Kélen (for the book)

> 1. Name of conlang
Kélen

> 2. Name of conlanger
Sylvia Sotomayor

> 3. Sample sentence with interlinearization/translation (optional)
la Tajúna anammárwien jajíra xámorte tó te Tó anmári án ánen télien;

(T = /th/, j = German /j/, and x = /sh/, accented vowels are long)

Analysis:
la NP-1 NP-2 says that the second NP is a renaming of the first.
tó means "because"
te is la in the perfective.
la NP-3 ánen NP-4 says that NP-3 is associated with NP-4.
and:
Tajúna anammárwien = the center of the (known) world
jajíra xámorte = the (river) valley xámorte
anmári án = the first home
ánen télien = associated with the people
So, "The center of the world is the Xámorte valley because it was the first home of the people."

More analysis:
noun roots:
-jún-   = "center"
-márw-  = "world"
-jír-   = "valley"
-már-   = "home"
-él-    = "person"
 án     = "one, first"

-a is a generic ending, so is -e.
ja- is used with singular inanimate nouns.
Ta- is used in place of ja- when the N is a part of the following N.
an+root+i is used to signify a collective set of things. Using this
form followed by a number is how one counts "first, second,
third...".
ana(m)+root+ien is a greater plural signifying all of a
thing, in this case all of the world.
t+root+ien is also a greater plural, used with animate nouns.

> 4. Web page URLs, e-mail addresses, book titles, or other sources of
> further information (optional)
sylvia1@ix.netcom.com
http://home.netcom.com/~sylvia1/Kelen/kelen.html
(though the old version is what is up there now)

> 5. A short (no more than about 5 sentences) description/explanation
> of the language (e.g. reasons for its creation, associated
> concultures, etc.)
Kélen is spoken by the Kéleñi, a humanoid species living on the
planet Térjemar.  The Kéleñi are not native to Térjemar. Since they
are humanoid, some humans have theorized that the Kéleñi are
genetically modified humans. The Kéleñi deny this vehemently.

The name Kélen comes from the root -kél-,  which refers to crafts
and artistry. This could be taken as a reference to the guilds which
are such an important part of Kélen life. Or, it could refer to the
creation myth wherein the Kélen people are crafted by the local
deities or by jannárien into what they are today.

--
Sylvia Sotomayor
Harcourt College Publishing
sylvia1@ix.netcom.com
sylvia_sotomayor@harcourt.com
www.harcourtcollege.com

from Caldera 2.4 Linux

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