Re: The beginnings of a Semitic conlang

Here is a revised summary of Kasin grammar and phonology (responses to
Garth's comments follow):

Phonology

Consonants
Stops: b /b/, m /m/, mw /m_w/, t /t/, tw /t_w/, n /n/, ny /J/, k /k/, kw
/k_w/, q /q/, qw /q_w/, ? /?/
Fricatives: f /f/, th /T/, s /s/, lh /K/, sh /S/, x /x/, h /h/
Affricates: ch /tS/
Liquids: l /l/, r /4/
Glides: w /w/, y /j/

Vowels
Front: i /i/, î /i:/
Mid: a /a/, â /a:/
Back: u /u/, û /u:/
Diphthongs: ai /aj/, au /aw/

Kasin syllables can consist of a single initial consonant followed by a
medial vowel and an optional final consonant.

Stress is insignificant; one can stress any syllable of a word.

Morphology

Kasin is based on a Semitic-style trisyllabic root structure with vowel
infixation. Below are vowel patterns for grammatical functions. The example
root is kVsVn 'speech'.

root verb: CaCuC: kasun
past tense: CaCuCu: kasunu
present tense: CaCuC: kasun
future tense: CaCuCi: kasuni
inchoative aspect: CaCaC: kasan
causative aspect: CaC:uC: kassun
volitional aspect: CaCûC: kasûn
imperative mood: CaC:ûC: kassûn
subjunctive mood: CaCuCah: kasunah
passive voice: CaCufaC: kasufan
reflexive voice: CaCulhiC: kasulhin
gerund: CaCubiC: kasubin
active past participle: yaCaCuC: yakasun
active present participle: ?iCaCuC: ?ikasun
passive past participle: shiCaCuC: shikasun
passive present participle: tiCaCuC: tikasun
first person singular agentive: CaCumiC: kasumin
first person plural agentive: CaCumaiC: kasumain
first person collective agentive: CaCumikaC: kasumikan
masculine second person singular agentive: CaCutuC: kasutun
feminine second person singular agentive: CaCufiC: kasufin
second person plural agentive: CaCutaiC: kasutain
second person collective agentive: CaCutukaC: kasutukan
first person singular patientive: CaCuwaC: kasuwan
first person plural patientive: CaCuwaiC: kasuwain
first person collective patientive: CaCuwakaC: kasuwakan
second person singular patientive: CaCunyaC: kasunyan
second person plural patientive: CaCunnaiC: kasunnain
second person collective patientive: CaCutukaC: kasutukan
first person singular experiencial: CaCuxiC: kasuxin
first person plural experiencial: CaCuxaiC: kasuxain
first person collective experiencial: CaCuxikaC: kasuxikan
second person singular experiencial: CaCuqwiC: kasuqwin
second person plural experiencial: CaCuqwaiC: kasuqwain
second person collective experiential: CaCuqwikaC: kasuqwikan
first person singular dative: CaCumauC: kasumaun
first person plural dative: CaCumauaiC: kasumauain
first person collective dative: CaCumaukaC: kasumaukan
second person singular dative: CaCuraC: kasuran
second person plural dative: CaCuraiC: kasurain
second person collective dative: CaCurakaC: kasurakan

noun: CaCiC: kasin
plural number: CaiCaC: kaisan
collective number: CuCiC: kusin
adjective: CuCaC: kusan
agent (actor): CauCiC: kausin
agentive case: CamaCiC: kamasin
patientive case: CataCuC: katasun
experiential case: CalCiC: kalsin
dative case: CaquCiC: kaqusin
genetive case: CâCiC: kâsin
profession: CaCâCya: kasânya
professional agent (actor): CaC:âCa: kassâna
instrument: miCâCaC: mikâsan
locative: maCâCaC: makâsan

Garth wrote:

"So you can't, for example, have a past subjunctive, or a future causative,
or a passive imperative ("Go screw yourself!")? Or would you need to use
periphrastic constructions for that?"

Yes you can--I should've said so explicitly--past subjunctive: kasunahu;
future causative: kassuni; passive imperative: kassûfan.

(Typos were corrected in the grammar--your other questions are answered
there.)

Trebor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Trebor1990
"If you pulled the wings off a fly, would it then be called a walk?"