Re: First text in sla-stlszfu -- an introduction to an Advena

Patrick Dunn wrote:
>
> R szn-qa-x pu-xa-fu stl-sz-fu sla-mda-kwa-q esl-qa-tsa.  R psh-sa-qa-nn
> suq-qa-x dil-tsa-nn wa-akwuq-xa-ki pla-sa sR<-tsa mu-nks-sa mu-tli-sa.  R
> slt-xa psh-qa-xa-tsa.  R wu-mla-xa-nn al-xa-q.
>
> Parallel Translation
>
> R szn-qa-x pu-xa-fu stl-sz-fu
> Topic greet-I-you make-you-phonetic.unit speaks-one-phonetic.unit
>
> sla-mda-kwa-q esl-qa-tsa.  R pash-sa-qa-nn
> name-love-water-me am-I-last.clause.  Topic commanded-he-I-next.clause
>
> suq-qa-x dil-tsa-nn wa-akwuq-xa-ki
>
> watch-I-you reason-last.clause-next.clause
> not-will.plot.against-you-people
>
> pla-sa-q sR<-tsa mu-nks-sa mu-tli-sa
> rules-he-me is.eternal-last.clause very-strong-he very-wise-he
>
> pla-ki-x.  R slt-xa psh-qa-xa-tsa.
> rules-people-you.  Topic continue-you command-I-you-last.clause
>
> R wu-mla-xa-nn al-xa-q.
> Topic not-need-you-next.clause owe-you-me.
>
> Smooth translation:
>
> I greet you, who create languages.  I am called Waterlover.  I have been
> assigned by He Who Rules Forever (he is very strong, he is very wise!) to
> watch in order to make sure that you do not engage in subversive activity
> against us, the people who rule you.  I command you to continue your
> activities.  You're welcome.
>
> Phonetic information:
>
> Since humans don't have forked tongues, it's hard to make the entire
> phonetic inventory of the Advenae, but we can always come close.  Here are
> a few tricky sounds:
>
> kw and pw are simultaneous -- in other words, they are stops with the
> lips pursed (I know there's a word for that, but can't remember it)
>
        Labialized, if I remember correctly.

> R is a uvular trill
> R< is a uvular ingessive -- a snore, in other words.
> P is a labial trill (a raspberry)
        Can you really pronounce those sounds in words? Well, I guess so, but I
don't know if I ever will :( (However hard I try, I absolutely can't
pronounce any non-pulmonic consonnant in a word, even the ones I manage
to pronounce separately. How do you do that you all?).

> tl is a lateral release t (actually, it's a double lateral release t, but
> we don't have a forked tongue)
> q is a uvular stop
> e is a schwah
> i, a, and u have their CV values -- or close enough that we're not going
> to worry about it today, okay?
>
> Any comment?
        I like very much the (t)sa "last clause" and nn "next clause" pronouns.
The whole structure is very interesting, with bits of polysynthetism I
like very much. I just don't understand exactly the use of R "Topic" in
this language. Another question: is the order between full words free?
For instance, can I say:

psh-qa-xa-nn slt-xa.

command-I-you-next.clause continue-you

Instead of "slt-xa psh-qa-xa-tsa"?

--
        Christophe Grandsire

        Philips Research Laboratories --  Building WB 145
        Prof. Holstlaan 4
        5656 AA Eindhoven
        The Netherlands

        Phone:  +31-40-27-45006
        E-mail: grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com