Nuvutani: Introducing a new language
Author: Sylvia Sotomayor
MS Date: 03-02-2016
FL Date: 09-01-2016
FL Number: FL-00003C-00
Citation: Sotomayor, Sylvia. 2016. «Nuvutani: Introducing a
new language.» FL-00003C-00, Fiat Lingua,
2016.
Copyright: © 2016 Sylvia Sotomayor. This work is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Fiat Lingua is produced and maintained by the Language Creation Society (LCS). For more information
about the LCS, visit http://www.conlang.org/
Nuvutani:
Introducing a new language
by
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. However, in fleshing out Sodemadu, I became frustrated with its limitations, so
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, shortened
and adapted to suit me and this new language.
Then, 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
one, 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, let
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 – Object (SVO). The subject can be a pronominal proclitic attached to the verb. The
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. After that, 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.
Verbs
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, interrogative, and various subordinate clauses. Furthermore,
negative verbs never take FH evidentiality, only NFH or zero.
Present
bala
bede
deli
doŋi
dutiŋi
kasa
la
lala
lali
lama
lugu
nella
nemmadu
nola
ŋesutu
ŋyaki
pa
pella
peppudu
petta
pettala
sada
sadola
salle
Gloss
think that
name, call
allow, permit
see
go up to
hold, have
spend time, stay
make, create, build
give
cover, hide, obscure
do, work
make with
dwell with
become, change into
put, place oneself
push
have
leave alone
wash away
go away, leave
take away
hear
speak with
sing
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
pata
pellata
peppudota
pettata
pettalata
sadeta
sadolata
salleta
balete
bedete
delete
doŋete
dutiŋete
kasete
late
lalate
lalete
lamete
lugote
nellate
nemmadote
nolate
ŋesutote
ŋyakete
pate
pellate
peppudote
pettate
pettalate
sadete
sadolate
sallete
Present
se
somadu
sulugu
sutiŋi
sutu
syeni
tana
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
Gloss
say
dwell in
to do with, to help
go on/into
put, place
expect
flow, blow
overflow, flood
be (inanimate)
go, 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
da
dusu
giya
haŋi
ka
keŋi
kyeya
lana
lolo
nna
sodo
tata
todo
toyo
tutu
yissi
frustrative: “try and fail”, “fail to”
passive
habitual
denotes a hypothetical condition: “if ….”
continuous: “keep (on)”, “continuing to”, “still”
imperative, denotes a command
interrogative, 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. Additionally, the personal pronouns can be attached to the end of an
obligatorily possessed noun.
Personal Pronouns
le
first person singular (1S)
lidi
ŋi
ŋidi
ma
nadi
Other Pronouns
da
sa
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)
third person, different subject as before, no number (DS)
In addition, the pronominal third person clitics can be prefixed to a determiner plus classifier combination as deictic
or emphatic reference.
Nouns: General
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
season
river
knife
spear, staff
food
magic
dark clouds, rain or storm cloud
skin of a plant, bark
task, labor
man, male person
star
tree
rug made of skinned hide
campfire
owl
basket
dwelling place
night
rain
wind
Nouns: Obligatorily Possessed
Obligatorily possessed nouns (such as body parts), when objects of a verb, do not have a determiner or classifier. They
are, however, suffixed with one of the pronominal clitics detailed above.
sadu
sono
usa
Adjectives
voice
head
tongue
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
bad
rough
fine, well-made
kiŋili
kyala
liyagi
nadda
niki
onono
siŋi
vekebe
Pronouns
wanted
warm
smooth
alone, solitary
nearby, neighboring
very big
tall
idle, 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
here, there
Determiners
Determiners precede the noun and are suffixed with a classifier. Determiners express number. Determiner plus
classifier combinations can act as pronouns. In brackets are the allomorphs for before a vowel and before a consonant.
# stands for a reduplicated first consonant of a suffixed enclitic. Ø stands for nothing, no vowel or consonant in that
environment.
[n|a]
din[Ø|i]
e[n|#]
ha[d|#]
ma[m|#]
nad[Ø|i]
ŋo[v|Ø]
pe[y|Ø]
te[n|#]
vo[v|Ø]
a single, one (SG)
group of people
pair, two, a small set
some, several, three
enough
all kinds of, various types of
many, various (PL)
pile or collection of something (COLL)
all of, whole
none, no (NEG)
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
ko
laka
lene
lu
momo
plant
unbounded
animal
person
knife, spear, tool, instrument
food, something edible
something hollow
time period, event, task
land, earth, ground
fire, campfire, a camp
shelter, hut, house
pile of stuff
light source, gleam
something flat
muŋi
ŋe
ono
sese
sisi
siyo
tadu
tana
Adverbs
long and thin
animate being
something large in size
speech
small and distant, small because distant
place, location
surface
wind, 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
around, surrounding
inside, into
mournfully
up, upwards
curiously, expectingly
down, downwards
flowing
quickly
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
pa
pesi
su
vudu
denotes motion towards, beneficiary, recipient, indirect object: “to”, “for”
instrumental: “with”
pertensive: “belonging to”
direction from, “away from”, “out of”
location: “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
ladi
susu
then, and then, next
after, 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. Soon after, 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.
