Posted by San Tegire on 18:00 2/11/02
In reply to: (none)
First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. My name, in the language of Tigeria, is Jonathana Tegire. I come from the planet Athanire, more specifically from Tegireserana. My official title is San Tegire, leader of my people. To learn more about Tegireserana, or Tigeria in English, you can visit my site at http://www.angelfire.com/super2/tigeria.
Now that the introduction is over, I can begin my critique. Talan san nahadana Tegirenai (In the Tigerian language), sain nemarunasin Tegirenai (the Tigerian people) strove to make their language flow like water (halehane lun halevena). Thus, in judging other nahadanasin, they judge most how well haleveni.
From what I have seen of the Verdurian language, the first thing a Tigerian would say would be "barbarian." This is of course a natural response to any language which does not separate two consonants with at least one vowel, as in Tigerian. But the educated Tigerian might go a little further to see just how barbarian it is.
To do this, let us look at a few sentences. I will use the phrase found on the front page of Virtual Verduria: "Dobrezhanul ad Prosice Verdúrian! Esli tu e visanom soei Sfahei, furom im ralinen rocurië, pasetec, iy santelece bedhec akoterul, tu e im dhayen chelán! "
The normal Tigerian mind would shudder to hear these sentences spoken. An s and an f together! At the beginning of a word no less! Not even a preceding vowel to soften the blow! But I do see that, rather luckily, about half the words end in a vowel. I'm still not the clearest on the stress rules for Verdurian, but from my guesses, it seems very rhythmic. Yes, it does almost flow. And there aren't really any vile combinations (like a "chrnkharosften"). Mostly, the consonantal combinations are balanced by vowels.
Since I am an avid reader of Tolkein, I think it not too rude to compare it to a few of his languages. The flow and overall rhythm of it gives a sense of Old Quenya or Sindarin, but some of the consonants give a (pardon the pun) "ring" of Khuzdul to it. On a glance it could almost be compared to the Black Speech (classical, not debased), but certainly it is not the unuduna felananai that is "Ash nazg durbatulœk...."
All in all, though it is a bit harsh for the Tigerian's tastes, it has a flow certainly comparable to san Nahadana Tegirenai (not very highly, but still, it could be a lot worse). Rusina why it has attracted so many students. It is at the same time simple and complex. I still can't make head or tail of it.
- San Tegire
Hi, Jonathana, or as we'd say in Verdurian, sanno Tegirië. I can't help pointing out that Tigerian seems not to mind two consonants together if a word boundary comes between: nemarunasin Tegirenai...