Timekeeping
Notes on how to talk about dates, times, and timekeeping in Toaq.
Dates
The "spoken word" way of referring to dates is something like (gúheıshıchaq po néıjue) "the 21rd day of (the) September".
To specify the year you can add po nị́aqgukoamgujo "of the year 2024", which can be written 2024 (nị́aq2024). As in Chinese, years are simply read digit-by-digit, without bıq fue heı.
To say this more "mechanically" there's 21 9 2024 (jị́qchaq 21 9 2024), where the numbers should be pronounced digit-by-digit as jị́qchaq gushı neı gukoamgujo.
When writing a date numerically, the preferred format is 2024-09-21. Such a date can be "read out" (reading backwards!) using jị́qchaq. (Or one can read it forwards with dạ́qnıaq)
Alternative month names
There is a "colorful" set of alliterative month names that may be used instead of the numeric names:
| Month | Name |
|---|---|
| January | (chıochu) |
| February | (luqluoq) |
| March | (ırue'ısıe) |
| April | (geagom) |
| May | (suaqsoq) |
| June | (nuoqnea) |
| July | (nharunhuo) |
| August | (shuaqshoa) |
| September | (reoruq) |
| October | (feafao) |
| November | (hoehıu) |
| December | (cuaocoa) |
Time
Toaqgua uses 24-hour time. A time like "2:45 p.m." can be referred to as dạ́qhora 14 45.