Nuvutani: Introducing a new language

Auteur: Sylvia Sotomayor

Date MS: 03-02-2016

Date FL: 09-01-2016

Numéro FL: FL-00003C-00

Citation: Sotomayor, Sylvia. 2016. “Nuvutani: Introducing a

new language.” FL-00003C-00, Fiat Lingua,
. la toile. 01 September
2016.

sous une attribution Creative Commons-
Non Commercial-Pas de Dérivés 3.0 Licence non transférée.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Fiat Lingua est produit et maintenu par la Language Creation Society (LCS). Pour plus d'informations
à propos du LCS, visitez http://www.conlang.org/

Nuvutani:
Introducing a new language

par

Sylvia Sotomayor

Introduction
I am most famous for Kelen, a verbless language, and so for my second language, sodna-leni or sodemadu, I created a
language with a closed class of verbs. Toutefois, in fleshing out Sodemadu, I became frustrated with its limitations, donc
one weekend I decided to forego the limitations of Sodemadu and created a new language, my third, that had an open
class of verbs. Like Sodemadu, most of the vocabulary has cognates in Kēlen. At the end of the weekend I had a draft
of a story in this new language. The story comes from a book of Australian Aboriginal myths and legends, raccourci
and adapted to suit me and this new language.

Alors, after checking for and correcting inconsistencies, I created a sort of torch. The story itself is too long to make
a good torch, but the exercise of laying out the grammar and vocabulary necessary to decipher the story is a useful
un, allowing me to find inconsistencies in the grammar and correct them. What follows then is a copy of the story,
Nuvutani, and then a section on grammar and vocabulary. A few pages later, I offer an interlinear and a smooth
English translation. I’ve put a few pages between the grammar/vocabulary section and the interlinear in case anyone
wants to treat the story as a torch. If I’ve left anything out of the grammar and vocabulary, or if anything is unclear, laisser
me know (in the comments) and I will supply the missing information or elaborate on anything unclear.

This third language doesn’t quite have a name yet, though I am thinking ‘Tessese’ might be a good name for this stage
of the language. My next step is to find another text to translate, maybe a dialogue or an announcement. I also need to
figure out a stress pattern, but I already have something in mind that should work. And after that I may apply sound
changes and see what happens.

The Story

Nuvutani

Neletani kyumu mabededoda Nuvu mapodo sonoma basa mapododusu usama kadu. Davuŋyenedololo
manemmaduhaŋi dinele niki mapettadotoyo manemmadututu vovele. Mabalodohaŋi manemmadukyeya ŋovele
nadisyenitoyo malugu nadittu kyege. Malodolana nadda malugutoyo nadittu kyege kiŋili. Hadittudege bigittu
manemmadodo vovele makasodo pelene onono danellododa ŋomuŋi eppomo ŋovette ennisi ŋohimi pidi ŋomomo
mudusebe.

Nittuladi syebe aŋe luvu matiŋedo tadya dukini. Matiŋedogoli kyalatepe gogotepe lakatepe madoŋedotodo alu noleko
susisi. Dalu datenedo noleko pama Nuvu. Aŋe matiŋedo tannatanna dulu.

Masedosodo ŋilalikeŋi haggogo dule? Nele masedo avo. Masedosodo lekasadayissi maggogo duŋeya.

Aŋesodo ŋidelikeŋi leŋesutukyeya ŋeya kyala sulu noleko paŋi? Nelesodo datenedayissi mallu duŋeya.

Aŋesodo ŋikasada hammomo mudusebe kele. Ŋivadeligiya lelahaŋi sulu noleko lesututoyo aŋiŋya amomo duŋeya.

Nuvudanu masedosodo umumu ŋipellaka daŋomomo. Lelalata duŋeya daŋomomo vudunadi ŋovele vekebe
nadivusulugodotata nadittu paŋeya.

Aŋedanu luvu mapettodo madutiŋedo abene mede siŋi liyagi. Nele madoŋedohaŋi syenisyeni aŋe sasutiŋedololo
olaya abene liyagi. Aŋe mapettalodo nono kibibene pesibene nenette masutodo aŋiŋya nono duŋeya. Aŋedanu
masalledonna ŋosese kedekele.

Atana udu dalodololo daŋyakedo susi ŋotadu keyodo dalamodotodo teddele lada. Petana tadatada datiŋedonna
tadya Nuvu masutiŋedotoyo meya alaka. Atanasusu deni datanonodonna dalamodololo tekko somadusiyo. Datanodo
aŋiŋya dulaka dapeppudodo ŋomuŋi eppomo ŋovette ennisi ŋohimi pidi ŋolaŋi mudusebe kele. Datanodololo
dapeppudodo alaka.

Nuvu matiŋedo tannatanna dubene pesibene masutiŋedobeye olaya abene liyagi. Atana datanadololo Nuvu
mapeppudododatoyo. Aŋe luvu malodo masada Nuvu saduma sapettodo tanatana.

Nuvu manolododa adodo nuvu dasadoladahaŋi nuvunuvu.

Grammar and Vocabulary

Word Order

The word order is Subject – Verb – Objet (ALORS). The subject can be a pronominal proclitic attached to the verb. Le
subject of an intransitive verb can sometimes come after the verb (VS).

Peripheral phrases usually appear after the object or before the subject. Some adverbs will appear between the verb
and the object.

Subjects are generally only stated in full the first time they are referenced. Après cela, a pronominal proclitic on the
verb generally suffices. Sometimes a determiner plus classifier used as a pronoun is stated as the subject when the
subject would otherwise be unclear.

Fully inflected verbs appearing next to each other are conjoined. Nouns phrases in juxtaposition are also conjoined.
No actual conjunctions appear in this text.

Verbes

Verbs inflect for tense and evidentiality. The two tenses are non-past (NP) and past. The evidentiality distinctions
are firsthand (FH) for evidence personally seen, sensed, or done, non-firsthand (NFH) for evidence not seen, sensed,
or done, and a zero evidentiality form for imperative, interrogatif, and various subordinate clauses. En outre,
negative verbs never take FH evidentiality, only NFH or zero.
Présent
bala
bede
deli
doŋi
dutiŋi
échouer
la
lala
lali
lama
lugu
dans le
nemmadu
nola
ŋesutu
ŋyaki
Pennsylvanie
pella
peppudu
petta
pettala
sada
sadola
salle

Brillant
think that
nom, call
permettre, permis
voir
go up to
prise, avoir
spend time, stay
faire, créer, construire
donner
couverture, cacher, obscur
faire, travail
make with
dwell with
devenir, change into
mettre, place oneself
pousser
avoir
leave alone
wash away
go away, partir
emporter
entendre
speak with
chanter

Present NFH Past
balodo
bededo
deledo
doŋedo
dutiŋedo
kasado
lodo
lalodo
laledo
lamodo
lugodo
nellodo
nemmadodo
nolodo
ŋesutodo
ŋyakedo
podo
pellodo
peppudodo
pettodo
pettalodo
sadodo
sadolodo
salledo

Present FH
balada
bededa
deleda
doŋeda
dutiŋeda
kasada
lada
lalada
laleda
lamada
lugoda
nellada
nemmadoda
nolada
ŋesutoda
ŋyakeda
pada
pellada
peppudoda
pettada
pettalada
sadada
sadolada
salleda

Past NFH
baleto
bedeto
deleto
doŋeto
dutiŋeto
kaseto
lato
lalato
laleto
lameto
lugoto
nellato
nemmadoto
nolato
ŋesutoto
ŋyaketo
pato
pellato
peppudoto
pettato
pettalato
sadeto
sadolato
salleto

Past FH
baleta
bedeta
deleta
doŋeta
dutiŋeta
kaseta
lata
lalata
laleta
lameta
lugota
nellata
nemmadota
nolata
ŋesutota
ŋyaketa
patate
pellata
peppudota
pettata
pettalata
sadeta
sadolata
salleta

balete
bedete
delete
doŋete
dutiŋete
kasete
en retard
lalate
lalete
lamete
lugote
nellate
nemmadote
nolate
ŋesutote
ŋyakete
pate
pellate
peppudote
pettate
pettalate
sadete
sadolate
sallete

Présent
avec
somadu
sulugu
sutiŋi
sutu
syeni
elle est
tanono
tene
tiŋi
vadeli
vuŋyene
vusulugu

Present FH
seda
somadoda
sulugoda
sutiŋeda
sutoda
syeneda
tanada
tanonoda
teneda
tiŋeda
vadeleda
vuŋyeneda
vusulugoda

Present NFH Past
sete
sedo
somadote
somadodo
sulugote
sulugodo
sutiŋete
sutiŋedo
sutote
sutodo
syenete
syenedo
tanete
tanodo
tanonote
tanonodo
tenete
tenedo
tiŋete
tiŋedo
vadelete
vadeledo
vuŋyenete
vuŋyenedo
vusulugote
vusulugodo

Past FH
seta
somadota
sulugota
sutiŋeta
sutota
syeneta
taneta
tanonota
teneta
tiŋeta
vadeleta
vuŋyeneta
vusulugota

Past NFH
seto
somadoto
sulugoto
sutiŋeto
sutoto
syeneto
taneto
tanonoto
teneto
tiŋeto
vadeleto
vuŋyeneto
vusulugoto

Brillant
dire
dwell in
to do with, to help
go on/into
mettre, lieu
expect
couler, blow
overflow, flood
être (inanimate)
aller, move along
disallow
displease
not help at

Verbs also inflect for subject using one of the pronominal proclitics. Inflected verbs can optionally carry a suffixed
verbal enclitic.

Verbal Enclitics

These attach to the end of the verb to add extra meaning. More than one can attach, and the ordering can vary.

beye
et
dusu
giya
haŋi
le
keŋi
kyeya

lana
lolo
nna
sodo

tata

todo
toyo

tutu
yissi

frustrative: “try and fail”, “fail to”
passif
habitual
denotes a hypothetical condition: “if ….»
continu: “keep (sur)”, “continuing to”, “still”
impératif, denotes a command
interrogatif, denotes a question
denotes a hypothetical situation: “if (this goes on)”
appears in questions asking permission
denotes real condition: “when”
“increasingly”, “more and more”, “even more”
inchoative: “begin to”, “start to”
direct quote, this can attach to a verb of speaking or, in the absence of a verb of speaking,
to the end of the noun phrase denoting the person speaking
“decreasingly”
emphatic with a negative verb
change in the situation: “until”
result of a situation: “therefore”, “so”
response to or result of a condition, following a clause using giya, kyeya, or lana: “then”
“for the purpose of”, “in order to”
“merely”, “only”

Pronominal Proclitics

These are attached to the front of the verb. En plus, the personal pronouns can be attached to the end of an
obligatorily possessed noun.

Personal Pronouns

first person singular (1S)

lidi
ŋi
ŋidi
maman
nadi

Other Pronouns

et
sur

first person plural (1P)
second person singular (2S)
second person plural (2P)
third person animate singular (3S)
third person animate plural (3P)

third person inanimate, no number (3I)
à la troisième personne, different subject as before, no number (DS)

De plus,, the pronominal third person clitics can be prefixed to a determiner plus classifier combination as deictic
or emphatic reference.

Nouns: Générales

Nouns are generally preceded by a determiner plus classifier combination. They do not show number, as number is
expressed in the determiner.

bigittu
deni
ennisi
eppomo
gogo
kedekele
keyodo
kibibene
kyege
kyumu
luvu
mede
mudusebe
noleko
nuvu
pidi
somadusiyo
syebe
tadatada
udu

saison
rivière
couteau
lance, staff
nourriture
magic
dark clouds, rain or storm cloud
skin of a plant, bark
tâche, travail
homme, male person
étoile
arbre
rug made of skinned hide
campfire
hibou
panier
dwelling place
nuit
pluie
vent

Nouns: Obligatorily Possessed

Obligatorily possessed nouns (such as body parts), when objects of a verb, do not have a determiner or classifier. Ils
sont, cependant, suffixed with one of the pronominal clitics detailed above.

sadu
Je suis
Etats-Unis

Adjectives

voix
tête
langue

Adjectives follow nouns, modifying them though the noun being modified can be dropped, provided the determiner
plus classifier is still included. A case could be made for no difference between nouns and adjectives.

basa
kadu
kele

mauvais
rough
bien, well-made

kiŋili
kyala
liyagi
nadda
niki
onono
siŋi
vekebe

Pronoms

wanted
chaud
lisse
seul, solitary
nearby, neighboring
very big
grand
inactif, lazy

There are very few actual pronouns, as the determiner plus classifier will act as a pronoun.

ŋeya
sisi
susi

reflexive pronoun, all persons
yonder, at a distance
ici, là

Déterminants

a single, un (SG)
group of people
pair, deux, a small set
quelques, several, trois
assez
all kinds of, various types of
many, various (PL)
pile or collection of something (COLL)
all of, entier
aucun, Non (NÉG)

Classifiers

Classifiers express the category or shape of the noun. Some classifiers act as derivational suffixes on more generic
nouns or on other words, making them nouns. Speakers may deliberately use different classifiers for nouns in the
same category to distinguish them.

bene
dele
dodo
ele
ette
gogo
himi
ittu
kini
est
laka
lene
lu
momo

usine
unbounded
animal
personne
couteau, lance, outil, instrument
nourriture, something edible
something hollow
time period, événement, tâche
atterrir, Terre, sol
feu, campfire, a camp
shelter, hut, maison
pile of stuff
light source, gleam
something flat

muŋi
ŋe
ono
sese
sisi
siyo
tadu
elle est

Adverbs

long and thin
animate being
something large in size
discours
small and distant, small because distant
lieu, emplacement
surface
vent, flowing water

Adverbs express manner and direction. While they can occur anywhere in the sentence, the preference is to put them
immediately after the verb.

aŋiŋya
meya
nuvunuvu
olaya
syenisyeni
tadya
tanatana
tannatanna
umumu

Prepositions

autour, surrounding
à l'intérieur, dans
mournfully
en haut, upwards
curiously, expectingly
bas, downwards
flowing
rapidement
while shouting

Prepositions are often suffixed with a determiner plus classifier, a pronoun, or a pronominal clitic. The singular
determiner ‘a’ disappears when prefixed with a preposition.

du
nene
Pennsylvanie
pesi
sont
vudu

denotes motion towards, beneficiary, recipient, indirect object: “to”, “for”
instrumental: “with”
pertensive: “belonging to”
direction from, “away from”, “out of”
emplacement: “at”, “on”, “in”
negation of beneficiary: “not to, not for”

Adverbial and Other Enclitics

Adverbial enclitics attach to the first word in the sentence. They generally express time.

danu
dege
goli
dame
susu

alors, and then, suivant
après, afterwards, later
for a long time
once, one time, once when
not long after, soon after

The evidential clitic tani can be used as an adverbial clitic and attached to the first word in the story. The story is then
told in present nonfirsthand. Tani can also attach to a proper noun to make a title: “The story of…”

The enclitic tepe attaches to nouns and means “without” or “lacking”. Nouns suffixed with tepe do not need a
determiner or classifier.

Interjections

These can be treated as a whole clause.

avo

“no”

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Interlinear
Nuvu=tani
Nuvu=story

n =ele =tani kyumu ma=bededo =da Nuvu ma=podo sono=ma basa
SG=person=story man 3S=name.NP.NFH=PASSIVE Nuvu 3S=have.NP.NFH head=3S bad
ma=podo =dusu usa =ma kadu
3S=have.NP.NFH=HABITUAL tongue=3S rough

da=vuŋyenedo =lolo ma=nemmadu =haŋi din =ele niki
3I=displease.NP.NFH=INCREASE 3S=dwell.with.NP=CONTINUOUS group=person nearby
ma=pettodo =toyo ma=nemmadu =tutu vov=ele
3S=go.away.NP.NFH=RESULT 3S=dwell.with=PURPOSE NEG=person

ma=balodo =haŋi ma=nemmadu =kyeya ŋov=ele
3S=think.NP.NFH=CONTINUOUS 3S=dwell.with.NP=HYPOTHESIS PL=person
nadi=syeni =toyo ma=lugu nad =ittu kyege
3P=expect.NP=RESULT 3S=do.NP all.kinds=time.period task

ma=lodo =lana nadda
3S=spend.time.NP.NFH=REAL.CONDITION alone
ma=lugu =toyo nad =ittu kyege kiŋili
3S=do.NP=RESULT all.kinds=time.period task wanted

had =ittu =dege bigittu ma=nemmadodo vov=ele
several=time.period=after season 3S=dwell.with.NP.NFH NEG=person
ma=kasodo pe =lene onono da=nellodo =da
3S=hold.NP.NFH COLL=pile very.big 3I=make.with.NP.NFH=PASS
ŋo=muŋi eppomo ŋov=ette ennisi ŋo=himi pidi ŋo=momo mudusebe
PL=long spear PL =tool knife PL=hollow basket PL=flat skinned.hide.rug

n =ittu =ladi syebe a =ŋe luvu ma=tiŋedo tadya du=kini
SG=time.period=one.time night SG=animate star 3S=go.NP.NFH downwards to=land

ma=tiŋedo =goli kyala=tepe gogo=tepe laka =tepe
3S=go.NP.NFH=long.time warm =without food=without shelter=without
ma=doŋedo =todo a =lu noleko su=sisi
3S=see.NP.NFH=UNTIL SG=light campfire at=distance

da=lu da=tenedo noleko pa =ma Nuvu
3I=light 3I=be.NP.NFH campfire belong.to=3S Nuvu

a =ŋe ma=tiŋedo tannatanna du=lu
SG=animate 3S=go.NP.NFH quickly to=light

ma=sedo =sodo ŋi=lali =keŋi hag =gogo du=le
3S=say.NP.NFH=QUOTE 2S=give.NP=QUERY some=food to=1S

n =ele ma=sedo avo
SG=person 3S=say.NP.NFH no

ma=sedo =sodo le=kasada =yissi mag =gogo du =ŋeya
3S=say.NP.NFH=QUOTE 1S=hold.NP.FH=merely enough=food for=self

a =ŋe =sodo ŋi=deli =keŋi le=ŋesutu =kyeya
SG=animate=QUOTE 2S=allow=QUERY 1S=put.self.NP=HYPOTHETICAL
ŋeya kyala su=lu noleko pa =ŋi
self warm at=light campfire belong.to=2S

n =ele =sodo da=teneda =yissi mal =lu du =ŋeya
SG=person=QUOTE 3I=be.NP.FH=merely enough=light for=self

a =ŋe =sodo ŋi=kasada ham =momo mudusebe kele
SG=animate=QUOTE 2S=hold.NP.FH several=flat skinned.hide.rug fine

ŋi=vadeli =giya le=la =haŋi su=lu noleko
2S=allow.NEG.NP=CONDITIONAL 1S=spend.time.NP=CONTINUOUS at=light campfire
le=sutu =toyo aŋiŋya a =momo du=ŋeya
1S=put.NP=RESULT around SG=flat to=self

Nuvu=danu ma=sedo =sodo umumu
Nuvu=next 3S=say.NP.NFH=QUOTE shoutingly
ŋi=pella =ka da=ŋo=momo
2S=leave.alone=COMMAND 3I=PL=flat

le=lalata du =ŋeya da=ŋo=momo
1S=make.PAST.FH for=self 3I=PL=flat
vudu =nadi ŋov=ele vekebe nadi=vusulugodo =tata nad =ittu pa =ŋeya
not.for=3P PL=person lazy 3P =do.NEG.NP.NFH=EMPHASIS all.kinds=event belong.to=self

a =ŋe =danu luvu ma=pettodo ma=dutiŋedo a =bene mede siŋi liyagi
SG=animate=next star 3S=go.away.NP.NFH 3S=go.to.NP.NFH SG=plant tree tall smooth

n =ele ma=doŋedo =haŋi syenisyeni a =ŋe
SG=person 3S=see.NP.NFH=CONTINOUS expectingly SG=animate
sa=sutiŋedo =lolo olaya a =bene liyagi
DS=go.onto.NP.NFH=INCREASE upwards SG=plant smooth

a =ŋe ma=pettalodo n =ono kibibene pesi=bene nen =ette
SG=animate 3S=take.away.NP.NFH SG=large bark from=plant with=tool
ma=sutodo aŋiŋya n =ono du=ŋeya
3S=put.NP.NFH around SG=large to=self

a =ŋe =danu ma=salledo =nna ŋo=sese kedekele
SG=animate=next 3S=sing.NP.NFH=BEGIN PL=speech magic

a =tana udu da=lodo =lolo da=ŋyakedo susi ŋo=tadu keyodo
SG=flow wind 3I=spend.time.NP.NFH=INCREASE 3I=push.NP.NFH there PL=surface dark.cloud
da=lamodo =todo ted =dele lada
3I=cover.NP.NFH=UNTIL whole=unbounded sky

pe =tana tadatada da=tiŋedo =nna tadya
COLL=flow rain 3I=go.NP.NFH=BEGIN downwards
Nuvu ma=sutiŋedo =toyo meya a =laka
Nuvu 3S=go.into.NP.NFH=RESULT inside SG=shelter

a =tana=susu deni da=tanonodo =nna
SG=flow =soon.after river 3I=overflow.NP.NFH=BEGIN
da=lamodo =lolo tek =ko somadusiyo
3I=cover.NP.NFH=INCREASE whole=camp dwelling.place

da=tanodo aŋiŋya du=laka da=peppudodo
3I=flow.NP.NFH around to=shelter 3I=wash.away.NP.NFH
ŋo=muŋi eppomo ŋov=ette ennisi ŋo=himi pidi ŋo=laŋi mudusebe kele
PL=long spear PL =tool knife PL=hollow basket PL=praised skinned.hide.rug fine

da=tanodo =lolo da=peppudodo a =laka
3I=flow.NP.NFH=INCREASE 3I=wash.away.NP.NFH SG=shelter

Nuvu ma=tiŋedo tannatanna du=bene pesi=bene
Nuvu 3S=go.NP.NFH quickly to=plant from=plant
ma=sutiŋedo =beye olaya a =bene liyagi
3S=go.onto.NP.NFH=FRUSTRATED upwards SG=plant smooth

a =tana da=tanado =lolo Nuvu ma=peppudodo =da =toyo
SG=flow 3I=flow.NP.NFH=INCREASE Nuvu 3S=wash.away.NP.NFH=PASSIVE=RESULT

a =ŋe luvu ma=lodo
SG=animate star 3S=spend.time.NP.NFH
ma=sada Nuvu sadu =ma sa=pettodo tanatana
3S=hear.NP Nuvu voice=3S DS=go.away.NP.NFH flowing

Nuvu ma=nolodo =da a =dodo nuvu da=sadolada =haŋi
Nuvu 3S=change.into.NP.NFH=PASSIVE SG=animal owl 3I=speak.with.NP.FH=CONTINUOUS

nuvunuvu
mournfully

Smooth English

The Story of Nuvu

There is a man named Nuvu who has a bad head and usually a rough tongue. It displeases him to live with his
neighbors so he goes away to live alone. He thinks that if he lives with people, then they will expect him to do all kinds
of tasks. When he is alone, then he does what he wants. After several seasons living alone, he has a large pile of spears,
knives, baskets, and skinned hide rugs.

One night, a star comes down to land. He walks a long time without warmth or food or shelter, until he sees a light
from a campfire in the distance. That light is from Nuvu’s campfire. The star hurries towards the light.

He says, “Will you give me some food?”

Nuvu says no, “I have only enough food for myself.”

The star says, “Will you allow me to warm myself by your campfire?”

Nuvu says, “There is only enough light for myself.”

The star says, “You have several fine skinned hide rugs. If you do not allow me to spend time at the campfire, I will put
a rug around myself.”

Then Nuvu shouts, “Leave those rugs alone! I made those for myself, not for lazy people who do not do their own
tasks.”

The star goes away and goes to a tall, smooth tree. Nuvu watches the star climb up the smooth trunk. The star peels off
a large piece of bark from the tree and puts it around himself. Then the star starts to sing a magic spell.

The wind increases and pushes in dark clouds until they cover the whole sky. Rain begins to fall and so Nuvu goes into
his hut. Peu après, the river begins to overflow and cover more and more of the camp. It flows around the shelter and
washes away the spears and knives and baskets and fine skinned hide rugs. It flows even more and washes away the
shelter.

Nuvu goes from tree to tree but cannot climb the smooth trunks. The river flows even more and Nuvu is washed away.
The star listens as Nuvu’s voice floats away.

Nuvu is changed into an owl who still speaks mournfully.

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