CBB Conlang Relay/Buruya Nzaysa

Buruya Nzaysa text

Tɛh ɔ ñalisa u ru ɔdɔ, ni pɔ’ɔ wə ɛ’i se’ə. Esəña smada nzɔ uysava nada.

Səh ɔ yɔsko; səh ɔ toxasa. Ma’ɔwa nzo ñəmona olmat. Sə lo ruyo puh nzɔ xɔsɔ bəduga lu letsədə ah. Sə ɛru ɔ ñanɛvo tsəñe u ɛru. Tsonexa puh lo maldɔ sədə ɔ gəsta ñavra o oba dəpse kwə kətsɔda. Tsonexa lu mvɔnza puh lo avo aymɛ mvəbo oba ru ñeda. Esə ɔ nzɔñu rɛ səh ɔ toxasa!

Puh ɔ spɛ’ayla sədə, gasə dediga u mvəskɛ puh lo avo ah ɔ nzesu. Dal sə nzɔ ñəmona lu mvɔnza rɛbɛ aymɛ. Sə ɔ lotsɛ ñalta lu pima ah u maldɔ sədə ñuməgi. Esə nzɔ lu lotsɛ. Dal eskena u namə dedi meko ntɛxavu dalmə. Xutsɔ ɔdɔ’ɔwa podɔ ŋkə esə mɔra o mura.

Sə lu restɛ xɛpu adɔ. Ma ɛru ɔ rudɔ nonə. Ma nzɔ ntɛ u sɔnza mɔwa, dal ntɛ u tsɛñɛru. Tsonah atsa ntɛ xə’ə oba maldɔ ɔdɔ no.

Glossary

• adɔ (pp.) (2nd person object form of ah: "of you")
• ah pp. +NOM of, belonging to, with regard to
• atsa adv. still; as it stands; in the end
• avɔ v. flourish, thrive, prosper
• aymɛ (pp.) (1st person plural object form of ah: "of us")
• axe (pp.) (1st person singular object form of ah: "of me")
• bəduga adv. almost, nearly, not quite
• dal cj. but
• dalmə v. present, lift towards, suggest
• dedi n. option, possibility, chance
• dediga adv. maybe, possibly
• dəpse n. child
• ɛru pron. everyone
• ɛ’i aux. (optative auxiliary: "want to")
• esə- aux. (emphatic/abilitative auxiliary: "do indeed, can indeed")
• gas- aux. (permissive/potential auxiliary: "may")
• gəsta n. family; descendants
• kətsɔda v. give, donate, bestow, provide
• kwə pp. +NOM with (comitative)
• letsədə n. opposite; counterpart
• lo det. (definite article, nominative)
• lotsɛ n. correct, true; truth
• lu det. (definite article, accusative)
• ma- aux. (negative auxiliary: "do not")
• maldɔ n. person, human being
• meko n. lookalike, replacement, substitute, stand-in
• mɔra v. choose, select
• mɔwa v. begin; originate in
• mura v. decide
• mvəbo pp. +ACC between, among
• mvəskɛ n. necessary thing, duty, prerequisite
• mvɔnza n. tradition, informal knowledge, folk wisdom
• nada v.erg feel (emotionally)
• namə qu. some, a few
• ni cj. if/then
• no v.erg die
• nonə aux. (intentional auxiliary: "going to")
• ntɛ pp. +NOM with, by, like
• ntɛxavu adv. also, furthermore
• nzesu n. unusual, different
• nzɔ det./pron. (topic marker, nominative)
• nzo det./pron. (topic marker, accusative)
• nzoñu n. virtue, righteous action; advantage
• ñalisa qu. too many
• ñalta adv. indeed, actually
• ñanɛvo n. relative, kin
• ñavra n. broad, wide, large
• ñayɔsko n. joy, happiness, satisfaction, well-being
• ñeda v. share
• ñəmona n. conscience, responsibility, self-imposed duty
• ñuməgi v. rely on, depend on
• ŋkə n. same, identical, -self
• ɔ det. (indefinite article, accusative)
• ɔdɔ(w)- aux. (resultative auxiliary: "have become")
• o cj. and
• oba qu. many
• olmat v. be familar with, be accustomed to
• pimə v. sacrifice, cede, abandon
• pɔ(w)- aux. (conditional auxiliary: "might, would, could")
• podɔ (pp.) (2nd person object form of puh: "to/for you")
• puh pp. to, for (benefactive)
• rɛ cj. (complementizer, accusative)
• rɛbɛ n. fertile; fruitful; suitable; morally appropriate
• resti v. make up one's mind; vote
• ri cj. (complementizer, nominative)
• ru n. man; person
• rudɔ n. archetype, role model
• ruyɔ v. invent; solve a problem
• se’ə v. jump; insist on
• sədə n. another
• smada adv. recently, lately
• spɛ’ayla n. nation, ethnicity, large group of people
• sɔnza n. doctrine, theory; explanation
• so- aux. (null auxiliary: "do")
• ta- aux. (inceptive auxiliary: "start")
• toxasa n. large quantity, myriad, multitude
• tsɛñɛru n. mutual agreement; win-win situation
• tsəñe n. unlikely, far-fetched; having a distant but non-obvious connection
• tson- aux. (habitual/gnomic auxiliary: "be always")
• u det. (indefinite article, nominative)
• u pp. +NOM of, from, connected to
• uysava n. wish, desire
• wə- aux. (predictive/future auxiliary: "will do")
• xɛpu n. alone, on one's own, solitary
• xə’ə adv. so, thus, in this way
• xɔsɔ n. difficulty, obstacle, challenge, riddle
• xutsɔ cj. so, therefore
• yɔsko n. glad, happy, joyous, fortunate

Auxiliary verb suffixes:

• -ah suffix 3rd person plural intransitive
• -exa suffix 1st person plural subject, 3rd person object
• -ə suffix 3rd person singular intransitive
• -əh suffix 1st person plural intransitive
• -əña suffix 1st person singular subject, 3rd person agent/source (used with ergative verbs)
• -xena suffix 3rd person reflexive
• -’ɔ suffix 2nd person singular intransitive
• -’ɔwa suffix 2nd person singular subject, 3rd person object

Note: Vowel-initial auxiliary suffixes usually delete a preceding vowel, with the exception that -ə is itself deleted after /a/, and that -əh coalesces with preceding /a/ into -ɛh. Suffixes beginning in /x/ delete a preceding /ə/, with the suffix-initial consonant fortifying to /k/.

Grammar

Typology

• mostly isolating
• head-initial
• basic word order: AuxSOV with occasional topic fronting and subclause postposing
• basic morphosyntactic alignment: NOM-ACC
• pro-drop

Nominals

• no distinction between nouns and adjectives
• nouns/adjectives do not inflect at all
• determiners are mandatory in all full (i.e. non-pronominal) noun phrases. If no other determiner is present, non-numeral quantifiers can also fulfil this role.
• nouns without a determiner usually have adjectivial function
• most determiners are marked for case
• nominal number is unmarked

Prepositions

• prepositions inflect for the person of their object
• each preposition governs a specific case for their object
• objects of prepositions can be omitted if clear from context

Verbs

• content verbs do not inflect at all (except that they are nominalised in relative clauses, which is typically indicated by using a different word-final vowel)
• auxiliary verbs are mandatory in all clauses
• auxiliary verbs inflect for person and number of the subject AND person of the object
• there is a small class of "ergative verbs" (mostly verbs of perception) whose subjects are marked with the accusative case, and which require a special set of transitive person markers on the auxiliary
• aspect and mood are indicated by the choice of the auxiliary
• no tense marking
• additional distinctions may be made by adding one or more uninflected auxiliary right before the content verb, or sentence-finally if the content verb is missing
• in clauses which have no content verb but contain an accusative-marked noun phrase, the auxiliary functions as a copula

Links

Grammar sketch: http://akana.conlang.org/wiki/Buruya_Nzaysa

Interlinear gloss

Tɛh         ɔ         ñalisa   u    ru  ɔdɔ,    ni      pɔ’ɔ         wə      ɛ’i     se’ə.
ta     -əh  ɔ         ñalisa   u    ru  ɔdɔ     ni      pɔ      -’ɔ  wə      ɛ’i     se’ə
INC.COP-1PL INDEF.ACC too_many of.3 man RES.AUX if/then COND.AUX-2SG FUT.AUX OPT.AUX jump

When we become too many people, you will want to jump.


Esəña          smada    nzɔ     uysava    nada.
esə     -əña   smada    nzɔ     uysa  .va nada
EMPH.AUX-1SG<3 recently TOP.NOM desire.VN feel

I am certainly feeling this desire recently.


Səh          ɔ         yɔsko;    səh          ɔ         toxasa.
so      -əh  ɔ         yɔsko     so      -əh  ɔ         toxasa
NULL.COP-1PL INDEF.ACC fortunate NULL.COP-1PL INDEF.ACC multitude

We are lucky; we are numerous.


Ma’ɔwa        nzo     ñəmona         olmat.
ma     -’ɔwa  nzo     ñəmona         olmat
NEG.AUX-2SG>3 TOP.ACC responsibility be_familiar_with

You are not familiar with this responsibility.


Sə           lo      ruyo     puh   nzɔ     xɔsɔ      bəduga lu      letsədə  ah.
so      -ə   lo      ruyɔ .o  puh   nzɔ     xɔsɔ      bəduga lu      letsədə  ah
NULL.COP-3SG DEF.NOM solve.VN for.3 TOP.NOM challenge almost DEF.ACC opposite of.3

The solution to that challenge is almost the opposite of it.


Sə           ɛru      ɔ         ñanɛvo   tsəñe               u    ɛru.
so      -ə   ɛru      ɔ         ñanɛvo   tsəñe               u    ɛru
NULL.COP-3SG everyone INDEF.ACC relative distantly_connected of.3 everyone

Everyone is a distant relative of everyone.


Tsonexa       puh   lo      maldɔ  sədə  ɔ         gəsta  ñavra o   oba  dəpse kwə    kətsɔda.
tson   -exa   puh   lo      maldɔ  sədə  ɔ         gəsta  ñavra o   oba  dəpse kwə    kətsɔda
HAB.AUX-1PL>3 for.3 DEF.NOM person other INDEF.ACC family wide  and many child with.3 donate

We are used to giving a large family and many children to other people.


Tsonexa       lu      mvɔnza      puh   lo      avo       aymɛ   mvəbo     oba  ru  ñeda.
tson   -exa   lu      mvɔnza      puh   lo      avɔ   .o  aymɛ   mvəbo     oba  ru  ñeda
HAB.AUX-1PL>3 DEF.ACC folk_wisdom for.3 DEF.NOM thrive.VN of.1PL between.3 many man share

We are used to sharing the knowledge for our prosperity with many people.


Esə          ɔ         nzɔñu  rɛ      səh          ɔ         toxasa!
esə     -ə   ɔ         nzɔñu  rɛ      so      -əh  ɔ         toxasa
EMPH.COP-3SG INDEF.ACC virtue SUB.ACC NULL.COP-1PL INDEF.ACC multitude

It is a good thing that we are numerous!


Puh   ɔ         spɛ’ayla sədə,
puh   ɔ         spɛ’ayla sədə
for.3 INDEF.ACC nation   other

gasə         dediga   u         mvəskɛ    puh   lo      avo       ah   ɔ         nzesu.
gaso    -ə   dediga   u         mvəskɛ    puh   lo      avɔ   .o  ah   ɔ         nzesu
PERM.COP-3SG possibly INDEF.NOM necessary for.3 DEF.NOM thrive.VN of.3 INDEF.ACC different

For other nations, that which is necessary for their prosperity might be different.


Dal sə           nzɔ     ñəmona         lu      mvɔnza      rɛbɛ        aymɛ.
dal so      -ə   nzɔ     ñəmona         lu      mvɔnza      rɛbɛ        aymɛ
but NULL.COP-3SG TOP.NOM responsibility DEF.ACC folk_wisdom appropriate of.1PL

But this responsibility is our proper tradition.


Sə           ɔ         lotsɛ
so      -ə   ɔ         lotsɛ
NULL.COP-3SG INDEF.ACC truth

ri      tsonexa       puh   lo      ñayɔsko   o   avo       aymɛ   kwə
ri      tson   -exa   puh   lo      ñayɔsko   o   avɔ   .o  aymɛ   kwə
SUB.NOM HAB.AUX-1PL>3 for.3 DEF.NOM happiness and thrive.VN of.1PL with.3

ñalta  lu      pima         ah   u         maldɔ  sədə  ñuməgi.
ñalta  lu      pimə     .a  ah   u         maldɔ  sədə  ñuməgi
indeed DEF.ACC sacrifice.VN of.3 INDEF.NOM person other rely_on

It is true that we indeed depend on the sacrifice of others for our happiness and prosperity.


Esə          nzɔ     lu      lotsɛ.
esə     -ə   nzɔ     lu      lotsɛ
EMPH.COP-3SG TOP.NOM DEF.ACC truth

This is the truth.


Dal eskena          u         namə dedi   meko        ntɛxavu dalmə.
dal esə     -xena   u         namə dedi   meko        ntɛxavu dalmə
but EMPH.AUX-3.REFL INDEF.NOM some option replacement also    present

But some alternative options also present themselves.


Xutsɔ     ɔdɔ’ɔwa       podɔ  ŋkə  esə      mɔra   o   mura.
xutsɔ     ɔdɔ    -’ɔwa  podɔ  ŋkə  esə      mɔra   o   mura
therefore RES.AUX-2SG>3 for.2 same EMPH.AUX select and decide

So you can choose and decide for yourself.


Sə           lu      restɛ     xɛpu  adɔ.
so      -ə   lu      resti .ɛ  xɛpu  adɔ
NULL.COP-3SG DEF.ACC choose.VN alone of.2

It is your own choice.


Ma          ɛru      ɔ         rudɔ      nonə.
ma     -ə   ɛru      ɔ         rudɔ      nonə
NEG.COP-3SG everyone INDEF.ACC archetype INT.AUX

Not everyone is going to be a role model.


Ma          nzɔ     ntɛ  u         sɔnza  mɔwa,
ma     -ə   nzɔ     ntɛ  u         sɔnza  mɔwa
NEG.AUX-3SG TOP.NOM by.3 INDEF.NOM theory begin

dal ntɛ  u         tsɛñɛru.
dal ntɛ  u         tsɛñɛru
but by.3 INDEF.NOM mutual.agreement

This does not begin with doctrine, but with mutual agreement.


Tsonah      atsa         ntɛ  xə’ə     oba  maldɔ  ɔdɔ     no.
tson   -ah  atsa         ntɛ  xə’ə     oba  maldɔ  ɔdɔ     no
HAB.AUX-3PL as_it_stands by.3 this_way many person RES.AUX die

In the end, many people die this way.

Smooth English translation

When we become too many people, you will want to jump. I am certainly feeling this desire recently.

We are lucky; we are numerous. You are not familiar with this responsibility. The solution to that challenge is almost the opposite of it. Everyone is a distant relative of everyone. We are used to giving a large family and many children to other people. We are used to sharing the knowledge for our prosperity with many people. It is a good thing that we are numerous!

For other nations, that which is necessary for their prosperity might be different. But this responsibility is our proper tradition. It is true that we indeed depend on the sacrifice of others for our happiness and prosperity. This is the truth. But some alternative options also present themselves. So you can choose and decide for yourself.

It is your own choice. Not everyone is going to be a role model. This does not begin with doctrine, but with mutual agreement. In the end, many people die this way.

	CBB Conlang Relay
CrazyEttin — Antregabua — torch Skógvur — Vanga — torch nmn — Jumju — torch Ossicone — Uskra — torch Chagen — Pazmat — torch Trailsend — Feayran — torch Milyamd — Perkelen — torch Xing — Wakeu — torch MrKrov — Pag-buum — torch Maraxxus — Maxédri — torch cedh — Buruya Nzaysa — torch 2-4 — Kàipói — torch Crazyettin — English — torch
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