Re: clan of the cave bear conlang

Am 01/06 18:13  Steg Belsky yscrifef:

> So, it seems that verbs and 'complex' nouns are based on simple nouns,
> with different hand signals.   So:
> (caps = word; lowercase = signal)
>
> WATER = water
> WATER+flowing = river
>
> FEET = feet (hmm..then what would be the singular?)
> FEET+moving = walking
> FEET+moving*fast = running (it says that the sign for "running" was
> similar to "moving")
>
> phonology:  (not IPA, based on names)
>
> vowels:  i a e u ou oo o
> consonants:  c r b z d g n v m
>
> they are also able to pronounce the vowels "eye" and "ay" and the
> consonant "l", although it's hard for them.
> the names of ancient female spirits have different sounds:  oooha,
> zheena, eeesha.
>
Nice idea, when I searched out a book on reconstructed Neanderthal
phonetics some years ago - title now forgotten - it made it clear that
Neanderthals did not have articulation in the back of the mouth.  I'll
have to look out my notes that took...no wait I've found them:

vowels: I E A & @
Consonants: d t p b s z v f m n T D

Doesn't give much to work with I'm afraid.  I like the idea of a spatial
language though.

I'm afraid that the Earth's Children Series was one that I gave up on.
Half way through either the first or the second book it seemed to me
that Jean Auel decided she had got tired of writing about a strong
independent woman and decided to write a romance instead.  It irritated
me because it felt inconsistant.  Sorry.

- andrew.
--
Andrew Smith, Intheologus                       hobbit@earthlight.co.nz

                      "Piskie, Piskie, say Amen
                   Doon on your knees and up agen."

                    "Presbie, Presbie, dinna bend;
                   Sit ye doon on mon's chief end."
                               - Attributions unknown.