Re: Questions and Impressions of Basque

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.