Word order
V2 (verb-second). The first sentence element can be any single constituent; the verb always occupies second position; remaining elements follow in flexible order.
Noun classes (six: gender × sacred/profane, marked by prefix)
- Masculine-Sacred: vel-
- Feminine-Sacred: sól-
- Neuter-Sacred: ís-
- Masculine-Profane: kar-
- Feminine-Profane: nöl-
- Neuter-Profane: dur-
Case system (suffixes)
- Nominative: (none)
- Accusative: -en
- Dative: -im
- Genitive: -ska
- Bound (oath/duty owed, not mere possession): -þrel
Verb system
Every finite verb carries: Aspect + Bond + Fate-Mood + Evidentiality, plus Time-Type when the subject is Sacred-class.
Slot order: ROOT – ASPECT – BOND – FATE-MOOD – EVIDENTIALITY – (TIME-TYPE, sacred-only) – (person)
Aspect:
- Imperfective (ongoing): -iel
- Perfective (completed): -ur
Bond:
- Owed (duty): -gir
- Willed (free choice): -frjá
- Middle/Becoming (the act transforms the doer): -verð
Fate-Mood:
- Sealed (fate already fixed): -lög
- Open (still contested): -vakt
Evidentiality (mandatory):
- Witnessed: -zan
- Inferred: -tolk
- Reported: -sagt
- Felt/intuited: -þreya
Time-Type (mandatory only for Sacred-class subjects):
- Chronos (ordinary time): -tíð
- Kairos (the appointed moment): -dova
Worked examples
fylg-iel-gir-lög-þreya — fylgielgirlögþreya
“[I] am still following, out of duty, toward a fate already sealed — and I know this in my bones.”
Dov fórnást-ur-frjá-lög-þreya-dova ís-heim-en
“God loved the world — completed, freely willed, fate-sealed, felt-true, in the appointed moment.”
The Four Loves
- Fórnást — agápē-type: self-giving, sacrificial love
- Girnþrá — érōs-type: romantic, passionate longing
- Vingir — philía-type: loyal, oath-bound friendship
- Ættmýkt — storgē-type: familial tenderness
Pronouns
- 1sg: ek | 1du: vit | 1pl: vér
- 2sg (neutral): þú | 2du: it | 2pl: ér
- 2sg (reverent/elder): þér
- 2sg (sacred, addressing God): ísþú
- 3sg masc-sacred: velhann
- 3sg fem-sacred: sólhon
- 3sg neut-sacred: íshat
- 3sg masc-profane: karhann
- 3sg fem-profane: nölhon
- 3sg neut-profane: durhat
- 3du/3pl (generic): þeir
- 1sg humble register: eska
- Reflexive (all persons): sik
Possessives
Plain genitive: pronoun + -ska (e.g. ekska, "of me/mine")
Agreeing possessive (matches noun-class of the thing possessed, not the possessor):
- my + sacred noun: mín- | my + profane noun: mínkar-
- your (reverent) + sacred noun: þín- | your (reverent) + profane noun: þínkar-
- Dov's/divine + sacred noun: ísín-
Diglossia
Kanin has two registers.
Helgamál ("holy-speech"): the full grammar above — mandatory Aspect, Bond, Fate-Mood, Evidentiality, and Time-Type for sacred subjects. Used for oath, prayer, psalm, saga.
Fólkmál ("folk-speech"): Aspect and Bond remain mandatory; Fate-Mood, Evidentiality, and Time-Type are optional or absent; Sacred/Profane noun-class marking is rare and used only for deliberate emphasis.