Re: polysynthetic conlangs

Robert:

(1) Start with a verbal idea--say, sitting down.   Now think of every
different way that you can convey the idea of sitting down: Sitting down in the past,
sitting down multiple times, sitting down multiple times in the past, sitting
down for a long time, almost sitting down, sitting down against someone's
wishes, sitting down in the future, thinking about sitting down, sitting down on
a chair, sitting down on something one shouldn't sit down upon, dreaming of
sitting down, sitting someone else down, asking someone else to sit down,
wanting to sit down, wanting to sit down but being unable to do so, being able to
sit down, having been able to sit down at one time in the past, but no longer...

(2) Break down every idea you come up with so that it can be described as
being maximally different from the original idea by one and only one idea (so, if
you're idea is "sitting down", then "sitting down in the past" is the
original idea plus one--as is "sitting down in the present".   "Being in the act of
sitting down in the present" is the original idea plus two).

(3) For every idea, create an affix.

(4) There you go.

One way to do this would be make all your verb stems of the form CVCV,then
create CV prefixes and suffixes.   Another way: Make all your stems CVC, create
CV prefixes and VC suffixes, and then stick a vowel on the end (like Bantu
languages).

So, for a quick example, let's say that you have a stem /qas/ which means
"sitting down" or "to sit down".   Then you have some affixes such as:

Prefixes:
re- = negative
na- = volitive (to want to x)
ki- = abilitive (to be able to x)
me- = causative (to make x do y)
fo- = obligative (to have to x)

Suffixes:
-am/-as/-at = 1st/2nd/3rd person subject
-ew/-es/-et = 1st/2nd/3rd person direct object
-iw/-is/-it = 1st/2nd/3rd person indirect object/benefactive
-un/-uk/-ur/-uy = present/past/future/irrealis tense
-or/-op = perfective/imperfective
-a/-u = 1st/2nd Evidential (i.e., you witnessed the event yourself, or you're
just reporting it)

The results:

nakiqasamurora = I will want to be able to sit down.
meqasasewukora = You made me sit down.
rekimeqasatesuroru = (I heard that) he will not be able to make you sit down.
renakimefonaqasatesuyoru = He would not want to be able to cause you to have
to want to sit sit down (I heard).

And there you have a polysynthetic language.

When it comes to issues of authenticity, though, that's where we need an
Inuit expert.   Or maybe Dirk?   At any rate, once you've gotten this far, then
you need to figure out how to: (a) Do relative clauses; (b) incorporate nouns
(if you're going to incorporate nouns); (c) deal with external arguments (e.g.,
"The penguin made the polar bear sit down"); and (d) deal with conjunction.
Among other things.

Anyway, that's my two cents for the day.   :)

-David