Punctuation
There are no capital letters.
People's names, their initials and place names are signified by an over-line over the word. This cannot be reproduced using Earth technology so we use the underline.
Sentences are broken with any one of the following glyphs: Statement, question, exclamation, request,suggestion, command or list.
Sentences start on a new line and may be preceded and / or ended with sentence symbol (see below).
Paragraphs are signified by a blank line.
Books tend to be wider that taller (i.e. landscape).
Symbol
The
But
And
Statement
Question
Exclamation
Request
Suggestion
Command
List
Pronounced
meh
noop
jek
jha
(redo)
(monur)
Letter
T
B
A
.
?
!
R
S
C
:
Glyph
Comments
Forms the first character of the word.
Sentences end with the period symbol.
Sentences may start and / or end with the question symbol* which is actually spoken.
Sentences may start and / or end with the exclamation symbol. *
Sentences may start and / or end with the request symbol. *
Sentences may start and / or end with the suggestion symbol.
Sentences may start and / or end with the command symbol. Sometimes spoken.
Lists must start with the list symbol. Sometimes spoken.
* Note that the context of a sentence is often set at the beginning. However quite often a sentence is finished with a punctuation which can be used to promote, demote or change the meaning of a sentence after it has been uttered. this can add a considerable level of subtlety to the language. Examples: -
"The door is red." = "The door is red." spoken flat.
"[question] The door is red" = "Is the door red?" Spoken with questioning inflection from the start of the sentence.
"The door is red [question]" = "I believe that the door is red. Is it?" Only the last word is spoken with rising, questioning inflection.
"[exclamation] The door is red" = "The door is red!" (alarm) Last word emphasized.
"The door is red [exclamation]" = "The door is red!" (surprise) Pause before emphasized last word.
"[request] The door will be red" = "Please make [paint] the door red." (a request)
"The door will be red [request]" = "Make [paint] the door red. Please." (a polite command)
"[suggestion] The door is red." = "The door could be (painted) red."
"The door is red [suggestion]" = "You could make (paint) the door red."
"[command] The door is red" = "Make (paint) the door red now."
"The door is red [command]" = "The door is still red and should have been changed. Change it."
"[question] The door is red [command]" = "Is the door still red? Find out and let me know."
"[exclamation] The door is red [command]" = "I am angry that the door is still red and not changed. Change it."
When this happens in written prose it is common to start sentences on new lines to avoid start / end issues with sentences.
Using differing context symbols is nearly always within prose or narrative. Reference material is, by style, more formal and simple.
Generally spoken the structure of their language, particularly in literature, can vary. Sometimes linguistic rules are broken for the purpose of subtlety. This issue has been of some confusion when attempting to translate their work.
When spoken the subtle differences of meaning of most of the variations described above can be inferred by the tone of voice and / or slight pauses between the words. However due to the wide variety of linguistic and cultural variations these can be lost and even sometimes, misinterpreted. There is a common 'humorous' scenario where interaction between peoples of varying cultures try to communicate using their local pronunciation of the language but misread each other.