Wednesday 9 March 2016

Unglish language



1: Phonology

1.1: Orthography

A a
/a/
Ħ ħ
/ʔ/
R r
/r/
Ⱥ ⱥ
/ə/
I i
/i/
Ɍ ɍ
/ʁ/
B b
/b/
J j
/ʒ/
S s
/s/
Ƀ ƀ
/ʙ̥/
Ɉ ɉ
/dʒ/
T t
/t/
C c
/ʃ/
K k
/k/
Ŧ ŧ
/θ/
Ȼ ȼ
/tʃ/
L l
/l/
U u
/ʊ/
D d
/d/
Ł ł
/ɬ/
Ʉ ʉ
/ɯ/
E e
/ɛ/
M m
/m/
V v
/v/
Ɇ ɇ
/e/
N n
/n/
W w
/ʍ/
F f
/f/
O o
/o/
X x
/x/
G g
/g/
P p
/p/
Y y
/j/
H h
/h/
Q q
/ŋ/
Z z
/z/
The Unglish language uses a different writing system, which will be discussed in a future post. This is a romanisation system used to transliterate texts into English for linguistic study.
















2: Nouns, pronouns & definite articles

2.1: Word forms

All nouns fit into either one of two classes in terms of word forms. There are three forms of each word – the singular, the plural and the locative, used for nearly all prepositions.

Bak (from “box”) = Chair

Gnal = Stone

Singular
Plural
Locative
Bak
Baŧ
Baki
Gnal
Gnalc
Gnalt

2.2: Pronouns

Due to the complex conjugation of verbs, the subject and object pronouns are the same.
1st. sing.
Ar
2nd sing.
I
3rd sing. informal
U
3rd sing. formal
Ur
1st plu. exclusive
Ƀe
1st plu. inclusive
Be
2nd plu./formal
Ei
3rd plu.
Ʉ

2.3: Possessive pronouns

To show possessive pronouns, morphemes are attached to the noun in question. For both classes, these morphemes are the same:

Person
Singular noun
Plural noun
Example noun: Kałar = a name
Meaning
1st
-am
-mi
Kałram
My name
2nd
-a
-i
Kałarmi
My names
3rd
-o
-oi
Kałaro
His name

The plural definite articles are used to show the possessive pronoun is plural, for example:

Yⱥl kałram = the-PLU name-POS.1ST = our name

Yⱥl kałaroi = the-PLU name-POS.1ST = their names

2.4: Definite articles

For most nouns, no articles are needed, since they are then assumed to be indefinite. However, for certain expressions, even indefinite ones, these articles are required.

There are four cases in use here:

-          Normal: For standard definite nouns
-          Diminuitive: For definite nouns that are regarded as smaller, or less significant. Like saying “the little stove” rather than “the stove”
-          Disassociative: Equivalent to saying “the other” or “another”
-          Conditional: Used always for the subject and object of conditional verbs, since these cannot be determined by the verbs alone.


This
That
These
Those
Normal
Ya
Yo
Yⱥl
Yⱥn
Diminuitive
Yu
Yei
Yul
Yel
Disassociative
Ve
Vei
Va
Vu
Conditional
A
Al
Ac
Ⱥ

3: Verbs

3.1: Verb standards and notation guide

In Unglish, there are no infinitives – in sentences where this is used in English, for example “It is difficult to try”, you use the most appropriate conjugation, so in that instance, “It is difficult if you try”.

Verbs without a direct object will often have a preposition attached into the verb form itself, for convenience, for example, “obka”, “to think about”, derived from “about”.

All (non-reflexive) verbs, in the first-person singular present (the dictionary form), end in a consonant (represented as # in diagrams) followed by a vowel (@). They all take either the structure @#-#@ or #@-##@ in this form. Note that the (-) refers to the unimportant middle section.

3.2: Ordinary verb conjugations

Examples : Obka = I think about/ Ubka = I talk about


Present
Past
Future
Present
Past
Future
1st sing.
Obka
Obke
Obla
Ubka
Ubke
Ubla
2nd sing.
Obok
Obek
Obol
Ubuk
Ubek
Ubul
3rd sing.
Oba
Obe
Obʉ
Uba
Ube
Ubʉ
1st plu.
Yⱥl obka/Abka*
Yⱥl obke/Abke*
Yⱥl obla/Abla*
Yⱥl ubka/Ɇbka*
Yⱥl ubke/Ɇbke*
Yⱥl ubla/Ɇbla*
2nd plu.
Yⱥl obok/Abok*
Yⱥl obek/Abek*
Yⱥl obol/Abol*
Yⱥl ubuk/Ɇbuk*
Yⱥl ubek/Ɇbek*
Yⱥl ubul/Ɇbul*
3rd plu.
Yⱥl oba/Aba*
Yⱥl obe/Abe*
Yⱥl obʉ/Abʉ*
Yⱥl uba/Ɇba*
Yⱥl ube/Ɇbe*
Yⱥl ubʉ/Ɇbʉ*

*In some dialects.

3.3: Letter changes and conjugation rules
1st sing.
#@##@
2nd sing.
#@#@#
3rd sing.
#@#@
1st plu.
@#@##@
2nd plu.
@#@#@#
3rd plu.
@#@#@







Vowel and consonant changes in the verbs (vice-versa) are as follows:
/k, g/
/l/
/p, b/
/n/
/t, d/
/ȼ/
/o/*
/a/*
/u/*
/ɇ/*
/e/*
/i/*
/ʉ/*
/ⱥ/*

*Only for the initial vowel in some dialects.

For the present 2nd-singular, take the first vowel in the verb and replace the last vowel with that vowel. For the past tense, the last vowel is always “e”.

3.4: Reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs are conjugated according to the same rules, except with “-c” at the end of them, for example, “Ubkac”, meaning “I think to myself”, which is conjugated like any other verb, and “Obkac”, meaning “I talk to myself”. This is borrowed from the Russian “-sya” reflexive endings.

3.5: Conditionals

For conditionals, the object noun takes the conditional-specific article. In an intransitive sentence, the subject noun takes this instead.

3.6: Gerunds

For the gerunds of each verb, all verbs, even reflexive ones, are ended in “-i”.

3.7: Negatives

Negative verbs are preceded by the article “nol”.

3.7: Verb-like constructions

A few verbs of motion and location have no verb equivalents – for example, “to be”, “to have”, “to go” and “to do” as the most notable. These are instead shown through a series of techniques:

-          The present tense of “to be” is omitted entirely
-          The past and future tenses of “to be” are shown using the prepositions “ne” for the past tense and “ni” for the future tense
-          The verb “to go” is shown with the locative and the preposition “te” before the noun
-          The verb “to do” is shown with the preposition “u”, also meaning “done by”, and the sentence order is reversed
-          The verb “to have” is shown with the possessive forms, mentioned above

4: Prepositions, sentence structures & adjectives

4.1: Sentence order & articles

In normal sentences, the order is SVO, as in English.
There is no equivalent of “and” – simply move on to the next noun. However, articles do exist for other connectives in sentences.

4.2: Use of the locative with possessive articles

The locative, either definite or indefinite, is used to show certain prepositions that are otherwise inexpressible – for example:

-          “Yo kuko waunŧ” = “that boy-POS.3RD well” = “the boy is of a well”=”the boy belongs to a well/a well has the boy”
-          “Waunŧ yo kuko” = “well that boy-POS.3RD” = “the boy is from a well”

Using the locative of “well”, this becomes:

-          “Yo kuko waunŧi” = “that boy-POS.3RD well-LOC” = “the boy is in a well”

4.3: The locative with prepositions

-          “Yo kuk da waunŧi” = “that boy on well-LOC” = “the boy is on a well”
-          “Yo kuk te waunŧ” = “that boy go well” = “the boy is near/at a well”
-          “Yo kuk te waunŧi” = “that boy go well-LOC” = “the boy goes to a well”
-          “Yo kuk nu waunŧi” = “that boy under well-LOC” = “the boy is under a well”
-          “Yo kuk nu te waunŧi” = “that boy under well-LOC” = “the boy goes under a well”
-          “Yo kuk da waunŧ” = “that boy on well” = “the boy is over a well”
-          “Yo kuk da te waunŧ” = “that boy on goes well” = “the boy goes over a well”

4.4: Prepositions as verbs

The prepositions “with” and “using” are shown as verbs, as is “across” (“kⱥdra” = “to go across/across”).

4.5: Sound changes

I made a list of sound changes in this language (/English form = Unglish form/):
/θ,ð = j/
/s = θ/
/ð = v/
/v = ʙ̥/
/t = n/
/b = m/
/w = p’/ (sometimes it became /ʙ̥/ by way of /v/)
/l = ʁ/
/h = ɬ/ (in some instances - in many others it remained as /h/)

Examples of words with origin:
  • /θani/ means "nation" or "homeland", coming from Early Unglish /θadi/, itself coming from "city" (or perhaps "town")
  • /ʙ̥ʁɛk/ means "great" or "large", coming from Early Unglish /blik/, coming from Russian "veliky" ("great")
  • /kʊk/ means "boy" or "teenage child", coming from Early Unglish /koka/, itself coming from Spanish "chico"/"chica"

4.6: Adjectives & numerals

Adjectives are not declined for any value – in fact, many of them are incorporated into nouns as morphemes.
0
Maħ (from “but”)
11
Ol-Dei
30
Yei
1
Dei (from “it”)
12
Ol-Ȼa
40
Ki
2
Ȼa
13
Ol-Yaf
50
Kimi
3
Yaf
14
Ol-Ka
60
Teci
4
Ka
15
Ol-Kim
70
Tami
5
Kim
16
Ol-Tec
80
Awi
6
Tec
17
Ol-Taim
90
Ⱥni
7
Taim
18
Ol-Au
100
Inta
8
Au
19
Ol-Ⱥn
200
Ȼa-Inta
9
Ⱥn
20
Ȼi
300
Yaf-Inta
10
Ol (from “all”)
21
Ȼi-Dei
1000
Tⱥtra

2 comments:

  1. I find your conlang very interesting! I recommend a different, easier, orthography though.

    a ə b ʙ̥ ʃ tʃ d ɛ e f g h ʔ i ʒ - Aa Êê Bb BRbr Cc CHch Dd Éé Ff Gg Hh Qq Ii Jj

    dʒ k l ɬ m n o p ŋ r ʁ - DJdj Kk Ll Łł Mm Nn Oo Pp NGng Rr RHrh

    s t θ ʊ ɯ v ʍ x j z - Ss Tt Þþ Uu Úú Vv Ww Ȝȝ Yy Zz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fair enough, I've had several people suggest I use a simpler orthography, but I haven't revisited this language in ages. Still, I like yours, it's easier to understand

      Delete