Template:Feature

From NSwiki, the NationStates encyclopedia.
Jump to: navigation, search

Rejistanian

Introduction

The rejistani language is a conlang created to provide communication between the different peoples of Rejistania without any preference. It is used on formal occasions but also in normal life some terms are used and most rejistanis know the language well enough for simple conversations since it is taught in school and courses for adults are offered free of charge by the government. The grammar is based on northern rejistani languages, but very much simplified. Concepts from Isesi are also adopted, most prominent example are the 10 forms of comparism. the vocabulary is based on terms used in commerce and of the Jisu, but that is because the Jisu people conquered large parts of the Rejistanian Island and many words became used in other languages. To avoid problems with the different concepts of pronunciation, Rejistanian uses a minimal alphabet of only 18 sounds and letters. Its grammar reminds partly of Japanese and Esperanto since it relies heavily on pre- and suffixes. Rejistani is written either in the Latin alphabet or in a special rejistani one. The apostrophe is used to separate the different parts of a word. Notable is also the important position of the verb in this language: "xe'ki'lanja'isa'han'ta" (translation: "I will not go there/come.", literal translation: "I'am-going-to'maybe'go'to'not") is a complete sentence, which only consists of a verb ('isa: to go) with its pre- and suffixes.

The alphabet

Rejistanian knows fewer characters than most languages. But in transcripts of other languages on the rejistanian island, more sounds than the one from rejistanian are needed that is why these characters are composed out of two letters and to avoid confusion a tilde is put between them. In the rejistani alphabet, an arc is drawn below these letters.

The rejistani alphabet has the following letters: a, d, e, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, r, s, t, u, v, x, y. Except for the last three, they are pronounced as in German, the v sounds as in 'water', the x like in 'she' and the y sounds as in 'I'. The most common archaic combinations are: (vowel)~n (the vowel is pronounced nasal, similar to French), (vowel)~l (the vowel is stressed and the tone slightly rises, the l is silent), (vowel)~r (the vowel is stressed and the tone slightly falls, the r is silent), s~v (a sound similar to 'th' in thanks) and a~o (which is pronounced like in soul).

Basic vocabulary

This is based on a language guide for tourists.
Greetings

Hejida! Hello!
Hejida (name)'he Hello Mr/Mrs (name)
Il su? How are you?
veka/mesit/sejil fine/not quite fine/bad
Jilih veka, xe'mesu il(n). I am glad to see you (more formal greeting)
Va veka Good bye (from the one who is leaving)
Va dary Good bye (from the one who is staying)

Being polite

Viije Sorry! or Excuse me!
ma vy Please (if possible)
Texeki Thank you
Halen'ta/Jilih halen'ta You're welcome
Il('lanja)'ma visko jusa su? Can you speak English? (the 'lanja makes the question a bit more polite) (People consider it quite impolite to start speaking in a language, they do not understand, even if you do not know any more rejistanian, you ought to know that sentence)


See main article at: Rejistanian