Phonology & Orthography
The sounds of Kalob are governed by strict phonotactics and an expanded 7-vowel system that drives the language's grammar.
📢 The 7-Vowel Engine
Kalob expands the standard 5-vowel system. These vowels are not just phonetic; they are grammatical indicators for tense, case, and function.
Grammatical Functions
⚖ Strict Phonotactics
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Hard-to-Soft Flow: Content words strictly enforce a Hard Onset followed by a Soft Coda.
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No Coda R or L: To prevent discernment issues with central vowels 'v' and 'w', 'r' and 'l' are banned from the end of syllables.
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Streamlined Clusters: Consonant clusters that cause awkward anaptyxis (forced vowel insertion) are strictly prohibited.
🔤 Consonant Symmetry: The 'h' Modifier
Kalob's alphabet features a highly symmetrical consonant system where adding an 'h' systematically shifts a stop to a fricative, or an alveolar sound to a post-alveolar/palatal sound.
Stops → Fricatives
Alveolar → Palatal
Sonorants
🅾 Onsets
p, ph, k, kh, q, qh, t, th, s, sh, c, ch, m, n, l, and r.
Clusters
- P-based: pr, py, pl, phr, phy, phl
- K-based: kr, ky, kl, km, kn, khr, khy, khl, khm, khn
- T-based: tr, ty, thr, thy, thl, thm, thn
- S-based: sr, sy, sl, sm, sn, st, sty, str, sk, sky, skr, sp, spy, spr, shr, shy, shl, shm, shn
- C-based: cr, cy, chr, chy
- M-based: my
- N-based: ny
- L-based: ly
- R-based: ry
◉ Center Vowels
w and v are central vowels in the Kalob grammar, the former /ɜ/ and the latter /ɨ/.
Noun-Level Vowel-Liquid Exclusions
Because of their centrality, some arrangements of vowel and coda glide are considered too muddy to be utilized. A root Noun cannot have these combinations of vowel and glide:
wl
vl
wr
vr
🅲 Codas
b, bh, g, gh, d, dh, z, zh, j, jh, m, and n.Note: 'j' is omitted because of attributives and 'zh' is omitted because of modificatives.
Clusters
- R-based: rb, rbh, rg, rgh, rd, rdh, rz, rjh, rm, rn
- L-based: lb, lbh, lg, lgh, ld, ldh, lz, ljh, lm, ln
- M-based: mb, mdh, mjh
- N-based: nbh, ng, nd, ndh, nz, njh
- Z-based: zd, zm, zn, zb, zg
- G-based: gz, gd
- B-based: bz, bd
- R-based: rl
Grammar & Morphology
In Kalob, you can identify the exact grammatical function of a word just by looking at its shape, vowels, and suffixes.
Vocabulary Division
All non-derived words are divided into Shortwords (grammar) and Longwords (content).
Category 1: Shortwords
1 to 4 letters • Grammar/Notions
- Interjections (1-2): Single vowel for vague notions and two for specific ones.
- Connectives (2-4):
- Prepositions (only i, o)
- Conjunctions (only v, w)
- Designatives (2-4): Articles/Pronouns. Vowels a (Sg) or e (Pl).
- Staffwords (2-4): Oral gestures. Must end in u.
Category 2: Longwords
3+ letters • Precise Content
- Nouns & Numbers (3+): End with a Soft Coda (except zh/j).
- Verbs (4+): Root + open vowel tense (a, e, i, o, v, w).
- Attributives (5+): Adjectives/Participles. End in -j. (e.g., -oj, -wj)
- Modificatives (5+): Adverbs/Gerunds. End in -zh. (e.g., -ozh, -wzh)
Shortword Classes in Detail
Interjections
Express raw emotion or vague notions. They consist of one or two vowels. Written with an exclamation mark.
- e! Exuberance / Approval / "Bravo!"
- v! Overwhelming / Excessive / "Stop!"
- u! Parity / Consent / "Agreed!"
- io Greeting / "Hello" / "Hey!"
- oi Error / "Oops!" / "My mistake!"
- ea Appreciation / "Thank you!"
- ae Politeness / "Please"
Connectives
Link words and clauses. Identifiable by their strict, exclusive vowel usage.
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Prepositions (only i, o):ci (during), in (inside), ki (with), so (without), pro (for), ri (according to), etc.
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Conjunctions (only v, w):cv (or), stv (then, next), pv (but), vd (and), chw (because), wbh (if), etc.
Prepositions of Direction
Augmented by adding the vowel i for origin (from), and o for direction (to).
- ib (on/above) → ibi (from above) | ibo (onto)
- pli (at house) → ipli (from house) | opli (to house)
Designatives
Articles, impersonal pronouns, and demonstratives. They utilize ONLY the vowel a (for singular) or e (for plural).
- an (a/an)
- ajh (this)
- ka (who?)
- ca (a little)
- ane (some/any)
- ajhe (these)
- ke (who pl.?)
- ce (several)
For example, "Give some bread and some berries" translates to ed kibho qhidu vd phrvdigu (Give bread and cherries), completely omitting a translation for "some".
Staffwords
"Oral gestures" that govern or bind meaning without attaching directly to the word. They must end in u.
- nu Indicates negation (not)
- su/snu Reflexive positive/negative particles
- khu/khnu Positive/negative interrogatives
- thu/thnu Positive/negative subordinators
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lu Definite article ("this very")
Definite ArticleThis staffword acts as a definite article when you need to specify "the very one in question" or "that specific one and no other".
For instance, while cho ren simply means "there is the man," adding the staffword to make cho lu ren explicitly means "there is the man in question".
Personal Pronouns: The Consonant Core
For almost all other words in the designative class (articles, demonstratives, relatives, interrogatives, and indefinites), the rule is absolute: a final -a indicates singular, and -e indicates plural. However, personal pronouns operate on a completely different mechanical system. The grammatical concepts of person, gender, and number are encoded entirely within a single characteristic consonant: m (1 Sg.), d (2 Fam. Sg.), bh (2 Res. Sg.), l (3 Anim. Sg.), z (3 Inan. Sg,), zh (3 Abs. Sg.), n (1 Pl.), b (2 Fam. Pl.), g (2 Res. Pl.), dh (3 Anim. Pl.), j (3 Inan. Pl.), jh (3 Abs. Pl.). Vowels are then wrapped around this consonant to assign the case.
The Abstract pronoun serves as the primary tool for referencing non-physical entities. Its usage is strictly enforced in two specific contexts:
- Conceptual Antecedents: When the referent is a verb, a clause, or an intangible concept (e.g., "The theory is complex; it [Abstract] requires study").
- Pleonastic Subjects: Kalob maintains a rigid SVO architecture. In instances where a verb lacks a logical "doer"—such as weather phenomena—the Abstract pronoun is utilized as a structural anchor.
- En: "It is raining."
- Ka: zhe shvbho (It rains)
By doing this, the language satisfies the requirement for a subject slot without erroneously implying that a physical object or animate agent is performing the action, keeping the syntax tree logically consistent.
1. Singular Cases
Imperative
Reflexive
2. Plural Cases
Imperative
Reflexive
3. Possessives
Plurality concepts are restored to the suffix vowels to indicate the number of the possession itself.
Sg Possession
Pl Possession
Sg Possession
Pl Possession
Modal Compression & Stative Equivalency
Kalob utilizes a highly efficient mechanic called Modal Compression, where two auxiliary concepts are encoded directly into the vowel matrix of attributive and modificative suffixes. This creates a direct, mathematically equivalent relationship between a Passive Modal State (using a derived attributive) and an Active Serial Verb Construction (SVC).
The Semantic Mapping
When a root concept requires a shift in modality, Kalob provides two parallel syntactic paths. The attributive suffixes map perfectly to specific auxiliary verb roots:
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Necessitative (Duty):
-aj↔mwzd(Must / Obliged)- The suffix
-ajencodes the state of needing to happen. - Active SVC: me mwzdo lwbho (I must love).
- The suffix
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Potential (Possibility):
-wj↔nwng(Can / Able)- The suffix
-wjencodes the state of being able to happen. - Active SVC: me nwngo lwbho (I can love).
- The suffix
The Copula Preservation Rule
Because attributives carry these compressed modal auxiliaries, the copula (sen) is structurally required when expressing a state. You cannot apply the "zero-copula" stative verb rule to a derived modal attributive without crashing the syntax tree.
-j and leaving lwbhw, the modality is destroyed. The word lwbhw resolves to the Hypothetical verb tense ("would love"), completely changing the semantic meaning.
Therefore, the copula acts as a structural anchor that protects the attributive's modality.
Equivalency Examples
The following constructions are semantically equal but syntactically distinct. Either the speaker intends to emphasize the action (SVC) or the inherent state (Copula).
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Active (SVC):
me nwngo lwbho. (I am able to love.)
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Passive State (Copula):
me seno lwbhwj. (I am lovable / able to be loved.)
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Active (SVC):
me mwzdo lwbho. (I must love.)
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Passive State (Copula):
me seno lwbhaj. (I am must-love / I am to-be-loved.)
The Copulative Matrix: Disambiguating "To Be"
SAE languages typically overload a single copulative verb (like the English "to be") to execute fundamentally different mathematical operations: equating two nouns, assigning a location, declaring existence, and attaching qualities. To prevent semantic collisions and parsing errors, Kalob splits the copula into four distinct operators. Each verb handles a specific logical relationship between the subject and its complement.
sen Identity & Modality
Function: Equivalence (A = B), Truth, and Modal Anchoring.
Usage: sen is utilized exclusively when equating a subject to another noun (identity), or when structurally anchoring a derived Modal Compression attributive.
- Identity:
zhe seno kw... (It is true/correct that...) - Equivalence:
Taguphyezd seno qangusorz estergij. (The Sun is the strongest light source.) - Modal Anchor:
le seno lwbhwj. (He is lovable / able to be loved.)
svbh Existential
Function: Ontological existence, survival, and instantiation.
Usage: svbh is strictly for declaring that an entity exists in reality. Because Kalob requires a rigid S-V-O structure, stating "There is a..." requires the use of the Abstract Pronoun as a dummy subject to execute the existential frame.
- Syntax: zhe svbhe [Noun]
- Translation: "It existed-as a [Noun]" → "There was a [Noun]."
- Direct Usage:
merjherd svbho. (The traveler exists / survives).
stvz Locative
Function: Spatial presence and physical coordinate mapping.
Usage: stvz maps a subject to a location or confirms physical presence in a given space. It is often combined with directional prepositions or used as a base root for inchoative serial verbs (e.g. stvz-u-skido = to become present / to arrive).
- Syntax: [Subject] stvzo [Prep] [Noun]
- Example:
kla stvzo in uchemb. (Someon is [located] in the digital-room.)
plong Partitive
Function: Categorization, subset membership (A ∈ B), and property subordination.
Usage: plong defines the subject as a component part, property, or subordinate member of a larger class or entity. It functions as the logical inverse of possession.
- Syntax: [Subject] plongo [Category]
- Example:
klodhu plongo merjherd. (The clothes belongs to / is the property of the traveler.)
Lexical Summary Table
| Verb Root | Logical Operation | Math Notation | Primary Translation Context |
|---|---|---|---|
sen |
Identity / Modality | A = B | "Is identical to", "Is true", "Is [Modal State]" |
svbh |
Existence | ∃ A | "Exists", "There is...", "Survives" |
stvz |
Location | A → (x,y,z) | "Is located at", "Is present" |
plong |
Subset / Property | A ∈ B | "Belongs to", "Is a type of" |
[None]
|
Intrinsic Quality | Quality(A) | "Is [inherent physical state or trait]" |
When translating a physical state or intrinsic quality (e.g., strong, red, heavy), Kalob utilizes a Zero-Copula structure. The language does not require a linking verb; instead, the root directly accepts the verb vowel matrix.
The copula sen is only deployed to anchor a derived adjectival state. When forming general adjectives -ej, use the passive -u-.
Longword Classes in Detail
Nouns & Numbers
Represent the precise roots of the language. They must begin with a Hard Onset (or the tool u) and always finish with a Soft Coda (except zh or j).
- sen (identity / to be)
- phorz (power)
- kind (child / offspring)
- spand (to expand)
- manjh (to eat / food)
- phwn (one)
- tvbh (two)
- threz (three)
- qad (four)
- cen (ten)
Verbs
Derived from Noun roots by appending an open vowel (a, e, i, o, v, w). They signify action or state with respect to time/tense.
- lwbhe To have loved (past)
- lwbhi To always love (eternal)
- lwbhv To usually love (habitual)
- lwbho To love (present)
- lwbhw To hypothetically love (conditional)
- lwbha To ought to love (future)
Attributives
Qualifying Adjectives and Participles. Created by adding the consonant j to a verb form. Expresses quality or attributes.
- -ij Present Participle (Eternal)
- -vj Present Participle (Habitual)
- -oj Present Participle (Transitory)
- -ej Qualifying Adjective (General)
- -aj Qualifying Adjective (Duty)
- -wj Qualifying Adjective (Possibility)
Modificatives
Adverbs and Gerunds. Always finish with the consonant zh. Simple adverbs are 3+ letters; derived gerunds are 5+ letters.
- mazh (very)
- cezh (here)
- phrozh (early)
- tarzh (late)
- pazh (enough)
- penzh (well)
- -izh (Participle - Eternal)
- -vzh (Participle - Habitual)
- -ozh (Participle - Transitory)
- -ezh (General)
- -azh (Duty)
- -wzh (Possibility)
The Versatile 'u' Tool & Compounding
Kalob maps its semantic space identically to Chinese, relying on lexical compounding. The Staffword 'u' is the core grammatical tool of the language, and its exact function is determined entirely by its position:
1. As a Prefix
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Before Noun:
Virtual/digital gender.
Virtual/Digital GenderOriginally, Bolak utilized the u- prefix as an asymmetrical feminine gender marker. Kalob modernizes this by moving all biological/social gender indicators to a unified system of detached staffwords.
This freed the u- prefix to serve a hyper-modern semantic function: distinguishing between physical and virtual domains. Rather than treating "virtual" as a gender, Kalob treats it as a distinct noun class. This allows speakers to elegantly recycle physical vocabulary for digital spaces without ambiguity.
For example, applying the u- prefix instantly clarifies whether a speaker is referring to a physical "room" or a digital "chatroom," entirely removing the need for archaic metaphors in modern technology. - Before Verb: Anteriority/Priority (creates Perfect Tenses like "to have...").
- Before Modifier: Comparative of equality ("as/equally").
2. As an Infix
- Penultimate in Verb: Passive voice (placed right before the tense vowel: lwbhui).
- Between Roots: Oral/written hyphen for semantic compounding (e.g., thwnduskwd = thunderhead).
3. As a Suffix
- End of a Word: Indicates the plural form of a noun root.
Margretation: Degrees of Intensity
Margretation is a rule used to express different quantitative shades, degrees of intensity, or degrees of comparison for abstract thoughts.
1. The Process
Mechanically, the rule works by taking a single interjection (a vowel) and prefixing it to a precise word (a Longword, such as a noun, verb, attributive, or modificative) to instantly modulate its intensity.
2. Semantic Meaning in Nouns and Verbs
When Margaretation is applied to abstract nouns and verbs, it is an optional rule used purely to modulate the semantic intensity of the thought. It creates a scale of sensation ranging from "not at all" to "passionately".
- i Paroxysm: ilwbhi (Idolize / Love to paroxysm)
- v Excessive: vlwbhi (Smother / Love excessively)
- e Passion: elwbhi (Adore / Love with passion)
- o Inclination: olwbhi (Penchant / Love a little)
- w Lacking: wlwbhi (Love too little / Barely love)
- a Indifference: alwbhi (Lack of love / Apathy)
Note: The prefix u (equality) is not used with nouns or verbs, as it only makes sense for comparisons.
3. Degrees of Comparison (Attributives)
When Margaretation is applied to attributives (adjectives) and modificatives (adverbs), it is the obligatory method for forming the grammatical degrees of comparison.
- i Superlative: ilwbhej (The most loved)
- e Comparative (+): elwbhej (More loved)
- u Equality: ulwbhej (As loved)
- o Comparative (-): olwbhej (Less loved)
- a Minimative: alwbhej (The least loved)
4. Differentiating the Usages
The primary differentiation is structural: if the word is a noun or a verb, the prefix is always semantic; if it is an attributive or modificative, the prefix is primarily comparative.
However, Kalob allows you to use Margaretation on attributives and modificatives for pure semantic intensity as well. For example, ilwbhej can mean "enormously loved" just as accurately as it means "the most loved," and elwbhej can mean "very loved" as well as "more loved".
5. Bypassing for Precision
When an attributive or modificative is margaretated, you must rely entirely on the context of the phrase to tell whether it is acting as a degree of comparison or a simple semantic qualification.
If absolute precision is required and you want to ensure there is no comparative ambiguity, Kalob allows you to bypass Margaretation entirely and use separate adverbs of quantity instead, such as mazh (very) or pvzh (little).
6. Important Limitations
- Abstract Only: Can only be applied to abstract notions or collective nouns. It cannot be used on concrete physical objects (e.g., you cannot have "passionately fruit"). Physical size adjustments use different suffixes.
- Not Active Negation: The prefix a- does not equate to a strict, active negation (which must use the separate shortword
nu), but rather implies an indifference or lack of feeling.
Phrase Structure & Word Order
Kalob strictly follows SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) word order. Modifiers have fixed positions relative to their heads: Nouns are modified by their Attributives (Adjectives) to the right, and Prepositional Phrases follow standard head-initial sequence.
Note: If a Modificative modifies an Attributive, it is placed between the Noun and the Attributive. If a Modificative modifies another Modificative, it is placed before the Modificative it modifies.
1. Subject Noun Phrase
2. Verb Phrase
3. Prepositional Phrase & Object
Interrogative Sentences (Forming Questions)
In Kalob, forming a question follows the strict rule of syntactic immutability: the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order never changes. Unlike English or French, Kalob never inverts the subject and the verb to ask a question (e.g., "Are you...?" or "Do you...?"). Instead, Kalob signals an interrogation entirely through the insertion of specific interrogative staffwords, designatives, or modificatives (adverbs).
Yes/No Questions (Interrogative Staffwords)
To ask a binary question whose answer is "yes" or "no," place the interrogative staffword immediately before the verb.
- khu — Affirmative Interrogative (Do...? Is...?)
- khnu — Negative Interrogative (Do... not? Is... not?)
- le khu tego pozduklodh? (Does he take off the cloak?)
- le khnu tego pozduklodh? (Does he not take off the cloak?)
- de khu manjhuqhando? (Are you hungry?)
Open Questions (Interrogative Designatives)
When asking for specific information (Who, What, Which), Kalob utilizes Interrogative Designatives. These words are characterized by the consonant k and follow the standard Kalob vowel rules for number and case.
Because the SVO order is immutable, the interrogative designative replaces the missing noun in the exact slot where the noun would normally sit.
Nominative / Accusative
- ka (Who? / What? / Which? — Singular)
- ke (Who? / What? / Which? — Plural)
- Subject Slot: ka khu spigo kw zhe seno ab?
(Who says that it is so?) - Object Slot: de khu lwbho ka?
(Whom do you love?)
Genitive / Ablative
(Of/From Whom/What)
- eka (Singular) / eke (Plural)
- Example: de khu spigo eka?
(Of whom do you speak?)
Dative
(To Whom/What)
- aka (Singular) / ake (Plural)
- Example: de khu kibho qhid aka?
(To whom do you give bread?)
Locative/Directional
(Where/Whither/Whence)
- kea (Singular) / kae (Plural)
kea.
- Example: de khu stvzo kea?
(Where are you located?)
Open Questions (Interrogative Modificatives / Adverbs)
To ask questions regarding manner, time, quantity, or reason, Kalob relies on interrogative adverbs. Following the rule for all simple adverbs in Kalob, these words end in the characteristic consonant zh.
Note: As with all open questions, the SVO order remains locked. The adverb simply attaches to the verb.
(How old are you? / Lit: You have years how-much?)
(How did you become sick?)
(Why are they leaving? ...)
(When do you bring the ball?)
Vocatives, Imperatives, and the Exclamative Mood
In Kalob, vocatives, imperatives, and exclamatives are deeply interconnected, as the language uses a clever system of letter reversal (anagrams) to express exclamatory thoughts.
1. Vocatives
The vocative case is used to address or call out to someone, and in Kalob, it applies specifically to personal pronouns. It is formed simply by converting the onset of the nominative personal pronoun into the coda. Because all nominative pronouns consist of a consonant (cluster) followed by the vowel e, the vocative always consists of the vowel e followed by the consonant (cluster).
- de (thou) becomes the vocative ed (oh, thou!).
- me (I) becomes em (oh, me!).
- le (she/he/they) becomes el (oh, her/him/them!).
2. Imperatives and the Exclamative Mood
Kalob does not have a traditional imperative mood. Instead, it groups orders, calls, and prayers together into a single category called the Exclamative mood, because all of these represent impulsive, exclamatory manifestations of thought.
You form a command or exclamation by placing a personal pronoun in the vocative case immediately before the verb.
Direct Commands
- Command (Sg): ed phlod!
(Swim!) - Command (We): en talgo!
(Let's talk!)
Noun Subject Commands
If you are giving a command to a specific noun subject, you must still include the vocative pronoun after the noun to explicitly mark the verb's mood.
- Example: ren ed kwmo!
("Person, come!" / lit: "Person, thou, come!")
3. Exclamative Pronouns and Adjectives
Aside from the Exclamative verbal mood, Kalob also has exclamative designatives (words like "What a...!" or "Who!"). These are directly paired with interrogative words (like "Who?" or "Which?").
Interrogative words in Kalob are characterized by the consonant k, such as ka (singular) and ke (plural). Following the same anagram principle used for the vocative case, exclamative words are formed by reversing the interrogative words.
- Example: ak myvz!
(What a game!) - Example: ak tag!
(What a day!)
- Example: ek phrendu re de khabho!
(What friends (that) you have!)
Linking Clauses (Relative & Subordinate)
In Kalob, clauses are never awkwardly mashed together. The language utilizes specific logical bridges to connect thoughts, ensuring the listener knows exactly what mathematical relationship the second clause has to the first.
Subordinate Clauses (Sentence Bridges)
When connecting two complete SVO clauses together, Kalob uses staffwords to define the "reality-state" of the second clause.
The Factual Bridge (kw)
The connective kw is used when the subordinate clause is an objective fact, observation, or statement of reality.
- Syntax: [Main Clause] + kw + [Factual Subordinate Clause]
- Example: pye tragde kw pya estergi.
(Both of them agreed that the one of them was stronger.) - Example: me spigo kw zhe svbho.
(I say that it is.)
The Subjunctive / Causative Bridge (thu / thnu)
The staffword thu (negative: thnu) is used when the subordinate clause is not an established fact. It is deployed when the main clause expresses a desire, command, necessity, or causative force attempting to bend reality.
- Syntax: [Main Clause] + thu + [Subjunctive Subordinate Clause]
- Example: le koze thu merjherd tego pozduklodh.
(He caused that the traveler takes off the cloak.) - Example: me spegdo thu zhe svbho.
(I wish that it be.)
thu clause reflect the chronological real-time of the cause-and-effect. They do not artificially copy the tense of the main verb.
Relative Clauses (Designatives)
When a clause acts as a modifier describing a specific noun, Kalob uses Relative Designatives. These words are characterized by the consonant r and follow standard Kalob vowel rules for number and case. They replace the English pronouns who, whom, which, and that.
Nominative / Accusative
- ra (who, whom, which — Sg)
- re (who, whom, which — Pl)
- Subject: pla ra skide kozh...
(The one who succeeded first...) - Object: tomu re de ride...
(The books which you read...)
Genitive / Ablative
(Whose / Of Which)
- era (Sg) / ere (Pl)
- Example: ren era pozduklodh seno mabh...
(The man whose cloak is blue...)
Dative
(To Whom / To Which)
- ara (Sg) / are (Pl)
- Example: merjherd ara me kibhe tom...
(The traveler to whom I gave the book...)
Locative
(Where / Where... From / etc.)
- rea (Sg) / rae (Pl)
- Example: tom rea svmo...
(The house where I live...) - Example: myezdu rae le kezde...
(The cities that she travelled to...)
Prepositional Shortcuts
To maintain lexical economy and avoid clunky phrasing, Kalob utilizes highly compressed relative shortcut words. When a relative concept requires a preposition acting upon a previously established object, use these forms:
(I want a little of it.)
(I am depending upon it.)
Building Nouns: Compounds & Suffixes
Nouns in Kalob are highly modular. They can be dynamically expanded through compounding and suffixation to capture complex specific meanings, all while maintaining their status as a single "Longword."
1. Head-Last Compounding
Even though noun phrases are head first, compound nouns are strictly head last (Modifier u Head).
2. Noun Anatomy
A noun may be made of two nouns compounded through the tool-u and up to 3 suffixes.
And don't forget the detached semantic staffwords can be used to add additional nuance!
Dual-Path Derivation: SVCs and Secondary Terminations
To maximize both syntactic flexibility and lexical economy, Kalob utilizes a dual-path system for expressing complex states, changes, and conceptual relationships. Speakers can choose between Analytic Derivation (Serial Verb Constructions) and Synthetic Derivation (Secondary Terminations) depending on the grammatical role the word needs to play.
Analytic vs. Synthetic Forms
1. Analytic Forms Serial Verb Constructions
- Best For: Active verbs, dynamic actions, and complete predicates.
- Mechanism: Strings independent roots together (e.g.,
skidfor "become",kozfor "cause"). - Example: le skido stergo (He becomes strong)
2. Synthetic Forms Secondary Terminations
- Best For: Substantives (nouns), Attributives (adjectives), and Modificatives (adverbs).
- Mechanism: Attaches a specific, meaning-dense suffix directly to a root to create a newly consolidated lexical item.
- Example: sterg-anz (The act of strengthening / Aggrandizement)
The Kalob Secondary Terminations
While the absolute terminations facilitate the core syntax of the language, Kalob's secondary terminations are used to add additional nuance and specificity to root words. The suffix syllables themselves were derived from a specific Kalob root word as a mnemonic device, however, the suffix semantics are not always a perfect match for the root word they are attached to. Below is the complete matrix of Kalob Secondary Terminations, their core meanings, and their root origins.
| K-Suffix | Meaning / Function | Originating Kalob Root | English Equivalents |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ald | The (physical) nature of | qald (Quality / substance / nature) |
-ness, -ity, -hood |
| -ajh | Made of, compound of | phajh (To do / make / intentional execution) |
-en, -ic, -ous |
| -adh | Illness | padh (Illness / disease) |
-itis, -osis, -pathy, -algia |
| -arjh | Part of, piece of | parjh (Component / distinct piece) |
-let, -ling, -piece |
| -az | Relating to (moral) | yaz (To link / connection / relation) |
-al, -ic, -ous |
| -wmb | Material augmentative | klwmb (Mass / clump / cluster) |
mega-, super-, over- |
| -ezd | Hating, being disgusted with | rezd (Hate / resentment) |
-phobe, -misia |
| -ijh | Quality, state, situation | sijh (Feeling / emotion / situation) |
-dom, -hood, -ship, -cy |
| -vd | Result of action or state | phrvd (Fruit / result) |
-ment, -tion, -age, -al |
| -ard | Beginning of action or state | stard (To open / to start) |
en-, be-, -esce |
| -iz | Trading, commercial | biz (Business / occupation) |
-ery, -shop, -store |
| -ozd | Commanding, at the head of | khozd (Master / main / host) |
arch-, head-, chief- |
| -ig | Material diminutive | chig (Small / tiny / young) |
-let, -ette, -ling, -icle |
| -and | Liking, being fond of | phand (To like / joy / happy) |
-phile |
| -vbh | Acting, operating | mvbh (To move / kinetic motion) |
-ify, -ize, -en, -ant, -ent |
| -wd | Name of science | stwd (To learn / to study) |
-ology, -ics, -graphy |
| -vb | Instrument | shvb (Tool / equipment / instrument) |
-er, -or, -ment, -cle |
| -anz | Changing state or action | tranz (To convert / phase transition) |
-ify, -ize, -en, -esce |
| -en | Multiple effort, multiple number (10x) | cen (10 / Ten) |
-ening |
| -wnd | Frequentative effort, multiple number (100x) | khwnd (100 / Hundred) |
-le, -er, "all around" |
| -vdh | Moral characteristical generality | tvdh (Virtue / morality / ethics) |
-ism |
| -amb | Worker; clerk; employed in | mamb (Member / employee / person) |
-er, -or, -ist, -ian |
| -wng | Destination, use | ywng (To use / utility / applied function) |
-able, -ible, -ware |
| -in | Containing, full of | plin (Full / satisfied / content) |
-ful, -ous, -ose, -y |
| -orz | Deriving or being derived from | sorz (Spring / source / fountain) |
-ate, -ide, -ine, -ian |
| -an | Blow with | slan (To strike / beat / break) |
(Noun compounds) |
| -edh | Name of tree | phedh (Wood / tree) |
-tree |
| -on | Place or ground planted in | son (Zone / region / district / area) |
-yard, -orchard, -ery |
| -erd | Actor, acting | yerd (Heart / mind / core) |
-er, -or, -ant, -ent |
| -eb | Having form of, being shaped | sheb (Shape / form / appearance) |
-form, -oid, -shaped |
| -ing | Place where people stay | pling (Building / house / enclosed structure) |
-ary, -ery, -orium, -age |
| -od | General scientific expression | kod (Symbol / sign / mark / code) |
-ia, -ium, -on |
| -id | Physical collectivity or generality | plid (All / whole / complete) |
-age, -ry, -ware |
| -em | Maker, manufacturer | stem (System / manufacture / control) |
-maker, -smith, -wright |
Application Rules for Terminations
When attaching a secondary termination, the new word operates fundamentally as a root and can subsequently take Kalob's absolute terminations (-o, -ij, -ezh, etc.) to lock it into a part of speech.
For example, starting with the root sterg (Strength):
- sterg-anz = The change/action of strengthening (Substantive)
- sterg-anz-o = To apply strengthening / to fortify (Verb)
- sterg-vbh = A strengthener (Noun)
- sterg-vbh-ij = Pertaining to a strengthener (Attributive)
By utilizing these suffixes, Kalob achieves extreme lexical density without sacrificing logical transparency, allowing the speaker to smoothly transition between abstract nouns, structural adjectives, and active verb predicates.
Building Numbers: Digits to Magnitudes
The foundation of Kalob mathematics relies on ten unique root words for the digits 1 through 10. From these roots, any number can be logically derived using specific prefixes and suffixes.
1. Basic Digits
- 1 phwn
- 2 tvbh
- 3 threz
- 4 qad
- 5 phabh
- 6 sigz
- 7 sebd
- 8 khogd
- 9 nobh
- 10 cen
2. The Teens (11-19)
Constructed additively by attaching the base digit to the prefix ce- (a reduction of cen, 10).
3. Tens & Hundreds
Tens and hundreds reverse the teen pattern by attaching a suffix to the multiplier digit.
4. Magnitudes
The root for 1,000 is myon. Larger magnitudes use myo- + base root. (Base value × 3 = number of zeros).
1,000,000,000 (Billion)
1,000,000,000,000 (Trillion)
cephwn myothrez qaden myotvbh phabhwnd tvbh
= 11,040,000,502
Ordinals & Collectives
Unlike English, which generally uses "-th" for all ordinal concepts, Kalob uses six distinct absolute endings attached to cardinal numbers to express precise mathematical and collective nuances. Note: to use them as modificatives (adverbs), you must use one of the modificative suffixes.
- -idh Rank or order tvbhidh = the second
- -oz Precise multiplication threzoz = the triple
- -om Precise division/fractions qadom = the quarter
- -am Vague collective group khogdam = about eight (like "a dozen")
- -erl Distinctive collective (sorts/kinds) sebderl = of seven sorts
- -old Multiplying collective (number of times) nobhold = nine times
The Plural Suffix: -u
Just like nouns, both cardinal and ordinal numbers can take the tool-vowel -u to indicate the plural.
- phwnidhu
the first ones - ale cenu
all the tens (used as a noun)
Telling Time
In Kalob, telling time relies on a logical and concise system using cardinal numbers, where the placement of the minutes relative to the hour mimics the physical movement of a minute hand on a clock face.
1. The Full Hour
To state the full hour, use the cardinal number and make it plural by adding -u.
three o'clock (lit. "the threes")
2. First Half-Hour
If before the half-hour, minutes (singular) are placed immediately after the plural hour. Words like "past" are suppressed.
3. At & After Half-Hour
At 30 mins and beyond, minutes (singular) are placed before the next upcoming plural hour.
4. 24-Hour Clock, Noon, & Midnight
Kalob encourages a 24-hour clock to avoid "AM/PM". Noon is pan; Midnight is mijh.
5. Exact Phrasing
For extreme precision, use the explicit nouns: sad (hour), phragd (min), skwnd (sec).
Interactive Lexicon
Search the corpus. For Nouns, send words to the deriving tools using the N, V, and A/M buttons.
| Kalob | Class | English Definition & Notes | Tools (Nouns) |
|---|
Examples & Corpus
Sample texts demonstrating Kalob's morphology and syntax in action through interlinear glossing.
The North Wind & the Sun
A classic linguistic translation text demonstrating noun compounding, syntax, and complex modulations.
Sentence 1
Sentence 2
Sentence 3
Sentence 4
Sentence 5
Word Synthesis Tools
Kalob is strictly SVO. Build and transform words dynamically below using the interactive appliers.
Verb Conjugator V
See how the 'u' tool modifies Verbs for passive voice and perfect tenses.
Agglutinator N
Apply absolute and secondary terminations to derive complex nouns and modifiers.
Attr/Modif Conjugator A/M
Derive adjectives and adverbs from roots with optional modality prefixes.
Number Derivator
Numbers use specific terminations to derive ordinals, multipliers, and more.