ALPHABET AND PHONETICS

The Eurizian alphabet, consisting of 25 signs, is identical to the Latin alphabet, with the sole addition of the J:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S TU V X Y Z (capital letters);

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v x y z (lower case).

The pronunciation of Eurizian corresponds to the classical or 'restituta' pronunciation of Latin, which is completely different from the ecclesiastical pronunciation we learn at school.

 

The following table shows the pronunciation of each symbol:

To pronounce Eurizian correctly, keep in mind the following simple rules:

  1. One letter, one sound: Each written symbol (grapheme) always corresponds to one single sound (phoneme).
    • There are no diphthongs: vowels are always pronounced individually, and so are clusters of two consonants.
    • The only exceptions are:
      • ph = pronounced like an emphasized [f] sound, with a noticeable puff of air.
      • tch = pronounced like the "ch" in "cheese", i.e., the soft [tʃ] sound.
  2. The cluster sc is always pronounced as hard [sk] (as in school),
    and ti is pronounced just as written, [ti], never as [ʃ] (like in nation).
  3. The vowel combinations ae and oe are not diphthongs; each vowel is pronounced separately:
    • ae → [a.e],
    • oe → [o.e].
  4. The letters C and G are always hard:
    • C = [k] as in cat
    • G = [ɡ] as in go
  5. Unlike Classical Latin (restored pronunciation), the letter V is pronounced like in modern Italian or English: [v] as in voice.
  6. The stress is always on the penultimate syllable (second-to-last).
  7. The letter J is a consonant, pronounced [j] as in yes.

The general word order for affirmative, non-interrogative sentences in Eurizian is:

Subject → Verb → Direct Object → Indirect Object

In questions or exclamatory sentences, word order may be more flexible, and complements may come before the subject-verb group.

Syntax Rules:

  1. The subject is always expressed and typically precedes the verb. The imperative/exhortative mood is an exception to this rule.
    • Subject-verb inversion is allowed in direct speech when followed by a verb of speaking.
      • Example: “I feel great!” said the father → ego valet optime!, inquivit patre.
    • Inversion is also used in expressions involving “there is / there are”, in all tenses:
      • ad est (there is), ad sunt (there are).
      • Example: There are many books on the table → super mensa ad sunt multi libros.
  2. The direct object always follows the verb immediately.
  3. Adjectives normally precede the noun they modify.
  4. Adverbs always come immediately before or after the verb they refer to.
  5. A personal pronoun object always comes after the verb.

In coordinated clauses introduced by et or ac ("and"), if the subject remains the same as in the main clause, it may be omitted in the second clause.