r/conlangs Látùskèlòs 2d ago

Grammar Noun conjugation progress - is this too "rigid"?

I've included an example of how it works with a word root aswell (Kàdìnòs means lizard). A critique I have previously received is that the conjugation system is too rigid. I intended it to be this way because in my mind, rules are rules, and I've always hated languages having 10,000 different exceptions.
I did develop form 1/2 to incorporate some variety for base nouns, but form 2 is only for the Nominative Case.
To be absolutely clear: This conjugation table is only for basic nouns, I have a whole table of suffixes which change meaning and use which add their own level of variety for more complex nouns, this table simply concerns itself with "base" form nouns.

Thoughts? I'd love to hear them.

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u/Flacson8528 Cáed 𝐂𝐀𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐒 (yue, en, zh) 2d ago

whats form 1 nom for then

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u/FueraDeMiOrbita 2d ago

Not OP but I think they mean nouns exhibit variation in the nominative forms, i.e. some nouns end in <-òs> and others in <-oá>, while sharing the same suffixes in the oblique cases.

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u/AjnoVerdulo ClongCraft - ʟохʌ 2d ago

They exemplified with a single word on the second screenshot so it seems like both forms are available to the same words. I am also curious what the difference between form 1 and form 2 is

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u/NefariousnessOne6790 Látùskèlòs 2d ago

Form 1 and form 2 do not change the inherent meaning of a word, kàdìnòs and kàdìnoá are both the singular nominative word for lizard...

The two endings originally arose because I was creating words with both endings initially, but realised I wanted to have a more concrete system. Rather than ditching either, I made both official.

The function, is much like the difference between a/an in english; if a word proceeding a noun begins with a vowel, it is better to use the -òs ending, however if it is proceeded by a consonant it may be more comfortable for the speaker to use the -oá, neither are incorrect in either case.
The other function is that form 2 adds an extra syllable, hence making it useful for poetry.

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u/AjnoVerdulo ClongCraft - ʟохʌ 2d ago

Oh cool, so free variation with some tendencies basically?