GUILD OF LINGUISTS - LESSON 3

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Lesson Subject: More letters and more words.

We can now go on with some more letters. After you have successfully
completed this lesson, you'll know the whole D'ni alphabet without 5 rarely used
letters (they come in lesson 5). Lesson 3 includes also another vocabulary part
which will be the basis for the texts of the following units.

Now, here are the 16 letters you will learn today (critical points - as you know from
lesson 1 - marked with red color), each with a little comment about the typical marks.

b
The 'b' is the 'v' with the altering dash. Remember the sharp corners.

ch
The 'ch' is the 'o' shape but with a curve to the left like in the 'a'.

f
You can see this as a 's' shape combined with the bottom of a "k"/"kh".

p
Exactly the same as 'f', but with the dash again.

j
Same shape as 'g' (sharp corner) but without dash.

ih
Here is the 'j' with a right angle at the left, the bottom line is straight.

ee
'ih' with dash. Right angle again. It is used in some of the person suffixes.

m
A new shape, a bit similar to 'eh'. It has also the sharp corner like 'eh'.

th
The mark is the round corner. But 'm' and 'th' are often hard to distinguish.

dh
Quite distinctive new form.

d
Altered 'dh'.

kh
The un-altered version of 'k',without the dash.


ay
The altered 'eh', used in the D'ni spelling for 'Aytrus', for example.

i
Altered 'ah'.

oo
Altered 'u' (also sounds similar).

oy
Altered 'o' (straight line up).


As you know most of the letters now, you would be able to learn almost the complete word list. Though, here is a selection of common words I will also use in the next unit to explain the grammar. It is practicable to have these words in mind, and to make a 'dictionary' for the total word list.

Verbs.
ahnee = to get
bahrehl = to make
choylahnay = to complete
gihd = to excavate
mahrn = to create
mehs = to need
teeg = to work
tool = to grow

Nouns.
bihshtah = tunnel
boogihn = creature
(eh)flihn = order
gahlpo = cave
ihrvahn = mineral
prad = rock

Adjectives.
chile = main
ihglahrno = temporary
jehru = possible
prihn = small
soygi = stable

You have now a good basis to learn more grammar in the 4th lesson.
Note. No summary for this lesson.


The Guild Masters, Josef & Simon
August 1998