Below are some sentences written in an invented language. Read, inwardly digest, and decipher. Note that this language makes heavy use of inflection, and that there is no difference between compound and simple tenses, nor perfective and imperfective actions; there is, however a distinction between definite and indefinite nouns. In addition, “x” is pronounced like the English “sh”.
Jawob kemewemenu kesinu. A goat is an animal.
Jexobwobi ikemuranu tenanu. Cows eat grass.
Jehukezobi itemuranu. They chased cows.
Jehukezobi ikontelu itemewemelu. The pigs chased the goats.
Jawobi ikebarralu tenakelu tak. The sheep are in the pasture.
Oy jexobezobi ikemuralu itontenu. The cows didn’t eat pigs.
Oy jazob kenakelu kesinu. The pasture wasn’t an animal.
Jehukwob kontenu temuranu tenakelu tek. A pig is chasing a cow next to the pasture.
Give the precise meanings for the following words:
a) Tesilu
b) Ikenalu
c) Jexobwob
d) Kebarranu
Translate the following:
e) The pastures are not next to the animals.
f) The sheep (sg.) didn’t eat the grass in the pasture.
Now study the following sentences, and translate as below:
Oy jehukwebi ikeruxelu ipewomenu. The dogs aren’t being chased by donkeys.
Jejexuzezob kewomelux tenalu tuk. Your (sg.) donkey was sleeping on the grass.
Ijejehukwobi ikeruxeluyi tenakelu tawek. Our dogs are chasing each other [lit.: themselves] around the pasture.
Yehukezob itebukuluj tebukukeluji tok. I chased her hens out of their chicken-coop.
Oy ixexewipwobi tenalu tuk. You’re (pl.) not sitting on the grass.
g) The chicken was sitting on a dog.
h) The donkey wasn’t eaten next to the pasture by our goats.
i) You (sg.) were being chased by my pigs on the grass around their sty.
