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Re: Questions and Impressions of Basque

From:Chris Bates <chris.maths_student@...>
Date:Tuesday, August 31, 2004, 7:59
Thanks for the info. :) So the book that I have in fact lists forms of
close to all the verbs that are actually used in conversation...
although I'm not sure it lists all the forms, since a website I went to
listed subjunctive forms which I haven't seen in the back. I might order
"The Basque Language: A Practical Introduction", since it sounds quite
comprehensive. :) Although according to Amazon I'll have to wait nine
days for it. :(

>eduki 'have/hold' (simple present 3rd sg. + 3rd sg. object: dauka) >egon 'be/stay' (dago) >esan/erran 'say (dio) >etorri 'come' (dator) >ibili 'go about' (dabil) >izan 'be' (da) >jakin 'know' (daki) >joan 'go' (doa) >ukan/izan 'have' (du) > >>From the literary language: >ekarri 'bring' (dakar) >erabili 'use' (darabil) >eraman/eroan 'carry/take' (darama/daroa) >etzan 'lie' (datza) >iraun 'last' (dirau) >irudi 'seem' (dirudi) > >As for Basque 3-way sibilant distinction z, s, and x (X-SAMPA /s/, /s`/ >and /S/) and their affricate counterparts (tz, ts, tx), the same 3-way >distinction for both sibilants and affricates is found in Mandarin. For >those interested in descriptions and audio files of these sounds, Ithkuil >also makes these distinctions, and mp3 sound files for all of them can be >found in the phonology chapter of the Ithkuil website (the Ithkuil >romanized spellings are s, s+cedilla, and s+hacek; the affricates are c, >c+superposed dot, and c+hacek). > >--John Quijada > > >
I can pronounce z and x no problem of course, but when I try for s, it pushes too much towards x. I'll keep trying though... at the worst I'll speak basque with a slight speech impediment.