Nouns

Kolic nouns decline for case and number. They are categorised into four noun classes, or grammatical genders.

If a noun ends in a vowel, that vowel is considered part of the lemma, but not the stem, instead being considered a suffix. This suffix is replaced when the noun is declined into other forms. Moreover, if the resulting suffix is 〈i〉, the stem takes the form without the i-umlaut applied, as seen in the example word örði.

This table details how the lemma forms are analysed:

Lemma	teiga	kvils	kír	örði	hríð
Stem	teig	kvils	kír	orð	hríð
Suffix	-a	-Ø	-Ø	-i	-Ø

* -Ø denotes a null suffix.

Grammatical gender

There are four grammatical genders in Kolic — the feminine, neuter, masculine, and diminutive. There is no animacy distinction and all four genders can refer to referents thought of as animate, as the classes correspond to the Kolic social three gender system, which actually developed into its current form thanks to the grammatical gender system, among other factors.

Feminine words tend to end with the vowel /a/ in the nominative singular, or less commonly with a consonant (see words like kvils, kól). The lemma form can end in a vowel different than /a/ only in loanwords (e.g. Rósi - the feminine name Rosie. Note that this loanword, just like other loanwords from real-world languages, is not cannonical, but can be used by real life speakers to express things that don’t exist in-universe, such as their names).

Masculine words tend to end with the vowel /i/ or with a consonant, and very rarely with a different vowel (the same loanword exception applies).

Neuter words almost always end with a consonant (the same loanword exception applies). Words that have multiple gendered forms (like terms that describe people) take the neuter as their default and epicene form.

Note that loanwords that refer to subjects with a social gender, such as given names, can end with endings otherwise atypical for that gender, and still retain the grammatical gender that corresponds to the social gender. The word is then declined the same way as any other word of that grammatical gender would be, according to whether it ends with a vowel or a consonant.

The diminutive gender is quite unlike the others, as its members are virtually always derived from roots of other genders using the suffix -jun. However, they do have their own set of declensions, and adjectives and vebs display agreement with the diminutive gender, so it is considered a separate gender. The diminutive gender is used for usual diminutives, for names of objects derived from other names by diminution (e.g. týðrujun — writing tablet, from týðri — plank), to refer to children, which are almost never refered to by the three other genders, and for forming pet names for partners and close friends.

A root can be made into a diminutive by suffixing -jun onto the root (e.g. Hildjun - a pet name or child name for Hilda, or týðrjun - a writing tablet, from týðri - a plank)

Number

Kolic has two grammatical numbers — singular and plural.

The plural number is indicated by a suffix ending in -i, however, the suffixes vary between genders and get surrounded by and blended with other suffixes in other cases.

Case

🚧 This section is a Work In Progress 🚧

Kolic has an extensive case system, with up to 59 cases in total, however most of them can be analysed as combinations of suffixes. These cases are usually separated into two categories - 8 basic cases, and 51 locatives. As previously mentioned, the locatives can be thought of as combining two types of suffixes - one specifying position relative to the referent (12 locative positions), and one specifying a direction in relation to that location (4 locative directions). In some cases, these affixes blend together instead of simply existing next to one another.

Kolic has a nominative-accusative alignment. It lacks a dative case, with nominals in the dative function being marked with the lative case. The genitive is often used as a partitive or second accusative. More info in the individual case descriptions.

Descriptions of basic cases

Nominative

The nominative case is used for the subject of sentences.

Kolic is a nominative-accusative language, which means that the subject of an intransitive sentence is marked the same way as the agent of the transitive sentence. The object of a transitive sentence is marked separately (see the accusative case).

Accusative

The accusative case marks the direct object of transitive sentences.

Note that if the direct object is a pronoun, it is usually infixed into the verb.

TODO: Add link after the section is done

Dative

The dative case is usually not analysed as its own case in Kolic. It is instead analysed as a different (but related) use of the lative directional case without any positional case.

Genitive

The genitive case (sometimes called the gentive-partitive in Kolic) marks a noun as modifying another noun, making it an attribute of the noun. It can be used for possessives, but note that Kolic has a separate way of deriving possessive adjectives from nouns, that is used more often.

Aside from the genitive function, the Kolic genitive also functions as a partitive - denoting partialness, or a (non-complete) quantity.

English Examples:

“They built a dog house.” - Although this is an example of a noun in a genitive function, this construction would usually be translated to Kolic using a compound noun, i.e. a doghouse. Note that the construction of compound nouns in Kolic puts the modifying noun (prefixed to the main noun) in a special form sometimes called the “compound form,” suffixing it with “u,” instead of using the genitive case. (Example: kyfð örðin = a house of a dog → örðukyfð = a doghouse)

“This is the boat of Gael.” - A semantically possessive function of a genitive. This sentence would more likely be expressed using the possessive form, which could be translated to English as “This is Gael’s boat.”

“She took a sip of water.” - This is an example of the gentive performing the partitive function.

Vocative

The vocative case is used for addressing or calling to another person, animal or object.

English Examples:

“How are you, Hilda?”

“Spot, come here!”

TODO: Add example of a vocation to an inanimate object. Probably from some poem

Comitative

The comitative case marks accompaniment. As opposed to the instrumental case, it can be translated as the English “with,” but only when if it’s used to mark accompaniment, not if it’s used to mark a tool. The English preposition “with” meaning “using” can be translated through the instrumental case (see below).

English examples:

“I’m going with Hilda.”

“I’d like to wipe the floor with you.” - as in “I’d like us to wipe the floor together”

Caution

❌ “I’m writing with a pencil” - not the comitative case.

Instrumental

A noun marked with the instrumental case is used as a tool with which an action is performed. It can be translated as the English preposition “using” or “with,” but only if it’s used to mark a tool with which an action is performed. The English preposition “with” meaning “accompanying,” can be translated through the comitative case (see above).

English examples:

“I’m writing with a pencil.”

“I’d like to wipe the floor with you.” - as in “I’d like to use you as the mop,” or more likely as a metaphor for beating someone up.

Caution

❌ “I’m going with Hilda” - not the instrumental case.

Abessive

The abessive case is in a sense the opposite of the comitative - it is the equivalent of the english preposition “without.”

Note that it can even be used as the opposite of the instrumental case, despite it being separate from the comitative.

English examples:

“Without meat, please.”

“If she doesn’t want to go, we’ll go without her.”

“I wrote the essay without a pencil.”

Benefactive

The benefactive case is the equivalent of the English “for.” It can also mark the intended result of an action, or the cause of an action.

English examples:

“Gael baked a cake for her.”

“We’ll be late because of his delay”

“I’m walking slowly, so that I don’t spill it.”

Descriptions of locatives (directions)

Static

The static direction is used whenever the subject is in the position described by the position case marker, relative to the referent. For example, if used with the postessive on the noun “wall”, it means the subject is behind a wall. See the other directions for contrast.

Lative

The lative direction is used whenever the subject is transitioning into the position described by the position case marker, relative to the referent. For example, if used with the postessive on the noun “wall,” it means the subject is going behind a wall.

The lative direction is also used as a dative case.

The dative function of the lative case marks the indirect object of sentences. It usually relates to giving.

English examples:

“I gave Hilda a pencil.”

“She’s singing a lullaby to the baby.”

Note

💡The dative case is also used when comparing. For example, “She’s older than him” and “They have the same amount as him” is said “She’s older to him” and “They have the same amount to him” respectively.

Ablative

The ablative direction is used whenever the subject is transitioning from the position described by the position case marker, relative to the referent. For example, if used with the postessive on the noun “wall,” it means the subject is moving from behind a wall.

Perlative

The ablative direction is used whenever the subject is moving through the position described by the position case marker, relative to the referent. For example, if used with the postessive on the noun “wall,” it means the subject is moving through the space behind a wall.

Descriptions of locatives (positions)

Note

In some situations, it is possible to use any of multiple different cases to perform the same function. It is generally up to the speaker, which one they choose.

Inessive

The inessive case marks a position inside of the marked object (or a motion to the inside, from the inside, or through the inside, depending on the direction. This is true for all the locatives and will be assumed implicitly in the rest of the case descriptions. They will, however, all have at least one English example given, in the order Static - Lative - Ablative - Perlative)

English Examples:

“Check it out, I’m in the house like carpet.” - Static = inside

“I’m going into the house!” - Lative = to the inside

“It hatches from an egg.” - Ablative = from the inside

“The path goes through a tunnel.” - Perlative = through the inside

Adessive

The adessive case marks a position near the marked object.

English examples:

“I’m standing by the river.”

“She walked up to them.”

“He walked away from the sink.”

“She walked right by the house.”

Apudessive

The apudessive case marks a position next to the marked object - specifically on the side. For positions behind and in front of, there are the postessive and antessive cases (see below), and for a general position next to in any orientation, there’s the adessive case (see above).

Note that this rule doesn’t apply to objects without a clear front, back and side. In cases like “next to the cup,” both the adessive and apudessive may be used, sometimes one variant is preferred based on context. Postessive and antessive are only to be used in this context, if there’s a clear distinction between the front and back based on context (for example, “in front” might mean “next to, on the side closest to me”). This same distinction isn’t needed for the apudessive case.

English examples:

“They’re standing right next to her.”

“Put it next to the eggs.”

“He stood up from next to the fire.”

“A fox ran past (next to) me.” - Note that this construction isn’t used often. Speakers would often use the apudessive static or the adessive perlative, or even the adessive static instead. It is, however, used in some contexts (for example if emphasis is important).

Postessive

The postessive case marks a position behind the marked object.

English examples:

“She was hiding behind her.”

“Go look behind the house.”

“They jumped out at us from behind a tree.”

“The mouse ran behind the chest and under the loom.”

Antessive

The antessive case marks a position in front of the marked object.

English Examples:

“They stood before the house, talking.”

“Surprised, she ran out in front of the house.”

“He ran from before his house.”

“The crowd passed in front of the great hall.”

Superessive

The superessive case marks a position on top of the marked object. The superessive is distinct from the elevative (see below).

English examples:

“The cup is on the table.”

“Put the cup </ins>onto the table</ins>.”

“I took the cup from the table.”

“The cat ran across the table.”

Note that in the three latter examples, it would be perfectly fine to use the unspecified lative, ablative and perlative.

Subessive

The subessive case marks a position under the marked object.

English examples:

“When I came to visit Gael, they were still under their sheets.”

“The cat hid under the bed when the kid barged through the door.”

“She pulled the rug from under them.”

“He watched, amazed, as the boat passed under the bridge.”

Elevative

Warning

This term was made up by me, because I couldn’t find any existing terminology. Please let me know if you know of some, or if you think I could name this better.

The elevative case marks a position above the marked object.

English examples:

“Up in the skies above us”

“The bird flew above the house.”

“The bird attacked the mouse from above [it].”

“The cat jumped across the table.”

Pergressive

The pergressive case marks a position around (either encircling or in the general vicinity of) the marked object. If the precise meaning isn’t clear from the context, the “general vicinity” meaning is usually implicitly assumed. The “encircling” meaning can be achieved by additional modifiers.

English examples:

“There’s plenty of mushrooms growing around the hut.”

“Go to around the clearing, we’ll find you.”

“I got these from just around there.”

“I ran around the entire island.”

Intrative

The intrative case marks a position between the marked objects. If the intended objects are expressed with several nouns (for example “between the house and the tree” instead of “between the houses,” the intrative case is applied only to the last one.

English examples:

“There is something between them.”

“Gretti, stand between Gael and Hilda.”

“She emerged from between the trees.”

“They passed between the cliffs without a problem.”

Transessive

Warning

This term was made up by me, because I couldn’t find any existing terminology. Please let me know if you know of some, or if you think I could name this better.

This case roughly corresponds to the English “against” or “across.” Precisely, it expresses a location accross some space or object from the referred object.

Transessive can also be used in an orientative function.

Examples:

TODO: Add the Kolic translations and gloss

“My house is across [the street] from yours.”

“We went against them (to meet them)”

“She stood across from them (before them).”

TODO: Provide perlative

Essive

The essive case, although grouped together with the locatives for their morphology, marks a state as something. It is also often used metaphotically to denote a similarity, like the English preposition like.

English examples:

“She works as a healer.”

“They made the island from an inhospitable place into a home.”

The perlative essive is almost never used.

Example of the essive case performing the function of a simile:

“Being hunted like a doe”

Declensions

The declension tables are split by grammatical number. Columns are split by gender and by whether they end in a vowel or a consonant. Note the application of the i-umlaut in all declensions ending with the letter 〈i〉, including the masculine nominative forms ending with the vowel 〈i〉. In this case, the other declensions (not ending with 〈i〉) display a reverse-umlaut, where these forms retain their original unumlauted spelling and pronunciation.

Also note that when a declension is marked with “—”, the lemma form is used, but if a suffix is provided, it is suffixed only to the stem and the original suffix is replaced.

Singular

	Feminine, V	Feminine, C	Neuter, C	Masculine, V	Masculine, C	Diminutive
Nominative	— (teiga)	— (kvils)	— (kír)	— (örði)	— (hríð)	-jun (týðrjun)
Accusative	-u (teigu)	-u (kvilsu)	— (kír)	-a (orða)	-a (hríða)	-jun (týðrjun)
Genitive	-än (teigän)	-än (kvilsän)	-ri (kírri)	-n (örðin)	-än (hríðän)	-jän (týðrjän)
Vocative	-ää (teigää)	-ää (kvilsää)	— (kír)	-i (örði)	-i (hríði)	-jú (týðrjú)
Comitative	-ënin (teigënin)	-ënin (kvilsënin)	-rin (kírrin)	-nin (örðinin)	-ënin (hríðënin)	-jënin (týðrjënin)
Instrumental	-änað (teigänað)	-änað (kvilsänað)	-rinað (kírrinað)	-nað (örðinað)	-änað (hríðänað)	-jänað (týðrjänað)
Abessive	-änae (teigänae)	-änae (kvilsänae)	-rinae (kírrinae)	-nae (örðinae)	-änae (hríðänae)	-jänae (týðrjänae)
Benefactive	-una (teiguna)	-una (kvilsuna)	-na (kírna)	-ana (orðana)	-ana (hríðana)	-juna (týðrjuna)

Plural

🚧 This section is a Work In Progress 🚧

	Feminine, V	Feminine, C	Neuter, C	Masculine, V	Masculine, C	Diminutive
Nominative	-i (teigi)	-i (kvilsi)	-Ci (kírri)	-ri (örðri)	-ri (hríðri)	-júnni (týðrujúnni)
Accusative

* C means geminating the last consonant. If the consonant is already geminated in the singular nominative, this step is skipped (e.g. þreitt becomes þreitti in the plural nominative).

Pronouns

🚧 This section is a Work In Progress 🚧

Verbs

🚧 This section is a Work In Progress 🚧

Adjectives

🚧 This section is a Work In Progress 🚧

Conjunctions

🚧 This section is a Work In Progress 🚧

Interjections

🚧 This section is a Work In Progress 🚧