Bemé - Revision history

Sware at 15:35, 6 May 2026

2026-05-06T15:35:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:35, 6 May 2026
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	* [[:Category:Bemé words]]		* [[:Category:Bemé words]]
	* [[Caine orthography]]		* [[Caine orthography]]
	[[Category:Bemé]] [[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:Languages]] [[Category:Creole languages]]		[[Category:Bemé language]] [[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:Languages]] [[Category:Creole languages]]

Jukethatbox: /* "Pigs are filthy animals" */

2026-05-05T16:55:26Z

"Pigs are filthy animals"

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:55, 5 May 2026
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	: Jules: ''Neh mang, mi na itin pok.''		: Jules: ''Neh mang, mi na itin pok.''
	: Vincent: ''Yu bi yudim?''		: Vincent: ''Yu bi yudim?''
	: Jules: ''Neh mang, mi na yudim, mi jis na ~~digin~~ pok, lalo.''		: Jules: ''Neh mang, mi na yudim, mi jis na lekin pok, lalo.''
	: Vincent: ''~~Wa lek~~ neh?''		: Vincent: ''Wanyu neh?''
	: Jules: ''Pok bi deti edag. Mi na itin deti edag.''		: Jules: ''Pok bi deti edag. Mi na itin deti edag.''
	: Vincent: ''Yeh, ba bekon tes gud. Pok chop tes gud.''		: Vincent: ''Yeh, ba bekon tes gud. Pok chop tes gud.''

Jukethatbox: /* Verbs */

2026-05-03T12:50:42Z

Verbs

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:50, 3 May 2026
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	\|-		\|-
	! Present		! Present
	\| ''it'' \|\| ''itin'' \|\| ''~~eh it~~'' \|\| ''~~eh itin~~'' \|\| ''la it'' \|\| ''la itin''		\| ''it'' \|\| ''itin'' \|\| ''itit'' \|\| ''ititin'' \|\| ''la it'' \|\| ''la itin''
	\|-		\|-
	! Past		! Past
	\| ''dan it'' \|\| ''dan itin'' \|\| ''eh dan it'' \|\| ''eh dan ~~itin~~'' \|\| ''la dan it'' \|\| ''la dan itin''		\| ''dan it'' \|\| ''dan itin'' \|\| ''dan itit'' \|\| ''dan ititin'' \|\| ''la dan it'' \|\| ''la dan itin''
	\|-		\|-
	! Future		! Future
	\| ''wan it'' \|\| ''wan itin'' \|\| ''eh wan it'' \|\| ''eh wan ~~itin~~'' \|\| ''la wan it'' \|\| ''la wan itin''		\| ''wan it'' \|\| ''wan itin'' \|\| ''wan itit'' \|\| ''wan ititin'' \|\| ''la wan it'' \|\| ''la wan itin''
	\|}		\|}
	====Transitivity====		====Transitivity====
	Similarly to [[w:Tok Pisin\|Tok Pisin]], verbs are made transitive by the suffix ''-in''. The suffix is only not placed after a transitive verb when the verb is imperative.		Similarly to [[w:Tok Pisin\|Tok Pisin]], verbs are made transitive by the suffix ''-in''. The suffix is only not placed after a transitive verb when the verb is imperative.
	====Tense, aspect and mood====		====Tense, aspect and mood====
	The completive aspect is shown by the lemma {{l\|beme\|dampini}} (from English ''*done finish''), as in ''im wak '''dampini''''' "he worked", while the continuous aspect is shown with ~~''eh'' before~~ the verb, as in ''im '''eh''' ~~wak~~'' "he is working". ''Dampini'' also means "finished, completed" as an adjective, and is one of few postpositional adjectives in Bemé, as in ''ombewak '''dampini''''' "finished homework".		The completive aspect is shown by the lemma {{l\|beme\|dampini}} (from English ''*done finish''), as in ''im wak '''dampini''''' "he worked", while the continuous aspect is shown with [[w:Reduplication\|reduplication]] of the verb, as in ''im '''wakwak''''' "he is working". ''Dampini'' also means "finished, completed" as an adjective, and is one of few postpositional adjectives in Bemé, as in ''ombewak '''dampini''''' "finished homework".

	Bemé has two officially marked tenses: past and future, marked by the particles ''dan'' and ''wan'' respectively, as in ''mi dan itin bitel'' "I ate food" vs ''mi wan itin bitel'' "I will eat food".		Bemé has two officially marked tenses: past and future, marked by the particles ''dan'' and ''wan'' respectively, as in ''mi dan itin bitel'' "I ate food" vs ''mi wan itin bitel'' "I will eat food".

Jukethatbox at 18:36, 1 May 2026

2026-05-01T18:36:27Z

Jukethatbox: /* Tense, aspect and mood */

2026-05-01T18:32:51Z

Tense, aspect and mood

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:32, 1 May 2026
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	Similarly to [[w:Tok Pisin\|Tok Pisin]], verbs are made transitive by the suffix ''-in''. The suffix is only not placed after a transitive verb when the verb is imperative.		Similarly to [[w:Tok Pisin\|Tok Pisin]], verbs are made transitive by the suffix ''-in''. The suffix is only not placed after a transitive verb when the verb is imperative.
	====Tense, aspect and mood====		====Tense, aspect and mood====
	The completive aspect is shown by the lemma ''dampini''(from English ''*done finish''), as in ''im wak '''dampini''''' "he worked", while the continuous aspect is shown with ''eh'' before the verb, as in ''im '''eh''' wak'' "he is working". ''Dampini'' also means "finished, completed" as an adjective, and is one of few postpositional adjectives in Bemé, as in ''ombewak '''dampini''''' "finished homework".		The completive aspect is shown by the lemma {{l\|beme\|dampini}} (from English ''*done finish''), as in ''im wak '''dampini''''' "he worked", while the continuous aspect is shown with ''eh'' before the verb, as in ''im '''eh''' wak'' "he is working". ''Dampini'' also means "finished, completed" as an adjective, and is one of few postpositional adjectives in Bemé, as in ''ombewak '''dampini''''' "finished homework".

	Bemé has two officially marked tenses: past and future, marked by the particles ''dan'' and ''wan'' respectively, as in ''mi dan itin bitel'' "I ate food" vs ''mi wan itin bitel'' "I will eat food".		Bemé has two officially marked tenses: past and future, marked by the particles ''dan'' and ''wan'' respectively, as in ''mi dan itin bitel'' "I ate food" vs ''mi wan itin bitel'' "I will eat food".

	The [[w:Imperative mood\|imperative mood]] is expressed by placing ''eh'' after the verb, which cannot take the [[#Transitivity\|transitive suffix]] ''-in'' or a [[#Personal pronouns\|personal pronoun]].		The [[w:Imperative mood\|imperative mood]] is expressed by placing ''eh'' after the verb, which cannot take the [[#Transitivity\|transitive suffix]] ''-in'' or a [[#Personal pronouns\|personal pronoun]].

	====Negation====		====Negation====
	Negation on verbs is done by putting ''na'' or ''neh'' before the verb. ''Tak eh Bemeh!'' states that ''na'' should be used for intransitive verbs, while ''neh'' should be used with transitive verbs, a pattern which is typical of most first-language speakers in Cassim Po. However, elsewhere, in ''kriyal'' varieties, ''na'' and ''neh'' are virtually interchangeable.		Negation on verbs is done by putting ''na'' or ''neh'' before the verb. ''Tak eh Bemeh!'' states that ''na'' should be used for intransitive verbs, while ''neh'' should be used with transitive verbs, a pattern which is typical of most first-language speakers in Cassim Po. However, elsewhere, in ''kriyal'' varieties, ''na'' and ''neh'' are virtually interchangeable.

Jukethatbox at 18:31, 1 May 2026

2026-05-01T18:31:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:31, 1 May 2026
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	\| notice = ipa		\| notice = ipa
	}}		}}
	'''Bemé''' (/[[Help:IPA\|bəˈmeɪ̯]]/ ''buh-MAY''; ''bemeh'', <small>pronounced</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[bemɛ]]]), also called '''Poccasin Creole''', '''Poccasin Pidgin''' and '''Poccasinese''', is an [[w:English-based creole languages\|English creole]] and [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] spoken in the Poccasin Archipelago. It is the most spoken language of the Poccasin Archipelago with around 15 million speakers as of 2025; native speakers with Bemé as their mother tongue, primarily inhabiting Cassim Po, number around 2.5 million. Bemé is an official language and designated [[w:Lingua franca\|lingua franca]] of the [[Poccasin Federation]], and is considered one of two international trade languages of the country alongside [[Poccasin English\|English]].		'''Bemé''' ([[w:Help:IPA/English\|/bəˈmeɪ̯/]] ''[[w:Help:Pronunciation respelling key\|buh-MAY]]''; ''bemeh'', <small>pronounced</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[bemɛ]]]), also called '''Poccasin Creole''', '''Poccasin Pidgin''' and '''Poccasinese''', is an [[w:English-based creole languages\|English creole]] and [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] spoken in the Poccasin Archipelago. It is the most spoken language of the Poccasin Archipelago with around 15 million speakers as of 2025; native speakers with Bemé as their mother tongue, primarily inhabiting Cassim Po, number around 2.5 million. Bemé is an official language and designated [[w:Lingua franca\|lingua franca]] of the [[Poccasin Federation]], and is considered one of two international trade languages of the country alongside [[Poccasin English\|English]].

	Bemé gradually developed from a [[Kabao]]-English [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] used to communicate between [[w:British Empire\|British colonisers]] and the indigenous peoples. Before the British, the [[w:Portuguese Empire\|Portuguese]] initially colonised Kabao island and established what would eventually become Cassim Po and its oldest ''colonias'' (boroughs); there is evidence that a separate Portuguese-Kabao pidgin was spoken at that time, though its features and vocabulary were probably absorbed into Bemé after the Portuguese left and the British took over. Bemé then coalesced into a fully fledged [[w:Creole language\|creole language]] probably around the late 19th century, before being suddenly and rapidly spread across the Poccasin Archipelago by the British colonial administration who operated a meticulous program of transporting primarily slaves from Cassim Po (who could speak close enough to the masters' English to communicate with them, incentivising its use to other Poccasins) to work newly developed plantations across the archipelago, including [[Saint Columban]].		Bemé gradually developed from a [[Kabao]]-English [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] used to communicate between [[w:British Empire\|British colonisers]] and the indigenous peoples. Before the British, the [[w:Portuguese Empire\|Portuguese]] initially colonised Kabao island and established what would eventually become Cassim Po and its oldest ''colonias'' (boroughs); there is evidence that a separate Portuguese-Kabao pidgin was spoken at that time, though its features and vocabulary were probably absorbed into Bemé after the Portuguese left and the British took over. Bemé then coalesced into a fully fledged [[w:Creole language\|creole language]] probably around the late 19th century, before being suddenly and rapidly spread across the Poccasin Archipelago by the British colonial administration who operated a meticulous program of transporting primarily slaves from Cassim Po (who could speak close enough to the masters' English to communicate with them, incentivising its use to other Poccasins) to work newly developed plantations across the archipelago, including [[Saint Columban]].

Jukethatbox: /* Consonants */

2026-04-29T17:14:01Z

Consonants

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:14, 29 April 2026
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	\| \|\| [[w:Voiced alveolar lateral approximant\|l]] \|\| \|\| \|\|		\| \|\| [[w:Voiced alveolar lateral approximant\|l]] \|\| \|\| \|\|
	\|}		\|}
	/t d/ both become /t̚/ ([[w:No audible release\|no audible release]]) in word-final coda positions, so {{l\|beme\|dat\|da'''t'''}} is pronounced {{~~l\|beme~~-ipa\|dat̚}} while {{l\|beme\|data\|da'''t'''a}} is pronounced with audible release as {{~~l\|beme~~-ipa\|data}}. This allophonic variation without audible release has also been described as [[w:Dental consonant\|dentalised]]; thus, words like {{l\|beme\|dat}} have also been transcribed as {{~~l\|beme~~-ipa\|dat̪̚}}.		/t d/ both become /t̚/ ([[w:No audible release\|no audible release]]) in word-final coda positions, so {{l\|beme\|dat\|da'''t'''}} is pronounced {{bm-ipa\|dat̚}} while {{l\|beme\|data\|da'''t'''a}} is pronounced with audible release as {{bm-ipa\|data}}. This allophonic variation without audible release has also been described as [[w:Dental consonant\|dentalised]]; thus, words like {{l\|beme\|dat}} have also been transcribed as {{bm-ipa\|dat̪̚}}.

	Unlike in English, /ŋ/ can appear in onset positions, such as in '''''ng'''os'' "nose". The palatal nasal /ɲ/ usually occurs when differentiating between words that would be homophones in standard English, e.g. ''nap'' vs {{l\|en\|knap}}, which in Bemé became '''''n'''ap'' "rest (v.)" and '''''ny'''ap'' "punch (v.)".		Unlike in English, /ŋ/ can appear in onset positions, such as in '''''ng'''os'' "nose". The palatal nasal /ɲ/ usually occurs when differentiating between words that would be homophones in standard English, e.g. ''nap'' vs {{l\|en\|knap}}, which in Bemé became '''''n'''ap'' "rest (v.)" and '''''ny'''ap'' "punch (v.)".

Jukethatbox: /* Phonology */

2026-04-29T17:13:05Z

Phonology

Jukethatbox at 17:18, 18 March 2026

2026-03-18T17:18:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:18, 18 March 2026
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	Bemé gradually developed from a [[Kabao]]-English [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] used to communicate between [[w:British Empire\|British colonisers]] and the indigenous peoples. Before the British, the [[w:Portuguese Empire\|Portuguese]] initially colonised Kabao island and established what would eventually become Cassim Po and its oldest ''colonias'' (boroughs); there is evidence that a separate Portuguese-Kabao pidgin was spoken at that time, though its features and vocabulary were probably absorbed into Bemé after the Portuguese left and the British took over. Bemé then coalesced into a fully fledged [[w:Creole language\|creole language]] probably around the late 19th century, before being suddenly and rapidly spread across the Poccasin Archipelago by the British colonial administration who operated a meticulous program of transporting primarily slaves from Cassim Po (who could speak close enough to the masters' English to communicate with them, incentivising its use to other Poccasins) to work newly developed plantations across the archipelago, including [[Saint Columban]].		Bemé gradually developed from a [[Kabao]]-English [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] used to communicate between [[w:British Empire\|British colonisers]] and the indigenous peoples. Before the British, the [[w:Portuguese Empire\|Portuguese]] initially colonised Kabao island and established what would eventually become Cassim Po and its oldest ''colonias'' (boroughs); there is evidence that a separate Portuguese-Kabao pidgin was spoken at that time, though its features and vocabulary were probably absorbed into Bemé after the Portuguese left and the British took over. Bemé then coalesced into a fully fledged [[w:Creole language\|creole language]] probably around the late 19th century, before being suddenly and rapidly spread across the Poccasin Archipelago by the British colonial administration who operated a meticulous program of transporting primarily slaves from Cassim Po (who could speak close enough to the masters' English to communicate with them, incentivising its use to other Poccasins) to work newly developed plantations across the archipelago, including [[Saint Columban]].

	This program only ended in 1914, and by then the linguistic demographics of the Poccasin Archipelago had been so drastically changed that Bemé had effectively become the most spoken language in the Poccasins~~, though the~~ language would go on to diverge into regional [[#Tak vs kriyal\|''kriyal'']] varieties until the independence of the Poccasin Federation in 1961, which established the Bemé based on the speech of Cassim Po (''Kasimpo mang'') as the standard variety of Bemé to be used in all official matters ~~written in the [[Caine orthography]] (developed in 1962),~~ including in education, news, government notices, street and road signs, dictionaries, telephone boxes and most literature. This dichotomy between official ''tak'' and unstandardised, regional ''kriyal'' still exists today in the Poccasin Federation and is a major part of Poccasin daily life.		This program only ended in 1914, and by then the linguistic demographics of the Poccasin Archipelago had been so drastically changed that Bemé had effectively become the most spoken language in the Poccasins. The language would go on to diverge into regional [[#Tak vs kriyal\|''kriyal'']] varieties until the independence of the Poccasin Federation in 1961, which established the Bemé based on the speech of Cassim Po (''Kasimpo mang'') as the standard variety of Bemé to be used in all official matters including in education, news, government notices, street and road signs, dictionaries, telephone boxes and most literature. This dichotomy between official ''tak'' and unstandardised, regional ''kriyal'' still exists today in the Poccasin Federation and is a major part of Poccasin daily life.

	This article describes the standard variety of Bemé used in the Poccasin Federation; other major varieties/dialects of Bemé include [[Bijun Creole]] (native to the Bijuns of Bijou Island) and [[Columbé]] (of the people of [[Saint Columban]]).		This article describes the standard variety of Bemé used in the Poccasin Federation; other major varieties/dialects of Bemé include [[Bijun Creole]] (native to the Bijuns of Bijou Island) and [[Columbé]] (of the people of [[Saint Columban]]).

Jukethatbox at 22:07, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T22:07:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:07, 14 March 2026
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	\| notice = ipa		\| notice = ipa
	}}		}}
	'''Bemé''' (/[[Help:IPA\|bəˈmeɪ̯]]/ ''buh-MAY''; ''bemeh'', <small>pronounced</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[bemɛ]]]), also called '''Poccasin Creole''', '''Poccasin Pidgin''' and '''Poccasinese''', is an [[w:English-based creole languages\|English creole]] and [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] spoken in the Poccasin Archipelago. It is the most spoken language of the Poccasin Archipelago with around 15 million speakers as of 2025; native speakers with Bemé as their mother tongue, primarily inhabiting Cassim Po, number around ~~14,565~~. Bemé is an official language and designated [[w:Lingua franca\|lingua franca]] of the [[Poccasin Federation]], and is considered one of two international trade languages of the country alongside [[Poccasin English\|English]].		'''Bemé''' (/[[Help:IPA\|bəˈmeɪ̯]]/ ''buh-MAY''; ''bemeh'', <small>pronounced</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[bemɛ]]]), also called '''Poccasin Creole''', '''Poccasin Pidgin''' and '''Poccasinese''', is an [[w:English-based creole languages\|English creole]] and [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] spoken in the Poccasin Archipelago. It is the most spoken language of the Poccasin Archipelago with around 15 million speakers as of 2025; native speakers with Bemé as their mother tongue, primarily inhabiting Cassim Po, number around 2.5 million. Bemé is an official language and designated [[w:Lingua franca\|lingua franca]] of the [[Poccasin Federation]], and is considered one of two international trade languages of the country alongside [[Poccasin English\|English]].

	Bemé gradually developed from a [[Kabao]]-English [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] used to communicate between [[w:British Empire\|British colonisers]] and the indigenous peoples. Before the British, the [[w:Portuguese Empire\|Portuguese]] initially colonised Kabao island and established what would eventually become Cassim Po and its oldest ''colonias'' (boroughs); there is evidence that a separate Portuguese-Kabao pidgin was spoken at that time, though its features and vocabulary were probably absorbed into Bemé after the Portuguese left and the British took over. Bemé then coalesced into a fully fledged [[w:Creole language\|creole language]] probably around the late 19th century, before being suddenly and rapidly spread across the Poccasin Archipelago by the British colonial administration who operated a meticulous program of transporting primarily slaves from Cassim Po (who could speak close enough to the masters' English to communicate with them, incentivising its use to other Poccasins) to work newly developed plantations across the archipelago, including [[Saint Columban]].		Bemé gradually developed from a [[Kabao]]-English [[w:Pidgin\|pidgin language]] used to communicate between [[w:British Empire\|British colonisers]] and the indigenous peoples. Before the British, the [[w:Portuguese Empire\|Portuguese]] initially colonised Kabao island and established what would eventually become Cassim Po and its oldest ''colonias'' (boroughs); there is evidence that a separate Portuguese-Kabao pidgin was spoken at that time, though its features and vocabulary were probably absorbed into Bemé after the Portuguese left and the British took over. Bemé then coalesced into a fully fledged [[w:Creole language\|creole language]] probably around the late 19th century, before being suddenly and rapidly spread across the Poccasin Archipelago by the British colonial administration who operated a meticulous program of transporting primarily slaves from Cassim Po (who could speak close enough to the masters' English to communicate with them, incentivising its use to other Poccasins) to work newly developed plantations across the archipelago, including [[Saint Columban]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:36, 1 May 2026
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	''[[Contionary:kriyal\|Kriyal]]'' ([[IPA for Bemé\|[kɹ̥ijal]]], [[IPA for Bemé\|[tɹ̥ijal]]] or [[IPA for Bemé\|[tʃɹ̥ijal]]]) is a less commonly used term, and is derived from the English word {{l\|en\|creole}}. Although originally referring to the entire language in the same manner as ''Bemé''/''Bemeh'', nowadays it is mostly used to refer to [[w:Basilect\|basilectal]] varieties of the language, though older speakers may still refer to the language as a whole as ''kriyal''.		''[[Contionary:kriyal\|Kriyal]]'' ([[IPA for Bemé\|[kɹ̥ijal]]], [[IPA for Bemé\|[tɹ̥ijal]]] or [[IPA for Bemé\|[tʃɹ̥ijal]]]) is a less commonly used term, and is derived from the English word {{l\|en\|creole}}. Although originally referring to the entire language in the same manner as ''Bemé''/''Bemeh'', nowadays it is mostly used to refer to [[w:Basilect\|basilectal]] varieties of the language, though older speakers may still refer to the language as a whole as ''kriyal''.

	The word ''kriyal''(sometimes spelt ''kriyel'' in [[Columbé\|Columban]]) is also used by [[Columbé]] and [[Bijun Creole]] speakers to refer to their own varieties of Bemé.		The word ''kriyal'' (sometimes spelt ''kriyel'' in [[Columbé\|Columban]]) is also used by [[Columbé]] and [[Bijun Creole]] speakers to refer to their own varieties of Bemé.

	==''Tak'' vs ''kriyal''==		==''Tak'' vs ''kriyal''==
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	The distinction between /kr tr tʃr/, as well as between /gr dʒr/, has been historically neutralised, leading to a varying pronunciation:		The distinction between /kr tr tʃr/, as well as between /gr dʒr/, has been historically neutralised, leading to a varying pronunciation:
	* ⟨kr⟩ may be heard as /tɹ̥ kɹ̥ tʃɹ̥/;		* ⟨kr⟩ may be heard as /tɹ̥ kɹ̥ tʃɹ̥/;
	* In the most [[w:Basilect\|basilectal]](''Kriyal'') varieties, the stop may be simply [[w:Aspirated consonant\|strongly aspirated]], leaving /tʰː kʰː tʃʰː/;		* In the most [[w:Basilect\|basilectal]] (''Kriyal'') varieties, the stop may be simply [[w:Aspirated consonant\|strongly aspirated]], leaving /tʰː kʰː tʃʰː/;
	* The realisation may be aspirated [[w:Retroflex consonant\|retroflex]] /ʈʰ/, and similarly [[w:Voiceless retroflex affricate\|affricated]] to /ʈʂ ʈʂʰ/.		* The realisation may be aspirated [[w:Retroflex consonant\|retroflex]] /ʈʰ/, and similarly [[w:Voiceless retroflex affricate\|affricated]] to /ʈʂ ʈʂʰ/.
	The pronunciation of ⟨gr⟩ is less variable; there still exists a distinction between /gr~dʒr/ and /dr/, though /dr/ is extremely rare and only exists in certain words, such as '''''gr'''ag'' "stop (v.)" and '''''dr'''ag'' "drag queen".		The pronunciation of ⟨gr⟩ is less variable; there still exists a distinction between /gr~dʒr/ and /dr/, though /dr/ is extremely rare and only exists in certain words, such as '''''gr'''ag'' "stop (v.)" and '''''dr'''ag'' "drag queen".
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	\| colspan=2 \| /n/ \|\| colspan=2 \| /ɲ/ \|\| -		\| colspan=2 \| /n/ \|\| colspan=2 \| /ɲ/ \|\| -
	\|}		\|}
	The placement of /n/ before /h/ only occurs in one word: {{l\|beme\|Anhara}}, a girl's name of Sasubi origin ([[Sasubi]]: انخارا); the /n/ is pronounced as a [[w:Voiced bilabial nasal\|bilabial nasal]] [m] in standard Bemé and [[Bijun]] but not pronounced whatsoever in [[Columbé]], instead giving /ahaɾa/ or /aːhaɾa/(the first /a/ may be lengthened to compensate for a lack of a /n/). In the original [[Sasubi]], the name is pronounced [[Help:IPA\|[ɐŋxɐˈra]]].		The placement of /n/ before /h/ only occurs in one word: {{l\|beme\|Anhara}}, a girl's name of Sasubi origin ([[Sasubi]]: انخارا); the /n/ is pronounced as a [[w:Voiced bilabial nasal\|bilabial nasal]] [m] in standard Bemé and [[Bijun]] but not pronounced whatsoever in [[Columbé]], instead giving /ahaɾa/ or /aːhaɾa/ (the first /a/ may be lengthened to compensate for a lack of a /n/). In the original [[Sasubi]], the name is pronounced [[Help:IPA\|[ɐŋxɐˈra]]].

	===Vowels===		===Vowels===
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	''im'', although derived from the gendered English word {{l\|en\|him}}, is ungendered and can be roughly translated to "he", "she", "it" or singular "they" depending on context. Older speakers may use {{l\|beme\|shi}} or {{l\|beme\|shya}}/{{l\|beme\|shiya}} (all from English {{l\|en\|she}}) in the same way as ''she'' is used in English, but this word is functionally obsolete in modern Bemé (at best archaic in [[#Patois\|patois]]).		''im'', although derived from the gendered English word {{l\|en\|him}}, is ungendered and can be roughly translated to "he", "she", "it" or singular "they" depending on context. Older speakers may use {{l\|beme\|shi}} or {{l\|beme\|shya}}/{{l\|beme\|shiya}} (all from English {{l\|en\|she}}) in the same way as ''she'' is used in English, but this word is functionally obsolete in modern Bemé (at best archaic in [[#Patois\|patois]]).

	"Paucal" pronouns refer to groups of people, as in ''wi kri'' would mean "some of us", ''yu kri'' means "some of you all", etc. Paucal pronouns are thought to have been borrowed from [[Dadaareg]], constructed by a combination of pronoun + ''kri'' (lit. "three"), as is typical for paucal pronouns in Dadaareg(''tanuk'', ''penuk'', ''lolonuk''). The third-person paucal pronoun, ''imim''/''emem'', is thought to have been derived via [[Ketaserang]] reduplication, a feature typical of Ketaserang for forming plural pronouns.		"Paucal" pronouns refer to groups of people, as in ''wi kri'' would mean "some of us", ''yu kri'' means "some of you all", etc. Paucal pronouns are thought to have been borrowed from [[Dadaareg]], constructed by a combination of pronoun + ''kri'' (lit. "three"), as is typical for paucal pronouns in Dadaareg (''tanuk'', ''penuk'', ''lolonuk''). The third-person paucal pronoun, ''imim''/''emem'', is thought to have been derived via [[Ketaserang]] reduplication, a feature typical of Ketaserang for forming plural pronouns.

	''Tuka'', ''ka'', ''tukeh'' and ''keh'' are all taken from the [[Yabo]] languages, all of which have pronouns along the lines of ''toka'' or ''tokeq''.		''Tuka'', ''ka'', ''tukeh'' and ''keh'' are all taken from the [[Yabo]] languages, all of which have pronouns along the lines of ''toka'' or ''tokeq''.
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	===Word derivation===		===Word derivation===
	Bemé only has specific word derivation rules when deriving a word from an already existing word of a different class; for example, from a verb to a noun. In that case, the prefix ''e-''(possibly derived from English indefinite article ''a'') is added, as in ''shwim'' "to swim" > ''eshwim'' "pool".		Bemé only has specific word derivation rules when deriving a word from an already existing word of a different class; for example, from a verb to a noun. In that case, the prefix ''e-'' (possibly derived from English indefinite article ''a'') is added, as in ''shwim'' "to swim" > ''eshwim'' "pool".
	==Swadesh==		==Swadesh==
	The following table shows the official [[w:Swadesh list\|Swadesh list]] provided by ''Tak eh Bemeh!''.		The following table shows the official [[w:Swadesh list\|Swadesh list]] provided by ''Tak eh Bemeh!''.
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	: Vincent: ''Wa dan eh dag? Dag itin im eh pyuk.''		: Vincent: ''Wa dan eh dag? Dag itin im eh pyuk.''
	: Jules: ''Mi na itin dag nebla.''		: Jules: ''Mi na itin dag nebla.''
	: Vincent: ''Yeh, ba yu tink dag bi deti edag la?''<br>(''Beat''.)		: Vincent: ''Yeh, ba yu tink dag bi deti edag la?''<br> (''Beat''.)
	: Jules: ''Mi na la wan inyeh po kalin dag deti edag, ba erili na pokres edag; ba, dag ab peson. Peson wan long weh.''		: Jules: ''Mi na la wan inyeh po kalin dag deti edag, ba erili na pokres edag; ba, dag ab peson. Peson wan long weh.''
	: Vincent: ''Ah, so kas dat risun, ey pok dan ab gud peson, im grag eh bi deti edag.''		: Vincent: ''Ah, so kas dat risun, ey pok dan ab gud peson, im grag eh bi deti edag.''

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:13, 29 April 2026
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	\| \|\| [[w:Voiced alveolar lateral approximant\|l]] \|\| \|\| \|\|		\| \|\| [[w:Voiced alveolar lateral approximant\|l]] \|\| \|\| \|\|
	\|}		\|}
	/t d/ both become /t̚/ ([[w:No audible release\|no audible release]]) in word-final coda positions, so ''{{bm\|dat\|da'''t'''}}'' is pronounced {{bm-ipa\|dat̚}} while ''{{bm\|data\|da'''t'''a}}'' is pronounced with audible release as {{bm-ipa\|data}}. This allophonic variation without audible release has also been described as [[w:Dental consonant\|dentalised]]; thus, words like ''{{bm\|dat}}'' have also been transcribed as {{bm-ipa\|dat̪̚}}.		/t d/ both become /t̚/ ([[w:No audible release\|no audible release]]) in word-final coda positions, so {{l\|beme\|dat\|da'''t'''}} is pronounced {{l\|beme-ipa\|dat̚}} while {{l\|beme\|data\|da'''t'''a}} is pronounced with audible release as {{l\|beme-ipa\|data}}. This allophonic variation without audible release has also been described as [[w:Dental consonant\|dentalised]]; thus, words like {{l\|beme\|dat}} have also been transcribed as {{l\|beme-ipa\|dat̪̚}}.

	Unlike in English, /ŋ/ can appear in onset positions, such as in '''''ng'''os'' "nose". The palatal nasal /ɲ/ usually occurs when differentiating between words that would be homophones in standard English, e.g. ''nap'' vs ~~''[[wikt:knap#Verb~~\|knap~~]]''~~, which in Bemé became '''''n'''ap'' "rest (v.)" and '''''ny'''ap'' "punch (v.)".		Unlike in English, /ŋ/ can appear in onset positions, such as in '''''ng'''os'' "nose". The palatal nasal /ɲ/ usually occurs when differentiating between words that would be homophones in standard English, e.g. ''nap'' vs {{l\|en\|knap}}, which in Bemé became '''''n'''ap'' "rest (v.)" and '''''ny'''ap'' "punch (v.)".

	[[w:Syllabic consonant\|Syllabic]] /l̩/ appears in a few words, such as ''Beyb'''l''''' [[IPA for Bemé\|[bei̯bl̩]]] "Bible" and ''teyb'''l''''' [[IPA for Bemé\|[tei̯bl̩]]] "table".		[[w:Syllabic consonant\|Syllabic]] /l̩/ appears in a few words, such as ''Beyb'''l''''' [[IPA for Bemé\|[bei̯bl̩]]] "Bible" and ''teyb'''l''''' [[IPA for Bemé\|[tei̯bl̩]]] "table".

	/ɲ/ is the only consonant that cannot appear in a coda position; typically, this is circumvented by adding /ɛ/ or /a/ postpositionally, so ''{{bm\|grin}}'' becomes ''{{bm\|grinyeh}}''.		/ɲ/ is the only consonant that cannot appear in a coda position; typically, this is circumvented by adding /ɛ/ or /a/ postpositionally, so {{l\|beme\|grin}} becomes {{l\|beme\|grinyeh}}.
	====Nasal assimilation====		====Nasal assimilation====
	"'''Nasal assimilation'''" in Bemé refers to a [[w:Sandhi\|sandhi]] process where the [[w:Voiced alveolar nasal\|alveolar nasal]] /n/ (corresponding with the graphemes ⟨Nn⟩) is shifted to a different nasal before certain [[w:Obstruent consonants\|obstruents]]. This process varies among Bemé dialects; the differences between major dialects are shown in the following table.		"'''Nasal assimilation'''" in Bemé refers to a [[w:Sandhi\|sandhi]] process where the [[w:Voiced alveolar nasal\|alveolar nasal]] /n/ (corresponding with the graphemes ⟨Nn⟩) is shifted to a different nasal before certain [[w:Obstruent consonants\|obstruents]]. This process varies among Bemé dialects; the differences between major dialects are shown in the following table.
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	\| colspan=2 \| /n/ \|\| colspan=2 \| /ɲ/ \|\| -		\| colspan=2 \| /n/ \|\| colspan=2 \| /ɲ/ \|\| -
	\|}		\|}
	The placement of /n/ before /h/ only occurs in one word: ''{{bm\|Anhara}}'', a girl's name of Sasubi origin ([[Sasubi]]: انخارا); the /n/ is pronounced as a [[w:Voiced bilabial nasal\|bilabial nasal]] [m] in standard Bemé and [[Bijun]] but not pronounced whatsoever in [[Columbé]], instead giving /ahaɾa/ or /aːhaɾa/(the first /a/ may be lengthened to compensate for a lack of a /n/). In the original [[Sasubi]], the name is pronounced [[Help:IPA\|[ɐŋxɐˈra]]].		The placement of /n/ before /h/ only occurs in one word: {{l\|beme\|Anhara}}, a girl's name of Sasubi origin ([[Sasubi]]: انخارا); the /n/ is pronounced as a [[w:Voiced bilabial nasal\|bilabial nasal]] [m] in standard Bemé and [[Bijun]] but not pronounced whatsoever in [[Columbé]], instead giving /ahaɾa/ or /aːhaɾa/(the first /a/ may be lengthened to compensate for a lack of a /n/). In the original [[Sasubi]], the name is pronounced [[Help:IPA\|[ɐŋxɐˈra]]].

	===Vowels===		===Vowels===
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	\| colspan=2 \| [[w:Open central unrounded vowel\|a]]		\| colspan=2 \| [[w:Open central unrounded vowel\|a]]
	\|}		\|}
	There are only three diphthongs in Bemé: /ei̯ oi̯ ou̯/, written ⟨ey, oi, ow⟩ respectively. However, although these diphthongs may roughly match with similar English diphthongs /eɪ̯ oɪ̯ oʊ̯/, these diphthongs rarely match; diphthongs in general are rare in Bemé, but even with words derived from English words with diphthongs, the diphthongs are often replaced with monophthongs, e.g. ''sh'''e'''k'' [[IPA for Bemé\|[ʃek]]], compared to English sh'''a'''ke /[[w:Help:IPA/English\|ˈʃeɪ̯k]]/. In ''kriyal'' varieties diphthongs may be entirely replaced by monophthongs, so words like ''sk'''ey''''' [[IPA for Bemé\|[skei̯]]] become [[IPA for Bemé\|[skɛ]]].		There are only three diphthongs in Bemé: /ei̯ oi̯ ou̯/, written ⟨ey, oi, ow⟩ respectively. However, although these diphthongs may roughly match with similar English diphthongs /eɪ̯ oɪ̯ oʊ̯/, these diphthongs rarely match; diphthongs in general are rare in Bemé, but even with words derived from English words with diphthongs, the diphthongs are often replaced with monophthongs, e.g. ''sh'''e'''k'' [[IPA for Bemé\|[ʃek]]], compared to English sh'''a'''ke /[[w:Help:IPA/English\|ˈʃeɪ̯k]]/. In ''kriyal'' varieties diphthongs may be entirely replaced by monophthongs, so words like {{l\|beme\|skey\|sk'''ey'''}} [[IPA for Bemé\|[skei̯]]] become [[IPA for Bemé\|[skɛ]]].
	====''Leleh''====		====''Leleh''====
	'''''Leleh''''' or '''''lelé''''' (<small>with ''leleh'':</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[lelɛ]]]; <small>without:</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[lele]]]) is a Bemé word describing the distinction between /e/ and /ɛ/ in a Bemé dialect. ''Leleh'' is present in ''Bemetak'', as well as in all Cassim Po dialects; it is also present in [[Bijun Creole]], though the distinction occurs instead between /i/ and /ɛ/ as /e/ merges with /i/.		'''''Leleh''''' or '''''lelé''''' (<small>with ''leleh'':</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[lelɛ]]]; <small>without:</small> [[IPA for Bemé\|[lele]]]) is a Bemé word describing the distinction between /e/ and /ɛ/ in a Bemé dialect. ''Leleh'' is present in ''Bemetak'', as well as in all Cassim Po dialects; it is also present in [[Bijun Creole]], though the distinction occurs instead between /i/ and /ɛ/ as /e/ merges with /i/.