Alright, so the #ehw #conlang is full of short and boring words (on purpose), so instead, I'm going to start featuring N'tòsi for #Lexember!
It's my first attempt at a tonal language, and it has a phonology that I enjoy! I'm having fun putting the rules together, and I like the conscript I thought of for it, too!
I still have a lot of work to do, but now that I know about the Swadesh List, I have some direction for what words I ought to make!
Now to catch up! #Ntosi
N'tòsi #Lexember Day 1:
Catchup edition!
Today's words: Pronouns and the relationship between us.
–àn– /an˥˩/ (Pronoun)
I, me, self
–ǎan– /an˦˨˦ː/ (Pronoun)
you, other
–ân– /an˨˦˨/ (Pronoun)
it, inanimate/non-sentient other
–âan– /an˨˦˨ː/ (Pronoun)
he, she, they, animate/sentient other
Sharing the core sounds shows a connection between self and others, but altering the tone & elongation shows an inherent respect for others by spending more time on the other than the self.
N'tòsi #Lexember Day 2
–ǐyan– /i˦˨˦.ɲan˦/ (Verb)
do, act, perform
Doing and performing are one and the same. Life is a dance, and each action is another a step in its choreography.
N'tòsi #Lexember Day 3: Direction
–tín– /tin˩˥/ (Pronoun)
this, here, hither
–sán– /ʃan˩˥/ (Pronoun)
that, there, yonder
–tínsan– /tin˩˥.ʃan˦/ (Pronoun)
where
Fun Fact: –tínsan– is almost always paired with the interrogative marker –ń'– and literally literally means "here there?"
N'tòsi #Lexember Day 4: Birds
–tàká– /ta˥˩.ka˩˥/ (Noun)
bird (flying)
–tǎoka– /tao˦˨˦.ka˦/ (Noun)
bird (non-flying / food)
Birds that fly are free and unshackled from the earth, and freedom shall never be taken from the free. Birds that do not fly are bound by the same restrictions as us, and are thus fair game for food.
N'tòsi #Lexember Day 5: Home
Oftentimes, lengthened syllables imply a greater honor or respect for the subject of the word. Observe the etymology of place as it becomes home.
–ò– /o˥˩/ (Noun)
place, spot, area
–yò– /ɲo˥˩/ (Adjective)
good, comfortable, friendly
–òyo– /o˥˩.ɲo˨/ (Noun)
house
–òyoo– /o˥˩.ɲo˨ː/ (Noun)
home, the concept of
And as a bonus:
–òoyôo– /o˥˩ː.ɲo˨˦˨ː/ (Noun)
temple; a home for a god
N'tòsi #Lexember Day 6: Correctness
–lí– /li˩˥/ (Marker)
true, positive, affirmation marker
–xá– /xa˩˥/ (Marker)
false, not, negation marker
–líasòi– /lia˩˥.ʃoi˥˩/ (Marker)
maybe, almost, many, partial marker
And perhaps my favorite:
–sáilǒi– /ʃai˩˥.loi˦˨˦/ (Marker)
apathy/indifference marker:
Implies whatever, whoever, wherever, "who cares". Can take the place of a Noun, Adjective, or Adverb in a sentence to show that the exactness doesn't matter.
N'tòsi #Lexember Day 7: Creation
–xôala– /xoa˨˦˨.la˨/ (Verb)
create, draw, make, paint
To create from either raw material or nothing.
–xǒila– /xoi˦˨˦.la˦/ (Verb)
build, construct, sculpt
To create from existing materials that were made before.
Bonus:
–xôaalái– /xoaː˨˦˨.lai˩˥/ (Verb)
imagine, think, plan
from root –xôala–
@Alamantus what about game birds (e.g. ducks, geese, pheasants)? They fly.
On the other hand, I have never heard of anyone raising penguins, a notoriously ground bound bird, for food...
Unless flight in your definition was meant as the act of fleeing. But then I haven't heard of people eating tropical birds or raptors that they've raised.
Robbie A, Conlanger
Tigzikk