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Re: CHAT: Most boring part of constructing a new language?

From:Barry Garcia <barry_garcia@...>
Date:Monday, August 16, 1999, 22:01
tb0pwd1@corn.cso.niu.edu writes:
>I don't mind making words. I hate writing the grammar. Probably because >I really don't know how to construct a formal grammar.
I like doing that part. Even though i am in no way trained as a linguist nor have i really studied formal grammars, i like making it up and seeing if it works or not.
> >I usually don't sit down and make roots, though. I try to translate >something and work backwards. For instance, I come across, say, the word >"impede." Now, I know that in Latin that apparently comes from "sticking >your foot into" a trap or hole -- something that would impede (doesn't >matter how accurate I am, you see; I just look for a possible etymology to >the juices flowing). What other ideas can I come up with that I can >combine for "impede"? How about "throwing rope"? So I'll make up a word >that's derived from the roots for "throw" and "rope."
Interesting. Well, i can only sit for so long while making up roots. If i stay for too long my brain fries and i get all glassy eyed trying to think of all of the synonyms for the roots :) LOL. Roots for me are borign but making up the actual words themselves (derivations, compounds etc.) because i see how my rules for deriving are working, and what the words that will be used will look like (Like for plant, i really like how "hima" looks). I dont think hard and deep about what idea will go with the root. If i did that it would take me a year to get up to 300 roots. So, i look for interesting roots and put down whatever word comes to my mind first (or think of a word and scroll down the list for a root that fits). ____________________________________________________________________ "Raw to the floor like reservoir dogs" - A.V. Helden ____________________________________________________________________