Re: tweaking your conlang

On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 22:12:23 -0500, Dana Nutter \ deinx nxtxr
<li_sasxsekREMOVETHIS@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>Speaking of a priori, philosophical languages.  I've got one
>that's also part loglang with an oligosynthetic vocabulary.  I
>have a good idea how I want everything structured, but I'm stuck
>on labeling the morphemes.  At some point recently I've got the
>idea to create a basic vocabulary based upon known phonosemantic
>universals, or at least strong phonosemantic tendencies across
>languages.  The lack of available information on the subject has
>me stuck right now.  So far there are about 5 morph/lex-emes
>that are pretty firmly in place like "ma" (mother) and "pa"
>(father).  I've also added "mai" (this) and "tau" (that) based
>upon a some of the information I have been able to find.

May or may not be exactly what you're looking for, but you might look
into Wadler's "The Origin of Language". His thesis seems to be that
all languages are descended from one language and that the traces of
this language are still evident in the daughter languages. Whatever
the truth of the matter, he does give lots of interesting lists of
"tendencies" across a bizarre range of languages.

For example: GOD: Teotl (Mex); Ti (China); Teot (Nicar.); Tiw (A.S.);
De (Annam); Theos (Gr.); Tei (Japan).

GRAIN: Afaro (Guanche); Bar (Slav.); Far (Lat.); Bar (Heb.); Barley
(Engl); Pori (Kor.)

Even if it's not precisely what you're after, it's an interesting
read!

Padraic

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