ILLUNSE : a constructed language

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

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000

The Quenya word for plain is palar (flat field, 'wang', plain).

The Sindarin words for plain are lad (plain, valley) and talath (flat surface, plane; flat land, plain, (wide) valley).

Plain, in my words + plains

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:37:00 +0000

rawan : plain

The Illunse word for plain is rawan. Rawan is an unusual last name. Rawan is an unusual feminine first name of Arabic origin. Rawan cake is a bakery in Jordan. In Indonesian rawan means vulnerable. Rawan is the name of places in Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Japan.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for plain which is arvum (arable land/field, soil, region; dry land; stretch of plain), and the Old English word for plain which is wang (plain, flat field, dry land; place; surface of the ground in a general sense).

A plain is an expanse of land with relatively low relief.

This is a new word, not a revised word. Tomorrow I'll post Tolkien's words for plain.

rawanan : plains

The Illunse word for plains (nominative plural) is rawanan. Rawanan is a rare last name. Similar Rawana is a unusual last name and a rare first name.

Plains in Latin is arvi. Plains in Old English is wangas.

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

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:52:00 +0000

In Quenya ravanda may mean wilderness. One of the meanings of similar word ráva is wild, untamed.

The Sindarin word for wilderness is rhovan.

Rhovanion or Wilderland is a region of northern Middle-earth. It's the region between the Misty Mountains in the west and the River Celduin in the east.

Wilderness, in my words + wildernesses

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:32:00 +0000

weren : wilderness

The Illunse word for wilderness is weren. Weren is a last name. In Dutch weren means to keep out, ward off. The Weren are a superhuman race in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series. Weren Ch'efe is a place in Ethiopia.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for wilderness which is eremus (wilderness, wasteland, desert), and the Old English word for wilderness which is wésten (waste, wilderness, desert). I also used these words for creating my word for desert.

Wilderness is an unsettled and uncultivated tract of land left in its natural state.

This is a new word, not a revised word. Tomorrow I'll post Tolkien's words for wilderness.

werenas : wildernesses

The Illunse word for wildernesses (nominative plural) is werenas. Werenas is a rare last name.

Wildernesses in Latin is eremi. Wildernesses in Old English is wéstenu or wéstenas or wéstena (depending on gender).

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

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:03:00 +0000

The Quenya word for desert is erumë.

The Sindarin word for desert is eru (waste, desert).

Both of these words appear related to the Latin word for desert eremus (waste, desert), which was mentioned in my previous post.

Desert, in my words + deserts

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:55:00 +0000

derte : desert

The Illunse word for desert is derte. Derte is a rare last name.

This word is a mixture of the Latin words for desert which are desertum (desert; wildernesses; unfrequented places) and eremus (wilderness, wasteland, desert), and the Old English word for desert which is wésten (waste, wilderness, desert).

This is a new word, not a revised word. I like that this word looks somewhat similar to dirt, and to dearth. Tomorrow I'll post Tolkien's words for desert.

dertan : deserts

The Illunse word for deserts (nominative plural) is dertan. Dertan is a rare last name.

Deserts in Latin is deserti and eremi. Deserts in Old English is wéstenu or wéstenas or wéstena (depending on gender).

Island, in my words (revised) + islands

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:54:00 +0000

ineal : island

The Illunse word for island is ineal. Ineal is a rare last name. Ineal is a rare first name.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for island which is insula (island; apartment house), and the Old English word for island which is eáland (water-land, an island).

My previous word for island was aeslun.

Here's a link to Island, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

ineala : islands

The Illunse word for islands (nominative plural) is ineala. Ineala is a rare first name.

Islands in Latin is insulae. Islands in Old English is eáland (same as the singular).

I didn't have a word for islands, the plural, before.

Mountain, in my words + mountains

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:36:00 +0000

morg : mountain

The Illunse word for mountain is morg. Morg is a last name. Morg is a masculine first name. Morg is a Marvel Comics fictional supervillain in The Silver Surfer.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for mountain which is mons, and the Old English word for mountain which is beorg (mountain, hill). Another Old English word for mountain (and hill) is munt.

This is the current word for mountain. I'm repeating this word to show that there are some words I'm not changing, and also to use my picture of a mountain.

Here's a link to my earlier post for Mountain, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

morgas : mountains

The Illunse word for mountains (nominative plural) is morgas. Morgas is an uncommon last name. Similar Morgase is the name of the fictional Queen of Andor in The Wheel of Time fantasy book series.

Mountains in Latin is montis. Mountains in Old English is beorgas or muntas.

Guess I didn't post this plural earlier, although it was in my notes.

Grove, in my words + groves

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:22:00 +0000

nelm : grove

The Illunse word for grove (wood, small forest) is nelm. Nelm is an uncommon last name. NELM is an acronym for The National English Literary Museum in Grahamstown, South Africa.

This word is a mixture the Latin word nemus (tract of woodland, grove, glade), and the Old English word holt (wood, forest, grove, thicket).

This is the current word for grove. I'm repeating this word to show that there are some words I'm not changing, and also to use my picture of a grove.

A grove is a small group of trees with minimal or no undergrowth. Naturally occurring groves are typically small, perhaps a few acres at most.

Here's a link to Grove, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

nelmas : groves

The Illunse word for groves (nominative plural) is nelmas.

Groves in Latin is nemoris. Groves in Old English is holtas.

This is the current word for groves.

Lake, in my words + lakes

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

lare : lake

The Illunse word for lake is lare. Lare is a last name. Lare is an obsolete English word for lore, learning. Lare is another obsolete English word for pasture, feed. Similar word lares (singular lar) were ancient Roman protective deities. Lare is the name of cities in Kenya, Ghana, Honduras and Mozambique.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for lake which is lacus (basin/tank/tub; lake/pond; reservoir/cistern/basin), and the Old English word for lake mere (sea, ocean; lake, pond, pool, cistern).

This is the current word for lake. I'm repeating this word to show that there are some words I'm not changing, and also to use my picture of a lake.

Here's a link to Lake, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

lareas : lakes

The Illunse word for lakes is lareas. Lareas is a rare last name.

Lakes is Latin is lacus or laci. Lakes in Old English is mereas.

This is the current word for lakes.

Hill, in my words + hills

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:05:00 +0000

holl : hill

The Illunse word for hill is holl. Holl is a last name. In Breton holl means all, totally. In Welsh holl means whole, all. Holl is the name of cities in Germany and Czech Republic. Holl is the name of towns in Iceland.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for hill which is collis and the Old English word for hill which is hyll.

This is the current word for hill. I'm repeating this word to show that there are some words I'm not changing, and also to use my picture of a hill.

Here's a link to Hill, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words

hollas : hills

The Illunse word for hills is hollas. Hollas is a last name.

Hills is Latin is collis (same as singular). Hills in Old English is hyllas.

This is the current word for hills.

River, in my words + rivers

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:40:00 +0000

feam : river

The Illunse word for river is feam. Feam can be an English last name.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for river which is flumen (river, stream), and the Old English word for river which is éa (running water, stream, river).

This is the current word for river. I'm repeating this word to show that there are some words I'm not changing, and also to use my picture of a river.

Here's a link to my post for River, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

feama : rivers

The Illunse word for rivers (nominative plural) is feama. Feama is a rare first name.

Rivers in Latin is flumenis. Rivers in Old English is éa.

This is the current word for rivers.

Stream, in my words (revised) + streams

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:05:00 +0000

rirn : stream

The Illunse word for stream (or creek) is rirn. In Yiddish (transliterated) rirn means to move.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for stream rivus, and the Old English (and Scottish) word for stream burn (stream, brook).

My previous word for stream or creek was runis.

Here's a link to Creek, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

rirna : streams

The Illunse word for streams (nominative plural) is rirna. Rirna is a rare last name.

Streams in Latin is rivi. Streams in Old English is burna.

Streams is a new word. I didn't have this plural.

Marsh, in my words + marshes

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:37:00 +0000

parse : marsh

The Illunse word for marsh is parse. Parse is a last name. In English parse is a successful act of parsing, resolving into its elements. Parse is the name of a place in Turkey.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for marsh palus (swamp, marsh), and the Old English word for marsh mersc (marsh, swamp). These are the same words I used for swamp, my previous word.

Swamp is a type of wetland with flooded areas and often water stagnation. Marsh is an area of low, wet land, often with tall grass. In North America, swamp is used for wetland dominated by trees rather than grasses.

Here's a link to Swamp, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

parseas : marshes

The Illunse word for marshes (nominative plural) is parseas. Similar Parsees (Parsis) are a group of Zoroastrians who immigrated to India in the 10th century.

Marshes in Latin is paludis. Marshes in Old English is merscas.

Marsh is a new word. I decided to make two words for wetlands.

Swamp, in my words (revised) + swamps

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:41:00 +0000

saemp : swamp

The Illunse word for swamp is saemp. Saemp is a rare last name. Similar samp is coasely ground corn (maize) used for porridge.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for swamp palus (swamp, marsh), and the Old English word for swamp mersc (marsh, swamp).

My previous word for swamp was sceal. Since I had a M and a P available, I decided to make this look like the word swamp.

Here's a link to Swamp, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

saempas : swamps

The Illunse word for swamps (nominative plural) is saempas. Similar Sampras is an unusual last name, notably American tennis player Pete Sampras.

Swamps in Latin is paludis. Swamps in Old English is merscas.

There wasn't a previous word for swamps.

Forest, in my words (revised) + forests (revised)

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:44:00 +0000

selda : forest

The Illunse word for forest is selda. Selda is an unusual feminine first name, notably Turkish singer and guitarist Selda Bağcan. Selda is an unusual last name.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for forest silva (wood, forest, woodland) and the Old English word for forest weald (wood, forest).

My previous word for forest was swald. I'm changing my word to look less like the German word for forest, wald.

Here's a link to Forest, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

seldu : forests

The Illunse word for forests (nominative plural) is seldu. In Icelandic seldu means sold.

Forests in Latin is silvae. Forests in Old English is wealda.

My previous word for forests was swalda.

Meadow, in my words (revised) + meadows (revised)

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:02:00 +0000

preda : meadow

The Illunse word for meadow is preda. Preda is an uncommon last name. In Italian preda means booty, prey. Preda is the name of a place in Switzerland.

This word is a mixture the Latin word pratum (meadow, meadowland; meadow grass/crop), and the Old English word mæd (mead, meadow, pasture), which I transliterate to maed.

My previous word for meadow was prade. A small change, I swapped the vowels around.

predu : meadows

The Illunse word for meadows (nominative plural) is predu. In Croatian predu means purr, spin (make yarn).

Meadows in Latin is prati. Meadows in Old English is mæd (same as the singular).

My previous word for meadows was pradi. Another small change. I've gotten rid of the Latin-ish -i plural endings.

There doesn't appear to be any Quenya or Sindarin words for meadow.

Sea, in my words (revised) + seas (revised)

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:55:00 +0000

maer : sea

The Illunse word for sea is maer. Maer is a last name. In Danish similar mær means bitch or tart. In Faroese similar mær means me. In Icelandic similar mær means (poetic) maiden. Maer is the name of a couple places in England.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for sea which is mare or maris, and the Old English word for sea which is sæ which is close to the Modern English word sea.

My previous Illunse word for sea was maera. This is a small change.

Here's a link to Sea, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

maera : seas

The Illunse word for seas (nominative plural) is maera. Maera is the name of several beings in Greek mythology. Maera is an unusual feminine first name. Maera is a land in a Norse saga. Maera is a last name that can be from New Zealand. Maera is the name of cities in Mozambique, Angola and Papua New Guinea.

Seas in Latin is maris. Seas in Old English is sae (same as sea).

My previous Illunse word for seas was maerae. This is a small change

Valleys, in my words (revised)

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:26:00 +0000

dallan : valleys

The Illunse word for valleys (nominative plural) is dallan. Dallan is a last name. Dallan is a unusual masculine first name. Saint Dallán Forgaill was a 6th century Irish poet.

Valleys in Latin is vallis. Valleys in Old English is dena.

My previous Illunse word for valleys was dalla. A small change.

The word for valley is dalle. It remains the same, unchanged.

Here's a link to Valley, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

Field, in my words (revised)

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:48:00 +0000

falg : field

The Illunse word for field is falg. Falg is an unusual last name. Falg is a misspelling of flag.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for field which is ager (field, ground, farm, land), and the Old English word for field which is feld (field, open or cultivated land, plain).

My previous Illunse word for field was falge. This is a small change.

The word for fields (nominative plural) is falga. It remains the same, unchanged.

Here's a link to Field, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

Trees, in my words (revised)

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:40:00 +0000

teboran : trees

The Illunse word for trees (nominative plural) is teboran.

Trees in Latin is arboris. Trees in Old English is tréowu.

My previous Illunse word for trees was teboru. A small change.

The word for tree is tebor. It remains the same, unchanged.

Here's a link to Tree, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words + Trees.

Flower, in my words (revised)

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:03:00 +0000

flost : flower

The Illunse word for flower is flost. Flost is a rare last name.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for flower which is flos (flower, blossom), and the Old English word for flower which is blóstma (blossom, bloom, flower).

My previous word for flower was flosta. This is a small change.

The word for flowers (nominative plural) is flostan. It remains the same, unchanged.

Here's a link to Flower, in J.R.R. Tolkien's words.

Since I'm subjecting you to revisions, I thought I'd add some pictures. Something new to look at.

Moving forward, but stepping backwards first

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:16:00 +0000

Deep down I must love complexity. I knew my Illunse plurals were way too complicated.

The good news is that I've figured out what to do about it, how to make my nominative case plurals for nouns simpler. Not simple, but simpler. I've come up with some rules to follow, and irregular nouns won't be allowed. My rules pretty much amount to accepting grammatical gender.

What this means for this blog, though, is revisions. Lots of them. I'll be making numerous small changes. This will affect somewhere between a third and half of my existing nouns, singular forms as well as plurals. Even words I did recently.

Old English and Latin are inflected languages. They are not like Modern English. I want my Illunse grammar to be similar to that of Old English and Latin, but hopefully much more straightforward.

Ox, in my words + oxen

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:42:00 +0000

ocs : ox

The Illunse word for ox (adult castrated bull) is ocs. Ocs is a rare last name. In the military, OCS is an acronym for Officer Candidates School or Officer Cadet School. Similar Ocs (or Öcs) is the name of a place in Hungary.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for ox (or bovine) which is bos, and the Old English word for ox which is oxa (which I transliterate to ocsa).

ocsan : oxen

The Illunse word for oxen (nominative plural) is ocsan. Ocsan is a unusual last name.

Oxen (or bovines or cattle) in Latin is bovis. Oxen in Old English is oxan.

My Illunse words are very close to Modern English when you consider my transliteration of X to CS. Note that the English plural, oxen, ends in N instead of S, which is a remanant from Old English.

That's enough of the bovine related words. There actually other words I'm not going to do, such as steer (a young ox especially one castrated before sexual maturity and raised for beef) and heifer (a young cow especially one that has not yet given birth to a calf). I might do calf, but not now.

Cattle were a big thing in Anglo-Saxon times. Cattle were personal property. Way back then, counting your cattle was like counting your money.

Bovine, in my words + bovines or cattle

noreply@blogger.com (illunse) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:30:00 +0000

boher : bovine

The Illunse word for bovine is boher. Boher is a last name. Boher is the name of a places in Ireland and Nigeria.

This word is a mixture of the Latin word for bovine which is bos, and the Old English word for bovine which is hriðer (which I transliterate to hrither). Another Old English word for bovine is néat.

boheras : bovines or cattle

The Illunse word for bovines or cattle (nominative plural) is boheras. Boheras is a rare last name.

Bovines or cattle in Latin is bovis. Bovines or cattle in Old English is hriðer (same as the singular).