hopefully, this isn't #6.
> > inspired by an actual archeological object.
> >
> > This language appears to be SVOn (subject-verb-object-number), in which
> > the
> > number can be an actual number, or simply "possession of (#)".
>
> SVO i understand. But what does 'number' relate to?
the number of something - it automatically is shunted to the end of the
sentance, regardless of which category it otherwise would have been in).
> By position it would
> seem to imply it relates to the object. Does this mean that only the
> object can be singular or plural and/or can be possessed?
yep. (unless the subject is a group of people who possess eight carrots).
> Is the subject
> always ambiguous as regards number? Clarification please.
> > vowels:
> > (optional vowels do not change the word by their presence or absense in
> > the
> > written word's meaning;
>
> So what is the purpose of these 'optional vowels'? Are we talking about
> optional epenthetic vowels, such as the second [I] that occurs in some
> people's pronunciation of _film_ as ['fIlIm], while most say [fIlm]?
it would be like, if _film_ could be written _FLM_...and you would know
that the _i_, being an optional vowel, fit there.
(of course, that would cause _FLM_ in the glossary to not allow any other
optional vowels).
> > optional vowels:
> > -au- [2]
> > -ou- [
> > -a- [@]
>
> What is the sound of |ou|
I'll fill that in, just after I finish reading over the latest X-SAMPA site
I was directed to.
:)
> > obligatory vowels:
> > -e [E]
> > -ee (long |e| sound)
> do you mean [e:] (as in german _Beet_) or [i:] (as in English _beet_)?
English _beet_.
> > -hi [h][I]
> Is this meant to be a consonant+vowel comb, as [h][I] suggests, or an
> aspirated vowel? In any case, a solitary occurrence
> among the vowel inventory seems a bit odd.
it's a Work in Progress.
> > tenses:
> > definate past (that which can be remembered)
> > indefinate past (beyond memory's reach)
> > present (definate & indefinate?)
>
> I don't understand the third one: present (definite & indefinite?). Could
> you explain?
I wasn't sure if there'd be one Present tense (both of them), or two
Present tenses.
> > indefinate future (farther than one can think)
> > definate future (fore-sight & planning)
>
> I fail to see how the future can ever be definite. Foresight & planning
> can do much to increase the likelihood of a situation - but it can never
> be definite.
the heat death of the universe, is an example of a definite future event.
> Exactly what is this archaeological fragment?
a block from Chatalhoyuk.
> It seems to be very scant on
> some features, for example the consonant inventory,
WIP.
> but can apparently
> give use complete picture of the tense system. How can this be?
because I'm basing a conlang on an otherwise unknown language. :)
> > [now to see if there's a response this time].
>
> Yep - there is ;)
*cheering*