Burumbi: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==


Burumbi is made to sound "African" while conforming to English pronunciations. As I am rather unlearned when it comes to linguistics the result is likely to be uninspiring to others; however, it is for me and me alone.
Burumbi is made to sound how Anglophones think "African" languages sound. As I am rather unlearned when it comes to linguistics the result is likely to be sketchy and uninspiring to others, but it is mainly for generating names and short phrases.
 
-->


==Phonology==
==Phonology==
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-->
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==Phonology==
===Consonants===
===Consonants===
==Consonants==


{| class="IPA wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="IPA wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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{| class="wikitable IPA" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable IPA" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|-
|+Ngudu vowels
|+Vowels
!
!
! Front
! Front
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! Mid
! Mid
|  
|  
| ə {{IPA|/ə/}}
| é {{IPA|/ə/}}
|  
|  
|-
|-
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|}
|}


In addition to these vowels the diphthong o ({{{IPA|oʊ}}) is used.
In addition to these vowels the diphthong o ({{IPA|oʊ}}) is used.




<!-- You may want to smash the following two categories into one big grammar pot, which is totes ok, if you so desire. -->
<!-- You may want to smash the following two categories into one big grammar pot, which is totes ok, if you so desire. -->
===Orthography===
===Orthography===
<!--Explain your conlang's alphabet. Use the International Phonetic Alphabet to describe the sounds of your language. If you are unsure on how to use IPA then visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet and read up. -->
<!--Explain your conlang's alphabet. Use the International Phonetic Alphabet to describe the sounds of your language. If you are unsure on how to use IPA then visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet and read up. -->
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===Phonotactics===
===Phonotactics===
<!-- Explain the consonant clusters and vowel clusters that are permissible for use in the language. For example, "st" is a consonant cluster in English. -->
<!-- Explain the consonant clusters and vowel clusters that are permissible for use in the language. For example, "st" is a consonant cluster in English. -->
Syllables can take the following forms:
*V({{IPA|ŋ}})
*CV({{IPA|ŋ}})
*NSV({{IPA|ŋ}})
*SwV({{IPA|ŋ}})
where V = vowel, C = consonant, N = the nasal vowels /m n/, and S = a stop or the consonants /s z ts/. Stress always falls on the penultimate syllable except in the case of ''é'', in which case it falls on the following one.


==Grammar==
==Grammar==
===Nouns===
Nouns are inflected for plurality and case. There are two forms of plurality: '''-du''', indicating a few, and '''-mè''' indicating many. The cases are:
*''Nominative'' - unmarked, the subject of a sentence
*''Accusative'' - the direct object of a sentence
*''Genetive'' - signifies a relation to the direct object
*''Possessive'' - signifies that the noun is the possessor of something else
{| class=wikitable
!case!!suffix
|-
!Nominative
|'''Ø'''
|-
!Accusative
|'''-lè'''
|-
!Genetive
|'''-de'''
|-
!Possessive
|'''-do'''
|-
|}
Compound words are connected by dropping any final '''-V(ŋ)''' and adding the '''-o-''' infix. Inflections only fall on the end of the compound word. For example, the word for seaweed: '''reng mbila''' (water+leaf) → r<s>eng</s>-o-mbila → rombila → rombiladu, etc. Burumbi also has a large number of prefixes for word formation, such as '''oubo-''' (indicating largeness and roundness) + reng: ''ouboreng'' "lake".
====Articles====
Nouns are automatically definite. An indefinite article, '''nka''', is used to signify non-particularity. '''Nka''' can take on the plural '''-du'''.
===Adjectives===
Adjectives follow their nouns agree with them in case only. The nominative, genetive, and possessive are identical, '''-de'''. The accusative '''-lè'''.
===Verbs===
There are a large number of prefixes for verbs describing movement in great detail. They address directionality, but also specific kinds of movement. In addition, they can be compounded. For example, the compound prefix '''mzondè-''' (mzo- + dè) signifies a splitting and encirclement. Words like '''mzondèmanda''', describing a group splitting up and encircling something by walking, are formed this way.
==Morphology==
==Morphology==
<!-- How do the words in your language look? How do you derive words from others? Do you have cases? Are verbs inflected? Do nouns differ from adjectives? Do adjectives differ from verbs? Etc. -->
<!-- How do the words in your language look? How do you derive words from others? Do you have cases? Are verbs inflected? Do nouns differ from adjectives? Do adjectives differ from verbs? Etc. -->
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<!-- Example: Word order, qualifiers, determinatives, branching, etc. -->
<!-- Example: Word order, qualifiers, determinatives, branching, etc. -->


[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:Languages]]

Latest revision as of 05:29, 20 January 2017


Background

Burumbi is made to sound how Anglophones think "African" languages sound. As I am rather unlearned when it comes to linguistics the result is likely to be sketchy and uninspiring to others, but it is mainly for generating names and short phrases.

Phonology

Consonants

Consonants
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
Plosive p b (p b) t d (t d) k g (k g)
Affricate ts (t͡s)
Fricative s z (s z)
Nasal m (m) n (n) ny (ɲ) ng (ŋ)
Approximant r l (ɹ l) y (j) w (w)

Vowels

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i /i/ u /u/
Mid é /ə/
Open mid e /ɛ/
Open a /ɑ/

In addition to these vowels the diphthong o (oʊ) is used.


Orthography

Phonotactics

Syllables can take the following forms:

  • V(ŋ)
  • CV(ŋ)
  • NSV(ŋ)
  • SwV(ŋ)

where V = vowel, C = consonant, N = the nasal vowels /m n/, and S = a stop or the consonants /s z ts/. Stress always falls on the penultimate syllable except in the case of é, in which case it falls on the following one.


Grammar

Nouns

Nouns are inflected for plurality and case. There are two forms of plurality: -du, indicating a few, and -mè indicating many. The cases are:

  • Nominative - unmarked, the subject of a sentence
  • Accusative - the direct object of a sentence
  • Genetive - signifies a relation to the direct object
  • Possessive - signifies that the noun is the possessor of something else
case suffix
Nominative Ø
Accusative -lè
Genetive -de
Possessive -do

Compound words are connected by dropping any final -V(ŋ) and adding the -o- infix. Inflections only fall on the end of the compound word. For example, the word for seaweed: reng mbila (water+leaf) → reng-o-mbila → rombila → rombiladu, etc. Burumbi also has a large number of prefixes for word formation, such as oubo- (indicating largeness and roundness) + reng: ouboreng "lake".

Articles

Nouns are automatically definite. An indefinite article, nka, is used to signify non-particularity. Nka can take on the plural -du.

Adjectives

Adjectives follow their nouns agree with them in case only. The nominative, genetive, and possessive are identical, -de. The accusative -lè.

Verbs

There are a large number of prefixes for verbs describing movement in great detail. They address directionality, but also specific kinds of movement. In addition, they can be compounded. For example, the compound prefix mzondè- (mzo- + dè) signifies a splitting and encirclement. Words like mzondèmanda, describing a group splitting up and encircling something by walking, are formed this way.

Morphology

Syntax

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