zompist bboard

For some time I've wanted to create a triconsonantal language, but, without a sufficient understanding of the diachronic development of our only natural example, my results always came out as mechanical and artificial. I was pretty close to giving up and just going with ablaut and calling it close enough, but I decided to try further research as a better option. I started with Christopher Ehret's Reconstructing Proto-Afroasiatic (Afrasian): Vowels, Tone, Consonants, and Vocabulary. It's a good read and his theory on how Semitic's triconsonantal roots developed from PAA biconsonantal roots is very interesting (I'm aware it's controversial in Semitic studies, but for conlanging that's rather irrelevant). However, being chiefly interested in Cushitic and Chadic, Ehret has precious little to say about Semitic vowels and nothing about verbs--you know, the important part.

With that in mind, can anyone recommend a reasonably straight-forward source focused on how the Proto-Semitic verbal system developed from its relatively tame PAA form into the unique system found in the Semitic languages?

Zaarin wrote:For some time I've wanted to create a triconsonantal language, but, without a sufficient understanding of the diachronic development of our only natural example, my results always came out as mechanical and artificial. I was pretty close to giving up and just going with ablaut and calling it close enough, but I decided to try further research as a better option. I started with Christopher Ehret's Reconstructing Proto-Afroasiatic (Afrasian): Vowels, Tone, Consonants, and Vocabulary. It's a good read and his theory on how Semitic's triconsonantal roots developed from PAA biconsonantal roots is very interesting (I'm aware it's controversial in Semitic studies, but for conlanging that's rather irrelevant). However, being chiefly interested in Cushitic and Chadic, Ehret has precious little to say about Semitic vowels and nothing about verbs--you know, the important part.

With that in mind, can anyone recommend a reasonably straight-forward source focused on how the Proto-Semitic verbal system developed from its relatively tame PAA form into the unique system found in the Semitic languages?

Mecislau's guide to triconsonantal systems, on this forum?

Thank you, that's definitely moving me in the right direction at any rate.

Also, the below thread is a useful read showing one ZBBer going through the process of learning how to build a Semitic conlang.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=42747

Vardelm wrote:Also, the below thread is a useful read showing one ZBBer going through the process of learning how to build a Semitic conlang.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=42747

Ah, excellent, there's some good stuff in there! Thank you!