zompist bboard

Is a language for the ilii or ktuvok ever going to be made? Just curious.

Sure, if I'm not hit by a bus.

When I started on Verdurian, I kept word-lists for a few other languages, including Eteod?ole. I can't find the list, but I did find an old map with some typical names: Salanetar, Morusala?, Na?or, Laiu?n, Cotocueli?, Melasiu... typically, boringly mellifluous elven-style concoctions.

Later I felt that I couldn't do justice to the language, and I deprecated the above names-- except for Laiu?n, which became the Methaiun city of Laiwen, and the island of Koto.

Now I feel that, given another decade or so of deep thought, I might be able to describe at least the rudiments of the language.

whats eteodaole?

Jaaaaaa wrote:whats eteodaole?

That's the name of the iliu language. (Originally it looked like it might actually be an iliu word, but this is now impossible. It may turn out to be a Cu?zi word.)

Ah, I see. But sin't there more than one iliu language? Or are they not spread out enough to be seperated in dialect (I haven'tbeen studying THe Wonder That Is ALmea as muich as I should be )

The main mechanism for change in human language-- accumulated sound change-- doesn't operate the same way in iliu language. Changes do occur; but this simply creates new styles and registers. Old ways of speaking are maintained and revived; foreign ways of speaking are investigated and assimilated.

The effect is less like human language than like human music: the stylistic repertoire keeps growing over time. A modern composer can use or refer to Baroque, Romantic, and Modern styles, as well as rock, blues, jazz, folk song, as well as Arabic, Chinese, African, or Australian music. In the same way the iliu have various ways of speaking, some of them linked to other times or places, but none of them forgotten.

With the way you want Eteodaole to be, I have no idea how you'll be able to describe it to us when you finally figure it out! And to figure it all out you'd probably need a good dose of LSD...

You mention an Iliu referring to Kebri as Laiuen in the Historical Atlas somewhere.

--LSD? Giant blue singing people certainly do sound a bit interesting . . . anything you're not telling us Mark ?

The idea of having a great variety of different stylistic registers is a good one. Of course these different registers/styles would not be considered inferior to each other - or would they? Individuals would no doubt have their own preferences, but what about the ilian non-judgemental mindset?

I'm also interested in seeing the alphabet for this language. Are there different writing styles for each way of speaking, or will the writing be the only uniform thing in Ilii communication? How they manage to write underwater would also be interesting to know.

Speaking of non-human writing systems, how much of the Elkar?l alphabet do you have done? What's it like?

So Haleza Grise wrote:You mention an Iliu referring to Kebri as Laiuen in the Historical Atlas somewhere.

Yes; the ancient city of Laiwen (Kebren Laaven) comes from this word. It may well be some ancient Methaiun person's attempt to record an iliu word.

So Haleza Grise wrote:The idea of having a great variety of different stylistic registers is a good one. Of course these different registers/styles would not be considered inferior to each other - or would they? Individuals would no doubt have their own preferences, but what about the ilian non-judgemental mindset?

You can have preferences without making judgments!

Iscun wrote:I'm also interested in seeing the alphabet for this language.

Me too...

zompist wrote: You can have preferences without making judgments!

yes, of course you can. But sometimes by openly displaying a preference, you imply a judgement about those whose preference is different . . . or at least, so I think. At any rate, this is a human thing, an iliu would presumably not take umbrage at any sort of preference-making.

And you can make judgements without preferences.

Ranskaldan and Dyidic_Guy, since you're both Iliis now, we demand that you both write a thorough grammar of the language right away, or else!

Thjat'd be cool But I'd likema Grammar of Flaidish or even *glares at self* Gdeonish even more.