Re: average syllables per word?

On Sat, 26 Jun 1999, Nik Taylor wrote:

> Oh, I'd guess anywhere from about just over one to around 4 or 5.
> Actually, that would be of "roots", remember, some languages allow for
> looooong series of affixes and/or incorporation.
For Valdyan:

The starlings' song (I have yet to do it with a larger sample, such
as the story of Grandpa and the Dragon) has 18 words and 40
syllables, an average of 2,2<repeating>.

Counting the uninflected form of each word (root and intrinsic
ending, if any) it's 34 syllables, average 1,8<repeating>.

Inflected words that have an intrinsic ending (all verbs and about
60% of the nouns) don't gain a syllable on inflexion, one-syllable
roots (the rest of the nouns) do; sometimes even two syllables, such
as laz -> laziena (accusative plural). Verbs can have an aspect
infix, adding another syllable.

Known borrowings in Valdyan either fit themselves to the Valdyan
system (like _laz_ "star" and _alab_ "brandy") or remain indeclinable
(like _calesh_ "a poisonous herb"). What language the words come from
doesn't seem to make a difference; both _alab_ and _calesh_ are from
the same language, _laz_ from another one.

   Irina


            Varsinen an laynynay, saraz no arlet rastynay.
                     irina@rempt.xs4all.nl (myself)
       http://www.xs4all.nl/~bsarempt/irina/index.html (English)
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