Re: Lexicons and Langauge Borrowing

[Padraic Brown <pbrown@POLARIS.UMUC.EDU>]

On Tue, 16 Mar 1999, Steg Belsky wrote:

> On Tue, 16 Mar 1999 11:47:27 -0500 Padraic Brown
> <pbrown@POLARIS.UMUC.EDU> writes:
> >
> >I think a language that _doesn't_ borrow from its neighbours is rather
> >odd.
> >
> >Padraic.
> >
>
> How about borrowing from other conlangs? :)

I thought I mentioned that!?  If you mean nonrelated conlangs, like Nova
or Teonaht, then there are none that I can think of; but Kernu has
certainly borrowed (especially heavily in the national government and
technology areas) from Brithenig, its neighbour and sister language.  It's
very possible that there are many more borrowings, but the stock of roots
is essentially the same for both languages (Latin and British Celtic,
though in differing proportions); which can make it very difficult to tell
what may be borrowed and what may be native.

Examples: principtad (B), prenceptats (K) (pricipality);  perdder, perder
(lose);  do^n, dawna (lady); eirigl (farmer), ayrechoels (farm hand);
prefder, druets (priest); ffer (iron), fers (steel); car (car), cars
(waggon, mechanical device).  Of these, I think "prenceptats" and "fers"
are borrowed from Brithenig; the native word for principality or kingdom
is "camoulls", while iron is "isarns".  "Prenceptats" is used exclusively
in the name of the country: la Prenceptats di Cambrea.  "Cars"  was
borrowed from English "carriage" and originally meant an agricultural
implement of a mechanical nature; but now means any mechanical device
[carriage -> carreys -> caris -> cars]; but the native "cars" meaning cart
or waggon already existed.  One used to be able to tell them apart by
declension (caris v. cars), but the processes of erosion have all but
eliminated declensional distinctions.

I don't know of any reverse borrowings, but there must be a few lurking
about in the shadows somewhere.

Well!, having just peeked at the Brithenig Page, I see the name of the
country has changed from Principality to Kingdom.  Funny the way those
things happen.  Aha!  Something fishy is indeed going on here, as the
previous version of the Page and the new differ.  Don't let your
Constructed Government do this to you!  Contact your Member of Parliament
now!

Padraic.

>
> Rokbeigalmki has borrowings from Proto-Elvish and Nandorin (Penni)
> Elvish:
> _okta_ = war (<< okta:)
> _eleni_ = dome (<< eleni, "stars")
> _mer_ = request (<< mer, "want")
> _avar_ = refusal (<< avari, "those who refused")
> _olves_ = plant-growth (<< olvar, "plants")
>
> and of course the words
> _pwend_ and _kfend_ for "elf" (<< penn, kwende)
>
> there are also some words that have standard Rokbeigalmki forms and
> colloquial Elvish forms because of the similarity of the words:
> _sednu_ (R) , _sed_ (E) = peace
> _ita~l_ (R) , _tol_ (E) = island
>
>
> -Stephen (Steg)
>  "hhalomot zeh b'emet"
>