On Thu, 01 May 2008 22:28:36 -0400, Rick Harrison <not@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
>In article <07u914tno6sbq0aj23hsaonq9c1k3357b1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, Padraic Brown
><elemtilas@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>> Kerno was largely done in my head (overall shape, syntax, sound
>> changes, stuff like that; charts of paradigms were largely done on
>> paper), though if I didn't write it down, it would have been
>> forgotten!
>
>Do you think it would be possible to do it all in one's head? Assuming
>that one has an intense desire to do so.
Absolutely. We only write things on paper cos we're too lazy to use
our internal memories to their fullest extent! ;)
> I wonder if a conlang created
>in that way would be especially, erm, special in some way -- especially
>customized to the inner workings of the creator's brain.
I doubt it. Unless the conlanger specifically decided to try and break
those universal wossnames. I think it might also depend on how much
"training" the conlanger has. A conlanger who has had no contact with
others and who has had no linguistics or formal language training
might come up with some (seemingly) bizarre connection and weird
categories -- but ultimately, I think it might just be a novel or
ideosyncratic way to describe something that we could describe using
mundane linguistics.
As for Talarian, I devised the "Native" form of the grammar in my head
(in English, mind) and as much as possible without recourse to what
linguistics I have. The result was that Grammar is a kind of
choreographed dance among the "motive and resting powers" (active and
stative verbs), "motive and resting beings" (animate and inanimate
nouns) as directed by the "authorities" (particles, pronouns,
postfixes -- all the bits that make the other words perform their
proper functions). It's called the Sixfold Path on account of there
being six cl***** of words; and mind you, I did it at about 3 o'clock
in the morning, so it may well contain some dysfunctionality or poorly
thought out elements!
"Blessings on all your days! Look! – here ye will find wisdom if
wisdom ye seek: wisdom of the sixfold path, for lo! your blessed
ancestors, peace be on them, took from the Great Western Empire in
ancient time sixscore and six symbols of their writing, mighty in
lore, and those sixscore and six symbols inhabit six houses. Now, the
six houses that comprise the sixfold path are (XA, NIMTA, LUWWA,
CAOWWA, KIHA, WANACA) and upon each house is a virtue. Look! The
ancients wrote upon stones and riverclay – if you don't believe me,
travel into the sunset with the caravans to the Great Western Empire
and see with your own two eyes as I did! – your ancestors, peace be on
them, wrote upon leather and wood. These symbols we preserved from
scholar to scholar: anyone who seeks to attain wisdom learns the
letters (xaraffiyyar), the syllables (papos) and the glyphic symbols
(çiritar). Ye can read these words of mine – ye already know the
letters and the syllables. Now, if ye don't know the glyphic symbols,
read on friend and prosper in gaining wisdom! For lo! the Teacher
said: the wise man and the scholar both gather their treasure where
the worm does not find it, where the moth does not devour it and where
the rust will not destroy it. If your two eyes are good then read!"
Padraic
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