Conlang Relay 22/Ronc Tyu

Ronc Tyu text

Táe yu tao gyào gwaec bùn tśi fae lin kwé.

Tao gyào gwaec ngóu lo hśac dyen dzó tèin nrà tou ndzu pei tyòu yenc do. Dzó ngóu zò soc dzùn nanggàc na dac do poun yàe-kàc yu tśi, gyào lí to ta nyec.

Htlanc ki línc, pwanc zúc do lóa fa kác. Hun tenc pwanc yoc; dzó do lea ngoun myèc rao dzó ndźù nàc tyòu gonc. Kè ngèc san pwanc pec twi tenc kác do lea ngoun myèc. Kuc tei myóa kác té sruo suo wèi nyù, o kuc lú kác suo myuc yenc wo pàn.

Yéi tao gyào gwaec nu zò kòa diec do poun yàe-kàc. Tśi ao lú lóc to, kè dzó ka pàn duc. Kè we, trà mpàn gzu runc tśi nù! Tao yonc húoc bí lóc li soc dźi mpàn – o htsí kác htsóc wóc xù xù ráon dźi! Tao źù dric gyóc kác hkúnc hxanc piec xù. Yao nyec lo źù htroa, o dzó tou tswi ráon li soc pei yàe-kàc. Tao gyào gwaec lí fwí hlulú ta mpàn o dzó fae lin kwé, o wo yàe-kàc ko suc kèa yenc o hto hríe hkú tú.

Translation

English translation of Ronc Tyu text

Story of a tradesman who falls to the ground

A tradesman was getting ready so that he could begin traveling. He was loading baskets and boxes onto his travois, which was beinɡ pulled by a horse.

At the same time, a child came walking along with a dog. It seems that the child was hungry; it went into a house in order to get some food. But the parents of the child did not allow the dog to enter the house. They ordered the dog to sit and wait outside, and they tied him to a tree with some rope.

Now the tradesman placed the last box onto the travois. He wanted to attach it, but he did not have enough rope to do so. But hey, there was a piece of rope lying around nearby! The man happily reached for the rope and pulled it towards him – and now the dog got free and came running and barking at him! The man was afraid of the dog and kicked him, and the dog was shocked and cried out in pain wildly. The horse was afraid too, and it started running and pulling the travois away. The tradesman got entangled in the rope and fell to the ground, and the travois crashed into a tree and broke apart.

English translation of previous text

(łaá siri, by Zach Wellstood)

Song of the falling merchant

A merchant is getting ready for traveling. He puts something on his vehicle, which is being pulled by a horse. While he does that, a child is walking along over there with a dog where he sees them. The child is probably becoming hungry, it goes inside a house in order to search for food. When the dog is inside the house, the family does not allow that. The family orders the dog to sit, and then they tie the dog to a tree. While the merchant is pulling something towards the vehicle, sufficient rope is lacking there. But there is some rope over there instead! Next, the dog is released as the merchant pulls on the rope. Afterwards, the dog begins to run and bark. The merchant is afraid of the dog, and he strikes it. Because the dog cries out in terror towards the horse, the horse gets afraid too. The merchant's horse then hits something by accident. It falls towards the tree and gets entangled in it. That's it!

Interlinear gloss

Táe

story

yu

of

tao

man

gyào

ATTR\offer

gwaec

ATTR\acquire

bùn

REL.A

tśi

3A.SG

fae

fall

lin

lie

kwé.

ground

Story of a tradesman who falls to the ground.

Tao

man

gyào

ATTR\offer

gwaec

ATTR\acquire

ngóu

COP

lo

become

hśac

ready

dyen

so_that

dzó

same.A

tèin

then.FUT

nrà

be_able

tou

begin

ndzu

rise

pei

go_from.3A

tyòu

eat

yenc

sleep

do.

come_to.3I

A tradesman was getting ready so that he could begin traveling.

Dzó

same.A

ngóu

COP

zò

put

soc

give

dzùn

contain

nanggàc

PL\basket

na

and

dac

PL\box

do

come_to.3I

poun

above

yàe-kàc

travois

yu

of

tśi,

3A.SG

He was loading baskets and boxes onto his travois,

gyào

REL.I

lí

PASS\pull

to

3I.SG

ta

by

nyec.

female_horse

which was beinɡ pulled by a horse.

Htlanc

during_situation

ki

this

línc,

SGV\time,

pwanc

child

zúc

walk

do

come_to.3I

lóa

there

fa

with

kác.

male_dog

At the same time, a child came walking along with a dog.

Hun

seem

tenc

SUB

pwanc

child

yoc;

hungry

It seems that the child was hungry;

dzó

same.A

do

come_to.3I

lea

enter

ngoun

inside

myèc

SGV\village

rao

in_order_to

dzó

same.A

ndźù

search

nàc

take

tyòu

eat

gonc.

food

it went into a house in order to get some food.

Kè

but

ngèc

parents

san

related_to

pwanc

child

pec

NEG

twi

allow

tenc

SUB

kác

male_dog

do

come_to.3I

lea

enter

ngoun

inside

myèc.

SGV\village

But the parents of the child did not allow the dog to enter the house.

Kuc

3A.DU

tei

say

myóa

command

kác

male_dog

té

sit

sruo

wait

suo

LOC.STAT

wèi

outside

nyù,

door

They ordered the dog to sit and wait outside,

o

and

kuc

3A.DU

lú

tie

kác

male_dog

suo

LOC.STAT

myuc

in_reach_of

yenc

SGV\deciduous_forest

wo

INSTR

pàn.

rope

and they tied him to a tree with some rope.

Yéi

then.PST

tao

man

gyào

ATTR\offer

gwaec

ATTR\acquire

nu

push

zò

put

kòa

final

diec

box

do

come_to.3I

poun

above

yàe-kàc.

travois.

Now the tradesman placed the last box onto the travois.

Tśi

3A.SG

ao

want

lú

tie

lóc

hold

to,

3I.SG,

kè

but

dzó

same.A

ka

lack

pàn

rope

duc.

ATTR\sufficient

He wanted to attach it, but he did not have enough rope to do so.

Kè

but

we,

hey,

trà

exist

mpàn

SGV\rope

gzu

ATTR\present

runc

beside

tśi

3A.SG

nù!

really

But hey, there was a piece of rope lying around nearby!

Tao

man

yonc

happy

húoc

reach_out

bí

catch

lóc

hold

li

pull

soc

give

dźi

come_to.3A

mpàn –

SGV\rope.

The man happily reached for the rope and pulled it towards him –

o

and

htsí

now

kác

male_dog

htsóc

PASS\untie

wóc

free

xù

shout

xù

shout

ráon

quick

dźi!

come_to.3A

and now the dog got free and came running and barking at him!

Tao

man

źù

afraid

dric

attack

gyóc

kick

kác

male_dog

hkúnc

PASS\surprise

hxanc

PASS\injure

piec

wild

xù.

shout

The man was afraid of the dog and kicked him, and the dog was shocked and cried out in pain wildly.

Yao

also

nyec

female_horse

lo

become

źù

afraid

htroa,

lose,

o

and

dzó

same.A

tou

begin

tswi

jump

ráon

quick

li

pull

soc

give

pei

go_from.3A

yàe-kàc.

travois

The horse was afraid too, and it started running and pulling the travois away.

Tao

man

gyào

ATTR\offer

gwaec

ATTR\acquire

lí

PASS\pull

fwí

PASS\squeeze

hlulú

PASS\tie_down

ta

by

mpàn

SGV\rope

o

and

dzó

same.A

fae

fall

lin

lie

kwé,

ground

The tradesman got entangled in the rope and fell to the ground,

o

and

wo

INSTR

yàe-kàc

travois

ko

touch

suc

collide

kèa

hit

yenc

SGV\deciduous_forest

o

and

hto

same.I

hríe

collapse

hkú

PASS\break

tú.

defunct

and the travois crashed into a tree and broke apart.

Vocabulary

word	morphology	type	meaning
ao		v.tr	want
bí		v.tr	catch, capture
bùn		pron	(relative pronoun, animate)
diec	pl dac	n.i	box, case
do		v.it+	come, approach (towards something inanimate)
dric		v.tr	attack
dyen		cj	so that
dzó		pron	the same one (animate)
dzóc	pass htsóc	v.tr	disconnect, loosen, untie
dzùn		v.tr	contain, be filled with
dźi		v.it+	come, approach (towards 3rd person animate)
fa		pp.v	with, accompanied by
fae		v.it	fall
gonc		n.i.coll	food
gyào		pron	(relative pronoun, inanimate)
gyóc		v.tr	kick
hmi	pass fwí	v.tr	squeeze, pinch, be tight against
hríe		v.it	collapse, fall apart, decay, rot
hśac		v.it	be ready, be finished
htlanc		cj / pp.v	while, during (a short timeframe)
hto		pron	the same one (inanimate)
htroa		v.it	lose, fail; very (when used in a SVC with a negative quality verb)
htsí		adv	now
hun		v.aux	it seems, it is obvious
húoc		v.tr	reach out for
ka		v.tr	need, lack, miss
kác		n.a	male dog, hound
kào	attr gyào	v.tr	offer, sell, trade away
kè		cj	but, however (used with clauses)
kèa		v.tr	hit, strike
ki		det	this, these
ko		v.tr	touch, get in contact with
kòa		det	last, final
kú	pass hkú	v.tr	break, destroy
kuc		pron	(3rd person animate dual)
kúnc	pass hkúnc	v.tr	surprise, catch sb. off guard, shock
kwé		n.i.coll	ground, floor
lánc	sgv línc	n.a.coll	time (sgv: moment; situation)
lea		v.tr	go into, enter
lenc	sgv yenc	n.i.coll	forest of deciduous trees (sgv: deciduous tree)
li	pass lí	v.tr	pull
lin		v.it	lie, recline
lo		v.aux	become
lóa		adv	there
lóc		v.tr	hold, cling to
lú		v.tr	bind, tie, fasten
lulú	pass hlulú	v.tr	tie down
màc	sgv myèc	n.i.coll	village (sgv: house)
myóa		v.tr	order, command, instruct
myuc		pp.n	among, in reach of, connected to
na		cj	and (used with non-subject noun phrases)
nàc		v.tr	choose, take, use
ndzu		v.it	rise, get up
ndźù		v.tr	search for
ngèc		n.a.coll	parents; same-sex parental siblings (i.e. mother's sister & father's brother)
nggàc	pl nanggàc	n.i	basket
ngóu		v.aux	be doing (progressive aspect)
ngoun		pp.n	in, inside
nrà		v.it	can, be able
nu		v.tr	push, shove, have an impact on
nù		adv	really, indeed
nuc	attr duc	v.it	be available, be sufficient, be suitable
nyec		n.a	female horse, mare
nyù		n.i	door, gate
o		cj	and, also (used with clauses)
paec	attr gwaec	v.tr	acquire, buy
pàn	sgv mpàn	n.i.coll	rope
pec		v.aux	not, be not
pei		v.it+	depart, leave, go away (from 3rd person animate)
piec		v.it	be wild, be fierce
poun		pp.n	on top of, above
pwanc		n.a	child
rao		cj	in order to, with the goal of
ráon		v.it	be fast, be quick
runc		pp.n	beside, close to
san		pp.n	socially related to
soc		v.tr	give; (in SVC) cause, bring about
sruo		v.it	wait
su	attr gzu	v.it	be present, be in reach
suc		v.tr	bump into, collide with
suo		pp.v	at, on (static locative)
ta		pp.n	by
táe		n.a	story, legend
tao		n.a	man
té		v.it	sit
tei		v.tr	say, speak
tèin		adv	then (in the future)
tenc		cj	(complementizer)
to		pron	(3rd person inanimate singular/collective)
tou		v.tr	start, begin
trà		v.it	exist (used with VS word order)
tswi		v.it	jump, leap
tśi		pron	(3rd person animate singular/singulative)
tú		v.it	be unusable, be defunct (of tools etc.)
twi		v.tr	allow, let, permit
tyòu		v.tr	eat
we		interj	oh!, hey!
wèi		pp.n	outside of; without
wo		pp.v	with, by, using (instrumental)
wóc		v.it	be free, be unrestricted
xanc	pass hxanc	v.tr	hurt, injure, harm
xù		v.it	call out, cry, roar, bark (of animals)
yàe-kàc		n.i	travois, sledge
yao		adv	too, also, as well
yéi		adv	then (in the past)
yenc		v.it	sleep
yoc		v.it	be empty, be hungry
yonc		v.it	be happy
yu		pp.n	of, belonging to, associated with
zò		v.tr	put, place
zúc		v.it	walk
źù		v.it	be fearful, be afraid

Idiomatic serial verb constructions

SVC	type	meaning	comments
hríe hkú tú	svc.it	break apart	(lit. collapse be-broken be-defunct)
kào paec	svc.tr	trade	(lit. sell buy)
lú lóc	svc.tr	attach, fasten	(lit. tie hold)
li soc pei	svc.tr	drag away	(lit. pull give leave)
ndzu pei tyòu yenc do	svc.tr	travel	(lit. rise leave eat sleep arrive)
zò soc dzùn	svc.tr	load, fill	(lit. put give contain)

Grammar notes

Nouns

• Nouns can be animate or inanimate, countable or collective, and optionally or obligatorily possessed.
• Countable nouns inflect for plural number. Plural forms which occur in this text and are distinct from the singular are given in the wordlist.
• Collective nouns refer to a collection of items by default, and may inflect for singulative number if only one single member of the collection is referenced. Singulative forms which occur in this text are given in the wordlist.
• Obligatorily possessed nouns must be followed immediately by their possessor, without any explicit marking. Optionally possessed nouns form possessive phrases with a preposition.

Verbs

• Verbs inflect for passive voice and for the attributive (a kind of participle, which makes up for the fact that Ronc Tyu does not have a lexical class of adjectives). All passive and attributive forms which occur in this text are given in the wordlist.
• Some fixed collocations of nouns followed by attributive verbs have become lexicalised.
• Reduplicating a verb root indicates habitual, iterative, or continuative aspect.

Prepositions

• Ronc Tyu distinguishes between two types of prepositions: Adnominal prepositions (pp.n) refer only to noun phrases (e.g. "the tree on the hill"), whereas adverbial prepositions (pp.v) always refer to the clause (e.g. "I'm standing on the hill"). Adnominal prepositions may be nested within an adverbial prepositional phrase.

Syntax

• The basic word order is SVO.
• Passive sentences, existential statements, and some types of questions use VS(O) word order.
• Phrases are typically head-initial, with modifiers following their heads.
• Ronc Tyu frequently uses serial verb constructions (SVC) consisting of two or more verbs to describe complex actions and situations, with the component verbs typically appearing in the chronological order of subevents. Some common collocations have a slightly idiomatic meaning, but most of the SVC instances in this text should be fairly transparent. A few idiomatic SVC are given in the wordlist.
• Some types of SVC can also serve a grammatical purpose, for example adding modal or aspectual information.
• Relative clauses always contain an overt pronoun referring to the relativized element within the relative clause (i.e. they follow a pronoun-retention strategy).
• A few words require unusual syntactic constructions; this has been noted in the wordlist where relevant.

Links

A more elaborate grammatical description of Ronc Tyu can be found at http://akana.conlang.org/wiki/Ronc_Tyu