Brytho-Hellenic: Difference between revisions

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The use of dieresis indicates that the combination of vowels is to be read as a hiatus, f.ex.: '''süae''', lives, is read as ['suai̯], it is thus a two-syllable word.
The use of dieresis indicates that the combination of vowels is to be read as a hiatus, f.ex.: '''süae''', lives, is read as ['suai̯], it is thus a two-syllable word.
Brythohellenic has got only one digraph: ''rh'' [r̥], which is rare enough. The other combinations as ''ch'', ''dh''/''gh'', and ''th'' are considered true letters.
Brytho-Hellenic has only one digraph: ''rh'' [r̥], which is rare enough. The other combinations as ''ch'', ''dh''/''gh'', and ''th'' are considered true letters.


===Stress===
===Stress===
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* often the hiatus with 'i' has become a diphthong, ex.: ''σοφία'' > *''σόφια'' > '''hef''', "knowledge";
* often the hiatus with 'i' has become a diphthong, ex.: ''σοφία'' > *''σόφια'' > '''hef''', "knowledge";
* almost always the last syllable has fallen, ex.: ''καινός'' > '''cain''', "new"; ''θάνατος'' > '''thanagh''', "death".
* almost always the last syllable was dropped, ex.: ''καινός'' > '''cain''', "new"; ''θάνατος'' > '''thanagh''', "death".


These two phoenomena have influenced heavily the stress system of Brythohellenic. Nowadays the stress steadily falls on the last but one syllable: this means that in the plural forms of nouns it shifts, ex.: '''thalas''' ['θalas], "sea" > '''thalasas''' [θa'lasas], "seas"; '''ailur''' ['ai̯lur], "cat" > '''ailuroi''' [ai̯'luroi̯], "cats".
These two phoenomena have influenced heavily the stress system of Brythohellenic. Nowadays the stress steadily falls on the last but one syllable: this means that in the plural forms of nouns it shifts, ex.: '''thalas''' ['θalas], "sea" > '''thalasas''' [θa'lasas], "seas"; '''ailur''' ['ai̯lur], "cat" > '''ailuroi''' [ai̯'luroi̯], "cats".
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===Nouns, gender and number===
===Nouns, gender and number===


Even if Ancient Greek had three genders and three numbers, the system simplified a lot and Modern Elynic has got two genders - '''masculine''' and '''feminine''' - and two numbers - '''singular''' and '''plural'''.
Though Ancient Greek had three genders and three numbers, the system simplified greatly and Modern Elynic has two genders - '''masculine''' and '''feminine''' - and two numbers - '''singular''' and '''plural'''.
It is hard to distinguish the gender of a noun, because there are not specific gender-linked endings: mostly nouns end with consonant regardless for the gender.
It is hard to distinguish the gender of a noun, because there are not specific gender-linked endings: mostly nouns end with consonant regardless for the gender.
Forming plural is not so complicated, as there are only three plural endings:
Forming plural is not so complicated, as there are only three plural endings:
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Some words have a counterpart whose meaning has shifted: from the Greek ''ουάτις'', a word mentioned by Strabo and of Proto-Celtic origin (*''vatis''), comes '''guegh''', "astute person" < "one who can predict the moves of enemies" < "soothsayer". From the same root comes of course the Brythonic word ''*oveð'' (> W. ''ofydd''), that has been taken as loan once the Greeks reached Great Britain.
Some words have a counterpart whose meaning has shifted: from the Greek ''ουάτις'', a word mentioned by Strabo and of Proto-Celtic origin (*''vatis''), comes '''guegh''', "astute person" < "one who can predict the moves of enemies" < "soothsayer". From the same root comes of course the Brythonic word ''*oveð'' (> W. ''ofydd''), that has been borrowed once the Greeks reached Great Britain.
Another example is the word '''bard''', that has substituted the Ancient Greek ''ἀοιδός'', whose descendant, '''auid''', has got the meaning of "artist".
Another example is the word '''bard''', that has substituted the Ancient Greek ''ἀοιδός'', whose descendant, '''auid''', has the meaning of "artist".
Even the word '''auen''' has substituted another Greek word, '''daivon''' < *''δαιμόνος'' < ''δαιμόνιον'', that now has the meaning of "puck, spirit"; the plural '''Auenai''' is also used to mean '''Musai''', plural of '''Mus''' < ''Mοῦσα'', "Muse".
Even the word '''auen''' has substituted another Greek word, '''daivon''' < *''δαιμόνος'' < ''δαιμόνιον'', that now has the meaning of "puck, spirit"; the plural '''Auenai''' is also used to mean '''Musai''', plural of '''Mus''' < ''Mοῦσα'', "Muse".


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Brythohellenic hasn't got ''indefinite article'', to translate phrases like "a cat" or "some women" we have just to omit the article: '''ailur''' means both "a cat" and "cat", and '''ginais''' means both "some women" and "women".
Brythohellenic hasn't got ''indefinite article'', to translate phrases like "a cat" or "some women" we have just to omit the article: '''ailur''' means both "a cat" and "cat", and '''ginais''' means both "some women" and "women".
There is only one kind of article, the ''definite'' one: this article is used to talk about well known things that are familiar to the speakers, because they have already been talked about, or because they belong to the experiences baggage of the speakers, that is we use the definite article to talk about known informations, to talk about determined informations.
There is only one kind of article, the ''definite'' one: this article is used to talk about well known things that are familiar to the speakers, because they have already been talked about, or because they belong to the experiences baggage of the speakers, that is we use the definite article to talk about known informations, to talk about determined informations.
The definite article has got one invariable form, '''to''', that is used both for masculine and feminine nouns, for singular and plural nouns: '''to omyr''', "the rain"; '''to huvagh''', "the body"; '''to lusai''', "the languages"; '''to nysoi''', "the islands", and so on.
The definite article has one invariable form, '''to''', that is used both for masculine and feminine nouns, for singular and plural nouns: '''to omyr''', "the rain"; '''to huvagh''', "the body"; '''to lusai''', "the languages"; '''to nysoi''', "the islands", and so on.


When a noun is determined, that is preceded by the article or other determiners (such as possessives or demonstratives) and is followed by an adjective - in standard Elynic the adjectives always follow the substantives - the article shifts bewtween noun and adjective, ex.:
When a noun is determined, that is preceded by the article or other determiners (such as possessives or demonstratives) and is followed by an adjective - in standard Elynic the adjectives always follow the substantives - the article shifts bewtween noun and adjective, ex.:
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The superlative has got only one singular form, in the plural masculine and feminine are different, ex.: '''aryd''' > '''arydoi''', '''arydai'''.
The superlative has only one singular form, in the plural masculine and feminine are different, ex.: '''aryd''' > '''arydoi''', '''arydai'''.


====Numerals====
====Numerals====
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When '''pan''' is used as adjective, it has the singular form '''pas''' and the plural forms '''panas''' for masculine and '''pasai''' for feminine.
When '''pan''' is used as adjective, it has the singular form '''pas''' and the plural forms '''panas''' for masculine and '''pasai''' for feminine.
Also '''edher''' has got plural: '''edheroi''' for masculine and '''edherai''' for feminine.
Also '''edher''' has the plural: '''edheroi''' for masculine and '''edherai''' for feminine.


Indefinites can be formed also with the word '''alen''':
Indefinites can be formed also with the word '''alen''':
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The adverb ''u'' has got also a relative function:
The adverb ''u'' also has a relative function:


* ''It to yun to peli, üen bainu'' - This is the town where I come from;
* ''It to yun to peli, üen bainu'' - This is the town where I come from;
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==Verbs==
==Verbs==


The verbal system has undergone deep alterations that have strongly simplified it. Neohellenic has got only 4 moods: ''indicative'', ''imperative'', ''infinitive'', and ''participle''; the other Ancient Greek moods have been completely lost. This rather evident simplification has modified also the tenses. The modern language has got only 4 tenses: ''present'', ''imperfect'', ''perfect'' (that originates from the ancient aorist, actually), and ''future''. This is true for the indicative mood only, the others have got only two or even one tense.
The verbal system has undergone deep alterations that have strongly simplified it. Neohellenic has only 4 moods: ''indicative'', ''imperative'', ''infinitive'', and ''participle''; the other Ancient Greek moods have been completely lost. This rather evident simplification has modified also the tenses. The modern language has only 4 tenses: ''present'', ''imperfect'', ''perfect'' (that originates from the ancient aorist, actually), and ''future''. This is true for the indicative mood only, the others have got only two or even one tense.
Moreover the language has lost the dual forms, retaining only 6 verbal persons.
Moreover the language has lost the dual forms, retaining only 6 verbal persons.


===To be===
===To be===


The verb ''to be'' is, as in the majority of languages, irregular, but, what distinguishes Brytho-Hellenic is that it has got two different forms of this verb, even if the infinitive form is the same:
The verb ''to be'' is, as in the majority of languages, irregular, but, what distinguishes Brytho-Hellenic is that it has two different forms of this verb, even if the infinitive form is the same:


* the verb '''ru eu''' (= ''I am'') is used to describe something or someone, to express a position, to indicate a temporary state, ex.: '''Ru eu elev''' (= ''I am happy''), '''Rys hi en oic to yun''' (= ''You are in this house''), '''Ryu ý eivan''' (= ''She's angry'');
* the verb '''ru eu''' (= ''I am'') is used to describe something or someone, to express a position, to indicate a temporary state, ex.: '''Ru eu elev''' (= ''I am happy''), '''Rys hi en oic to yun''' (= ''You are in this house''), '''Ryu ý eivan''' (= ''She's angry'');
* the verb '''yv eu''' (= ''I am'') is used to say what something is, to indicate identity, to express a permanent state, and to emphasise something, ex.: '''Yv eu enyr''' (= ''I am a man''), '''Y hi adelu evon''' (= ''You are my brother''), '''It ý ivygh''' (= ''She's (a) good (person)''); '''Eté üi, ten filu eu''' (= ''You are the ones whom I love'').
* the verb '''yv eu''' (= ''I am'') is used to say what something is, to indicate identity, to express a permanent state, and to emphasise something, ex.: '''Yv eu enyr''' (= ''I am a man''), '''Y hi adelu evon''' (= ''You are my brother''), '''It ý ivygh''' (= ''She's (a) good (person)''); '''Eté üi, ten filu eu''' (= ''You are the ones whom I love'').


Not all the verbal persons have got different forms, the third person plural has got only one form as it can be seen in the following table:
Not all the verbal persons have got different forms, the third person plural has only one form as it can be seen in the following table:


{| {{Table/bluetable}} style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle"
{| {{Table/bluetable}} style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle"
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The '''imperfect''' is used to talk about habitual actions that happened in the past. English hasn't got a corrispective of this tense: the same form can be obtained using the ''Simple past'' or, even better, the pattern "used to + infinitive": ''I '''used to play''' football with friends every Friday''. This tense is also used to talk about actions that were happening in the past, to underline their duration, whereas in English one would rather use the ''Past Progressive'', which, anyway, exists also in Neohellenic, but, as for the progressive form of the present, it is rarely used.
The '''imperfect''' is used to talk about habitual actions that happened in the past. English hasn't got a corrispective of this tense: the same form can be obtained using the ''Simple past'' or, even better, the pattern "used to + infinitive": ''I '''used to play''' football with friends every Friday''. This tense is also used to talk about actions that were happening in the past, to underline their duration, whereas in English one would rather use the ''Past Progressive'', which, anyway, exists also in Neohellenic, but, as for the progressive form of the present, it is rarely used.
As it has been said, in Brythohellenic many verbs have got a regular present, but an irregular imperfect, so it is impossible to talk about "regular verbs". However there are some "structural changes" in the formation of this tense that are common and can be analysed.
As it has been said, in Brythohellenic many verbs have got a regular present, but an irregular imperfect, so it is impossible to talk about "regular verbs". However there are some "structural changes" in the formation of this tense that are common and can be analysed.
Let's see the imperfect of six verbs whose present tense has already been observed and of the verb "to be", that has got two different forms for this tense too.
Let's see the imperfect of six verbs whose present tense has already been observed and of the verb "to be", that has two different forms for this tense too.


{| {{Table/bluetable}} style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle"
{| {{Table/bluetable}} style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle"
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