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Lwaitel phrasebook : Greetings and partings
My name is ___.
  -
An luituku swan _____.
[ˈan ˈlʊɨ.tʉ.ku ˈswɑn _____]
anprox luitu-kuname-1 swa-enbe-prox _____._____.

on LOY-too-coo swan...

Original Lwaitel examples
I said that I see the sun.
 
Mausku lun an húswes.
[ˈmaos.ku ˈlun ˈan ˈhu.swʊ̜̆s]
maus-kusay-1 -ensee-prox anprox húswes.sun.
Original Lwaitel examples
I got a cat.

Kíkushe an myau.
[ˈki.kʉ.ʃᵿ̜̆ ˈan ˈmjæo]
-ku-sheget-1-indf anprox myau.cat.
Examples of sentence-level things in Lwaitel : Word order
I got the food.
 
kíku múmwe.
[ˈku ˈkɨ.kʉ ˈmu.mwʊ̜̆]
I/me -kuget-1 múmwe.food.

One of many possible word orders. In this particular sentence, the words can be rearranged to any order.

 
Kíku múmwe.
[ˈki.kʉ ˈmu.mwʊ̜̆]
-kuget-1 múmwe.food.

The first-person pronoun is implied by the agreement suffix on the verb , so it can be omitted.


Kíku.
[ˈki.kʉ]
-ku.get-1.

If it's clear from context that we're talking about food, the object can be omitted altogether.

Examples of sentence-level things in Lwaitel : Noun clauses
I said the cat is black.
   
mausku hem an myau swan swátel.
[ˈku ˈmaos.ku hm̩ ˈan ˈmjæo ˈswɑn ˈswɑ.tl̩]
I/me maus-kusay-1 hemthat anprox myaucat swa-enbe-prox swátel.black.

An explicit separate clause as an argument to maus "say".

  , 
Hem an myau swan swátel, mausku.
[hm̩ ˈan ˈmjæo ˈswɑn ˈswɑ.tl̩, ˈku ˈmaos.ku]
hemthat anprox myaucat swa-enbe-prox swátel,black, I/me maus-ku.say-1.

The clause is an argument like any other, and therefore can go in different positions in the sentence.

  
mausku an myau swan swátel.
[ˈku ˈmaos.ku ˈan ˈmjæo ˈswɑn ˈswɑ.tl̩]
I/me maus-kusay-1 anprox myaucat swa-enbe-prox swátel.black.

For the verbs "see", maus "say", tap "use", and tyus "make", having an explicit marker for the clause is optional (but can be included to prevent ambiguity).

  
An myau swan swátel mausku.
[ˈan ˈmjæo ˈku ˈswɑn ˈswɑ.tl̩ ˈmaos.ku]
anprox myaucat I/me swa-enbe-prox swátelblack maus-ku.say-1.

For the verbs mentioned previously, the verb and (in the case of maus and tyus) its subject can be mixed freely with the words in the dependent clause.

*   
An myau swan mausku swátel.
[ˈan ˈku ˈmjæo ˈswɑn ˈmaos.ku ˈswɑ.tl̩]
anprox I/me myaucat swa-enbe-prox maus-kusay-1 swátel.black.

...although rules about splitting apart phrases still apply.

Examples of sentence-level things in Lwaitel : Noun clauses
I said, "The cat is black."
   
mausku mu an myau swan swátel.
[ˈku ˈmaos.ku mu ˈan ˈmjæo ˈswɑn ˈswɑ.tl̩]
I/me maus-kusay-1 muquot anprox myaucat swa-enbe-prox swátel.black.

Mu is basically a verbal quotation mark, and replaces the particle hem.

Examples of sentence-level things in Lwaitel : Noun clauses
I tried to talk.
   
lánku kainkwes hem mausku.
[ˈku ˈlaŋ.ku ˈkɜeŋ.kwᵿ̜̆s hm̩ ˈmaos.ku]
I/me lam-kudo-1 kainkwesattempt hemthat maus-ku.say-1.

Another verb that takes a clause as an argument. Roughly translates to "I tried that I talked".

*   
lánku kainkwes mausku.
[ˈku ˈlaŋ.ku ˈkɜeŋ.kwᵿ̜̆s ˈmaos.ku]
I/me lam-kudo-1 kainkwesattempt maus-ku.say-1.

Omitting the particle hem only works for the verbs , maus, tyus, and tap.

Examples of sentence-level things in Lwaitel : Noun clauses
When I saw it, I talked.
 ,
Pe píki lun, mausku.
[pə̆p.ˈpi.ki ˈlun, ˈmaos.ku]
pe=píkiat=when -en,see-prox, maus-ku.say-1.

"Pe piki" is "at the time when..."

* ,
Píki lun, mausku.
[ˈpi.ki ˈlun, ˈmaos.ku]
píkiwhen -en,see-prox, maus-ku.say-1.

"Piki lun" is a noun phrase, not an adverbial phrase. It could be the subject or object of a sentence, but to get the meaning desired for this sentence, it needs to be the object of a preposition.

* ,
Hi lun, mausku.
[çi ˈlun, ˈmaos.ku]
hiwhere -en,see-prox, maus-ku.say-1.

This might make sense, but since it's talking specifically about time, pe piki would probably be used instead.

Examples of sentence-level things in Lwaitel : Discourse particles
No, but I don't have a wife.
 1,   1 
Twak úni, útwek swáku lw'úni wálsweyl.
[ˈtwɑk ˈu.ɲɨ, ˈu.twʊ̜̆k ˈswɑ.ku ˈlʷu.ɲɨ ˈwɑl.swʎ̩]
twakdm úni,neg, útwekbut swa-kube-1 lwe=úniwith=neg wálsweyl.spouse.

Answering "no" to that question might imply that one is still beating one's wife. To signal that that implication is wrong, úni is preceded by twak (indicating that something the sentence might imply is wrong); details are given at the end, after the conjunction útwek "but".

Examples of lú in Lwaitel : Perceiving objects
I look at the cat.
 
Lánku sákipes an myau.
[ˈlaŋ.ku ˈsa.ki.pɪ̆s ˈan ˈmjæo]
lam-kudo-1 sákipeslook_at anprox myau.cat.

Lam sakipes means intentional looking, as opposed to which could just be passive seeing.


Lánku sáki an myau.
[ˈlaŋ.ku ˈsa.ki ˈan ˈmjæo]
lam-kudo-1 sákilook_at anprox myau.cat.

Less formal

Examples of lú in Lwaitel : Emotion
I want a friend.
  
Lákweku lúshe yátleng.
[ˈla.kwʊ̜̆k.ku ˈlu.ʃᵿ̜̆ ˈjæt.lŋ̩]
lákwe-kufriend-1 -shesee-indf yátleng.desire.

Lakwe is a noun that must always have a possesser; this is true even if it's indefinite. You could also say Kíku lakwe nga lú yatleng ("I want to befriend someone").

Noun phrase examples in Lwaitel : Pronouns and demonstatives
I go.

naunku.
[ˈku ˈnaoŋ.ku]
I/me naum-ku.go-1.

Because Lwaitel is pro-drop, you can also just say Naumku.

Noun phrase examples in Lwaitel : Pronouns and demonstatives
I, chri, go.
chri 
chilí naunku.
[ˈku ˈtʃɹɪ ˈnaoŋ.ku]
I/me chilíchri naum-ku.go-1.

A personal pronoun can be used with a noun phrase. Also, since my name is not a Lwaitel word, it's written in its original alphabet with the Lwaitel approximation above it.

Noun phrase examples in Lwaitel : Definiteness
I get some food.
 
Kíkushe múmwe.
[ˈki.kʉ.ʃᵿ̜̆ ˈmu.mwʊ̜̆]
-ku-sheget-1-indf múmwe.food.
Noun phrase examples in Lwaitel : Definiteness
I didn't get any food.
 1 
Kíku úni múmwe.
[ˈki.kʉ ˈu.ɲɨ ˈmu.mwʊ̜̆]
-kuget-1 únineg múmwe.food.

Úni mumwe is the noun phrase here; if úni was modifying the verb, it would be kíku úni nga mumwe.

Noun phrase examples in Lwaitel : Possession
My eyes are brown.
  
An sákiku swan húkyes.
[ˈan ˈsa.ki.kʉ ˈswɑn ˈhu.kjᵿ̜̆s]
anprox sáki-kueye-1 swa-enbe-prox húkyes.brown.

Saki takes inalienable possession, and is required to be possessed; one couldn't just say *An saki swa-n húkyes. Because ku is being used as a pronoun, a noun phrase is not required.

Examples for location in Lwaitel : Orientation
I am facing the cat.
 
Swáku súngi an myau.
[ˈswɑ.ku ˈsu.ŋɨ ˈan ˈmjæo]
swa-kube-1 súngitowards anprox myau.cat.

While this wouldn't make sense in English, the preposition meaning "towards" can apply to nouns as well as verbs.

Miscellaneous sentence examples in Lwaitel
Luke, I am your father.
Luke,  
Chí Luk, swáku kálichi.
[ˈʧi ˈluk, ˈku ˈswɑ.ku ˈkɜ.ʎe.ʧi]
chíyou luk,Luke, I/me swa-kube-1 káli-chi.dad-2.
Miscellaneous sentence examples in Lwaitel
I want to go home.
   
yátleng naunku shi húnelku.
[ˈlu ˈjæt.lŋ̩ ˈnaoŋ.ku ʃɨ.ˈçʉ.nl̩.ku]
see yátlengwant naum-kugo-1 shi=húnel-ku.to=house-1.
Miscellaneous sentence examples in Lwaitel
I like to go to the beach and watch the sunset.
    
wiut niunku shi pelás se maulu.
[ˈlu ˈwᵻʉt ˈɲᵻʉŋ.ku ʃɨ.pl̩.ˈlas sə̆ ˈʎi ˈmao.lu]
see wiutlike nium-kugo.sbjv-1 shi=pelásto=beach seand -isee.sbjv-obv maulu.sunset.
Sentences to Test Conlang Syntax in Lwaitel
17. My little kitten walked away.
    
An wa myauwe kausku naun kel kú.
[ˈan ˈwɑ ˈmjæo.wʊ̜̆ ˈkɜos.ku ˈnaon kl̩.ˈku]
anprox wasmall myau-wecat-dim kaus-kupet-1 naum-engo-prox kel=.from=I/me.
Sentences to Test Conlang Syntax in Lwaitel
29. I will be happy to go.
 , 
Úlshi naunku, niuspe.
[ˈuʎ.ʃɨ ˈnaoŋ.ku, ˈlu ˈɲᵻʉs.pʊ̜̆]
úlshiif naum-ku,go-1, see niuspe.feel_happy.
Sentences to Test Conlang Syntax in Lwaitel
40. My cat is black.
  
An myau kausku swan swátel.
[ˈan ˈmjæo ˈkɜos.ku ˈswɑn ˈswɑ.tl̩]
anprox myaucat kaus-kupet-1 swa-enbe-prox swátel.black.

46. We arrived at the river.

Si nwali naum nginatu.

Sentences to Test Conlang Syntax in Lwaitel
47. I have been waiting for you.
   
Shi chí swáku lem láspep.
[ʃi.ˈʧi ˈswɑ.ku lm̩.ˈlas.pə̆p]
shi=chíto=you swa-kube-1 lem=láspep.part=wait.
Sentences to Test Conlang Syntax in Lwaitel
170. I hurt myself.
  
Chúsku wípi sestá.
[ˈʧʉs.ku ˈwɨ.pi sɪ̆s.ˈta]
chus-kumake-1 wípihit sestá.self.
Sentences to Test Conlang Syntax in Lwaitel
200. Play and I will sing.
    
Maus chíntu se swáku mes náne.
[ˈmaos ˈʧɨɲ.tʉ sʊ̜̆ ˈswɑ.ku mʊ̜̆s.ˈna.nə̆]
maussay chíntuplay_music seand swa-kube-1 mes=náne.part=sing.
    
Lam twímek se swáku mes náne.
[ˈlam ˈtwɨ.mɪ̆k sə̆ ˈswɑ.ku mʊ̜̆s.ˈna.nə̆]
lamdo twímekpretend seand swa-kube-1 mes=náne.part=sing.

...not sure which meaning of "play" is intended.

Translations from CALS in Lwaitel
I think, therefore I am.
  , 
Swáku mes pemím, wan swáku.
[ˈswɑ.ku mʊ̜̆s.pə̆m.ˈmim, ˈwɑn ˈswɑ.ku]
swa-kube-1 mes=pemím,part=think, wanso swa-ku.be-1.
Translations from CALS in Lwaitel
I can eat glass. It does not hurt me.
   .  1
Nga sápwe pauku lem múmwe. Suitku wípi úni.
[ˈŋɜ ˈsa.pwʊ̜̆ ˈpao.ku lm̩.ˈmu.mwʊ̜̆, ˈsʊɨt.kʉ ˈwɨ.pi ˈu.ɲɨ]
ngaany sápweglass pau-kucan-1 lem=múmwe.part=eat. suit-kumake.inv-1 wípiinjured úni.neg.
Translations from CALS in Lwaitel
We are humans and we are from Earth.
    Earth
Swáku kípelw se swáku kel'álte.
[ˈswɑ.ku ˈkɨ.pl̩ʷ sə̆ ˈswɑ.ku kl̩.lə̆˞θ]
swa-kube-1 kípelwhuman seand swa-kube-1 kel=álte.from=Earth.
Translations from CALS in Lwaitel
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
   . ,  1     
An súshli luitu tap íhe. Tápku kiustenku, swan maus úni al hi swin maus pwíli hu chí.
[ˈan ˈsuʃ.ʎɨ ˈlʊɨ.tʉ ˈtap ˈi.çɪ̆, ˈtap.ku ˈkᵻʉs.tŋ̩.ku, ˈswɑn ˈmaos ˈu.ɲɨ ˈal çe ˈswɨɲ ˈmaos ˈlu ˈpwɨ.ʎi hʉ.ˈʧɨ]
anprox súshlihere luituname tapuse íhe.pl. tap-kuuse-1 kiusteng-ku,knowledge-1, swa-enbe-prox maussay únineg almed hiwhere swí-enbe.sbjv-prox maussay see pwílibelieve hu=chí.exp=you.
Translations from CALS in Lwaitel
I give John the apple.
 John
An hung hyánku al chan.
[ˈan ˈhuŋ ˈçæŋ.ku ˈal ˈdʒɑn]
anprox hungfruit hyam-kugive-1 almed chan.John.
Translations from the CBB in Lwaitel : Oww.
My head hurts.
  
Lun wípi an pemínku
[ˈlun ˈwɨ.pi ˈan pə̆m.ˈmiŋ.kʉ]
-ensee-prox wípihurt anprox pemím-kuhead-1

Thread, Post

Translations from the CBB in Lwaitel : Oww.
I hurt myself.
  
Chúsku wípi sestá.
[ˈʧʉs.ku ˈwɨ.pi sɪ̆s.ˈta]
chus-kumake-1 wípiharm sestá.self.
Translations from the CBB in Lwaitel : Oww.
I hurt him/her/it.
 
Chúsku wípi an.
[ˈʧʉs.ku ˈwɨ.pi ˈan]
chus-kumake-1 wípiharm an.prox.
The Invention of Color in Lwaitel
Yellow, who was particularly greedy, shouted, "In the end, everything shall be my color!"
p , ,p ,( ,   )
Al Pai, hwel súyet, mausel hengút, muPe láspepi , swaim kaitu ánku ”.
[ˈal ˈpae, hwl̩ ˈsu.jᵿ̜̆t, ˈmao.sl̩ hŋ̩.ˈŋut, mu pl̩.ˈlas.pə̆p.pi ˈsu, ˈswɑem ˈkɜe.tʉ ˈaŋ.ku ˈsu”]
almed pai,yellow, hwelnfoc súyet,greedy, maus-elsay-med hengút,shout, muquot pe=láspep-i“at=end-obv ,all, swa-ibe-obv kaitucolor ant-kupos.alien-1 ”.all”.
The Invention of Color in Lwaitel
Orange replied, "No, it shall be mine!"
hD  hD ,(, )
Al hántlwek mausel kish, muÚmpikwá, swaim ánku”.
[ˈal ˈhant.lʷʊ̜̆k ˈmao.sl̩ ˈkiʃ, mu ˈum.pɨ.ˈkwɑ, ˈswɑem ˈaŋ.ku”]
almed hántlwekorange maus-elsay-med kish,answer, muquot úmpikwá,“false, swa-ibe-obv ant-ku”.pos.alien-1”.

TODO should there be a conjunction in there?

The Invention of Color in Lwaitel
I will give you your wish.
  
Lánku lu yátleng hu chí.
[ˈlaŋ.ku lu.ˈjæt.lŋ̩ hu.ˈʧɨ]
lam-kudo-1 lu=yátlengpart=want hu=chí.exp=you.
You hit me! in Lwaitel
You hit me!
1  2
😠Málku wípi chí.
[ˈmal.ku ˈwɨ.pi ˈʧi]
😠mal-ku😠do.inv-1 wípihit chí.you.
You hit me! in Lwaitel
No I didn't!
2 1
😠Lánku úni.
[ˈlaŋ.ku ˈu.ɲɨ]
😠lam-ku😠do-1 úni.neg.
You hit me! in Lwaitel
Yes you did!
1
Málku unún.
[ˈmal.ku u.ˈnun]
mal-kudo.inv-1 unún.tvf.
You hit me! in Lwaitel
I'm telling the teacher!
2  
Swáku maus te kyestánekket.
[ˈswɑ.ku ˈmaos tə̆k.kjɪ̆s.ˈta.nə̆k.kᵻ̆t]
swa-kube-1 maussay te=kyestánek-ket.dat=teacher-1.incl.
You hit me! in Lwaitel
Teacher! He says I hit him but I didn't!
3 ,1  1 2   2 1
Chí kyestánek, an súshli mausen línku wípi útwek lánku úni.
[ˈʧi kjɪ̆s.ˈta.nə̆k, ˈan ˈsuʃ.ʎɨ ˈmao.sn̩ ˈʎiŋ.kʉ ˈwɨ.pi ˈu.twʊ̜̆k ˈlaŋ.ku ˈu.ɲɨ]
chíyou kyestánek,teacher, anprox súshlihere maus-ensay-prox lim-kudo.sbjv-1 wípihit útwekbut lam-kudo-1 úni.neg.
You hit me! in Lwaitel
Teacher! He hit me but he says he didn't!
3 ,2  1   2 1 1
Chí kyestánek, an súshli málku wípi útwek mausen mílku úni.
[ˈʧi kjɪ̆s.ˈta.nə̆k, ˈan ˈsuʃ.ʎɨ ˈmal.ku ˈwɨ.pi ˈu.twʊ̜̆k ˈmao.sn̩ ˈmiʎ.kʉ ˈu.ɲɨ]
chíyou kyestánek,teacher, anprox súshlihere mal-kudo.inv-1 wípihit útwekbut maus-ensay-prox mil-kudo.inv.sbjv-1 úni.neg.
Donkey Beater Story in Lwaitel
The donkey-beater said, “Beating is all the donkey knows, I must beat him until he learns how to behave.”
,(   1    .        )
Mausen, muAl lam wípi su úni lul mesúwek hu'an. Pauku pwaint lem wípi shi píki paun kiusteng lenaunkenk”.
[ˈmao.sn̩, mu ˈal ˈlam ˈwɨ.pi sʉ ˈu.ɲɨ ˈlul mə̆s.ˈsu.wʊ̜̆k ˈhwɑn, ˈpao.ku ˈpwɑeɲt lm̩.ˈmwɨ.pi ʃi.ˈpi.ki ˈpaon ˈkᵻʉs.tŋ̩ ln̩.ˈnaoŋ.kʊ̜̆ŋk”]
maus-en,say-prox, muquot almed lamdo wípihit suand únineg -elsee-med mesúwekbe_familiar_with hu=an.exp=prox. pau-kucan-1 pwaintmust lem=wípipart=hit shi=píkito=when pau-encan-prox kiustengknowledge lenaunkenk”.well-behaved”.
Donkey Beater Story in Lwaitel
“I beat her until she learns to have dinner ready on time.”
(          )
MuSwáku lem wípi shi píki paun kiusteng chus nginátu waumi nginál”.
[mu ˈswɑ.ku lm̩.ˈmwɨ.pi ʃi.ˈpi.ki ˈpaon ˈkᵻʉs.tŋ̩ ˈʧʉs ŋɨ.ˈɲæ.to ˈwɑo.mɨ ŋi.ˈɲæl”]
muquot swa-ku“be-1 lem=wípipart=hit shi=píkito=when pau-encan-prox kiustengknowledge chusmake nginátufinished waumion_time nginál”.evening”.
Donkey Beater Story in Lwaitel
When the donkey-beater asked why his neighbor was beating him, his neighbor replied, “I will beat you until you learn not to beat others.”
       ,  (         )
Pe píki mausen lautwe petwántu al lánkepen swan mel wípi, mausel kish muSwáku lem wípi shi píki pauchi kiusteng welpwaik im lam wípi”.
[pə̆p.ˈpi.ki ˈmao.sn̩ ˈlao.twʊ̜̆ pə̆t.ˈtwɑn.to ˈal ˈlaŋ.kᵻ̆p.pn̩ ˈswɑn ml̩ʷ.ˈlʷɨ.pi, ˈmao.sl̩ ˈkiʃ mu ˈswɑ.ku lm̩.ˈmwɨ.pi ʃi.ˈpi.ki ˈpao.ʧɨ ˈkɪʉs.tŋ̩ wl̩.ˈpwɑek ˈim ˈlam ˈwɨ.pi”]
pe=píkiat=when maus-ensay-prox lautweask petwántuwhy almed lánkep-enneighbor-prox swa-enbe-prox mel=wípi,inv.part=hit, maus-elsay-med kishanswer muquot swa-ku“be-1 lem=wípipart=hit shi=píkito=when pau-chican-2 kiustengknowledge welpwaikbad imobv lamdo wípi”.hit”.
Tower of Babel story in Lwaitel
6 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
   ,  )
Naunku míshelw se chúsku háneng im hástu, naustwi úmpwen lu kwálsem”.
[ˈnaoŋ.ku ˈmi.ʃl̩ʷ sə̆ ˈʧʉs.ku ˈha.nŋ̩ ˈim ˈhas.to, ˈnaos.twɨ ˈum.pwn̩ ˈki lu.ˈkwɑl.sm̩”]
naum-kugo-1 míshelwdown seand chus-kumake-1 hánengdark imobv hástu,language, naustwipurp úmpu-encan't-prox get lu=kwálsem”.part=understand”.

Note: This page may not be permanent, depending on how I change the language later.