Dilba: Difference between revisions

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|-
|-
|
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!Definite
!Indefinite
!Indefinite
!Definite
|-
|-
!Singular  
!Singular  
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|''u''
|''u''
|}
|}
The terms used in the previous table might be deceptive. The definite forms are used to introduce the number of a subject of speech. Whenever there is no need to give information about the number, the indefinite form is used. The singular definite form can also be used emphaticly while the plural definite often yields collective nouns.
The terms used in the previous table might be deceptive. The indefinite forms are used to introduce the number of a subject of speech. Whenever there is no need to give information about the number, the definite form is used. The singular indefinite form can also be used emphaticly while the plural indefinite often yields collective nouns. In the following article, the terms ''singular'' and ''plural'' will always refer to ''singular indefinite'' and ''plural indefinite''.


The first vocalic position can be expanded to a diphthong by inserting a second vowel before the one above. If there is no vowel, an ''a'' will be supplemented. This vowel connotes a deixis in either first (''i''), second (''u'') or third (''a'') person. Possibilities of translation are:
The first vocalic position can be expanded to a diphthong by inserting a second vowel before the one above. If there is no vowel, an ''a'' will be supplemented. This vowel connotes a deixis in either first (''i''), second (''u'') or third (''a'') person. Possibilities of translation are:
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! Third person
! Third person
|-
|-
| Possessive
! Possessive
| mine, our
| mine, our
| your
| your
| his, her, its, their
| his, her, its, their
|-
|-
| Local demonstrative
! Local demonstrative
| this (close to me)
| this (close to me)
| this your's (close to you), also pejoratively
| this your's (close to you), also pejoratively
| yonder
| yonder
|-
|-
| Temporal demonstrative
! Temporal demonstrative
| this (just said)
| this (just said)
| –
| –
| yonder (said before)
| yonder (said before)
|-
|-
| Referring to speaker
! Referring to speaker
| said by me, us
| said by me, us
| said by you
| said by you
| said by him, her, it, them
| said by him, her, it, them
|}
|}

Revision as of 11:49, 20 September 2018

Dilba
iktiil Dilba
Pronunciation[[Help:IPA|ʔɛhˈtɛil dɛlˈvä]]
Created byResangir
SettingLamuella
Lamuellan
  • Dilba

Introduction

Dilba (formally iktiil Dilba 'our tongue Dilba', assumed pronunciation [ʔɛhˈtɛil dɛlˈvä]) is an extinct language that was spoken by the Dilb people on the planet Lamuella.

The Dilb people migrated to another desert planet when the Lamuellan climate had become too moderate for them to live. When Lamuella was much later colonised, numerous hieroglyphic scrolls and rock inscriptions were discovered. By these means, the Dilba grammar and a large part of the lexicon have been reconstructed. The original pronunciation was subject to controversy but after compiling works of Dilba grammarians, a relatively plausible phonology has been established.

In this article, the Dilba hieroglyphs are mostly represented by Latin letters. Since the cultural contact with England, the Latin alphabet is also used on Lamuella. However, at this time the phonology has not been reconstructed yet, so the pronunciation of the Latin letters is rather unintuitive.

Grammar

Most Dilba words, referred to as root words, are obtained from consonantal roots by inserting vowels, adding affixes and mutating the root consonants. In the following, these three morphological operations shall be discussed separately.

Vowel Insertion

Root words have two vocalic positions, i.e. positions where vowels can be inserted. Root words that are built up by only one root consonant lack the second vocalic position.

First vocalic position:

Definite Indefinite
Singular i
Plural u

The terms used in the previous table might be deceptive. The indefinite forms are used to introduce the number of a subject of speech. Whenever there is no need to give information about the number, the definite form is used. The singular indefinite form can also be used emphaticly while the plural indefinite often yields collective nouns. In the following article, the terms singular and plural will always refer to singular indefinite and plural indefinite.

The first vocalic position can be expanded to a diphthong by inserting a second vowel before the one above. If there is no vowel, an a will be supplemented. This vowel connotes a deixis in either first (i), second (u) or third (a) person. Possibilities of translation are:

First person Second person Third person
Possessive mine, our your his, her, its, their
Local demonstrative this (close to me) this your's (close to you), also pejoratively yonder
Temporal demonstrative this (just said) yonder (said before)
Referring to speaker said by me, us said by you said by him, her, it, them