Re: A noun class system

Hello!

On Thursday 09 September 2004 22:06, David Peterson wrote:

 > I've noticed that it's near impossible to make short
 > words, i.e., monosyllabic words. I don't think there are
 > any monosyllabic nouns in Zhyler (well, maybe one or two),
 > whereas in a language like English, most "basic" words are
 > monosyllabic.

I've got the same problem:
In Ayeri, names would have *at least* 3 syllables. Most
nouns are two-syllabic, and when you have a name that
consists of two compounds (which is very likely) the
syllable count grows and grows. There may be following one
of the suffixes for boys' or girls' names. Ayeri does not
divide into m/f/n but into ani/inan.
E.g. "Mooneye" would be Colunniva (colun = moon; niva =
eye), and when it's a boy you maybe have -co, -dan, or -yan
(yan = boy), when it's a girl you maybe have -lai/lay(ra)
(layra = girl) or -vae (vae = maiden): Colunnivaco,
Colunnivadan, Colunnivayan; Colunnivalai, Colunnivalay,
Colunnivalayra, Colunnivae. Plus family name, which is put
in front one's name. Nevertheless, compared with Indian or
Sri-Lankese names, this would be short. But there are still
the case markers (picking the longest version):
_Colunnivalayráris_. Maybe I should better put the case
marker in front, e.g. sth. like _sira ca Colunnivalayra_?
(_ca_ is the linker morpheme, like Tagalog _ng_) ...
Mooneye goes into the forest: Colunnivalayrin manga cong
vinimea ang saraiyà. -- English is much more efficient,
basta!

Carsten

--
Eri silveváng aibannama padangin.
Nivaie evaenain eri ming silvoieváng caparei.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Prince
  -> http://www.beckerscarsten.de/?conlang=ayeri