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

a Singular, Future Tense, Duty Adj/Adv, "Least"
e Plural, Past Tense, General Adj/Adv, "More"
i Prepositions, Eternal Tense, Eternal Adj/Adv, "Most"
o Prepositions, Present Tense, Transitory Adj/Adv, "Less"
v Conjunctions, Habitual Tense, Habitual Adj/Adv, "Too"
w Conjunctions, Hypothetical, Possibility Adj/Adv, "Insufficiently"
u Plural (suffix), Virtual/Compounder (prefix), Passive (infix), "As/Equally"

⚖ Strict Phonotactics

  • Hard-to-Soft Flow: Content words strictly enforce a Hard Onset followed by a Soft Coda.
  • 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.
  • 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

p /p/
ph /f/
b /b/
bh /v/
t /t/
th /θ/
d /d/
dh /ð/
k /k/
kh /χ/
g /g/
gh /ʁ/
q /kʷ/
qh /χʷ/

Alveolar → Palatal

s /s/
sh /ʃ/
z /z/
zh /ʒ/
c /t͡s/
ch /t͡ʃ/
j /d͡z/
jh /d͡ʒ/

Sonorants

l /l/ m /m/ n /n/ r /ɹ/ y /j/

🅾 Onsets

Onsets of nouns are always hard in Kalob. The allowed onset phonemes are 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

The glyphs 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

Codas of nouns are always soft in Kalob. The allowed coda phonemes are 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

1-2 LTRS

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"
2-4 LTRS

Connectives

Link words and clauses. Identifiable by their strict, exclusive vowel usage.

  • Prepositions (only i, o):
    ci (during), in (inside), ki (with), so (without), pro (for), ri (according to), etc.
  • 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).

Placement: Attach to the side of the root that has the consonant (VC → VCV, CV → VCV).
  • ib (on/above) ibi (from above) | ibo (onto)
  • pli (at house) ipli (from house) | opli (to house)
2-4 LTRS

Designatives

Articles, impersonal pronouns, and demonstratives. They utilize ONLY the vowel a (for singular) or e (for plural).

Singular (a)
  • an (a/an)
  • azh (this/that)
  • ka (who?)
  • ca (a little)
Plural (e)
  • ane (some/any)
  • azhe (these/those)
  • ke (who pl.?)
  • ce (several)
2-4 LTRS

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
  • lu Definite article ("this very")

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.

1. Singular Cases

C[Sg] + e Nominative
C[Sg] + a Dative
e + C[Sg] + a Gen/Ablative
e + C[Sg] Vocative/
Imperative
e + C[Sg] + e Emphatic/
Reflexive

2. Plural Cases

C[Pl] + e Nominative
C[Pl] + a Dative
e + C[Pl] + a Gen/Ablative
e + C[Pl] Vocative/
Imperative
e + C[Pl] + e Emphatic/
Reflexive

3. Possessives

Plurality concepts are restored to the suffix vowels to indicate the number of the possession itself.

C[Sg] + ea Sg Possessor
Sg Possession
C[Sg] + ae Sg Possessor
Pl Possession
C[Pl] + ea Pl Possessor
Sg Possession
C[Pl] + ae Pl Possessor
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:

  • Necessitative (Duty): -ajmwzd (Must / Obliged)
    • The suffix -aj encodes the state of needing to happen.
    • Active SVC: me mwzdo lwbho (I must love).
  • Potential (Possibility): -wjnwng (Can / Able)
    • The suffix -wj encodes the state of being able to happen.
    • Active SVC: me nwngo lwbho (I can love).

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.

If the zero-copula rule were applied to the Potential attributive lwbhwj (lovable / can-be-loved) by stripping the -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).

1. Potential Modality (Ability)
  • Active (SVC):
    me nwngo lwbho. (I am able to love.)
  • Passive State (Copula):
    me seno lwbhwj. (I am lovable / able to be loved.)
2. Necessitative Modality (Duty)
  • Active (SVC):
    me mwzdo lwbho. (I must love.)
  • 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:
    Azh 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: Azh svbho [Noun]
  • Translation: "It exists a [Noun]" → "There is 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]"

Longword Classes in Detail

3+ LTRS

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).

Nouns (Roots)
  • sen (identity / to be)
  • phorz (power)
  • kind (child / offspring)
  • spand (to expand)
  • manjh (to eat / food)
Numbers
  • phwn (one)
  • tvbh (two)
  • threz (three)
  • qad (four)
  • cen (ten)
4+ LTRS

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)
5+ LTRS

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)
3+ LTRS

Modificatives

Adverbs and Gerunds. Always finish with the consonant zh. Simple adverbs are 3+ letters; derived gerunds are 5+ letters.

Simple Adverbs
  • mazh (very)
  • cezh (here)
  • phrozh (early)
  • tarzh (late)
  • pazh (enough)
  • penzh (well)
Derived
  • -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

  • Before Noun: Virtual/digital gender.
  • 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, adjective, or adverb) to instantly modulate its intensity.

Root: phred (fear)
ophred timidity
iphred terror/cowardice
ophredej less fearful
iphredej most fearful

2. The 7-Vowel Scale

  • i Paroxysm: ilwbh (Idolatry / Fanatical)
  • v Excessive (Pejorative): vlwbh (Obsession)
  • e Exuberance: elwbh (Passion / Deep)
  • u Parity/Optimal: ulwbh (Mutual / Balanced)
  • o Inclination: olwbh (Fondness / Crush)
  • w Lacking (Pejorative): wlwbh (Neglect / Starved)
  • a Absolute Lack: alwbh (Apathy / Indifferent)

3. 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 bread"). 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 (Adverb) modifies an Attributive (Adjective) rather than the Verb, it is placed between the Noun and the Attributive.

1. Subject Noun Phrase

Designative Precedes Noun
Staffword nu, su, u
NOUN Subject Root
Attributive Follows Noun

2. Verb Phrase

Staffword nu, su, u
VERB Root + Vowel
Modificative Follows Verb

3. Prepositional Phrase & Object

Connective Preposition
Designative Precedes Noun
Staffword nu, su, u
NOUN Object Root
Attributive Follows Noun

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).

This helps ensure that the plurality marker or verbal tense marker will be applied to the base of the noun.

2. Noun Anatomy

A noun may be made of two nouns compounded through the tool-u and up to 3 suffixes.

Staffword + Root u Root + Suffix(es)

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., skid for "become", koz for "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).

cephwn 11
cetvbh 12
cethrez 13
...

3. Tens & Hundreds

Tens and hundreds reverse the teen pattern by attaching a suffix to the multiplier digit.

tvbhen 20
qaden 40
tvbhwnd 200
cethrezwnd 1300

4. Magnitudes

The root for 1,000 is myon. Larger magnitudes use myo- + base root. (Base value × 3 = number of zeros).

myothrez threz (3) × 3 = 9 zeros
1,000,000,000 (Billion)
myoqad qad (4) × 3 = 12 zeros
1,000,000,000,000 (Trillion)
Complex Example: 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.

threzu
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.

threzu cen3:10
threzu cephabh3:15
threzu qadomquarter past 3

3. At & After Half-Hour

At 30 mins and beyond, minutes (singular) are placed before the next upcoming plural hour.

threzen qadu3:30 / half past
tvbhen qadu20 to 4
cen qadu10 to 4

4. 24-Hour Clock, Noon, & Midnight

Kalob encourages a 24-hour clock to avoid "AM/PM". Noon is pan; Midnight is mijh.

ceqadu cen14:10 (2:10 PM)
tvbhen pan20 minutes to noon
tvbhom panhalf past 11 AM

5. Exact Phrasing

For extreme precision, use the explicit nouns: sad (hour), phragd (min), skwnd (sec).

tvbh sadu, cen phragdu, khogd skwndu
2 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds

Interactive Lexicon

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Kalob Class English Definition & Notes Tools (Nouns)
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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

Qhind
qhind-ø
wind-N
Nordhij
nordh-ij
north-PTCP.GNOM
vd
vd
and
Taguphyezd
tag⟨u⟩phyezd-ø
day⟨CMPD⟩star-N
sku
sku
ANTI
ku
ku
MUT
spige
spig-e
speak-V.PST
kw
kw
COMP.FACT
pra
pra
3SG.DU
estergi,
e-sterg-i
SUP-strong-V.GNOM
khw
khw
when
an
an
INDEF
merjherd
merjh-erd-ø
travel-ACTR-N
stvzuskide
stvz⟨u⟩skid-e
present⟨CMPD⟩become-V.PST
pajhozh
pajh-ozh
wrap-ADV.TEMP
in
in
in
an
an
INDEF
pozduklodh
pozd⟨u⟩klodh-ø
back⟨CMPD⟩garment-N
okhad.
o-khad-ø
MIN-heat-N
(The North Wind and the Day-Star counter-mutually-spoke that one of the two was superiorly strong [eternally], when a traveler became present temporarily-wrapped in a warm back-garment.)

Sentence 2

Pre
pre
3PL.DU
ku
ku
MUT
trage
trag-e
agree-V.PST
kw
kw
COMP.FACT
pra
pra
3SG.DU
ra
ra
REL
skide
skid-e
succeed-V.PST
kozh
kozh
first.ADV
koze
koz-e
cause-V.PST
thu
thu
COMP.SUBJ
merjherd
merjh-erd-ø
travel-ACTR-N
tego
teg-o
take-V.PRS
odo
od-o
out-ALL
lea
lea
3SG.POSS
pozduklodh
pozd⟨u⟩klodh-ø
back⟨CMPD⟩garment-N
spegua
speg-⟨u⟩-a
think-⟨PASS⟩-V.FUT
estergij.
e-sterg-ij
SUP-strong-PTCP.GNOM
(Both mutually-agreed that the one of the two who firstly succeeded [to] cause that the traveler takes out-to his back-garment ought to be thought superiorly strong [eternally].)

Sentence 3

Stv
stv
then
Qhind
qhind-ø
wind-N
Nordhij
nordh-ij
north-PTCP.GNOM
pwbhe
pwbh-e
blow-V.PST
ustergezh
u-sterg-ezh
EQU-strong-ADV
kw
kw
than
le
le
3SG.M
nwnge,
nwng-e
able-V.PST
pv
pv
but
khw
khw
when
le
le
3SG.M
pwbhe
pwbh-e
blow-V.PST
estergezh,
e-sterg-ezh
SUP-strong-ADV
slv
slv
so.then
merjherd
merjh-erd-ø
travel-ACTR-N
pholde
phold-e
fold-V.PST
eklozezh
e-kloz-ezh
SUP-close-ADV
lea
lea
3SG.POSS
pozduklodh
pozd⟨u⟩klodh-ø
back⟨CMPD⟩garment-N
iz
iz
around
ele;
ele
3SG.ANIM.EMPH
vd
vd
and
Qhind
qhind-ø
wind-N
Nordhij
nordh-ij
north-PTCP.GNOM
phajhuthame
phajh⟨u⟩tham-e
do⟨CMPD⟩stop-V.PST
phinezh
phin-ezh
end-ADV
tezd.
tezd-ø
attempt-N
(Then the North Wind blew as-strongly than he was able, but when he blew superiorly-strongly, so then the traveler folded superiorly-closely his back-garment around himself; and the North Wind endingly gave up the attempt.)

Sentence 4

Stv
stv
then
Taguphyezd
tag⟨u⟩phyezd-ø
day⟨CMPD⟩star-N
qanguspide
qang⟨u⟩spid-e
light⟨CMPD⟩emit-V.PST
sternvbhezh
stern-vbh-ezh
outside-ACT-ADV
okhadezh,
o-khad-ezh
MIN-heat-ADV
vd
vd
and
merjherd
merjh-erd-ø
travel-ACTR-N
tege
teg-e
take-V.PST
cywzh
cywzh
immediately.ADV
odo
od-o
out-ALL
lea
lea
3SG.POSS
pozduklodh.
pozd⟨u⟩klodh-ø
back⟨CMPD⟩garment-N
(Then the Day-Star emitted-light exteriorly warmly, and the traveler took immediately out-to his back-garment.)

Sentence 5

Vd
vd
and
slv
slv
so.then
Qhind
qhind-ø
wind-N
Nordhij
nordh-ij
north-PTCP.GNOM
mwzde
mwzd-e
must-V.PST
kogze
kogz-e
confess-V.PST
kw
kw
COMP.FACT
Taguphyezd
tag⟨u⟩phyezd-ø
day⟨CMPD⟩star-N
sene
sen-e
be-V.PST
pra
pra
3SG.DU
estergij.
e-sterg-ij
SUP-strong-PTCP.GNOM
(And so then the North Wind must confess that the Day-Star was the superiorly strong one of the two.)

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