Friday, November 27, 2009

Ninety, in my words

noganig : ninety

The Illunse word for ninety (90) is noganig.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for ninety which is hundnigontig, and the Latin word for ninety which is nonaginta.

Next up, my word for a hundred.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Eighty, in my words

othanig : eighty

The Illunse word for eighty (80) is othanig.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for eighty which is hundeahtatig, and the Latin word for eighty which is octoginta.

Another lengthy and unweildy Old English word. Hund means decade in compound words such as hundeahtatig. For Illunse, I'm going to drop the hund and pretend the Old English word is instead eahtatig.

Next up, my word for ninety.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Seventy, in my words

seftonanig : seventy

The Illunse word for seventy (70) is seftonanig.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for seventy which is hundseofontig, and the Latin word for seventy which is septuaginta.

At seventy the Old English words get lengthy and unweildy. It seems that hund means decade in compound words such as hundseofontig. For Illunse, I'm going to pretend the Old English word is instead seofontig.

There are no Quenya or Sindarin numbers in this range. Next up, my word for eighty.

This word was previously setonaning.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Sixty, in my words

sisanig : sixty

The Illunse word for sixty (60) is sisanig.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for sixty which is siextig, and the Latin word for sixty which is sexaginta.

Sisanig is not quite my word for six plus the suffix nig. The Illunse word for six is sise. I decided to use an A from the Latin word.

There are no Quenya or Sindarin numbers in this range. Next up, my word for seventy.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Mouse, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

I looked in the dictionaries, but I didn't find a word for mouse in either Quenya or Sindarin. I guess Tolkien's elves didn't discuss mice.

But there are mice in Middle-Earth because Samwise recited a comic poem called Oliphaunt that begins "Grey as a mouse, Big as a house, Nose like a snake, I make the earth shake...".

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Mouse, in my words

mus : mouse

The Illunse word for mouse is mus. Mus is a a traditional Basque card game. In Dutch mus means sparrow. In Danish mus means mouse. Mus is the name of cities in France, Germany, India, Iran and Turkey.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for mouse which is mús and the Latin word for mouse which is mus.

The Old English and Latin words are basically the same! This didn't give me much to work with. Instead of scrambling the letters (sum? smu? ums?), decided to go along with it and make mus the word for mouse in Illunse. Apparently mūs or mús is also the word for mouse in Ancient Greek, Sanskrit and Old Norse.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Bear, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

The Quenya word for bear is morco.

The Sindarin words for bear are brôg and graw.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Pig, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

The Quenya word for pig is polca.

There doesn't seem to be a Sindarin word for pig.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Pig, in my words

sirc : pig

The Illunse word for pig is sirc. Sirc is a last name. SIRC is a acronym for various groups and centers.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for pig which is swín (a swine, wild-boar, pig, hog), and the Latin word for pig which is porcus (pig, hog; tame swine).

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Tales of twelve characters

A short time-out from words in my fantasy language or in Elvish. Here's something different. I was tagged by Kendra to list twelve characters from any fandom, then answer the questions.

OK. Below are the characters I picked, followed by the questions and my answers. There are Wikipedia links to references about my characters, in case anyone wonders who the heck they are. I'm probably way too old for this, because I didn't chose any characters from Eragon (although I've read the first book), or Twilight (which I haven't read or seen the movie)!

1. Obi Wan Kenobi (as played by Ewan McGregor)
2. Hermione Granger (from the Harry Potter books and movies)
3. Spock (from Star Trek)
4. Lyra Belacqua (from The Golden Compass and the other His Dark Materials books by Philip Pullman)
5. Sherlock Holmes
6. Ayesha (from Victorian book She and others by H. Rider Haggard)
7. Samwise Gamgee or Sam (from The Lord of the Rings)
8. Locke Lamora (from the book The Lies of Locke Lamora and its sequel by Scott Lynch)
9. Mercy (Mercedes) Thompson (from the books by Patricia Briggs)
10. Indiana Jones
11. Eddard Stark (from the book A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin)
12. Djan Seriy Anaplian (from the science fiction book Matter by Iain M. Banks)

1. Who would make a better collage prof, 6 or 11?
Ayesha or Eddard Stark as Professor? Ayesha is immortal and she studies books, but she is arrogant. Eddard Stark is an honest, family man. I'd choose Eddard.

2. Do you think #2 is hot?
I like Hermione. But as I'm a woman, I hadn't thought of calling Hermione hot.

3. 12 sends 8 out on a mission. What is it? Does it succeed?
Djan, a woman from a far-future version of the CIA, sends Locke Lamora, a clever, fantasy con-man on a mission? The mission would likely be an elaborate scheme on a distant planet. Of course it succeeds, but likely with some dangerous complications.

4. What is or what would be 9's favorite book?
Not sure. Mercy would probably like a VW auto repair manual.

5. Would it make more sense for 2 to swear fealty to 6, or the other way around?
Hermione might swear fealty to Ayesha, also known as She Who Must Be Obeyed. But Hermione wouldn't like it, and would be trying to figure a way out.

6. For some reason, 5 is looking for a roommate. Should (s)he room with 9 or 10?
Sherlock Holmes is looking for a roommate. He’d be a pain of a roommate. I don't think he'd choose to room with a woman, let alone a shapechanger like Mercy. So I guess it's Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones.

7. 2, 7 and 12 are going out to dinner. Where do they go and what do they discuss?
Hermione, Samwise and Djan meet for dinner. As they are all from books by British authors, I think they'll meet in a cafe in London. Perhaps they'd discuss the different people and creatures, both magical and extraterrestrial, they've met.

8. 3 challenges 10 to a duel, who wins?
Spock challenges Indiana Jones to a duel? That's unlikely!

9. If 1 stole 8's most precious possession, how would (s)he get it back?
Obi Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight, steals something from Locke Lamora, who is a master thief and and con-man. They are both resourceful and persistent. This would be an interesting matchup.

10. Suggest a story title in which 7 and 12 both attain what they desire.
Sam and Djan both want to save their threatened homelands, which are very different. My title, Special Circumstances in the Shire.

11. What kind of plot device would you have to use if you wanted 1 and 4 to work together?
Obi Wan and Lyra? Maybe Obi Wan feels the Force would be stronger in him if he had an animal daemon.

12. If 7 visited you for the weekend, how would it go?
Sam and I would probably go on nature walks and discuss gardening.

13. If you could command 3 to perform any service or task for you, what would it be?
Me and Spock? The New Star Trek Spock, played by Zachary Quinto, hopefully. I like him to escort me on a vacation in outer space.

14. Does anyone on your friends list write or draw 11?
Eddard Stark? Not that I know of. Maybe his daughter Arya, though.

15. If 2 had to choose sides between 4 and 5, what side would (s)he choose?
Hermione Granger choosing sides between Lyra and Sherlock Holmes? Lyra is closer to Hermione's age, but Sherlock Holmes is smart. Hermione might understand and agree with Sherlock.

16. What might 10 shout out while charging into battle?
Indiana Jones doesn't need to shout anything, he has his theme music.

17. If you had to choose a song to best describe 8, what would it be?
No idea. I can’t think of anything right off.

18. 1, 6 and 12 are having a dim sum at a Chinese Restaurant. There is only one scallion pancake left, and they all reach for it at the same time. Who gets it?
There's Obi Wan, Ayesha and Djan in a Chinese Restaurant. Probably Ayesha gets the pancake. Obi Wan would likely be a gentleman and let the women decide. Djan probably wouldn't feel mere food is worth arguing about.

19. What would be a good pickup line for 2 to say to 10?
Hermione trying to pick up Indiana Jones? Really? Nice fedora and bullwhip you have there. I've heard that you're an expert on ancient civilizations....

20. What would 5 most likely be arrested for?
Sherlock Holmes would be arrested for disturbing the peace by playing his violin at all hours. Hopefully he's not arrested for drugs.

21. What is 6's secret?
Ayesha has been waiting for 2000 years for the reincarnation of her love.

22. If 11 and 9 were racing to a destination, who would get there first?
Mercy Thompson and Eddard Stark? If this destination is far, Mercy can drive a car. Eddard is in a medieval fantasy. Mercy can shape shift into a coyote, but Eddard probably has fast horses. Guess I'd choose Mercy.

23. If you had to walk home through a bad neighborhood late at night, who would you feel more comfortable walking with, 7 or 8?
Both Samwise and Locke would be loyal protectors. Both probably carry a dagger. Neither is particularly tall, though.

24. 1 and 9 reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4's sinister secret organization. 11 volunteers to help them, but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4. Meanwhile, 4 has kidnapped 12 in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of 5, they seek out 3, who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fiction?
Obi Wan and Mercy Thomspson team up to save the world from Lyra's Belacqua's secret organization. (That doesn't sound like Lyra.) Eddard Stark volunteers to help, but actually turns out to be a spy for Lyra. (That really doesn't sound like Eddard Stark.) Meanwhile, Lyra has kidnapped Djan. (That's highly unlikely, Lyra is twelve years old and Djan is a one-woman army). Following Sherlock Holmes' advice, they seek out Spock (The Search for Spock?) to complete their quest. (OK, that works.) Interesting premise, but I have no idea for a title.

This was a fun way to waste some time.

Now, I tag
Mariska
Aaron Hughes
Jeanette Bennett
Abbe Roue Jigglier
Jackie

Friday, November 13, 2009

Sheep, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

The Quenya word for sheep (in the singular, not plural) is máma.

There doesn't seem to be a Sindarin word for sheep.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sheep, in my words

scove : sheep

The Illunse word for sheep is scove. Scove is a last name. A scove kiln is a type of basic kiln used in brick making.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for sheep which is sceáp, and the Latin word for sheep which is ovis.

Many Old English words that start in SC have become words in Modern English that start in SH. Such as scip has become ship, and sceap has become sheep.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Bull, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

The Quenya word for bull is mundo. Earlier Quenya had tarucco or tarunco as bull.

The Sindarin word for bull is mund.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Cow, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

The Quenya word for cow is yaxë (milch cow).

There doesn't seem to be a Sindarin word for cow.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Deer, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

I didn't find a Quenya word for deer in the main dictionaries that I use, although other resources mentioned the word arassë as the Quenya word for deer. The Quenya website Lambë Eldaiva The Language of the Elves says that this word was reconstructed from Sindarin.

The Sindarin word for deer is aras.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Fox, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

The Quenya word for fox is rusco.

The Sindarin word for fox is rusc.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Hare, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

The Quenya word for hare is lapattë.

There doesn't seem to be a Sindarin word for hare.

I couldn't find Quenya or Sindarin words for rabbit. More surprising was that I couldn't locate an Old English word for rabbit. As Tolkien was a Professor of Anglo-Saxon (Old English) at Oxford, maybe he saw no need for words for rabbit.

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Hare, in my words

hasu : hare

The Illunse word for hare is hasu. Hasu is a last name that can be Finnish. In Old English hasu means dusky, gray, ashen. In Japanese (romaji) hasu can mean lotus. Hasu is the name of cities in Korea and a town a Finland.

This word is a mixture of the Old English word for hare which is hara, and the Latin word for hare which is lepus.

Hares are distinguishably different from rabbits. Hares are generally larger than rabbits, with longer ears.

I did the word for hare because I could not find any Old English word for rabbit. There is a Latin word for rabbit.