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Frenkisch: Difference between revisions
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== Relationship to Folksprak == | == Relationship to Folksprak == | ||
Frenkisch is related to [[Folksprak]]. It is lexically very similar - the vocabulary building efforts for both languages are largely compatible and re-usable. However Frenkisch uses a different phonology and orthography to Folksprak, so the forms of cognate words are often different. For example Frenkisch '''ryde''' | Frenkisch is related to [[Folksprak]]. It is lexically very similar -- the vocabulary building efforts for both languages are largely compatible and re-usable. However Frenkisch uses a different phonology and orthography to Folksprak, so the forms of cognate words are often different. For example Frenkisch '''ryde''' [ˈraɪdə] means the same as Folksprak '''ride''' [ˈriːdə] and both are based on the same sources. But they have different spelling and pronunciation. Also Frenkisch '''ryde''' is a strong/irregular verb (past tense '''reid-'''; past participle '''riden'''), whereas Folksprak '''ride''' is regular (past tense '''ridede'''; past participle '''rided'''). One of the main criteria for designing Folksprak has been simplicity of learning. This is less of a priority for Frenkisch. Consequently Frenkisch has a more complicated grammar and less regular spelling system. | ||
== Phonology == | |||
==== Vowels ==== | |||
There are a relatively large number of vowels, dipthongs and very close minimal pairs. | |||
Proto-Germanic long vowels have evolved into dipthongs in a way very similar to Modern English, German and Dutch. | |||
For example PG *rīdaną > '''ryde''' [ˈraɪdə] ''to ride''. cf En ''ride'', Nl ''rijden'', De ''reiten''. | |||
It is also notable for retaining the Proto-Germanic *ē phoneme as a distinct vowel, pronounced as [æː]: '''daid''' ''deed''. '''ailfisch''' ''eel''. | |||
==== Consonants ==== | |||
Frenkisch is notable for -- like some dialects of English-- retaining a distinction between PG *w and *hw. '''wair''' [ʋæːr] ''true''. '''hwair''' [hʋæːr] ''where''. | |||
== Orthography == | |||
The orthography is complicated. Short vowels are marked by doubling the following consonants. Long vowels are followed by a single consonant or occasionally by doubling the vowel. The schwa [ə] sound is very common in unstressed syllables and is normally spelled '''-e-'''. But when additional suffixes are added to a word-stem, schwas in the stem often are replaced with apostrophes. For example '''teiken''' [ˈteɪkən] when made into a verb becomes '''teik'ne'''. | |||
Frenkisch strives for a regular spelling system. However it retains certain spelling conventions for the sake of etymological clarity and aesthetics when such conventions don't interfere too much with regularity. For example '''qu''', '''x''' and '''ck''' are used where simpler ''kw'', ''ks'' and ''kk'' would have sufficed. Often there are more than one way to spell the same sound, for the sake of etymology. For example [aɪ] is spelled as '''y''' but occasionally as '''aj'''. [ʃ] is spelled as '''sch''' but sometimes '''ch'''. [ts] is normally spelled with '''c''', but with '''ti''' in words such as '''nation''', '''patient''' and '''pretentieus'''. | |||
There are many examples of where the orthography is inspired by French orthography. For example '''ou''' [uː], '''ai''' [æː], '''u''' [yː], '''eu''' [øː] | |||
== Grammar == | == Grammar == | ||
The grammar of Frenkisch is lightly inflected, having complex features that are typical to most Germanic languages, but it comes nowhere near as complicated as German or Icelandic. | |||
=== Nouns and Pronouns === | === Nouns and Pronouns === | ||
===== Pronouns ===== | ===== Pronouns ===== | ||
Personal pronouns have forms for singular and plural; first, second and third person, and third person singular pronouns also have feminine, masculine or neuter gender. Personal pronouns have three cases; subjective, objective (a merge of accusative and dative) and possessive (genitive) | Personal pronouns have forms for singular and plural; first, second and third person, and third person singular pronouns also have feminine, masculine or neuter gender. Personal pronouns have three cases; subjective, objective (a merge of accusative and dative) and possessive (genitive). For example '''dou''' (subjective), '''di''' (objective), '''dyn''' (possessive). | ||
===== Nouns ===== | ===== Nouns ===== | ||
There is no inflection for case and nouns have no grammatical gender. Nouns form the plural by adding either a '''-en''' or a '''-s''' suffix -- depending on the stress pattern of the stem. | There is no inflection for case and nouns have no grammatical gender. Nouns form the plural by adding either a '''-en''' or a '''-s''' suffix -- depending on the stress pattern of the stem. Singular: '''delfin'''. Plural: '''delfinen'''. Singular: '''leider'''. Plural: '''leiders'''. | ||
=== Adjectives and Adverbs === | === Adjectives and Adverbs === | ||
===== Adjectives ===== | ===== Adjectives ===== | ||
Adjectives do not inflect for number, case or gender. The comparative and superlative are formed by adding '''-er''' and '''-est''' to the stem. There are a small number of irregular adjectives that form the superlative and comparative differently | Adjectives do not inflect for number, case or gender. The comparative and superlative are formed by adding '''-er''' and '''-est''' to the stem. There are a small number of irregular adjectives that form the superlative and comparative differently. For example '''goud''' ''good'': comparative '''better'''; superlative '''best'''. | ||
===== Adverbs ===== | ===== Adverbs ===== | ||
Adjectives can be used freely as adverbs without further modification. When it is | Adjectives can be used freely as adverbs without further modification. When it is desirable for clarity to distinguish them, an adjective can be made unambiguously an adverb by adding a '''-wis''' suffix. | ||
=== Verbs === | === Verbs === | ||
Finite verbs inflect for number, but not for person. There is a distinction between verbs of singular subject and of plural subjects. The present plural of verbs is identical to the infinitive. There are some irregular verbs and these have further distinctions in form which are likewise distinguished by number. | Finite verbs inflect for number, but not for person. There is a distinction in inflection between finite verbs of singular subject and of plural subjects. | ||
The present plural of verbs is identical to the infinitive: | |||
'''Swimme''' = ''to swim.'' Present plural: '''De fischen swimme''' = ''The fish are swimming''. The singular plural is simply the verb stem: '''En delfin swimm''' = ''A dolphin is swimming.'' | |||
The past tense of regular verbs is formed by adding -'d, or -'de to the stem. Present: '''sege''' (to say). Past: '''seg'de''' (plural), '''seg'd''' (singuar). | |||
There are some irregular verbs and these have further distinctions in form which are likewise distinguished by number: | |||
Plural: '''De otters kunne swimme''' = ''The otters can swim.'' Singular: '''De delfin kann swimme''' = ''the dolphin can swim''. | |||
There are a large number of strong verbs which are divided into seven ''ablaut'' classes. For example '''binde''' = ''to tie''; past tense '''band-'''; past participle '''bonden'''. | |||
== Text Sample: == | == Text Sample: == | ||