WW #38: Council of Elders
In Nitherian culture, the village elders had a special role as advisors and decision-makers. Usually this was limited to local decisions, but elders were also important at the national level:… Read more »
WW #37: Getting Negative
I’m lingering on Kharulian for another week, because I finally worked out how Kharulian marks negation. Here’s a sentence to demonstrate: Vurílim alnelíaraa madzárar majezh. [βuˈɹ̠ʲi.lʲimVuríli-mVurili-DAT alʲ.ɲeˈlʲi.a.raːalnelíara-afall-ACC maˈdza.rarmadz-arar1p-travel maˈdʒɛʒ]maj-e-zh1p–NEG–EXP We’ve… Read more »
WW #36: Smooth One
A nice two-word Kharulian sentence today: Cherikhiázlago marofken. [tʃe.ɹ̠ʲiˈçaz.ɫa.ɡoche-ri-khiázlag-o2s–REFL.POSS-apprentice-ACC ma.rɔɸʲˈcɛn]maro-fke-n1s>2s-accept-PROG I accept you as my apprentice. Gloss provided by Gloss My Gloss The root of the first word, khiázlak “apprentice”,… Read more »
WW #35: Optative Shenanigans
These four consecutive sentences from the Syntax Test Cases are phrased quite differently in English: Let’s go! You should go. I will be happy to go. He will arrive soon…. Read more »
WW #34: Speaking chilis
Here’s a spicy Nitherian sentence: Misanyathmo vovoslo sesecha. [mi.san.yaˈðə.mom-i-san-yathm-o-ØPFV-speak-INS.APPL-chili-3s–3s.A voˈvo.ɬovo~vosloHAB~sail seˈse.tɕa]se~sechaHAB~buy The merchant berated the sailor. Gloss provided by Gloss My Gloss The interesting word here is the verb compound… Read more »
WW #33: Shining brightly
When doing the Syntax Test Cases for a new language, I find an early stumbling block in sentence number 8, “The sun shines brightly”. This sentence is clearly designed to… Read more »
WW #32: Turning Oneself the Head
I’m going through the Syntax Test Cases to help nail down a variety of constructions in my languages. I’ll be giving examples of these translations for the next few weeks…. Read more »
WW #31: Athletes
Renayekasoslo kikirasalarwi vayawaslo. [re.na.je.kaˈso.ɬore-naye-k-aso-sloPROG-try-INTENS-towards-3p ki.ki.ra.saˈla.rwiki~kira-sala-rwiHAB~run-skilfully-PL va.jaˈwa.ɬo]va-yawa-slobe.from-here.and.there-3p Athletes from many lands have come to compete. Gloss provided by Gloss My Gloss The new roots in this sentence are: Noyekeso “compete, struggle”… Read more »
WW #30: Study Trip
Even in the ancient world, Kharulian scholars would regularly take study trips to distant academies and libraries; later, this became so associated with Kharulian scholars that the word ázrak “traveller”… Read more »
WW #29: Noisy Cats
Amamoyto nin myas ndon pungïsun e-mwamwa mï-hniyhn. [ˈa.maˌmɔj.toama-moy-tomother-DOM–DEF nɪnni-nGEN–1s mjasmya-sIPFV–3s ⁿdɔnn-donLOC–PASS ˈpʊ.ᵑɡɨ.zʊnpungïsu-nannoy-PASS ɛˈmwa.mwae=mwa~mwaINSTR=PL~cat mɨˈn̥ɪjn̥]mï=hniyhnLOC-squeal My mother-in-law was annoyed by some noisy cats. Gloss provided by Gloss My Gloss Here are… Read more »