Noun cases. Like all languages, Carpathian has many noun cases; the same noun will be «spelled» differently depending on its role in the sentence. Some of the noun cases include: nominative (when the noun is the subject of the sentence), accusative (when the noun is a direct object of the verb), dative (indirect object), genitive (or possessive), instrumental, final, supressive, inessive, elative, terminative, and delative.
We will use the possessive (or genitive) case as an example, to illustrate how all noun cases in Carpathian involve adding standard suffixes to the noun stems. Thus expressing possession in Carpathian-«my lifemate,» «your lifemate,» «his lifemate,» «her lifemate,» etc.-involves adding a particular suffix (such as «=am») to the noun stem («palafertiil»), to produce the possessive («palafertiilam»-«my lifemate»). Which suffix to use depends upon which person («my,» «your,» «his,» etc.) and whether the noun ends in a consonant or vowel. The following table shows the suffixes for singular nouns only (not plural), and also shows the similarity to the suffixes used in contemporary Hungarian. (Hungarian is actually a little more complex, in that it also requires «vowel rhyming»: which suffix to use also depends on the last vowel in the noun; hence the multiple choices in the cells below, where Carpathian only has a single choice.)
Note: As mentioned earlier, vowels often get inserted between the word and its suffix so as to prevent too many consonants from appearing in a row (which would produce unpronouncable words). For example, in the table above, all nouns that end in a consonant are followed by suffixes beginning with «a.»
Verb conjugation. Like its modern descendents (such as Finnish and Hungarian), Carpathian has many verb tenses, far too many to describe here. We will just focus on the conjugation of the present tense. Again, we will place contemporary Hungarian side by side with the Carpathian, because of the marked similarity of the two. As with the possessive case for nouns, the conjugation of verbs is done by adding a suffix onto the verb stem:
As with all languages, there are many «irregular verbs» in Carpathian that don't exactly fit this pattern. But the above table is still a useful guideline for most verbs.
3. Examples of the Carpathian language
Here are some brief examples of conversational Carpathian, used in the Dark books. We include the literal translation in square brackets. It is interestingly different from the most appropriate English translation.
Susu.
I am home.
Moert?
What for?
csitri
little one
ainaak enyem
forever mine
ainaak'sivamet jutta
forever mine (another form)
sivamet
my love
Sarna Rituaali (The Ritual Words) is a longer example, and an example of chanted rather than conversational Carpathian. Note the recurring use of «andam» («I give»), to give the chant musicality and force through repetition.
Sarna Rituaali (The Ritual Words)
Te avio palafertiilam.
You are my lifemate.
Entolam kuulua, avio palafertiilam.
I claim you as my lifemate.
Ted kuuluak, kacad, kojed.
I belong to you.
Elidamet andam.
I offer my life for you.
Pesamet andam.
I give you my protection.
Uskolfertiilamet andam. I give you my allegiance.
Sivamet andam.
I give you my heart.
Sielamet andam.
I give you my soul.
Ainamet andam.
I give you my body.
Sivamet kuuluak kaik etta a ted.
I take into my keeping the same that is yours.
Ainaak olenszal'sivambin.
Your life will be cherished by me for all my time.
Te elidet ainaak pide minan.
Your life will be placed above my own for all time.
Te avio palafertiilam.
You are my lifemate.
Ainaak'sivamet jutta oleny.
You are bound to me for all eternity.
Ainaak terad vigyazak.
You are always in my care.
See Appendix 1 for Carpathian healing chants, including both the Kepa Sarna Pus («The Lesser Healing Chant») and the En Sarna Pus («The Great Healing Chant»).
To hear these words pronounced (and for more about Carpathian pronunciation altogether), please visit: http://www.christinefeehan.com/members/
4. A much abridged Carpathian dictionary
This very much abridged Carpathian dictionary contains most of the Carpathian words used in these Dark books. Of course, a full Carpathian dictionary would be as large as the usual dictionary for an entire language.
Note: The Carpathian nouns and verbs below are word stems. They generally do not appear in their isolated, «stem» form, as below. Instead, they usually appear with suffixes (e.g., «andam» «I give,» rather than just the root, «and»).
aina-body ainaak-forever
akarat-mind; will
al-bless, attach to
alatt-through
ala-to lift; to raise
and-to give
avaa-to open
avio-wedded
avio palafertiil-lifemate
belso-within; inside
ca?a-to flee; to run; to escape
coro-to flow; to run like rain
csitri-little one (female)
eka-brother
ela-to live
elava-alive
elava ainak majaknak-land of the living
elid-life
en-I
en-great, many, big
En Puwe-The Great Tree. Related to the legends of Ygddrasil, the axis mundi, Mount Meru, heaven and hell, etc.
engem-me
eci-to fall
ek-suffix added after a noun ending in a consonant to make it plural
es-and
etta-that
faz-to feel cold or chilly
fertiil-fertile one
fesztelen-airy
fu-herbs; grass
gond-care; worry (noun)
han-he; she; it
hany-clod; lump of earth
irgalom-compassion; pity; mercy
jalleen-again.
jama-to be sick, wounded, or dying; to be near death (verb)
jela-sunlight; day, sun; light
joma-to be under way; to go
jorem-to forget; to lose one's way; to make a mistake
juta-to go; to wander
juti-night; evening
jutta-connected; fixed (adj.). to connect; to fix; to bind (verb)
k-suffix added after a noun ending in a vowel to make it plural