The Dailies. August 31, 2022
Did you work on your language today? Create any new rules of grammar or syntax? New progress on a script? New words in your lexicon?
On the other hand, do any excavating or reading or enjoying stuff you’ve already created? Do you have any favorites to share?
How did you conlang today?
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3 thoughts on “The Dailies. August 31, 2022”
So more Courtly!
Let’s start with books, which brings us to a discussion of societal organization in this little world of mine, which also brings me briefly to why it’s called Courtly as a working descriptor. Because the society is loosely organized into what they call courts, or tsalitivod.
There is tsalit hanam, which could be translated “flowery court,” but which is actual “court (of) flowers.” Most compounds of this type now use the plural noun form, rather than the adjective, as adjectives take on more differentiation of meaning, but this is a very old term and hanam it is. This is the “open court,” where anyone who visits a city can use, and is parallel to a lek. A group of begezod, the territorial males establish it and their places in it, and other males feel free to visit and make use of it, which draws females of all kinds to visit during mating season, or shimis.
These courts consist of sectioned open spaces inside, and also double as space where military or law enforcement types will see how well men do in combat for space and hierarchy. There are alcoves, or tsuurod. These are not fully enclosed, generally curtained off sleeping or mating spaces, depending on the type of court.
Tsalit eibam is a “court (of) travelers,” otherwise known to us as a hotel. Travelers, typically going to be the traveling types, dzolevodyf natsebit, pay for a room, or haboro, and specify the number of alcoves they want in the room. You usually wouldn’t say you have a room in the city but that you have an alcove.
A tsalit dzimir, or “court (of) the roads,” is really just a well-established rest stop or normal campground along a migratory path. These are usually set up by companion groups of the traveling types, hungu or henku (ar. and sa. respectively), but can also be used by anyone making the move north for the summer or south for the winter. These campsites also feature a central open space and may have partial enclosure walls or roof, but is pretty much never a fully enclosed building.
A tsalit shaheeko is a familial court, but literally is “court in house (or hall).” Just like some groups of travelers stick together, around either a family or a group of similarly aged friends and companions of the same sex, the territorial families also may settle a more permanent “court” inside their homes and have established winter and summer residences in different cities.
These do not have open use during mating season, but are limited to families and those welcome at their court. They will often arrange marriages between begezevodyf hanobit with any of the other sexes while “out-of-cycle,” shimisekoits, then consummate “in-cycle,” shimiseko. During the overall season, they may arrange for “parties” where members of the family and anyone invited may find suitable partners for the cycle. These particular events, usually dinners and dances, are called dzegy.
Smaller families, or groups that form up among territorial types which are not strictly family, may also establish tsalit dezeg, sometimes just called dezeg, which are actual “court (of) family.” They will also hold dzegyo during the season.
Tavistivod are cities. These are generally established by territorial types, though both territorial and bearing types live in and make use of them regularly. Those of non-breeding age, young or old, may also choose to settle in a city with or without migrating if they don’t have a strong group or family to migrate with. (Most keep winter and summer residences and do move between them.) This especially applies to those who are ill or otherwise unable to move as easily.
Ayavityf apavod, men and women, are considered distinguished by who they migrate with. Men begin travel earlier and often winter separately from women, if not familial. Traveling types may be a mixed group if it’s an established family or no one in the group conceived. Those who do conceive generally stay put until the babies are born (so about a year), and some groups may choose to wait for their members, but many will choose to meet up later.
Okay, so with all that established, some words and concepts tied to how book places are treated here:
And some season words:
ETA: And uh… yf means “and.” I just threw that in a few places and forgot to mention that.
I meant to actually put down some cases and verb paradigms, but uh… yeah, I’m gonna stop there for the night.
Happy conlanging!
Again, sorry for my late reply! This is so wonderful. From these revealed terms and their context, a whole world seems to take shape. As usual with your worldbuilding, it’s fascinating and original and feels coherent and convincing.
I really like these words both for semantics and worldbuilding but also purely because they all have a strong sound to them, full of strength and flavour. Just in themselves, they add to the picture of a self-contained world.
Of course, I was particularly tickled with the terms related to books and reading, and what they said about the world. And I really love the distinction between wol and yedze!
It’s also great to have words for rainy times and for the moon.
Ah, thank you! I am glad it’s all coming together. And I do love some good related meanings that aren’t the same on a word!