Re: Some Random Questions

-----Original Message-----
From: dunn patrick w <tb0pwd1@...>
To: Multiple recipients of list CONLANG <CONLANG@...>
Date: Sunday, April 11, 1999 9:41 PM
Subject: Some Random Questions


>1.  You know, I notice that my conlangs tend to peter out quickly -- none
>of them seem to grab my interest, although I have this idea of a perfect
>conlang that perfectly expresses my artistic vision. . . okay, I guess
>that was more of a comment.
Don't worry about it.  I do pretty much the same thing.  Then a few years
later something sparks my interest and I pick up an old conlang and move it
along a little further before being sidetracked by yet another marvelous new
idea.



>3.  How unnatural is it to have only one class of noun declensions?
>(Well, now that I think of it, I guess English only has one real class of
>noun declensions -- of regular nouns, anyway)  Or only one of verb
>declensions?
>
I have just started dabling in the grammar of various languages of the Bantu
family.  I think I'm in love!  They have a very interesting system of noun
classes. (8 to 12 noun classes depending on the specific language.)
Something about this system just really rang all sorts of bells and whistles
in my head.  I know I absolutely MUST learn more about this grammar and use
pieces of it in my next conlang. (Or the next mutation of my current
conlang).  Take a look at this simple Luganda grammar at
http://www.buganda.com/ggulama.htm to see how exciting multiple noun classes
can be.  With this kind of wonderful variety, who would want a single noun
class?

--Gary