Re: Góquim

Here are the sentences in Early OurTongue (or at least its latest
incarnation):

1. Three birds are flying.
[Three] karkhaja(n) parâban(u).

Here -ja /ya/ is the nominal plural, -n(u) is the pronominal and verbal
plural, -ba is the progressive marker.

2. [OurTongue] is a simple language.
Ghulimîn(u)i [simple] ghuli.

Here -mîn(u)i is the 1pl possessive suffix, analyzed as -mî-nu-i (1st
person + pronominal plural + adjective suffix).  The /î/ may be shortened.
*Ghuli* 'tongue' might be *ghule* instead.

4. I am learning [OurTongue].
Ghulimîn(u)i westôbam(i).

Etymology: westô- is from *waida-da-wâ, where waida- is the verb root
for 'know', -da is a causative suffix, and -wâ is a reflexive suffix.  As
in many Indo-European languages, dental stop + dental stop > dental
fricative + dental stop, giving the intermediate form *waisdawâ-.  Syncope
of medial /a/ produces *waisduâ-, with /ua/ regularly becoming /o/.  Vowel
length is retained in the contraction, giving final /ô/.  Finally, the /sd/
cluster is devoiced.

5. My name is [Rob Haden].
Sûmimî Rob(i) Hadan ~ Hadin.

6. Where is the book?
Ma [book] (kâ).

Here *kâ* is a question marker; it might be placed at the beginning of the
sentence instead.  However, it is probably unnecessary since there is an
interrogative pronoun.  *Ma* means 'where' (originally meaning 'place').
Unfortunately, there is no word for 'book', since the *Ghulimîn(u)i imir(u)
i* 'OurTongue speakers' lived before writing was invented.

7. You are coming with me.
Tî(n) mî sûn kamûbat(i).

Here -t(i) is the 2sg verbal subject marker.  I'm not sure if *tî* should
have the ergative suffix or not.

8. Are you coming with me?
Tî(n) mî sûn kamûbat(i) kâ.

9. What is the name of that city?
Misî des(u) tûmas(u) sûmi (kâ).

Demonstrative *de-* 'that' ultimately comes from t?a-?e 'hand-that-yonder'
> 'that there at hand' > 'that (one/there)'.  *Misî* literally means 'what
one', it was expanded from earlier *mi* to avoid confusion with
*mî* 'I/me'.  The *-s(u)* suffix is the genitive marker.  *Tûma* 'city'
literally means 'tribe-place'.

It's very likely that what's presented here will be subject to revision.

- Rob