ending) use ordinary reference suffixes. Compact multipart person/place names: phrasal proper names. Office short names: named handles.
Summary by role letter
| Role | -n means… |
|---|---|
/z/ /d/ /b/ | This named entity (person, place, title, unique referent) |
/v/ | This named event, rite, or titled action. Join-act verbs (van, …) keep join content. |
/ɡ/ | This named style, tradition, brand, or category. Join-relations (gan, …) keep join content. |
/w/ | (Rare) this named scale / grade / criterion on the preceding adjective |
/h/ | This named standard, channel, or official frame. Join-relations (han, …) keep join content. |
/j/ vocative | Address this named person, place, or title |
/j/ interjection | This named formula or conventional call |
/x/ | Titled discourse label (thread shift) on other roots. Clause join -n = sequence (xan, …). See coordination.md. |
Number-word exception
In number words, the same four letters have number-specific meanings instead of ordinary reference-suffix senses. After a role letter, the number marker r may also form clusters that are not otherwise allowed, and only in number words (phonology.md).
Translation practice
Short drills on this Intermediate band. Try each item before opening Show answer. The point is -n as a title on any role letter, one x-compound name, or an office handle.
Roots used here: azawa grace (name Azawan) · ululo courage (name Ululon) · uhubu beauty (name Uhubun) · abogo book (name Abogon) · elulu blue · awala walk · urunu run · uzunu sing · eje perception (see) · uwuru write · adaza haste · oduna×alane (name Odunaxalanen) · uzuzu×ogove (label Sushi-Coffee) · abogo×ululo (title Book-Courage)
English → Agalan
1. Odunaxalanen walks.
Show answer
zodunaxalanen vawalal.
2. Azawan sees Odunaxalanen (the place).
Show answer
zazawan dodunaxalanen vejel.
3. Sushi-Coffee writes.
Show answer
zuzuzuxogoven vuwurul.
4. Uhubun sings the Sing (that titled performance).
Show answer
zuhubun vuzunun.
5. Azawan runs the Run (that titled race).
Show answer
zazawan vurunun.
6. The book is Blue (the named style).
Show answer
zabogol gelulun.
7. Azawan walks in Haste (the named standard).
Show answer
zazawan hadazan vawalal.
8. Azawan sees the Blue book (named style, adjective before the noun).
Show answer
zazawan glelulun dabogol vejel.
9. Abogon walks. (office handle, first mention)
Show answer
zabogon vawalal.
10. Azawan sees Book-Courage. (that office’s full title)
Show answer
zazawan dabogoxululon vejel.
Agalan → English
1. zodunaxalanen vawalal.
Show answer
Odunaxalanen walks.
2. zazawan dodunaxalanen vejel.
Show answer
Azawan sees Odunaxalanen (the place).
3. zuzuzuxogoven vuwurul.
Show answer
Sushi-Coffee writes.
4. zuhubun vuzunun.
Show answer
Uhubun sings the Sing (that titled performance).
5. zazawan vurunun.
Show answer
Azawan runs the Run (that titled race).
6. zabogol gelulun.
Show answer
The book is Blue (the named style).
7. zazawan hadazan vawalal.
Show answer
Azawan walks in Haste (the named standard).
8. zazawan glelulun dabogol vejel.
Show answer
Azawan sees the Blue book (named style, adjective before the noun).
9. zabogon vawalal.
Show answer
Abogon walks. (office handle)
10. zazawan dabogoxululon vejel.
Show answer
Azawan sees Book-Courage. (full title)
See also
- pronouns.md: resume -r; special
ugobo/edone/aha/enenu/adoro - plurality.md: -sh after the ending
- core.md: role letters, writing words, citation
- spans.md: mention / opaque when the form or a foreign acronym is the point
- x-compounds.md: long titles as ordinary compounds