Update: Draft 3. Changed the title from an intermediate phase. Attempt at a combined grammar: https://snapshotsofthelabyrinth.photo.blog/2026/04/10/ligurian-grammar/
Notes on the Heart Speech
A descendant of the Solar Speech (Sauleis Bazdā). Predominantly voiced, with voiceless stops and /s/ preserved from cluster reductions.
1 · Sound Changes (Vulgar Solar Speech → Heart Speech)
Eleven phases, applied in order:
| Phase | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | Stress → penultimate | zelā: stress shifts to ze- |
| II | #sC[stop]→C (voiceless preserved); #ps→s; #s→h/_{V,liquid}; #s→z/_{other C}; #p→b; #t→d; #k→g; #b→m; #d→n | stelā→tealō; strewā→treavō; serdā→heardō; bazdā→mazdō; psūkā→hūɣō; slūti→hlūðī |
| III | Drag chain: ā→ō; ō→ū; ē→ī | mazdā→mazdō; dēsos→nīzu |
| IV | w→v; u→v / _V | bōwar→bōvar; euoi→evū |
| V | Stops→voiced fricatives / V(glide)__ [not after liquid; not before obstruent] | geneti→geaneðī; zebrós→zevru |
| Va | Cluster resolution: 1. Nasal+voiceless stop → nasalize vowel + preserve stop (Vnt→Ṽt, Vmp→Ṽp, Vnk→Ṽk); 2. Stop+sibilant → sibilant (ks→s, ts→s); 3. Voiced obs.+voiceless stop → all voiced (vt→vd). Voiceless clusters st/sp/sk/kt/pt preserved. | senti→hẽtī; tekstā→destō; esti→estī; Naktā→naktō; pewtā→bevdō |
| Vb | s→z / _[+voiced C] | esmi→ezmi |
| VI | Stressed short a→ao, e→ea, o→uo / open syllable or liquid+C [not word-initial]. For trisyllabic words, breaking targets the root vowel; for 4+ syllables, penultimate with retraction. | zelā→zealō; serdā→heardō; geneti→geaneðī |
| VII | V→Ṽ / _coda nasal; coda m,n→∅ | bendā→mẽdō; -on→-õ |
| VIII | -eus→-eau; -os→-u; -us→-u; -is→-i; -oi→-ū; -ei→-ī; final -e→∅; verb-final -i→-ī (Vocative endings exempt.) | Zagréus→Zaɣreau; dēsos→nīzu; esti→estī |
| IX | Final -s→-z | -ōs→-ōz |
| X | Initial zb→zv, ztr→zdr; hiatus oo→ō, uu→ū, etc. | zbelā→zvealō |
| XI | s→z except before voiceless stops (s preserved in st/sp/sk) | Standalone [s] eliminated; cluster [s] preserved |
2 · Phonology
Consonants: b d g · p t k · v ð ɣ h · z s · m n · r l · y.
Distribution of voiceless consonants: /p t k/ occur word-initially (from #sC reduction: tealō, treavō), after liquids (-rp-, -rt-, -rk-, -lp-, -lt-, -lk-: vearteðī, healtu), after nasal vowels (-Ṽp-, -Ṽt-, -Ṽk-: hẽtī), and in voiceless clusters (-st-, -sk-, -kt-, -pt-: estī, naktō, ostõ). /s/ occurs only before voiceless stops (-st-, -sp-, -sk-: estī, destō, vestī). /h/ occurs word-initially (from #s-: heardō, hūɣō, hlūðī).
Vowels: a e i o u · ā ō ī ū · ã ẽ ĩ õ ũ ō̃ ī̃ ū̃ (nasal). Diphthongs: ao ea uo (from breaking); ai au ay oi ou ev (inherited).
Stress: Penultimate, invariable. Stressed short a/e/o break to ao/ea/uo in open syllables and before liquid+C (not word-initially).
Phonotactics: Open syllable preference. Codas: sonorants and fricatives only.
3 · Nouns
Two genders (masculine, feminine). Former neuters → masculine. Five cases:
| Case | Function |
|---|---|
| Direct | Subject (prs.), patient (pst.), citation |
| Oblique | Object (prs.), agent (pst.), possessor, postposition complement |
| Construct | Head noun + Ezafe linking to modifier |
| Locative | Location, goal, temporal setting |
| Vocative | Direct address (archaic parent-language endings) |
Masculine (o-stems): nīzu “god”
| Sg. | Pl. | |
|---|---|---|
| DIR | nīz-u | nīz-ū |
| OBL | nīz-õ | nīz-õz |
| EZ | nīzu-yo | nīzū-yũ |
| LOC | nīz-ū | nīz-ūz |
| VOC | nīz-e | nīz-oi |
Feminine (ā-stems): zealō “wine”
| Sg. | Pl. | |
|---|---|---|
| DIR | zeal-ō | zeal-ōz |
| OBL | zeal-ō̃ | zeal-ō̃z |
| EZ | zealō-yō | zealōz-yũ |
| LOC | zeal-ū | zeal-ūz |
| VOC | zeal-ā | zeal-āz |
Other declensions
i-stems (būri “child”): DIR -i, OBL -ĩ, LOC -ī.
r-stems (bōvar “fire”): DIR bōvar, OBL bōvarnõ, LOC bōvarū, VOC bōvar.
Former neuters in -õ (ostõ “bone,” aivõ “eternity”): DIR/OBL syncretic (-õ).
4 · Adjectives
Agree in gender: masculine –u, feminine –ō. Linked to head by Ezafe (§6). Past passive participle in –ðu (f. –ðō) functions as adjective.
Comparative: adjective + OBL of comparison + eɣ “from.”
Superlative: + vizō̃ eɣ “from all.”
Hymnic register: Sacred epithets take feminine -ō regardless of head gender: Zealtō Bōvaryo Ãmaortō “To the Golden Undying Fire” (bōvar is masculine).
5 · Pronouns
| Direct | Oblique | |
|---|---|---|
| 1sg | aoz | mī |
| 2sg | dū | dī |
| 3sg | hao | hõ (m) / hō̃ (f) |
| 1pl | meaz | mũ |
| 2pl | yūz | yũ |
| 3pl | hao | hũ |
Demonstratives: hō (f) / hao (m) “this”; ūnō / ũnao “that.”
Interrogatives: gao “who?”, gaozõ “what?”
6 · The Ezafe (Construct State)
Suffixed linker on the HEAD noun, agreeing with the head’s gender: -yo (m), -yō (f), -yũ (pl). Links to adjectives and possessors. Possessors take oblique.
bōvar-yo nīvō̃ “fire of heaven” (fire-EZ.M heaven.OBL)
yeavō-yō zevrō-yō zealō̃ “wine’s sacred rite” (rite-EZ.F sacred-EZ.F wine.OBL)
Rule: Oblique and construct cannot co-occur on the same noun. When both are needed, Ezafe takes precedence; oblique falls on the final element of the chain.
avō-yō aðimeanō̃ (water-EZ.F memory.OBL)
7 · Verbs
Two stems: present (imperfective) and past (present stem + -ī-, perfective). One agreement paradigm for both:
| Sg. | Pl. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | –ã | –ãr |
| 2 | –ī | –ĩ |
| 3 | –eð | –ũð |
Copula: 1sg ezmī, 2sg ezī, 3sg estī, 3pl hẽtī. Past: īz.
Imperative: Thematic –ea (2sg), athematic –ī (2sg). Prohibition: mī + jussive.
Participles: Present active –ũð (zealũð “gleaming”); past passive –ðu (geanðu “born,” nearðu “torn”).
Infinitive: –ðī (zeaveðī “to pour”).
Negation: ne + indicative.
8 · Split Ergativity
Tense-based split: the verb always agrees with whichever argument is in Direct case.
| Agent | Patient | Verb agrees with | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present transitive | DIR | OBL | Agent |
| Past transitive | OBL | DIR | Patient |
| Intransitive (both) | S = DIR | S | |
Aoz zealō̃ zeavã. “I pour wine.” (present: aoz DIR, zealō̃ OBL, verb 1sg)
Mī zealō zeavīeð. “Wine was poured by me.” (past: mī OBL, zealō DIR, verb 3sg agrees with wine)
Līðō̃ aoz ne meanīã. “Forgetting did not hold me.” (past: līðō̃ OBL agent, aoz DIR patient, verb 1sg)
9 · Syntax
Word order: SOV (prose); V-initial or free (hymnic).
Postpositions: ẽ “in” (+LOC), eɣ “from” (+OBL), ber “through” (+OBL).
Coordination: da “and”; asyndeton in hymnic register.
Relative clauses: complementizer ðī.
Questions: fronted interrogative; particle ðō for yes/no.
Conditional: yãō “if/when” + present (realis) or past (irrealis).
Copula drop: permitted in equative sentences (hymnic register).
10 · Register
| Feature | Prose | Hymnic |
|---|---|---|
| Word order | SOV | V-initial / free |
| Adjective gender | Agrees with head | Feminine -ō for sacred epithets |
| Vocative | DIR + ō | Archaic parent-language endings |
| Coordination | da “and” | Asyndeton |
| Copula | Required | May be dropped |
| Ezafe | Required | May be dropped in epithets and invocations |
11 · Hymn to the Golden Undying Fire
I · Proem
Ō bōvar! Ō bōvar heanu da zevru!
O fire! O ancient, sacred fire!
Ō brōmu ayðu, orpō̃ eɣ zealũð!
O first blaze, gleaming from darkness!
Naktō̃ eɣ geanðu, nīvō̃ eɣ ayðu
Born from Night, kindled from heaven
heardō̃ veartō̃ da aivõ reazu!
lord of the heart’s wheel and eternity!
II · Theogony
Bōvarū ẽ vizō oinu geanīeð.
In fire, all things became one.
Hao bōvar-yo nīvō̃ īz; hao oinu, hao brōmu.
He was the fire of heaven; he, the one, the first.
Hũ nīzū-yũ Naktō̃ hao nearīeð.
The gods of Night tore him.
Hũ ostõ-yo hõ azō̃ ber zvearīeð.
They scattered his bones through ash.
Hũ ezōr-yo hõ naozō̃ ber zeavīeð.
They poured his blood through earth.
III · Anthropogony
Hũ naozō̃ da zvealō̃ eɣ ayðīeð bōvar.
From earth and lightning, fire was kindled.
Hũ azō̃ da ostõ eɣ geanīeð heardō.
From ash and bone, the heart was born.
Maortu heardō ãmaortō̃ bōvar ẽ.
A mortal heart with immortal fire within.
IV · Declaration
Aoz būri-yo naozō̃ da Naktō-yō zealtō̃ ezmī.
I am a child of Earth and golden Night.
Aoz maortu ezmī ezōr-yo mī nīvō̃ eɣ estī.
I am mortal but my blood is from heaven.
Aoz bōvar-yo heardō̃ znūðu ezmī.
I am a knower of the heart’s fire.
Aoz avō-yō aðimeanō̃ eɣ būīã.
I drink from the water of memory.
Līðō̃ aoz ne meanīã.
Forgetting did not hold me.
V · Prayer
Bōvar ber da zealō̃ ber,
zvealō̃ ber da Naktō̃ ber,
maortu ãmaortu geaneð!
Through fire and wine, through lightning and Night, the mortal becomes immortal!
Hūɣō-yō mũ ber zealō̃ zeavea!
Pour wine through our souls!
Mẽdōz-yũ mũ nearea!
Tear our chains!
Mũ veartō̃ eɣ lī!
Release us from the wheel!
12 · Complete Vocabulary
Nouns
| Form | Meaning | Gender | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| aðimeanō | memory, anamnesis | F | atimenā |
| aivõ | eternity | M (<N) | aiwon |
| armuonō | harmony | F | armonā |
| auzō | dawn | F | ausā |
| avō | water | F | apā |
| ayðu | blaze | M | aydos |
| azō | ash | F | azā |
| bōvar | fire | M (<N) | pāwar |
| būri | child | i-stem | pūris |
| deazō | craft, art | F | teksā |
| destō | craftsman | F | tekstā |
| dōzō | sacred silence | F | tāsā |
| ezōr | blood | M (<N) | esār |
| geavō | seizure | F | gebā |
| gozmō | cosmos | F | kósmā |
| haonō | song | F | sanā |
| hauli | the Sun | i-stem | Sáulis |
| healō | veil | F | selā |
| heardō | heart | F | serdā |
| heavō | void | F | sewā |
| hōlō | beauty | F | sālā |
| hūɣō | soul | F | psūkā |
| hūlō | matter | F | hūlā |
| leazō | law | F | lezā |
| levdō | the people | F | lewdā |
| līðō | release, forgetting | F | lētā |
| mazdō | word, speech | F | bazdā |
| meanō | thought | F | menā |
| mẽdō | chain | F | bendā |
| mevdō | awakening | F | bewdā |
| mīðrõ | measure | M (<N) | mētron |
| moizō | ecstasy | F | moisā |
| naktō | Night | F | Naktā |
| naozō | earth | F | dázā |
| nãzvō | tongue | F | danzwā |
| nearzō | gaze (noun) | F | dersā |
| nīvō | heaven | F | dīwā |
| nīzu | god | M | dēsos |
| nou | mind | M | nóos |
| nuomu | house | M | dómos |
| nuorō | gate | F | dorā |
| orpō | darkness | F | orpā |
| ostõ | bone | M (<N) | ostón |
| reazõ | principle | M (<N) | rezon |
| reazō | governance | F | rezā |
| reazu | ruler, lord | M | rezós |
| tealō | balance | F | stelā |
| treavō | stream | F | strewā |
| veartō | revolution, wheel | F | wertā |
| veiðō | image, vision | F | weidā |
| vestī | garment | i-stem | westis |
| vīrō | truth | F | wērā |
| yeavō | rite, sacred law | F | yewā |
| yuɣõ | yoke | M (<N) | yugon |
| zealō | wine, gleam | F | zelā |
| zearō | glow | F | zerā |
| zevdrõ | vessel | M (<N) | zewtron |
| znīō | thread, web | F | snēā |
| zōvō | joy | F | zāwā |
| zvealō | lightning | F | zbelā |
| zveavu | sleep | M | swepós |
Agent nouns
| Form | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| bevdō | purifier | pewtā |
| destō | craftsman | tekstā |
| vearzdō | worker | werztā |
| zelozeavū̃ | wine-pourer, hierophant | zelozewōn |
| znūðō | knower | znōtā |
Adjectives (m / f)
| Form | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ãmaortu / ãmaortō | immortal | anmartós |
| bevdu / bevdō | purified | pewtós |
| brōmu / brōmō | first | prāmós |
| gearmu / gearmō | warm | germós |
| healtu / healtō | concealed | seltós |
| heanu / heanō | ancient | senós |
| hearzu / hearzō | black | sersós |
| maortu / maortō | mortal | martós |
| naorzu / naorzō | bold | darsós |
| oinu / oinō | one, alone | oinos |
| ruðu / ruðō | red | rudós |
| vizu / vizō | all, every | wisós |
| zealtu / zealtō | golden | zeltós |
| zevru / zevrō | sacred | zebrós |
Participles
| Form | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ayðu | past pass. | kindled |
| bevdu | past pass. | purified |
| geanðu | past pass. | born, become |
| haonũð | pres. act. | singing |
| nearðu | past pass. | torn |
| znūðu | past pass. | knowing |
| zealũð | pres. act. | gleaming |
Theonyms
| Form | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bōnīz | the First Light (Phanes) | Pānēs |
| Havaoziu | ecstasy god (Sabazios) | Sabázios |
| Zaɣreau | the torn child (Zagreus) | Zagréus |
| Zvealzurdu | thunder god (Zbelsurdos) | Zbelsurdos |
Verb stems
| Present | Past | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ayð- | ayðī- | kindle |
| blīð- | blīðī- | fill |
| dream- | dreamī- | tremble |
| ez- | ezī- / īz | be (copula) |
| geam- | geamī- | come |
| gean- | geanī- | become |
| haon- | haonī- | sing |
| hẽt- | hẽtī- | be (3pl copula) |
| hlūð- | hlūðī- | hear |
| mear- | mearī- | carry |
| mōð- | mōðī- | speak |
| naol- | naolī- | protect |
| nearze- | nearzeī- | gaze |
| nūð- | nūðī- | give |
| reaz- | reazī- | direct, plan |
| tōð- | tōðī- | stand |
| veart- | veartī- | turn |
| veið- | veiðī- | see |
| zeav- | zeavī- | pour |
Particles and postpositions
| Form | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| anō | upon | +OBL |
| ber | through | +OBL |
| da | and | coordinator |
| ðī | that | complementizer |
| ðō | (question) | yes/no particle |
| eɣ | from | +OBL |
| eiðū | behold! | |
| ẽ | in, within | +LOC |
| evū | (ecstatic cry) | |
| iðī | thus | |
| mī | don’t | prohibitive +jussive |
| ne | not | +indicative |
| nū̃ | now | |
| ō | O! | vocative interjection |
| yãō | when, if | conditional |
Snapshots of the Labyrinth 