Conlang Relay 12/Tæĺf
Contents
Smooth English from Calénnawn
This is a very marvelous narration.
The priestess spoke and said, "Hope!"
The midwife spoke and said, "Woman, push! You need to give birth! I see the baby using my eyes. You are about to give birth."
The priestess spoke and said, "Hope!"
The baby spoke and said, "I see this world."
The priestess said, "Oy!"
The woman said, "What?"
The midwife spoke and said, "Do not fear. You need to push! Push!"
The priestess spoke and said, "Hope!"
The baby spoke and said, "I need a blanket, and may it be thick."
The woman screamed and said, "S/he/it spoke!"
The baby spoke and said, "My mother, do not give unto me the name 'Cúnucs' because it is common/ordinary."
The woman spoke and said, "What is happening? I have drunk too much wine."
The midwife spoke and said, "I am able to cut the umbilical cord."
The baby spoke and said, "When I die, I will have been a military general and Peter will honour my name. I need a monster and I need to drink, but I will not drink the milk."
The priestess spoke and said, "You should not flop about like a fish on a dock."
The baby spoke and said, "I need a cup of wine aged 12 months."
The priestess spoke and said, "Hope!"
It was written the next day, "The baby speaks and says, 'This is a sacred gift.'"
Tæĺf with Interlinear
Het - her ðeþrek færl. This - very marvel.postBF2 story.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
priest-woman "hope.postBF-IMP-2nd.PL!" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Ryzdot-y-tēməwrytáwzō "Þændət, fiśsaŋajás!
birth.postBF-[]-doer-assist.postBF "Woman, push.postBF-IMP-2nd.sg!
Hasyɬjáp áwrərzydáftōjás kəmzyjáwnō!" keft 2nd.sg-GEN futGER-giving.birth.preBF-2nd.sg necessary!" QUOT1
bindejtsājáð, "Ho blejo sylmōjəlajo mij exclaim.postBF-past-3rd.sg, "I own-1st.sg eye-PL-1st.sg INST
myśsoh þá riśtsājo. Hasyɬjáp baby.postBF ACC see.postBF-past-1st.sg. 2nd.sg-GEN
áwrərzydáftōjás soɣr kəklybám futGER-giving.birth.preBF-2nd.sg soon passPart-come.preBF
kīláð," keft fiŕĺtsājáð. stay.postBF-3rd.sg," QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
priest-woman "hope.postBF-IMP-2nd.PL!" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Mæśsəh "Het byjðos þá rijo," keft
baby "This world.postBF ACC see.postBF-1st.sg," QUOT1
fiŕĺtsājáð. say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Hojś!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
priest-woman "Oy!" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
"Nō?" keft þændət fiŕĺtsājáð.
"What?" QUOT1 woman say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Ryzdot-y-tēməwrytáwzō "Tirblāsaŋajás," keft,
birth.postBF-[]-doer-assist.postBF "fear.postBF-NEG-IMP-2nd.sg" QUOT1
"hasyɬjáp áwrəfsyhám kəmzyjáwnō! "2nd.sg-GEN futGER-push.preBF-2nd.sg necessary!
Fishysaŋajás!" keft bleŋk giŋ́ftsājáð. Push.postBF-IMP-2nd.sg!" QUOT1 again command.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
priest-woman "hope.postBF-IMP-2nd.PL!" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
"Həwyðeā læfs kəmzyjáwnō," keft mæśsəh,
"1st.sg.postBF-DAT blanket necessary," QUOT1 baby,
"Tiĺĺsaŋajáð" keft fiŕĺtsājáð. "be.thick.postBF-IMP-3rd" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Þændət "Bitnytsājáð!" keft giśtsājáð.
woman "speak.postBF-past-3rd.sg" QUOT1 scream.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Mæśsəh "Mymo," keft laśkrygám,
baby "mother.postBF-1st.sg," QUOT1 pastPart-addressed.preBF,
"Həwyðeā 'Kūnuxs' kesm sym þá "1st.sg.postBF-DAT 'Cúnucs' QUOT2 name.postBF ACC
dińtylāsaŋajás, háð - naxl," keft give.postBF-NEG-IMP-2nd.sg, it - ordinary," QUOT1
fiŕĺtsājáð. say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Þændət "Nō liryś kīláð? Ho tefr kuhkaɬ
woman "what presPart-go.preBF stay.postBF-3rd.sg? I too much
Þyrros þá fiśttsājo" keft wine.postBF ACC drink.postBF-past-1st.sg" QUOT1
fiŕĺtsājáð. say.postBF-past-1st.sg.
Ryzdot-y-tēməwrytáwzō "hojā mæśs-y-kymbō
birth.postBF-[]-doer-assist.postBF "1st.sg-GEN life-[]-rope.postBF
þá liryssydámo momgyn" keft fiŕĺtsājáð. ACC presGER-cut.preBF-1st.sg possible" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-1st.sg.
mæśsəh "mykkō biŕk tēməŕk áwrədrykám
baby "army.postBF in-DIST ER-lead.postBF futPart-become.preBF
dińto, áwrərnylámo beā, 'Kristśin' kesm give.postBF-1st.sg, futGER-die.preBF.1st.sg LOC, Christian QUOT2
mylnō biŕk zywrō tēməþkylám sym religion.postBF in-DIST gate.postBF ER-keep.preBF name.postBF-1st.sg
þá áwrəssyláfsō dińtáð," keft ACC futPart-honour.preBF give.postBF-3rd.sg," QUOT1
mitnytsājáð, "həwyðeā kæĺk, áwrəfjytám declare.postBF-past-3rd.sg, "1st.sg.postBF-DAT monster, futGER-drink.preBF
kəmzyjáwnō, jelyj dyɣgop þá áwrəfjytám necessary, but milk.postBF ACC futPart-drink.preBF
dińtlajo" give.postBF-NEG-1st.sg"
Þæŕfən-þændət "hasyɬjáp hylðō yðeā hymjok ðek
priest-woman "your cougar.postBF DAT hamster.postBF like
liryɣgyfámás kəlamzyjānā" keft fiŕĺtsājáð. presGER-command.preBF-2nd.sg unnecessary" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg
Mæśsəh "həwyðeā rep jyl kətjydám
baby "1st.sg.postBF-DAT one year.postBF passPart-age.preBF
þyrros sytkonáð kəmzyjáwnō" keft fiŕĺtsājáð. wine.postBF cup.postBF-3rd.sg necessary," QUOT1 say.postBF-3rd.sg
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
priest-woman "hope.postBF-IMP-2nd.PL!" QUOT1 say.postBF-past-3rd.sg.
Áwrəklybám kyn brer "mæśsəh 'het - kajprykám dæńt'
futPart-come.preBF day.postBF LOC "baby 'this - causPart-bless gift'
keft firláð" keft kəfðyrám kiśtsājáð. QUOT1 say.postBF-3rd.sg" QUOT1 passPart-write.preBF put.postBF-past-3rd.sg
Notes passed to next participant
General Info ------------ Tæĺf can be classified so: - SOV - adjectives precede nouns - postpositional Tæĺf uses consonant stems as the basis for vocabulary building. Because of this, word formation paradigms call for consonants A, B, C, etc. For example, in the [particularly long, for sake of example] stem SFRNZ, consonant A is S, and consonant E is Z. In the lexicon, most noun/verb/adjective citations are given as the stem with the citation form in ()s; other forms can be derived/identified in the next section on important forms. See final comments. Important Forms --------------- See note 4 (before 4a); applies generally to verbs as well. Verbal participles/gerunds: - liry + preBF present part/ger - laj + preBF past part/ger - áwrə + preBF future part/ger - kə(/ke) + preBF passive or perfective part/ger - kaj + preBF causative part/ger Verbal forms: - citation form: - AáwB (AáfB) - AāBaCá - AāBaCáDī - AāBaCáDiE - pre-bound form: - -AB - -AByCám / -AByCáp - -AByCá(w/f)Dō - -AByCá(w/f)DoE - post-bound form: - A(ī/i)B- - AiBC- - AiBC(ē/e)D- - AiBCeDE- Noun forms: - citation form: - AæB(C(əD)) - pre-bound form: - -ABo(C(əD)) - post-bound form: - AyB- - AyBCō- - AyBC(ō/o)D- - post-bound form 2 (denominal adjectives): - AeB(C(eD)) - sometimes: AeBCe or AaBC Final-bound pronouns: -o -áwŋ -ás -áfþ -áð -áwn Notes ----- (1) - indicates a missing copula, although a copula would normally not come in the position - is found. Normal word order in Tæĺf would be X Y COP, but when there's no copula, the order is X - Y. (2) Because of the history of Tæĺf, many potentially confusing allophonic variations of consonants may exist: - The following are quite common: l/ĺ/ɬ(/f), g/ɣ/k, k/x, (v/)b/p/w/f, r/ŕ, n/ń, j/ś, m/ḿ, n/ŋ́/g, and a few others that are much less common (2a) In addition, some other things should be taken into account: - roots ending in h often won't show their h in certain forms, since h drops at the end of syllables after fricatives - there are some vowel variations too, most of which shouldn't be too opaque, some of which may be typos. (3) Quotatives are used for any material that's typically quoted. In Tæĺf, there are two common quotatives: - keft is used for things which are said. Think of "person 'X' keft verb" as "person, having said 'X', verb". There are many other ways of dealing with this in English, depending on the verb; also, as long as keft comes immediately after the quoted material, the rest of the sentence's syntax is pretty loose. - kesm is used for names. "'X' kesm thing" can be thought of as "thing called 'X'", or, English-permitting, "'X' thing". (4) The post-bound form (postBF) of the noun is used to show that something slightly less salient than the noun follows it: - for oblique case, after which case markers / postpositions follow - postBF nouns can precede other nouns (which can change in form depending on the resulting noun phrase's use): e.g., music.postBF disc = music disc, disc of music. (4a) Also, compound nouns don't have to use the post-bound form, and instead simply the citation form. Alternatively, the 2nd noun can be in preBF. In these instances, the filler vowel 'y' is often inserted between the nouns so that the phonology comes out okay. (4b) Some compounds may not be semantically obvious, even in context; if there seems to be ambiguity, contact me and I will provide compounds as if they are pieces of the lexicon previously not included. (5) Distributive prepositions can be thought of as mini relative clauses: þyndot beāk hæńf (temple.postBF at-DIST woman) = the woman at the temple, the woman who is at the temple Final Comments - Contact me! ---------------------------- As with any relay, if any questions come up, please contact me. I realise the syntax may be difficult for people unfamiliar with SOV languages; again, all questions are welcome, especially if something Just Doesn't Make Sense--everything should come out fairly simple and should make sense at least outside the context of everything else (you know how relays can be...), except perhaps the last sentence, which shouldn't be terrible, but is slightly complicated. If my server were up (it will be in about a week, but that does you little good now), I'd direct you to more complete info on Tæĺf, though I think I've sent everything that'll be necessary to tackle the relay. If you need any futher information, however, contact me. If there are unicode issues, contact me. I can easily provide pdf files which will present things as they're supposed to look.
Vocab
- indicates missing copula (see note 1) -k distributiviser/relativiser, for postpositions (see note 5) áwrə + verb.preBF future gerund or participle áwrə + verb.preBF + (j +) pronoun future gerund beā locative, at bir in BJÐS (bæjðəs) world bleŋk again ble + j + pronoun [pronoun]'s own (e.g., 'blejás' = 'your own') brer temporal locative, during, at the time of DGGW (dæɣgəp) milk ðek like, as (postposition) DNT (dæńt) gift DNT (dānatá) give DRK (dāraká) become ÐÞRK (ðæþrək) amazing thing, marvel ÐKL (ðākalá) keep FÐR (fæðr) writing implement (pen, pencil, quill) FÐR (fāðará) write FJT (fājatá) drink (verb) FRL (færl) story FRL (fāralá) say (archaic: recount) FSH (fāsahá) push FSH (fāsahá) push (see note 2a) futGerund + pronoun + [necessary] [it is necessary that] subject verb[s], subject['s] verb[ing is necessary], subject [needs to] verb, subject [should] verb futGerund + pronoun + [possible] [it is possible that] subject verb[s], subject['s] verb[ing is possible], subject [is able to / can] verb futGerund + [come] verb tense: immediate future futParticiple + [give] verb tense: future GŊF (gæŋ́f) command (noun) GŊF (gāgafá) command (verb) ŊJ (gawś) scream, cry out, shriek háð s/he/it (3rd.sg.nom) háfþ you (2nd.pl.nom) hás you (2nd.sg.nom) háwŋ we (1st.pl.nom) háwn they (3rd.pl.nom) həwyðeā me (1st.sg.dat) hasyɬjáp your (2nd.sg.gen) her very het this HLÐ (hæĺþ) cougar HMJK (hæmjək) hamster; any small rodent (e.g., mouse, gerbil; most squirrels and rats would be considered large rodents) ho I (1st.sg.nom) hojā my (1st.sg.gen) hojś! exclamation of surprise: "oy!", "ay!", "omg!" jelyj but JH (jáf) go (see note 2a) JL (jæɬ) year kə (/ke) + verb.preBF passive participle kəlamzyjānā unnecessary kəmzyjáwnō necessary kaj + verb.preBF causative gerund or participle kaj + verb.preBF + (j +) pronoun causative gerund keft QUOT1 (see note 3) kesm QUOT2 (see note 3) KJ (káfś) put KL (kawl) stay KLK (kæĺk) wolf; scary or dangerous animal, monster KLV (kālabá) come KMV (kæḿp) rope, string KN (kæn) sun; day KRŊ (kāragá) address, hail kuhkaɬ much laj + verb.preBF past gerund or participle laj + verb.preBF + (j +) pronoun past gerund liry + verb.preBF present gerund or participle liry + verb.preBF + (j +) pronoun present gerund LVS (læfs) blanket, cover, covering (sometimes: rug, carpet) LVS (lābasá) cover (verb) mij instrumental MJS (mæśs) life MJSH (mæśsəh) baby (see note 2a) MKK (mæxk) any sort of armed force: army, military, police, etc MLN (mæln) belief, faith, religion MM (mæm) mother momgyn possible MTN (mætn) declaration MTN (mātaná) declare nō what, which NKL (naxl) ordinary, plain, normal noun.citeF-[y-]noun.citeF compound noun phrase (see note 4a) noun.citeF-[y-]noun.preBF compound noun phrase (see note 4a) noun.postBF oblique (followed by cases/postpositions) noun.postBF + (j +) pronoun possessed/ive form noun.postBF + (j +) əla (+ j + pronoun) plural noun.postBF noun distributive (see note 4) noun.postBF-[y-]noun.citeF compound noun phrase (see note 4a) passParticiple + [put] finite form of passive voice passParticiple + [stay] verb tense: [such a situation definitely exists] presParticiple + [stay] verb tense: [such a situation exists] rep one RG (ráfk) lead (verb) RJ (ráfś) see RNL (rānalá) die RZDT (ræzdət) birth (noun) RZDT (rāzadátī) give birth (verb) SFRNZ (sāfaránis) hope; pray non-secularly SLM (sæɬm) eye SM (sæm) name (noun) soɣr soon SSLS (sæsləs) honour (noun) SSLS (sāsalásī) honour (verb) STKN (sætkən) mug, cup, glass, goblet; any container with a wide, open top which liquid is poured into and drunk from (e.g., not a flask) tēmə + noun.postBF doer, agent; more generally, person whose job deals with noun tefr too TJD (tæśt) age, oldness (noun) TJD (tājadá) age (verb) TJD (teśt,tejde) aged, old (adj) TLL (tæĺĺ) thickness TLL (tālalá) to be thick TLL (teɬle) thick TRV (tæŕf) fear (noun) TRV (tārabá) fear (verb) tsáŋ because of, since, for þá accusative ÞNDT (þændət) woman, any female creature ÞRFN (þæŕfən) priest, any religious leader ÞRRS (þærrəs) alcoholic beverage, spirits: usually cider, but also applies to wine, beer, ale, vodka, etc. (of these, only cider and various wines are native to Tæĺf speakers) verb.citeF infinitival form verb.postBF (+ j) + pronoun finite form, usually present tense verb.postBF + (y + ) lā(/laj) negative verb.postBF + (y +) tsā + j + pronoun past tense verb.postBF + saŋa + j + pronoun imperative VNTJ (bānatájī) exclaim, sound/peal (of a horn/bell) VRK (bāraká) bless, make holy/divine; make non-secularly divine/special VRTZ (bāratázī) help, assist VTN (bātaná) speak, talk yðeā dative, to ZSD (zāsadá) cut, slice; split, divide ZVR (zæwr) gate, opening
The Text in Tæĺf
Het - her ðeþrek færl.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Ryzdot-y-tēməwrytáwzō "Þændət, rizdetsaŋajás!
Hasyɬjáp áwrərzydáftōjás kəmzyjáwnō!" keft bindejtsājáð, "Ho blejo sylmōjəlajo mij myśsoh þá riśtsājo. Hasyɬjáp áwrərzydáftōjás soɣr kəklybám kīláð," keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Mæśsəh "Het byjðos þá rijo," keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Hojś!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
"Nō?" keft þændət fiŕĺtsājáð.
Ryzdot-y-tēməwrytáwzō "Tirblāsaŋajás," keft, "hasyɬjáp áwrəfsyhám kəmzyjáwnō! Fishysaŋajás!" keft bleŋk giŋ́ftsājáð.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
"Həwyðeā læfs kəmzyjáwnō," keft mæśsəh, "Tiĺĺsaŋajáð" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Þændət "Bitnytsājáð!" keft giśtsājáð.
Mæśsəh "Mymo," keft laśkrygám, "Həwyðeā 'Kūnuxs' kesm sym þá dińtylāsaŋajás, háð - naxl," keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Þændət "Nō liryś kīláð? Ho tefr kuhkaɬ þyrros þá fiśttsājo" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Ryzdot-y-tēməwrytáwzō "hojā mæśs-y-kymbō þá liryssydámo momgyn" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Mæśsəh "mykkō biŕk tēməŕk áwrədrykám dińto, áwrərnylámo beā, 'Kristśin' kesm mylnō biŕk zywrō tēməþkylám sym þá áwrəssyláfsō dińtáð," keft mitnytsājáð, "həwyðeā kæĺk, áwrəfjytám kəmzyjáwnō, jelyj dyɣgop þá áwrəfjytám dińtlajo."
Þæŕfən-þændət "hasyɬjáp hylðō yðeā hymjok ðek liryɣgyfámás kəlamzyjānā" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Mæśsəh "həðəjáp rep jyl kətjydám þyrros sytkonáð kəmzyjáwnō" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Þæŕfən-þændət "Sifreńssaŋajáfþ!" keft fiŕĺtsājáð.
Áwrəklybám kyn brer "mæśsəh 'het - kajprykám dæńt' keft firláð" keft kəfðyrám kiśtsājáð.
