Linguifex

Brithenig: Difference between revisions

Page Discussion

Brithenig (view source)

Revision as of 15:02, 15 October 2021

9,972 bytes added ,  15 October 2021
m
no edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Category:Brithenig]]
[[Category:Languages]]
[[Category:Conlangs]]
[[Category:A posteriori]]
[[Category:Romance]]
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|pronunciation=/brɪθənˈig/
|pronunciation=brɪθənˈig
|name=Brithenig
|name=Brithenig
|nativename=Brithenig
|region=British Isles
|region=British Isles
|familycolor=Indo-European
|familycolor=Indo-European
|fam2=Romance
|fam2=[[w:Italic languages|Italic]]
|fam3=Latin
|fam3=[[w:Romance languages|Romance]]
|fam4=[[w:British Latin|British Latin]]
|setting=A thought experiment in alternate history, Ill Bethisad, if Latin had replaced the Brittonic languages
|creator=Andrew Smith
|creator=Andrew Smith
|created=1996
|created=1996
|iso3=bzt
|iso3=bzt
|brcl=brit
}}
}}
'''Brithenig''', [brɪθənˈig], was created as a hobby in 1996 by Andrew Smith from New Zealand, who also invented the [[w:alternate history|alternate history]] of [[w:Ill Bethisad|Ill Bethisad]] to "explain" it.


Brithenig was not developed to be used in the real world, like [[Esperanto]] or [[Interlingua]], nor to provide detail to a work of fiction, like [[Klingon language|Klingon]] from the ''[[w:Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' scenarios. Rather, Brithenig started as a thought experiment to create a [[w:Romance languages|Romance]] language that might have evolved if Latin had displaced the native [[w:Celtic languages|Celtic]] language as the spoken language of the people in Great Britain.
'''Brithenig''', {{IPA|[brɪθənˈig]}}, was created as a hobby in 1996 by Andrew Smith from New Zealand, who also invented the [[w:alternate history|alternate history]] of [[w:Ill Bethisad|Ill Bethisad]] to have a conworld in which Brithenig could potentially exist.
 
Brithenig was not developed to be used in the real world, like [[w:Esperanto|Esperanto]] or [[Interlingua]], nor to provide detail to a work of fiction, like [[Klingon language|Klingon]] from the ''[[w:Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' scenarios. Rather, Brithenig started as a thought experiment to create a [[w:Romance languages|Romance]] language that might have evolved if Latin had displaced the native [[w:Celtic languages|Celtic]] language as the spoken language of the people in Great Britain.


The result is an artificial sister language to French, Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Occitan and Italian which differs from them by having sound-changes similar to those that affected the Welsh language, and words that are borrowed from the [[w:Brittonic languages|Brittonic languages]] and from English throughout its pseudo-history. One important distinction between Brithenig and Welsh is that while Welsh is [[w:Gallo-Brittonic languages|P-Celtic]], Latin was a [[w:Osco-Umbrian_languages#Differences_from_Latin|Q-Italic language]] (as opposed to [[w:Osco-Umbrian_languages#Differences_from_Latin|P-Italic]], like [[w:Oscan language|Oscan]]), and this trait was passed onto Brithenig.
The result is an artificial sister language to French, Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Occitan and Italian which differs from them by having sound-changes similar to those that affected the Welsh language, and words that are borrowed from the [[w:Brittonic languages|Brittonic languages]] and from English throughout its pseudo-history. One important distinction between Brithenig and Welsh is that while Welsh is [[w:Gallo-Brittonic languages|P-Celtic]], Latin was a [[w:Osco-Umbrian_languages#Differences_from_Latin|Q-Italic language]] (as opposed to [[w:Osco-Umbrian_languages#Differences_from_Latin|P-Italic]], like [[w:Oscan language|Oscan]]), and this trait was passed onto Brithenig.


Similar efforts to extrapolate Romance languages are ''Breathanach'' (influenced by the other branch of Celtic), ''Judajca'' (influenced by Hebrew), ''Þrjótrunn'' (a non-Ill Bethisad language influenced by Icelandic), ''[[w:Wenedyk|Wenedyk]]'' (influenced by Polish), and ''Xliponian'' (which experienced a [[w:Grimm's law|Grimm's law]]-like sound shift). It has also inspired ''Wessisc'', a hypothetical Germanic language influenced by contact with Old Celtic.
Similar efforts to extrapolate Romance languages are ''Breathanach'' (influenced by the other branch of Celtic), ''Judajca'' (influenced by Hebrew), ''Þrjótrunn'' (a non-Ill Bethisad language influenced by Icelandic), ''[[Wenedyk]]'' (influenced by Polish), and ''Xliponian'' (which experienced a [[w:Grimm's law|Grimm's law]]-like sound shift). It has also inspired ''Wessisc'', a hypothetical Germanic language influenced by contact with Old Celtic.


Brithenig was granted the code BZT as part of [[w:ISO 639:b#bzt|ISO 639-3]].
Brithenig was granted the code BZT as part of [[w:ISO 639:b#bzt|ISO 639-3]].


Andrew Smith was one of the conlangers featured in the exhibit "Esperanto, Elvish, and Beyond: The World of Constructed Languages" displayed at the [[w:Cleveland Public Library|Cleveland Public Library]] from May through August 2008.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/26418663@N05/2478687117/ Esperanto, Elvish, and Beyond] ''[http://Flickr Flickr]''. Retrieved 2009-09-07.</ref> Smith's creation of Brithenig was cited as the reason for his inclusion in the exhibit (which also included the Babel Text<ref>[http://www.langmaker.com/babelintro.htm "Babel Text Introduction".] ''Langmarker''. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2009-09-07.</ref> in Smith's language).
Andrew Smith was one of the conlangers featured in the exhibit "Esperanto, Elvish, and Beyond: The World of Constructed Languages" displayed at the Cleveland Public Library from May through August 2008.<ref>Boozer, Donald (9 May 2008). [https://www.flickr.com/photos/26418663@N05/2478687117/ "Case 8: Meet the Conlangers, center"]. ''Flickr''. Cleveland Public Library. Retrieved 2009-09-07.</ref> Smith's creation of Brithenig was cited as the reason for his inclusion in the exhibit (which also included the Babel Text<ref>Henning, Jeffrey (2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20120414214923/http://www.langmaker.com/babelintro.htm "Babel Text Introduction"]. Langmaker. Conlang Profiles at Langmaker.com. Archived from [http://www.langmaker.com/babelintro.htm the original] on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2009-09-07.</ref> in Smith's language).


==Introduction==
==Introduction==
Line 32: Line 31:


==Phonology==
==Phonology==
{|
{| class="multicol" role="presentation" style="vertical-align: top;"
|
|
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Consonants
|+ Consonant phonemes
! Letter
! Pronunciation
|-
| Bb
| [b]
|-
| Cc
| [k], [t͡ʃ]
|-
| Dd
| [d]
|-
| Ff
| [v]
|-
|-
| Gg
!
| [g], [d͡ʒ]
! colspan="2" | [[w:Labial consonant|Labial]]
! colspan="2" | [[w:Dental consonant|Dental]]/<br>[[w:Alveolar consonant|alveolar]]
! colspan="2" | [[w:Postalveolar consonant|Post-<br>alveolar]]/<br>[[w:Palatal consonant|palatal]]
! colspan="2" | [[w:Velar consonant|Velar]]
! colspan="2" | [[w:Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
|-
| Hh
! [[w:Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| [h]
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced bilabial nasal|m]]
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced alveolar nasal|n]]
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
|-
|-
| Kk
! [[w:stop consonant|Stop]]
| [k]
| style="border-right: 0;" | [[w:Voiceless bilabial stop|p]] || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced bilabial stop|b]]
| style="border-right: 0;" | [[w:Voiceless alveolar stop|t]] || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced alveolar stop|d]]
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" | &nbsp;[[w:Voiceless velar stop|k]] {{angbr|k, c}} || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced velar stop|ɡ]] {{angbr|g}}
| colspan="2" |
|-
|-
| Ll
! [[w:Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
| [l]
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" | &nbsp;[[w:Voiceless palato-alveolar affricate|t͡ʃ]] {{angbr|c}} || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced palato-alveolar affricate|d͡ʒ]] {{angbr|g}}
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
|-
|-
| Mm
! [[w:fricative consonant|Fricative]]
| [m]
| style="border-right: 0;" | [[w:Voiceless labiodental fricative|f]] || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced labiodental fricative|v]]
| style="border-right: 0;" | [[w:Voiceless alveolar sibilant|s]] || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced alveolar sibilant|z]] {{angbr|s}}
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" | [[w:Voiceless glottal fricative|h]] || style="border-left: 0;" |
|-
|-
| Nn
! [[w:Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
| [n]
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced palatal approximant|j]]
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced labio-velar approximant|w]]
| colspan="2" |
|-
|-
| Pp
! [[w:Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
| [p]
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced alveolar lateral approximant|l]]
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
|-
|-
| Rr
! [[w:Trill consonant|Trill]]
| [r]
| colspan="2" |
| style="border-right: 0;" | || style="border-left: 0;" | [[w:Voiced alveolar trill|r]]
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |
|-
|-
| Ss
| [z], [s]
|-
| Tt
| [t]
|-
| Ww
| [w]
|}
|}
|
|
{| class=wikitable
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+Vowels
|+ Vowel phonemes
! Letter
! Pronunciation
|-
| Aa
| [a], [ə]
|-
|-
| Ee
! !! [[w:Front vowel|Front]] !! [[w:Central vowel|Central]] !! [[w:Back vowel|Back]]
| [ɛ], [ə]
|-
|-
| Ii
! [[w:Close vowel|Close]]
| [i], [ɪ]
| [[w:Close front unrounded vowel|i]] {{angbr|i, y}}|| [[w:Close central unrounded vowel|ɨ]] {{angbr|u}}|| [[w:Close back rounded vowel|u]] {{angbr|w}}
|-
|-
| Oo
! [[w:Near-close vowel|Near-close]]
| [ɔ]
| [[w:Near-close near-front unrounded vowel|ɪ]] {{angbr|i}}||  || [[w:Near-close near-back rounded vowel|ʊ]] {{angbr|w}}
|-
|-
| Uu
! [[w:Mid- vowel|Mid]]
| [ɨ]
| || [[w:Mid-central vowel|ə]] {{angbr|a, e}}|| 
|-
|-
| Ww
! [[w:Open-mid vowel|Open-mid]]
| [u], [ʊ]
| [[w:Open-mid front unrounded vowel|ɛ]] {{angbr|e}}|| || [[w:Open-mid back rounded vowel|ɔ]] {{angbr|o}}
|-
|-
| Yy
! [[w:Open vowel|Open]]
| [i]
| [[w:Open front unrounded vowel|a]] || || 
|}
|}
|
{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|+Diphthongs
|+Diphthongs
Line 170: Line 174:
* The conjunctions '''e''', '''and''', and '''o''', '''or''' both cause softening to following nouns
* The conjunctions '''e''', '''and''', and '''o''', '''or''' both cause softening to following nouns
* Before these parts of speech, '''ll''' and '''rh''' do not do so before the article.
* Before these parts of speech, '''ll''' and '''rh''' do not do so before the article.
* The definate articles are exceptional and do not mutate.
* The definite articles are exceptional and do not mutate.
* The prepositions '''tra''', ''through'' and '''a''', ''to, at'' cause spirant mutation rather than softening.
* The prepositions '''tra''', ''through'' and '''a''', ''to, at'' cause spirant mutation rather than softening.
* Prepositions are pronounced in spoken Brithenig as though they were softened, although the written language does not reflect this:
* Prepositions are pronounced in spoken Brithenig as though they were softened, although the written language does not reflect this:
Line 182: Line 186:
3. The demonstrative pronoun 'that' is '''o''' masculine nouns and '''a''' for feminine nouns. The demonstrative pronoun '''yst''', 'this', is the same for nouns of both genders. The plural forms are '''ogyn''' and '''agyn''' for 'those' and '''ystyn''' for 'these'
3. The demonstrative pronoun 'that' is '''o''' masculine nouns and '''a''' for feminine nouns. The demonstrative pronoun '''yst''', 'this', is the same for nouns of both genders. The plural forms are '''ogyn''' and '''agyn''' for 'those' and '''ystyn''' for 'these'


'''O''' and '''a''' are not used as articles before nouns in modern Brithenig. For that the adverbs '''ci''', 'here', and '''llâ''', 'there', are added to the definate noun phrase. For example, 'this man' and 'that man' become '''ill of ci''' and '''ill hof llâ'''.
'''O''' and '''a''' are not used as articles before nouns in modern Brithenig. For that the adverbs '''ci''', 'here', and '''llâ''', 'there', are added to the definite noun phrase. For example, 'this man' and 'that man' become '''ill of ci''' and '''ill hof llâ'''.


4. Feminine nouns are referred to as '''sa''', 'she', masculine nouns as '''ys''', 'he'.
4. Feminine nouns are referred to as '''sa''', 'she', masculine nouns as '''ys''', 'he'.
Line 189: Line 193:
In Brithenig the plural ending has become silent and is no longer written. To indicate when a noun is plural the article changes from '''ill''' and '''lla''' to the plural form, '''llo'''. The plural article also causes spirant mutation:
In Brithenig the plural ending has become silent and is no longer written. To indicate when a noun is plural the article changes from '''ill''' and '''lla''' to the plural form, '''llo'''. The plural article also causes spirant mutation:


:'''ill of''' 'the man' -> '''llo h-ôn''' 'the men'
:'''ill of''' 'the man' → '''llo h-ôn''' 'the men'


'''ill of''' and '''llo h-ôn''' is one of the few cases in Brithenig where the singular and plural forms of the same noun are different.
'''ill of''' and '''llo h-ôn''' is one of the few cases in Brithenig where the singular and plural forms of the same noun are different.


:'''lla gas''' 'the house' -> '''llo chas''' 'the houses'
:'''lla gas''' 'the house' → '''llo chas''' 'the houses'


Among some speakers it seems that '''llo''' is loosing is definite quality and it is interpreted only as a plural marker. How, or if, they mark the definite plural noun has not been recorded.
Among some speakers it seems that '''llo''' is loosing is definite quality and it is interpreted only as a plural marker. How, or if, they mark the definite plural noun has not been recorded.
Line 218: Line 222:
Many of these have a collective meaning, '''lla freich''', ''a pair of arms joined to a body'', contrasted to '''llo freich''', ''arms'' in a general sense. This is often reinforced in natural pairs by adding '''dew''', ''two'', as a prefix: '''yn ddewfreich''', ''a pair of arms''.
Many of these have a collective meaning, '''lla freich''', ''a pair of arms joined to a body'', contrasted to '''llo freich''', ''arms'' in a general sense. This is often reinforced in natural pairs by adding '''dew''', ''two'', as a prefix: '''yn ddewfreich''', ''a pair of arms''.


The indefinite singular article is '''yn''', which also means 'one'. It also causes initial consonants to mutate on feminine nouns. The indefinite plural article is the preposition '''di''' combined with the definite article: '''di llo h-on''', ''some men''. In the spoken language it is contracted and pronounced as '''ddlo'''. The same happens with feminine plurals: '''ddla'''. However the creator himself doesn't favor this particular feature.<ref>(''The creator of Brithenig thinks this is an ugly feature and doesn't use it. Any student of the language is free to make their own choice - Andrew''.)</ref>
The indefinite singular article is '''yn''', which also means 'one'. It also causes initial consonants to mutate on feminine nouns. The indefinite plural article is the preposition '''di''' combined with the definite article: '''di llo h-on''', ''some men''. In the spoken language it is contracted and pronounced as '''ddlo'''. The same happens with feminine plurals: '''ddla'''. However the creator himself doesn't favor this particular feature.{{efn|The creator of Brithenig thinks this is an ugly feature and doesn't use it. Any student of the language is free to make their own choice.}}


Common nouns must always have an article. A notable exception is a genitive construction that alternatives with the use of '''di''' as possessive marker in Brithenig. Normally the only way to say 'the man's house' in Romance languages is to rearange it to mean 'the house of the man', '''lla gas di'll of'''. But there is an alternative form called the genitive construction. The preposition '''di''' is omitted along with the definate article of the possessed object. The possessed object comes first, followed by the possessor:
Common nouns must always have an article. A notable exception is a genitive construction that alternatives with the use of '''di''' as possessive marker in Brithenig. Normally the only way to say 'the man's house' in Romance languages is to rearrange it to mean 'the house of the man', '''lla gas di'll of'''. But there is an alternative form called the genitive construction. The preposition '''di''' is omitted along with the definite article of the possessed object. The possessed object comes first, followed by the possessor:


:'''cas ill of''', ''the man's house, the house of the man''
:'''cas ill of''', ''the man's house, the house of the man''
:'''cas yn of''', ''a man's house, the house of a man''
:'''cas yn of''', ''a man's house, the house of a man''


In this case the possessed object is always understood as being definate, it cannot be understood as 'a house of . . .' It is not uncommon in poetic literature, but can also be translated as '''lla gas di'll of''', or '''lla gas d'yn of'''. It is often avoided when the possessed object is plural to avoid confusion, as there is no way to indicate plurality other than context.
In this case the possessed object is always understood as being definite, it cannot be understood as 'a house of . . .' It is not uncommon in poetic literature, but can also be translated as '''lla gas di'll of''', or '''lla gas d'yn of'''. It is often avoided when the possessed object is plural to avoid confusion, as there is no way to indicate plurality other than context.


Many words expressing unspecified quantities, such as '''asset''', 'enough'; '''mullt''', 'many'; '''tan''', 'too much'; are also followed by '''di'''.
Many words expressing unspecified quantities, such as '''asset''', 'enough'; '''mullt''', 'many'; '''tan''', 'too much'; are also followed by '''di'''.
Line 235: Line 239:
=== Pronouns ===
=== Pronouns ===
Pronouns have separate subject and object forms:
Pronouns have separate subject and object forms:
{|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Subject !! English !! Object !! English
|-
|-
| '''eo''', ||''I''; ||'''mi''', ||''me''
| '''eo''' || ''I'' ||'''mi''' ||''me''
|-
|-
|'''ty''', ||''you''; ||'''ti''', ||''you''
|'''ty''' ||''you'' ||'''ti''' ||''you''
|-
|-
|'''ys''', ||''he''; ||'''llo''', ||''him''
|'''ys''' ||''he'' ||'''llo''' ||''him''
|-
|-
|'''sa''', ||''she''; ||'''lla''', ||''her''
|'''sa''' ||''she'' ||'''lla''' ||''her''
|-
|-
|'''nu''', ||''we''; ||'''nu''', ||''us''
|'''nu''' ||''we'' ||'''nu''' ||''us''
|-
|-
|'''gw''', ||''you''; ||'''gw''', ||''you''
|'''gw''' ||''you'' ||'''gw''' ||''you''
|-
|-
|'''ys''', ||''they''; ||'''llo''', ||''them''
|'''ys''' ||''they'' ||'''llo''' ||''them''
|-
|-
|'''sa''', ||''they''; ||'''lla''', ||''them''
|'''sa''' ||''they'' ||'''lla''' ||''them''
|}
|}


Brithenig has two ways of saying you: '''ty''', '''thou'<nowiki/>'', and '''gw''', '''you'''. '''Ty''' is singular and used for addressing people that the speaker is familiar with, such as an immediate family member, a close friend, a child, an animal, or god. '''Gw''' is used as a singular when speaking to a stranger or a less familiar or more formal acquaintance. It is also used to address more than one person no matter the familiarity. Pronouns are subject to consonant mutation in the same way other words are. If '''ty''' or '''ti''' is mutated it is always written as '''dy''' to avoid confusion with the preposition '''di''', which has a different pronounciation. '''Fi''', the mutated form of '''mi''', becomes '''<nowiki/>'i''' in the spoken language, especially after consonants.
Brithenig has two ways of saying you: '''ty''', ''thou'', and '''gw''', ''you''. '''Ty''' is singular and used for addressing people that the speaker is familiar with, such as an immediate family member, a close friend, a child, an animal, or god. '''Gw''' is used as a singular when speaking to a stranger or a less familiar or more formal acquaintance. It is also used to address more than one person no matter the familiarity. Pronouns are subject to consonant mutation in the same way other words are. If '''ty''' or '''ti''' is mutated it is always written as '''dy''' to avoid confusion with the preposition '''di''', which has a different pronunciation. '''Fi''', the mutated form of '''mi''', becomes ''''i''' in the spoken language, especially after consonants.


'''Sa''' is used to mean 'they' when 'they' is exclusively feminine. For 'it' use the form appropriate to the gender of the noun. The impersonal pronoun 'it' is always '''sa''': '''Sa es fel eidd''', ''It is nice today''.
'''Sa''' is used to mean 'they' when 'they' is exclusively feminine. For 'it' use the form appropriate to the gender of the noun. The impersonal pronoun 'it' is always '''sa''': '''Sa es fel eidd''', ''It is nice today''.


There is a third person reflexive pronoun '''si''', '''himself, themselves (etc.)'<nowiki/>''; it is used as the object case with the indefinite subject, '''yno''', '''one', 'people', 'they''', derived from '''yn of''', ''a man''.
There is a third person reflexive pronoun '''si''', '''himself, themselves (etc.)'''; it is used as the object case with the indefinite subject, '''yno''', '''one', 'people', 'they''', derived from '''yn of''', ''a man''.


The direct object form of the pronoun have the option of coming before or after a simple verb, but with a compound tense or an infinitive used in the sentence, it can only come after the past participle or the infinitive, to which it may be hyphenated.
The direct object form of the pronoun have the option of coming before or after a simple verb, but with a compound tense or an infinitive used in the sentence, it can only come after the past participle or the infinitive, to which it may be hyphenated.
Line 270: Line 276:
:'''Eo dy af tui''', ''I love you!''
:'''Eo dy af tui''', ''I love you!''


Unlike English, subject pronouns and nouns always go in the order of first person (I, we), second person, (you), and third person (he, she, it, they). The verbusually agrees in number with the nearest subject:
Unlike English, subject pronouns and nouns always go in the order of first person (I, we), second person, (you), and third person (he, she, it, they). The verb usually agrees in number with the nearest subject:


:'''Eo e Badrig gwa a'll castr''', ''Patrick and I are going to town''.
:'''Eo e Badrig gwa a'll castr''', ''Patrick and I are going to town''.
Line 310: Line 316:
|}
|}


'''llo, lla''' do not mutate, but other pronouns do. The indirect object is often written with a prepostion such as '''a''', ''to'' where the mutated forms are used: '''Ys dun yn llifr a fui''', ''He gives me (to me) a book''.
'''llo, lla''' do not mutate, but other pronouns do. The indirect object is often written with a preposition such as '''a''', ''to'' where the mutated forms are used: '''Ys dun yn llifr a fui''', ''He gives me (to me) a book''.


This is the usual order in Brithenig.
This is the usual order in Brithenig.
Line 345: Line 351:
For a comparative of an adjective, Brithenig puts the words '''ply''', ''more'' and '''min''', ''less'' before an adjective, with the spirant mutation of the initial consonant of the following adjective. 'Than' is translated as '''ca''': '''ply hallt ca yn gas''', '''taller than a house'''.
For a comparative of an adjective, Brithenig puts the words '''ply''', ''more'' and '''min''', ''less'' before an adjective, with the spirant mutation of the initial consonant of the following adjective. 'Than' is translated as '''ca''': '''ply hallt ca yn gas''', '''taller than a house'''.


The superlative is formed by putting the definate article suitable for the gender of the noun before the comparative adjective: '''ill ply hallt''', '''the tallest''. When a noun is qualified, the definate article goes in front of the noun, replacing '''yn''': '''lla gas bly hallt''', ''the tallest house''. It is omitted if the noun is proceeded by a possessive pronoun:
The superlative is formed by putting the definite article suitable for the gender of the noun before the comparative adjective: '''ill ply hallt''', '''the tallest''. When a noun is qualified, the definite article goes in front of the noun, replacing '''yn''': '''lla gas bly hallt''', ''the tallest house''. It is omitted if the noun is proceeded by a possessive pronoun:


:'''ill llifr ci es sew ober feilwr di llo''', ''this book is his best work''
:'''ill llifr ci es sew ober feilwr di llo''', ''this book is his best work''
Line 359: Line 365:


Certain adjectives are irregular:
Certain adjectives are irregular:
{|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Adjective !! English !! Comparative !! English
|-
|-
| '''bon''' ||''good'' ||'''meilwr''' ||''better''
| '''bon''' ||''good'' ||'''meilwr''' ||''better''
Line 374: Line 382:
|}
|}


The superlative form of these adjectives is the comparative form with the definate article, as per usual.
The superlative form of these adjectives is the comparative form with the definite article, as per usual.


Most adverbs are derived from adjectives by adding the ending '''-fent'''. In spoken Brithenig this is usually pronounced 'fen' but the t is still written:
Most adverbs are derived from adjectives by adding the ending '''-fent'''. In spoken Brithenig this is usually pronounced 'fen' but the t is still written:
Line 570: Line 578:
|ys/sa ddorfirent
|ys/sa ddorfirent
|}
|}
The past definate is used particularly to describe an historical event; or in connection with a temporal adverb or adverbial phrase; or a `when' phrase; or a conclusive and final action.
The past definite is used particularly to describe an historical event; or in connection with a temporal adverb or adverbial phrase; or a `when' phrase; or a conclusive and final action.


There are a small number of verbs where the past definate is irregular, one such verb is '''diger''', ''to say'':
There are a small number of verbs where the past definite is irregular, one such verb is '''diger''', ''to say'':
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|eo ddis
|eo ddis
Line 679: Line 687:
'''Se ys gwen eo barolarai a lle''' ''If he comes I will speak to him''.
'''Se ys gwen eo barolarai a lle''' ''If he comes I will speak to him''.


The conditional is also used in describing non-specific repetative action in the past:
The conditional is also used in describing non-specific repetitive action in the past:


'''I llo ddiwrn llâ nu h-amblarewn sempr a'll castr''', ''In those days we would always walk into town'', or, ''In those days we always used to walk into town''.
'''I llo ddiwrn llâ nu h-amblarewn sempr a'll castr''', ''In those days we would always walk into town'', or, ''In those days we always used to walk into town''.
Line 758: Line 766:
|ys/sa ddorfissent
|ys/sa ddorfissent
|}
|}
Compound tenses are made with two new verbs, '''esser''', ''`to be'<nowiki/>'' and '''afer''', ''`to have'''. They are irregular and do not conform to the three conjugations that have been given so far. Present tense:
Compound tenses are made with two new verbs, '''esser''', ''`to be''' and '''afer''', ''`to have'''. They are irregular and do not conform to the three conjugations that have been given so far. Present tense:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|eo su
|eo su
Line 912: Line 920:
When an object follows a negative verb then the preposition '''di''' is inserted between the verb and the following noun. Literally this would be translated as 'none of':
When an object follows a negative verb then the preposition '''di''' is inserted between the verb and the following noun. Literally this would be translated as 'none of':


'''Sa es rhen di yn char''', ''<nowiki/>'There aren't any cars'''
'''Sa es rhen di yn char''', '''There aren't any cars'''


=== Numbers ===
=== Numbers ===
Line 1,038: Line 1,046:


`Once, twice, three times' are made with using the cardinal number with the noun '''gweg''': '''yn weg''', '''dew weg''', '''trui weg''', '''cathr gweg'''.
`Once, twice, three times' are made with using the cardinal number with the noun '''gweg''': '''yn weg''', '''dew weg''', '''trui weg''', '''cathr gweg'''.
==Syntax==
=== Questions ===
Questions are formed by changing the word order of the subject and the verb:
'''Gw pharolath Brithenig''', ''`You speak Brithenig'''.
'''Parola'gw Frithenig?''', ''`Do you speak Brithenig?''
Note the change in sentence order causes softening to occur on following words. Also the '''-th''' ending on the verb has been elided.
When the subject is a noun it remains before the verb but the equivalent pronoun is placed after the verb:
'''Ill car es llâ''', ''`the car is there'''
'''Ill car es-ys llâ?''', ''`is the car there?''
Brithenig has a set of question words similar to English:
'''Ki?''', ''who?''
'''Di ghi?''', ''whose?''
'''Ke?''', ''which?''
'''Ke gos?''', ''what?''
'''K'log?''', ''where?''
'''A g'log?''', ''to where?''
'''Di g'log?''', ''from where?''
'''Co?''', ''how, what kind of?''
'''Cant?''', ''how much, how many?''
'''Ke sig?''', ''how?''
'''Ke dem?''', ''when?''
'''Perch?''', ''why?''
Question words come at the beginning of sentences, except for '''di ghi''':
'''Ke gar es-o?''', ''Which car is that?''
'''Ill car di ghi es-o?''', ''Whose car is that?''
'''Co'''and '''ke''' replace the article and cause softening. Other question words which act adverbially cause following verbs to soften.
'''Ke sig?''' is used with adjectives:
'''Ke si wirdd er gwstr cum?''', ''`How green was your valley?''
In answering the word order is retained with the question word replaced:
'''Ke gos es gwstr nôn? - Rhaifun eo affell''', ''`What is your name? - I am called Ray'.''
Brithenig speakers can put the interrogative tag '''es-sa rhen''', ''isn't it?'' at the end of sentences. The tense of the verb and the number and gender of the pronoun may change, but, unlike English, the negative '''rhen''' is not dropped:
'''Gw h-affellath Padrig, es-ys rhen?''', ''Your name is Patrick, is it not?''
'''Ty fi nglafaf rhen, er-ty rhen?''', ''You didn't call me, did you?''
=== Commands ===
The most common form of making a command is to add '''-th''' to the verb; '''Gwenith per yn turn''', ''`Come for a walk'''. The familiar form of the command drops the ending along with the final vowel; '''Llaes mi sulfent''', ''`Leave me alone'''.
Some imperative forms are irregular, being derived from a subjunctive tense which is no longer used in the spoken language:
'''Esser''', ''to be'', '''siath, sia''' (pronounced 'shath, sha')
'''Gwoler''', ''to wish'', '''gwolath, gwol'''
'''Afer''', ''to have'', '''aiath, ai'''
'''Saber''', ''to know'', '''seibath, seib'''
Three verbs have very curt familiar forms:
'''Diger''', ''to say'', '''digeth, dî'''
'''Duger''', ''to lead'', '''dugeth, dû'''
'''Ffager''', ''to make, to do'', '''ffageth, ffâ'''
The replacement of a blunt imperative with '''ffager''' is considered polite:
'''Ffageth (a) wenir per yn turn''', ''`Do come for a walk'''
'''Ffagewth (a) wenir per yn turn''', ''`Would you come for a walk'''
The verb '''calfar''', ''to stop, cease'' is used to mean `don't':
'''Calfath (a) wedder''', ''Don't go''.
'''Calfath (a) weisar''', ''Never mind''
'''Gwan''' from '''gweddir''', ''to go'' is used before another verb to mean `let's'. On its own it means `let's go'.
And always say: '''Se ddeg a'w''', ''Please''; and '''Greid''', ''Thank you''; and '''Sa es nyll''', ''You're welcome, it's nothing''. Brithenig speakers value courtesy and these little words will help to keep a learner in good standing every time he or she uses them.
'Mr' is '''ill maistr''', 'Mrs, Miss' is '''lla faistres'''. The article is omitted when addressing someone by name. '''maistr''' and '''maistres''' are also used for sir and madam.


==Vocabulary==
==Vocabulary==
Line 1,107: Line 1,219:
|}
|}


==Example==
==Sample texts==
[[Literature:The Lord's prayer|The Lord's Prayer]]:
=== [[Literature:The Lord's prayer|The Lord's Prayer]] ===
:Nustr Padr, ke sia i llo gel:
:Nustr Padr, ke sia i llo gel:
:sia senghid tew nôn:
:sia senghid tew nôn:
Line 1,121: Line 1,233:
:Per ill rheon, ill cofaeth e lla leir es ill tew,
:Per ill rheon, ill cofaeth e lla leir es ill tew,
:per segl e segl. Amen.
:per segl e segl. Amen.
=== The Tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1-9 ===
:(''This is a very early text, and hasn't been revised.'')
{|
|-
| Agur ill mun inteir afew yn llinghedig e yn cant comyn. Sig ill pobl sumodefant di'll llewent, ys ligarent yn lluin in Senar e llâ si ysteblirent.
Ys ddisirent a sew alltr, "Gwath, gwan a ffager yn fric e gogher llo hinteirfent." Ys hýsafant llo fric in ill llog di'll pedr, e yn aerell per ill kelchin. Affos ys ddisirent, "Gwath, gwan a eddiffigar yn giwdad per nu, cun yn tyr ke dang a llo chel, ke nu ffagen yn nôn per nu e sun ysparied rhen syrs feig lla der inteir."
Mai ill Dôn gwenif a fas a widder lla giwdad e'll tyr ke'll pobl eddiffigafant. Ill Dôn dis, "Ech, alltresig yn pobl ke barol ill llinghedig medissif, ys hyst ant cýnidiad a ffager. Agur sa sera negarad rhen a llo ke ys phrofarewnt a ffager. Gwath, gwan a fas a ystyrddir sew linghedig sig ys nhomprênerewnt rhen sew alltr."
Sig ill Dôn llo hyspariaf di llâ syrs lla der inteir, e ys chalfarent a eddiffigar lla giwdad. A es perch sa affell Babel -- perch llâ ill Dôn ystyrdd llinghedig ill mun inteir. Di llâ ill Dôn llo hyspariaf syrs ffeig lla der inteir.
|| ''Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As the people moved from the east, they found a plain in Sennar and there established themselves.''
''They said to each other, "Come, let us make bricks and cook them thoroughly." They used bricks for stone, and clay for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build a city for ourselves, with a tower that touches the heavens, that we make a name for ourselves and are not scattered over the face of the entire land."''
''But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the people were building. The Lord said, "See, just as a people who speak the same language, they have begun to do this. Now it will not be denied to them that they would try to do. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.''
''So the Lord scattered them from there over the entire land, and they stopped building the city. That is why it is called Babel -- because there the Lord confused the language of the entire world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the entire land.''
|}


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
<references group="lower-alpha"/>


==References==
==References==
* "URUK: The construction of multilingualism in an electronic knowledge management tool". Geolinguistics. American Society of Geolinguistics. 25–26: 255. 1999. ISSN 0190-4671.
{{Reflist}}
* [http://interkom.vecnost.cz/pdf/ik200803cl.pdf Havliš, Jan (March 2008). "Výlet do Conlangey"] (PDF). Interkom (in Czech). 243: 17–21.
* Vandepitte, Sonia; De Grotte, Carine; Verplaetse, Heidi; Denturk, Kathelijne; Vervenne, Dirk; Godyns, Rita; Kaczmarski, Peter; Gierts, Stephane; Vandamme, Fernand (2005). "URUK: the construction of multilingualism in an electronic knowledge management tool". ''Geolinguistics''. The American Society of Geolinguistics: 145–156. [[w:hdl (identifier)|hdl]]:[http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-687479 1854/LU-687479]. [[w:ISSN (identifier)|ISSN]] [https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0190-4671 0190-4671].
* Frawley, William J., ed. (2003). International Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. p. 154.
* Havliš, Jan (2008). Rampas, Zdeněk (ed.). [http://interkom.vecnost.cz/pdf/ik200803cl.pdf "Výlet do Conlangey"] (PDF). ''Interkom''. Kvark (in Czech). No. 2008/3. Prague. pp. 17–21. [[w:ISSN (identifier)|ISSN]] [https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1212-9089 1212-9089].
* Parkvall, Mikael (2008). Limits of Language: Almost Everything You Didn't Know You Didn't Know about Language and Languages. Wilsonville: Battlebridge Publications. pp. 91–93, 131. OCLC 70894631.
* Nicholas, Nick (2003). "Artificial languages". In Frawley, William J. (ed.). ''International Encyclopedia of Linguistics''. '''1''' (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 154–155. [[w:ISBN (identifier)|ISBN]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-516783-X 0-19-516783-X].
* Parkvall, Mikael (2008). ''Limits of language: almost everything you didn't know you didn't know about language and languages''. Battlebridge Publications. pp. 91–93, 131. [[w:OCLC (identifier)|OCLC]] [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/70894631 70894631].


==External links==
==External links==
* {{cite web |url=http://hobbit.griffler.co.nz/introduction.html |title=The Page of Brithenig |last=Smith |first=Andrew |date=23 December 2007 |website=Andrew's Homepage |location=Dunedin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529072556/http://hobbit.griffler.co.nz/introduction.html |archive-date=2009-05-29 |access-date=2015-09-07 |url-status=dead }}
* Smith, Andrew (n.d.). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090529072556/http://hobbit.griffler.co.nz/introduction.html "Introduction to Brithenig"]. Archived from [http://hobbit.griffler.co.nz/introduction.html the original] on 2009-05-29.
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.bethisad.com/ |title=Ill Bethisad |website=bethisad.com |last=Brown |first=Padraic |access-date=2015-09-07|display-authors=etal}}
* Brown, Padraic; et al. (n.d.). [https://web.archive.org/web/20190911064723/http://www.bethisad.com/ "Ill Bethisad"]. Archived from [http://www.bethisad.com/ the original] on 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.geonames.de/wl-romance.html |title=Romance glossary |last=Fröhlich |first=Werner |website=geonames.de |access-date=2015-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605163536/http://www.geonames.de/wl-romance.html |archive-date=2008-06-05 |url-status=dead }}
* Fröhlich, Werner (n.d.). [https://web.archive.org/web/20200623001426/geonames.de/wl-romance.html "Romance glossary"]. ''geocities - Countries and Languages of the World''. Archived from [https://geonames.de/wl-romance.html the original] on 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
 
[[Category:Brithenig]] [[Category:Languages]] [[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:A posteriori]] [[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Smiley Award winners]]
Nicomega
forumadmin, Administrators
2,041

edits

Retrieved from "https://linguifex.com/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/217103...240105"