Rokbeigalmki Logographs

Okay, so a few weeks ago i told you about the "Word Signs" conorthography
assignment i had for my Anthropology course.
I got it back, so now i can tell you about it.
They took the ones they liked and gave a prize (Far Side comic book) to
the best.  The guy who made that one wrote a grammar explanation for it,
so i guess i didn't go too far with mine :-) (i came in second).

You can see it at http://bingweb.binghamton.edu/~bh11744/theszhes.gif

In general, the Rokbeigalmki "wordsign" system doesn't work by
*word*signs, but by *morpheme*signs.

Here's the translation, with the Rokbeigalmki words:

ENGLISH:

Yesterday, I saw from inside my house that an army was arriving in the
city.  With the young-seeeming men and women who crossed the canal were
six people who had tried to kill them.  The great warriors wanted to sell
them to us to be our slaves, but we did not want to be slavers.  One man
who worships int he temple of the East bought them.  The army also had
many sheep - ewes, rams, and a few lambs.  His mother and father bought
the small ones and brought them to a soutern city.  Their other sons and
daughters traded from their wheat-field's harvest for a few old northern
sheep.  The parents will send 361 monetary units to the warriors' city in
the West, and the elders will receive tax from the trade in order to
improve the city.  The army left to conquer their enemies, burn their
houses, and make additional trades.

ROKBEIGALMKI:

Rezatratz, azu-khaz nga'taur waju-a tzii-a ga'^tarme^oktadhm
uhmzuza-tyelub ta'tzraap-a.  Sa'o-maldm-a i i-maldm-a uh-sudsudlihrm-a
ga'uhmzu-dratz la'wad-adp-a sa'uhmsh uhmzu-tezat 6 maldm ga'uhmzu-mebus
wa'damet sha'uhmsh.  Oktadhm-a sudgoiyatm-a uhmzu-shus wa'browaa wa'amsh
uhmsh fa'waur tezat txma snaghm, akh amzu'nyih-shus wa'tezat dasnaghm.  1
o-mald ga'ozoi-peres ta'^waju^davihn-a txa'cha~razd-a ozu-audek
sha'uhmsh.  Elikuh-twan uhmzu-tein ^tarme^oktadhm-a sudyazad bailm -
i-bailm i o-bailm i bailm sudlihrm sudgatm.  I-bardh-a i o-bardh-a
uh-tzom-a uhmzu-audek sha'sudjemihtm-a, i uhmzu-daelyeb uhmsh wa'tzraap
le~miiki.  Tzmuh o-barm i i-barm uh-sudyum uhmzu-brodak nga'tzarp-ad-a
tza'^nethegp^ghoumfes-a tzmuh-a fa'bailm sudgatm sudgaheis-adm ya~milkim.
 Bardhm-a uhmzii-dadal 361 drugnm wa'^tzraap^oktadhm-a ta'ra~felp-a, i
gaheishm-a uhmzii-had sha'talg-ad nga'brodak-a fa'waur datub
sha'tzraap-a.  ^Tarme^oktadhm-a uhmzu-kirs fa'waur dadwin tzmuh kothm, i
dazek tzmuh wajum tza'yu, i dawaz sudtwan brodakm.

COLUMN #1:

(beginning of the paragraph)
REZATRATZ (rezat "24-hour period"+ dratz "pass") = yesterday
(comma)
A
ZU = (subject-tense complex "az+u", "i past")
KHAZ = sight
NGA = from
TA = in
WAJU = house
A = the
TZII = my
A = the
GA = that/which; que in Spanish
TARMÉ = multitude (construct)
OKTÁ = war (construct)
DH = (agentive)
M = (plural)
UHM
ZU
ZA = (subject-tense complex "uhmz+u+(z)a", "they(common) past
present-immediate")
TYELUB = arrival
TA = in
TZRAAP = village
A = the
(period)
SA = with
O = male
MALD = human
M = (plural)
A = the
I = and

COLUMN #2:

I = female
MALD = human
M = (plural)
A = the
UH = common gender
SUD = (adjective)
SUD = (adjective)
LIHR = youth
M = (plural)
A = the
GA = that/which
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex "uhmz+u", "they(common) past")
DRATZ = passage
LA = on
WAD = flow
AD = (passive)
P = place
A = the
SA = with
UHMSH = they(common) non-subject
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex "uhmz+u", "they(common) past")
TEZAT = be
SEJO = six (finger-binary 00110)
MALD = human
M = (pl)
GA = that/which
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex "uhmz+u", "they(common) past")
MEBUS = attempt

COLUMN #3:

WA = to
DA = (causative)
MET = death
SHA = (direct object)
UHMSH = they(common) non-subject
(period)
OKTA = war
DH = (agentive)
M = (pl)
A = the
SUD = (adj)
GOIYAT = tallness
M = (pl)
A = the
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex "uhmz+u", "they(common) past")
SHUS = desire
WA = to
BROWAA = sale, exportation
WA = to
AMSH = we non-subject
UHMSH = they(c) n-s
FA = for
WA = to
TEZAT = be
TZMA = our
SNAG = slavery
DH = (ag)
M = (pl)
(comma)
AKH = but

COLUMN #4:

AM
ZU = (s-t complex, "amz+u", "we past")
NYENG = no
SHUS = desire
WA = to
TEZAT = be
DA = (causative)
SNAG = slavery
DH = (ag)
M = (pl)
(period)
KHADA = one (finger-binary 00001)
O = male
MALD = human
GA = that/which
O
ZOI = (s-t complex, "oz+oi", "he present-routine")
PERES = worship
TA = in
WAJÚ = house (construct)
DAVÍHN = prayer (construct)
A = the
TZA = of
CHA~RAZD = east
A = the
O
ZU = (s-t complex, "oz+u", "he past")
AUDEK = buying, importation
SHA = (dir.obj)
UHMSH = they(common) non-subj.
(period)

COLUMN #5:

ELIKUH = (adverb)
TWAN = anotherness
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex, "uhmz+u", "they(c) past")
TEIN = having
TARMÉ = multitude (construct)
OKTÁ = war (construct)
DH = (ag)
M = (pl)
A = the
SUD = (adj)
YAZAD = addition
BAIL = sheep
M = (pl)
(dash)
I = female
BAIL = sheep
M = (pl)
I = and
O = male
BAIL = sheep
M = (pl)
I = and
BAIL = sheep
M = (pl)
SUD = (adj)
LIHR = youth
M = (pl)
SUD = (adj)
GAT = subtraction
M = (pl)

COLUMN #6:

(period)
I = female
BARD = birthing
DH = (ag)
A = the
I = and
O = male
BARD = birthing
DH = (ag)
A = the
UH = common-gender
TZO = his
M = (pl)
A = the
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex, "uhmz+u", "they(c) past")
AUDEK = buying, importation
SHA = (dir.obj)
SUD = (adj)
JEMIHT = shortness
M = (pl)
A = the
(comma)
I = and
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex, "uhmz+u", "they(c) past")
DA = (causative)
ELYEB = coming
UHMSH = they(c) non-subj.
WA = to
TZRAAP = village

COLUMN #7:

LE~MII = south
KI = (distinctive-adj.)
(period)
TZMUH = their
O = male
BAR = child
M = (pl)
I = and
I = female
BAR = child
M = (pl)
UH = c-gender
SUD = (adj)
YU = otherness
M = (pl)
UHM
ZU = (s-t complex, "uhmz+u", "they(c) past")
BRODAK = trade
NGA = from
TZARP = gathering
AD = (passive)
A = the
TZA = of
NETHÉG = planting (construct)
P = (place)
GHOUMFÉS = wheat (construct)
A = the
TZMUH = their
A = the
FA = for
BAIL = sheep

COLUMN #8:

M = (pl)
SUD = (adj)
GAT = subtraction
M = (pl)
SUD = (adj)
GAHEIS = age
AD = (passive)
M = (pl)
YA~MIL = north
KI = (distinctive-adj.)
M = (pl)
(period)
BARD = birthing
DH = (ag)
M = (pl)
A = the
UHM
ZII = (s-t complex, "uhmz+ii", "they(c) future")
DA = (causative)
DAL = give
FINGERBINARY 01011
FINGERBINARY 01001 = 361, thara meiwam sejo-der khada
DRUG = stone
N = (singular)
M = (pl)
WA = to
TZRÁÁP = village (construct)
OKTÁ = war (construct)
DH = (ag)
M = (pl)
A = the

COLUMN #9:

TA = in
RA~FELP = west
A = the
(comma)
I = and
GAHEIS = age
DH = (ag)
M = (pl)
A = the
UHM
ZII = (s-t complex, "uhmz+ii", "they(c) future")
HAD = reception
SHA = (dir.obj)
TALG = taking
AD = (passive)
NGA = from
BRODAK = trade
A = the
FA = for
WA = to
DA = (causative)
TUB = beneficience
SHA = (dir.obj)
TZRAAP = village
A = the
(period)
TARMÉ = multitude (construct)
OKTÁ = war (construct)
DH = (ag)
M = plural
A = the

COLUMN #10:

UHM
ZU = (s-t complex, "uhmz+u", "they(c) past")
KIRS = departure
FA = for
WA = to
DA = (causative)
DWIN = taming
TZMUH = their
KOT = enmity
DH = (ag)
M = (pl)
(comma)
I = and
DA = (causative)
ZEK = fire
TZMUH = their
WAJU = house
M = (pl)
TZA = of
YU = otherness
(comma)
I = and
DA = (causative)
WAZ = action
SUD = (adj)
TWAN = anotherness
BRODAK = trade
M = (pl)
(period)

NOTES ON THE MORPHEME-SIGNS/RADICALS:
A (the) ~ the dip is as if pointing out, 'that one!'.  alphabetic /a/.
AZ (i) ~ same idea
O- (male) / OZ (he) ~ those are legs, the circle highlights the
distinctiv sexual characteristic. alphabetic /o/
I- (female) / IZ (she) ~ circles the breasts and reproductive area,
distinctive sex.charac.s. alphabetic /i/
BAR (child) ~ looks sorta like legs.
_DH (agentive) ~ action dangling off of its doer.  similar to alphabetic
/D/
BAIL (sheep) ~ fuzzy thing with animal radical which looks like something
on legs and is alphabetic /l/
SUD_ (adjective) ~ alphabetic /s/ looking like person with
'characteristics floating around'
MALD (human) ~ stickfigure of a person
LIHR (youth) ~ large cute baby eyes and a mouth
GAHEIS (age) ~ beard
HAD (reception) / -AD (passive) ~ hands accepting the action
TZRAAP (village) ~ objects floating on the waves (the Rokbeigalm are
originally sea-nomads)
WAJU (house) ~ looking down on a simple hut shape with entranceway.
alphabetic /w/
ConstructCase ~ line over the sign, marking the lengthened vowel
TARME (multitude) ~ number-sign for THARA (3) plus MWE (movement) radical
OKTA (war) ~ crossed weapons, expansive and semantically tilde-lengthened
from FIIZHAG (fight).
_M (plural) ~ two crossing lines, radical makes crossbar on pronouns for
"we/they..."
DAVIHN (prayer) ~ person with thoughts going up to the sky/luminaries
TUB (beneficience) ~ flowing (WAD radical) goodness from above
GHOUMFES (wheat) ~ grain-plant looking things with plant radical which is
similar to alphabetic /s/
NETHEG (planting) ~ small plant-radical encased in the ground with a dirt
covering
_P / POUP (place) ~ box of area
WAD (flow) ~ looks like a stream
SNAG (slavery) ~ person bent over with stuff on their legs
YAZAD (addition) ~ a thing, and another thing, and another thing...
GAT (subtraction) ~ one thing with movement radicals spliting it apart
DAL (give) / DA_ (causative) ~ hand giving
DWIN (taming) ~ animal with stuff on its legs
AUDEK (buying) ~ hands accepting moving object
BROWAA (selling) ~ hands releasing moving object in many directions
BRODAK (trade) ~ buying and selling
DRUG (stone) ~ stoney shape
_N (singular) ~ single line
ZEK (fire) ~ expansive flame
TZARP (gather) ~ movement radicals coming together
MET (death) ~ person without legs/arms (=ability to act) being TALG
(taking radical) by the underworld
PERES (worship) ~ person with too much (tilde) thoughts throwing them
(movement) at a deity
TALG (taking) ~ big hand receiving
GOIYAT (tallness) ~ tall person bigger than small
not-the-one-we're-talking-about person
JEMIHT (shortness) ~ short person smaller than big
not-the-one-we're-talking-about person
WAZ (action) ~ hand(s) moving
TEZAT (be) ~ identical lines
YA~MIL (north) ~ right (YAMLI) hand with rotation of stars movement and
tilde-lengthening
LE~MII (south) ~ left (LEMYA) hand with tilde-lengthening
CHA~RAZD (east) ~ rising sun (CHARZAD, shining) with tilde-lengthing
RA~FELP (west) ~ sunset color-stratification (RAFLEP, darkening) with
tilde-lengthening
REZATRATZ (yesterday) ~ sun and moon with DRATZ (pass) radical
_ZU- (past) ~ person and events that are 'before', they can be 'seen'
(=remembered), the person is alphabetic /z/
_ZA- (immediate-present) ~ person and events that are this moment inside
them
_ZOI- (present-routine) ~ person and events that can be seen in the past
and right now
_ZII- (future) ~ person and events that are 'after' and cannot yet be
seen
KHAZ (sight) ~ eye and what it sees
NGA' (from) ~ movement with large beginning
TA' (in) ~ POUP place-box with mark inside
TZA' (from) ~ some kind of hand-like shape, most of which forms
alphabetic /ts/ .  also radical for "my/your/their..."
GA' (that/which) ~ one statement hanging off of another statement,
alphabetic /g/
TYELUB (arrival) ~ movement into a place-box
SA' (with) ~ next to a place-box
I (and) ~ two lines joining and held together by a circle
UH- (common-gender) / UHZ (c-g pronoun) ~ unknown sexual characteristics
MEBUS (try) ~ hand reaching towards an action
DRATZ (passage) ~ movement along something else
LA' (on) ~ on top of a place-box
SHA' (dir.obj) ~ hand accepting the action, becomes double-line added
radical to non-subj. pronouns
WA' (to) ~ movement going somewhere
SHUS (desire) ~ hand trying to pass blockages to get something
FA' (for) ~ movement heading somewhere, although sometimes not directly.
similar to alphabetic /P/
AKH (but) ~ similar to alphabetic /x/
NYENG (no) ~ yes/no/maybe radical same as alphabetic /N<uvular>/ with
empty circle
ELIKUH- (adverb) ~ SUD (adj) and KA' (like) people surrounding (ILU,
"all") something
TWAN (anotherness) ~ one more of the same
YU (otherness) ~ one more, but different
TEIN (having) ~ hands holding an object
ELYEB (coming) ~ movement towards a place-box
_KI (distinctive-adjective) ~ person who is similar to alphabetic /k/
with stuff distinguishing them
KIRS (departure) ~ movement out of a place which is not an enclosed
place-box
KOT (enmity) ~ person who SHUS (wants) conflict crossing-weapons



-Stephen (Steg)
 "a little sun, a little rain; a quiet place to rest your head,
  as long as you're healthy you can be happy too..."