Asteran Roots, Stems, and Derivation

Asteran distinguishes between roots and stems.

A root is the abstract lexical base of a word family.

A stem is the actual form that can receive endings.

This distinction matters because not every root can be used directly as a verb stem.

Root ≠ Verb Stem

Asteran does not assume that the root, noun stem, adjective stem, and verb stem are always identical.

A root can produce several different stems:

root → noun stem
root → adjective stem
root → verb stem

Sometimes the root can be used directly as a verb stem.

Sometimes it cannot.

Legal Verb Stems

Regular Asteran verb stems do not end in:

r
t
consonant clusters

This keeps the verb system clean, because Asteran uses:

-r- for past tense
-t- for future tense
final -t for passive voice

So regular verb stems should not already end in r, t, or a consonant cluster.

Direct Verb Stems

If a root already has a legal verb-stem shape, it can be used directly as a verb stem.

Example:

cal-
= bind, constrain, impose order on

The root cal- is a legal verb stem because it ends in l, not r, t, or a cluster.

So:

calen
= to bind

cala
= I bind

calei
= he/she/it binds

calra
= I bound

calta
= I will bind

Verbalizer: -is-

If a root is not a legal verb stem, Asteran uses the verbalizer:

-is-

Structure:

ROOT + -is- = verb stem

The suffix -is- creates a regular verb stem meaning:

to perform, enact, use, become, or activate the root-concept

The verbalizer -is- is a stem-forming suffix. It is not an adjective ending and not a case ending.

Example: ast-

ast-
= sacred song, chant, ordered voice

The root ast- ends in a consonant cluster, so it cannot be used directly as a regular verb stem.

Therefore:

ast- + -is- → astis-

astis-
= sing, chant, give sacred voice

Then the regular verb system applies:

astisen
= to sing / to chant

astisa
= I sing / I chant

astisei
= he/she/it sings / chants

astisra
= I sang / I chanted

astista
= I will sing / I will chant

Example: cort / cord-

cort
= chord

The root/stem ends in -rt, so it cannot be used directly as a regular verb stem.

Before vowel-initial material, Asteran applies the liquid-stop alternation:

t → d / r _ V

So:

cort + -is- → cordis-

cordis-
= harmonize, sound as a chord, make chordal

Then:

cordisen
= to harmonize / to sound as a chord

cordisa
= I harmonize

cordisei
= he/she/it harmonizes

cordista
= I will harmonize

The noun remains:

cort
= chord

cordam
= chord-ACC.SG

cordī
= chords-NOM.PL

Example: malc / malg-

malc
= fracture, break, rupture, discordant split

The root/stem ends in -lc, so it cannot be used directly as a regular verb stem.

Before vowel-initial material, Asteran applies the liquid-stop alternation:

c → g / l _ V

So:

malc + -is- → malgis-

malgis-
= fracture, break, rupture, become discordant

Then:

malgisen
= to fracture / to break into discord

malgisa
= I fracture

malgisei
= he/she/it fractures

malgista
= I will fracture

The noun remains:

malc
= fracture

malgam
= fracture-ACC.SG

malgī
= fractures-NOM.PL

Noun Derivation from Roots

Nouns are derived from roots with noun-forming suffixes.

Structure:

ROOT + noun-forming suffix

After the noun stem is formed, it takes normal Asteran case-number endings.

Main noun-forming suffixes:

Noun Derivation Example: cal-

cal-
= bind, constrain, impose order on

Important distinction:

calen
= to bind
infinitive verb

calun
= binding rite / act of binding
noun

calir
= doctrine or principle of binding
abstract noun

calet
= bond or constraint created by binding
result noun

Noun Derivation Example: ast-

ast-
= sacred song, chant, ordered voice

This makes astor analyzable as:

ast- + -or
= one who sings / consecrated singer

And astal naturally means:

choir / choral institution

Noun Derivation with Stem Alternation

If a root ends in -rp, -rt, -rc, -lp, -lt, -lc, the final stop voices before vowel-initial derivational suffixes.

Rules:

p → b / {r, l} V
t → d / {r, l} V
c → g / {r, l} _ V

So:

cort + -un → cordun
= chord-rite / act of sounding a chord

cort + -ir → cordir
= harmony as doctrine / chord-principle

malc + -un → malgun
= fracturing, act of fracture, rupture-event

malc + -ir → malgir
= fracture as principle, doctrine of discord

Adjective Derivation from Roots

General adjectives are formed with:

ROOT + -au

The adjective ending is:

-au

Before vowel-initial case/number endings, -au becomes -aw-.

Rule:

au → aw / _V

Examples:

sacrau
= sacred

sacrawam
= sacred-ACC.SG

sacrawī
= sacred-NOM.PL

Root Adjectives vs. Verbal Adjectives

Asteran distinguishes between root adjectives and verbal adjectives.

A root adjective describes a quality related to the root.

A verbal adjective describes an action or passive result related to a verb stem.

Root Adjective Examples

malc
= fracture

malgau
= fractured, discordant, fracture-like

This is a general adjective. It does not necessarily mean “having been fractured by someone.” It can simply mean “fracture-like” or “discordant in quality.”

cort
= chord

cordau
= chordal, harmonic, chord-like

Verbal Adjectives

Verbal adjectives are formed from the verb stem, not necessarily directly from the root.

Active verbal adjective:

verb stem + -au

Passive verbal adjective:

verb stem + -au + -t

This preserves the normal Asteran passive marker -t.

Verbal Adjective Example: cal-

Since cal- is already a legal verb stem:

calau
= binding, order-imposing

calaut
= bound, order-imposed

Compare:

calei
= it binds

caleit
= it is bound

calau
= binding

calaut
= bound

Verbal Adjective Example: astis-

The root ast- cannot be a verb stem directly, so the verb stem is:

astis-
= sing, chant, give sacred voice

Therefore:

astisau
= singing, chanting

astisaut
= sung, chanted

Verbal Adjective Example: cordis-

The root/stem cort cannot be a verb stem directly, so the verb stem is:

cordis-
= harmonize, sound as a chord

Therefore:

cordisau
= harmonizing, chord-sounding

cordisaut
= harmonized, sounded as a chord

Verbal Adjective Example: malgis-

The root/stem malc cannot be a verb stem directly, so the verb stem is:

malgis-
= fracture, break, rupture

Therefore:

malgisau
= fracturing, breaking

malgisaut
= fractured, broken, ruptured as passive result

This differs from:

malgau
= fractured / discordant / fracture-like as a general quality