Lurion

Relocation

2010-12-14T17:55:00.000+01:00

I have relocated this blog to my new Conlangs Blog, at sliv-conlang.blogspot.com.

This will allow me to post stuff about my other conlangs as well.

I will no longer post anything here.

Hasmo and Rodas

2010-12-11T17:07:00.000+01:00

This is the myth of Hasmo (the god of beauty, youth and nature) and Rodas, his fatal love.

Ἁcмο ευzαрιтαтιο αнтрωπωc тeωcκε eрαπzοтα δυнιнου.
Aφαнтεн αмφιαннοнтιο eδeαιι цιδιππει Uтυмαр εн αнтрωπειc.
Διι ποᴧεc, αυт нιc eмεнι δοрιтeрιι ὁι ἑδε δοрιιгε ὡн ὁι.
Διι ᴧeнειεc ὑттαрεcκε, αυт нιc eмεнι.
Aрβαυмεн δεδιοнтιο, αмφιтωнтιο нιтωc φαυнιωc, δυнιнυ
eεκιι αυт eмειнεнι δeυ φeᴧιтαιн υπтα ἑοπωнтιο Рωδαοн.
Aгрιο ὑцεнο, δοрιтαтιι Ἁcмου ειδεтωнтιc, αнтαгεнι мεκεc.
Aφαнтεн αмφιαннοнтιο αιcтωc εκαмβι e ᴧοмιωн αδнαιι.
“Καᴧυ,” φι αнтαгοнтο, “нιтι’ ἑᴧecι’κε.” Cυнαмβωнтιεc
Рωδαc eβαβι e Ἁcмο αυδαcκι cαφтιεc ᴧοгεc мυтεcκε.
Єυтιεc εтαрec гεнεc e Uтυмαр тιδιει καᴧει eцιδιδι οрα e δeα.
Тιδει Рωδαc καcтрιδι αφαнтεн δeαπeнειοнтιο e тιδει “ουнα” αнαᴧeгεтα.
Καᴧει Рωδαc Ἁcмοι eᴧeгι: “Cε φeᴧιω.
Єι мε φeᴧιιc, цαтαυн нε δeαπeнειιc?”
Καᴧει Ἁcмο Рωδαοι eᴧeгι: “Cε φeᴧιω.
Єι мε φeᴧιιc, цαтαυнгε δeαπeнeω?
Δοрιтαтιιн мε αнтрωπωc тeωcκε φeᴧιιc ποιᴧιтeрιωн?
Καccαрιтαтιιн мε αнтрωπωc тeωcκε φeᴧιιc οιгιтeрιωн?”
Aυт ῾eι нοκтει тeιнтου ὑπнωнтιου αφαнтει βαᴧιцωн ειδι
οιοι αнтрωπιc αнтαгεтωнтιι φeᴧου e δeου οιδαтεн δοрιοн καccαрιοнцε.
Ἁcмου ευzαрιтαтιου αнтрωπωc тeωcκε eрαπzοтα ευzαрου.

Hasmo, most handsome of humans and gods, was torn apart by loneliness.
Wearing a cloak all around, he descended on his vidippis (hippogriff) Utumar (Goodheart) amongst the humans.
He went to the cities, but noone was more beautiful than he, or as beautiful as he.
He went to the plains and the seas, but noone was (there).
Having went to the forest, being surrounded by his animal friends, the loneliness
left, but the need to be loved stayed, until having gazed at Rodas.
The young farmer (~), most beautiful which Hasmo sees, is herding his goats.
Wearing his cloak all around, he walks out of the shadows and slowly comes closer.
“’Day,” says the herder, “nice ‘nd sunny.” Walking together,
Rodas smalltalked and Hasmo listens carefully to his soft stories and tales.
They become good friends and Utumar flew every single day up and down.
Every time Rodas asks to take down the cloak, and every time he is answered “no”.
One day, Rodas said to Hasmo: “I love you.
If you love me, why don’t you take it down?”
That day, Hasmo said to Rodas: “I love you.
If you love me, why would I take it down?
If I were the most beautiful of humans and gods, would you love me more?
If I were the most badlooking of humans and gods, would you love me less?”
But one night he looked under the cloak of the little sleeping god,
merely a human driven by love and a need to know if he was beautiful or ugly.
By Hasmo’s beauty, most handsome of humans and gods, he was torn apart.

Poem: Тεκнαтαιн Тαнαтου

2010-11-20T20:24:00.000+01:00

Ι've written a poem in Lurioneski, called Тεκнαтαιн Тαнαтου (The Birth of Death)

---

Καᴧει κοᴧα ᴧeгι δεcποι:
"Cαр! Cαр, cαр! Cαр, гυнα cαрου!
Тε-тε-тεκнαιн тεκнιн гυнα!
Тα-тα-тαнαтαтιн тεκнι!"
Ἁнтрα: "Є, нε κᴧαιοтι, ε.
Καcκιтαтυ цαтιε гнι?
Цαтεн ᴧeгι? Тιc тαнαтι?"
"Тεκнιc, тεκнιc, αυт нε, ουнα,
тεтαнαтι ὡн αнтрωπιc.
Тeειc, παιδο мнι Тαнαтο!"

Ὁ гεгεнοнтιο cαπтεc
cκαzι ειδεтωнтεc ὁπευ:
cмικрεc e παтεтεc φαυнωc,
αнтεc αрαxнεcκε гeει.
Uπтα δeκδυιωc αннωc:
κυнαн, καтοн, υᴧικεc δцαc,
cιнεκαн e φрαтрοн αυтου.
Δυοδeκεc гεгεнι e
ποιεрιδοнтιο αᴧδι
υπтα δeнωc δεδαтα ὁн.

---

One day a maid says to her master:
"Sir! Sir, sir! Sir, our wive!
The giving be-be-birth to a child of your wive!
She gives birth to the most de-de-dead!"
The man: "Oh, don't weep, oh.
What terrible disaster happens?
What do you say? Who dies?"
"The child, the child, but not, no,
has it died like a human.
By the gods, the child is Death!"

He, having become seven,
crushed what was seen by his eyes:
the small and pitiful of animals,
ants and spiders on the ground.
After twelve years:
a dog, a cat, two of his age,
an old woman and his own brother.
He had become twenty and
stopped working
when, after his parents, being given himself.

---

It's something of a trochaic tetrameter: the verse is as such:
καᴧει κοᴧα ᴧeгι δεcποι
cαр cαр cαр cαр гυнα cαрου

Also, both halfs consist out of a 4-3-3 combination: in the first piece, they divide the three direct speeches; in the second piece, three stages of his age.

It's pretty ridiculous, I know.

Tintin

2010-11-02T19:25:00.000+01:00

Here!

Tintin is awesome.

Other than that, I wanted to tell you I had translated the first page of "Tintin and the Black Gold" some time ago, but now have scanned the page and actually rewritten the speech bubbles. It looks a bit fake and/or messy, 'cause, well, it is.
Please forgive me.

To go to the page, simply click the link beneath the miniature:

Every Coin

2010-10-24T15:10:00.000+02:00

Тιδιε xрεcмιнтε ἱ δακрεн.

Every coin have.3sg back.acc.

Every coin has a backside.

I've come up with my first Lurion proverb. It implies that every fortunate event can (but not necessarily must) be accompanied by a catch. When said to someone who is about to buy something or make some sort of deal, it is a warning that he or she must also look at the consequences and make sure it is not a scam; when someone notices that you or your deeds are not perfect, it can be used as a "that's life" apology.

Because the common people do not often use money, a more 'fitting' and of course more vulgar expression has come into existence:

Тιδιι zωιc ἱ δακрεн.

It literally means "Every animal has a backside," but "every animal has a behind / an arse" is obviously implied. In this context, the fortunate event is represented by a productive animal, whereas the catch is the feces and indirectly its food consumption.

However, it can also be used to state that everyone is but a human and therefore has his own flaws. It can be chanted whilst rebelling against an arrogant king; it can be exclamated when one is being punished for a mistake.

Busy

2010-10-12T21:17:00.001+02:00

Єυтιε Καтαᴧυ!

And, ευтιε αнιδαᴧυ!, as I will turn 17 tomorrow. (Yay!) I am not planning on doing anything spectacular; we'll go out for dinner sunday and I've invited some of my friends for some movies and games on monday the 25th (busy schedules, I guess).

Cαφтυ ἁπтιφου ειοрι Cтрeπαн ευмοнει πрοрωнтιαн.

Softness pillow.gen cause.3sg Strepa.acc happiness.dat purr.prt.f.acc.

The softness of the pillow made Streepje purr with happiness.

It was Animal Day last week, and I thought my cats needed and deserved a new scratching post. It goes without saying, they were thrilled to bits. While one was sitting on it, the other thought it was an opportune moment to sharpen her nails and set her claws into her sister's behind; an act that was not much appreciated.

Πрοрοιн is of course an onomatopoeia, as well as мαυαιн ('to meow'). Also, the two Faias in cαφтυ ἁπтιφου have some onomatopoeiic value, I guess.

In spite of all the festivities, I think this might be one of the last Katalus. At least for a while. My other hobbies, gaming and gamemaking, are demanding too much time. I'm really getting a feel for online StarCraft 2, I've got one game to finish, one immense project to continue work on, and another to start. Not to mention the new Call of Duty coming out next month. Posting something weekly has appeared to be too much of a hassle. I might be posting irregularly just the same, but I can not make any promises.

Hail cats!

Rrrrrelax

2010-10-05T18:27:00.001+02:00

Єυтιε Καтαᴧυ!

I thought the picture I made today didn't cut it, so I cheated and took one I made earlier. Noortje looks much cuter as well.

Єι рωтοрeιc ειδεcεн καδυнцε, δειнυтαι Нοртα тεтαррωнтιαн e οрαрωнтιαн.

If turn.trans.coni.2sg image.acc head.acc-or, appear.3sg Norta be_scared.pf.prt.acc and jump.prt.acc.

If you turn the picture or your head, Noortje seems to be scared and jump.

With some imagination, she does. But having straightened your head, she turns back to chillaxin' on a soft summer day.

-цε is the suffix form of ἑδε. Just like e and -κε, -цε is a bit 'closer' than ἑδε. ῾Єδε often states two distinct options (e.g. φυгεтι ἑδε ὁπιтι, "flee or fight"), whereas -цε might indicate two alternatives with practically little difference (e.g. - well, just look at the sentence above).

There's an unusual amount of Рοα's in the sentence, by the way. Pωтοрεтαррοрαрο.

Ррррр.

Wow.

2010-09-29T17:24:00.000+02:00

Єϝтιε Mεтακαтαᴧυ!

What's that? A new letter?

Λυмοειн ὑπнεειнκε βωειтει ἁϝтιιϝ οφтιтeрιει. Єϝ ουрυ.

Lie.inf sleep.inf-and couch.dat self.gen old.comp.dat. Good life.

"To lie and sleep on a couch older than yourself. That's life."

It is. Well, the Waua only appears in some dialects, such as the one seen above. It's some proto dialect, as it features unassimilated forms (-οειн instead of -οιн) and ancient noun conjugations (-ιϝ instead of -ου).

I have started writing down my grammar and collecting it all, as it seemed some rules were only on this paper, and other collocations can only be found on that webpage. Also, I have been working out the proto-languages' vowel assimiliation, as well as vowel elision.

Cupboard Utopia

2010-09-21T23:14:00.001+02:00

Єтι Καтαᴧυ!

I've been working on some diachronics of some sort; it started with noun conjugations, but I will develop it to a couple of dialects. I'll probably put some of those into my conworld. You might just see something about all this sometime soon.

Δακрι мнεc xтωнc εмοнε οᴧβκε?

Back.dat is.3pl lands happiness.gen wealth.gen-and?

Are there lands of happiness and wealth on the other side?

Noortje was quite jumpy at that moment. Strolling across my table as if I weren't trying to get something done on my pc. I guess she noticed it was almost time for dinner, demanding some extra attention in the meantime.

And yes, both the ευтιε καтαᴧυ and The Sentence were written in a dialect of some sort. This one was created after first applying 'elesion' and then 'contraction'. Well, I haven't worked that out, really.

Afternoon Philosophy

2010-09-15T16:18:00.001+02:00

Єυтιε Mεтακαтαᴧυ!

Whoops. Well, it's just that Tuesday is a really busy day for me. On tuesdays, I have to go to school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Of course I could (and should) do it in the two ours either before or after dinner, but when I haven't got plenty of time, it simply slips my mind. Got carried away playing StarCraft 2 and finishing the campaign. So yeah, I just forgot again.

"Eᴧeгι Cωκрαтιc αнтрωπιн мεнοнтιιн cωмαтεн ἑδε ουрιδрεн ἑδε δυεc? Mει αрοιι. Є, ευ.

Say.pst.3sg Sokratis human.acc be.prt.acc body.acc or soul.acc or both.acc? Me.dat is_forgotten.3sg. exclam, good.

"Did Sokrates say that the human is the body, the soul or both? I forgot. Oh, well."

Isn't she just enjoying that postsummer sun? She looks so undisturbable. I can hardly imagine that anything other than that sentence is running through her head.

It features an interesting construction: мει (α)рοιι. It literally means "to me it is remembered" or if negated "forgotten".

Also, ὲ is simply an exclamational thingy. It shows lack of importance or interest.

(For your information, he said it was the soul.)

Mea Culpa

2010-09-08T16:17:00.004+02:00

Єυтιε Mεтακαтαᴧυ!

I forgot to post a καтαᴧυ yesterday. Whoops. Mea culpa.

U̔φαрιωc δрοιнтωc αδнα εнιδειc βрαмтαнοнтιωc ὑπнωнтα αнαᴧδοрεтα.

Autumn.adj.gen drop.gen at windows.dat strike.imp.prt.gen sleep.prt.f non-interrupt.pass.3sg.

The sleepster is not being interrupted by the autumn raindrops bombarding the windows.

Yeah, summer has ended and it has started raining again over here. Not that the weather usually is spectacular here in Holland, but still. Arriving at school completely soaked is never pleasant. But luckily, Noortje doesn't seem to care. I really like the word βрαмтαιн, by the way; I think it covers the meaning pretty well. It's a bit onomatopoeic, I guess.

Oh, and to make up for my mistake: another ευтιε καтαᴧυ!

Єυтιε Mεтακαтαᴧυ!

(Ain't that something?)

Єι Cтрeπα ᴧeωнιc мεнeι, αυтрιωн ποιeι нεн.

If Streepje lion be.conj.3sg, other.adv do.conj.3sg nothing.acc.

If Streepje were a lion, she would do nothing different.

Нεн sounds odd/funny. It's nice and short. "Цαтεн ποιιc?" "Нεн." (or "нεн!", "нεн..?" οр "нὲὲн." depending on the circumstances.) The only thing my cats do more than I, is sleep. Well, that and spending time outside, maybe.

Cave Felicem

2010-08-31T22:41:00.003+02:00

Єυтιε Καтαᴧυ!

This picture is taken after Noortje smelled the whipped cream I had to move around the room, because Streepje was trying to enjoy more of it than the fingertip I gave her.

Цαᴧтε δειнυтωн αцεнοрιεc, καтec οικιεc δυнαc нουтαιн ειнιωн ὡc мαтει.

Although seemingly non-hurt.adj, cats home.adj can kill.inf only.adv their cuteness.dat.

Although seemingly harmless, domestic cats can kill with merely their cuteness.

I really run out on inspiration on this picture, so I made up this completely and utterly serious sentence. 'Cause don't think they can't. They just don't have a reason to. One meow is all it takes.

Verbal Vowel Assimilation (part 2)

2010-08-27T11:46:00.001+02:00

Let's take a look at the verb stems alone:

Indi.: мεн-, нοιмε-, οιδα-, παнxο-, δεικн-
Con.: мεнe-, нοιмe-, οιδά-, παнxό-, δεικнύ-
Opt.: мεнε͂ι-, нοιмε͂ι-, οιδᾶι-, παнxο͂ι-, δεικнῦι-

There are five different verb types: verbs without a thematic vowel and ε-, α-, o- and υ-thematic verbs. υ-thematic vowels do not appear in the indicative.

In the coniunctive, the thematic vowel is prolongued. ε>e; α>ά; ο>ό, υ>ύ.
Verb stems without a thematic vowel get an -e- added.

In the optative, -ε͂ι- is added to the verb stem.

Verbal Vowel Assimilation

2010-08-26T23:17:00.002+02:00

As a response to yesterday's comment, I will run through the examples given their again, this time with pre- and post-assimilation forms.

If you haven't read seen the TALVAC yet, please 'tab' it as a reference.

The Lurioneski verbs have the following suffices for person and number:

1sg (I) -ω
2sg (you) -ὶc
3sg (he) -ὶ
1pl (we) -ὸмα
2pl (you) -ὶтε
3pl (they) -εc

For instance, "I am" is мεнω and "you are" (pl) is мεнιтε.

However, most verbs also have a thematic vowel, which is either -ε, -α, -ο or -υ.
Ignoring the last one (as it is a rather tricky one), they assimilate as usual, meaning they combine with other vowels (in this case those of the verb suffices).

ε+ω > ω; ε+ὶ > ε͂ι*; ε+ὸ > ω; ε+ε > ε
E.g.: нοιмεὶc > нοιмε͂ιc ("you name"); нοιмεὸмα > нοιмωмα ("we name").

α+ω > ῶ; α+ὶ > ὶ; α+ὸ > ῶ; α+ε > α
E.g.: οιδαω > οιδῶ ("I know"); οιδαὶтε > οιδὶтε ("you know" (pl)).

ο+ω > ω; ο+ὶ > ὶ; ο+ὸ > ω; ο+ε > ο
E.g.: παнxοὶ > παнxὶ ("he eats"); παнxοεc > παнxοc ("they eat");

Got it? Great, 'cause it only gets harder.

The Optative is quite easy. It just puts -ε͂ι- between the verb root and the suffix. But again, the vowels assimilate (when possible).

ε+ε͂ι > ε͂ι; α+ε͂ι > ᾶι; ο+ε͂ι > ο͂ι;
E.g.: οιδαε͂ιω > οιδᾶιω ("may I know"); παнxοε͂ιεc > παнxο͂ιεc > παнxο͂ιc ("may they eat").

The Coniunctive does something tricky. When verbs have a thematic vowel, it lengthens it, causing it to assimilate differently. (When there is no thematic vowel, it simply puts -e- in between.) Let's take the same examples as before, but this time in the coniunctive:

e+ω > eω; e+ὶ > eὶ; e+ὸ > eὸ; e+ε > e

E.g.: нοιмeὶc > нοιмeὶc ("you could name"); нοιмeὸмα > нοιмeὸмα ("we could name").

ά+ω > άω; ά+ὶ > άὶ; ά+ὸ > άὸ; ά+ε > ά

E.g.: οιδάω > οιδάω ("I could know"); οιδάὶтε > οιδάὶтε ("you could know" (pl)).

ό+ω > όω; ο+ὶ > όὶ; ό+ὸ > όὸ; ό+ε > ό

E.g.: παнxόὶ > παнxόὶ ("he eats"); παнxόεc > παнxόc ("they eat");

There is no visual distinction between the indicative 3pl and coniunctive 3pl of a verb (e.g. between παнxοc and παнxοc), as accents are rarely used. They are pronounced differently: [pɐnxɔs] and [pɐnxos] respectively.

(* I changed this one, but the chart still says ε+ὶ > ὶ.)

So there you have it.

Coniunctive and Optative

2010-08-24T22:08:00.000+02:00

Єυтιε Καтαᴧυ!

Hell, it's about time.

"Єι καтec тυрαιc, мεнειι ουрυ мου κᴧαccιтeрιεгε."

If cats rule.opt.3p, be.opt.3s life my nice.comp.n-stress.

"If cats would rule, my life would be even nicer."

Today's sentence features the brand new* Optative.

(*When I say new, I mean 'new to you'; also, it's not completely new:)

What used to be the Coniunctive has been split into two modi: the (new) Coniunctive and the Optative; leaving us with a total of 3 different modi (including the Indicative):

Indicative
мεнω, διc, нοιмι, δεικнοмα, παнxιтε, οιδαc
мεнοнтιι, нοιмωнтιι, παнxωнтιι, οιδωнтιι
The Indicative is used to state facts and other things that seem to be undeniable.

Coniunctive (+ε, +e)
мεнeω, δάιc, нοιмeι, δεικнυοмα, παнxόιтε, οιδαc
мεнeοнтιι, нοιмeοнтιι, παнxοοнтιι, οιδαοнтιι
The Coniunctive is used to describe possibilities, uncertainties or irrealities.

Optative (+ει)
мεнειω, δαιιc, нοιмειι, δεικнυιοмα, παнxοιιтε, οιδαιc
мεнειοнтιι, нοιмειοнтιι, παнxοιοнтιι, οιδαιοнтιι
The Optative is used declare wishes, goals or unfortunate irrealities .

The katalu sentence is of course an example of the last of the optative's functions. She obviously is well aware that cats don't rule the world, but if they would, life would kick-ass.

Διυ εнтрα Λυрιοнαιc (part 6)

2010-08-23T15:26:00.002+02:00

I have redone my lexicon, it is now a neat Excel file, filled with fancy colours, origins and references. I really like it.

Also, I've written another paragraph of Pavsanio's story; this time he has just reached Naupila.

---

Єн Нαцπιᴧαн мεᴧᴧω мεтα εκтωc καᴧωc διεн нυгιнтεн e ιω Cαтυрιυ, ἁтει cαтυрec мεнεc "ευтιεcгε αυт нε ἁнεтιεcгε Cαтυр". Єυтαтιιн οιω Φαcтυмαрο Καнοκтια, цαᴧтε οιгιεc нυгιнтεc υxειc нε мει нιтεтαc. Єυмοнιι нαцειει εнтрαмβω οπнοнтιι мeгιεcгε нцαтεc, ἁтειc нαцπιᴧec πeнιδεc καрιzε εмβιрκε мοцει e ᴧeωнεc πφαнтεcκε φαcει. Λecαιι καтιc мeгιι нε ειειδεтωнтιι, ὡнтιι εκрοπтεн αᴧβιεн e мακрεc καнιεc.

In Naupila I seek, after a journey of six days, some humour and go to the Saturiu (Satyrium), where the comedians are "as good but not as hairy as Satur". I think Fastumaro from Kanoktia is the best, although some jokes about the northerlings are not enjoyed by me. Joyful I walk through the docks, eyeing the very large ships, with which the Naupilans take cinnamon and ginger from the east and lions and elephants from the west. A large cat which I have never seen, passes me, having white fur and black stripes.

---

Satur is a βαᴧιцοнтeιc (i.e. halfgod) as well as a мεκαнтεр, what we call a satyre. That is why the comedians are said not to be as hairy. He is the subgod of (dark) humour, infamous for pranking unsuspecting travelers in the woods.

I should continue work on my map, e.g. adding the villages named in Διυ, as well as think about what countries surround the lurionas. I also have an enormous island to toy around with. I will probably create some more daughter languages of Lurioneski as well.

PC Back!

2010-08-13T23:18:00.000+02:00

Yay!

I've finally gotten my pc back from repairs. I have to reinstall a lot, such as keyboard layouts and whatnot, but I hope to be back in business in no time. After all, I am also planning to redo the way I store my lexicon, which is now a messy wordpad file.

Please Stand By

2010-07-21T18:32:00.000+02:00

I was unable to post an ευтιε καтαᴧυ yesterday due to technical problems (i.e. immense pc failure) and I am using another pc to post this. My computer shuts off at random (i.e. whenever I'm doing something important and/or just before I hit 'save'). When I tried to post this on the Device from Hell, it shut down on me twice in 20 minutes.

You might be wondering, "then why don't you get a new pc?" Well, that's the irony. This is a new pc. We bought this to be rid of the problems of our previous computer. "Then why don't you get it back to the store?" We did. With, apparently, little effect. Well, it worked for maybe a couple of months, but now it doesn't. It has shut off 10 times in the last week.

We will probably send it back again, but the problem is, I've got a game to finish within two weeks, plus next week StarCraft II hits the stores. And the last time, it took them over a month.

Hopefully, they'll just let us trade it in with one that does work.

Word Emphasis

2010-07-19T18:44:00.000+02:00

I replied to a forum topic on the difference between defining and non-defining clauses; I thought it might be interesting to share.

Παнтιεc ιοᴧтυιн αδυнωнтec δec εκιειн.
All.ADJ dance.INF NEG-can.SUBST must leave.INF.
All who can't dance must leave.

Παнтec ιοᴧтυιн αδυнωнтιεc δec εκιειн.
All dance.INF NEG-can.ADJ must leave.INF.
All, who can't dance, must leave.

Here, the difference is made by switching noun/adjective, as adjectives can most often be omitted. In both sentences the inability to dance results in to the necessity to leave.

Φυαнтω мου ᴧυβрεc παнтιεc ειειᴧεтωнтιεc.
Sell.1SG my books all.ADJ read.PRF.PASS.ADJ.
I'm selling all my books which I've read.

Φυαнтω мου ᴧυβрεc παнтιεc, ἁтεc ειειᴧω.
Sell.1SG my books all.ADJ, which read.PRF.1SG.
I'm selling all my books, which I've read.

The emphasis is often on the last part of the sentence or word group, thus on ειειᴧεтωнтιεc in the third and on παнтιεc in the last sentence.

One could place the emphasis on many different words:
Φυαнтω ᴧυβрεc παнтιεc мου. - I sell all my books (not yours).
Φυαнтω παнтιεc мου ᴧυβрεc. - I sell all my books (but I'm keeping my films).
Παнтιεc мου ᴧυβрεc φυαнтω. - I sell all my books (I'm not just throwing them out).

As you might have noticed, participial constructions are an immense part of Lurion. They're what makes it unique, actually. Well, at least I haven't seen many other languages that use them so frequently.

Kalfsvleeskroketten

2010-07-13T19:05:00.002+02:00

Єυтιε Καтαᴧυ!

Today, I will show you a picture of a box of "kalfsvleeskroketten". I have absolutely no idea why Streepje would jam herself into such a small box, let alone enjoy it.

"Ουнα, мεнω нε φαιнрιε παнxрιнтε; цαтαυн?"

No, be.1sg not meat.adj.n food.dim; why?

"No, I am not a meaty snack; why?"

There isn't much to say about this sentence. I had no clue how to translate φαιнрιε. But neither does she really have a clue how ridiculous she looks.

And now, because Streepje has featured far more in Katalu than Noortje: a bonus picture. Completely free! In this picture, she's looking at the bees hovering around in my backyard. Isn't that one of the cutest things you've ever seen?

Διυ εнтрα Λυрιοнαιc (part 5)

2010-07-10T22:31:00.000+02:00

I've added yet another paragraph to Pavsanio's Super Awesome journal. He's currently travelling from Blyposcia to Naupila by boat.

In my previous post I said something about a "hot summer sun". The irony. It has been so damn hot these last few days! Well, compared to the Netherlands general weather, that is.

---

Πрοтeрιει καᴧει εнιω нαцιнтει ποcκαнтαрοц, εцzαрιοц ὑцнο δeκεπтει гнοнтιοцκε, διcοнтιο Βᴧυποcκια ᴧecα Aнтιυттαрιαι Нαцπιᴧαн. Cυнδιοнтαι κεκαcтрωнтιαι ᴧeгω διн нεцмεнκε мου ἁιαнοнтιο нε нυгαι мυтοц αυт πeтрιοц δοрοц ἁ. Aнαᴧeгι Aннα αнαιнοнтιαн αнιδιοц αнтαгοц Aнтιυттαрια. Нαцιοнтυc ᴧeнιει ὑттαрει нοκтεc нιтοмα.

The next day I enter the little boat of a fisherman, a handsome youngman and being seventeen, to travel from Blyposcia via Antiuttaria to Naupila. My fellow traveller having asked, I talk about my trip and journal, smiling not [because] of the humour of the story but of her gigantic beauty. Anna answers that she is returning from a yearly herdleading from Antiuttaria. Sailing the smooth sea the two of us enjoy the nights.

---

This part is not that long, but it features some interesting words.

First of all, there is some insane alliteration in the third sentence, where the occurence of the Alfa and Nea is downright silly.

Furthermore, the word ευzαрιι (or the Karvokan εцzαрιι) comes from ευ+ιzαр+ιι, thus literally "goodfronted" or "goodfaced", and means as much as "goodlooking" or "handsome", although from a more objective point of view. It can be used in almost any occasion, whereas the later used δοрιι implies physical attraction.

Speaking of which, the use of the words 'πeтрιε δοрυ' could be considered quite ironic; although he insinuates that they slept together, the word πeтрιι is derived from the Πeтрec (in its turn from πeтεр, "rock"), a race of mythological titans or giants. It has made a semantical shift from "rocky" to "gigantic", to "massive" and finally to "enormous"; therefore the most likely translation of πeтрιε δοрυ would be "great beauty", saying that the woman is extremely beautiful. It could, however, also be a hint regarding her physical size, implying that she is both beautiful and huge.

Aᴧδαιн (to stop, to end)

2010-07-06T19:42:00.000+02:00

Єυтιε Καтαᴧυ!

Here's a picture of Streepje looking at me because I actually interrupted her afternoon cleaning session just so I could take a picture. The weather is great, lately, around 28 degrees at some point. Funny how both the cats and I are sleeping all morning. Then again, my cats do little but sleep, I don't think the weather changes much more than the place they sleep.

Cтрeπα ἱφтοрειнεн eεнαᴧδι e eιδι мε нοιмωнтιοн.

Strepa clean.inf.acc pause.pst and look.pst I.acc all.prt.m.acc.

Streepje stopped cleaning and looked at me, after I called her name.

The sentence shows the 600th Lurion dictionary entry, which is a simple combination of the adjective ἱφтιι (clean) and the causal infix -οр-, turned into a verb. Also it features the word нοιмαιн (to call), obviously derived from нοιмυ (name) - which, strangely, wasn't even in the list yet.

Furthermore, the word εнαᴧδειн (to pause) comes from εн (in) + αᴧδαιн (to end). Other derived verbs from αᴧδαιн are αᴧδοрειн (to stop (transitive)), εнαᴧδοрειн (to interrupt) and εнαᴧδιδειн (to break up, to stammer, to lag). I can't quite find the word for the latter, which is formed by adding the repetitional infix -ιδ-, thus meaning "to pause repeatedly".

And the cat sleeping in last weeks third καтαᴧυ picture was in fact Streepje.

Mαнπαнυ (Breakfast)

2010-07-03T14:28:00.000+02:00

Єн цοιδιцει οφт нε мαнπαнεн παнxω.

In vacation.dat often not breakfast.acc eat.1sg.
In my vacation, I often do not have breakfast.

This sentence does not only show both an interesting word and a special construction, it is also true. Not that I starve myself until lunch, it's just that I don't wake up until around noon. It's also true in weekends. My biological clock must hate me for that, 'cause I have to wake up at 7:00 to go to school every day. Am I glad I'm done with that for some weeks.

Oh, right, мαнπαнυ. Well, first of all, you might have noticed that the literal translation should actually be "I often do not eat breakfast". In English you 'have a meal' or 'have a dinner', whereas in ᴧυрιοнεcκι you "eat a meal".

Me waking up at noon is quite normal in higher social classes in Lurionas, where they wake up at around ten o'clock, and have ἑᴧπαнυ (< ἑᴧecε 'sun' + παнxυ 'meal'; "lunch") within an hour or two. Then at around eight in the evening, families regroup to enjoy some dinner, цεcтπαнυ (< цεcтεр 'evening'). Labourers, or мαнοιрec, on the other hand, have to wake up early to go to work. Therefore breakfast is called мαнπαнυ, which is shortened from мαнοιрιε παнxυ ("labours meal").

That may sound demeaning, but in Lurion it hardly is, as мαнοιрυ is much more approbative than ποιεрυ "work". Where ποιεрιc can mean anything from slave to teacher, from baker to soldier, мαнοιрιc, which has obviously something to do with мαнυ (hand), is used to show that someone works really hard, makes a decent living, puts his back into it.

Λυрιοнιεc тecειc (Lurion temples)

2010-06-30T14:26:00.000+02:00

The Luriones use тecειc (temples) as a place to pray, praise and meditate, as well as to meet for various reasons.

There are several types of temples, in most of them the seven main Gods, i.e. Δрαгο, Xωтαнο, Aκтοр, Ἱδοр, Ἁcмο, Cιцο and Mαο, are worshipped. Here I will discuss some of the most common.

Basic layout
Lurion temples housing multiple gods all have a similar layout, regardless of their shape.

The light blue area is the main room, which is available to everybody all during the day and night. The coloured areas are the actual rooms where each god is worshipped, praised and sacrificed to. These can only be entered by ᴧυрιοнιεc οικεнтec (Lurion citizens), thus not by βαрβαрec (barbarians, i.e. Fartes, Gerimes etc), δαмκαтec (slaves) or criminals, and only under the supervision or with the approval of тecec, priests.

Finally, the dark blue area is used as a back entrence for priests, a storage room and for other religious activities, e.g. removing animal sacrifices.

The front (shown at the bottom of the sketch) can be either a wall with one or multiple gates in it, or a мακουрυ (a row of pillars or columns). The whole temple can also be surrounded by a continuous мακουрυ, called an αмφιмακουрυ.

Тεтрειυ (Tetrium)
The Tetreiu or Tetrium is the most basic temple, it is rectangular but, unlike most Greek temples and modern churches etc, its main entrance is located on its longest side. It can be used to worship any combination of gods.

῾Єκтειυ (Hectium)
The Hekteiu has the shape of a hectagon, which is a holy shape in Lurion religion. Often with a dot in the middle, it resembles the seven main gods, with Δрαгο in the middle. However, for practical reasons, the rooms are position against the back three walls and are accessible via the main room in front. It is only used in the worship of these seven gods.

Κυκᴧειυ (Cyclium)
The Cyclium is a round temple, where most often only one deity is sacrificed to. It is often accompanied by a κυκᴧιмακουрυ (a circular αмφιмακουрυ), or sometimes by some other round formation of e.g. trees (like the Cyclarbrium), flames or stones.

Δουκᴧειυ (Duclium)
The Doukleiu, which is shortened from Δουικυκᴧειυ, has the shape of half a circle. It usually has a straight wall with only one door in it. When entering this, one can turn his head from left to right, eyeing the wide variaty of gods that is worshipped there. The rendezvous generally take place around the back side of the temple.

That's basically it, although villages and cities further away from the central Lurionas may have other types of temples.

Καтαᴧυ

2010-06-29T13:09:00.016+02:00

Following in the footsteps of David J. Peterson, whom I deeply respect, I will post cat related words, sentences and photos of my two cute cats (Noortje and Streepje) every tuesday! This will help increase my vocab, as well as allow me to keep posting on a consistent basis.

Єυтιε Καтαᴧυ!

Καтαᴧυ is a combination of καтιc ("cat") and -αᴧυ, the suffix meaning "-day" (from καᴧυ). Coincidentally, it is also a slight anagram of ακтαᴧυ, the word for the second day of a week, or "tuesday", named after the God of War, Aκтοр. Furthermore, he is the god of felines.

And now, for some introduction:

My cats are named Noortje and Streepje, or Нοртα Cтрeπακε, they are around 10 years old, enjoy being petted, love being fed and spend whole days sleeping on beds, in gardens or in baskets of freshly washed clothing.

On here you see Streepje, named after his many stripes (I guess), relaxing in a small sunlit part of our back garden.

And here is her sister, Noortje (supposedly named when Sweden was playing football, but I was 5 or 6 at the time, so I can not verify that). Isn't she cute? She's just about to sprint to the kitchen, having smelled my father opening a package of minced meat. I think they are secretly spoiled by my mother when she's cooking.

Oh, and if you're thinking that they look so much a like, I can tell them apart perfectly well. Not only by the little stripe/speck next to the nose that Noortje has and Streepje hasn't (ironic, eh?). I can tell by looking only at their tail, their hair, their meowing, the way they move etc. On top of that, one can ofcourse tell by their completely different characters. Noortje is quite shy, whereas Streepje will just pounce your lap and demands you to sit still, being utterly surprised when you actually move for something as trivial as sipping your tea. How rude some guests can be.

And know, a test! Which one is sleeping (or pretending to sleep, as another photograph taken moments later reveals) contentfully in this picture?

Рοιειн - to be remembered

2010-06-28T13:58:00.000+02:00

Having reached the 550th Lurion word, one of the latest is a quite interesting one, as it is used in a different construction than most natural languages use.

Рοιειн would mean something like "to be remembered", but it is most often used in the construction рοιι + dative, which means "to remember". For instance, καᴧυ мει рοιι means the same as "I remember the day", but literally "the day is remembered by me".

It originates from the word рιειн, "to return"; thus that sentence could be interpreted as "the day returns to me".

Ὁυ ποιтαc αια рοιcεc.
His deeds will always be remembered.

Vowel Assimilation 2

2010-06-28T00:40:00.001+02:00

Although I have already done a post on vowel assimilation (appropriately called 'Vowel Assimilation'), I've given it a second thought, and made

The Awesome Lurion Vowel Assimilation Chart (or TALVAC)

Yes, I'm making that up while typing. Sometimes my brilliance amazes me.

Oh, and it includes both the Naupilan and the Karvokan accent! How'd you like that?

Well, without further ado, here it is!

Ofcourse you can click on it for a bigger version. How else were you supposed to actually read it?

In case you're wondering how to interpret this fantastic chart (and I know you are):

When a vowel on the left is followed by a vowel on the top, they either assimilate, in which case another vowel(cluster) is shown in the appropriate row and column, or they do not, in which case a hyphen, -, is shown.

The left chart (the big one) is the general Lurion assimilation, the bottom right shows the Karvokan exceptions.

The top right is the Naupilan accented assimilation chart, which is quite compact, as the Naupilans pronounce everything alike and make no distinction between long and short vowels when assimilating.

And to please those who enjoy seeing me make mistakes: no, I did not intentfully forget to add a ~ on the Naupilan α+ο>ῶ and α+ω>ῶ assimilations. But no, I systematically did not add circumfleces on diphthongs (like ε͂ι), so that does not count.

Well, you didn't suspect to see something as shockingly marvelous or overwhelmingly beautiful as TALVAC when you woke up this morning, did you?

Diacritics and stress paterns

2010-06-26T18:08:00.002+02:00

I have worked out the vowel assimilation again, which I will post later today or tomorrow, and I realised I haven't said anything about stress paterns.

Please make sure to have read 'Alphabet and Phonology', which I edited today as well.

First of all, I have added some diacritics, although they are not used in regular writing, only in texts explaining stress, vowel assimilation or linguistics, and sometimes in academic texts when differences in pronounciation are invisible, e.g.: δαυcтε or δᾶυcтε, [dæʊstɘ] (the general imperative of δαιн) as opposed to δάυcтε [da:.œstɘ] (the conjunctive general imperative).

These diacritics are:
The Acute, ́, used to lengthen vowels: ά ό ύ, and ί
The Grave, ̀, used to strengthen vowels: ὲ, ὸ and ὶ
The Circumflex, ͂, used to indicate the assimilation of an α and an ο: ῶ

There are 21 different vowel types:

α, ά, ο, ό, ὸ, ω, ε, e, ὲ, ι, ί, ὶ, υ, ύ, ο͂ι, ᾶι, ῦι, ε͂ι, ε͂υ, ο͂υ and ᾶυ

We can organise these types on how much they attract the stress (from least to most):

ε
{all others}
e
ω
ὸ, ὶ
ὲ

Stressed syllables in roots
The penultimate (the next to last) syllable of the word's root is normally stressed, except when any ε, e, ω or ὲ is present in its root (ὸ and ὶ do not naturally occur in roots); in which case these vowels are stressed (when the same 'stronger' vowel occurs multiple times, the last is stressed).

Examples (the stressed syllable is underlined):
цιδοр ("wing");
ὑм- ("you" (pl)), when there is only one syllable, it is stressed;
πεπαᴧ- ("egg"), the ε is not stressed (except when it is the only syllable);
αнтрωπ- ("human"), the ω is preferably stressed;
ἁнδр ("man"), the ε is not part of the root in words ending on -εр;
ὁικε ("house"), the last syllable is stressed because it is a strong ὲ, thus actually ̔ο͂ικὲ;
βοцαнтр ("minotaur"), is a combination of βοц- and αнтр;
φυгε- ("to flee");
φυгοр- ("to cause to flee, to chase"), here, the infix -ὸр- is used to indicate causing something.

However, these stresses can be altered by the following affices (from weakest to strongest):

-ὸр-, as above
e-, the past tense prefix
-ὶнт-, the diminutive infix
-ὸнт-, the substantivating infix
-ο͂υ, -ά -ωc, the genitive suffices

Phew, that took some time writing.

῾Єxιc ἱππecκε (The sheep and the horses)

2010-06-24T16:21:00.000+02:00

I've translated Schleicher's fable, so here it is!

---

Βοмнει ἑxιc xεнεн αὡнтιι eειδι ἱππεc, ἑн трαнεcοнтιεн трαнυκрεн ᴧοрδιεн, ἑн φαрεcοнтιεн мeгιεн φαcκεтεн, ἑн φαрεcοнтιεн ἁнδрοн тεᴧxιωн. ῾Єxιc ἱππειc eᴧeгι: "Тυмαр мου мε цεнοрι ειδοнтιιн ἁнδрοн ἱππεc αнтαгοнтιιн." Ἱππec eᴧeᴧεc: "Aυδαтι, ἑxιc. Тυмαрεc нωc нοc цεнοрεc ειδοнтιεc ἁтεн: ἁнδεр, δεcπιc, ποιι xεнου ἑxου мαβιεн ἁннрεн υπтα αυтιει e ἑxιc ἱ нιεн xεнεн." Aαυδοнтιι ἑxιc ᴧeнειεн εнeφυгι.

Hill.dat sheep wool.acc neg-having see.pst horses.acc, one.acc pulling.impf.acc wagon.acc heavy.acc, one.acc carrying.impf.acc big.acc burdon.acc, one.acc carrying.impf.acc man.acc fast.adv. Sheep horses.dat say.pst: "Heart my.gen me.acc hurts seeing.acc man.acc horses.acc driving.acc." Horses say.pst: "Listen, sheep. Hearts our.gen us.acc hurt seeing.acc this.acc: man, master, makes wool.gen sheep.gen warm.acc garment.acc for himself.dat and sheep has no.acc wool.acc." Hear.pf sheep plain.acc in-fled.

On a hill, a sheep that had no wool saw horses, one of them pulling a heavy wagon, one carrying a big load, and one carrying a man quickly. The sheep said to the horses: "My heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses". The horses said: "Listen, sheep, our hearts pain us when we see this: a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm garment for himself. And the sheep has no wool". Having heard this, the sheep fled into the plain.

---

In case anyone noticed the root-difference between "αυδαтι" and "ααυδοнтιι" - which I somewhat doubt -, he or she might say that either the first should be αυδεтι (from αυδ+εтι instead of αυδα+εтι) or the other ααυδωнтιι (from α+αυδα+οнт+ιι instead of α+αυδ+οнт+ιι). They would ofcourse be wrong, as the first comes from αυδειн (root/stem αυδ) meaning "to hear" and the second from αυδαιн (root αυδα) meaning "to listen". In other words, a small semantical difference is marked by a stemvowel that is only visible in some cases because of vowel assimilation. Interesting, eh?

Lurion's 500th word: ποιεтαυ (poem)

2010-06-23T15:10:00.000+02:00

Yay! Λυрιοнεcκι now has over 500 items in my dictionary!

The 500th word (although adding and/or removing words might change its location) is ποιεтαυ meaning 'poem'. It is derived from the verb ποιειн (to do, to make, to rhyme, to write poetry), as are the words ποιειнυ (poetry) and ποιιc (poet), numbers 501 and 502 respectively. Ποιεтαυ is a pretty straight forward word, created by adding the passive infix -εтα- and a neutral suffix -υ, although there is no -οнт- marking the substantivation.
The word for poetry is simply its infinitive with a neutral suffix, and ποιιc has a general (animate) suffix, again without a participle-marker.

I should be translating more than I am at the moment. Maybe I should be doing a 'Word of the Day'-thing as well, or at least post W.o.I.'s more often.

I like the diphthong -αυ (from -α- + -υ) as a suffix, it also occurs in нαυ (boat), тυрαυ (government) and мαυ (game). The latter is one of my favorite words. Maybe that's because it's related to my favorite god, Mαο. And ofcourse it's the sound my cats make all the time.

Mèèèau. Mau! Mau? Prrrr...

Hello & Goodbye

2010-06-21T15:33:00.002+02:00

Being words that are used a lot in daily conversation, the words for hello and goodbye are shortened a lot.

Originally, exclamations like

Ἁeιc καᴧεн ευтιεн - May you (sg) have a good day

Cου καᴧυ мεнeι ευтιε - May your day be good

could be used either to begin or end a conversation.
The latter would be shortened to

Καᴧυ ευтιε - good day

or with less emphasis on good:

Єυтιε καᴧυ - good day

Which is interchangeable with adding the prefix ευ- to καᴧυ:

Єυκαᴧυ - goodday

And finally, children and young adults often just say:

Καᴧυ - day; hi, hey, hello, bye

The same happens with

Ιeιc ἁοнтιι тυxεн ευтιεн - May you go having good fate/fortune/luck

Ιeιc (cυн) тυxει ευтιει - May you go (with) good luck

Both meaning "bye".
This would lead to

Ιeιc ευтυxει - May you go goodfortuned

Deformalised to

Ιтι ευтυxει - Go goodfortuned

Finally

Єυтυxει - goodfortune; goodbye

And ofcourse

Тυxει - with fate; bye

Obviously, there are many more ways of expressing greetings or good luck, but these are all formed in a similar way.

Διυ εнтрα Λυрιοнαιc (part 4)

2010-06-21T14:53:00.001+02:00

Yay, my first Lurion myth! It's about Seufno. The name has become a noun in lurioneski:

cευφнο means 'drunk' or "binge drinker" or any other pejorative description of someone who drinks too much water or more commonly alcohol.

The water near the Lurion coast is generally clear and blue, by the way, and good for swimming in the hot summer sun.

---

Mεтα δευ καᴧειc πрοcπωн ᴧιмαι гεрιмιαι ααcπιω ὑтᴧιмιει δεмει Βᴧυποcκιαι οιδαтιαι υδοιрοц. Aмφιтωнтιε ὑδрει cтι βαᴧтр Ἱδοрοц φαрοнтιοц ἁмαн δακрει e мαнει рeδιει φεррοрн δeα. Єн cιнιтει δeι καδцε Cεцφнοц, εκ ἁтοц οποцc cοнδοцκε рεπcοцκε εгxc δeαцδc. Cεцφнο eαцδрι ποιᴧωн e ὁц нυδрαιυ eгεгнι мeгιεгε ὡн ὁн eαцδрοнтιοн πрοтωн ὑδрεгxc e мεтωн παнтιεc ὑттαрc. Ἁтιοц ὑβрιzοц Ἱδοр eтαxтι ὁн, ecнιᴧтι καδцн δυнeοнтιι ὑδрεгxc мαрcκε ὑттαрcκε.

After two days near the geriman border I have reached the coastal village Bluposkia (Blyposcia), famous for its fountain. Surrounded by water stands the statue of Hidor carrying his shield on his back and in his right hand his iron (sword) downward. In his left [hand] hangs the head of Seufno, from whose eyes, mouth and neck flow waterfalls. Seufno drank a lot and his thirst grew so big that he first drank rivers and later all the seas. For this hybris did Hidor punish him, he cut off his head, releasing the rivers and lakes and seas.

Διυ εнтрα Λυрιοнαιc (part 3)

2010-06-20T13:30:00.000+02:00

I like bread. As long as it's good bread; I don't like those german bricks. Ham and red peppers on bread with sesameseeds. Hmm. I wouldn't enjoy eating Euchleban bread al day, though.
This passage is quite weird, especially on its own.

---

Διαгοнοнтιι διεн мοц, εнιω πрοтeрιει καᴧει Єυxᴧβα, ἁтει мнεc αxᴧβοιωнтιc ειποιᴧιεc καπιᴧειc αβωн мοц παтрοц καδцει. Aмβυнοнтιιн цεcтрει мε ᴧecαιεc гυмнο мeгιωн δαтωнтιο βαᴧιцωн εтαрιнтοκε ὁц гεрιмιο αᴧαᴧцοнтιοc e ἁᴧцοнтιοc. Aαмιтοнтιι нαιεн xᴧεβн рιω ὑπнcοнтιι.

Continuing my journey, I enter the following day Euxleba (Euchleba), where there are as many non-bakers as hairs on top of my fathers head. While I walk in the evening, a naked man, big given below, and his geriman boyfriend pass me singing and laughing. Having lost my appetite/hunger for bread I return to sleep.

A Naupilan Prayer

2010-06-17T22:48:00.001+02:00

Here is a Naupilan prayer on the god of water, Ἱδοр. It is written with a naupilan accent and in capitals.

ΛAUΔEТAΙC ἹΔΟР ῾UТТAРЄC ΚЄНΙЄC MAРЄCΚЄ EΛΙЄC ῾UΔЄΓXЄCΚЄ ΔЄΔWНТΙΟ CЄUΦНΟН EНΟТWНТΙΟ ЄΓXΙНΟ UΚΙЄΔΙНΟΚЄ ΦAUΔΙНΟΚЄ ΔЄCΠΟ НAC НWC РΙΟРEΙCΚЄ.

Λαυδeтαιc Ἱδοр ὑттαрεc κεнιεc мαрεcκε eᴧιεc ὑδεгxεcκε δεδωнтιο Cευφнοн eнουтωнтιο εгxειнου υκιεδιнουκε φαυδιнουκε δεcπο нαc нωc рιοрeιcκε.

Praise.opt.pass. Hidor seas dark lakes-and light rivers-and give.pf.adj Seufno kill.pst.adj flow.inf.gen freeze.inf.gen boil.inf.gen master ships.acc our return.trans.opt.

"May you be praised, Hidor, who has given the dark seas and the light lakes and the rivers, who killed Seufno, lord of flowing and freezing and boiling, and may you let our ships return."

By the way, the last word shows a new feature/verb-infix I've added to Lurioneski: the 'transitivitiser', -οр-, to indicate causing the action to happen, turning an (often) intransitive verb into a(nother) transitive verb, e.g. ὑδεр φαυdι (the water boils) > ι φαυδοрω ὑδрεн (I boil the water).

Farteski noun cases

2010-06-17T21:37:00.000+02:00

As you might or might not have noticed, I've removed a post about Farteski, because I am not sure how nouns will be formed. I am pretty sure it's gonna be all about markers instead of suffices. I have, however, thought about the cases:

Farteski has way more cases than Lurioneski. Lurioneski is more about interpretation, Farteski is a bit more specific. It has 13 cases (as for now):

Nominative - (no marker)
Subject.
Predicative - i
Says something about the subject or object in combination with the verb. (*)
Accusative - e
Object.
Dative - u
Indirect object.
Adverbial - a
Adverbs.
Possessive - í
Indicates possession.
Instrumental - o
The means by which the verb's action is done.
Locative - ô
Location.
Vocative - ü
Addresses whoever is spoken to.
Ablative - è
From / away from.
Lative - é
Towards.
Causal - á
Cause.
Final - ó
Reason.

*E.g.: "I am smart" or "it made him sick". I'm not sure if this is the right name for this case, it was the only one I could find appropriate.

I think Farteski is going to be a real conlang, not just a stub. I'll have to see how it'll work out, though. And don't worry, I will certainly keep my attention focused on Lurioneski.

Διυ εнтрα Λυрιοнαιc - Posting Paragraphs

2010-06-17T17:49:00.003+02:00

I'll add new paragraphs of my story Διυ εнтрα Λυрιοнαιc on the go as well as adding them to the actual page, so you'll know when something new has arrived, and giving you the possibility to add comments. They'll be labelled "diu".
The first 5 paragraphs are already done, so I'll post them quite fast after eachother. The introduction can be found here and an extraordinary sentence here. These posts might contain some mistakes or inconsistencies, as I will only change those in the whole story.

Without further ado, here's the second paragraph, about the Cyclarbrium:

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Δeκδцεc καᴧεc δεδιοнтιι e υυπтιωнтιι δεмн Aтαᴧтαрβрιαн нυн εн αιcтειc παzεнω. Ἁтει υπтecεc Ἁcмο Нυιι Δοрιικε. Οxрαᴧтεc οрαιнοнтιι Κυκᴧαрβрειεн ιω, тecειυ κυκᴧιε αмφιтα αрβрειc, ἁтει тιδιou αнou ἁcмιнтο e δeκтεтрαнιoc ὑцнoc cυнδιεc. Uπтα ἁтн εнтрα εн тεκтει тecειου εнειнει ἱcтε ἱтι, βαᴧтрοц Ἁcмοц αφαнтιοц cιнιтιει мαнει мυцιнтιc cтι. Тεκтυ мнι δeκπεнεc zοιтрεc ὁрιε, βαᴧтр εκδυ, ἁтει δακрωн ειδω ιεнυ ἁтεн οιοω δeωнтιεн εн αрβαυмεн. Тecο мε εтαрιωн αυт мοιрιωнκε ᴧeгι ειнιοн ἁcмιнтοн δυнeтωнтιοн αδυнαεнιοнтιειн. Πεπειнοнтιι рιω εн αрβαυмει αмβυcοнтιι.

Having travelled 12 days and having arrived in the village Ataltarbria, I am now sitting in the shadows. Here they worship Hasmo the Young and Beautiful. Ascending the steps I go to the Kuklarbreie (Cyclarbrium), a round temple surrounded by trees, where the hasmint of each year and the fourteen-year-old boys meet. On the left hand of the statue, on which light shines through the hole in the temple's roof, of the cloaked Hasmo stands a sparrow. The roof is fifteen arms high, the statue half that, behind which I see a hallway, I think decending into the forest. A priest tells me friendly but seriously that only the hasmint is allowed to enter. Having understood that, I return, going to walk in the forest.

Aᴧφαβαртα (Alphabet)

2010-06-14T16:26:00.001+02:00

I've finally come up with names for the Lurion letters. So here they are:

Aᴧφα
Βαртα
Γεια
Δευα
Єᴧтα
Zeтα
Eтα
Ιтα
Κοππα
Λαδα
Mυα
Нeα
Οмрα
Πecα
Рοα
Cιгмα
Тαυα
Uнα
Φαια
Xιтα
Цιδα
Wα
Ἁ

Aren't they one joyful bunch?
The last one isn't actually part of it, as it is not a letter but a diacritic, but who cares, as long as it makes him happy..

On are more serious note, all (real) letters consist of two syllables, the last being the female nominative singular suffix, -α.
Please note:
Єᴧтα is the short /ɜ/, while Eтα is the long /e/ (not the ancient greek Èta: /ɛ/).
Furthermore, Wα is Óa, the long /o/, not a W (/ʋ/ or /w/).

Gerimeski phonology

2010-06-01T18:40:00.001+02:00

How'd you like that? 2 phonologies on one day!

The Gerimeski phonology is very basic, though, for the Gerimes are much less sophisticated (even more so in the eyes of the Lutes).

p, t, d, k, g
m, n, l, r, s
f, w, j

a, á, o, ó, u, i, í, e, é
/a, ɐ, ɔ, o, u, ɪ, i, ɜ, e/

It's really that basic.
Silly Gerimes.

Farteski phonology

2010-06-01T17:39:00.004+02:00

I have been think about what languages the people that surround the lurionas speak, for instance the Fartes. As for now, I've only worked out (most of) the phonology.

IPA *
latinised

p, b, t, d, θ, ð
p, b, t, d, th, dh

k, kh, g, x, χ
k, q, g, x, ch

m, n, l, r, ɾ
m, n, l, rr, r

s, ʃ, z, ʒ
s, sh, z, zh

f, v, w, j
f, v, w, y

h, ʔ
h, -
After a consonant, the h is drawn as a ', to avoid conflicts with digraphs, e.g.: th is [θ], t' is [th].

i, ɪ, y, ʏ/ø, u
í, i, ú, ü, u

e, ɜ/ə, ɛ
é, e, è

a, ɐ, o, ɔ, ɒ
á, a, ó, o, ô

This is ofcourse not the actual Fartan script.

Some examples (they are total gibberish, but show possible phoneme-clusters):

F'orténash, chramènozhin, qalrüt'enís, rrakxônáhá.

An example sentence

2010-05-31T21:40:00.003+02:00

I just wrote a sentence which made me feel satisfied for its grammatical and poetical brilliance, if I say so myself:

Uπтα ἁтн εнтрα εн тεκтει тecειοц εнειнει ἱcтε ἱтι, βαᴧтрοц Ἁcмοц αφαнтιοц cιнιтιει мαнει мυцιнтιc cтι.

It is quite hard to translate it, as its word order is impossible in English. If you'd translate it word by word, you would get this:

On which.acc through in roof.dat temple.gen hole.dat light.nom shine.3sg, statue.gen Hasmo.gen cloaked.gen left.dat hand.dat sparrow.dim.nom sit.3sg.

But in normal English, in the most common word order, it would be:

On the left hand of the statue, on which light shines through the hole in the temple's roof, of the cloaked Hasmo sits a little sparrow.

Furthermore, the first half of the sentence shows alliteration almost mirrorshaped. The first letters from the words ἁтн to ἱтι are: H-EE-TT-E-HH. Another peculiarity is the fact that the H is a semi-vowel, the E is a vowel and the T is a consonant.
On top of that, the sentence is like a wrap, consisting of 3 different layers:
A-B-C-B-A, where A is the main sentence (υπтα ἁтн ἱcтε ἱтε), B is adverbial to ἱтε (εнтрα εнειнει) and C says something about εнειнει (εн тεκтει тecειοц).

Moving on, we see 3 genitives. Βαᴧтрοц is the antecedent of ἁтн, and says something about which мαнει. Ἁcмοц says in its turn something about whose Βαᴧтрοц, and αφαнтιοц either about Ἁcмοц or βαᴧтрοц.
The sparrow sits on the left hand, because the right hand is generally the stronger, and therefore left symbolises youth.

All in all, I'm quite fond of this sentence. It took me some minutes to formulate, but it is mostly (brilliantly) arbitrary.

Journey through Lurionas (Story)

2010-05-30T22:35:00.003+02:00

I am going to write a story in lurioneski, both to improve my vocabulary and to further work out my conworld and conreligion. It is written by a Karvokan called Παυcαнιο (Pausanio; reference, anyone?) son of Fastizar ("thickface"). I'll post the first few lines here, where he explains why he is making his journey.

Παцcαнιοц Φαcтιzαрοцι Καрцοκαα

by Pavsanio Fastizarovi from Karvoka

Ποιᴧειc мε eκεκαcтрαc цαтαυн мε тαтιεн διεн ποιωнтιεн "ἑδε" ἁυтιεc αнαᴧeгοнтιεc "нε οιδιc?" Ι eαнαᴧeгω "гαр нε οιδω." Mεтα ὡc нε πειнοнтιωc ιнοc, цαᴧтε ῾eι ᴧαнгει ᴧeгοмα, αυтрιωc ᴧυрιοнωc cмικрυ οιδωмα.

(...)

Many had asked me why I did this journey, "or", answering themselves, "don't you know?" I answered "because I don't know." Because they didn't understand, [I said] that we, although we speak one language, know so little of the other luriones.

(...)

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Edit: more paragraphs of this story will be posted under the tag 'diu'.

The Karvokan and Naupilan Accent

2010-05-29T19:36:00.003+02:00

The Karvokes and the Naupiles, who live in my conworld, are by definition luriones, because they speak Lurioneski. They do, however, speak with an accent. Because there is no constant communications between the different cities, the way words are written changes as well. (You might want to have read phonology before continuing.)

The Karvokan accent
The main feature of the karvokan accent is that they pronounce a lot of weak υ's as ц's. For instance:

υ > ц;

Нαυπιᴧα (Naupila; [næʋpila]) is pronounced [nɐvpila] (or [nɐfpila]).

ευтιι ('good'; [ɛʋtii]) is pronounced [ɛvtii].

Another feature is that a lot of silent ε's are dropped:

ε > ';
ᴧυβεр ('book') > ᴧυβр.

The Naupilan accent
As naupiles are merchants, they are very busy men and therefore have no time to pronounce 'all those long vowels' *. The following changes have occured:

ει > ι;
ειδειн > ιδιн ('to see').
ου > ο;
παтрο мου > παтрο мο ('my father').
ιι > ι;
ευтιι > ευтι ('good').
ιι > ι ('he goes').

Also, strong vowel versions (α:, υ:, ι: and ι.) are ignored when vowel assimilation is concerned. E.g.:

ἁοмα > ὡмα ('we have').

Furthermore, υ's are pronounced (but not written) as ι's.
Finally, the ι: is pronounced as the semi-vowel [j] to form more diphthongs:

Λυтια (Lutia; [lytia] or [lytija]) is pronounced [lɪtja].

*This is actually quite paradoxal, because you can imagine how hard it might be to understand someone who speakes with such an accent.

Comparison and Diminutive

2010-05-29T18:49:00.001+02:00

There are 5 degrees of comparison (as opposed to the 3 most languages have):

ὁрιтαтιι - highest
ὁрιтeрιι - higher
ὁрιι - high
ὁрιмeрιι - less high
ὁрιcαтιι - least high

The first ι is very weak, so root and infix might assimilate. E.g.: ευтαтιι ('best'; instead of ευтιтαтιι), ᴧυмeрιι ('less low'; instead of ᴧυмιмeрιι) or ὑδecαтιι ('least wet'; instead of ὑδeιcαтιι).
This will, however, only happen with roots that end with a vowel or with the same consonant. For instance, note the difference between φαcαтιι/φαcιтαтιι ('least hot' and 'hottest'; from φαcιι) and φαcтιι/φαcтαтιι ('thick' and 'thickest'; from φαcтιι).

Not only adjectives can be compared, also nouns, adverbs and verbs.
E.g.: εтαрιтαтιc ('the most/best friend') or ιω тεᴧxιтeрιωн ('I go faster').

To compare with something, the comparing dative is used: ι мεнω ευтeрιι cει - 'I am better than you'.

Finally, there is also a diminutive, used to indicate a smaller version of something. It has the infix -ιнт-. For instance: καтιнтιc - 'a little cat'.

Numbers

2010-05-26T15:35:00.000+02:00

The numeral system is quite simple (as is the rest of the lurion grammar).

Numbers 1-10, 100, 1000 and 10,000

1 - ἑιc (῾eου, ῾eι, ἑн)
2 - δцοc (δουc, δευ, δцαc)
3 - трεc (трωc, трειc, трεc)
4 - тεтрαc (тεтрωc, тεтрαιc, тεтрαc)
5 - πεнтεc (*)
6 - ἑκтεc
7 - επтεc
8 - οκтεc
9 - нαнтεc
10 - δeκεc
100 - zeнεc
1000 - βουᴧεc
10,000 - мυрιαδεc

(* All other numbers are conjugated as plural neuter nouns. In fact, they are plural neuter nouns.)
---

For numbers 20, 30, 40 etc; 200, 300, 400 etc; 2000, 3000, 4000 etc and 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 etc, the prefices for the digits 2-9 exist:

δυο-, трι-, трα-, πεн-, ἑκ-, επ-, οκ- and нαн-

For instance, 20 is δυοδeκεc and 70,000 is επмυрιαδεc.

For the digits behind a tenfold, hundredfold etc, the infices for the digits 1-9 exist:

-εн-, -δυ-, -трε-, -тεтрε-, -πεн-, -εκт-, -επт-, -οκт- and -нαнт-

For instance, 14 is δeκтεтрεc and 392 is трιzeннαнтδυεc or, shortened, трιzeнαнδυεc.

100 and 10,000 are the most important, 10 and 1000 are only used when it is necessary. Other examples:

трαβουᴧεc - four.thousand - 4000
οκмυрιαδπεнβουᴧεc - eight.tenthousand.five.thousand - 85,000
ἑκмυрιαδδeκεнεc - six.tenthousand.ten.one - 60,011
επмυрιαδδυнαнzeнοκттεтрεc - seven.tenthousand.two.nine.hundred.eight.four - 72,984

(That sure is a mouthful. Then again, so is seventytwothousandninehundredeightyfour.)

The Luriad

2010-05-25T22:21:00.002+02:00

The ᴧυрιαδ (luriad) is the 'national'* piece of clothing of the Lurionas; it is worn only by men**.

It basically has the shape of a longsleeved shirt, and can be formed from one easily.
There are 4 main ways to wear a luriad:

Lutian - ᴧυтιε ᴧυрιαδ
The elite of Lutia wears a luriad around their right shoulder. Most of it rests on the back, only a small part on the front of the shoulder. The sleeves are tied together somewhere across the chest or under the left arm.

Dorinian - δοрιнιε ᴧυрιαδ
The soldiers from Dorina sometimes wear nothing more than a luriad tied around their waist. Most of it hangs in front of the right hip, covering their crotch. The sleeves are tied together somewhere in front or on the side of their left hip. You could consider it some kind of loincloth, although a luriad is much larger and a dorinian luriad only covers the front.

Naupilian - нαυπιᴧιε ᴧυрιαδ
The fishermen of Naupila wear it simillar to the dorines, but they wear it on top of some (short) trousers, and on the back of their right hip. The sleeves are tied as with the dorinan luriad.

Izakrian - ιzακрιε ᴧυрιαδ
This style is not named after a city, but it is a variation on the luriad. It's much longer but has shorter sleeves. It is tied around the waist, leaving only the left hip visible. This is much more universal and can be weared by anyone at most occasions. There are also womens skirts in this style.

I have no idea if I've made myself clear, but I hope you get the idea.

(* Mind you, Λυрιοнαc is the collective name of the cities and villages where ᴧυрιοнεcκι is spoken, not an actual country.)
(** The luriones are quite sexist when it comes to elite and religious affairs. For instance, all the gods are male. Women are respected, though; only more as mothers and wifes.)

Λυрιοнιε Тeωнυ - Lurion Religion

2010-05-25T21:52:00.006+02:00

The lurion religion is a polytheism, consisting of 7 main gods (тeec), 2 hypergods (αβωнтeec; 'top gods') and maybe some subgods (βαᴧιцωнтeec; 'below gods').

First, there was only nothing and the god of 'nothingness', Нαο. Then, there was everything and the god of everything, Eo. For ages, Нαo and Eo kept replacing eachother out of existence. Finally, there was balance and the god of balance, Δрαгο. From him came the other 6 gods:

Xωтαнο was the earth and the planets. On this earth Cιцο, air, formed. Then, Ἱδοр, water, and from this soil came the flora and fauna, Ἁcмο. To the humans did Eο give intelligence and the god Mαο, and Нαο gave them war and the god Aκтοр.

Whether or not these gods actually exist in my conworld, I don't know. I guess it doesn't matter, for the only way I will use them, is in myths and stories.
The 7 gods have the ability to become antropomorf, thus take the shape of humans. There are also mythological creatures that are antropomorf, for instance minotaurs (βοцαнтрec) and satyres (мεκαнтрec).

Here is a summary about the 7 тeec.

Δрαгο
God of Balance
He wears a robe and a hood, and has dragon wings on his back. When in battle, he might also have a dragons head, making him a δрαгαнтεр, i.e. a man with the head and wings of a dragon.

Xωтαнο
God of Earth and Death
He is a βοцαнтεр, a man with the head of a bull. He wears only a δοрιнιε ᴧυрιαδ (dorinian luriad*), and carries a double-faced axe, that he uses to open the skulls of the deceased (by age or disease) to let their soul be absorbed by the earth. Xotano collects these souls and returns them to Drago.

Aκтοр
God of Fire and War
He is a καтαнтεр, i.e. he has the head of a tiger or panther. He wears a dorinian luriad or trousers. He carries a sword in one hand. Victims of war should be cremated (not buried).

Ἱδοр
God of Water and Wealth
When he is in the water, he might be a ποcκαнтεр (a man with a fish's tail). When on land, he wears trousers and a naupilan luriad. He carries a sword and a shield. Men that die on sea should be delivered to the sea.

Cιцο
God of Air, Light and Crafts
He is a цιδαнтεр; he has the head and wings of a bird (often falcon). He wears trousers and a lutian luriad, and carries a bow and arrow.

Ἁcмο
God of Nature, Life and Beauty
The youngest of the gods, he has the appearance of a 16 year old boy, although sometimes he is a мεκαнтεр (having goat's legs). He always wears a hood and often a robe, to prevent mortals from becoming enchanted by his beauty. He is often accompanied by a falcon or a sparrow. He carries a knive and sometimes ropes.

Mαο
God of Night and Wisdom
He wears trousers or is a cεрπαнтεр (i.e. has a snake's tail), a lutian luriad and sometimes a cape. He carries a spear, which he sometimes throws from the sky (i.e. lightning).

(* For more information about the luriad - the lurion national clothing - please read the post above this one.)

The Dual

2010-05-10T18:17:00.000+02:00

I said I'd explain about the dual some time ago, but I totally forgot. Therefore, here it is.

Form

- υc
- ουc
- ευ
- αc

Use

The dual is used for pairs, thus not just for any 2 items. A good example is οπυc (eyes / a pair of eyes), e.g. αнтрωπec οπευ ειδεc, "humans look with their eyes" (lit: humans with-pair-of-eyes look).
Other examples are other body (ακeυc, 'a pair of ears') or φeᴧυc, 'a pair of lovers/partners.
(It would be nonsense to say αмβрυc, 'a pair of apples', or δцοc οπυc, 'a pair of two eyes'.)

Introduction to my Conworld

2010-05-10T16:54:00.003+02:00

I'm working on a conworld as a setting for Lurion, here's a crude drawing I made (with pencil, finishing touch with the pc); click for a bigger version.

Basically, Lurion is spoken in the Λυрιοнαc (Lurionas), which is not so much a country as the name the citizens of numerous cities and villages call the lands they live in. Everyone that is not from the Lurionas is considered a βαрβαрιc (barbaris, i.e. barbarian). The places outside Lurionas are generally called the Βαрβαрαc.

There are four cities or ποᴧεc (poles) so far: Lutia, Dorina, Naupila and Karvoka. Lutia is the most scientific and philosophical; Dorina is quite a military city; Naupila is a trading city with enormous docks; the area around Karvoka is quite cold.

The Luriones do not often come in contact with the Fartes, let alone the Gerimes, when they do it most likely is to battle, although some trading does occure.

More will follow on these cultures as I develop it.

Onomatopoeias

2010-04-27T17:48:00.001+02:00

Onomatopoeias (i.e. words imitating the sound they describe) are quite usual in Lurion, not only in words that represent sounds, but also in words that have some sort of representative ring to it.

Some examples:

αᴧαᴧειн - 'to sing' ("ahlalalaala")
κрαнxειн - 'to break' ("krrraaahnx") (with [x] mind you, not [ks])
цοφειн - 'to blow' ("vohff")
ᴧοрδιι - 'heavy' ("lohr lohr lohr")
ἱεнιι - 'thin' ("híëní")

Ofcourse the representations are pretty off (and silly), but it might give you a good impression.

Participles

2010-04-27T16:38:00.001+02:00

Forms

Any verb can be substantivised (is that a word?) very easily, i.e. by adding the affix -οнт and a noun/adjective suffix.
E.g.: ειδι ("he sees") > ειδοнтιc ("he who sees / the see-er"); гυнαc δεδαcεc ("women will (hopefully) have given") > δεδαcοнтιαc гυнαc ("the women who (hopefully) will have given").

Also, infinitives can be turned into nouns (and adjectives) simply by adding a neuter suffix. Here, the nominative and accusative are the same as the infinitive:
-ειн
-ειнου
-ειнει
-ειн

Use

Participles are used in many more cases that most modern natlangs. For instance, participles can be used as any wordgroup in a sentence, i.e. subject, object etc.
Also, participle adjectives can be used to give extra information about any wordgroup in a sentence.

Ουрα

2010-04-25T13:59:00.002+02:00

Today I would like to look at the word ουрα. It generally means "sky" or "air", but as air is vital (without breathing you'd die), it also has a touch of "life" in it.

Ουрιδεр, for instance, means "breath", but also "mind" and "soul".
More importantly, ουрειн - "to live" has derived directly from ουрα. From there, ουрυ - "life" is formed.

Both ουрα and ουрυ are neuter. The first shows the suffix -α (which is normally a feminine suffix), but is conjugated as any other neuter word, dropping the α in any other case or number. This special neuter form is used for astrological phenomena, e.g. ᴧυнα (moon) or ceцα (wind), but not all, e.g. ἑᴧecε (sun) or ἱcтεр (star).

Please note that geological names (e.g. Βрιтαннια (Britain), Mοcκцα (Moscow) or Mιccιccιππια (Mississippi)) are in fact feminine, and are declined as such (e.g. Mοcκцαα - "of/from Moscow").

Verb moods: Imperative, Infinitive and Coniunctive

2010-04-25T13:42:00.001+02:00

Verb have a number of moods, including the indicative, imperative, infinitive and coniunctive. I will go through these four here.

Indicative

No specific affix.

Is used to state actions in the present, past or future. Also used to describe habits.

Imperative

-εтι for singular and dual;
-εтε for plural;
-υcтε for general advise

Is used to give orders or give advise. The plural form is used for all groups (thus more than one person/object), except when the subject is dual, e.g. (a pair of) eyes, legs, partners etc. The general form is used to advise people unknown to the speaker/writer, for instance in manuals or cooking books.

Infinitive

-ειн

Is used to describe the action on itself, e.g. Нιтω παнxοιн. - "I like to eat". The infinitive is actually a participle noun. (Also have a look at this post.)

Coniunctive

-e- or lengthening the root-vowel; e.g.: ἁπтω > ἁπтeω and cтω > cтαω (resp.)

Is used to state wishes, irrealities and possibilities.

Verb tenses

2010-04-24T18:09:00.001+02:00

There are 9 tenses in Lurion, combining 2 elements, time and state.

Praesens, Aorist and Futurum (Present, Past and Future)
Simple, Imperfect and Perfect

The time-part is very easy; praesens is used for actions in the present, aorist in the past and futurum for actions that will (or might) happen in the future.

The state-part is a bit more complicated. Simple is used for describing (consecutive) actions, imperfect for continuous actions and perfect for completed actions.

Praesens and Simple have no affices.
Aorist adds the prefix e-, futurum the suffix -εc.
Imperfect adds the suffix -εн, perfect a reduplication of the first syllable (e.g. δω > δεδω).

E.g.:
eδεδω - "I had given" (past perfect)
οιοιcιc - "You (sg) will have thought" (future perfect)
eοιδαнιтε - "You (pl) were knowing" (past imperfect)
It must be noted that the latter is highly unusual, because it is quite odd to 'know continuously'. Something like "although you knew" would be translated as цαᴧтε eοιδιтε.

Lets look at the semantical differences between the tenses:

Λeгω, δω e φεᴧιω. - "I speak, I give and I (make) love."; these are all habits.
Eᴧeгω, eδω e eφεᴧιω. - "I spoke, I gave and I loved."; these are 3 actions in chronological order.
Λeгω e οιнω. - "I speak and I am thinking"; i.e. 'I speak while I am thinking'.
Δεδωмι ᴧυβрεн e ᴧeгω. - "I have been given a book and I speak"; i.e. 'I speak, (while) having/owning a book'.

Noun and Adjective Conjugations

2010-04-22T15:42:00.004+02:00

The conjugations of nouns and adjectives are pretty much the same, with a couple of exeptions.

		g	m	f	n
sg	nom	ιc/ι	ο	α	-/ε
	acc	ιн	οн	αн	εн
	gen	ου	ου	α	ου
	dat	ει	oι	αι	ει
pl	nom	ec	oc	αc	εc
	acc	εc	oc	αc	εc
	gen	ωc	ωc	ωc	ωc
	dat	οιc	οιc	αιc	ειc

The general singular nominative nouns end in -ιc, adjectives in -ι, neuter sg. nom. nouns can end in a lot of ways, adj. in -ε.
The genitive is stressed, e.g. гυнα as in gúna is nominative, as in guná, it is genitive.

Also, all adjectives can be formed from nouns by adding the infix -ι-. E.g.: гυнα (woman) > гυнιι (female, feminine).
Where conjugations overlap, for instance in the plural genitive -ωc, and the gender must be specified, an infix can be added to nouns, being -ο- for masculine, -α- for feminine and -e- for neuter words. E.g.: гυнοωc, meaning 'male woman', i.e. a very feminine man, a 'queer' (as an insult to homosexuals, although my conpeople are most unlikely to make such an insult) or sometimes a transvestite.

Common neuter nom. sg. conjugations are -ε, -υ and -εр. The latter turns into -р in all cases except the nom. sg., e.g. ᴧυβεр, ᴧυβрεн (book).

There is also a dual, which has for all genders the same 4 suffices. More on the dual later, as it also involves some explanation.

Нιтιι, мαтιι, ευтιι and εтαрιι.

2010-04-21T13:15:00.002+02:00

Although sometimes these words are interchangeable, there are differences in meaning between нιтιι, мαтιι, ευтιι and εтαрιι.

Нιтιι is very general, it can mean anything from good or nice to enjoyable or friendly. It can be said of people, animals, books, edibles etc.

Mαтιι, however, is more intimate and is said of things that are nice, cute, cudly, soft etc, e.g. cats, children, clouds and members of the other (or same, for that matter) sex.

Єυтιι is quite straight forward. It just means good or just. It could be said of people, for instance judges or kings, laws or actions.

Єтαрιι means 'friendly', also as in 'host-guest', 'comrade', 'brother in arms' etc. Saying your husband or wife and you are εтαрec to eachother shows a complete lack of intimacy.

Cases explained

2010-04-20T21:12:00.002+02:00

Lurion has 4 different cases, all quite commonly known.

Nominative
Used to indicate the subject and all nouns and adjectives that are attributes to the subject.

Aᴧεκcαнδεр Meгιι нe ᴧeгι. - Alexander the Great said nothing.

Accusative
Used to indicate the object and its attributes. Also, it is used after verbs and prepositions to indicate direction and goal.

Δαн ειδι καтιн нιтιιн. - Daan sees the nice cat.

Παтрο ιι Γαᴧᴧιαн. - Father goes to France.

Genitive

Used to indicate possession and to indicate origin and reason.

Єιδιc καтιн мου? - Do you see my cat?

Zeнιc Aφрικαα ιι. - The foreigner comes from Afrika.

Dative

Used to indicate indirect objects and location, enviroment, method and tools.

Δω φοβυεн мεтαι. - I give fruit to mother.

Λeгεc ᴧαнгει zeнιει. - They speak in a foreign language.

Єιδεтι ὁπευ. - Look with your eyes.

Ofcourse, some words might feature exceptions etc, but these are the general rules.

E and -κε

2010-04-20T19:17:00.002+02:00

I would like to explain the difference in meaning and use between the conjunction e and the conjunctional suffix -κε, both meaning "and".

First of all, let's look at the way the two words are used to connect two words:

Cαнδεр e Δαн.
Cαнδεр Δαнκε.

Here, both sentences mean the same (although they do not make any sense): "Sander and Daan". The only difference is that -κε is semantically closer.
Only when we put them in a sentence, can we see some significant differences.

Verbs

When used with verbs, both options mean practically the same. The difference between 'ειδω e ᴧeгω' and 'ειδω ᴧeгοκε' is minimal, although the first is translated "I see and I say", and the second could be translated as "I see and say", emphasising that it is done at the same time. Accordingly, Δαн ειδιc ᴧeгοκε ("Daan sees and-I-say") would make no sense.

Nouns

Between nouns, -κε is used to indicate some sort of bond between the two, for instance when describing a well-known or logical pair (e.g. παтрο мεтακε - "father and mother").

List

More clear is the difference when they are both used within a list of nouns or verbs. Here, -κε would indicate a subgroup. E.g.: παтрο мεтακε e δαмκιc - "father and mother, and the servant", thus (Father && Mother) && Servant.

Some example sentences:

Παтрο мεтακε ειδεc e ᴧeгεc. - Father and mother see and say.
Δαн e παтрο мεтακε ᴧeгεc αυтeεc. - Daan and (father and mother) say other things. Thus: Daan and his parents do not agree.

Genders explained

2010-04-20T18:16:00.003+02:00

There are 4 genders in Lurion, being General, Masculine, Feminine and Neuter.

Masculine and Feminine are quite simpel: they are used to indicate the physical gender of a creature. For instance παтрο (father) is masculine, and мεтα (mother) is feminine. Also, Feminine is used for geological names, e.g. Ἁрᴧεмα (Haarlem) or Βрιтαннια (Brittain, Lurion's common name for the UK).

General is used to indicate living creatures without specifying their physical gender, for instance jobs, animals and last names, e.g. δαмκιc (servant), κυнιc (dog) and Ιнт'Цεᴧδ (In 't Veld).

Neuter is used for everything else, for instance objects, languages or concepts. E.g.: ὁικe (house), ᴧυрιοнεcκι (Lurion) and εтεгκε (wire, but also metaphorically thread or blog).

Lurion's genders are very interchangeable, and this is way normally only the General or Neuter is shown in lists of words. For instance, βοc (cow), βοцο (bull), βοцα (cow (f)).

Vowel Assimilation

2010-04-20T17:46:00.003+02:00

Vowels may assimilate, depending on their length.
The following types can be distinguished:

α, α:, ο, ω, ε, e, ι, ι:, ι., υ, υ:, ει, οι, αι, υι, ου, αυ, ευ

Here the : marks longer vowels. The ι. is a special type, as it is short but strong; it is used e.g. in the verb suffices -ιc, -ι and -ιтε.

They can be categorised according to their length/strength:

ε
α, ι, υ
o
α:, ω, e, υ:, ει, οι, αι, υι, ου, αυ, ευ
ι:, ι.

The first two rows are weak, the last two are strong.

Assimilation occurs when a weak and a strong vowel meet.
(This is only a rule of thumb, though.)

E.g.:
αα - αα
α:ε - α:
α:ω - α:ω
αει - αι

The ο is medially strong, e.g.: αο - ω or eο - eο (both strong), but οω - ω (weak).
The ι: never assimilates (e.g.: ι:α - ι:α), and the ι. 'eats' all weak vowels, including the ο (e.g.: αι. - ι. or ωι. - ωι.).

Verb declensions

2010-04-20T16:57:00.002+02:00

The verb declensions are the same for all tenses. Here are the active and passive declensions:

Active
-ω
-ιc
-ι
-οмα
-ιтε
-εc

Passive
-οмι
-εтαc
-εтα
-εтοн
-εтαтε
-εтοн

For instance, the 3rd person singular passive of ᴧεгειн ("to say"; root: ᴧεг-) is ᴧεгεтα ("he is said"), and the 2nd person plural active of мεнειн ("to be"; root: мεн-) is мεнιтε ("you are" (pl.)).

Alphabet and Phonology

2010-04-20T16:20:00.011+02:00

Edited as of June the 26th.

Let us start with the alphabet and phonology of Lurion. As you might guess, it is ancient greek based, so a lot of graphemes might look the same. However, some are not, for instance the ε, which is a short E (e.g. as in 'let') in Lurion, but is a long E in ancient greek (e.g. as the 'a' in 'make').

The phonemes are shown in IPA.

Consonants

Π, π - [p]
Β, β - [b ]
Т, т - [t]
Δ, δ - [d]
Κ, κ - [k]
Γ, г - [g]
М, м - [m]
Н, н - [n]
Λ, ᴧ - [l]
Р, р - [r]
Φ, φ - [f]
Ц, ц - [v]
C, c - [s]
Z, z - [z/dz/tz]
X, x - [x]

῾ - [h]

Vowels

A, α - [a] [ɐ]
E, e - [e]
Є, ε - [ɛ] [ə]
Ι, ι - [i:] [ɪ]
Ο, ο - [o] [ɔ]
U, υ - [y] [ʏ]
W, ω - [o:]
Capital, small - [long/stressed] [short/unstressed]

When a vowel is followed by more than one consonant or when it is the last vowel, it is short, if it is followed by one consonant or none, it is long. The E and W are always stressed.

Diphthongs

οι, υι, αι - [oj], [uj], [aj]
ει [ɛi]
ου [u ]
αυ [ʌʋ]
ευ [ø]

Therefor, these are not diphthongs:
ωι [o.i], eι [e.i], ωυ [o.y], eυ [e.y]

Lurion

2010-04-20T16:03:00.004+02:00

Here I will add information on my new conlang, Lurion, as I am working it out.

Lurion is inspired by (ancient) greek, but is also heavily a priori.

Please tell me if the letters below turn up as spaces or blocks or something different than they are supposed to.

δαφ'εрοр῾εмzцἑὁἱ῾UἹἉzπᴧᴧᴧ

Thank you for your interest.