Re: Tutorial--Lesson 1

Interesting idea.  I'll give it a shot.  :-)

I shall list two romanizations, where the two systems differ (and basing
on standard pronunciation).  The second is a more phonetic (as opposed
to phone*m*ic) version, like with Japanese romanization si/shi and the
like.

Some pronunciation notes on the phone*t*ic romanization:
Vowels are more or less cardinal vowels, a is front after front
consonants (or in the diphthong ai), back after back consonants or
word-initially, or in the diphthong au.
Ç (C-cedilla) = voiceless palatal fricative

Stress in the phone*m*ic romanization is easier than in the phoe*t*ic
romanization.  It goes on the next-to-last mora, i.e., the final
syllable if that syllable is long or the penultimate if the final is
short.  Diphthongs (except aai and aau) are one mora.  In the phone*t*ic
romanization, ç (ki) makes it a little tricky.
The very few exceptions are unmarked in the native script, but will be
marked with an acute if they occur herein (which they don't)

> Hello!
Nasubi!
(Less formally: Subi!)

> Good day!
Literally, Ualaaza uabita/Walaaza wabita, but _(na)subi_ is the usual
greeting in all contexts.

> Good night, John!
Depending on context:
If John is going to bed - Uazzala uabita/Wazzala wabita
			  Ua-zazala ua-bita
			  G6-sleep  G6-good
If you are going to bed - Vizzau/Vezzau (Vezzou in some accents, same
                             note for all au, ai is ei in some accents)
			  Vi-  zaza -u
			  Must-sleep-I
If you are parting at night - Uagasiu uabita/Wagashu wabita
			      Ua-gasiu ua-bita
			      G6-night G6-good

> Goodbye, Mum! (Mum is leaving)
> Goodbye, Dad! (Dad is staying behind)
I need to work on these.  :-(

> this/that
This: Li
That: Vaa/Iu (Yu) (Vaa for near listener, iu otherwise)

> to be (sb/sth)
Klaf (X is the same as Y)
Ianas/Yanas (X is an example of Y)

> what?
Pibaa (singular) Pivbai/Pevbai (plural)

> what book?
Uifkal ualibaa?
Wefkal walibaa?
Ua-ifkal ua-libaa?
G6-book  G6-what/which

> which pen?
Uiula ualibaa?
Uyula walibaa?

> this book
Uifkal uali
Wefkal wali

> that pen
(near listener)
Uiula uavaa
Uyula wavaa

> which one?
Ualibaa/Pilibaa? (depending on gender)
Walibaa/Pilibaa

> this one
Uali/Pili
Wali/Pili

> that (other) one
Uiu ualatia/Piuu pilatia
Uyu walacha/Pyuu pilacha
Ua-iu   ua-latia
G6-that G6-other

> What is this?
Ianassaki pili pibaa?
Yanassaç pili pibaa?
Ianas-la-ki          pi-li   pibaa
be   -it-NonPunctual G7-this what
Note: Nonpuctual aspect is pretty much obligatory in present tense with
stative verbs.
Note 2: If you were to use klaf instead of ianas, it would change the
meaning of the question to "What specific thing is this?"  So that the
answer would be, for example, "John's history textbook".
Note 3: The question word goes in the position where the answer would
fill.
Note 4: -la usually becomes -*a (* indicates gemination) after
consonants and -a after vowels (including historic schwa).  Thus, the
form -a does not actually exist.  I think.
Note 5: Maybe -a should be given as the basic form now ... originally
the alternation was -*a/-la which is why I listed -la as the default.

> This is a book.
Ianassaki uali uifkal
Yanassaç wali wefkal
Ianas-la-ki          ua-li   u-ifkal
Be   -it-NonPunctual G6-this G6-book
Note: Notice the different gender.  Genders 6 and 7 are somewhat
idiosyncratic in their usage.  Since the questioner did not know what
the object was, he had no way of knowing that it would be gender 6, and
therefore used gender 7 as a default.  However, the answerer, knowing
that it's a sixth gender noun, uses the appropriate gender for "this"

> What is that?
Ianassaki piuu pibaa?
Yanassaç pyuu pibaa?
Ianas-la-ki          pi-iu   pibaa
be   -it-NonPunctual G7-that what
Note: Pi- contracts to p-, and iu becomes iuu to meet 2-mora rule

> That is a pen.
That is a brush (pens don't exist)
Ianassaki uiu uiula
Yanassaç uyu uyula
Ianas-la-ki         ua-iu   ua-iula
Be   -it-NonPuctual G6-that G6-brush

Note: The word _uiula_ is also the name of the character for /gi/.
Historically, this was _uagiula_
Note 2: Note again the differnece in the word for "that".

> window
Ualuntikka/Walonchekka

> door
Pikka/Pekka

> floor
Pustaku/Postaku (Note: one would normally expect piustaku, as the G7
prefix is pi-, not p-, however, this is one of a small number of words
that cause the /i/ to disappear)

> ceiling
Puzlanka/Puzranka (Same note as above)

> table/desk
Pinazzi/Pinazzhi

> yes
Saau

Note: Long diphthongs only exist in monosyllabic forms

> no
Faai

> to be not
Klaf/Ianas-fil (same notes as for "to be")
Klaf/Yanas-fel

Note: There is a historical connection between -fil and faai, via
different dialects.  Many dialects have changed [aj] and [aw] to [ej]
and [ow].  In addition, a number of dialects have changed /il/ ([el])
and /ul/ ([ol]) to [ej] and [ow], thus merging them with the diphthongs
equivalent to the standard /ai/ and /au/

> to do not
[verb]-fil/fel

> Is this a window?
Ianassaki-bu uali ualuntikka?
Yanassaçi-bu wali walonchekka?
Ianas-la-ki        =bu     ua-li   ua-lontikka?
Be   -it-NonPuctual=Yes/no G6-this G6-window
Note: -bu may also be sentence-final or after the focus of a question.
It does not affect the position of stress.

> Yes. This is a window.
Saai.  Ianassaki uali ualuntikka
Saai.  Yanassaç wali walonchekka
Saai.  Ianas-la-ki ua-li   ua-luntikka
Yes    Be   -it-NP G6-this G6-window

> Is that a table?
Ianassaki-bu piuu pinazzi?
Yanassaçi-bu pyuu pinazzhi?
Ianas-la-ki=bu  pi-iu   pi-nazzi
Be   -it-NP=y/n G7-that G7-table
Note: Pi- contracts to p-, and iu lengthens to iuu to satisfy 2-mora
rule

> No. That is not a table. That is a bed.
Faai.  Ianassaki-fil uiu pinazzi.  Uiuu uanillu
Faai.  Yanassaç-fel uyu pinazzhi.  Uyuu wanellu
Faai.  Ianas-la-ki=fil ua-iu   pi-nazzi.  Ua-iu   ua-nillu
No.    Be   -it-NP=not G6-that G7-table.  G6-that G6-bed
Note: I'm not actually sure if the first _iu_ should be in G6 or G7.
Note 2: In contrastive or iterative sentences, "be" is typically dropped
after the first instance.
Note 3: Like -bu, fil does not affect stress assignment.  However, -fil
can only be added to the verb.

> he, she, it
Isna in the appropriate gender, thus:
Tisna/Cheshna: She
Nisna/Neshna: He
Suisna/Sweshna: He/she
Lisna/Leshna: It (animal associated with people)
Kisna/Çeshna: It (wild animal)
Uisna/Weshna: It (Gender 6 noun)
Pisna/Peshna: It (inanimate)

> who?
Subaa (singular)
Subbai/Sobbai (plural)

> this/that person
Sutaki suli/suvaa/suiu
Sutaç suli/suvaa/suyu

> Who is it?
Klaftassi subaa?
Klaftasshi subaa?
Klaf-tas   -ki subaa?
Be  -he/she-NP who?

Note: Note the use of _klaf_ here instead of _ianas_.  Because we are
referring to a specific person, and wanting to know not the category
that they belong to, but who specifically they are, you must use _klaf_
Note 2: -la was used in previous sentences because the subject was
non-sentient.  However, here -tas is used because the subject is
sentient.
Note 3: ski -> ssi (sçi -> sshi) is a regular sound change.

> It is Rob.
(Assuming that Rob is the speaker here)
Klafuki naZlabu
Klafoç naZrabu
Klaf-u-ki na-Zlabu
Be  -I-NP G2-Rob

Note: Approximate /r/ (possibly other rhotics like taps and trills, I'm
not sure) is often borrowed as /zl/, because /l/ after dentals is
realized as an alveolar approximate.  In many people's speach, [zr] is,
in fact, realized as [r], creating a minimal contrast between /l/ and
/r/.

> Who is she?
Klaftassi subaa?
Klaftasshi subaa?
Klaf-tas   -ki subaa?
Be  -he/she-NP who?

> She is Ms. Smith.
Klaftassi tiSmis.
Klaftasshi cheShmesh
Klaf-tas  -ki ti-Smis
Be  -(s)he-NP G2-Smith

Note: No equivalents of Mr/Mrs/Ms exist in Uatakassi
Note 2: Notice the fairly drastic butchering of names, due to limited
phonology, especially noticeable in the phone*t*ic romanization.  :-)

> Is this person Mr. Smith?
Klaftassi-bu nataki nali naSmis?
Klaftasshi-bu nataç nali naSmesh?
Klaf-tas  -ki=bu  na-taki   na-li   na-Smis
Be  -(s)he-NP-Y/N G2-person G2-this G2-Smith

> Yes. This is Mr. Smith.
Saai.  Klaftassi nali naSmis.
Saai.  Klaftasshi nali naSmesh.
(breakdown should be obvious)

> Is she Ms. Smith?
Klaftassi-bu tiSmis?
Klaftasshi-bu cheShmesh?

> No. Ms. Smith is that other person.
Faai.  Klaftassi tiSmis titaki tiuu tilatia
Faai.  Klaftasshi cheShmesh chitaç chuu chilacha
Faai.  Klaf-tas-ki ti-Smis  ti-taki   ti-iu   ti-latia
No     Be-(s)he-NP G2-Smith G2-person G2-that G2-other
Note: Demonstrative always immediately follow the noun, unless there's a
number, in which case that comes first, and then demonstratives.

--
"There's no such thing as 'cool'.  Everyone's just a big dork or nerd,
you just have to find people who are dorky the same way you are." -
overheard
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