Re: Verbless English

On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 19:03:47 -0500G
Rachel Klippenstein <estel_telcontar@...> wrote:

> Hi, I've been experimenting with a conlang-type
> project to write in verbless English.  The aim is to
> use only real English words or plausible coinages to
> write without verbs.  Typically, forms one of several
> simple verbs could be inserted into a sentence, mostle
> "BE", but ofted "GO" (or come), and once in a while
> "DO".  Here is a tale that I've turned into Verbless
> English (If anyone catches any escaped verbs, please
> let me know.)
>
> Rachel
Excellent. I very fond of con-Englishes. Also, story great. Where from?
Curious effect in story; in my mind, many adjectives now like verbs, for
example "he happy" not like "he i* happy" but like <warning: verb!> "he
happies" </verb>. Nice. Like Chinese.


> The story:
>
> Once upon a time, two brothers.  One a miller.  The
> other, everyone_s opinion that he a no-account young
> fellow.  His name Little John.
>
> The miller always cheerful and happy.  One day, the
> king along to the miller_s town with his bodyguard.
>
> His speech to the miller: _My friend, you very happy!_
>
> The miller_s speech: _My king, so far in my life never
> any pain or trouble.  Truly, I happy._
>
> The king_s speech: _Very well.  Today, trouble to you.
>  My wish: three questions for you.  If at seven
> o_clock tomorrow, no answers from you, then death for
> you.  The questions: How much I worth?  What the
> moon_s weight?  What in my thoughts?
>
> Then, the miller thoughtful and unhappy.  Hard
> questions.  The king worth a lot, but how much?
>
> Then, Little John to the miller.  His speech: _You
> very sad.  What wrong?  A burnt batch of bread?_
>
> The miller_s speech: _Oh no, much worse.  The king to
> here today with his bodyguard.  From him to me three
> questions. Correct answers from me necessary, or death
> for me._
>
> Little John_s speech: What the questions?_
>
> The miller_s speech: _How much the king worth, what
> the moon_s weight, and what in the king_s thoughts._
>
> Little John_s speech: _You full of worry about that?
> Very easy.  No need for worry.  I to in your place,
> you to in my place.  Your clothes for me, please.
> Flour production by me.  You to away!  I here in your
> place._
>
> The miller very happy about the exchange.  Little John
> soon at work, and from his lips song.  When the king
> to there with his men, the song to his ears.
>
> The king_s speech : _Time for your answers to my
> questions.  How much I worth?_
>
> Little John_s speech: _Twenty-nine pieces of silver._
>
> The king in a state of surprise.  His words: _What!
> Twenty-nine pieces of silver?_
>
> Little John_s speech: _Your worth not greater than our
> Lord_s, and his price thirty pieces of silver._
>
> The king_s speech: _True.  You the winner for this
> question.  Now the next question: What the moon_s
> weight?_
>
> John_s speech:  _The moon? Its weight one pound._
>
> The king_s speech: _A pound?  Surely not!_
>
> Little John_s reply: _Yes, my king.   Four quarters of
> the moon, and four quarters in one pound._
>
> The king again in agreement.  His next question: _What
> in my thoughts?
>
> Little John_s speech : _In your thoughts, I the miller
> with answers to your questions.  But in fact, I his
> brother._
>
> And so, the king the loser of the contest, and the
> miller still safe and still songs from his lips with
> joy.

s.
----                                            Stephen Mulraney
She wolde weep, if that she saugh a mous        e::ataltane
Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.   at ataltane.net
  -- Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, GP.144-145  w::ataltane.net