Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Substantial postings about constructed languages and constructed worlds in general. Good place to mention your own or evaluate someone else's. Put quick questions in C&C Quickies instead.
User avatar
Izambri
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1556
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2004 4:27 pm
Location: Catalonia

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Izambri »

What is the capital of the country? And the native name of lake Balaton?
Un llapis mai dibuixa sense una mà.

User avatar
Dewrad
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 1040
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:02 pm

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Dewrad »

The national capital is Sojane, which is also the comital capital of Valeira. In Dravian the Balaton is called Latènca (hence the name of the contat to the north of the lake: it means "across the Latènca". Actually, my next task should be to add in the names of all those bodies of water.
Some useful Dravian links: Grammar - Lexicon - Ask a Dravian
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)

User avatar
Izambri
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1556
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2004 4:27 pm
Location: Catalonia

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Izambri »

Dewrad wrote:The national capital is Sojane, which is also the comital capital of Valeira. In Dravian the Balaton is called Latènca (hence the name of the contat to the north of the lake: it means "across the Latènca". Actually, my next task should be to add in the names of all those bodies of water.
Aaaah, "across the Latènca", ok. My Romance-thinking mind automatically translated that contat name as "beyond (or behind) the lake.ADJ": tra– "beyond" + lat– "lake" * + –ènca (adj) **.


*Don't ask me why, it was my brain who read it that way! :P
**In Catalan we have an adjectival suffix –enc –enca –encs –enques.

Edit: Oh wait. I think that lat– > "lake" thing is an influence from the Hellesan word for "lake", which comes from an earlier word for "wide".
Un llapis mai dibuixa sense una mà.

User avatar
Salmoneus
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 3197
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:00 pm
Location: One of the dark places of the world

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Salmoneus »

Impressive map - where are the names from?
[Ulterior motive for asking: I was doing an alt-history project like this a while back, and will get back to it in the future I think, and was getting really frustrated trying to name places because I didn't know the etymology of the real name. I don't suppose you've stumbled upon some super-resource of etymological place names, have you?
[[Frankly, even just a detailed map of Roman settlement names would be fantastic]]]
Blog: [url]http://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.com/[/url]

But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping
as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh
I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!

Astraios
Sumerul
Sumerul
Posts: 2974
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:38 am
Location: Israel

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Astraios »

Architecture? You're obviously in the closet.

User avatar
Aurora Rossa
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1138
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2003 11:46 am
Location: The vendée of America
Contact:

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Aurora Rossa »

Astraios wrote:Architecture? You're obviously in the closet.
How so? Is architecture a gay pursuit now?
Image
"There was a particular car I soon came to think of as distinctly St. Louis-ish: a gigantic white S.U.V. with a W. bumper sticker on it for George W. Bush."

Astraios
Sumerul
Sumerul
Posts: 2974
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:38 am
Location: Israel

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Astraios »

No, I was just looking for an excuse to tell him to get out of the closet already.

User avatar
ObsequiousNewt
Avisaru
Avisaru
Posts: 434
Joined: Fri Oct 18, 2013 5:05 pm
Location: /ˈaɪ̯əwʌ/

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by ObsequiousNewt »

Aurora Rossa wrote:
Astraios wrote:Architecture? You're obviously in the closet.
How so? Is architecture a gay pursuit now?
Being "in the closet" does not necessarily have to do with homosexuality.

Dewrad, where are your resources on Dravian?


Ο ορανς τα ανα̨ριθομον ϝερρον εͱεν ανθροποτροφον.
Το̨ ανθροπς αυ̨τ εκψον επ αθο̨ οραναμο̨ϝον.
Θαιν. Θαιν. Θαιν. Θαιν. Θαιν. Θαιν. Θαιν.

User avatar
Aurora Rossa
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1138
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2003 11:46 am
Location: The vendée of America
Contact:

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Aurora Rossa »

ObsequiousNewt wrote:Being "in the closet" does not necessarily have to do with homosexuality.
Not to sidetrack this thread further, but doesn't generally refer to that unless otherwise stated?
Image
"There was a particular car I soon came to think of as distinctly St. Louis-ish: a gigantic white S.U.V. with a W. bumper sticker on it for George W. Bush."

User avatar
Drydic
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1652
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:23 pm
Location: I am a prisoner in my own mind.
Contact:

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Drydic »

That's the default, yes, but it has generalized well beyond that by now.
Image Image
Common Zein Scratchpad & other Stuffs! OMG AN ACTUAL CONPOST WTFBBQ

Formerly known as Drydic.

User avatar
Aurora Rossa
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 1138
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2003 11:46 am
Location: The vendée of America
Contact:

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Aurora Rossa »

You said that your penpal has heard all about me. What exactly has he heard and from what source did he hear it?
Image
"There was a particular car I soon came to think of as distinctly St. Louis-ish: a gigantic white S.U.V. with a W. bumper sticker on it for George W. Bush."

User avatar
Dewrad
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 1040
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:02 pm

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Dewrad »

Salmoneus wrote:Impressive map - where are the names from?
[Ulterior motive for asking: I was doing an alt-history project like this a while back, and will get back to it in the future I think, and was getting really frustrated trying to name places because I didn't know the etymology of the real name. I don't suppose you've stumbled upon some super-resource of etymological place names, have you?
[[Frankly, even just a detailed map of Roman settlement names would be fantastic]]]
The names are from a variety of sources. Most of the main geographic features (major rivers, towns and cities that are of Roman antiquity) are derived from their Roman names: which, by and large, I believe I found on LacusCurtius, or by obsessive googling.

The rest were far harder. Where possible, I've attempted to find the etymology of the Hungarian settlement name: in those cases where the Hungarian name comes from a Slavic or other substratal name, I've kept it (where I can find it! Not knowing Hungarian hampers my investigations here, obviously). In other cases I've either calqued the Hungarian name or just derived one of my own, using either Romance or substratal elements. (I use at least four substrata: Celtic, Slavic, Proto-Albanian (which stands in for Illyrian) and Gothic).
ObsequiousNewt wrote:Dewrad, where are your resources on Dravian?
On my computer :(
Some useful Dravian links: Grammar - Lexicon - Ask a Dravian
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)

User avatar
Dewrad
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 1040
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:02 pm

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Dewrad »

hwhatting wrote:What is this crematura thing?
Fruit brandy, like palinka.
Some useful Dravian links: Grammar - Lexicon - Ask a Dravian
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)

User avatar
Dewrad
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 1040
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:02 pm

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Dewrad »

Dewrad wrote:
ObsequiousNewt wrote:Dewrad, where are your resources on Dravian?
On my computer :(
I TELL A LIE:

We proudly present:

The Dravian Lexicon.

(With thanks to Maknas for the source code etc.)
Some useful Dravian links: Grammar - Lexicon - Ask a Dravian
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)

User avatar
KathTheDragon
Smeric
Smeric
Posts: 2139
Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:48 am
Location: Brittania

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by KathTheDragon »

Um, are those letter links meant to break?

User avatar
Dewrad
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 1040
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:02 pm

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Dewrad »

Sorry, still cunting around with it. Give it a go now, it should work.
Some useful Dravian links: Grammar - Lexicon - Ask a Dravian
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)

User avatar
Herra Ratatoskr
Avisaru
Avisaru
Posts: 308
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 5:26 pm
Location: Missouri (loves company!)

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Herra Ratatoskr »

Is this pdf still pretty accurate?
I am Ratatosk, Norse Squirrel of Strife!

There are 10 types of people in this world:
-Those who understand binary
-Those who don't

Mater tua circeta ibat et pater tuus sambucorum olficiebat!

User avatar
Dewrad
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 1040
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:02 pm

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Dewrad »

Herra Ratatoskr wrote:Is this pdf still pretty accurate?
Yeah, there's a slightly updated copy on the link in my sig.
Some useful Dravian links: Grammar - Lexicon - Ask a Dravian
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)

Astraios
Sumerul
Sumerul
Posts: 2974
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:38 am
Location: Israel

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Astraios »

Yum!

User avatar
Salmoneus
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 3197
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:00 pm
Location: One of the dark places of the world

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Salmoneus »

Is it just me, or are the Dravean grammar later chapters just blank?
Blog: [url]http://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.com/[/url]

But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping
as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh
I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!

User avatar
Dewrad
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 1040
Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2002 9:02 pm

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Dewrad »

Salmoneus wrote:Is it just me, or are the Dravean grammar later chapters just blank?

What's uploaded is just a draft version: i.e. it's just as far as I've got already. The incomplete sections are:

- Preface
- Introduction
- Prepositions
- Use of the verb (from section 12.1.3 Indirect questions onwards)
- Conjunctions
- Word order
- All the appendices

The appendix on historical phonology kinda-sorta exists, but it's as rather outdated draft that needs to be completely re-written. It'll probably be one of the very last pieces to be written, as I fear it might end up disproportionately large. Similarly, I want to get both Middle Dravian and some historical details solidified before I start work on the dialects and sociolects chapter.

If you've got any specific (or general) questions on any of the unwritten topics, though, I'm willing to answer.
Some useful Dravian links: Grammar - Lexicon - Ask a Dravian
Salmoneus wrote:(NB Dewrad is behaving like an adult - a petty, sarcastic and uncharitable adult, admittedly, but none the less note the infinitely higher quality of flame)

User avatar
Salmoneus
Sanno
Sanno
Posts: 3197
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:00 pm
Location: One of the dark places of the world

Re: Meet my angry Dravian penpal!

Post by Salmoneus »

Not really, just curious about the direction you'd gone for the diachronics (and since your Dravian grammar will one day probably be the most accessible description of a non-Romanian eastern romance language, and probably the most accessible source on eastern romance historical processes generally...)

Incidentally, in the phoneme chart on page 3, you're missing a gap between 'f' and 'v'.
Blog: [url]http://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.com/[/url]

But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping
as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh
I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!

Post Reply