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Let's Make a Language: Day 4, First Words

This is it, the first words in this conlang! We'll be starting with some relatively stable words for body parts. I chose to keep these words relatively simple because they will be among the most basic roots in the language.

Speaking of "the language", lets give it a name, shall we?

First, lets create a word for "nomad". I always find taking inspiration from real languages help create believable etymologies. In English, the word nomad comes from the proto-indoeuropean root *nem- "assign, allot; take", referencing how nomadic peoples will travel from place to place "roaming" or "wandering" to find pasturage. I like the idea of using "wander" here, so lets begin there.

I'm imagining these people would have an intimate relationship with craftsmanship, particularly weaving, so lets create a word for weaving, then use that to derive "wander" and then "nomad". I'm going to use one of the nonce words I created on day 3, [fʲa5le], because I like it.

v. Fyale [ˈfʲa5.le]

  • to weave
  • to wander
  • to move around in search of pasture; to live as a nomad

n. Fyale [ˈfʲa5.le]

  • wanderer; nomad

Now, I could stop there and just call it Fyale "nomad", but I want to create a few more words to add to it. Next lets create the word for language or "tongue"

v. Munya [ˈmu1.ɲa]

  • to speak

n. Munya [ˈmu1.ɲa]

  • language
  • tongue

And there you go, Fyale Munya "Nomad Speak" is the final name for this language. Woohoo!

Now I'm going to do a lightning round of geography and weather terms.

  • rain: Lege [ˈle.kʰe1]
  • hill: Natsoo [ˈna5.t͡sʰoː15]
  • water: Lau [ˈlau]
  • river: Laula [ˈlau5.la] (decided to add diphthongs)
  • swamp/marsh: Laubo [lau5.pʰo1]
  • lake: Laufi [ˈlau5.fi]
  • cloud: Folai [ˈfo1.lai5] 

Now flora and fauna.

  • dog: Byu [ˈpʲʰu]
  • animal: Nya [ɲa1]
  • sheep: Henya [ˈxe.ɲa1]
  • horse: Gyenya [ˈkʲʰe5.ɲa1]
  • tree: Byo [ˈpʲʰo]
  • grass: Dalo [ˈtʰa.lo1]

And finally, some basic transitive verbs.

  • gather: Fya [fʲa5]
  • hunt: Mato [ˈma5.to]
  • spread: Pato [ˈpa5.to]
  • crush: Husa [xu1.sa5]
  • grind: Huto [ˈxu5.to]
  • cut: Ku [ku1]
  • chop: Ku [ku5]
  • bake: Talo [ˈta5.lo1]

 

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