[lg policy] Esata: New artificial language to replace English?

Fri Aug 28 01:44:42 UTC 2009

Inotinkso,

HS

On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 7:01 PM, Anthea Fraser
Gupta<A.F.Gupta at leeds.ac.uk> wrote:
> isajok, yis?
>
> Anthea
> *     *     *     *     *
> Anthea Fraser Gupta (Dr)
> School of English, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT
> <www.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/afg>
> *     *     *     *     *
>
> ________________________________________
> From: lgpolicy-list-bounces at groups.sas.upenn.edu [lgpolicy-list-bounces at groups.sas.upenn.edu] On Behalf Of Harold Schiffman [hfsclpp at gmail.com]
> Sent: 27 August 2009 15:23
> To: lp
> Subject: [lg policy] Esata: New artificial language to replace English?
>
> All,
>
> I discovered this page devoted to "Estata" because it popped up on
> another page, and decided to forward it.
> I had never heard of it, but it is of course a nice example of
> language planning.  I don't know who's promoting it.
> (HS)
>
> ESATA
>
> fe yu ke ri di yu ke ta esata
>
> For the complete language description, go to the link at the bottom of
> this page.
>
> Esata is a newly designed 'constructed language.' It is a bare bones version
> of the English language, which has also been internationalized to a
> high degree.
> In the target language, Esata is a 'phrase word' meaning 'know (how to) speak.'
> In Esata a compromise is being sought between the now globally
> dominant English,
> and the rest of the world's major languages. Many people have studied English
> and can speak it well, but millions of others who do not have the time or the
> educational background are also speaking it, badly. Less competent speakers of
> English represent an ever increasing user group. Eventually, we can expect that
> the numbers of those who speak some Creole or corrupted version of English will
> predominate over those who speak it well. In this context Esata is proposed as
> the basis for a standard internationalized 'creole English', an attempt to gain
> control over the 'vulgarized' form of the language, and influence its future.
>
> There are several features of Esata that should interest researchers
> in the area
> of artificial languages. It is regular and highly compact, with text lengths
> considerably shorter than those of English. A novel feature is the use of
> 'phrase words' abbreviated forms allowing definition of new vocabulary and
> concepts, both from English and from all the world's major languages. Esata
> also contains an (optional) new alphabet, which can represent up to 4 normal
> letters in a compact yet easy to read matrix.
>
> Words are formed from syllables of consonant plus vowel. The normal English
> alphabet is used, but vowels have only one sound, and some consonants have
> different sounds (c as ch, x as sh).
>
> Here are some examples of phrases in Esata:
>
> hubiyu who are you?
> wobixi where is she?
> vayuti what do you think?
> bidara is that right?
> hobihiko how is he coming?
> weyovisa when will I know?
> biherelanu Is it running like new?
>
> wixuha tidafoda We should have thought of that
> zekubiqi They could be here
> yonotavegu I don't talk very good
> feyunosanose If you don't know, don't say
> wikegotodexa We can go to the shop
> mikarelanu My car runs like new.
>
> for the primary list, short forms of English are used. When a word
> from another language is more concise, it is usually preferred. Approximately
> half of the vocabulary of Esata is from foreign sources, making the language
> very international.
>
> A special feature of Esata is the use of 'phrase words', which are contractions
> of several one syllable words into a short form. Using a prefix syllable, which
> serves as a language qualifier, up to 100 different language origens can be
> defined, each with an associated list of 10,000 phrase words, so in principle up
> to a million foreign phrase words are definable. Other phrase words based on
> two syllable Esata words allow for definition of several million other
> special purpose expressions, many of which can replace conventional vocabulary.
>
> In the examples below, the prefix letter 'e' indicates English
> egoge go get - fetch
> emunu must new - urgent renewal
> ejasi God see - omniscience
> epama past man - predecessor
> epoci power drink - alcohol
> efasi far see - telescope
> esohu some who - someone
> emalu man place - eg. men's club
> ewobi where be - location
> ebagu bad good - pro and contra
> ehogo how go - means of transport
> ekuko could come - might happen
> etiso think some - reflect
>
> The grammar of Esata is quite straightforward, based primarily on English.
> In the language description online there are complete details and an adequate
> set of vocabulary. Anyone interested in trying the language can learn quickly
> the 'primary meanings list' given below consisting of all the one
> syllable words.
> >From this list you can make your own sentences and phrase words as in
> the example
> above, and experiment with the language. Esata is a 'personal
> language', meaning
> you can use it to communicate easily with your friends, but others
> will not be able
> to understand you.
>
> This is the kernel of the Esata language, the primary meanings list.
> In most cases syllables are close to their English equivalents.
> In some cases no English word with a similar sound was found,
> and so a foreign source word was adopted.
>
> ba bad be but bi be bo boy bu boom
> ca hello ce there is, are ci drink co there is not cu eat
> da that de the di this do money du do
> fa of fe if fi feel fo for fu future
> ga girl ge get gi give go go gu good
> ha have he it hi he ho how hu who
> ja God je just ji high jo joy ju low
> ka car ke can ki key ko come ku could
> la like le let (object) li little lo love lu place
> ma man me may mi me mo more mu must
> na and ne a, an ni in no no nu new
> pa past pe pay pi please po power pu put
> qa there qe question qi here qo quote qu cool
> ra right re run, work ri read ro wrong ru room
> sa know se say si see so some su soon
> ta talk te thing ti think to to tu too
> va what ve very vi will vo or vu (esc/cntrl)
> wa why we when wi we wo where wu woman
> xa shop xe sure xi she xo show xu should
> ya yes ye yeh, refl.pronoun yi you (formal) yo I yu you
> za (escape/data) ze they zi easy zo so zu life
>
> several changes in primary list were made on 09/06
>
> Example Texts in Esata
>
>
> Now we present a few sample dialogs, with translation. Esata is intended to be a
> personal language, so most of these are typical conversations that you
> would expect
> to hear at street level.
>
>
> Dlog wan: Jono na Jeno
>
> ca jono
> hi John
> ca jeno, hobiyu?
> hi Jane, how are you?
> yobigu, nayu?
> I'm good, and you?
> gutu dank, vayubidu?
> good too, thanks, what are you doing?
> yobida teka brek fom studa.
> I was taking a break from studying.
> mitu, fi lak mihed goha bu.
> Me too, feel like my head is going to explode.
> Sem witmi. Yola lerna beje nefew horz hetnetam.
> Same with me. I like learning but just a few hours at a time
> Ya, yura. Sovayu godu naw?
> Yes, you're right. So what are you going to do now?
> Nosa, ti mebi gonide cit.
> Don't know, think maybe go in the city.
> Nide cit, wano? Wonago togeti?
> In the city, why not? Want to go together?
> Ya, lezgo. Hir bije debus, hayu netik?
> Yeh, let's go. Here is just the bus, have you got a ticket?
> Nohane, hayune sper?
> Don't have one, do you have a spare?
> Tiso lemi xeka, yehane.
> Think so, let me check, yeh have one.
> hok, wike geni. Peyune kof ni cit, yohasudo.
> OK we can get in. Pay you a coffee in town. I have some money.
> Dis sitz bi feri. Yu wona dewen?
> These seats are free. You want the window?
> Yu sita dar. Yusa, bihepi siyu tud.
> You sit there. You know, I'm happy to see you today.
> Rili? mitu bi hepi renitayu la di.
> Really? Me too, happy to run into you like this.
> Ye, wike studa haft.
> Yeh, we can study after.
> No tulati, yomu pasa dates frad.
> Not too late, I must pass that test Friday.
> Yuvi pasa he, no wera.
> You will pass it, don't worry.
>
> Dlog tuh: Jimo na Wano
>
> jimo, bidayu?
> Jim, is that you?
> Wano, yudama.
> Juan, you're the man.
> Vahup ma?
> What's up man?
> Note, je xuta sohupz.
> Nothing, just shooting some hoops.
> Yugobi dar tomar?
> You going to be there tomorrow?
> Yubeta yovibidar, daza fomi neve bigi dey.
> You bet I'll be there, that's a very big day for me.
> Ya, fayu dugu yubiko ne kayikin.
> Yeh, if you do good you become a 'street king'.
> Kayikinz, debes klan nide cit.
> Street Kings, the best gang in the city.
> Wi rula dipar fadetawn, nohuse difri.
> We rule this part of the town, nobody says different.
> Beno vehu gebi nekin, jedebes.
> But not everybody gets to be a King, just the best.
> Yo wonabi wan fadebes, dawa yo wona binekin.
> I want to be one of the best, that's why I want to be a king
> Yu gata xo yudestuf, hez nogobizi.
> You got to show your stuff, it's not going to be easy.
> Yu gata bi tofi na yu gota bi smari.
> You got to be tough and you got to be smart.
> Ya, lazese, suva nide cay yunida bof.
> Yeh, like they say, to survive in the street you need both.
> Biko nekin, wante, yu muta delang.
> To become a King, one thing you must talk the language.
> Yema, yo woka da halde tam.
> Yeh man, I'm working that all the time.
> Be yu ke hredi tagu Esata, yubi lera fasi.
> But you can already talk good Esata, you're learning fast.
> No bi tuhari pikupa, be yonida prak spika.
> It's not too hard to pick up, but I need practice speaking.
> Das va wita halde tam, hebi wide persi lang.
> That's what we talk al the time, it's our personal language.
> Yo ti dabi soqu ha yuyede pers lang.
> I think that's so cool to have your own personal language.
> No soli da, wiha nespexi dlek fodekinz tu.
> Not only that, we have a special dialect for the kings too.
> Yude dlek nobi parfa Esata?
> Your dialect isn't part of Esata?
> Norili, ni Esata vehu ke dfina hixiye dlek.
> Not really, in Esata everyone can define his/her own dialect
> wiha wodz fo lot tez, da nohu lel ke kapa.
> We have words for lots of things, that no one else can understand
> Wonz yu bi nidekinz wigoxoyuda.
> Once you're in the Kings we're going to show you that.
> No ke weta tilden.
> I can't wait till then.
>
>
> Dlog tih: Tomo na Debreno
>
> skuzami yo hovhirda yu taha Esata, wulaka jonahin, bi hok wityu?
> Excuse me, I overheard you talking Esata and would like to join in, is
> it OK with you?
> Xur, yubi welki. Va yudenem?
> Sure, you're welcome, what's your name?
> It's Tomo, nayu?
> I'm Tom, and you?
> Yoye kala debreno.
> I'm called the brain.
> Mubi fo yudetelgen.
> Must be for your intelligence.
> Norili, bida miga hugidami denem.
> Not really, it was my girl who gave me the name.
> Gaz bigu fo giyu nedifri yemaj
> Girls are good for giving you a different self image.
> Ya yuzli nemo sili maj
> Yes, usually a sillier image.
> No lewi stara tabota gaz, ze breka mihed.
> Let's not start talking about girls, they break my head.
> sem witmi, note be trubz, mos fadetam.
> Same with me, nothing but troubles most of the time.
> Hoko yutazogu Esata?
> How come you talk so good Esata?
> Yone frin spikdahe na gedami ntresi tu.
> A friend of mine was speaking it and got me interested too.
> Yuzli hapina lak dat, dabida hoyo begda tu.
> Usually happens like that, that was how I began too.
> Hayumo frinz huketa Esata?
> Do you have more friends who can talk Esata?
> Honli wituh, yowula hamo pipl withuta. Only we two, I would like to
> have more people to talk with.
> Mebiwiku mita hagn sowe na ta sumo.
> Maybe we could meet again sometime and talk some more.
> Yowulada. Hirbi mifonnum. Satde bi feri.
> I'd like that. Here's my phone number. Saturday's I'm free.
>
> Manlog: Wamigodu tud?
>
> Hebi satd, vamigodu tud?
> It's Saturday, what am I going to do today?
> Tunat dabi degem hon tivu, nowona misa da.
> tonight there's the game on TV, don't want to miss that.
> Nide hafnun wona gofo nejog.
> In the afternoon I want to go for a jog.
> Dimor yoku klinupa dehapar, beduno fimula duhe.
> This morning I could clean up the appartment, but I don't feel much
> like doing it.
> Mivi pusu hodr nimikloz ni wax yesde dixz.
> I'll put some order in my clothes and wash yesterday's dishes.
> Yonogo swipupa vo vaka, lis no tud.
> I'm not going to sweep up or vacuum, at least not today.
> Hafda gonage dreza, ber xeva tu, luk laneklox.
> After that gonna get dressed, better shave too, look like a bum (clochard).
> Den godona konah na gesu befas.
> Then go down (to the) corner and get some breakfast.
> Ne bigi plet fa srambi hegz na tost.
> A big plate of scrambled eggs and toast.
> Dan mebi ri depapr. Nobimu nuz dizdez.
> Then maybe read the paper. There's not much news these days.
> Yosa, kuteka debic na gohova todepark waca de futbal prak.
> I know, could take the bike and go over to de park and watch the
> footbal practice.
> Ze gata sugu plerz diyir.
> They've got some good players this year.
> Mebi yoku kala fedo nasifa hiz duha sute, wiku mebi mitupa nide park.
> Maybe I could call Fred and see if he's doing something, we
> could maybe meet up in the park.
> Wel dabi jebot nedeyfol tez todufomi.
> Well that's just about a day full of things to do for me.
>
>
> Manlog tuh: de hommeke
>
> Dirmi, darbi tumeni tez yogotadu tud.
> Dear me, there are too many things I've got to do today.
> Wax dekloz, hagaze draha, hrana de klini kloz, puze nide klaz.
> Wash the clothes, hang them to dry, iron the clean clothes, put them
> in the closet.
> Pikupa dekedz het skul na tekema tode bertdey fest kros town.
> Pick up the kids at school and take them to the birthday party across town.
> Dan kuka dinr. Vawigona hit? Wihada spaget lasnat,
> Then cook dinner. What are we going to eat? We had spagetti
> last night.
> mebi tonat kuha fix wit ris na vegez.
> maybe tonight could have fish with rice and vegetables,
> Ber stara tawa de fix laredi.
> better start thawing the fish already.
> Hoh, dabi defon, yoko, yoko.
> Oh, there's the phone, I'm coming, I'm coming.
> Helo, ca melo sava? Ya dugu, bizo bizi, noha tam xeta folan.
> Hello, hi Emily how are you? (ca va?) Yes, doing good, am so busy,
> don't have time to chat for long.
> Yowu lokoto yudehas Frad vniy. Pilemi xekwit hebo fe hiz feri.
> I would love to come to your house Friday evening. Please let me check
> with Abe if he's free.
> Yovi kalbeka na telyu fewikeko nibot hafhor, hok?
> I'll call you back and tell you if we can come in about half an hour, OK?
> So gled yu fonda Melo, na dank foyude vitx. Nas tawityu, xus.
> So glad you phoned, Emily, and thanks for your invitation. Nice
> talking with you, tchuss.
> Naw vabidati? Ya, vete yohadu. Dirmi darbi tumeni tez.
> Now what was I thinking? Yes, everything I have to do. Dear me there
> are too many things.
>
>
> Manlog tih: bekto skul
>
> Bekto skul, ma hegobi tof ditam.
> Back to school, man it's going to be tough this time.
> Jes wanmo yir naden gubay redbrik skulhas.
> Anyway one more year and then goodbye red brick schoolhouse.
> Gubay meriku hist, jomtrih, na hangelu lit,
> Goodbye American history, geometry, and English literature.
> gubay jim, na taw fatz nidexar,
> Goodbye gym, and towel fights in the shower,
> na doz tupi bonhedz halwe pleya prakel jokz,
> and those stupid boneheads always playing practical jokes.
> fe yo nev size hagn hez tusun.
> if I never see them again it's too soon.
> Gubay weya nilayn folunx, na goha tode enbide simbliz
> Goodbye waiting in line for lunch, and going to the
> big-dumb assemblies.
> na veki Miz Srit te vehu nota nidehalz.
> and old Miss Street telling everyone no talking in the halls
> Gubay viko yode teru lo, huje wona bi frinz
> Goodbye Vicky, my true love, who just wants to be friends.
> na gubay tode hoki tim woyoha kipda benx xod fo tuh yirz.
> and goodbye hockey team, where I've kept the bench warm (chaud) for
> two years.
> Nosa feyoke teka hanoti yir falada trub, vane ways fatam.
> Don't know if I can take another year of all that trouble,
> what a waste of time.
> Be den, vanobi neways fatam? Serti steya hom nobi ber.
> But then, what isn't a waste of time. Certainly staying home
> isn't better.
> Hinwey, bi jebot dar. Hoh Ja, hirwigo.
> Anyway, am just about there. Oh God, here we go.
> Ca viko, vane spraz, hobigo?
> Hi Vicky, what a surprise, how's it going?
> Wana waka togeti na xera de lasi prexi mintz fa frid?
> Want to walk together and share the last precious minutes of
> freedom?
>
>
>
> For a complete description of the Esata language (PDF 650KB)
> http://www.beginnersgame.com/page_25.pdf
>
> --
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-- 
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

-------------------------------------------------

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