Seneran

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Overview

Modern Seneran evolved primarily from Kalassarian, with substantial borrowings from the Hick language, particularly in maritime terminology and place names.

Historical Development

Sound Changes

Early Seneran (400-500 AI)

1. Final Syllable Changes
   • Unstressed vowels → schwa
     • [in.nes.bel] → [in.nes.bəl]
   • Cluster simplification begins
     • [sb] → [sp] / _#

Middle Seneran (500-1000 AI)

1. Kalassarian Adaptations
   • -ata → -ey/-ay
     • Surrata → Surrey
   • -onum → -on/-ton
   • -urrium → -ury/-bury

Modern Seneran (1000+ AI)

1. Final Changes
   • Word-final schwa deletion
   • Final cluster simplification
     • [in.nes.bəl] → [in.spell]
   • Hydronym -s preservation
     • bramas → brams

Phonology

Consonant Inventory

Manner	Labial	Dental	Alveolar	Post-alv	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Stops	p b		t d			k g	ʔ
Fricatives	f v	θ ð	s z	ʃ ʒ			h
Affricates				tʃ dʒ
Nasals	m		n			ŋ
Liquids			l r
Glides	w				j

Notes:

• /ʔ/ is allophonic, either word-initially or as optional vowel hiatus
• /θ ð/ mainly in formal/administrative terms from Kalassarian
• /ʃ ʒ/ developed from palatalization of Late Hick clusters
• /tʃ dʒ/ from Kalassarian palatalized stops
• /ŋ/ occurs independently word-finally unlike Late Hick

Vowel Inventory (The Great Seneran Shift)

Monophthongs

Height	Front	Central	Back
High	i [i]		u [u]
High-Mid	ɪ [ɪ]		ʊ [ʊ]
Mid	e [eɪ]	ə [ə]	o [oʊ]
Low-Mid	ɛ [ɛ]	ʌ [ʌ]	ɔ [ɔ]
Low	æ [æ]	a [ɑ]	ɒ [ɒ]

Diphthongs

• /aɪ/ (from Late Hick /i:/)
• /aʊ/ (from Late Hick /u:/)
• /eɪ/ (from Late Hick /a:/)
• /oʊ/ (from Late Hick /o:/)
• /ɔɪ/ (from Kalassarian /oi/)

The Great Seneran Vowel Shift

1. Early Changes (500-700 AI)
   • Late Hick /i:/ → /əi/ → /aɪ/
   • Late Hick /u:/ → /əu/ → /aʊ/
   • Late Hick /e:/ → /i

Morphology

Compound Formation

Spatial Deictics

Primary System (General Use)

hir [hiːr]

"here" (< Iut. *hēr)

General proximal reference

tair [teɪr]

"there" (< Iut. *þār)

General distal reference

Technical Precision System

is [ɪs]

"this exact point" (< Hick istel)

Precise location marking

eth [eθ]

"that reference point" (< Hick ethtel)

Known landmark reference

ut [ʊt]

"far marker" (< Hick umtel)

Distant reference point

Maritime Usage Examples

• "is mal" [ɪs.mal] "this exact mooring point"
• "eth ners" [eθ.nərs] "that known channel narrowing"
• "ut stel" [ʊt.stel] "that distant stern marker"
• "is ter eth" [ɪs.tər.eθ] "from this point to that marker"
• "eth skelward" [eθ.skel.wərd] "that established shipping lane"

Harbor Command Examples

• "is-ward!" [ɪs.wərd] "to this exact point!"
• "eth-mal!" [eθ.mal] "to that known berth!"
• "ut-ter!" [ʊt.tər] "toward that distant point!"

Navigation Examples

• "is bram" [ɪs.bram] "this precise tidal point"
• "eth liners" [eθ.lɪ.nərs] "that known hazardous narrowing"
• "ut wickmal" [ʊt.wɪk.mal] "that distant harbor entrance"

Lexicon

Basic Roots

Kalassarian-derived Terms

Hick-derived Terms

Place Name Patterns

Kalassarian Administrative Names

• Surrey (from Kalassarian "Surrata" - "safe harbor/landing")
• Port (from Kalassarian "porta", often translated from "portus")
• Modern "-ton" endings translate Kalassarian "tonum" (settlement)
• Modern "-bury" endings translate Kalassarian "burrium" (fortified place)

Hick Water Feature Survivals

• Brams (river name, from Hick "bram-aes" - "tidal outflow")
• Inespell (gulf name, from Hick "innis-bél" - "island mouth")
• The connecting phrase "-on-the-" translates the Seneran locative case

Common Modern Formations

1. [Kalassarian root]-on-the-[Hick water feature]
   • Surrey-on-the-Brams (Surrata-in-Bramaes)
   • Port Surrey-on-the-Brams (Portus Surrata-in-Bramaes)
2. [Hick element]-[translated geographic term]
   • Bramton (from Seneran "Bramaestonum")
   • Kethbury (from Seneran "Kethburrium")
3. Pure Hick Survivals (usually water features)
   • The Brams (from "Bram-aes")
   • Gulf of Inespell (from "Innis-bél")
   • Thranal Waters (from "Thran-aes")

Creatures

• alsomok [al.so.mok] "Shapeshifter"

Sound Changes

Early Seneran (0-500 AI)

1. Initial Consonant Clusters

   • /θr/ → /r/ before /a/
     • thranaes → ranaes "delta"
     • thramal → ramal "flowing area"
   • /θr/ → /tr/ before /i, e/
     • thrim → trim "through"
     • thrikel → trikel "road network"
   • /θr/ preserved in formal/sacred terms
     • thran-val [θran.val] "thousand-blessing"

2. Vowel Changes

   • /ae/ → /a/ in unstressed syllables
     • bramaes → bramas
   • /i/ → /e/ in compounds
     • innis-bél → innesbel

Middle Seneran (500-1000 AI)

1. Final Syllable Weakening

   • Unstressed vowels → schwa
     • [ra.na.es] → [ra.nə.əs]
     • [in.nes.bel] → [in.nes.bəl]

2. Consonant Cluster Evolution

   • Schwa deletion after liquids before stops
     • [θral.tər] → [θraltr] "sacred peak"
     • [mal.kə] → [malk] "pool-place"
   • Preserved elsewhere
     • [in.nes.bəl] remains [in.nes.bəl]

3. Kalassarian Influence

   • -ata → -ey/-ay
     • Surrata → Surrey
   • -onum → -on/-ton
     • tonum → ton
   • -urrium → -ury/-bury
     • burrium → bury

Modern Seneran (1000+ AI)

1. Final Changes
   • Word-final schwa deletion
     • [ran.ter.gə] → [ran.terg]
     • [ma.lə] → [mal]
   • Final cluster simplification
     • [bra.məs] → [brams]
     • [in.nes.bəl] → [in.spell]

Examples of Complete Evolution

• thrantorgral → Ranterg

  • Early: [θran.tor.gral] → [ran.tor.gal]
  • Middle: [ran.ter.gəl]
  • Modern: [ran.terg]

• innis-bél → Inespell

  • Early: [in.nis.bel] → [in.nes.bel]
  • Middle: [in.nes.bəl]
  • Modern: [in.spell]

Place Name Patterns

Kalassarian Administrative Names

• Surrey (from Kalassarian "Surrata" - "safe harbor/landing")
• Port (from Kalassarian "porta", often translated from "portus")
• Modern "-ton" endings translate Kalassarian "tonum" (settlement)
• Modern "-bury" endings translate Kalassarian "burrium" (fortified place)

Hick Water Feature Survivals

• Brams (river name, from Hick "bram-aes" - "tidal outflow")
• Inespell (gulf name, from Hick "innis-bél" - "island mouth")
• The connecting phrase "-on-the-" translates the Seneran locative case

Common Modern Formations

1. [Kalassarian root]-on-the-[Hick water feature]
   • Surrey-on-the-Brams (Surrata-in-Bramaes)
   • Port Surrey-on-the-Brams (Portus Surrata-in-Bramaes)
2. [Hick element]-[translated geographic term]
   • Bramton (from Seneran "Bramaestonum")
   • Kethbury (from Seneran "Kethburrium")
3. Pure Hick Survivals (usually water features)
   • The Brams (from "Bram-aes")
   • Gulf of Inespell (from "Innis-bél")
   • Thranal Waters (from "Thran-aes")

Maritime Terminology

Hick-derived Terms

• Navigation terms
• Weather patterns
• Tidal terminology
• Traditional fishing vocabulary

Kalassarian-derived Terms

• Administrative vocabulary
• Naval rankings
• Ship classification
• Trade terminology

Modern Influences

Technical Vocabulary

• International trade terms
• Modern naval terminology
• Engineering vocabulary
• Administrative language

Regional Variations

• Coastal dialects (more Hick influence)
• Inland dialects (more Kalassarian preservation)
• Urban/rural distinctions
• Trade port variations

See Also

• Hick Language
• Kalassarian Language
• Seneran Maritime Traditions

Place Name Evolution

Water Features

Brams [brams]

< Early Hick bram-aes "tidal flow"

Middle Hick bramaes

Late Hick bramas

Sound changes: - /ae/ → /a/ in unstressed syllables - Final vowel deletion - Preservation of -s as water feature marker

Inespell [in.spell]

< Early Hick innis-bél "island mouth"

Middle Hick innesbel

Late Hick innesbəl

Sound changes: - /i/ → /e/ in compounds - Unstressed vowel reduction - Consonant cluster /sb/ → /sp/ - Final -l gemination

Coastal Features

Skelwick [skel.wik]

< Middle Hick skel-vik "ship bay"

< Iut. *skip-vik

Sound changes: - /p/ → /k/ (Hick repair) - /v/ → /w/ in final element - Addition of parasitic /w/

Havalbeck [ha.val.bek]

< Middle Hick haval-bek "whale stream"

< Iut. *hval-bekk

Sound changes: - Cluster repair /hv/ → /hav/ - Final geminate simplification - Addition of parasitic /c/

Highland Features

Hegfell [heg.fel]

< Middle Hick heg-fell "high mountain"

< Iut. *høg-fell

Sound changes: - /ø/ → /e/ - Preservation of fell as geographic term

Sterskey [ster.ski]

< Late Hick ster-skog "great forest"

< Iut. *stor-skog

Sound changes: - /o/ → /e/ in first element - /-og/ → /-ey/ in final position

Maritime Terminology Evolution

Harbor/Port Features

wick [wik]

< Late Hick vik < Iut. *vik "bay"

General term for "harbor, port"

mal [mal]

< Early Hick mal "pool"

Specialized: "natural harbor, sheltered cove"

port [pɔrt]

< Kalassarian porta "gate, port"

Official/administrative term for "commercial harbor"

Ship Types

skel [skel]

< Middle Hick skel < Iut. *skip

Generic "large vessel"

skiv [skiv]

< Late Hick skiv < Iut. *skif

Specialized: "small fishing boat"

knar [nar]

< Late Hick knar < Iut. *knarr

Specialized: "merchant vessel"

Ship Parts

kel [kel]

< Middle Hick kel < Iut. *køl

Technical: "keel" (shipbuilding term)

stav [stav]

< Late Hick stav < Iut. *stafn

Technical: "prow, bow"

stel [stel]

< Early Hick stel "stern"

Preserved in traditional fishing terminology

Navigation Terms

ward [ward]

< Middle Hick ward < Iut. *ward

Traditional: "course, direction"

cors [kɔrs]

< Kalassarian cursus

Official/maritime charts: "navigational course"

Specialized Compounds

skelward [skel.ward]

< Middle Hick skelward "shipping lane"

Traditional navigation term

wickmal [wik.mal]

< Late Hick vikmal "harbor pool"

Specialized: "inner harbor, protected anchorage"

portwick [pɔrt.wik]

< Kalassarian porta + Hick vik

Official: "designated commercial harbor"

Administrative Terminology

Port Administration

portor [pɔr.tɔr]

< Kal. portator "harbor master"

Official title for port administrator

custam [kus.tam]

< Kal. customa < Lat. custuma "custom duty"

Maritime tax/duty system

navrig [nav.rig]

< Kal. navrigium < Lat. navigium "shipping registry"

Ship registration office

Maritime Law

marit [ma.rit]

< Kal. maritimus "maritime jurisdiction"

Maritime legal code

littor [li.tɔr]

< Kal. littorale "coastal authority"

Coastal administration district

rippar [ri.par]

< Kal. riparius "riverbank official"

River trade administrator

Trade Officials

mercor [mer.kɔr]

< Kal. mercator "licensed merchant"

Official trade representative

negot [ne.gɔt]

< Kal. negotiator "trade broker"

Licensed middleman

actwar [akt.war]

< Kal. actuarius "record keeper"

Port record official

Administrative Divisions

portric [pɔr.trik]

< Kal. portricum "port district"

Administrative port zone

marric [ma.rik]

< Kal. mariticum "maritime district"

Coastal administrative region

navric [nav.rik]

< Kal. navricum "shipping district"

Naval administrative zone

Hybrid Terms

wickric [wik.rik]

< Hick wick + Kal. -ricum

Harbor district (informal)

portmal [pɔrt.mal]

< Kal. port + Hick mal

Natural harbor under official administration

skelrig [skel.rig]

< Hick skel + Kal. rigium

Ship registration (traditional vessels)

Customs and Tariff Administration

custamor [kus.ta.mɔr]

< Kal. customator "chief customs officer"

Head of port customs

portnar [pɔrt.nar]

< Kal. portionarius "duty assessor"

Officer who assesses cargo value

vectar [vek.tar]

< Kal. vectigalarius "tax collector"

Customs fee collector

Specialized Customs Roles

mernar [mer.nar]

< Kal. mercenarius "goods assessor"

Specialist in valuing foreign goods

signar [sig.nar]

< Kal. signarius "seal officer"

Official who seals inspected cargo

plumbar [plum.bar]

< Kal. plumbarius "lead sealer"

Officer who applies customs seals

Documentation Officials

tablar [tab.lar]

< Kal. tabularius "registry keeper"

Customs records official

scrivar [skri.var]

< Kal. scribarius "customs scribe"

Documentation officer

chartor [tʃar.tɔr]

< Kal. chartator "document master"

Head of customs documentation

Enforcement Roles

custor [kus.tɔr]

< Kal. custodiator "customs guard"

Customs enforcement officer

viglar [vig.lar]

< Kal. vigilarius "watch officer"

Harbor patrol officer

scrutor [skru.tɔr]

< Kal. scrutator "inspector"

Cargo inspection official

Hybrid Administrative Terms

wicknar [wik.nar]

< Hick wick + Kal. -narius

Harbor fee collector

skeltar [skel.tar]

< Hick skel + Kal. -tarius

Ship tax assessor

malvig [mal.vig]

< Hick mal + Kal. vigil

Natural harbor patrol

Naval Ranks and Titles

Senior Command

skelmir [skel.mir]

< Hick skel + Kal. mirus "fleet commander"

Admiral (lit. "ship-master")

navtor [nav.tɔr]

< Kal. navitor "naval commander"

Senior captain (multiple-ship commander)

skeltor [skel.tɔr]

< Hick skel + Kal. -tor

Ship captain (single vessel)

Bridge Officers

wardnar [ward.nar]

< Hick ward + Kal. -narius

Navigation officer (lit. "course-keeper")

stavar [sta.var]

< Late Hick stav (bow) + Kal. -arius

First officer (lit. "bow officer")

stelar [ste.lar]

< Late Hick stel (stern) + Kal. -arius

Second officer (lit. "stern officer")

Specialized Officers

kelnar [kel.nar]

< Hick kel (keel) + Kal. -narius

Ship's carpenter (lit. "keel-keeper")

logvar [log.var]

< Kal. logvarius "record keeper"

Ship's clerk/quartermaster

marnar [mar.nar]

< Kal. marinarius "sea officer"

Watch officer

Petty Officers

skelvig [skel.vig]

< Hick skel + Kal. vigil

Ship's guard/master-at-arms

rovar [ro.var]

< Late Hick row + Kal. -arius

Oar master (galley officer)

seglar [seg.lar]

< Late Hick segl (sail) + Kal. -arius

Sail master

Specialized Crew

kener [ke.ner]

< Middle Hick kener "skilled sailor"

Senior sailor/helmsman

rower [ro.wer]

< Late Hick row + -er

Professional oarsman

segling [seg.liŋ]

< Late Hick segl + -ing

Apprentice sailor

Fossilized Directional Terms

From Early Hick Directional Affixes

upner [ʌp.nər]

< Early Hick up-ner "upward-going"

Modern: "uphill, ascending" (fossilized from up- + -ner)

donner [dɒ.nər]

< Early Hick don-ner "downward-going"

Modern: "downhill, descending" (fossilized from don- + -ner)

Maritime Directionals

utward [ʌt.wərd]

< Early Hick ut-ward "outward-motion"

Modern: "seaward" (from ut- "out" + -ward)

inward [ɪn.wərd]

< Early Hick in-ward "inward-motion"

Modern: "landward" (from in- + -ward)

Compound Directionals

utner [ʌt.nər]

< Early Hick ut-ner "outward-going"

Specialized: "heading to sea" (nautical term)

inner [ɪ.nər]

< Early Hick in-ner "inward-going"

Specialized: "heading to port" (nautical term)

Tide-Related Directionals

brammer [bræ.mər]

< Early Hick bram-mer "tide-following"

Modern: "downstream" (from bram- + -mer "moving with")

malmer [mæl.mər]

< Early Hick mal-mer "pool-moving"

Modern: "upstream" (from mal- + -mer)

Early Hick Directional Affixes

Prefixes:

• ut- "out-"
• in- "in-"
• up- "up-"
• don- "down-"
• for- "forward-"
• bak- "back-"

Suffixes:

• -ner "going/moving"
• -mer "moving with"
• -ward "direction toward"
• -ling "along/alongside"

Modern Analytical Equivalents

• "going up" [ˈgoʊ.ɪŋ ʌp] (but "upner" preserved in nautical contexts)
• "moving out" [ˈmuv.ɪŋ aʊt] (but "utner" in maritime jargon)
• "with the tide" [wɪθ ðə taɪd] (but "brammer" in traditional usage)

Modern Analytical Markers

Locative Prepositions

ter [tɛr]

< Early Hick ter "flow, movement"

Modern: "to, towards" (directional)

bel [bɛl]

< Early Hick bel "mouth, opening"

Modern: "into, inside" (containment)

mal [mæl]

< Early Hick mal "pool, collection"

Modern: "at, in" (location)

tor [tɔr]

< Early Hick tor "height, peak"

Modern: "on, upon" (surface contact)

Temporal Markers

thral [θræl]

< Early Hick thral "day, daylight"

Modern: "during, while" (temporal)

mur [mʊr]

< Early Hick mur "night, darkness"

Modern: "after, following" (sequence)

Article-like Markers

val [væl]

< Early Hick val "spirit, essence"

Modern: definite marker "the" (known/sacred)

ka [kə]

< Early Hick ka- "like, similar"

Modern: indefinite marker "a" (general)

Possession/Relation Markers

mer [mɛr]

< Early Hick mer "moving with"

Modern: "of, belonging to" (possession)

ner [nɛr]

< Early Hick ner "going/moving"

Modern: "with, along with" (accompaniment)

Imperative/Modal Markers

thren [θrɛn]

< Early Hick thren "watch, overlook"

Modern: "must, should" (obligation)

ward [wɔrd]

< Early Hick ward "path, way"

Modern: "can, may" (possibility)

Examples in Use

• val skip ter mal "the ship to port" (directional)
• ka nes mer bram "a fish of the tide" (possession)
• thral val bram "during the tide" (temporal)
• thren ter val tor "must go to the mountain" (obligation)

Seneran Surnames by Origin

Early Hick-derived Names

1. Water/Maritime:

• Brammer [bræ.mər] "tide-follower" < bram-mer
• Malward [mæl.wərd] "pool-keeper" < mal-ward
• Thranmer [θræn.mər] "water-watcher" < thran-mer
• Mirling [mɪr.lɪŋ] "cold-water dweller" < mir-ling
• Bramwick [bræm.wɪk] "tide-bay dweller" < bram-vik
• Thirmal [θɪr.məl] "warm-pool keeper" < thir-mal

2. Sacred/Ritual:

• Thrallor [θræ.lər] "day-keeper" < thral-lor
• Thralvig [θræl.vɪg] "sacred watcher" < thral-vig
• Valmer [væl.mər] "spirit-keeper" < val-mer
• Threnwerd [θren.wərd] "watch-ward" < thren-ward
• Thralson [θræl.sən] "sacred one's son" < thral-sun
• Valward [væl.wərd] "spirit guardian" < val-ward

3. Geographic:

• Torling [tɔr.lɪŋ] "peak-dweller" < tor-ling
• Wudward [wʊd.wərd] "forest-keeper" < wud-ward
• Malton [mæl.tən] "pool-town" < mal-ton
• Beckmer [bek.mər] "stream-keeper" < bek-mer
• Torward [tɔr.wərd] "peak guardian" < tor-ward
• Wudling [wʊd.lɪŋ] "forest dweller" < wud-ling

Middle Hick/Iutlandish-influenced Names

1. Maritime:

• Skelward [skel.wərd] "ship-keeper" < skel-ward
• Knarman [nɑr.mən] "merchant sailor" < knarr-man
• Stavner [stæv.nər] "bow-keeper" < stav-ner
• Wickmer [wɪk.mər] "harbor-keeper" < wick-mer
• Selward [sel.wərd] "seal hunter" < sel-ward
• Havelman [hæ.vəl.mən] "ocean man" < hafel-man
• Skelmer [skel.mər] "ship keeper" < skel-mer
• Wickson [wɪk.sən] "harbor son" < wick-sun

2. Crafts/Trade:

• Smedling [smed.lɪŋ] "smith's family" < smed-ling
• Irenson [ɪr.ən.sən] "iron-worker's son" < iren-son
• Stalward [stɑl.wərd] "steel-keeper" < stal-ward
• Silverman [sɪl.vər.mən] "silver-worker" < silver-man
• Keperson [ke.pər.sən] "merchant's son" < keper-sun
• Telward [tel.wərd] "toll keeper" < tel-ward
• Bekker [be.kər] "beech worker" < bek-er

Kalassarian-derived Names

1. Administrative:

• Porter [pɔr.tər] "gate-keeper" < portor
• Custam [kʌs.təm] "customs official" < custamor
• Mercor [mɛr.kər] "merchant" < mercator
• Viglar [vɪg.lər] "watchman" < vigilarius
• Scriptor [skrɪp.tər] "writer" < scriptor
• Proctor [prɒk.tər] "overseer" < procurator
• Censor [sen.sər] "assessor" < censor
• Questor [kwes.tər] "investigator" < quaestor

2. Maritime Officials:

• Navton [næv.tən] "ship-town" < navtonum
• Marrick [mær.ɪk] "maritime district" < marricum
• Scruton [skru.tən] "inspector" < scrutator
• Chartor [tʃɑr.tər] "document keeper" < chartator
• Porton [pɔr.tən] "harbor town" < portonum
• Mariner [mær.ɪ.nər] "sailor" < marinarius
• Rector [rek.tər] "harbor master" < rector
• Curator [kjʊ.reɪ.tər] "overseer" < curator
• Burser [bɜr.sər] "treasurer" < bursarius

Development of Adjectival Marker

Historical Development

1. Early Hick *ka- "like, similar to"
2. Middle Seneran: Broadens to general attributive marker
3. Modern Seneran: Standard adjectival prefix ke-/ka-

Sound Changes

• *ka- → ke- before front vowels
• *ka- → ka- elsewhere
• Reduced to k- before some consonants

Examples

kemal [ke.mal]

"harbor-like, maritime" (< ka-mal "pool-like")

kator [ka.tɔr]

"mountainous" (< ka-tor "peak-like")

kbram [kbram]

"tidal" (< ka-bram, with vowel loss)

Specialized Maritime Usage

keskel [ke.skel]

"nautical" (< ka-skel "ship-like")

kawick [ka.wɪk]

"harbor-related" (< ka-wick "port-like")

Administrative Terms

kaport [ka.pɔrt]

"commercial" (< ka-port "port-related")

kemar [ke.mar]

"maritime" (< ka-mar "sea-like")

Final Stop Aspiration (Allophonic)

Distribution Rule

Final stops are aspirated:

1. Word-finally after stressed syllables
2. In formal/maritime register
3. No minimal pairs (purely allophonic)

Examples

Casual Register:

bat [bat] ~ [bat̚ʰ] "boat"

lak [lak] ~ [lak̚ʰ] "lake"

Formal/Maritime Register:

bat [bat̚ʰ] "boat" (consistently aspirated)

lak [lak̚ʰ] "lake" (consistently aspirated)

Register Variation

1. Maritime Speech:
   • Consistent final aspiration
   • [bat̚ʰ] "boat"
   • [lak̚ʰ] "lake"
2. Casual Speech:
   • Variable/absent aspiration
   • [bat] ~ [bat̚] "boat"
   • [lak] ~ [lak̚] "lake"

Historical Note

• Derives from Middle Hick /h/-clusters
• No phonemic contrast developed
• Became register/style marker
• Preserved most consistently in maritime dialect

Glottal Stop Distribution (Allophonic)

Modern Seneran Environments

1. Word-Initial Vowels:

   • Automatic [ʔ] before initial vowels
   • ir [ʔir] "iron"
   • al [ʔal] "stone"
   • es [ʔes] "east"

2. Vowel Hiatus:

   • Optional [ʔ] between vowels
   • me.al [me.ʔal] ~ [me.al] "stone pool"
   • ka.ir [ka.ʔir] ~ [ka.ir] "iron-like"
   • se.es [se.ʔes] ~ [se.es] "east-ward"

3. Register Variation:

   • Formal: consistent [ʔ] in hiatus
   • Casual: optional/absent [ʔ]
   • Maritime: preserved in certain terms

Historical Development

1. From Early Hick Animacy:
   • E.Hick ʔal > Sen. [ʔ]al "person"
   • E.Hick ʔeθral > Sen. [ʔ]eθral "good"
2. New Environments:
   • Vowel-initial words
   • Compound boundaries
   • Emphasized syllables

Examples

Word-Initial:

imer [ʔi.mer] "breath"

amal [ʔa.mal] "pool"

Compounds:

me.imer [me.ʔi.mer] ~ [me.i.mer] "breath-flow"

ka.amal [ka.ʔa.mal] ~ [ka.a.mal] "pool-like"

Emphasis:

a'mal! [ʔaʔ.mal] "the pool!" (emphatic)

Vowel Hiatus Resolution

Standard vs. Colloquial Forms

1. /a.i/ sequences:

   • Standard: ka.ir [ka.ʔir] "iron-like"
   • Colloquial: kair [kaɪ̯r]
   • Maritime: [ka.ʔir] (maintains hiatus)

2. /e.a/ sequences:

   • Standard: me.al [me.ʔal] "stone pool"
   • Colloquial: meal [mɛː] ~ [mɛ.əl]
   • Maritime: [me.ʔal] (maintains hiatus)

3. /a.e/ sequences:

   • Standard: ma.es [ma.ʔes] "pool-ward"
   • Colloquial: maes [maɪ̯s]
   • Maritime: [ma.ʔes] (maintains hiatus)

Dialectal Patterns

Urban Colloquial:

Frequent diphthongization

ka.ir > kair [kaɪ̯r]

se.al > seal [sɛːl]

Rural Inland:

Vowel coalescence with length

ka.ir > kar [kaːr]

me.al > mel [mɛːl]

Coastal Maritime:

Maintains hiatus

[ka.ʔir], [me.ʔal]

(Conservative, preserves distinctions)

Register Effects

Formal:

Maintains hiatus with [ʔ]

Legal/administrative terms

Religious vocabulary

Casual:

Allows diphthongs

Everyday speech

Fast speech forms

Maritime Directional Terms

From Early Hick

ners [nərs]

"narrowing of channel" (< Early Hick neraes)

Technical maritime term

nemris [nem.ris]

"channel widening" (< Early Hick nerimris)

Maritime technical term

moner [mo.nər]

"broad, wide" (< Early Hick moner)

Archaic/poetic, replaced by analytical forms

Specialized Forms

liners [laɪ.nərs] ~ [lɪ.nərs]

"to strangle/choke" (< Early Hick lineraes)

Also: "dangerous channel constriction" in maritime usage

Register Variants

• Maritime Technical: [lɪ.nərs] "hazardous narrowing"
• Legal/Criminal: [laɪ.nərs] "death by strangulation"
• Common Speech: [lɪ.nərs] "to choke/strangle"

Sound Changes

Major Historical Changes

Based on place name evidence and comparative analysis with modern Seneran, we can identify several key sound changes:

Early Seneran Period (0-500 AI)

1. Initial Consonant Clusters

   • /θr/ → /r/ / #_a
     • thrantorgral → rantorgral "thousand peaks"
     • thramal → ramal "flowing area"
   • /θr/ → /tr/ / #_{i,e}
     • thrikel → trikel "road network"
     • thren → tren "watch point"
   • /θr/ preserved in formal/sacred terms
     • thran-val [θran.val] "thousand-blessing"
     • thral-tor [θral.tor] "sacred peak"

2. Vowel Changes

   • /ae/ → /a/ in unstressed syllables
     • bramaes → bramas "tidal flow"
     • thramaes → thramas "sacred water"
   • /i/ → /e/ in compounds
     • innis-bél → innesbel "island mouth"
     • thrim-kel → tremkel "through-sky"

Middle Seneran (500-1000 AI)

1. Final Syllable Weakening

   • Unstressed vowels → schwa
     • [ra.na.es] → [ra.nə.əs]
     • [in.nes.bel] → [in.nes.bəl]

2. Consonant Cluster Evolution

   • Schwa deletion after liquids before stops
     • [θral.tər] → [θraltr] "sacred peak"
     • [mal.kə] → [malk] "pool-place"
   • Preserved elsewhere
     • [in.nes.bəl] remains [in.nes.bəl]

3. Liquid Deletion

   • [θral.tər] → [θraltr] "sacred peak"
   • [mal.kə] → [malk] "pool-place"

Late Seneran (1000+ AI)

1. Final Changes
   • Word-final schwa deletion
     • [ran.ter.gə] → [ran.terg]
     • [ma.lə] → [mal]
   • Final cluster simplification
     • [bra.məs] → [brams]
     • [in.nes.bəl] → [in.spell]

Common Patterns

Evidence from place names shows consistent patterns:

Initial [θr-]

Becomes [r-] before /a/

Becomes [tr-] before /i,e/

Preserved in sacred/formal terms

Examples: thrantorgral → rantorg thrikel → trikel thran-val remains [θran.val]

Unstressed [-ae-]

Becomes [-a-]

Example: bramaes → bramas

Compound [-i-]

Becomes [-e-]

Example: innis-bél → innesbel