Weeks and days, was: Opinions on English

On Thu, 28 Sep 2000, Irina Rempt wrote:

> On Sun, 17 Sep 2000, Yoon Ha Lee wrote:
>
> > Obconlang: how are units of time handled in conlangs?  And I've been
> > wondering how many natlangs have 7-day "weeks," and what other
> > day-groupings are common.
Grr, sent this message without actually writing what I wanted to
write :-(

Valdyas happens to have weeks of 7 days, not to model "our" world,
but because there are 7 gods who each rule one day. The major feasts
of the gods (at the equinoxes and solstices) fall outside the week,
and in leap years also New Year's Day, which otherwise coincides with
the feast of Timoine at the spring equinox.

The names of the days:

Dochanei hanre - Day of the One
Donanei hanre - Day of the Mother
Anshein hanre - Day of Anshen
Naighei hanre - Day of Naigha
Mizrein hanre - Day of Mizran
Timoinei hanre - Day of Timoine (I almost typed "Timonei" and indeed
                                 in some dialects it may be so)
hanre nafur - Day without a name; this day used to be Archan's, but
he rebelled against the gods and his name was taken from him and the
day moved to the end of the week. Nothing new is begun on this day,
if one can help it, to make sure that it isn't ill-fated to begin
with.

   Irina

--
           Varsinen an laynynay, saraz no arlet rastynay.
irina@valdyas.org (myself)     http://www.valdyas.org/irina/valdyas