This morning I woke up thinking about how a "why" question fits into the forms I posted yesterday, and then I realized that it might not be clear how a "how" question works. To be clear, the topic is in the nominative, followed by the question part.
Here's the sample I put in the grammar document:
Dha fiosa, ve ano weros? (That house, 2nd-singular-past build how?; "How did you build that house?")
"Why" questions would be similar. I don't have an example off the top of my head, but you might even go as far as "About the civil war, you-wrote why?" ("Why did you write about the civil war?") -- this includes a topic phrase.
Addendum from the Comments:
Thomas said...
I notice that in your other questions, the topic stands alone at the beginning of the sentence; what about wording it as "the civil war, you wrote about [it] why" (rather than "about the civil war, you wrote why")? Just a thought.
March 15, 2010 1:52 PM
Mee-ah said...
I think that's what I originally had in mind. I ended up writing my clarification between errands today, and I may have failed at clarifying.
Either would probably be allowed, grammatically, but your example is less awkward. Thanks. :)
March 15, 2010 2:55 PM
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
You've Got Questions? We've Got Grammar!
Yes/No question tagging had been addressed previously in the grammar, but now it is possible to ask other kinds of questions too!
Questions in Teliya Nevashi are formed by mentioning the subject or topic first, followed by the verb and usually ending in one of the 7 interrogative words. Those words are jenos ("who"), eyos ("what"), kios ("why"), alos ("where"), lumos ("when"), weros ("how") and gedos ("which (one)").
For instance:
Ya kawunar, mi dev alos? (The bathroom, 3rd_person-s is-located where?; "Where is the bathroom?")
Amá dez, mi an gedos? (Mother your, 3rd-singular is which one?; "Which one is your mother?)
Dha Sheshet, mi an jenos? (That young-woman, 3rd-sing is who?; "Who is that girl?")
Kawunar is generally the bathroom in someone's home, since it is the "bathing room". A public bathroom would be iane'ar, the "water room", or thusar, the "urination room".
I've labeled thusar as vulgar in the vocabulary document, but I don't think it is strongly vulgar. It's just not as euphemistic as iane'ar. Do the Nevashi have those kinds of taboos about bodily functions? I am not sure yet.
I noticed something about the name of the world, Ianea, recently. It is called "Ya Ianen", "The Waters" by the Nevashi who live there, and I had thought that "Ianea" was the same thing, but I think it actually means something closer to "Flow" or "Flowing".
Questions in Teliya Nevashi are formed by mentioning the subject or topic first, followed by the verb and usually ending in one of the 7 interrogative words. Those words are jenos ("who"), eyos ("what"), kios ("why"), alos ("where"), lumos ("when"), weros ("how") and gedos ("which (one)").
For instance:
Ya kawunar, mi dev alos? (The bathroom, 3rd_person-s is-located where?; "Where is the bathroom?")
Amá dez, mi an gedos? (Mother your, 3rd-singular is which one?; "Which one is your mother?)
Dha Sheshet, mi an jenos? (That young-woman, 3rd-sing is who?; "Who is that girl?")
Kawunar is generally the bathroom in someone's home, since it is the "bathing room". A public bathroom would be iane'ar, the "water room", or thusar, the "urination room".
I've labeled thusar as vulgar in the vocabulary document, but I don't think it is strongly vulgar. It's just not as euphemistic as iane'ar. Do the Nevashi have those kinds of taboos about bodily functions? I am not sure yet.
I noticed something about the name of the world, Ianea, recently. It is called "Ya Ianen", "The Waters" by the Nevashi who live there, and I had thought that "Ianea" was the same thing, but I think it actually means something closer to "Flow" or "Flowing".
Monday, March 8, 2010
Small Advancements, Big Plans
Nevashi gained a number of words for body parts and clothing tonight. Those are the small advancements.
The Big Plans? I plan on starting to keep a diary in the language to help advance it further. I hope that actually using it will result in a lot more advancement. I may start posting entries here in Nevashi, when I feel a little more comfortable using it.
I also plan on fleshing out the conculture a little more, paying particular attention to the differences between the cultures of Nevashi speakers on the island of Nevash and on the mainland, and also between Ianea Nevashi and Earth Nevashi. (I might like to start by coming up with some story to explain how some Nevashi people ended up on Earth, since Ianea is their home world.)
I am also trying to start a little collaborative conlang project athttp://conlangery.freeforums.org/ http://colla.conlang.org. (It has moved!)
The Big Plans? I plan on starting to keep a diary in the language to help advance it further. I hope that actually using it will result in a lot more advancement. I may start posting entries here in Nevashi, when I feel a little more comfortable using it.
I also plan on fleshing out the conculture a little more, paying particular attention to the differences between the cultures of Nevashi speakers on the island of Nevash and on the mainland, and also between Ianea Nevashi and Earth Nevashi. (I might like to start by coming up with some story to explain how some Nevashi people ended up on Earth, since Ianea is their home world.)
I am also trying to start a little collaborative conlang project at
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Third Annual State of the Language Address
It's that time of the year again, when I take a look what happened in the development of Teliya Nevashi over the last 12 months (+/-) and set a course for the coming year.
The development of the language has continued to be slow, in fits and starts, but there are now over 300 words in the vocabulary file. There have been quite a few developments in colloquial/idiomatic usage over the year. It has been used in status messages on Facebook and for about half of my cards for the Conlang Card Exchange. (The other half were ea-luna cards.)
Onward to the future!
There are three things I hope to accomplish with this language this year:
1. I'd like to write some lessons. I've had a couple of people ask, for one thing, and it might be a good thing for developing the language.
2. I'd like to do more translations and writing, for the sake of developing the vocabulary and grammar, as well as getting more practice using it myself.
3. I'd like to revise and expand the grammar.
I am cautiously hopeful about my chances of accomplishing substantive progress this year.
Regarding my other conlangs, I'd like to finish the vocabulary file for ea-luna and try to recreate as many of the lost compound words as possible. If I get around to it, I'd like to try to describe the grammar, or at least collect enough model sentences together in one place that someone else could, if they felt some strange, burning need that the antibiotics didn't fix.
I would also like to start another language using the ideas that have been coalescing in my head for the last 6 months or so. This would be a collaborative project, in theory.
And, lastly, regarding other conlangs that are not mine, I plan on spending the next few months really learning to use Esperanto, and then going to the Landa Kongreso, which will be in Washington, DC-- conveniently close! I just think it would be a fun life experience.
The development of the language has continued to be slow, in fits and starts, but there are now over 300 words in the vocabulary file. There have been quite a few developments in colloquial/idiomatic usage over the year. It has been used in status messages on Facebook and for about half of my cards for the Conlang Card Exchange. (The other half were ea-luna cards.)
Onward to the future!
There are three things I hope to accomplish with this language this year:
1. I'd like to write some lessons. I've had a couple of people ask, for one thing, and it might be a good thing for developing the language.
2. I'd like to do more translations and writing, for the sake of developing the vocabulary and grammar, as well as getting more practice using it myself.
3. I'd like to revise and expand the grammar.
I am cautiously hopeful about my chances of accomplishing substantive progress this year.
Regarding my other conlangs, I'd like to finish the vocabulary file for ea-luna and try to recreate as many of the lost compound words as possible. If I get around to it, I'd like to try to describe the grammar, or at least collect enough model sentences together in one place that someone else could, if they felt some strange, burning need that the antibiotics didn't fix.
I would also like to start another language using the ideas that have been coalescing in my head for the last 6 months or so. This would be a collaborative project, in theory.
And, lastly, regarding other conlangs that are not mine, I plan on spending the next few months really learning to use Esperanto, and then going to the Landa Kongreso, which will be in Washington, DC-- conveniently close! I just think it would be a fun life experience.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
One small adjustment to a single word
Marigold, the flower formerly known as tajíta, is now called tají.
Somewhere in an earlier entry, when I was translating sentences, there was someone called "Little Marigold"--
Was: Tajítsha
Is: Tajísha
This is a legitimate name for a Nevashi girl-- both Tají and its diminutive, Tajísha-- although there is probably some teasing around how close it is to taje ("husband") by the meaner children.
Somewhere in an earlier entry, when I was translating sentences, there was someone called "Little Marigold"--
Was: Tajítsha
Is: Tajísha
This is a legitimate name for a Nevashi girl-- both Tají and its diminutive, Tajísha-- although there is probably some teasing around how close it is to taje ("husband") by the meaner children.
Nevashi In Action: Congratulations
I had an occasion to congratulate someone, but Nevashi came up short. I have since remedied that.
First, I looked up the etymology of "congratulation" and then searched out and considered how other languages handle congratulations. In the end, I found that I already had the words I wanted: Anta jeya! ("There is happiness!" or maybe "It is a joy!")
So, there is no verb "to congratulate", but you might say something like, Za twen ea-jeyam voz. (1st+past+give share happiness-acc his/her.), "I shared his or her happiness.") or perhaps just ja tel vosh, "anta jeya" (1st-past-speech speak (3rd person-epicene-dative-pronoun), "There-is happiness".; "I told him/her "congratulations".)
A note in passing...
There are not separate words for 'speak', 'talk', and 'say' in Nevashi at this point. There are variations on the one word, tel, that mean to talk loudly, to whisper, or to talk a lot, and there are different words that specifically mean "shout" (magan), "tell a story, recite, or make a speech" (hlal) and "pray" (nedh), but there is yet no distinction as made in English for the three words above. I think it might stay that way unless I see a pressing need to change that.
There are other parts of even the limited vocabulary it has already developed that are a lot more specific than English. (See gwelva, the variations on "love", and/or the words that might be covered by "healthy" in English.)
First, I looked up the etymology of "congratulation" and then searched out and considered how other languages handle congratulations. In the end, I found that I already had the words I wanted: Anta jeya! ("There is happiness!" or maybe "It is a joy!")
So, there is no verb "to congratulate", but you might say something like, Za twen ea-jeyam voz. (1st+past+give share happiness-acc his/her.), "I shared his or her happiness.") or perhaps just ja tel vosh, "anta jeya" (1st-past-speech speak (3rd person-epicene-dative-pronoun), "There-is happiness".; "I told him/her "congratulations".)
A note in passing...
There are not separate words for 'speak', 'talk', and 'say' in Nevashi at this point. There are variations on the one word, tel, that mean to talk loudly, to whisper, or to talk a lot, and there are different words that specifically mean "shout" (magan), "tell a story, recite, or make a speech" (hlal) and "pray" (nedh), but there is yet no distinction as made in English for the three words above. I think it might stay that way unless I see a pressing need to change that.
There are other parts of even the limited vocabulary it has already developed that are a lot more specific than English. (See gwelva, the variations on "love", and/or the words that might be covered by "healthy" in English.)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Holiday Greeting Formula, Shufshevél Customs
I have been working on cards for the conlang card exchange, and the greeting I have settled on is Pa imev yevam, vekum, wa imlam dez gyet Shuf-shevélat! This builds on the previously formulated "pa imev...dez" ("I wish for your...") formula created for birthday greetings.
I think I might keep this as a set greeting/blessing/cursing formula and work on some grammar to handle more complex thoughts about what one person wants another person to be/do/whatever.
Shuf-shevél or Shufshevél is the Nevashi fish celebration, which is exactly that the name means. Once mainly a fishing and seafaring island culture, fish represent prosperity and fertility for the Nevashi. The symbolism remains, even for mainland Nevashi, who are mainly farmers, traders, and merchants, far removed from their roots. Blue, green, and gold are the traditional colors of this holiday, carrying much the same significance as the fish.
On Nevash, the custom is for each household to buy or make an unfired clay pot in the shape of the fish. Small token offerings, such as coins or bits of food, are placed in the mouth of the pot. There is a procession down to waterside in the morning of the first day of the celebration, where the pots are tossed into the water. Those inland on the island may go to the nearest river or lake instead. With that out of the way, the real festivities begin-- there's a lot of feasting, drinking, singing, and gift giving. Fish-shaped jewelry is a popular gift, widely believed to bring good luck.
Originally, the festival was held after the trees had lost their leaves but before freezing temperatures set in, on whatever day the local temple declared auspicious. It has become loosely associated with the winter solstice due to contact with cultures that celebrate that occasion, and the increasing centralization of religious and civil authority has led to more and more towns and villages holding their festival on the same day as the capital city. The length of the festival is determined by either the local temple or the temple in the capital city, as determined by the same sort of augury that sets the date of the start of the celebration.
Mainland Nevashi, removed from the island culture, still celebrate the festival, but with customs that have evolved to fit their circumstances. It is still a celebration with a lot of feasting, drinking, and gift-giving, with slightly different details. Those communities in close contact with solstice celebrating cultures may have both night or sun themes, in addition to the traditional fish motif, but they still call it Shuf-shevél.
Almost every mainland family owns a fish-shaped vase, which tends to be very ornately decorated in the colors of the holiday. A fish festival vase is often the gift of choice to a newly married couple from the bride's parents-- either an heirloom or a newly purchased one. Wishes are written on pieces of paper and put into the vase on the first day of the festival, which tends to run a full 5 days on the mainland. On the last day of the festival, the wishes are thrown into a fire unread-- it's considered very bad luck to read anything that goes into the vase.
The second day usually involves a blessing of tools of work, in order to bring prosperity. The remaining days each have a different theme, such as "gratitude" or "remembering Nevash", etc, varying from community to community. Every day involves parties and feasting, with menus varied to fit the theme of the day. On the last day of the festival, the wishes are thrown into a fire unread-- it's considered very bad luck to read anything that goes into the vase.
I think I might keep this as a set greeting/blessing/cursing formula and work on some grammar to handle more complex thoughts about what one person wants another person to be/do/whatever.
Shuf-shevél or Shufshevél is the Nevashi fish celebration, which is exactly that the name means. Once mainly a fishing and seafaring island culture, fish represent prosperity and fertility for the Nevashi. The symbolism remains, even for mainland Nevashi, who are mainly farmers, traders, and merchants, far removed from their roots. Blue, green, and gold are the traditional colors of this holiday, carrying much the same significance as the fish.
On Nevash, the custom is for each household to buy or make an unfired clay pot in the shape of the fish. Small token offerings, such as coins or bits of food, are placed in the mouth of the pot. There is a procession down to waterside in the morning of the first day of the celebration, where the pots are tossed into the water. Those inland on the island may go to the nearest river or lake instead. With that out of the way, the real festivities begin-- there's a lot of feasting, drinking, singing, and gift giving. Fish-shaped jewelry is a popular gift, widely believed to bring good luck.
Originally, the festival was held after the trees had lost their leaves but before freezing temperatures set in, on whatever day the local temple declared auspicious. It has become loosely associated with the winter solstice due to contact with cultures that celebrate that occasion, and the increasing centralization of religious and civil authority has led to more and more towns and villages holding their festival on the same day as the capital city. The length of the festival is determined by either the local temple or the temple in the capital city, as determined by the same sort of augury that sets the date of the start of the celebration.
Mainland Nevashi, removed from the island culture, still celebrate the festival, but with customs that have evolved to fit their circumstances. It is still a celebration with a lot of feasting, drinking, and gift-giving, with slightly different details. Those communities in close contact with solstice celebrating cultures may have both night or sun themes, in addition to the traditional fish motif, but they still call it Shuf-shevél.
Almost every mainland family owns a fish-shaped vase, which tends to be very ornately decorated in the colors of the holiday. A fish festival vase is often the gift of choice to a newly married couple from the bride's parents-- either an heirloom or a newly purchased one. Wishes are written on pieces of paper and put into the vase on the first day of the festival, which tends to run a full 5 days on the mainland. On the last day of the festival, the wishes are thrown into a fire unread-- it's considered very bad luck to read anything that goes into the vase.
The second day usually involves a blessing of tools of work, in order to bring prosperity. The remaining days each have a different theme, such as "gratitude" or "remembering Nevash", etc, varying from community to community. Every day involves parties and feasting, with menus varied to fit the theme of the day. On the last day of the festival, the wishes are thrown into a fire unread-- it's considered very bad luck to read anything that goes into the vase.
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