Re: Zaik! (Hi there!) - Description of Lyanjen

Matt McLauchlin wrote:
> Vowels are divided into "masculine" (/o/, /u/) and "feminine" (/e/, /i/)
> vowels (/a/ is neuter). The feminine vowels and /a/ change sound when
> they're stressed: e = /E/, é = /e/; a = /a/, á = /{/; i = /I/, í = /i/. U
> and I make diphthongs, but u can only be added to a feminine vowel or A, and
> I can only be added to a masculine vowel or A.
Those are simply back (for masculine) and front (for feminine).  Are
those the native terms?  If so, how'd they get those terms?

> Nouns: six cases, nominative, ergative, absolutive, genitive, locative, and
> dative. Consequently:
Nominative, ergative, and absolutive?  What are their functions?  Is
"nominative", say, subject of intransitive verbs, and absolutive only
"object of transitive verbs"?

If so, I'd suggest that "absolutive" be renamed "accusative", and
"nominative" be renamed "intransitive" or something like that.

> I-nom RED = I am red.
> I-erg RED = I make (something) red.
> RED I-abs = I become red.
So, essentially, the underlying idea there is "[someone] reds me"?

> SELL I-dat = I purchase.
Interesting usage.

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