Re: Hive English Orthography

Let's see if this post makes it to the list. A long one from
yesterday seems never to have appeared.

> Inspired by a couple of the Norwescon panels, I came up with yet
> another conlang idea.
Ditto.

> syllable structure is strictly (C)V (but maybe word-final (C)VC).
>
> Consonants:
> * Voiced: b, d, g, m, n
> * Voiceless: p, t, k, q (= [?]), h
>
> Probably, p, t, k are aspirated. They are also the consonants that
> could occur word-final.
>
> Vowels:
> v  [v]   [f]
> z  [z_m] [s_m]
> s  [z_a] [s_a]
> r  [z`]  [s`]
> i  [j\]  [C]
> u  [G_w] [x_w]
> x  [R]   [X]
> l  [l]   [K]
:: snip ::

> Comments?
Very interesting. What's the syntax of this language?

Inspired by the same panels, I revived and reworked Gremegr - a
conlang that I'd left untouched for a while. I argued with myself
again over creating "inhuman" sounds and whether I was limiting
myself by assuming hive=insect. So, in the end, I chose:
/p/ [p]
/t/ [t]
/k/ [k]
/b/ [b]
/d/ [d]
/g/ [g]
/m/ [m]
/n/ [n]
/gn/ [N]
/br/ [B\]
/r/ [r]
/gr/ [r_G]
/f/ [p\]
/s/ [S]
/x/ [x]
/v/ [B]
/z/ [Z]
/y/ [G]
/w/ [v\]
/rw/ [r\]
/gw/ [M\]
/l/ [K]
/7/ [?]
/i/ [i]
/e/ [e]
/a/ [a]

Bilabials, used as affixes, refer to group levels; alveolars to
castes; velars to the hive. Unvoiced plosives refer to activities
for tending the hive; voiced plosives for changes; nasals for
protecting the hive; trills for movement; unvoiced fricatives for
fruiting; voiced fricatives for seedings; approximants for planning.

/l/ refers to "not hive", /7/ is null (no specified reference).

Roots are VCV. Words reflect the agent of the action plus the nature
of the beneficiary of the action.

Sentences/phrases are strictly:
<action><place><time><beneficiary><object><agent>

Example:
tamat ga7ig gwasa7 zele7 kini7 7ad.

tamat = for-caste-feeds-caste
ga7ig (gaggig) = here always
gwasa7 = for-hive-continuing = brood
zele7 = for-caste-seed (implies seed appropriate for caste level)
kini7 = for-hive-tending
7ad = (marks end of statement)

Nurse-caste feeds here always to-brood caste-seed.