Daddish
Last Edited: 2022/05/04 & 2022/10/04(Not Updated)
Welcome
Welcome to the tutorial of Daddish, a constructed language created by me. From the following tutorial, you will acquire a basic knowledge of the grammar of Daddish and learn to speak it.
Introduction
Daddish is the official language of Dad Republic (Daddish: Konharmonёšost Dadad), Earth 0xffffffff. Daddish was invented by a linguist, Vasily Xiao (Daddish: Šjao Vasinёo), and has been promoted nationwide in Dad Republic since its birth.
Resources
Features
Why should you learn Daddish? Well, for fun, of course! Apart from that, Daddish has some amazing features, including:
- 9 Grammar Cases;
- Simple Construction of Words (you can literally construct any word based on its meaning);
- Restrictive/Non-restrictive Adjectives;
- Vowel Harmony;
- Etc…
So, let’s get started!
Overview
- Alphabet
- Verb
- Construction
- Person&Number
- Time&Type
- Voice
- Noun
- Construction
- Article
- Case
- Adjective&Adverb
- Basic Structure
- Compound Structure
- Preposition
- Not-Attributive-Clause
- Active Verb-adjective
- Passive Verb-adjective
- Not-Nominal-Clause
- Not-Adverbial-Clause
- Text
- Dictionary
Alphabet
The alphabet of Daddish is pretty easy, which includes all the letters of the English alphabet except q
, w
, x
and y
. And there are also š
and č
, which respectively represent the sounds sh
(as in shove
) and ch
(as in chance
). The letter ё
represents the sound [jo]
, same as that in Russian.
Letters (Capital) | Letters (Lower) | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
A | a | /a/ |
B | b | /b/ |
C | c | /ts/ |
D | d | /d/ |
E | e | /e/ |
F | f | /f/ |
G | g | /g/ |
H | h | guttural /h/ |
I | i | /i/ |
J | j | /j/ |
K | k | /k/ |
L | l | /l/ |
M | m | /m/ |
N | n | /n/ |
O | o | /o/ |
P | p | /p/ |
R | r | /r/ |
S | s | /s/ |
T | t | /t/ |
U | u | /u/ |
V | v | /v/ |
Z | z | /z/ |
Š | š | /ʃ/ |
Č | č | /tʃ/ |
Ё | ё | /jo/ |
Verb
Construction
The verbs in Daddish are very constructed. The original form of a verb always ends with č
. If we take that č
away, we call the rest the root of the verb. Basically a conjugated verb looks like this:
$$
\rm (Negative\ Prefix)+(Directional\ Prefix)+(Aspect\ Prefix)+Root+Person+Number+Time&Type+(Voice)
$$
Besides, note that, for the suffixes to attach, it follows the rule of vowel harmony. The vowels in suffixes are always consistent with the last vowel of the root (with a few exceptions).
Additionally, when attaching a suffix, you need to pay attention to the end of the word. Let’s say you are attaching the suffix f
to the morpheme lek
. lek
ends with a consonant k
, so it should be lekef
after conjugation. Similarly, if the ending is a vowel, f
becomes fa/fe/fi/fo/fu
instead of af/ef/if/of/uf
.
Person&Number
In Daddish, the concept of “plural” doesn’t work. Daddish has three types of numbers: Singular
, Type II
and Type III
.
Singular
, also Type I
, is used to represent things in total of 1. Type II
is used for 2,3,4 and numbers that end with 2,3,4. Type III
is for those that cannot fit in Type I
or Type II
.
Here comes the conjugation table of $\rm Person$:
First Person | Second Person | Third Person |
---|---|---|
f | r (Inclusive) / ss (Exclusive) | t |
And $\rm Number$:
Singular | Type II | Type III |
---|---|---|
(None) | v | k |
Thankfully this works for nouns too!
Example:
(a) machine | (2,3,4…) machines | (5…) machines |
---|---|---|
maščin | maščiniv | maščinik |
Time&Type
Tense consists of aspect and time. There are three times in Daddish: Past, Present, and Future.
There are also three types: declarative, imperative, and reportative. Reportative is used when the speaker is reporting what was told.
Past | Present | Future | |
---|---|---|---|
Declarative | m | š | g |
Imperative | šd | šd | šd |
Reportative | lm | tš | tg |
Now that you have learned all the basic verb conjugation, we can make some sentences:
Seve leporokotovolm sjadvimaščinih. They(Type II) are said to have got a car.
Se (He)+ ve= Seve (They,Type II)
le (come)+ po (perfective prefix)+ rok (hand)+ č= leporokč (to get)
leporok (root of to get)+ ot (third person)+ ov (Type II)+ olm (past reportative)= leporokotovolm (are said to have got)
sjad (self)+ vi (move)+ maščin (machine)+ ih (accusative)= sjadvimaščinih(car, accusative)
Voice
For passive voice, a -sja/sje/sji/sjo/sju
is attached to the conjugated verb. The vowel depends on the root.
For active voice, this is not needed.
Noun
Construction
The nouns in Daddish are usually constructed in such way:
$$
\rm Prefix+Root+Suffix\ with\ a\ Meaning+Number+Case+Article
$$
We have already discussed the $\rm Number$ in the previous section.
Article
In Daddish, there is only definite article. But the definite article can sometimes be omitted, and sometimes can even express the meaning of “that/this/those/these”. The definite article looks like this:
$$
\rm …-ta/te/ti/to/tu
$$
The vowel, again, should be in line with the root’s. Articles don’t do case conjugation.
Case
There are nine grammar cases in Daddish:
Nominative | (None) |
---|---|
Genitive | d |
Dative | z |
Accusative | h |
Instrumental | $\rm [vowel]+hm$ or $\rm [consonant]+[vowel]+hm$ |
Locative | p |
Topicative | c |
Ablative | b |
Vocative | s |
Nominative
The nominative case marks the subject of a verb. When the verb is active, the nominative is the person or thing doing the action; when the verb is passive, the nominative is the person or thing receiving the action.
- Malcik-ti glazatam boloh-to. The boy saw the ball.
- Bol-to glazatamsja malcikihm-ti. The ball was seen by the boy.
Genitive
The genitive case has the basic usage of showing possession, along with other derived usage.
- possession
- thinkik Dzaneted Janet’s drinks
- composition
- kup manakad a group of men
- reference
- kapital konharmonёšostod-to capital of the republic
Dative
The dative case is used to mark the indirect object.
- Se darokotom malcikiz giftih. He gave a boy a gift.
It can be also used to express the meaning of “to somebody”.
- Seze ce delo tovnёo. To him, it is a good deed.
Accusative
The accusative case is used to mark a direct object, or after a few prepositions.
- Tehe amofošo. I love you.
- Musufug fu-dvaha sekunduvud. I will talk for two seconds.
Instrumental
The instrumental case shows the meaning of “by means of” or “by use of”, or, in passive voice, shows the implementer of an action.
Pišifiš penehm. I’m writing with a pen.
Bol-to glazatamsja malcikihm-ti. The ball was seen by the boy.
Locative
The locative case shows the location or time.
- Moskvapa ce komennёe. In Moscow, this is common.
Topicative
The topicative case is a unique case in Daddish. It marks the topic, usually something the speaker is talking about.
- Šotoc ke knosotoš-c! About death, who knows!
It can also be used to change the structure of the sentence for whatever reason.
- Ekzamac Gokanёac, se častandataš cepe. He is taking part in the National Exam.
Ablative
The ablative case expresses the meaning of “out of” or “from”.
- Ce hobotomsjo manab. This was stolen from a man.
Vocative
The vocative case is a grammatical case which is used for a noun that identifies a person (animal, object, etc.) being addressed.
- Dzjonos, verešd! John, come!
Adjective&Adverb
Basic Structure
In Daddish, there are two types of adjectives: restrictive and non-restrictive. The original form of a restrictive adjective ends with tornё
, while a non-restrictive one just ends with nё
.
And adjectives also conjugates:
$$
\rm …nё+[the\ last\ vowel\ in\ the\ root\ of\ the\ modified\ noun]+[corresponding\ case\ ending,\ just\ like\ a\ noun]
$$
- Djakak kelez titekez tovnёeze! Thanks to all great teachers. (non-restrictive, indicating all teachers are great, and thanking all the teachers)
- Djakak kelez titekez tovtornёeze! Thanks to all teachers who are great! (restrictive, indicating you are only thanking good teachers, not bad ones)
Adverbs are often derived from adjectives, by changing the nё
into no
. Adverbs never conjugate.
Compound Structure
Non-restrictive:
- Prinscipl Vzimvidostod uroktoknёi Einsteinehm ku šokotomnёi fizikmestostod Principle of Relativity, which was put forward by Einstein and shocked the field of physics
The adherent adjuncts are connected with ku
, which means and
. al
can be also used, which means or
.
Restrictive:
- rubblat-ta s-vahtahm Viniidi kutor ustoktornёa fu-markostoh that red pen with Winnie the Bear on it which is used for marking
The adherent adjuncts are connected with kutor
instead of ku
, and altor
instead of al
.
Preposition
Preposition | Meaning | Case Required |
---|---|---|
fu | for | Acc. |
s | with | Ins. |
oz | against | Gen. |
vkruh | around | Gen. |
bifuh | before(time) | Acc. |
aft | after(time) | Acc. |
ans | inside | Loc. |
cent | at the center of | Gen. |
em | among | Gen. |
fprid | in front of | Gen. |
znafp | before(space) | Gen. |
čerz | through, over | Acc. |
undeh | under | Ins. |
dov | lasting for(time) | Acc. |
vza | while, when | Gen. |
til | until | Gen. |
ot | because of | Gen. |
lefi | in order to, for | Gen. |
sin | within | Acc. |
oht | without | Gen. |
vasi | thanks to | Acc. |
Not-Attributive-Clause
Breaking news: there is no such thing as an “attributive clause” in Daddish! The meaning of the clause is expressed by compound structure, which consists of special adjectives derived from verbs and other stuffs.
Active Verb-adjective
An active verb-adjective is used to modify a noun that is the implementer of an action. An active verb-adjective is constructed on the basis of a verb.
$$
\rm Active\ Verb-adjective=[conjugated\ verb]+(tor)+nё
$$
For example:
- šokč (to shock)> šokotom (shock, third person, past)> šokotomnё (which shocked)
Passive Verb-adjective
A passive verb-adjective is used to modify a noun that is the patient of an action. A passive verb-adjective is also constructed on the basis of a verb, but has two different structures:
$$
\rm [conjugated\ verb]+(tor)+nё
$$
or
$$
\rm [verb\ without\ suffix\ or\ č]+tok+nё
$$
The first one gives the exact information of the action, while the second doesn’t emphasize the time or person. And remember, the implementer of the action should be in instrumental case.
For example:
- urokč (to put forward)> uroktoknё (put forward, passive)> uroktoknё Einsteinehm (put forward by Einstein)
- urokč (to put forward)> urokotomsjonё (an object was put forward)> urokotomsjonё Einsteinehm (an object put forward by Einstein)
Not-Nominal-Clause
Another breaking news: there is no such thing as a “nominal clause” in Daddish! The corresponding meaning is expressed by some structures.
Object
When the noun acts as an object in the “clause”, for example:
$$
\rm I\ know\ \underline{what}\ she\ has\ said.
$$
Then the structure in Daddish looks like this:
$$
\rm I\ know,\ she\ [magic\ word]\ has\ said.
$$
And the magic word is suhu
. So the actual sentence looks like this:
$$
\rm Knosofoš,\ sa\ suhu\ pogavatam.
$$
Basically, suhu
is put before the action in the “clause”, and altogether the structure becomes the object of knosofoš
. But this is just basic.
Actually, the true magic word is su
, and suhu
is the accusative case of it.
The real rule is:
If two parts share the same case, like the example above (both accusative), then put the
su
right before the action in the “clause” and change it into the correct case.If two parts don’t share the same case, then we need two
su
. They are put together likesu-su
, also right before the action in the “clause”. The first one conjugates according the main clause, and the second the subordinate clause.- Knosofoš, sa suhu-supu zivitim. I know where she lived.
And if there is a preposition:
- Memefeš, jeve sekundukuh bifuh suhu-oz-sudu photicifivim. I remember against whom we fought seconds ago.
Not-Adverbial-Clause
Materials
Lesson 1: Meeting at a Cafe
A. Text
Klor ku Ann musutuvuš čerz telefonoho.
Klor:
Dictionary
Daddish | English | Daddish | English |
---|---|---|---|
je | I | drink | |
te | you (sing.) | eat | |
se | he | bite | |
sa | she | suck | |
ce | this | spit | |
če | that | vomit | |
cegda | here | blow | |
čegda | there | breathe | |
ket | who | laugh | |
cet | what | see | |
šat | when | hear | |
gda | where | know (a fact) | |
ko | how | think | |
zna | not | smell | |
kel | all | fear | |
toma | many | sleep | |
soma | some | live | |
isma | few | kill | |
otha | other | die | |
ii | one | fight | |
ai | two | hunt | |
ci | three | hit | |
fo | four | cut | |
no | five | split | |
ši | six | stab | |
cem | seven | scratch | |
osm | eight | dig | |
dev | nine | swim | |
des | ten | fly | |
iičdes | eleven | walk | |
aičdes | twelve | come | |
cičdes | thirteen | lie | |
fočdes | fourteen | sit | |
nočdes | fifteen | stand | |
šičdes | sixteen | turn | |
cemčdes | seventeen | fall | |
osmčdes | eighteen | hold | |
devčdes | nineteen | squeeze | |
aidesev | twenty | rub | |
bignё | big | wash | |
dninё | long | wipe | |
zkonё | wide | pull | |
honё | thick | push | |
vecnё | heavy | throw | |
šotnё | short | tie | |
mlenknё | small | sew | |
nahonё | narrow | count | |
tinnё | thin | say | |
uman | woman | sing | |
man | man (male) | play | |
human | man (human being) | float | |
kit | kid | flow | |
muman | wife | freeze | |
maman | husband | swell | |
uth | mother | sun | |
path | father | moon | |
zvunёšost | animal | star | |
dag | fish | water | |
ptic | bird | rain | |
haund | hound | river | |
laus | louse | lake | |
zmja | snake | sea | |
čoz | worm | salt | |
riu | tree | stone | |
riunost | forest | sand | |
stik | stick | dust | |
uvod | fruit | earth | |
hum | seed | cloud | |
liv | leaf | fog | |
enhum | root | sky | |
uriu | bark (from a tree) | wind | |
cvet | flower | snow | |
kas | grass | ice | |
hop | rope | smoke | |
uhuman | skin | fire | |
nezvun | meat | ashes | |
blood | burn | ||
bone | road | ||
fat (n.) | mountain | ||
egg | red | ||
horn | green | ||
tail | yellow | ||
feather | white | ||
hair | black | ||
head | golden | ||
ear | gold | ||
eye | silver | ||
nose | iron | ||
mouth | steel | ||
tooth | night | ||
tongue | day | ||
fingernail | afternoon | ||
foot | noon | ||
leg | evening | ||
knee | year | ||
hand | month | ||
wing | week | ||
belly | hour | ||
guts | minute | ||
neck | second | ||
back | warm | ||
breast | cold | ||
heart | full | ||
liver | new | ||
old | pen | ||
good | eraser | ||
bad | desk | ||
rotten | table | ||
dirty | chair | ||
straight | stool | ||
round | toilet | ||
sharp | class | ||
dull | classroom | ||
smooth | grade (1,2,3…) | ||
wet | score | ||
dry | goal | ||
correct | dream | ||
near | achievement | ||
far | factory | ||
right | airport | ||
left | station | ||
name | hall | ||
if | cafeteria | ||
pencil | house |