Netagin: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
|||
(39 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{list subpages}} | {{list subpages}} | ||
{{Infobox language | {{Infobox language | ||
Line 12: | Line 10: | ||
|familycolor=idavic | |familycolor=idavic | ||
|fam1=[[Idavic]] | |fam1=[[Idavic]] | ||
|setting = [[Verse: | |setting = [[Verse:Hmøøh]], [[Verse:CF Hmøøh]] | ||
|iso3= | |iso3= | ||
|notice= | |notice= | ||
}} | }} | ||
In | In Hmøøh, '''Netagin''' (English: net-ə-GHEEN; natively ''ne Nătahin'' [nɛː nətɐːˈɦiːːn]; [[Nurian]]: ''xi Nteahem''; [[Naeng]]: ''fi cduay Intăgin''; [[Eevo]]: ''a łynǿñ Yntyjín'') is an isolate within the [[Idavic languages|Idavic]] language family. It is native to [[Verse:Hmøøh/Tumhan|Tumhan]] (Netagin: ''Tumhan'' /tʉmˈɦan/). Classical Netagin has influenced [[Naeng]], [[Nurian]] and [[Ksieh]]. Netagin is intended to be optimized for writing poems in Hebrew piyyut meters (without being a Hebrew giblang): like Hebrew, Netagin has triconsonantal morphology, final stress and stressed suffixes, so that it is natural to rhyme by having the last syllables the same like in Jewish piyyutim. It tends to be verb-initial and head-initial like Hebrew, and its morphosyntactic alignment is split-S and predicate-first with some Austronesian elements. Netagin is the most grammatically conservative extant branch of Idavic, because it has preserved Proto-Idavic triconsonantal morphology and morphosyntax. Despite being a head-initial language like most Talman languages including [[Naeng]] and [[Talmic languages]], as well as Hebrew and Irish, Classical Netagin grammar is meant to have some alien features even to speakers of these languages. Hebrew is a heavy inspiration for the diachronics, however (except postvocalic lenition). | ||
This article describes Classical Netagin which is used for special effect in modern times, e.g. in classical Netagin music and poetry. The standard variety today is [[Šinax Netagin]], spoken in Bjeheond's capital Șinach (''Šinax'') and in Cualuav's Andaegor, though there are many other mutually unintelligible Netagin varieties. | This article describes Classical Netagin which is used for special effect in modern times, e.g. in classical Netagin music and poetry. The standard variety today is [[Šinax Netagin]], spoken in Bjeheond's capital Șinach (''Šinax'') and in Cualuav's Andaegor, though there are many other mutually unintelligible Netagin varieties. | ||
Line 24: | Line 22: | ||
==Todo== | ==Todo== | ||
* Change ea to ė | |||
* nC > CC like in Heb | * nC > CC like in Heb | ||
* think absolute vs. construct plays more nicely in piyyutim than nominative vs. genitive | * think absolute vs. construct plays more nicely in piyyutim than nominative vs. genitive | ||
Line 44: | Line 43: | ||
! colspan="2" | | ! colspan="2" | | ||
! |Labial | ! |Labial | ||
! | | ! |Lamino-dental | ||
! | | ! |Apico-alveolar | ||
! |Palatal | ! |Palatal | ||
! |Velar | ! |Velar | ||
Line 53: | Line 51: | ||
! colspan="2" |Nasal | ! colspan="2" |Nasal | ||
| |'''m''' /m/ | | |'''m''' /m/ | ||
|colspan= | |colspan=3|'''n''' /n̪~n~ɳ~ɲ/ | ||
| |'''l''' /ŋ/ | | |'''l''' /ŋ/ | ||
| | | | | | ||
Line 61: | Line 59: | ||
|'''p''' /p/ | |'''p''' /p/ | ||
|'''ť''' /t̪~c{{adv}}/ | |'''ť''' /t̪~c{{adv}}/ | ||
|'''t''' /t~ʈ/ | |||
| | | | ||
|'''k''' /k/ | |'''k''' /k/ | ||
Line 69: | Line 67: | ||
|'''b''' /b/ | |'''b''' /b/ | ||
|'''ď''' /d̪~ɟ{{adv}}/ | |'''ď''' /d̪~ɟ{{adv}}/ | ||
|'''d''' /d~ɖ/ | |||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
Line 78: | Line 76: | ||
| | | | ||
|'''s''' /s̠/ | |'''s''' /s̠/ | ||
|'''š''' /ʃ/ | |||
|'''š''' / | |||
|'''x''' /x/ | |'''x''' /x/ | ||
| | | | ||
Line 87: | Line 84: | ||
| | | | ||
|'''z''' /z̠/ | |'''z''' /z̠/ | ||
|'''ž''' /ʒ/ | |||
|'''ž''' / | |||
| | | | ||
|'''h''' /ɦ/ | |'''h''' /ɦ/ | ||
Line 96: | Line 92: | ||
| | | | ||
|'''c''' /ts̠/ | |'''c''' /ts̠/ | ||
|'''č''' /tʃ/ | |||
|'''č''' / | |||
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
Line 105: | Line 100: | ||
| | | | ||
| '''r''' /r~ɾ~ʀ/ | | '''r''' /r~ɾ~ʀ/ | ||
| '''j''' /j/ | | '''j''' /j/ | ||
| | | | ||
Line 113: | Line 107: | ||
The dental stops ''ť ď'' are pronounced as laminal alveolar stops [c{{adv}} ɟ{{adv}}] in front of ''i ie j''. | The dental stops ''ť ď'' are pronounced as laminal alveolar stops [c{{adv}} ɟ{{adv}}] in front of ''i ie j''. | ||
''š ž č'' are laminal palatalized postalveolar. | |||
The following classes of consonants are classified as 'weak letters' in Classical Netagin and cause [[Netagin/Gzarot|irregular gzarot]]: | The following classes of consonants are classified as 'weak letters' in Classical Netagin and cause [[Netagin/Gzarot|irregular gzarot]]: | ||
Line 162: | Line 158: | ||
|- | |- | ||
! style="" |Diphthong | ! style="" |Diphthong | ||
| '''ie''' /iə/ | | '''ie''' /iə/, '''ea''' /eæ/ | ||
| | | | ||
| '''ů''' /uə/ | | '''ů''' /uə/ | ||
Line 192: | Line 188: | ||
no initial clusters, max cluster length 2 | no initial clusters, max cluster length 2 | ||
cluster consonants can be arbitrary | cluster consonants can be arbitrary | ||
Possible vowel final vowels: /ɪ, e, a, ea, o, u, i, y/ (cf TibH /ɔ, ɛ, e, o, i, u/) | Possible vowel final vowels: /ɪ, e, a, ea, o, u, i, y/ (cf TibH /ɔ, ɛ, e, o, i, u/) | ||
Line 205: | Line 201: | ||
== Script == | == Script == | ||
Netagin script is | The classical Netagin script is a logography. Consonantal roots are represented by semantic or phonosemantic characters. The root characters are inserted into patterns that represent noun and verb templates and their inflected forms. | ||
==Morphology== | ==Morphology== | ||
Line 282: | Line 276: | ||
The suffix ''-in'' (which is analogous to Semitic ''-i'') is used on some nouns and adjectives. These don't have separate construct state forms. | The suffix ''-in'' (which is analogous to Semitic ''-i'') is used on some nouns and adjectives. These don't have separate construct state forms. | ||
:'''''"Qaj, laršip ne dáqer rysohe qalok." baruc | :'''''"Qaj, laršip ne dáqer rysohe qalok." baruc nė qama.''''' | ||
:/ʔaj | :/ʔaj ŋɐr'ʃip nɛ 'daʔɛr rɨso'ɦɛ ʔɐ'ŋok ba'ruts nɛə ʔɐma/ | ||
:MIR me-exceed-he DET.SING son.SING big-ADV already speak-3SG.F DET mother.SING | :MIR me-exceed-he DET.SING son.SING big-ADV already speak-3SG.F DET mother.SING | ||
:("'Behold, the son exceeds me bigly already,' spoke the mother.") | :("'Behold, the son exceeds me bigly already,' spoke the mother.") | ||
Line 402: | Line 396: | ||
The independent pronoun is used when using an agent-oriented stem. | The independent pronoun is used when using an agent-oriented stem. | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" width=500px | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" width=500px | ||
! | ! || 1sg || 2sg || 3sg || 1pl || 2pl || 3pl | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Subject affixes: ''mur'' 'walk (to somewhere)' | ! Subject affixes: ''mur'' 'walk (to somewhere)' | ||
| ''mur'''xil''''' 'I walk' || ''mur'''xib''''' || ''mur'' || ''mur'''šů | | ''mur'''xil''''' 'I walk' || ''mur'''xib''''' || ''mur'' || ''mur'''šů''''' || ''mur'''ni''''' || ''mur'''o''''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Object affixes: ''tėlal'' 'to know' '' | ! Object affixes: ''tėlal'' 'to know' '' | ||
| '''''l'''ytlal-0'' 's/he knows me' || '''''b'''ytlal-0'' || '''''q'''ytlal-0'' || '''''ť'''itlal | | '''''l'''ytlal-0'' 's/he knows me' || '''''b'''ytlal-0'' || '''''q'''ytlal-0'' || '''''ť'''itlal-0'' || '''''d'''ytlăl'''o''''' || '''''q'''ytlăl'''o''''' | ||
|} | |} | ||
Irrealis forms always use a regularly determined variant of the agent-oriented stem: | Irrealis forms always use a regularly determined variant of the agent-oriented stem: | ||
Line 518: | Line 510: | ||
===Questions=== | ===Questions=== | ||
Yes-no questions are formed by changing the determiner ''ne'' of the noun being asked about to ''ve''. The particle ''qu'' may optionally be added to the beginning. | Yes-no questions are formed by changing the determiner ''ne'' of the noun being asked about to ''ve''. The particle ''qu'' may optionally be added to the beginning. | ||
:''Lečar | :''Lečar nė qama.'' = Mother is at home. | ||
:''(Qu) lečar | :''(Qu) lečar vė qama?'' = Is Mother at home? | ||
Answering yes-no questions in the positive may use the word ''qaj'' 'indeed' or repeat the focused constituent. | Answering yes-no questions in the positive may use the word ''qaj'' 'indeed' or repeat the focused constituent. | ||
:''- (Qu) lečar | :''- (Qu) lečar vė qama? - Qaj/Lečar.'' = - Is Mother at home? - Yes. | ||
Wh-questions are formed by putting the appropriate interrogative word at the beginning, and using the same determiner change. | Wh-questions are formed by putting the appropriate interrogative word at the beginning, and using the same determiner change. | ||
:''Jos vė qama?'' = Where is Mother? | |||
:''Jal ve miešab?'' = What (lit. Who) is your name? | |||
===Translating "to be"=== | ===Translating "to be"=== | ||
Line 541: | Line 532: | ||
===Possession=== | ===Possession=== | ||
The h-possessive ("X has a Y") is formed with the existence construction, applied to the genitive phrase "X's Y". So to say "I have a book" one literally says "There is a book of mine": | The h-possessive ("X has a Y") is formed with the existence construction, applied to the genitive phrase "X's Y". So to say "I have a book" one literally says "There is a book of mine" (even more literally, "behold, a book of mine"): | ||
Qaj ne padudal. (MIR DET.M book-1SG) | Qaj ne padudal. (MIR DET.M book-1SG) | ||
The b-possessive ("X belongs to Y" etc.): The noun '' | The b-possessive ("X belongs to Y" etc.): The noun ''láqem'' can be used in a possessive construction: | ||
láqmal na žiri. = The sword is mine (lit. is my possession). | láqmal na žiri. = The sword is mine (lit. is my possession). | ||
Line 557: | Line 548: | ||
For balanced relative clauses, Netagin has the relativizer ''he''. Netagin restricts relative clause syntax in that the head must be a direct object of the relative clause (if necessary, after taking the applicative form of the verb). | For balanced relative clauses, Netagin has the relativizer ''he''. Netagin restricts relative clause syntax in that the head must be a direct object of the relative clause (if necessary, after taking the applicative form of the verb). | ||
:'' | :''nė páles '''hė''' '''s'''admurxil'' - the cake that I made | ||
Only subjects and direct objects can be relativized directly. Relativizing oblique objects requires using the applicative voice: | Only subjects and direct objects can be relativized directly. Relativizing oblique objects requires using the applicative voice: | ||
Line 563: | Line 554: | ||
Possessors also use the applicative strategy. However, if the verb already has an object, the verb's object affix agrees with the original object, not the relativized noun. | Possessors also use the applicative strategy. However, if the verb already has an object, the verb's object affix agrees with the original object, not the relativized noun. | ||
:'' | :''nė jove '''hė''' qytymlalxil (*sytymlalxil) ne qeb'' | ||
:DET girl REL appl-3SG.M-know.1SG DET father | :DET girl REL appl-3SG.M-know.1SG DET father | ||
:the girl whose father I know | :the girl whose father I know | ||
Line 573: | Line 564: | ||
*For comparison of adverbs, again the auxiliary verb corresponding to the adverb is used with either the transgressive or the verbal noun of the lexical verb. The auxiliary can take applicatives and direct objects: ''the only student I can jump higher than'' = "the only student REL him-APPL-do_better-1SG jump.TRGR"(pseudogloss) | *For comparison of adverbs, again the auxiliary verb corresponding to the adverb is used with either the transgressive or the verbal noun of the lexical verb. The auxiliary can take applicatives and direct objects: ''the only student I can jump higher than'' = "the only student REL him-APPL-do_better-1SG jump.TRGR"(pseudogloss) | ||
The ''pyšme | The ''pyšme vėn'' "such that" + resumptive pronoun construction is always available in late Classical Netagin. The applicative has been lost in Modern Netagin, which instead uses the gap strategy, like Southeast Asian languages. Internally headed relative clauses are restricted to poetry, even in Classical Netagin. | ||
==== Deranked relative clauses ==== | ==== Deranked relative clauses ==== | ||
Line 596: | Line 587: | ||
'after' = lahed | 'after' = lahed | ||
'as soon as' = | 'as soon as' = lrůb | ||
===Conditional clauses=== | ===Conditional clauses=== | ||
* =hie = if (realis) | * =hie = if (realis) | ||
* = | * =lo = if (counterfactual) | ||
===Reason clauses=== | ===Reason clauses=== | ||
* | * lahed = since | ||
* bůr = because; lest (< *bār < *ba=qar not=EMPH 'is it not true that...') | * bůr = because; lest (< *bār < *ba=qar not=EMPH 'is it not true that...') | ||
* bůrbymiek = because (etym. not=EMPH 2SG.know) | * bůrbymiek = because (etym. not=EMPH 2SG.know) | ||
Line 631: | Line 622: | ||
Netagin does not have exact equivalents for the English verbs "go", "carry", or "bring". Netagin motion verbs vary along two dimensions: one dimension is the method or direction of transport and one dimension is the telicity of the verb. Unidirectional, or telic, motion verbs express one-time motion towards a destination, either away from or towards the speaker. Multidirectional, or atelic, verbs express undirected motion, repeated directed motion, or back-and-forth motion. The directionality is usually expressed by binyan change, but is sometimes expressed through suppletion. Note that some intransitive-transitive syncretism occurs, but this isn't an issue as verbs themselves have intransitive and transitive conjugations. | Netagin does not have exact equivalents for the English verbs "go", "carry", or "bring". Netagin motion verbs vary along two dimensions: one dimension is the method or direction of transport and one dimension is the telicity of the verb. Unidirectional, or telic, motion verbs express one-time motion towards a destination, either away from or towards the speaker. Multidirectional, or atelic, verbs express undirected motion, repeated directed motion, or back-and-forth motion. The directionality is usually expressed by binyan change, but is sometimes expressed through suppletion. Note that some intransitive-transitive syncretism occurs, but this isn't an issue as verbs themselves have intransitive and transitive conjugations. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 637: | Line 627: | ||
|- | |- | ||
| to go by foot, to walk | | to go by foot, to walk | ||
| ''mir'' (Binyan 1) || '' | | ''mir'' (Binyan 1) || ''lun'' (Binyan 2) || ''vaččol'' (Binyan 6) || ''văčačol'' (Binyan 10) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| to go with a land vehicle<small> | | to go with a land vehicle<small> | ||
Line 706: | Line 696: | ||
|} | |} | ||
* ''Mir | * ''Mir vylpielek Săvarxal'' 'He got into / will get into Săfarchal University' | ||
* ''Vaččol | * ''Vaččol vylpielek Săvarxal'' 'He used to attend / attends / will continue to attend Săfarchal University' | ||
===Verbs for "to wear"=== | ===Verbs for "to wear"=== | ||
==Poetic Classical Netagin== | ==Poetic Classical Netagin== | ||
Classical Netagin poetry uses meters similar to Hebrew piyyut meters. For example, the marnin aka hazaj meter is SLLLSLLL, where S must be an open syllable with a reduced vowel (underlyingly either an ''ă'' /ə/ or an ''y'' /ɨ/) and L is any heavy syllable (i.e. having a non-reduced vowel). | Classical Netagin poetry uses meters similar to Hebrew piyyut meters. For example, the marnin aka hazaj meter is SLLLSLLL, where S must be an open syllable with a reduced vowel (underlyingly either an ''ă'' /ə/ or an ''y'' /ɨ/) and L is any heavy syllable (i.e. having a non-reduced vowel). Highly educated poetry from the Classical Netagin era is replete with allusions to older Classical Netagin literature which the reader is expected to understand (much like how Hebrew piyyutim use Tanakh allusions and Classical Chinese literature alludes to older Classical Chinese works); there are some poems that are entirely "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra". Some such expressions are still used in present-day spoken Netagin. | ||
Poetic Netagin was a separate register from prose Classical Netagin, and has the following characteristics: | Poetic Netagin was a separate register from prose Classical Netagin, and has the following characteristics: | ||
Line 741: | Line 731: | ||
Piyyut meter + luc bat: | Piyyut meter + luc bat: | ||
''Lavympălič kasvo,'' | ''Lavympălič kasvo,'' | ||
''Cymil | ''Cymil ťolel šivo tamlis,'' | ||
''Meri | ''Meri tyvůl qollis,'' | ||
''Qyher malšam xylis banhie!'' | ''Qyher malšam xylis banhie!'' | ||
''Mi-ďpal, ny roxep hie,'' | ''Mi-ďpal, ny roxep hie,'' | ||
Line 799: | Line 789: | ||
{{col-end}} | {{col-end}} | ||
=== | === Anthem of Tumhan === | ||
The lyrics are in LLSLLLSLLL meter (like the Jewish piyyut Yigdal). The theme is self-reliance. | |||
(Use a non-neutralized hanier for the tune) | |||
{{col-begin}} | |||
{{col-break}} | |||
<poem> | |||
'''Literary Netagin''' (WIP) | |||
1. ''Lėšė dypiekėšů my-xiem teďmaz — ďamzeš myri muršů dyťek bahan.'' | |||
''Xabbok lykuzėšů my-jiplėlur — saqůx hyčů kippel qi-ram my-ďhan.'' | |||
2. ''Bar tansybik haviš qi-riv nozab — rahod ny viťėšů lăqal žihan.'' | |||
''Vajek ny bakkaneš vy laplėšů — ba kam myhen qappův ny hėz Tumhan!'' | |||
</poem> | |||
{{col-break}} | |||
<poem> | |||
Translation (WIP) | |||
1. Our ancestors stepped in the fertilizing rocks --- the soil which we have walked in out of our cradle of birth. | |||
Our plows dug diligently since we left the low and high places of the animist spirits. | |||
2. For the fount of the mountains and the rains of the skies began the vigorous growth in our garden. | |||
The world has left us raw material --- the people of Tumhan shall not leave it waiting! | |||
</poem> | |||
{{col-end}} | |||
== Phrasebook == | == Phrasebook == |
Latest revision as of 12:27, 30 October 2024
Pages with the prefix 'Netagin' in the and 'Talk' namespaces:
Netagin | |
---|---|
ne Nătahin | |
Pronunciation | [nɛː nət̪ɐːˈɦiːːn] |
Created by | User:IlL |
Setting | Verse:Hmøøh, Verse:CF Hmøøh |
Idavic
|
In Hmøøh, Netagin (English: net-ə-GHEEN; natively ne Nătahin [nɛː nətɐːˈɦiːːn]; Nurian: xi Nteahem; Naeng: fi cduay Intăgin; Eevo: a łynǿñ Yntyjín) is an isolate within the Idavic language family. It is native to Tumhan (Netagin: Tumhan /tʉmˈɦan/). Classical Netagin has influenced Naeng, Nurian and Ksieh. Netagin is intended to be optimized for writing poems in Hebrew piyyut meters (without being a Hebrew giblang): like Hebrew, Netagin has triconsonantal morphology, final stress and stressed suffixes, so that it is natural to rhyme by having the last syllables the same like in Jewish piyyutim. It tends to be verb-initial and head-initial like Hebrew, and its morphosyntactic alignment is split-S and predicate-first with some Austronesian elements. Netagin is the most grammatically conservative extant branch of Idavic, because it has preserved Proto-Idavic triconsonantal morphology and morphosyntax. Despite being a head-initial language like most Talman languages including Naeng and Talmic languages, as well as Hebrew and Irish, Classical Netagin grammar is meant to have some alien features even to speakers of these languages. Hebrew is a heavy inspiration for the diachronics, however (except postvocalic lenition).
This article describes Classical Netagin which is used for special effect in modern times, e.g. in classical Netagin music and poetry. The standard variety today is Šinax Netagin, spoken in Bjeheond's capital Șinach (Šinax) and in Cualuav's Andaegor, though there are many other mutually unintelligible Netagin varieties.
This is the seventh version of Netagin. Its aesthetic is inspired by Hebrew, Maltese, Czech/Slovak, Middle Vietnamese and Naeng. Its morphology is inspired by Semitic, its morphosyntax by Lushootseed and Austronesian, and its motion verbs by Slavic.
Todo
- Change ea to ė
- nC > CC like in Heb
- think absolute vs. construct plays more nicely in piyyutim than nominative vs. genitive
- not completely happy with the binyanim morphologically
- double-check gzarot
- roots, vocab
- Steal "verb an adjective verb-ing" (= "verb adjective-ly") from Hebrew
WCONS 3SG.M-CAUS/walk/TELIC 3PL.INDEP DET.F ocean WCONS die-3SG.M "They made him go out into ocean and he died"
- A particle qy that works like Lushootseed 2ə
- Proto-Netagin had a marked absolute state in -i, construct removed the -i
- Decl A: sg -i/-0 > stress patterns, pl -āli/-āl > pl -ůl/-ů
- Decl B: sg -eki/-ek > PNtg -eč/-ek > CNtg -iš/-ek, pl -aka/-ak > -ā/-ak > CNtg -a/-ak
Phonology
The phonology of Classical Netagin is described by the grammarian and polymath Bůhiš Naťťem.
Consonants
Netagin has 22 consonants:
Labial | Lamino-dental | Apico-alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nasal | m /m/ | n /n̪~n~ɳ~ɲ/ | l /ŋ/ | ||||
Plosive | voiceless | p /p/ | ť /t̪~c̟/ | t /t~ʈ/ | k /k/ | q /ʔ/ | |
voiced | b /b/ | ď /d̪~ɟ̟/ | d /d~ɖ/ | ||||
Fricative | voiceless | s /s̠/ | š /ʃ/ | x /x/ | |||
voiced | v /v/ | z /z̠/ | ž /ʒ/ | h /ɦ/ | |||
Affricate | c /ts̠/ | č /tʃ/ | |||||
Resonant | r /r~ɾ~ʀ/ | j /j/ |
Voiceless stops are unaspirated.
The dental stops ť ď are pronounced as laminal alveolar stops [c̟ ɟ̟] in front of i ie j.
š ž č are laminal palatalized postalveolar.
The following classes of consonants are classified as 'weak letters' in Classical Netagin and cause irregular gzarot:
- Semivowels: j v
- Palatals: š ž č j
- Retroflexes: t d s z
- Ungeminables: q h r
Vowels
|
|
Vowel diachronics: Proto-Netagin had the vowels *a e i u ō ē ī ū.
- In stressed syllables (including segolates): PNtg a e i u > a e ė o
- In pretonic syllables (open): PNtg a u i e > a o y e
- In pretonic syllables (closed): a e i u > a e y y
- In propretonic syllables: a u i e > ă y y y
- PNtg long vowels (ō ē ī ū) don't reduce in any position and always become ů ie i u.
Stress
Usually final, some penultimately-stressed "segolates" CVCVC or CVCCV
Penult long vowels + every other stress gives the language a distinctive "Scotch snap" rhythm.
Phonotactics
no initial clusters, max cluster length 2
cluster consonants can be arbitrary
Possible vowel final vowels: /ɪ, e, a, ea, o, u, i, y/ (cf TibH /ɔ, ɛ, e, o, i, u/)
Vowel reduction
Pretonic to propretonic: (Most commonly occuring type) a > a, e > y.
Other phonetic rules
- y > i, after C[+palatal]: šy žy čy jy > ši ži či ji
- In unstressed syllables, a > e after C[+palatal]: ša ža ča ja > še že če je
- unstresssed y > a adjacent before /l/
Script
The classical Netagin script is a logography. Consonantal roots are represented by semantic or phonosemantic characters. The root characters are inserted into patterns that represent noun and verb templates and their inflected forms.
Morphology
Like Semitic languages, Netagin is triconsonantal. The root m-c-l 'to do' is used for demonstrating stems formed from roots.
Pronominal markers
Netagin has many sets of personal markers:
- Independent personal pronouns, serving as subject pronouns in independent clauses (corresponding to Lushootseed čəd-words)
- Emphatic personal pronouns: used for emphasis, and for calling someone with a 2nd person pronoun (corresponding to Lushootseed ʔaca-words and Irish emphatic pronouns)
- The "me too, you too, etc." forms
- Alienable prefixes
- Inalienable/preposition/conjunction suffixes
- Verb object affixes
1sg | 2sg | 3sg | 1pl | 2pl | 3pl | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | viel | vieb | - | vieč | vyni | - |
Emphatic | hanli | hanvů | (demonstratives such as kyne are used) | hančů | hanni | (demonstratives are used) |
Alienable | l(e)- | b(e)- | qyn-/qym- | č(e)- | n(e)- | qie- |
Inalienable | -al | -ab | -i | -čů | -bi | -us |
"X too" | telaš | tebaš | (demonstratives are used) | tyčaš | tynnaš | (demonstratives are used) |
An independent subject pronoun, when present, always comes in the second position in the sentence, as in Lushootseed.
In Netagin, emphatic subject pronouns are often part of Ancient-Greek style Wackernagel clitic complexes.
[So far this is not too different from Tigol or Anbirese. The weird part is the morphosyntax.]
Nouns and adjectives
NEW DECLENSION
Netagin has two numbers and absolute and construct states (but no gender). Like in Tiberian Hebrew, the construct state may have different shapes from having subtly different stress in older stages. Netagin nouns and adjectives fall into declension classes:
liet = man (decl. A) | qăšteleš = sparrow (decl. B) | jůši = person (decl. C) | Nătahin = Netagin person (decl. D) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
singular | plural | singular | plural | singular | plural | singular | plural | |
Absolute state | liet | lietůl | qăšteleš | qăšteliš | jůši | lyjůši | Nătahin | Nătahie |
Construct state | liet- | lietů- | qyštylek- | qyštylik- | jůšė- | lyjůšė- | - | - |
The suffix -in (which is analogous to Semitic -i) is used on some nouns and adjectives. These don't have separate construct state forms.
- "Qaj, laršip ne dáqer rysohe qalok." baruc nė qama.
- /ʔaj ŋɐr'ʃip nɛ 'daʔɛr rɨso'ɦɛ ʔɐ'ŋok ba'ruts nɛə ʔɐma/
- MIR me-exceed-he DET.SING son.SING big-ADV already speak-3SG.F DET mother.SING
- ("'Behold, the son exceeds me bigly already,' spoke the mother.")
- "Oh my, my boy is bigger than me already!" said the mother.
Possessed forms
Unsuffixed nouns:
- abs: xozăn 'Netagin qanun'
- const: xozna (Netagin segolates take -a for the construct; the construct csn be unpredictable)
- 1sg: xoznal
- 2sg: xoznab
- 3sg: xozni
- 1pl: xoznėšů
- 2pl: xoznăbi
- 3pl: xoznus
The Class B construct affix -k assimilates with an inalienable suffix beginning with a consonant:
- bahieneš 'birth'
- bahienek 'birth of'
- bahienekal 'my birth'
- bahienekab 'thy birth'
- bahieneki 'his birth'
- bahienekėšů 'our birth'
- bahienebbi 'your (pl.) birth'
- bahienekus 'their birth'
ve-words
Ve-words, which are usually determiners, decline as follows:
sg. | pl. |
---|---|
ne (unstressed); nex | no |
The following are ve-words:
- ne (Lushootseed ti; roughly 'that-which'.)
- ve (Lushootseed kʷi)
- de ("connegative" determiner, used on the absolutive argument of a negated clause)
- kyne 'this'
- kyve 'that'
- be (relativizer; roughly 'which VERBs' or 'which is a NOUN'. The head of a relative clause is only allowed to be its subject or direct object in Classical Netagin.)
- qe (vocative particle)
Verbs
Like Hebrew and Arabic, Netagin derives verbs by inflecting a consonantal verb root according to a binyan. The subject is a purely syntactic concept. Different verbs have different theta-roles for the subject, whether agent, patient, experiencer, instrument, location, or recipient; this is determined lexically by the individual verb and must be memorized (though verb voice can promote non-subject arguments to subjects).
Purely form-wise (rather than semantically), the primary axes by which verbs differ are:
- Binyan: derives verbs from a consonantal root; encodes variables such as transitivity, volition, aspect and manner of action.
- Voice: patient-oriented, agent-oriented and applicative.
- Patient-oriented means that the subject (the unmarked argument, one immediately following it) is a patient (or experiencer of a state or a change of state), while the noun phrase marked with a preposed particle qy is a second argument, often an agent, an instrument, or a cause.
- Agent-oriented means that the subject (the unmarked argument, one immediately following it) is an "agent", while the noun phrase marked with a preposed particle qy is a second argument, often the patient.
- The patient oriented stem is from an older stative; the agent-oriented form is from an older tensed verb.
- Agreement: Person/number/gender of participants.
- Mood: Realis and irrealis. The irrealis is used for imperatives, wishes, purpose clauses, and possible future events.
Binyan and voice are realized with stem changes, and agreement inflection is realized by attaching affixes which change the stem in a regular manner. Notably, Netagin has no tense or aspect forms; aspect is more of a lexical feature, and tense is inferred through context or explicitly through time expressions such as "yesterday", "a moment ago", or "later".
- The nonfinite forms are:
- the transgressive: The transgressive is uninflected and does not take person markers; it refers to the syntactic subject in subject-less subordinate clauses.
- the verbal noun.
Verb stems
Netagin has 10 binyanim (piččetůl from p-č-t "time"). Diachronically, Netagin binyanim encoded various aspects, aktionsarten or manners of action (rather than mainly voice like Semitic binyanim):
- Binyan 1 (mėcal) verbs are primarily basic iterative, imperfective or habitual actions, including stative verbs ("be cold") and some monotransitives. It is often considered the most basic form.
- For example, telal means 'to know'
- dalum = to go by vehicle (uni), as opposed to Binyan 7 dollam = to go by vehicle (multi).
- Binyan 2 (qamcil) consists of verbs denote reflexive/reciprocal action ("get dressed", "kiss each other"), or change of state ("thicken"), or perfectives. It's marked by a q- preformative.
- Binyan 3 (qămacol) contains causatives of transitive verbs ("feed") (and of some Binyan c and Binyan g verbs), or a maintainance of state. It's marked by a q- preformative like Binyan 2 but has a different pattern.
- Binyan 4 (lamcol) is roughly equivalent to the German prefix be- (applicative). It's marked by a l- preformative.
- Binyan 5 (qymmacal) - telic, intensive, momentane or perfective. It's marked by gemination of the first root consonant.
- Binyan 6 (maccol) - atelic, iterative, many multidirectional motion verbs. It's marked by gemination of the second root consonant.
- Binyan 7 (qycmacol) - "X a little, almost X". It's marked by reduplicating the second root consonant.
- Binyan 8 (mescol) - "X in advance, X for oneself" (tends to be used for self-directed, intentional actions). It's marked by a ⟨s⟩ infix.
- Binyan 9 (măcalol) - frequentative, "-le"; "mis-X, over-X". It's marked by lengthening the stem with the last root consonant.
- Binyan 10 (măcacol) verbs express gradual processes and are used for atelic coming motion verbs. It's makred by lengthening with the second root consonant.
- Ex. hadadex 'warm up (literally or romantically)'.
Here are the stems in the regular gizra, i.e. for most choices of root consonants (for other gzarot, see Netagin/Gzarot):
Binyan | Patient-oriented | Agent-oriented | Applicative | Transgressive | Patient-oriented verbal noun | Agent-oriented verbal noun |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | mėcal | -emcal | -ymyncal | macůl | macil, mycil | jemcel |
2 | qamcil | -omcėl | -ymyncėl | qamcůl | tamciel | jomcel |
3 | qămacol | -amcol | -ymyncol | qămacůl | qămcaleš | jamcol |
4 | lamcol | -ylmocėl | -ylmyncėl | lamcůl | lamculeš | lamcel |
5 | qymmacal | -ymmėcol | -ymmyncol | qymmacůl | qymmaciel | jimmėcel |
6 | maccol | -ymaccėl | -ymcyncėl | qymaccůl | tymacciel | jimaccel |
7 | qycmacol | -ycmacėl | -ycmyncol | qycmacůl | qucmacleš | jicmacel |
8 | mescol | -ymescėl | -ymsyncol | mescůl | tymesciel | jimescel |
9 | măcalol | -ymcėlal | -ymnyclol | măcalůl | tymcaliel | jimcėlel |
10 | măcacol | -ymcėcal | -ymnyccol | măcacůl | tymcaciel | jimcėcel |
Person marking
The independent pronoun is used when using an agent-oriented stem.
1sg | 2sg | 3sg | 1pl | 2pl | 3pl | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subject affixes: mur 'walk (to somewhere)' | murxil 'I walk' | murxib | mur | muršů | murni | muro |
Object affixes: tėlal 'to know' | lytlal-0 's/he knows me' | bytlal-0 | qytlal-0 | ťitlal-0 | dytlălo | qytlălo |
Irrealis forms always use a regularly determined variant of the agent-oriented stem:
sg | pl | |
---|---|---|
Intransitives: mur 'walk (to somewhere)' | mur! 'walk thou (thither)!' | muro! 'walk ye!' |
Transitives: tėlal 'to know (someone)' | tylal! 'know thou him!' | tylalo! 'know ye him!' |
Gzarot
Gzarot are better analyzed as phonetic rules, ig.
Prepositions
Netagin has only one true preposition: the generic oblique preposition my- (corresponding to Lushootseed ʔal). It has the following inflected forms: miel, mied, mi, miť, mynib, mynėď, mis.
Netagins has adverbs to indicate more specific meanings, where English uses prepositions:
- har = generic locative.
- Qalam-ši har my-tar·al? (be_at.3SG.M=Q LOC OBL-house-1SG) = 'Is it in my house?'
- inside
- outside
- up
- down
- left
- right
- in
- out
- across, beyond
- north
- NE
- east
- SE
- south
- SW
- north
- NW
Derivation
Noun patterns in Netagin are called qehtůnůl 'builders'.
- Noun patterns: 1a23, 1ė23, 1o23, 1a22u3, 1a2a3, 1a2o3, la12u3, 1a2a3, 1a2e3, 1ů2a3, 1i2a3, 1i2i3, 1i2u3
- 1a22u3 = adjective relating to personal qualities
- be12ů3 = agent noun
- 1a2a3ė, 1a2i3ė, 1a2u3ė = nouns
- 1i22e3 = resultatives
- 1a22ė3 = tendency/quality of X
- 1y22a3 = degree/measure
- -in = adjective suffix
- -ům = augmentative (source of -om in Naeng and Eevo)
- -ůn (f) = abstract noun, collective
- 1a2i3 = quality adjective
- 2o2a3 = resultative adjective
- 2e2ů3 = event
- qi12u3 = event
- tu12a3 (< *tūCCaC < *tawuCCaC)
- Tumhan is derived from m-h-n/tuCCaC
- qi12a3/qi12ė3 = instrument
- ba12ie3/ba12a3 = profession
- ty12a3ė/ty12e3ė = process
- vy12u3 = patient noun
- vy12ů3 = resultative noun
- vysa12ie3 = place noun
Syntax
Like Lushotoseed, Netagin has focus-first or predicate-first word order, which is often realized as VSO order.
Case marking
The particle qy marks the "most relevant" non-subject argument of the verb. For agent-oriented verbs this is the patient; for patient-oriented verbs this is the agent.
Conjunctions
todo: when, before, after, while (relative tense)
- qi = and, also, so
- from qaj = indeed; yes, aye; mirative particle, like Biblical Hebrew הנה
- mal = or (both inclusive and exclusive or)
- ďem = or (can only be used for xor)
- ba = not
- bůr = because; lest (< *bār < *ba=qar not=EMPH 'is it not true that...')
- bůrbymiek = because (etym. not=EMPH 2SG.know)
- lynoj = although
- lynojačir = although
- vyzeal = but
- daja = but
- qatie = if
- vean = that (complementizer)
- he (ve-word) = that (relativizer)
Wackernagel clitics
These conjunctions are unstressed clitics that come in second position. They attach to the emphatic form of the pronoun if the subject is a pronoun.
- =me = waw-consecutive (used for each event in a narrative sequence of events; often implies past tense)
- =ča = or
- =qar = (poetic) for
- =hie = interrogative or "if"
- =miek = like German ja
Inflected conjunctions
These conjunctions may take pronominal inflections, taking the pronoun suffix for the subject.
Negation
In prose, a clause is negated by adding ba before the verb and using the particle duk. It combines with ve-series determiners to form de-series determiners; de is used before the absolutive constituent.
- Ba qylxar duk. = He is not growing.
- Ba qytarrea de pyžal. = The dog does not bark.
- Ba qylmea va vůš da myzuj. (NEG 3SG.N-eat-3SG.N VE.N child NEG.ABS-VE.N fruits) = The child does not eat fruit.
Ba also translates "no".
Questions
Yes-no questions are formed by changing the determiner ne of the noun being asked about to ve. The particle qu may optionally be added to the beginning.
- Lečar nė qama. = Mother is at home.
- (Qu) lečar vė qama? = Is Mother at home?
Answering yes-no questions in the positive may use the word qaj 'indeed' or repeat the focused constituent.
- - (Qu) lečar vė qama? - Qaj/Lečar. = - Is Mother at home? - Yes.
Wh-questions are formed by putting the appropriate interrogative word at the beginning, and using the same determiner change.
- Jos vė qama? = Where is Mother?
- Jal ve miešab? = What (lit. Who) is your name?
Translating "to be"
Netagin translates the following seven senses of English "be" with distinct constructions:
- "is-a" (membership in a class): Y ne X = "X is a Y"
- "is-the" (equality): rieh ne X ne Y "X is Y" (implies that both X and Y are definite)
- "there exists": qaj ne X = "There exists X"
- "is + location": [lėčar] ne xib X = "X is [home]" (lit. "home is X's location")
- "is (going to) + destination": Lėčar ne abev X = 'X is going home' (lit. "home is X's thither")
- "is (coming from) + source": Tumhan ne rahov X = 'X is from Tumhan' (lit. "Tumhan is X's thence")
- "is + ADJ": [badej] X = "X [is big]"
Possession
The h-possessive ("X has a Y") is formed with the existence construction, applied to the genitive phrase "X's Y". So to say "I have a book" one literally says "There is a book of mine" (even more literally, "behold, a book of mine"):
Qaj ne padudal. (MIR DET.M book-1SG)
The b-possessive ("X belongs to Y" etc.): The noun láqem can be used in a possessive construction:
láqmal na žiri. = The sword is mine (lit. is my possession).
Alternatively, the possessive construction "X is Y's X[head noun in X]" can be used:
Žirjal na žiri. = The sword is mine. (lit. The sword is my sword)
Relative clauses
Balanced relative clauses
For balanced relative clauses, Netagin has the relativizer he. Netagin restricts relative clause syntax in that the head must be a direct object of the relative clause (if necessary, after taking the applicative form of the verb).
- nė páles hė sadmurxil - the cake that I made
Only subjects and direct objects can be relativized directly. Relativizing oblique objects requires using the applicative voice:
- ni rycům hi qypymlakvil - the fork that I eat with
Possessors also use the applicative strategy. However, if the verb already has an object, the verb's object affix agrees with the original object, not the relativized noun.
- nė jove hė qytymlalxil (*sytymlalxil) ne qeb
- DET girl REL appl-3SG.M-know.1SG DET father
- the girl whose father I know
Comparative objects cannot be relativized in any way, at least in prose Netagin:
- Comparing verbs: the man that he(i) gave more to the poor than = "The man whose giving to the poor he(i) exceeded/did_better" or "the man who gave less to the poor than him(i)"
- Comparing NPs: the team that we ate more apples than = "The team whose eating of the apple we exceeded"
- For comparison of adjectives, Netagin can express the only student I am taller than, for example, as "the only student shorter than me", or "the only student whose tallness I exceed", using one of the above constructions.
- For comparison of adverbs, again the auxiliary verb corresponding to the adverb is used with either the transgressive or the verbal noun of the lexical verb. The auxiliary can take applicatives and direct objects: the only student I can jump higher than = "the only student REL him-APPL-do_better-1SG jump.TRGR"(pseudogloss)
The pyšme vėn "such that" + resumptive pronoun construction is always available in late Classical Netagin. The applicative has been lost in Modern Netagin, which instead uses the gap strategy, like Southeast Asian languages. Internally headed relative clauses are restricted to poetry, even in Classical Netagin.
Deranked relative clauses
Netagin also has deranked relative clauses, which uses possessed verbal nouns and mirror similar constructions in Lushootseed (cf. English the weapon of your choosing). The possessor of such a verbal noun is always the patient. This construction must be used exactly when the subject is the head.
ni myzuj bi qylmie viel 'the fruit that I eat' has a deranked relative clause counterpart: ni myzuj lamjal (DET fruit-3SG eat/VN-1SG.POSS 'the fruit of my eating'); however this means 'the fruit that eats me'.
Complement clauses
Balanced complement clauses: nar/var + CLAUSE
Dymiek nar dyktie viel = You know that I love you; (Qu) dymiek var dyktie viel? = Do you know that I love you?
Deranked complement clauses: na/va + poss(subj)-VN + subject + my + secondary argument
Dymiek na lykotie mied = You know that I love you (lit. my love for you)
Time clauses
'when (conjunction)' = toj
'before' = hamet
'after' = lahed
'as soon as' = lrůb
Conditional clauses
- =hie = if (realis)
- =lo = if (counterfactual)
Reason clauses
- lahed = since
- bůr = because; lest (< *bār < *ba=qar not=EMPH 'is it not true that...')
- bůrbymiek = because (etym. not=EMPH 2SG.know)
Purpose clauses
'So that' can be expressed with qi 'and' + irrealis verb (Biblical Hebrew has a similar clause structure).
Circumstantial clauses
For example, the Latin phrase Quaerendo invenietis 'Seek and ye shall find' can be translated using the transgressive:
- Hydůp qavvylono.
- seek/TRGR 3SG.N-IRR/find-2PL
- Look for it and find it. (More literally: [By] seeking, you will find it. or [By] seeking, find it.)
Information structure
A regular independent clause is of the form
[focus] [other constituents].
A topicalized clause is of the form
[regular clause referring to the topic] [topic].
Sometimes the particle miek (from bymiek 'you know') may be used in second position for extra emphasis, or to connote "I think you'll agree that..." (like German ja).
Vocabulary
Verbs of motion
Netagin does not have exact equivalents for the English verbs "go", "carry", or "bring". Netagin motion verbs vary along two dimensions: one dimension is the method or direction of transport and one dimension is the telicity of the verb. Unidirectional, or telic, motion verbs express one-time motion towards a destination, either away from or towards the speaker. Multidirectional, or atelic, verbs express undirected motion, repeated directed motion, or back-and-forth motion. The directionality is usually expressed by binyan change, but is sometimes expressed through suppletion. Note that some intransitive-transitive syncretism occurs, but this isn't an issue as verbs themselves have intransitive and transitive conjugations.
Meaning | Telic, "go" | Telic, "come" | Atelic, "go" | Atelic, "come" |
---|---|---|---|---|
to go by foot, to walk | mir (Binyan 1) | lun (Binyan 2) | vaččol (Binyan 6) | văčačol (Binyan 10) |
to go with a land vehicle | daluk (Binyan 1) | qadlok (Binyan 2) | qydalok (Binyan 3) | dălalok (Binyan 10) |
to ride, to mount (trans.) | qapcea (Binyan 3) | qyppacea (Binyan 5) | pecea (Binyan 1) | păcacea (Binyan 10) |
to go in | xapul (Binyan 1) | qaxpol (Binyan 2) | xappol (Binyan 6) | xăpapol (Binyan 10) |
to go out; to rise (of heavenly bodies and other inanimate beings) | pakuš (Binyan 1) | qapkoš (Binyan 2) | pakkoš (Binyan 6) | păkakoš (Binyan 10) |
to set (of heavenly bodies) to fall (of precipitation) |
šabuď (Binyan 1) | qašboď (Binyan 2) | šabboď (Binyan 6) | šibaboď (Binyan 10) |
to run | liž (Binyan 1) | luž (Binyan 2) | lavvož (Binyan 6) | lăvavož (Binyan 10) |
to swim | nehab (Binyan 1) | qanhob (Binyan 2) | nahob (Binyan 6) | năhahob (Binyan 10) |
to fly | kall (Binyan 1) | qakoll (Binyan 2) | kallol (Binyan 6) | kaslol (Binyan 8) |
to float on water to go with a small boat, to row |
qivvahat (Binyan 5) | qavhot (Binyan 2) | qyvahot (Binyan 3) | văhahot (Binyan 10) |
to flow (of a fluid or current) | behal (Binyan 1) | qabhol (Binyan 2) | bahol (Binyan 6) | băhahol (Binyan 10) |
to roll | mall (Binyan 1) | qamoll (Binyan 2) | mallol (Binyan 6) | maslol (Binyan 8) |
to climb | ďaxep (Binyan 1) | qaďxop (Binyan 2) | ďaxxop (Binyan 6) | ďăxaxop (Binyan 10) |
to jump | bacc (Binyan 1) | qabocc (Binyan 2) | baccoc (Binyan 6) | bascoc (Binyan 8) |
to crawl | zir (Binyan 1) | zur (Binyan 2) | zarzor (Binyan 6) | zăvavor (Binyan 10) |
to fall (of animates) to go down (of inanimates) |
namea (Binyan 1) | qanmea (Binyan 2) | nammea (Binyan 6) | nămamea (Binyan 10) |
to dive, go into water | sadea (Binyan 2) | qasdea (Binyan 2) | saddea (Binyan 6) | sădadea (Binyan 10) |
to carry, bring (on foot) | lapsol (Binyan 4) | qapsol (Binyan 2) | passol (Binyan 6) | păsasol (Binyan 10) |
to carry, bring (using a vehicle) (trans.) | qiddalok (Binyan 6) | qadlok (Binyan 2) | dallok (Binyan 6) | dălalok (Binyan 10) |
to carry, bring in | laxpol (Binyan 5) | qyxxapol (Binyan 5) | xappol (Binyan 6) | xăpapol (Binyan 10) |
to carry, bring out | lapdoš (Binyan 4) | qyppadoš (Binyan 5) | paddoš (Binyan 6) | pădadoš (Binyan 10) |
to pull, drag (trans.) | kačol (Binyan 1) | qakčol (Binyan 2) | qykačol (Binyan 3) | kăčacol (Binyan 10) |
to drive (an animal or a vehicle), lead | paďor (Binyan 1) | qapďor (Binyan 2) | paďďor (Binyan 6) | păďaďor (Binyan 10) |
- Mir vylpielek Săvarxal 'He got into / will get into Săfarchal University'
- Vaččol vylpielek Săvarxal 'He used to attend / attends / will continue to attend Săfarchal University'
Verbs for "to wear"
Poetic Classical Netagin
Classical Netagin poetry uses meters similar to Hebrew piyyut meters. For example, the marnin aka hazaj meter is SLLLSLLL, where S must be an open syllable with a reduced vowel (underlyingly either an ă /ə/ or an y /ɨ/) and L is any heavy syllable (i.e. having a non-reduced vowel). Highly educated poetry from the Classical Netagin era is replete with allusions to older Classical Netagin literature which the reader is expected to understand (much like how Hebrew piyyutim use Tanakh allusions and Classical Chinese literature alludes to older Classical Chinese works); there are some poems that are entirely "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra". Some such expressions are still used in present-day spoken Netagin.
Poetic Netagin was a separate register from prose Classical Netagin, and has the following characteristics:
- Vowel reductions that don't occur in prose Netagin may be used for metrical purposes. (think "ne3im shimkhem").
- Determiners omitted
- "Topic VO" and "VO topic" possible as word orders
- Negative ba used without duk
Features
Syntax
Gibberish
Hazaj meter:
Tyhům šetlej ry-čennevear,
Kadob pehlať qa-vahmavear,
Qale'ad tu pa-nojjannem,
Hypiere žůj vyto šotnem.
Shakhar Avakeshkha:
Takum pyčie takum | paruj pălen qakhoj,
Qeki šikov leťin | qabsan typien lahoj.
Yigdal meter:
Peslam myleptak ďah mynej ve'ůx,
Mireať čipa korin pa-ruze'ůx.
Dolper qyniv neliem tyja tožie,
Bon niem sy-daškavin lyma pežie.
Piyyut meter + luc bat:
Lavympălič kasvo,
Cymil ťolel šivo tamlis,
Meri tyvůl qollis,
Qyher malšam xylis banhie!
Mi-ďpal, ny roxep hie,
Pyqiž baťům vyhie vocem.
Trivia
A common language game in Netagin, called ne bric Pălohin 'the marine demon language', consists of reversing the consonants of the consonantal root of every content word:
Rekăšo ne qalban šur my-talkieč lahůn. -> Šekăro ne qanbal ruš my-tačkiel nahůl.
bric Pălohin -> crib Hălopin
Consonant reversal is less trivial when weak consonants are present: talea 'a musical term' becomes jlt/1a2i3 = jelit. Certain patterns are only used for certain weaknesses (like Hebrew: qry -> taqrit, yry -> torah, yrš -> torešet), so it's always a challenge!
Sample texts
The Round Table
(The Shalaian was just a draft)
Modern Std. Netagin Rekăšo ne qalban šur my-talkieč lahůn. Qysvăxo ne Saxier Băravied: Hadir vyni? |
Original (Classical Wdm.) Ngiiθ dur se taχ χaaθ mogor. Tăbiits φin Pĭda Brăwid: "Măra łĭnam?" Mi-ăngnuung căχθaaθ năθa emrĭtsal sen doon: "Șrüχ te-stiiw: taχ mognas, θaφ te-müts θraaφ, liw stăliiw, θaφ te-müts mălsaaχ, taχ mălüüts, doon tălaχ." Tăbits φin Pĭda Brăwid: "Ǎna mee ra, srü hĭdeen croθ năθa?" Eφθooc φin χaaθ, "Op cănga, φin Pĭda: tsor pădiχ φnărtaang, te ămsaχ păχwădiχ năθa ya φin croθ φi!" Esngim φin Pĭda Brăwid șa φin χaaθ șa-ngiil, "Ăruy șa-χaaθ ses tsărüng te sen θăpal φănaw φănaw." |
English Once, six children were in a round table. Master Brăwied asked them a question: "How many people are you?" While five children were still counting, one child called out: "Sixty-three! Specifically: 6 individuals, 15 teams of two, 20 teams of 3, 15 teams of 4, 6 teams of 5, and one team of 6." Then Master Brăwied asked: "Well then, how many people will be there if another person joins the group?" The child replied: "Isn't that obvious, Master? We'll have all of the old teams, as well as another set of teams with the new person!" The Master praised the child, saying, "This child has wisdom and understanding indeed." |
Anthem of Tumhan
The lyrics are in LLSLLLSLLL meter (like the Jewish piyyut Yigdal). The theme is self-reliance.
(Use a non-neutralized hanier for the tune)
Literary Netagin (WIP) |
Translation (WIP) |
Phrasebook
- Dyktie viel = I love you.
- Dyršid viel = I admire you.