Theiling Online    Sitemap    Conlang Mailing List HQ   

Re: Creating a metaconlang; anyone want to join?

From:Sai Emrys <sai@...>
Date:Saturday, December 1, 2007, 20:19
On Dec 1, 2007 9:21 AM, Jim Henry <jimhenry1973@...> wrote:
> English does use tone, though not phonemically as > "tonal" languages do. I suspect using suprasegmental > tone as your extra channel will make English sound > not just > > > * be anywhere from almost undetectable to unobtrusive (on the level of > > an odd mannerism / speech impediment) > > but _really weird_.
If it were really pronounced on every word, then yeah. But if it were used sparsely, I'd think it wouldn't be so obvious.
> Relatively quiet clicks, and > subtle alterations of facial expression, gesture, > and posture are probably better things to explore.
*nod*
> > I see (b) as the most interesting variant, though (c) could also be useful... > > I agree. Evidentiality, validationality, distinction of > exclusivity for we/us/our and number for you/your; > perhaps number marking for nouns that are > invariant in English (deer, sheep, fish)... > Things like that could be useful.
Agreed. It would also be interesting to add a layer of modifying or even contradicting the base meaning, so e.g. you could say "Meet my friend3, Bob" ~= "Meet my backstabbing colleague who I pander to 'cause he's dangerous, Bob". ;) - Sai

Reply

<li_sasxsek@...>