(Deini)
From Dana Nutter's Conlangs
• A Personal Language
| FABA | Under Construction | En Desarroyo | 建设中 | 建设中 | 建設中 | im Bau |
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Special Note |
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Deini uses a unique script. To properly view the Deini text on this and other pages on this site requires the Deini fonts to be installed on your computer. The fonts can be obtained via this link, however there is no technical support supplied beyond what is included in the Zip archive. I do not assume any liabilities whatsoever, but can assure you that there are no malicious intentions on my part. |
Contents |
Introduction •
What is Deini? •
Deini [dej.ni] is an artificial language designed to be as a personal language. The goal of Deini is to construct a language which is suits my own personal linguistic preferences.
Writing •
Alphabet •
Deini writing is based on a custom script however the Roman script may also be used where Deini fonts are not available. Because there is no distinction between upper or lower case.in the native script, Romanized Deini should be written in either all upper case, or all lower case. There are 7 vowels,and 24 consonants for a total of 31 letters.
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Pronunciation •
Deini Roman IPA Name Description Example I i Close front unrounded vowel Like i in machine, except when combined with another vowel, then like y in yet. E e Close-middle unrounded vowel Like e in met or bet. A a Almost fully open central unrounded vowel Like a in father or water. O o Close-middle rounded vowel Like o in dome. U u Close back rounded vowel Like oo in soon, except when combined with another vowel, then like w in wet. Y ɨ Central front unounded vowel Like y in Polish mysz. X ə Mid central vowel Like a in about. L l Lateral approximant Like l in lilac. R ʀ Uvular trill Like r in German Ehre. H h Voiceless glottal fricative Like h in high. Ŋ / NN ŋ Velar nasal Like ng in singer or n in bank. G g Voiced velar stop Like g in gag. K k Voiceless velar stop Like k in kick. Q ɣ Voiced velar fricative Like g in Spanish agua. C x Voiceless velar fricative Like ch in the German word Bach. Ž / ZZ ʒ Voiced post alveolar fricative Like si in vision, or j in the French word jour. Š / SS ʃ Voiceless post alveolar fricative Like sh in ship or fish. J ʤ Voiced post alveolar affricate Like j or g in judge. Č / CC ʧ Voiceless post alveolar affricate Like ch in chip. N n Dental nasal Like n in nine, but with the tongue touching the upper teeth at the ridge of the gums. D d Voiced dental stop Like d in dad, but with the tongue touching the upper teeth at the ridge of the gums. T t Voiceless dental stop Like t in title, but with the tongue touching the upper teeth at the ridge of the gums. Z z Voiced alveolar fricative Like z in zone or zoo. S s Voiceless alveolar fricative Like s in sister. Ð / DD δ Voiced interdental fricative Like th in this or rather. Þ / TT θ Unvoiced interdental fricative Like th in thick or myth. M m Bilabial nasal Like m in mime. B b Voiced bilabial stop Like b in bib. P p Voiceless bilabial stop Like p in pipe. V v Voiced labiodental fricative Like v in verve. F f Voiceless labiodental fricative Like f in fife.
Numbers
Deini's counting system is based on the familar base-ten (decimal) system in common use.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 .
Punctuation
Deini writing has its own unique set of symbols for punctuation as well as writing numbers.
< > ( ) @ . ¡ < > ( ) ' , @
Morphology
Syllables
Deini syllables take the form (C)(C)(C)V(V)(C)(C)(C).
Assimilation
There are a number of assimlations that take place when putting together words.
Vowels
| Consonants
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Vocabulary •
The bulk of Deini's lexicon if from Germanic languages, mostly English and German but with a preference for Low Germanic forms. Slang forms are also used as a source for quite a few words.
- = the < English "the" / Dutch "de"
- = person, guy < English "dude"
A significant amount of SAE (Standard Average European), scientific and technical vocabulary common across Western languages are also included.
- = visa
- = toilet
Other influences include ...
- Russian and other Slavic vocabulary, some via Nadsat.
- = this < Russian "это (eto)"
- = word < Russian "слово (slovo)"
- = big, great < Nadsat "bolshy" < Russian "болшой (bolshoj)"
- Spanish, with a preference for American dialects.
- = dear < Spanish (Mexican slang) "mijo"
- = and < Spanish "y"
- = or < Spanish "o"
- = beer < Spanish "cerveza"
- select words from other languages.
- = hello, goobye < Hawaiian "aloha"
- = green < Japanese "緑 (みどり, midori)"
- = do < Japanese "する (suru)"
- = three < Mandarin "三 (sān)"
- = eight < Mandarin "八 (bā)"
- = at; to be located < Mandarin "在 (zài)"
- = anti, contra < Mandarin "不 (bù)" = not
- = ability < Mandarin "力 (lì)" = power, capability
As a result of multiple influences, some synonyms do exist.
- = beer
- = car
Nouns •
Number
Adjectives of quantity are used to indicate number whenever necessary. Plural forms may be used but are only needed when no numeral is used, or when emphasis is needed.
Most nouns use the suffix + to form the plural.
- = book
- = (several) books
- = one book
- = two books
Some nouns of English or Spanish origin use +() .
Some nouns of Russian origin use + , or + for those from Nadsat.
There are a few nouns which have irregular plurals.
- = one mouse
- = two mice
Definiteness
The definite (the) or indefinite (a, an, some) articles may be used but are not required except for clarity.
- = book
- = books
- = a book
- = some books
- = the book
- = the books
Case
Noun functions (case) are indicated by word order and the use of prepositions.
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- I (subject) give book (object) to he (indirect object).
- I gave him a book. / I gave a book to him.
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- I (subject) give book (object) to this (indirect object) from library.
- I gave him a book from the library.
Gender
Nouns have no grammatical gender whatsoever. Some animate nouns contain male (+) or female (+) suffixes, and there are a few which are dictinctly male or female.
Other Materials •
- Deini-English Thematic Dictionary •
- Deini-English Dictionary •
- English-Deini Dictionary •
- Deini Keyboard •
