User:Aydın Baykara

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Constructed Language AYBAY CONLANG (ABCL)

“AyBay ConLang”, (abbreviated as ABCL) is a constructed language (conlang), developed and issued by Dr. Aydin Baykara in 2022.(http://aydinbaykara.com); (aydbayk.2022@gmail.com)

It is an a priori language, which means that the complete vocabulary has been created entirely new, starting from zero. ABCL is a conlang containing partly the features of philosophical and logical languages. It is less agglutinative, but fairly inflective and derivative too. ABCL is free for everyone except for commercial use.

Living world languages are difficult to learn also because of many irregularities, ambiguities and of grammatical rules of differing complexity. Most of the conlangs aim to be easy learning international auxiliary language (IAL) by avoiding them. Accordingly such a conlang –to be easy and simple- should fulfil the following conditions:

  • Introducing logical rules in grammar, which should be however as little as possible.
  • High degree of unambiguity. It means that each word has exactly one grammatical interpretation. Their grammatical relation to each other should be exactly defined.
  • The vocabulary should be memorized easily. For that, the words shall be classified in predefined, clearly distinguishable classes. It should include ways of connotation-bridges as reminder-hints to already memorized but disremembered words.
  • Phonologically, it should be avoided to define a different word by aspiration, shortening, lengthening, and stressing or accenting a phoneme, consonant or vowel.
  • For the ease of utterance and fluency the diphthong and double consonants (clustering) in a syllable shall be avoided.
  • The words shall be as short as possible for short expressions and for saving printing paper.

ABCL is built up in two levels. The basic one (Level 1) is for normal use (about B2 level of CEFR) and the second level (Level 2) is for the full utilization of all aspects for higher purposes like printed papers and literature.

ABCL tries to achieve these goals by:

  • Clearly defined syntax (SVO), fixed order of affixes, simple and reduced number of tenses, moods, aspects if compared with the most of the living languages.
  • ABCL defines for Level 1 basic (root) words with one interpretation only. Other words with closer variable meaning will be expressed by addition of suitable adverbial or other particles. For Level 2 such words, if frequently used, may be defined as root word (i.e, to be additionally memorized) too.
  • Words are created according to a certain scheme systematically as detailed below (Title: Vocabulary) Thus a learner can easily identify with this scheme which role a word in the sentence play (adverb, noun etc.) without knowing its meaning before. Except verbs (except after conjugation) and adverbs all words end up on a vowel.
  • This scheme avoids diphthongs and clusters too, with three exemptions only (the modal prefixes, plural and modal suffixes in combination with passive suffix “n” and antonym suffix _x”)
  • ABCL relies up on the Turkish alphabet and orthography and follows the principle “one letter per sound.”

As for example, because the adverbs, adjectives, conjunctives, prepositions and pronouns are the most used words in many languages we have created such words as two and three letter words. This way ABCL needs about half of the characters of English language to express the same content. That means, we could save half of the pages of a book written in English and so on.

Here are some guidelines for easy understanding of the following text: (where “C” indicates consonants and “V” vowels) The sign “*” attached to a “V”(V*) or “C”(C*) indicates that the vowels vary from “a” to “ü” and the consonants from “b” to “z” respectively. The sign “#” is a placeholder for a varying vowel or consonant. The point “.” between syllables of ABCL words is used to indicate an affix. It is just a demo to make the role of the suffixes clearer in this article. It will not be applied in normal usage of the language.

ORTHOGRAPHY

ABCL exploits eight vowels available in different languages, but without lengthening and lowering them. Besides the common vowels “a, e, i, o, u”, also “ö and ü” (from German and Turkish for example) and “ı” (ɯ- close back unrounded vowel, which is not common in ABC’s but in Turkish), will be utilized.

It is not difficult in pronunciation at all, even though it seems so for outsiders. Although it doesn’t exist in English ABC, it can be heard very often in daily talks, for example in vocabularies ending with “_tion” like “station”, which would be written in ABCL as “sıteyşın”. The first “ı” may not be distinguished (as in clusters “st”) but the second one is articulated also in English, lengthened and stressed. Even though ABCL abstains from using it in case of nouns, where we have huge possibility of the word creation without utilization of ”ı” (and others as the consonants “j” and “h” for example), in some cases however (like verbs and particles) they are needed for the creation of the sufficient numbers of the words.

Close/similar sounds of the vowel “e” (like a-umlaut in German) have been also dismissed.

ABCL uses 20 consonants, however only 18 will be utilized generally. These 18 include also the consonants “ç” and “ş” (English digraphs ch and sh). The “w” has been omitted for sounding very close to “v” and “q” close to “k”. The “j”, itself sounding as in the French word “je”, has been included for marking the questions and numerals.

Besides it will be necessary for the second level of ABCL, if there is a shortage in the creation of CV and VC type ‘two letters’ particles (adjectives, prepositions, pronouns) in Level 2.

The last questionable consonant used here seldom (e.g. for ordinal numbers), is “ğ” which sound like “gh” in “though” in English. “x” sounds same as in English and is used for negations only (at the end of the word it modifies). See next sheet for the complete table of the spelling pronunciation with other examples.

ALPHABET and PRONUNCIATION

Letters Examples in English IPA
a as in father a
b as in below b
c as in jungle, jar ʤ
ç as in CHair, CHallange ʧ
d as in dark d
e as in bed e
f as in food f
g as in dog, ago g
ğ as in thouGH -
h as in hallo, has h
ı as in opEN ɯ
i as in meet i
j as in measure ʒ
k as in cop k
l as in length l, ʎ
m as in measure m
n as in nice n
o as in pore o
ö as in sir ø
p as in piece p
r as in rice r, ɹ
s as in sick s
ş as in SHare, SHade ʃ
t as in tip t
u as in today u
ü as in jury, fUture y
v as in village, vertical v
y as in bay, yes j
z as in zero, zodiac z
x as in six x

ABCL does not rely on the exact pronunciation of the letters. Words are constructed such a way that it is not sensitive to the diversions such as aspect and accenting. But it is essential to stress the vowels in V, VC, CV, VCV, CVC formations and the second vowel in CVCCV and longer formations.

VOCABULARY, LEXICON, WORD FORMATION/DERIVATION

Words are created according to the following scheme:

Nouns have the scheme CVCCV, verbs CVC, adverbs VCV, adjectives CV and VCV, conjunctives and prepositions VC. Pronouns have V and VCV respectively. In case a scheme is used for more than one category (as VCV), certain vowels or consonants are allocated to one class only so that a mix up can be avoided (e.g. for the adjectives VCV, the first vowels are “a and e”; for the adverbs “o, ö, u and ü”; for the pronouns “i”.). Number of letters for each category is chosen considering the possible combinations in creation of the required number of a lexical category. (e.g. although for nouns (with CVCCV), combinations over 500 000 may be required and can be created theoretically, for the verbs, three letters CVC may covers the required range).

ABCL lexicon (ABCL- English) has been prepared in form of an Excel file, separated in groups of lexical categories: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, conjunction and preposition, pronoun, derived nouns (and additionally a table with the affixes for inflections, conjugations and declensions). The category “noun” consists of 15 noun classes, each of them placed in a separate Excel page. Further details have been explained under the related page title “NOUN”. Verbs are separated also in classes, similar to nouns, placed under one Excel page, which includes also the derived verbs separately. Similarly, to each other category, an Excel page has been allocated. A word can be searched using the “search” function of Excel in both direction. A direct visual search is also possible, if the correct class of the word can be judged before, while looking in the relevant page and under the corresponding subtitle.

Word formation/creation by the derivation between verb-noun-adjective-adverbs has been done with the help of the suffixes. Suffixes are selected for each logically defined group separately. They have been explained in the following with examples for each type of the syntactic category separately. ABCL has about 3800 root nouns (including 3000 most common nouns of English listed by Britannica Dictionary), 1600 root verbs, 600 adjectives, over 100 adverbs, 100 conjunctions/prepositions and 60 pronouns defined in English translation. With some defined derivations the vocabulary has reached almost seven thousand words, which is considered sufficient for the daily use of World languages.

As explained below for individual cases the word creation system of ABCL is able to create huge number of the root words additionally. Nevertheless with the help of the created rules for the word derivations, one will be able to find a word which he needs to express himself easily. Thus, we can estimate the vocabulary of ABCL at this stage already about 8000 to 10000 words.

NOUNS of ABCL

BASIC/ROOT NOUNS

“Basic/root nouns” consist principally of five letters (CVCCV). There are however nouns derived from verbs, adjectives and other nouns having five-six-seven letters. They all end on a vowel same as the basic nouns. Adding the sixth and seventh letter was necessary to avoid ambiguities with the root nouns and the double vowels. The root nouns are classified in 19 noun classes, each of them heading a special area of use, such as “body”, “human”, “animals”, plants, “mental”, psychology-spirit”, “social”, “economy”, “daily home”, “health”, “pastime”,” nature and environment”, “science”, “technic”, “construction- transport”, “time”, “measurement”, “military” and “others”. Each of them has its own special initial consonant. Considering “S” is being the mostly utilized initial consonant in many languages, we preferred it for the “heading” BODY and HUMAN, which are mostly mentioned in daily speaking.

This partly philosophical approach of word creation is not favoured by some critics, saying words differing by an end vowel (or consonant) only, could be mixed up easily. This may seem at first sight true but many world languages have similar words, which is not considered as a problem for them. Even so, the grouping and classification of words as done in ABCL have the big advantage of connotation for memorizing or remembering a word.

Nouns are created by the use of an Excel matrix; an example for the main topic “BODY” is shown below.

For this heading, CVCCV is selected as S#N##, whereas S and N being basic consonants for the heading “BODY”. The subtopics are constructed by varying first vocal in lateral line of the matrix from “A” to “Ü” (also 8 vocals=8 columns) (here, for example, for subtitle “Head”, first varying vowel being “İ”, first syllable is “SİN” and for the following subtitle “Upper Body”, it is SON ). Now for each subheading having a fixed CVC (e.g. SİN), the fourth letter (consonant) will be kept, the fifth letter (a vowel) will be varied from “A” to “Ü” (“SİN”C#), building a block with 8 columns. Vertically, at the each column of the matrix the fourth letter (a consonant) will be varied from “B” to “Z” (“SİN”C*”a”… 20 in total). This way for each subtopic 8×20=160 nouns could be created theoretically. For one heading (e.g. “BODY” with the corresponding fixed consonants “SAN”##, “SİN”## etc. as here) we could have 8×160=1280 nouns. Varying “N” in this scheme from “B” to “Z”, we will have 20×1280=25 600 nouns beginning with “S”. And for 20 initial consonants, we could have created 20×25 600=512 000 nouns with this matrix scheme.

As said above, we aim to utilize for the Level 1 about 5000 nouns only, so we can effort dropping combination with difficult pronunciations (for example with the letters “J” or “I” and for the sake of vowel harmony etc. Fully utilization of the matrix might be required for the medical and scientific/technical terms only, if any. The matrix scheme would also allow using of the computer programs for word creation and translation.

The matrix allows further sub-subheading such as of the “Head”, the first column (SİN#e) indicating sense organs like eye, nose, ear (denoted as sine: primary) and further columns right of them, the subparts of first noun at the beginning (denoted as “seconders”). For example: eye (sinye) (first column), then in the same row; iris (sinyi), eyelid (sinyo), pupil (sinyü). Being Excel table, the matrix allows right click explanation for each cell, where we can put the meaning of a word in any language.

                     ABCL nouns of group S#N##* (BODY) (selected partially as example)
                                           SİN: HEAD
SinC*a,e: Primary SinC*e-i-o-ö-ü: Secondary
sin#a,e sin#e,i sin#i,o sin#o,ö sin#ö,ü
sinha head sinhe eye brow sinhi eye lash sinhö ... sinhü ...
sinbe skull sinbi scalp sinbö jaw,chin sinbü cheekbone
sinfa face sinfe cheek sinfo forehead sinfö jaw sinfü
sinma mouth sinme palate sinmi lip sinmo tongue sinmö poach
sinna nose sinni sinus sinno nostril sinnö nosal bone sinnü
...........
sinta tooth sinte canine tooth sinti grinder sinto foretooth sintu gum
sinye eye sinyi iris sinyo eyelid sinyö sinyü pupil
sinze ear sinzi inner ear sinzo earlobe sinzö middle ear sinzü

Prosodics are generally not required. However to avoid the misunderstanding due to close sounds of some vocals the (especially second) syllables must be accentuated.

DERIVED NOUNS

Nouns will be derived from nouns, verbs and adjectives by adding suffixes according to a fixed scheme. They will typically end also on a vowel as the root nouns.

Deverbal Nouns

ABCL Suffix Level 1 ABCL Suffix Level 2 Example: ABCL noun (Level 2) English Suffix Some English Nouns as Samples, (nouns given in italic translated in ABCL only)
_aya _aya kuc.aya _, _age, _ure cut, bore, leakage, creature
_aya _aya çöp.aya _/t)ion protrusion, indication, motion, division, organization, evaporation
_aya _aya reh.aya heap
_aya _aya han.aya _ing building, being, writing, dead, smell, piping
_aya _aya hic.aha _ate certificate
...
mozzo _aha moz.zo (moz.aha) _ence joy, fun, thought, excellence
höm.mö _aha höm.mö, tez.ze _ment employment, enjoyment, amazement, imprisonment, replacement
(Verb's last two letters reverse repeated)
CVC.CV _aha bol.lo (bol.aha) love,liking, praise
(nomina actionis-name of the action)
_ada nel.le (nel.ada) _(t-,s-)ion relaxation, attention, selection, evaporation, introduction
rez.ze _ada rez.ze (rez.ada) _ancy expectancy,tendency, (walk)
yun.na _afa yun.na(yun.afa) _ing (gerund) running,beginning, rejoicing
.....
_ana _ama höm.ama _er,_ent,_ory,_ak,_ier employer, student, servant, baker, liar, governor, waitress, signatory, cashier, cleaner
_ana _ana vus.ana _er counter, cleaner, recorder, opener, obstacle, scale, viewer (for _scope: as microscope)
_aya _aşa dan.aşa _ dress/clothes(ing)/wear/garment
_asa _asa höm.asa _ee employee, refugee, trainee
_aça _aça vüp.aça _(e)ry refinery, bakery, laundry, laboratory, dormitory
_aça _aca dir.aca _ing, _tion bedding, station (bus stop), aim/target, passage

According to the meaning they add to the derived nouns, English suffixes can be grouped in to e.g.: nomina acti, nomina actionis, nomina agentis (acting), nomina patientis (affected), noun loci (place); result/product of act for real and abstract objects, result as process etc. These groups are shown in the second column (Level 2) of the above table. However, we can see that there is not a different noun created from the same verbal root by different suffix groups "aya, "aşa" (also aha, ada" and “afa”). Even it seems sometimes so as for "expectation via expectancy" the meaning remains almost the same. It means, we can use one suffix only instead of those four. (Seemingly different meanings by different suffixes allocated to the root verb, not to the suffix, accordingly no need for such suffix diversity.)

So, in ABCL for the Level 1 we will have lessened suffixes of the groups: 1. "aya" for result/ product of act as real object normally. (nomina acti-quantitative). But sometimes abstract objects included in this category, if the meaning is modified in daily speech as “knowledge”) 2. Suffixes "ama" and "ana" will be merged to "ana" indicating the subject of the act (independently person or thing) only. (nomina agentis) 3. Passive subject suffix "asa" remains as it is. (nomina patientis) 4. Merged suffix is "aça" including also "aca" which denotes the place. (noun loci) 5. The groups "afa" standing for "-ing" (gerund-nomina actions) and “aha” (nomina acti-qualitative, “ada” (nomina actions), suffixes naming the action itself by the name with the form CVC.CV (VCVkkV or VCVllV for verbs derived from adjectives), which means that the last two letters of the verb will be reversed and so suffixed to the verb. This specific type of derived noun has five letters differently of others with six letters in CVCaC*a format. For the abstract deverbal nouns the scheme CVC.CV will be applied, but not for tangible nouns (for things, e.g. bedding, passage) principally.

As stated already for the often-used words we don’t use derived ones but created new if it suits with the existing noun categories. E.g. for to the verb “know=bon” related noun “knowledge”, instead of derived “bonaya”, created noun “bonku” will be used.

Thus, ABCL has finally five derivational suffixes and one specific form for deverbal nouns as shown in first column. The suffixes of the second column at the table above may be used however for the Level 2 if needed. (Shortened in the lists above and below; complete lists of this group can be seen at my URL: http://aydinbaykara.com)

With the help of those five suffixes and assumed two thousand suitable verbs, it would be possible to create 10 000 new nouns for Level 1 only.

Denominal Nouns

ABCL Suffix L1 ABCL Suffix L2 Examp.: ABCL noun L2 English Suffix Some English Nouns (Examples)
_da _da salma.da (for abstract nouns) _hood,_ness,_ity motherhood, friendship, military, kingdom
_da _ha sinhe.ha spectacles, woodshed, cucumber, Spielzeug(German)
_da _ya salma.ya (diminutiv) -y/-n/-en/-on,-ling,-ette mummy, doggy, chicken, kitten, maiden, darling, diskette
_ba _va pespo.va (sulpo) (affiliation to people- group) -ian/-er/-man/-ist politician, librarian, musician, porter, fireman, artist, dentist, racist, Buddhist, atheist
_ba _sa Türkiye.sa -ish/-ian/-an/-er/-se Turkish, Algerian, Roman, Chinese (citizen of that country)
_ba _ba sölce.ba _ish,_ien,_an,(e)r citizen, villager, republican, English, German (folk)
_ba _ra vatne.ra / sülne _eer engineer
_ta _ta banba.ta (relating to a branch, area) _logy,_nomy,_graphy biology, psychology, astronomy, stenography, geography, photography
_ga _ga pasna.ga; pisrö.ga _ism nationalism; racism
- country name as in the original language, not in English
Suffix replaced by compound words such as "heat gauge" -meter thermometer

For the similar consideration as the deverbal noun derivation above, ABCL will have the suffix "da" for the suffixes of the Level 2 “da, ha, ya”; the suffix "ba" for "ba, va, ra, sa"(all human related), “ga” for “_ism” and "ta" for scientific nouns. Even if rarely, it is possible that one Level 1 suffix covers two nouns with differing meaning (In the table above "motherhood" and "mummy" are both derived from "mother". With one Level 1 suffix ("da") only, we would have an ambiguity. Therefore, we need here to go back to Level 2, where we have two different suffixes ("da" and "ya") or some particles to highlight the one in mind.

If a noun very frequently used, we defined beside derived one also a root noun for it directly in ABCL as seen above (pespo.ba =sulpo (politician) or vatne.ra=sülne (engineer)). Derivation rules, once memorized, can be applied for new cases also but the word will be longer, other way we have to learn the new noun additionally to derived one, which we consider adequate for the Level 2 only.

Noun Derived from Adjective

ABCL Suffix Examp.: ABCL noun English Suffix Some English Nouns (Examples)
_ma una.ma -y pinky
_ma;(x)_ma ebe.ma, ebex.ma - beauty, ugliness
_ma ofo.ma _dom freedom, boredom
_ma edo.ma _th depth, strength
(x)_ma gav.amox.ma* _cy vacancy
_ma opö.ma _(en)ce prominence, absence, residence
_ma silbi.to.ka _(al)ity,_ty,_y sexuality, normality, formality, loyalty, jealousy, victory
_ma vof.azo.ma* _(en)cy fluency, frequency
_ma asa.ka _ness sadness, kindness, darkness, business
_vusdu oşo.vusdu, ki.vusdu _gon polygon, pentagon

(*)Nouns will not be derived from deverbal adjectives but directly from verbs, so it will be “gav.va” and "vof.fo".

Compound/Combined Noun Derivations

adjective.verb çöt.ana telephone
adjective.verb met.ana television
adjective.verb di*.sese telescope
adjective.verb bi.*sese microscope
adjective.noun bi.vonga lens/magnifier
verb.noun gam.vonga magnifying glass
adjective.noun şo.bse (oşo-bense) something

.*Last two letters of the adjective (edi, ebi, oşo-distant, big, some) as prefix and simple present tense of the verb (ses.e-see) will be used. In case of the combined phrases “verb+noun”, the verb keeps its basic form (infinite) followed by the noun but with separation. (e.g.: fes ((to) serve) and vitka (car) combined to “fes vitka” (service car)). Grammatically the verb acts as the adjective.

Yes and No: Ay and Ya (This pair is considered mostly as noun, therefore placed here)

VERBS of ABCL

BASIC/ROOT VERBS

Verbs consist basically of three letters as CVC. They are also classified in schemes similar to the nouns. Seventeen “main headings” (with the first denoting letter of the group following) are “Physical Acts -K##”, “Active Actions –Y, L, R and G##”, “People/Human – S and Ş##”, “Social Relation –F, N and P##”, “Mental Activities –B and M##”, “Household, Daily Life -D##”, “Pastime, Spor, Health -T##”, “Utterance, Nonperson Acts-Ç##”, “Business, Public -H##”, “Technic / Science / Nature-V##”. In Physical Acts, “K##” is initial consonant for the heading, ## indicates varying 8 vowels (“a” to “ü”) in the second place and alternating 20 consonants in the third place. This way 4600 verbs can be created theoretically, but for the same reason as for the nouns, only half of them will be taken in to the consideration. For the Level 1, ABCL has about one thousand five hundred of them, which seems to be adequate. The main heading could be subdivided in subheading such as KA# for a certain type of “physical acting” and KE# for another where appropriate (For the purpose of correlation with English words this “principle” has been relaxed considerably).

As example, some verbs in the category “K-physical acting” are shown below:

kaf fasten kef fill kıf köf force
kah haul/drag keh hang kıh köh hew
kak convert kek catch kık kök connect
kal lift kel load kıl köl line
kam mount kem mischief kım köm modify/alter
kan narrow ken enlarge kın kön
kap package kep place/put on kıp press köp push
kar repair/mend ker rip kır kör erase
kas saw kes separate kıs splitt kös shear

Verbs will be flexed for the Level 1 beside tenses also for ergative, causative, imperative, passive, reflexive, subjunctive and negative. Suffixes for further tenses and moods have been defined also for Level 2 such as reciprocal, inferential, optative, subjunctive conditional etc. additionally. Those moods of the second level can be replaced in the first level by the prepositions as in English.

DERIVED VERBS

Verbs will be derived from nouns and adjectives by adding suffixes according to a fixed scheme. They will typically end also on a consonant as the root verbs.

For the derivation of verbs from the nouns the suffixes “_k” (for transitive) and “_l” (for intransitive) will be added. (thus we will have a six letters verbs.) For the adjectives also the suffix “_l” is chosen (these types of verbs are always intransitive).

Derived Verbs from Nouns (Denominal Verbs)

- Examples (first noun of the rows translated only)

ABCL Suffix ABCL verb English Suffix English verb
(noun)_k (transitive) venfi.k, denso.k _, _en, _ize fire, salt, frighten(vt), vocalize(vt), terrorize, idolise
(noun)_k (transitive) benli.k _ate liberate, hyphenate, concentrate, oscillate
(noun)_l (intransitive) vessu.l/vüsle.l _en, get … sun/sunbathe, lighten, get old, prink up
(noun)_l (intransitive) venva.l _ize/ise vaporize, get icy, materialize(vi),
(noun)_l (intransitive) banlu.l be lucky
(noun)_l (intransitive) tenfe.l get … get no fever

Derived Verbs from Adjectives

Examples:

ABCL Suffix ABCL verb English verb
_l, _xl enu.l- enux.l be new-become old
_l, _xl ebi.l- ebix.l biggen-become small/diminish
_l, _xl eşi.l- eşix.l shine-become dull/tarnish/dim
_l, _xl ofe.l-ofex.l be fresh/freshen-be stale (wither)
_l, _xl ebe.l- ebex.l become beautiful-be ugly

In case of adjectives created as antonym (by negation suffix “_x”), derivation suffix comes after “_x”. Thus, if the derived verb would be negated, such construction as “ebix.l.o.x” (ebixlox=not diminished) are possible sinbe the suffix “_x” will be placed after the tense-conjugation suffix.

If “x” follows or followed by a consonant, a short sounded “ı or i” may be introduced in between (in accordance with the vowel harmony) in speaking, but not in writing. (e.g. enu.x.l.o=became old).

Infinite and Imperative

ABCL Suffix Level 1 Example: ABCL noun English Suffix Some English Nouns as Samples (verbs given in italic are imperatives)
'_eş-x yun.eş(!), den.eş.x(!) to ... (infinite)/! to run, to eat / (run!, eat-don't eat!)

Verb Transformation in ABCL

Many verbs in English are ambitransitive (ergative-anticausative) (transitive and intransitive, depending on the context) such as burn, sink, read, break etc. where the separation is provided either by their context (receiving an object) or by the special prepositions/particles. For the translation from English to ABCL, ABCL would need two different root verbs for each type of the meaning in order to overcome the ambiguity. Therefore, I have tried to minimize and to simplify this duality. The verbs defined in lexicon are either inherently intransitive (among others linking verbs including all copula verbs) as appear, be, become, feel, get, grow, keep, look, seem, sound, smell, stay, turn etc.) i.e. they cannot take object or inherently transitive, i.e. they take object anyway. Verbs such as “to boil” is considered in ABCL as inherently intransitive because boiling is an inherently specific characteristic of fluids. Equivalent of any ambitransitive English verb is defined in ABCL always intrinsically as transitive (e.g. the verb “sink=yes” is in ABCL transitive only even though in English it may have the meanings such as: the boat sank (intransitive) and the storm has sunk the bot (transitive)). Intransitive includes also reflexive and reciprocal. (Most of the natural languages have more transitive verbs than intransitive, e.g. English and German about 60%, therefore I have chosen transitive sinse as basic in case of the duality.)

Because there are too many ambitransitive verbs, which can be transformed by reflexion in to (semi-) intransitive verbs, ABCL introduced the reflexive suffix “_m” for this purpose. (Example: look at (vt) vs look nice (vi)- bul.# vs bul.#.m) With this approach the problem of the ambitransitive verbs would be overcome in ABCL. Other way around to make out of an intransitive verb a transitive one (ergative) ABCL defined the suffix “_t” and for the reciprocal the suffix “_y”.

English uses also different word or auxiliary to make out of an inherently intransitive verb a transitive verb (like “die-kill”, “sleep- get/make… sleep”) or opposite. Contrary to ABCL, it creates from transitive verb intransitive reflexive verbs by using reflexive pronouns (protect-protect oneself).

The verb “bab” is introduced as ABCL equivalent of English verb “to be”, it will be utilized however in copula mood as “zero copula”. For example, “it is beautiful” translates into ABCL (for the sake of simplicity) not as “u babe ebe” but as “u ebe” or simpler as “ebe” if the context permits it.

Other suffixes for further verbal forms are listed in the table under the title: Modal Verbs, Inflexions and Modus in ABCL further below.

ADJECTIVES

BASIC/ROOT ADJECTIVES

Basic adjectives consist of three letters as VCV/x, yielding about 500, but doubling by using of “x” at the ends giving an adverse meaning such as “ebe” for beautiful and “ebex” for ugly. Adjectives have also been separated in classes. “Determiners” with the subtitles: “interrogative, demonstrative, indefinite (quantifier), indefinite numerical, main colours, placing and possessive” where first vowel “o”/“ö” and “u” (for colours only) indicates the “determiner group” and varying consonants (C*’s as “t, s, ş, m, y” (colours have also other consonants)) decoding the subtitles like “interrogative”. Second group is the “qualifier/classifiers” with three subtitles: First title beginning with “o” is special classes as human feature, frequently used etc.); second with “a” evaluative-descriptive for “people” (personality and behaviour mainly) and third with “e” description of “things”.

Each of them has been subdivided internally according to the scheme e.g. V#V (eC*a, eC*e; eC*i; … eC*ü). Although each subtitle was originally designed to indicate a special type of the adjectives such as “aC*e-being”, “aC*i-behaviour” or “eC*ü-nature/science, the order could not be kept due to new idea of “harmonizing” the sound between ABCL and English adjectives for the ease of memorizing by connotation. (e.g.: ebi=big, where the last letters “bi” of ABCL same (or similar) with the first letters “bi” of English word). Thus, even though the first idea has been kept; e.g. for the “aC*V, the subtitles “physical features, appearance, human attribute, opinion-view, etc.,” at the end they are mixed up to the certain degree anyway.

Examples for Root Adjectives:

Indefinite (Quantifier): o/ö.ş.V* English Physical Descr. of Things e/o.C*.V* Person-Behaviour a/o.C*.V*
oşa more, _er eşe-x sweet-bitter apo-x polite/kind/gentle-impolite/rude
oşe most, _est ece certain ofe-x fair-biased
oşu-oşux several/many/much -few/little eso sour aju-x just-devious
öşo-öşox some_ - any_ oho-x hot-cold aşe-x sedate-excited
öşö each ova-x warm- cool asu superficial
öşu-öşux every_ -no_ eva-x wide-narrow aki keen/eager

Possessive Determiners: az, oz, uz, ez, öz, üz- my, your, its, our, your, their

Possessive determiners are adjective in their role in syntax but because genitive suffix “_z” is placed after the word they don’t agree with the rules set here. Therefore, they will be handled in ABCL as possessive pronouns exceptionally.

DERIVED ADJECTIVES

Adjectives will be derived by adding suffixes to the verbs and nouns. As the root adjectives, also derived one’s end with a vowel, typical for adjectives. Thus, they will have six to eight letters.

Deverbal Adjectives

They will be derived by the suffixes “_ado/_adox” (in place of the English suffixes “_ful, _less, _ant/-ent, _ive, _ile, _ic, _ate, _y/ly,_ic, _ous, etc.), “_amo” (for capability “_able/_ible”). Differently from English, for past participle and present participle ABCL uses not the conjugated verb forms for adjective but derives new words as “_ono” (for past participle _ed) and “_iko” (for present participle _ing).

Examples for Deverbal Adjectives:

_ado-adox _ful-less (_azo)_ado _ant/-ent _amo _able, _ible _ono p.p _ed/irregular _iko _ing
boh.ado-x hope.ful-less nel.ado relaxant keb.amo breakable dol.ono boiled ted.iko dancing
bus.ado-x use.ful-less sip.ado pleasant mir.amo admirable bon.ono known tis.iko singing
roh.ado-x harm.ful-less fur.ado dominant höç.amox incredible muv.ono worried moh.iko terrifying

Denominal Adjectives

Denominal adjectives will be derived by the suffixes “_do/_dox” (in place of the English affixes “_ful, _less, _ive, _ulent, _ile, _holic, _ic, _ate, _y/ly,_ic, _ous, un_, im_, etc.) and “_no” (for capability “_able/_ible”)

Examples

_do _ful, _ous _dox -less, in-, ir- _no _able,_ible
fenpü.do peaceful bonho.dox hope.less posfa.no fashionable
sonye.do handful camti.dox timeless halta.no taxable
minşi.do-x merciful-cruel pasha.dox homeless

With these 8 suffixes (ado, adox, ako, amo, ano, do, dox, no) it is possible to get unnumbered new adjectives from verbs and nouns additionally to 520 root adjectives.

Antinomies of Adjectives

As stated already, the antinomies of adjectives will be generally defined by adding the suffix “x”. This has been done preferably with the pairs where in English a separate adjective available for the antinomy. This way the number of words to be memorized would be reduced considerably. For the adjectives used very often we made however some exceptions. In order to avoid a mix up which comes first, it is necessary to implement certain rules. These are: For physically quantifiable, the bigger/larger/heavier/stronger etc. is the base adjectives, the latter will get “_x“ (like: big-small: ebi-ebix; for qualitative, what people normally prefer, comes first (like: honest-false: oho-ohox; hot-cold: ovo-ovax etc.). Adjectives which are used in speech mostly shall have basic form even the foregoing stated rules implies differently. (e.g.: “eda-x” (dark- light/pale), even though “dark” implies physically “unfavorability” because “light” is used relatively seldom competed with “dark”.

The suffix “_x” comes always directly after the adjective (basic or derived does not matter- e.g. ohox.ka, enux.l, minşi.do.x), followed by other derivational suffixes.

NUMBERS in ABCL

Also for the numbers, the suffix “_x” meaning zero, a differing system has been created.

Cardinal numbers/ digits: 1 to 9: bi, çi, fi, ki, li, vi, pi, si, yi

1-9 10-90 11-19 100-900 1 Th-9 Th 10 Th-90 Th 100 Th-900 Th 1 Mln-9 Mln 10 Mln-90 Mln
#i #ix bi#i #iç #if #ik #il #iv #ip
1 bi bix bibi biç bif bik bil biv bip
2 çi çix biçi çiç çif çik çil çiv çip
3 fi .... .... ..... fif ..... ..... ...
4 ki .... .... ..... ..... kik ..... ...
5 li .... .... ..... ..... ..... lil ...
6 vi .... .... ..... ..... ..... ..... viv
7 pi .... .... ..... ..... pik pil ... pip
8 si .... .... ..... ..... ..... ..... sis
9 yi yix biyi yiç yif yik yil yiv yip yis yiy

For example: The number 6 572 120 is written in ABCL: viv.lil.pik.çif.biç.çix (includes 18 letters). The same digit written in English extends to 52 letters.

The system continues in such “ten” times pattern as (unary notion):

Bis, biy, bim, bir, bit, biv, biş, big (quadrillion)

Above that, the system follows one thousand pattern such as “bix big, biç big, bif big, bil big, biv big” etc.

At the first sight it seems to be some ambiguity with some verbs, e.g. “bip” means as verb “disappear” but as number “ten million” or “bibi” means “occurring” but as number “eleven”. However, in the syntax a mix up is not possible due to the fact that the verbs are placed secondly after the subject where the numbers stay as adjectives after the verbs and before the noun they modify. (e.g.: u bibi bibi üs bi camya=It is occurring eleven times a year.)

Ordinal numbers are as below: (example for 2 “çi”)

çi.ji:.... two.half

çi.ği:.... *-th (second)

ki.ği:.... four.th

öşü çi/fi:.... both/every three

ki.z.çi:.... two forth (two of four; four’s half)

çi.vum, fi.vum, ki.vum :.... double/two fold/twice, triple, quadruple

çi.ğ.ma, fi.ğ.ma : .... couple, trio

ADVERBS

BASIC ADVERBS

Basic adverbs consist of two letters in scheme of VC, covering mostly used adverbs in many languages. As in English, in many other languages also adverbs have often the same spelling with the adjectives and conjunctives. For the sake of ambiguity, they also will have separate words in ABCL, if used as adverb. Also here there are separate headings for subdivision, indicated by choose of the vowels. For example, first letter being variable vowel, (“V*”), second letter C (consonant) indicates the subdivision. The consonants e.g. “s, t, y” indicate “time” and “ş” the “quantity” where the first letter (vowel) varies from “a” to “ü” (* means always “varying letters” in this article). This way 110 words can be created (without the use of the vowel “ı”). The consonant “ç, f, l, n” code the “adverbs of manner” which are subdivided into four, such as limitation (*f), descriptive (*ç) etc.

Some Examples:

Time Quantity Manners (direction) Manners (descriptive)
V*s V*ş V*m V*ç
as always more,_er am ahead/forward together
es yet/still most üm-em in(side)-out(side) üç enough
V*t
it now all
ot tomorrow some

DERIVED ADVERBS

Also here there are deviations in the number of basic letters while deriving adverbs from verbs, nouns and adjectives.

Examples for some derivations: (The firsts English words in row are translated in to ABCL only)

Derived from Root Verbs

ABCL suffix ABCL adverb English suffix English adverbs
_r** feh.r help(ing)fully
_r şah.r, bon.r* _(ing)ly laugh(ing)ly, know(ing)ly

.*Deferring from English, the adverb will be constructed directly by adding the suffix “_r” to the root of the verb. Also without building an adjective in gerund form with “_ing” .**While reading and speaking, the vowel “i” or “ı” will be inserted before the suffix “_r”. (it reads as “feh.ir”)

Derived from Root/Derived Adjectives

ABCL suffix ABCL adverb English suffix English adverbs
_r feh.ado.r, banlu.dox.r (ful(ly), _(a)bly helpfully, unfortunately notably, passably, incredibly
_r eni.r (enix.r), atö.r _ly nicely (ugly), tensely, clearly, actively, quickly
_r omo.r, omox.r on the front, behind

Derived from Root Nouns

ABCL suffix ABCL adverb English suffix English adverbs
_r halce.r(x), monba.r

(in ABCL directly by noun possible)

_ally,_(ful)ly (un)econimi.c.ally, joy.ful.ly (in English only via denominal adjective possible)
_r süb.r, hünve.r, elo.r a_ a.miss, away, along, ahead, apart, alone

Negation suffix comes in these cases at the end of adverbial suffix “_r”

The number of derived adverbs from the verbs and adjectives only would yield about two thousand.

CONJUNCTIVES-PREPOSITIONS

Conjunctives-prepositions consist of two letters as CV. Logical groupings have been built systematically, such as conjunction particles (and, or, then, so… ), particles for subordinate clauses (so that, even if, unless etc.) and prepositions. For example, the consonants “p, r, s and v” point out to coordinating conjunction (like else, consequently, however, and, but) and “k, l, m and n” to the locational prepositions (like in, at, on, out, under, above, behind etc), with the vowel varying from “a” to “ü”.

CONJUNCTIONS

(Examples)

Coordinating Subordinating Correlative Interrogative
Conjunct. Subclause Conjunct. as Subordinate Conjunct.
p_, r, s, v: varied vowels h_, f, d, ç, b:: varied vowels
sV* fV* tV*
sa and fa even if pe…so (pe) either...or ta what
so or as if pex..so neither...nor te where
su but fe if/in case ça/fo (adj)…ge as.(adjective).as to who
se still/yet fu unless ça / fo elo ge as long as why
pe either ha while fü.. (so)..x whether...or ..not tu when
ro however du that how

PREPOSITIONS

(Examples)

Preposition Locational Prepos.
y_, ş, g k_, l, m, n
_şV* _kV*
şa after le between
şe before among
şo for ko across
şu by ke beside

PRONOUNS and Possessive Determiners (Adjective Pronouns)

Pronouns consist of one (personal pronouns) and three letters (V, VCV). The personal pronouns are “a, o, u, e, ö, ü”. All other pronouns have VCV where first vowel is always “i” (except reflexive pronouns) with which they would be recognizable and differ from adjectives. Possessive determiners (adjective pronouns) have two letters (V*z)

Personal Pronoun(pp) Possessive Pronouns
iz.V*(pp) (pp).own
a I iza mine
o you izo yours
u she, he, it izu her, his, its
e we ize ours
ö you izö yours
ü they izü theirs
(i) (own)
Demonstr. Pronouns Interrog. Nonperson
Pronouns Pronouns
is.V* ip.V* it.V* iş.V*
isa this ipa his(one) ita what işa more
iso that ipo that(one) işe most
isu that ipu other iti which işi-x all-none
ise these ipe-x either-neither ito who işo-x some/someone- any/no one/none
isö those ipö that (place name) işö each
isü those ipü there işu much/many-few
işü.ba/sa)-x every.(thing/body)-no.(thing/body)

NEGATION AND QUESTIONS

Negation of the act is done by adding suffix “x” at the end of the conjugated verb and verbal modal suffixes (like passive) if any. With “_x” as suffix, ABCL construct also antonym for adjectives, (seldomly)adverbs and conjunctives/prepositions (also seldomly as the pair “with-without”) where appropriate. “X” stand alone means “not” in English but for phrases such as “… or not” or for expressions (e.g.: you, not!= o x!; not today!= x at!; not nice= x eni!) only. “X” is also used for the number “zero”.

Questions will be indicated by the letter “J”, in case of the pronouns as prefix and in case of the nouns as particle before subject noun, spoken with a “short-soundless “ı” sound (like “ion-loud” in “station” (explained before)). It can also build vocal harmony with the first syllables of the following noun which will be however omitted in writing.

Example: J.a yüsa? (Shall I swim?), J (Jɯ or Je) şenbe b.yüs.e? (Can fish swim?)

Interrogatives are similar to English:

what ota why ötö
where ote when utu
which oti how ütü
who oto how much/many/old üta.pis/vus/cam

TENSES, ASPECTS and SUBJUNCTIVES/IRREALIS of ABCL

TENSES and ASPECTS

Verbs are conjugated for five tempus “future, simple present, present continuous, simple past (past 1) and imperfect/durational past/history” (past 2), with the corresponding vocals “a, e, i, o/ö, u/ü” placed after verbs as suffix. (“ö” and “ü” are for “prior” event in case of two linked events, otherwise u/ü and o/ö can be interchanged for the vocal harmony)

Tenses Suffix Examples ABCL English
Future _a yog.a will go
Simple present _e yog.e.x doesn’t go
Present continuous _i vap.i.n.x is not painted (passive)
Simple past (past 1) (“ö” for prior event if two events linked-past perfect) _o/ö dol.o (I) (have) boiled
Durational past/history (past 2) (“ü” for prior event if two events linked-past perfect) _u/ü vap.u.n had been painted (in one week)

Past 1 includes all verbs indicating a completed/finished action, independently when it had occurred in the past and happened recently or long time ago.

Past 2 includes all verbs inheriting a continuity. It doesn’t make a difference whether the effect of the act is still relevant at the presence (present perfect in English) or it happened before any relative time point. It matters only that it has a duration in the past. Also here it is not relevant whether it happened recently or long time ago.

Since the primary goal of ABCL is the simplicity, I tried to simplify various aspects used in many languages as far as possible without omitting any useful/necessary aspect utilized in spoken languages at different ways. Normally none of the aspects itself express the speaker’s intention alone. To overcome this, he needs additionally different auxiliary particles, especially temporal adverbs. In fact, a language missing one “useful” aspect of another language, is still able to express the same content by utilizing these auxiliaries. With other words, it is possible for people to express themself also by other means, without the help of a big range of the aspects.

ABCL has none of the complicated aspects requiring the usage of modals and root modification of the verbs such as in Germanic languages (progressive, perfect, past perfect, progressive perfect, past perfect progressive, future perfect progressive, conditional perfect progressive) nor in other languages (habitual, recent/far past, simultaneous, gnomic/generic etc.) All those aspects such as the frequency of occurrence and timely relation (recently, long time ago) will be expressed by the temporal adverbs and numbers where and if required. I considered e.g. the present perfect tense not necessary because whether or not a past event extends its affect in the presence, has no or very limited relevance for expressing the intent of the speaker. If it would be really necessary, he can describe it by the auxiliary particles. In fact, the differentiating of simple past and present perfect, as a relic of past, disappear slowly as seen in spoken German language.

The duration of an act in the past could not be easily described by adverbs and other means or by the inherit sense of the verb itself. Therefore, and because it could be important in many situations, I have introduced Past 2 in order to cover such aspects. Historical events are natural events of hearsay, which could not have been witnessed by the speaker. So transferred events will be also covered in ABCL with the past 2 with or without explicit duration of the event. Again, the adverbial auxiliaries can help also here in cases of uncertainty.

Future progressive, -perfect and -perfect progressive aspects could not easily be replaced by auxiliaries also. I introduced for these cases instead of modals as in English/German, the prefix “_s” in ABCL. It serves for future subjunctives followed by the aspect which is indicating the presence or past of the conjugated main event.

Below, some examples for the cases explained above for the tenses and aspects used in English and their equivalent in ABCL:

Aspects of English present tense and their equivalent/counterpart in ABCL:

Present simple "I eat" A den.e
Present progressive "I am eating" A den.i
Present perfect "I have eaten" A den.ö
Present perfect progressive "I have been eating" A den.ü
I have been eating last year often outside. (This year I eat at home) A den.ü oyüx camya us em.

Aspects of English past tense (and in brackets, how it is expressed in ABCL reverse translation with the help of auxiliaries):

Past simple "I ate" (once) (often) A den.o (üs) (us)
I used to eat (I ate habitually) A buso deneş/ A den.o (sihir)
Past progressive "I was eating" (for a while) (sweets) A den.u (öt) (densö)
Past perfect "I had eaten" (already) (as you have arrived) A den.ö (oy) (he o yaro)
Past perfect progressive "I had been eating" A den.ü
Past perfect (for “prior” event) A den.ü
I had been eating always outdoor, (after 2018 I have cooked at home) A den.ü (as) em, (şa 2018 a don.u ….)

Aspects of the future tense: (“The prefix “s_” is indicator for future aspects)

Simple future: "I will eat" A den.a
Future progressive: "I will be eating" tomorrow at time of your arrival. A s.den.i ot …
Future perfect: "I will have eaten" tomorrow at time of your arrival. A s.den.ö ot...
Future perfect progressive: "I will have been eating" A s.den.ü ot...

Subjunctives of Future:

Forfuture aspects the prefix “_s” and for subjunctivity (would) the suffix “_k” (see below) (for hypothetical/ conditional reference) have been combined: (for Level 2)

Simple (conditional) subjunctive: "I would eat" (if...) A dene.k
Future conditional progressive: "I would be eating" A s.deni.k
Future conditional perfect: "I would have eaten" A s.denö.k
Future conditional perfect progressive: "I would have been eating" A s.denü.k (ot…)

Present Subjunctive

Event is hypothetical, but possible, expressing: dependency, emotion, hopes, expectation, wish, desire, possibility, probability, likelihood, uncertainty, doubt, dubiousness, judgment, opinion, obligation, inferential (hearsay), not confirmed, necessity, imploring, asking, guessing, requiring, encouraging or action that has not yet occurred.

This case will be expressed in depended phrases, (as in subordinate clauses such as conditional “if” or as conjunctions (mainly “du”=”that” in English)) as real tenses of ABCL without the usage of any suffix, subjunctive modal and modification of the verb stem but with suitable adverbs, and special particles. Subjunctively in the head phrase will be indicated by the suffix “_k”.

Examples for Presence Subjunctives:

If I could (have) slept ) fe a bdare(o).k …
If-clauses (conditional present): (fe)
I would eat, if I were hungry : fe a dene.k (fe a babe ohu)
We would stay at home if it snowed e yaşe.k pasha fe vense ven.e
That-clauses(du):
I suggested that Paul should eat an apple a fus.o du Paul gdeno.k şer pa
He recommends that you be careful u nor.e du bece.k
It is important that she stay (with you) by your side Eji du u yaşe.k (ne o) oz vunku
Desirative-Wish-clauses (an):
I wish I had a car then I wouldn't get on the bus an (a biv.e) a mahe.k vitka ar a rege.kx vitba
I wish I knew Japanese an, a böne.k Nippon.sa
Necessity/must-modal-clauses:
I should be able to sleep (I ought to be able to sleep) a g.sabo.k dareş
Hearsay-inferential
"He must have gone" or "he is said to have gone " (supposedly) : (a sehö/bite/gaye) (du) u yogo.k öv (u yogo.v öv)
Martina says that she be in love with you (can be true or not): Martina ças.e du u bole.k o öv.

IRREALIS in ABCL

Event (counterfactual) cannot occur anymore because the prior dependency, necessity and condition set in the past, had not been fulfilled. Also an event cannot be realized in future because the required condition for its realization could not be met. Irrealis are expressed in various world languages by modal verbs in past tense (as would, should, might), by modification of verb stem (Arabic: yaktubu-yaktuba), by adjectives, by conjunctives (if, that), by suitable verbs in subordinate clauses, by special particles and by suffixes to the verbs or by combinations of that.

Examples for Irrealis:

Irrealis clauses are all irreal subjunctive events mostly with conditional (if-clauses) and other dependent sub clauses. Unreality in this sinse is generally possible in past only (But there are cases for simple present too). Also hypothetical future events which cannot be realized because dependent conditions of other events in the past are not fulfilled, are included here. There are also irrealis clauses with “hidden/not outspoken” dependencies. This item includes further unreal desires and wishes (I wish/ if only) and necessity/must cases (should) as well. This events in ABCL will have “the contrafactual suffix –ç” added to the conjugated verb, indicating that all clauses with this verb suffix are irrealis past subconjunctive.

If-clauses:(Because the sub-ordinate clause is priorly, the tense of its verbs will be “ö” and “ü” respectively)
If I had felt well (were I well/if I were well) I would have sung fe a sevö (bab.o ani) a tiso.ç
Would you have helped me if I had asked you ? jo feh.o.ç a fe a çayö o?
If I had been hungry, I would have eaten fe a dakö (bab.o ohu) a deno.ç
Without your help (hidden condition) I could not have finished it nex oz feh.ha a b.rifo.çx
If you would be my son... fe o babo.ç az salsa …
That-clauses:
My mother had suggested that I should have eaten an apple az salma fuso du a gdeno.ç şer pa
I drunk so much, that my head would have almost exploded. a didö fo oşu du az sinha çozo.ç ah
Necessity/must-modal-clauses:
I should have been able to sleep (I ought to be able to sleep) a gsabo.ç dareş
You should have attended the meeting yesterday o gfato.ç pösma et
Wish-clauses (incl. desiderative mood):
Only if I could have slept an, a bdar.o.ç …
I wish I had a car so that I hadn't got on the bus. an, (a biv.e) a baho vitka du a rego.çx …
I should have learned German an, a g.bönö.ç Deutsch.sa
Future-clauses:
I would have got fresh air outdoor if it had not rained this morning. a s.rego.ç ofe venye em fe venre venö.çx osa cemmü

ABCL considers the subjunctive in subordinate clauses as not essential for the expression of intent of the speaker and omit it accordingly. For example: Instead of the subjunctives "I suggest that you be careful", we can say "I suggest that you are careful" without losing the sense intended. “Suggest” implies that the case is “irrealis” even though from the grammatical point of view it is “real”. If a subordinate clause implies beside conditionality also timely priority (such as with the “if”-clauses) the tenses “ö and ü” will be used instead of “o and u”.

Subconjunctive and irrealis: How far are they required? How are they in natlangs?

In case of inferential (indirect reported), not witnessed, doubted and not confirmed subjunctives, such as “He said he was a physician” (German: Er sagte, er sei Arzt), the speaker can express his intention by telling it directly, i.e. he can say “He said he was a physician, but I cannot confirm it”. An adverbial auxiliary such as “allegedly or supposedly” would express the same circumstance. Also past subjunctive “He said he had no time” (German: Er sagte, er hätte keine Zeit) can be expressed the same way. The past subjunctive can be replaced also with suitable adverbs such as “He has apparently/supposedly been there” (er sei da gewesen ) and for the future as “He will assumably be there” (er werde da sein) Turkish has a separate tense for inferential: “O git.ti” translates “o git.miş”. If it were necessary, English constructions "he must have gone" or "he is said to have gone" would partly translate this Turkish inferential sentence. Even though it is very convenient to build the subjunctive by simply adding the suffix “–miş” to the verb root “git”, it must be learned by some effort. Instead of it I preferred also in such cases using direct real clauses with suitable phrases to cover the intent of the speaker. Here we would say: “I was told that he has gone” or better “He has supposedly gone.” Even though I defined the suffix “_v” for this case for Level 2. (a bduro.v cemrü = I was able to fall asleep at midnight supposedly (or as I was told next morning)=uyuyabil.miş.im Past subjunctive (irrealis) is also used to form the conditional tense (as Konjunktiv II in German with modal “würde”). Grammatically/formally irrealis “I would not help him if I were you” can be transferred as “I do not help him if I am you” Here even though both phrases are real, with the meaning of the “conditional if…” it is implied that it is not real because in reality “I cannot be you”. In French present and past subjunctives used mostly with verbs or adverbs. It is preceded by the conjunction que (that). In case of jussive: Il faut qu’il comprenne cela ("It is necessary that he understand that"), the “necessity” implies “the order” so that there is no need for the further subjunctive moods of the verbs. This idea has been also partially implemented in ABCL as already stated. Italian has also similar subjunctive setting, for example with credo che, è possibile che. I believe (that) she is the best (opinion). Arabic : Indicative yaktubu "he writes / is writing / will write" → Subjunctive yaktuba "he may / should write" could be transfer in to “It is possible (that) he writes” and “it is required (that) he writes”.

Some examples of the means for transferring the subjunctives of other languages and English into modified format to be used by ABCL:

Optative : "May I be loved!" transferred to “I wish that I will be loved”

Jussive : "Everyone should be loved", “I ask that everyone is to be loved”

Potential mood : “She probably/possibly loves me"

Dubitative mood : "I think she loves me."

Hypothetical : "I might love you [if...]"; "May I love you" as “I don’t expect that I love you”

Admirative : "Wow! She loves me!", "Apparently she loves me."

Hortative : "Let us love!" Eventive : "I would probably love you [if...]" as “I probably love you, if …..”

Eventive : "I would probably love you [if...]" as “I probably love you, if …..”

MODAL VERBS, INFLEXIONS and MODUS in ABCL

There are no gender, number and casus declination/flexion at all. Where necessary, gender may be identified by a corresponding noun/adjective. The casus will not be needed, also no locative prepositions (in, at, to, from) since the unambiguous verb itself normally implies the cases and the object is defined clearly by its position in the sentence. Only in case of complexity the preposition may be needed.

Modal Verbs: ABCL has four real and one subjunctive modal verb as prefixes:

Modus ABCL Prefix English Modal Examples
Ability b- can bdene - can eat
Possibility d- may ddene – may eat
Necessity g- shall gdene – shall eat
Obligation ç- must çdene – must eat
Subjunctive s- would sdene/sdenö - would eat/ate-have eaten

Example: A g.vap.e.p az hanka: I shall get my house painted. They are placed as prefix to the verbs. Because this way a cluster emerges, in speaking only the first vowel of the verb repeats as gap filling and vowel harmony in between or soundless “ı” as convenient. The modals will not be conjugated and declined at all. There are countless “verbal modus” in living World languages. Which often used in one language does not exist such as in another at all. If necessary, modus is expressed using particles and prepositions. For the first level we abandoned most of them, leaving a few where we think it easy to learn and nice to have them for good expression. Possession is one, which “must be”, is formed by suffix “_z” and placed after nouns and pronouns. Plural “_i” is used as suffix also after nouns. ABCL has in Level 1 nine verb features indicated by a particle marker and suffixes. Suffixes come after the conjugated verb but before any further suffix as “x” etc.

Table of Affixes

Mood/Verb Transformation ABCL Marker/sufix ABCL example-English equivalent
Conditional (factual-predictive): -Binbi.so: marker conjunctions "if" fe… (he)fe a mefe - if I feel well
Imperative/jussive/infinite- Paceş "verb".eş yogeş - go! / to go
Verbal Conjunctive (gerund)- Paciş "verb".iş yogiş - going
Passive- Bunzu _n vapon - was painted
Ergative (Intrans. to transitive) - Röş.ato(.ado) _t (u) dolot (densu) – (she) boiled (water)
Reflexive (Transitive to intr) -Ver.ato(.ado) _m (a) dasem – (I) wash myself
Reciprocal (mutuality-intransitive) -Peş.ato _y boley - make love (sevişmek)
Causative (Transitive) -Bac.ato(.ado) _p vapep - get painted (boyattırmak)
Subjunctive/irrealis- Kök.ana
---Present subjunctive _k -- tisek - would sing
---Past/irrealis (counterfactual tisoç/tisüç - would have sung
---Future/irrealis (prefix) s_ (verb#)_ç stisaç - would have been sung
Negation _x vapenx - (is) not painted
Question(prefix to subject) _j jo mefe - do you feel well?

.#…vowel for tense

“Real” conditional mood marker is the conjunctional particle “fe”. Imperative/jussive/infinite will be performed by adding the related personal pronouns to the verb as prefix (o.Verb, u.Verb (let him.Verb), e.Verb (let us.Verb)…) and “_eş” as suffix. For second person singular the prefix “o” may be dropped thus imperative being “Verb.eş” Passive suffix is “_n”. Passive form will be in case of ergatives (from intransitive to transitive conveyed verb) Verb.t.n (for the example in the table above, passive will be “dol#.t.n”, e.g. … dolotn (… has been boiled by …), where between the cluster “tn” a weak “i or ı-sound” may be implemented in speech. ) ABCL uses for hypothetical, but possible subjunctive cases the suffix “_k”; for the past counterfactual subjunctives (irrealis) the suffix “_ç” and “_s” as prefix aspect-modal for the future cases. (see under “aspects” above) Other types of subjunctives will be marked by suitable particles. Negation suffix “_x” will be placed as a rule at the end of the conjugated verb and after the modal suffixes if any. In some cases, it could come to sequencing of two suffixes in a row such as “vapo.p.n.x” (the house was not get painted by…). In such cases also between “_x” and the suffix before a soundless “ı” or “i” or the last vowel can be put for vowel harmony.

Level 2 moods

Inferential mood/Hearsay-Binmi _v bol.#v--bolev - (it is said) (he/she) love …
Optative desiderative- An Mançu (in level 1 expressed by auxiliary particle "an") _s sen.e.s--(an) seves (o)- (I wish) (you) be well

Inflexional Suffixes for Nouns: Genetive and Plural

Genitive/Possesive-Huz.ato _z şintü.z şindü / o.z şintü of, _’s (kitten of the cat) your cat
Plural-Bunyu _i hanho.i _s - (houses)

Below are some aspectual compound verb features and moods from Turkish denoted by suffixes, applicable in Level 2 only: These and similar are expressed in ABCL by suitable adverbial particles as given in underlined English translation Copula mood will be enhanced by the adverbial suffix "uç", which understress the certainty of the act if and when required. (“John is big”, translates “John ebi” and if enhanced as “John ebi uç”) Compound tenses in Turkish will be expressed by adverbial particles as: - "Di" li geçmiş-hikaye (simple past-narrative): geldiydim (I had come there at …) - "Miş"li (görünen, öğrenilen değil) geçmiş-hikaye (simple past-past witnessed): kırılmıştı (it had been broken by then) - Şimdiki zamanın hikayesi (present-narrative): biliyordum (I was knowing it then/at that time) - Geniş zamanın hikayesi (simple present- narrative: (eskiden) severdi (he loved erstwhile/one time) ABCL does not include singular-third person (it, one) as unspecified subject. ABCL usues passive form instead: Ma osa venhi "daren.x". (without a subject as in Turkish -so called 'hidden subject') It can't/will not be slept in this heat-bu sıcakta uyunmaz.

GREETING and WISHES

Infinitive/imperative form of the verbs "sen” (to be well) and "sin” (to keep in touch) have been defined as “short” greeting nouns, "sen" meaning "hallo" (“full” “sen.eş”: (I wish you) be well) to be used when people meet/phone and "sin" meaning "good by” (“full” “sin.ey”: (let us) to see you again-to keep in touch) when separate. No further greeting and courtesy words are defined. User can himself introduce such words as “good day, good luck” if he wishes by directly translating them from English or their native languages. The addressing forms such as “mr., mrs., sir, madam, etc.” have no place in ABCL.

For Level 2 however, in accordance with simplicity requirement of ABCL, further phrases are defined as follows:

sen(eş)*** hallo Literally: be well !
sin(en)*** see you (good by) wish to keep in touch
sat o thank you
enex welcome (unrequired) unnecessary
sip(eş)*** please
o tü? how are you?
(a) ani I’m fine
şe.bis* best wishes
(a) mos I’m sorry
oha.cam** Happy New Year
aho.cam merry/holy “Holy Day”
ego.ban(lu) good luck
ego.tan(he) good health

.* Being "bis" is root verb for "wish" and "oşe" is adjective "most", the full wish phrase would be: “A bis.e o oşe bantı.” meaning “I wish you the best things”. For greeting they will be merged to one word "oşebis", better “şebis”: This will be used as overall wishes for almost all situations like good luck, success, health, journey etc. (although I defined for good luck and health separate phrases for Level 2) .** Although New Year means "camne", only first syllable "cam" indicating the class "time" is taken and suffixed to "oha=happy" building one word for the sake of shortness and simplicity. The same apples also to the following phrases. .*** Short forms: sen, sin, sip

SYNTAX of ABCL

Syntax has a defined, fixed order (SVO) as below: Question (prefix - particle “J” or interrogative words)-subject (noun/pronoun)-(modal prefix).verb.tempus.modal suffix. negation suffix(_x)-adverb-preposition-adjective-direct object noun/pronoun- (second preposition-adjective and indirect object noun, if any). Adjective phrases will be placed also before the noun they modify. In case of many object nouns, they keep the sequence accusative, locative, dative and ablative. If it becomes too long, it would be advisable to use prepositions. I preferred SVO because the verb, as primary and basic element of an expression should be also placed before the object. Noun-, adjective- and adverbial clauses will be placed after the verb/noun/adjective/adverb they modify. Relative clauses follow the noun or noun phrase which they modify. The clauses can be formed by the interrogative words as relative/adjective clauses or as noun clauses as in English. However, for the first level, we think in ABCL two-three (“da, de and du”) conjunctive particles would be sufficient for the speaker to express what he wants. Because, the noun or phrase to be modified will be indicated by these modifiers so that from the formation of both parts the meaning will be clear in many cases even without utilizing interrogative modifiers such as when, which, who etc. ABCL does not use English “it” as complimentary subject as “it snows” and “it is important”. We say “vense ven.e = snow falls” and “eji = important (dropping “it is”)”. For the latter case we need for future (it will) and past (it was) however the verb (to be) “bab” as modal i.e. “bab.a” and “bab.o”. (it was important to know=boneş babo eji (to know was important) or it is important to me=lu a babe eji (to me is important)

Subordinate/dependent-Relative Clauses in ABCL

Subordinating and relative clauses in ABCL are designed similar to English. Linking particles/conjunctions such as conditional “fe” (=English “if”), subordinating conjunctions “du (so that), and relative pronouns “do” (what, which, who), relative adverbs (where, when, how), who and “du” (that) will be used generally as in English. Relatives can/will be combined to one “do” if it is acting like a subordinate conjunction. If the pronoun introduces describing information about a noun then “what, which and who” will be used accordingly. Nondefinite clauses are also possible. Infinitive, participle clauses have the form as in English with some adjustments in to ABCL. (“to reach him was difficult= ger.eş u babo eyix; the man covered with paint is decorating …= solma kokon ne hönbö tedi …) English gerund is expressed in ABCL as three differing sense: 1. In resent continuous tens as suffix “_i” after verbs (she is smiling= u şim.i) 2. In relative clauses as suffix “_iş”(“the boy smiling always = solbo şim.iş as”; while speaking with me, he was happy= ha çeşiş ne a, u oha) 3. As deverbal noun with a special suffix which is gained by reversing the last two letters of the verb (She was surprised at losing the race= u nöson ma pollo … ) This construction will be utilized also for similar deverbal noun derivations (from “puf=forbid”, derivation “puffu=ban, prohibition, forbidden”) In strict meaning, the participle does not exist in ABCL (there are no auxiliary verbs form of the verbs “to be” and “have”).

LEXICON

ABCL lexicon has been set up as Excel matrixes separated for nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctives-prepositions and pronouns for ABCL-English. Easiest way is to use the search function of the Excel table in both directions. The matrixes could be also used to include a third language (e.g. native language) by the right-click "explanation button". The access to the Table is possible through the URL page of Aybay (https://aydinbaykara.com) for the interested conlangers. I work on a “classical” lexicon listed as per alphabet order in line with my translation effort of my roman in ABCL (for time being it reached about 500 words).

CONNOTATION/EVOCATION-HINTS FOR MEMORIZING/DISREMEMBERING in ABCL/An unique feature

Vocabulary of ABCL has been created with the aim of easy memorizing. Firstly, it was grouping of words in logical classes as explained above for grammatical word categories. As I have tried to learn the language for speech, I have discovered that the foreseen classification would be helpful only after a large amount of the words (may be two-three thousand) have been memorized. Therefore, I have modified the system. The idea was to establish such links between English and ABCL words so that (e. g while translation from English) an English equivalent of ABCL word should include something to evoke to ABCL word. The outcome was so (Examples):

Nouns: Consonant out of first two (better both) letter of English noun will be fourth (fifth) letters of ABCL word. Examples: settlement-sölse; news- timne; car-vitca; father-salfa; mother-salma. Verbs with prefix “ex-“ get the “_z” as third letter (explain=çez) or such with a vowel as initial letter will have “y” as last letter (ask=çay)

Verbs: First one (better two) letter of English verb constitutes adverted the last letter(s) of ABCL verb. Exemptions have been made however for verb groups having same category wit nouns, i.e. if the verb-group with the consonants “mVs” associated with “faith-mus”-subtitle of the noun-category “m-s: psyche/faith”, the corresponding verb “mus-faith” will deviate from the said rule. In this case all nouns related to “faith” will have as first syllabise “musCV”, like “musfa=faith, musro=prophet, muspa= paradise) Examples: reg-get on; pid-disturb/discomfort; ses-see; seh-hear; lap-approach (also such, non-adverted possible)

Adjectives: afo-- foreign ahu-- hypocritical alü-- alone apox-- unpolite/rude ave-- weary ayo-- young

Verb to Noun: han-hanka (built-building); bun-bunde (educate-education). Similar approach has been utilized also for adverbs, conjunctives and pronouns even limited. This approach turned out to be quite useful after I have succeeded over 500 words to memorize already.

SAMPLE TEXT

Here is a paragraph from “The Old Man and the Sea” translated in ABCL. (The particle in parenthesis indicates that it can be omitted for the first level. As seen, in English almost 60 percent more letters are required for the same expression.

“I can remember you throwing me into the bow where the wet coiled lines were [A b.bar.e (ite) o kuf.u a mü lu vitbö te (bab.o) odux koç.ono tümle.i] and feeling the whole boat shiver and the noise of you clubbing him [sa (du) a mef.i oşa vitbo şiv.e sa vanzı (yo) o pub.iş u] like chopping a tree down and the sweet blood smell all over me.” [ge dov.vo şirye omur sa eşe sanla miş.şi oşi ak a.]

The ABCL text now put to gather: A b.bar.e (du) o kuf.u a mü lu vitbo te (bab.o) odux kaç.ono tümle.i sa (du) a mef.i oşa vitbo şiv.e sa vanzı (yo) o pub.iş u ge dov.vo şirye omur sa eşe sanla miş.şi oşi ak a. (127 letters only, where the English text utilized 162 letters for the same.)

ABCL is considered completely developed for Level 1 with basic nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions particles, prepositions and pronouns already. The lexicon with about 8000 vocabularies would be sufficient for a fair communication.

ABCL is free for everyone except for commercial use.

Below is a large text translation from: (paragraph by paragraph)

The Old Man and the Sea

--Solmo (ayox solma) sa Vinse

He was an old man who fished alone in a vessel/skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him.

--U bab.o solmo to tüm.ü şenfi alü.r (mü) vitve mü G-S sa u yog.u six ki camda it nex katiş şenfi. Mü oyür kix camda solbo bab.u ne u.

But after forty days without a fish the boy’s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is (the worst form of unlucky), and the boy had gone at their orders in another boat which caught three good fish the first week.

--Su şa kix camda nex şenfi, solbo.z salpa çet.o u du solmo bab.o it nodir sa çenfir “salao”, ti (benzü.z eş ego.x vusfu), sa solbo yog.o ma üz porroi (mü) opu vitbo, ti kek.o fi ego şenfi oyü camva.

To see the old man that he come back each day with his empty skiff, made boy unhappy.ly and he always went down for helping him carrying either coil.ed lines or gaff and harpoon and sail that(ki o) was wrapped/furled around pole/mast.

--Seseş solmo du u yut.o öşö camda ne uz efux vitve, bam.o solbo ohaxir sa u as yog.o omur şo feh.he u kac.iş pe koç.ono tümle.i so tümge sa tümhe sa vitsa do kıvon (ük) vitpo.

The sail was patched with flour sacks and furled, it looked like the flag permanent defeat of.

--Vitsa dap.o.n ne denfi dünsa.i sa kıv.on, u bul.o.m ge çanfu yo obe fönde (fönde.z çanfu).

The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck (his neck’s back).

--Solbo bab.o ete.x sa apı.x ne edo çüv.ayai mü uz sonhe.z vünba.

The brown blotches of the benevolent skin cancer (which) the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic see were on his cheeks.

--Uçe lüb.ayai yo abe sansi tenka (abe sansi tenka.z uçe lübbüi) do vessu lib.e lü uz vüsfe/ver.re (mo) vintö.do vinse bab.o mu uz sinfe.i.

The blotches ran well down the sides of his face and his hands had the deep-creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords.

--Lüb.ayai yun.o ani omur uz sinfa.z vünku sa uz sonyei bah.o edo-çüş.ono tünşei lü sah.ha ehe şenfi mu tümköi.

But none of these scars were fresh. They were old as erosions in a fishless desert.

--Su ose tünşe.i.z işix bab.o ofex. Ü bab.o ayox ge vanyo mü şenfi.dox vinde.

Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same colour as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.

--İşüba ga u bab.o ayox gü uz sinye.i sa ü bab.o esö vüsko ge vinse sa bab.o meç.ado sa fön.ono.x.

“Santiago,” the boy said to him as they climbed the bank from where the skiff was hauled up. --“Santiago,” solbo ças.o u he ü lic.o dinbi lü te vitve kah.on omurx. “I could go with you again. We’ve made some money.”

--“A byog.e.k ne o ut. E bam.o öşo halmo”

The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him.

--Solmo bet.o solbo tümeş şenfi sa solbo bol.o u.

“No,” the old man said. “You’re with a lucky boat. Stay with them.”

--“Ya,” solmo ças.o. “O bab.o ne banludo vitbo. Yaşeş ne ü”

“But remember how you went eighty-seven days without fish and then we caught big ones(piece) every day for three weeks.”

--“Su bareş tü o yog.o six pi camda nex şenfi sa ar e kek.o ebi bi çinti öşü camda ho fi camva.”

“I remember,” the old man said. “I know you did not leave me because you doubted.”

--“A bar.e”, solmo ças.o. “A bon.e o lel.ox a be o bud.o.”

“It was papa (who) made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him.”

--“U bab.o salfa (to) lel.o.p a. A solbo sa a çfob.e u.”

“I know,” the old man said. “It is quite normal.”

--“A bon.e” solmo ças.o. “U ul eno (bannu.do).”

“He hasn’t much faith.”

--“U bah.e.x oşu banfa.”

“No,” the old man said. “But we have. Haven’t we?”

--“Ya,” solmo ças.o. “Su e bah.e. J.e bah.e.x?

‘Yes,” the boy said. “Can I offer you a beer on the Terrace and then we’ll take the stuff home.”

--“Ay”, solbo ças.o. “J.a b.füt.e o denbe (mo) hante sa ar e kat.a çonşu pasha.”

“Why not?” the old man said. “Between fishermen.”

--“Otux?” solmo ças.o. “ Le şenfi.na.i”

They sat on the Terrace and many of the fishermen made fun of the old man and he was not angry.

--Ü yis.o (mo) hante sa şenfi.na.i.z oşu.ma (oşuma yo şenfi.na.i) bam.o (tom.o) tomya yo solmo sa u bab.o.x ayö.

Others of the older fishermen, looked at him and were sad.

--İpui yo aş ayo.x şenfi.ba.i, bul.o u sa bab.o asa.

But they did not show it and they spoke politely about the current and the depths they had drifted their lines at and the steady/permanent good weather and of what they had seen.

--Su ü koş.o.x u sa ü çeş.o apo.r ga vencü sa edo.ma.i te ü yud.o üz tümlei sa obe ego venve sa yo ta ü ses.o.

The successful fishermen of that day were already in and had butchered their marlin out and carried them laid full length across two planks, with two men staggering at the end of each plank, to the fish house where they waited for the ice lorry/truck to carry them to the market in Havana.

--Camda.z suc.ado sulfii/şenfi.ba.i (yo osu camda) bab.o oy mü sa dub.o üz şenma em sa kac.o ü yel.o.n efu vutma ko çi hönpi, ne çi solma yüş.iş ma çenfi yo öşö hönpi, lu şenfi hanho te ü rav.o şo vönvi vitlo kacoş ü (lu) hinmi in Havana.

Those who had caught sharks had taken them to the shark factory on the other side of the cove where they were hoisted on a block and tackle, their livers removed, their fins cut off and their hides/skins skinned out and their flesh cut into strips for salting.

--İsü to kek.o şenrii, kat.o ü (lu şenri hinfa mu opu vunsi yo vinko te ü koh.o.n mu koh.ana, üz senlii lomo.n, üz sünfii kuc.o.n öl sa üz sansii diş.o.n sa üz sunfe kuc.o.n (mü)(lu) çanşıi şo denso.k.ko. When the wind was in the east a smell came across the port/harbour from the shark factory; but today there was only the faint edge of the odour because the wind had backed into the north and then dropped off and it was pleasant and sunny on the Terrace.

--Tu venvi bab.o mü vundo miş.şi yom.o ko hunpo lü şenşa hinfa; su at efü vusyu yo miş.şi bebo öf be venvi sub.o mü lu vunno sa ar şod.o öl sa u bab.o apü sa vessu.do(lo) (mo) hante.

“Santiago,” the boy said.

--“Santiago,” solbo ças.o.

“Yes,” the old man said. He was holding his glass and thinking of many years ago.

--“Ay” solmo ças.o. U loh.u uz dinga sa bit.ü (yo) oşü camya ey.

“Can I go out to get sardines for you for tomorrow?”

--Ja byog.a em reg.eş şensa.i şo u şo ot/camto?

“No. Go and play baseball. I can still row and Rogelio will throw the fishnet.”

--“Ya. Yog.eş sa teb.eş tambu. A b.tor.e es sa Rogelio kuf.a tümfö.”

“I would like to go. If I cannot fish with you, I would like to serve in some way.”

--A s.bal.ek yog.eş. Fe a b.tüm.a.x ne o, a s.bal.ek feseş mü öşo hünve.

“You bought me a beer,” the old man said. “You are already a man”

--“O hub.o a denbe”, solmo ças.o. “O bab.e oy solma.”

“How old was I when you first took me in a boat?”

--“Üta cam(ge) a bab.o tu o kat.o oyür a mü vitbo?”

“Five and you (almost)nearly were killed when I brought the fish in to green and he nearly tore the boat to pieces. Can you remember?”

--“Li sa o ah piy.o.n.ç tu a lib.o şenfi mü lu öfö sa u al get.o vitbo lu çinpi.i. J.o b.bar.e?

“I can remember the tail slapping and banging and the thwart breaking and the noise of the clubbing.

--“A b.bar.e sünta paş.iş sa çab.iş sa lot.aya keb.iş sa vanno yo pub.bu.

I can remember you flinging/throwing me into the bow where the wet coiled lines were and feeling the whole boat shiver and the noise of you clubbing him like chopping a tree down and the sweet blood smell all over me.”

--A b.bar.e (du) o kuf.u a mü lu vitbö te (bab.o) odux kaç.ono tümle.i sa (du) a mef.i öşa vitbo şiv.e sa vanno (yo) o pub.iş u ge doç.ço şirte omur sa eşe sanla miş.şi oşi ka a.

“Can you really remember that or did I just tell it to you?”

--“Jo bbar.e ül osu so ja çet.o aju u (lu) o?”

“I remember everything from when we first went together.”

--“A bar.e işüba lü tu e yog.o oyür oç.”

The old man looked at him with his sun-burned, confident loving eyes.

--Solmo bul.o u ne uz vessu-kab.ono, oko bol.iko sinye.i

“If you were my boy(son) I’d take you out and gamble,” he said. But you are your father’s and your mother’s and you are in a lucky boat.”

--“Fe o bab.e.k az solbo(salsa) a skat.ek o em sa stag.ek” u ças.o. “Su o (bab.e) oz salfa.z sa oz salma.z sa o bab.e mü benlu.do vitbo.”

“May I get the sardines? I know where I can get four baits too.”

--“Ja d.reg.e şensa.i? A bon.e te a b.reg.e ki tümba af”

“I have mine left from today. I put them in salt in the box.”

--“A lel.o iza lü camda. A kup.o ü mü denso mü dönbö.”

“Let me get four fresh ones.”

--En a reg.e ki efi çinti.

“One,” the old man said. His hope and his confidence had never gone. But now they were freshening as when the breeze rises.

--“Bi”, solmo ças.o. Uz bonho sa uz masko yog.ox is. Su it ü ofe.l.ü tu venbe çir.e.

“Two,” the boy said.

--“Çi”, solbo ças.o .

“Two,” the old man agreed. “You didn’t steal them?”

--“Çi”, solmo soy.o. “O höş.ox ü?

“I would,” the boy said. “But I bought these.”

--“A s.bab.o.k” solbo ças.o. Su a hub.o ise”

“Thank you,” the old man said. He was too plain/simple to wonder when he had attained humility.

--“Sat o”, solmo ças.o. U bab.o oh epi bov.eş tu u lut.o buh.ada (buh.hu).

But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride.

--Su u bon.o du u lut.o u sa u bon.o du u bab.o.x pösdi.do (pösgö.do.x) sa u kac.o.x ya los.so yo etu menpi.

“Tomorrow is going to be a good day with this current,” he said.

--“Camto bab.a ego camda ne osa vencü(vof.fo)” u ças.o.

“Where are you going?” the boy asked.

--“Ote o yog.i ? solbo çay.o.

“Far/distant out to come in when the wind shifts. I want to be out before it is light.”

--“Edi em yom.eş mü tu venvi riş.e.m. A bav.e bab.eş em de u vüsli.”

“I’ll try to get him to work far out,” the boy said. “Then if you hook truly big something we can come to your aid.”

--“A lıt.a regeş u haveş edi em”, solbo ças.o. “Ar fe o tümhö.k.a etur ebi şobse, e b.yom.e lu oz pisye ”

“He does not like to work too far out.”

--“U balex haveş oh edi em.”

“No,” the boy said. “But I will see something that he cannot see such as a bird working and get him to come out after (from behind of) dolphin.”

--“Ya”, solbo ças.o. “Su a ses.a şobse du u b.ses.e.x çe şönbi hav.iş sa reg.a u yomeş em (şa) şendöz lü mo.”

“Are his eyes that bad?”

--“J. uz sinye.i (osu) ça ego.x?

“He is almost blind.”

--“U ah ori”

“It is strange,” the old man said. “He never went turtle-ing. That is what kills the eyes.”

- -“Eno.x”, solmo ças.o. “U yog.o.x is şintu.k.ku. İsu bab.e ta piy.e sinye.i”

“But you went turtle-ing for years off the Mosquito Coast and your eyes are good

--“Su o yog.o şintu.k.ku ho camya.i (elo camyai) lö Mosquito Coast sa oz sinye.i edi.


Little child, be not afraid: --Ebix solça, mafeşx

Though rain pounds/knocks) harsh against the glass:-- Çö venre kon.e emi.x na vonga

Like an unwanted stranger:-- Ge bav.ono.x solfo

There is no danger: --Binde beb.ex

I am here tonight:-- A bab.e ik ut

Little child, be not afraid:-- Ebix solça, mafeş.x

Though thunder explodes and lightning flash:-- Çö ventö çoz.e sa venli vaf.e

Illuminates:-- Vay.e

Your tear-stained face:-- Oz sanfü-laş.ono sinfa

I am here tonight:-- A bab.e ik ut