Lidu

"Lidu" is literally "speech". Simplicity is key. =Setting= ...

=Basic Grammar=

Alphabet
This wiki is largely in English, and reusing the letters is thus rather convenient. A few letter sounds differ from English, though, in order to achieve better consistency. Viewers are most likely to be familiar with the Spanish pronunciations of the vowels.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! Letter ! Word or letter sound representation ! ! Letter ! Sound representation ! ! Letter ! Sound representation
 * align=center|A||aaa (Spanish A)|| ||B||"boy"|| ||D||"dog"
 * align=center|E||"sell"|| ||F||"final"|| ||G||"gate"
 * align=center|H||"help"|| ||I||ee (Spanish I)|| ||J||"jar"
 * align=center|K||"kite"|| ||L||"line"|| ||M||"may"
 * align=center|N||"never"|| ||O||"oat" (Spanish O)|| ||P||"post"
 * align=center|R||"rail"|| ||S||"silly"|| ||T||"tail"
 * align=center|U||"zoo" (Spanish U)|| ||V||"very"|| ||W||"walk"
 * align=center|Y||"if" (think "hymn)|| ||Z||Take the "sh" sound and replace the s with z.|| || ||
 * }
 * align=center|N||"never"|| ||O||"oat" (Spanish O)|| ||P||"post"
 * align=center|R||"rail"|| ||S||"silly"|| ||T||"tail"
 * align=center|U||"zoo" (Spanish U)|| ||V||"very"|| ||W||"walk"
 * align=center|Y||"if" (think "hymn)|| ||Z||Take the "sh" sound and replace the s with z.|| || ||
 * }
 * align=center|Y||"if" (think "hymn)|| ||Z||Take the "sh" sound and replace the s with z.|| || ||
 * }
 * }

Integral Guidelines
Lidu attempts to follow a few key rules:
 * 1) No exceptions. Irregular verbs are frustrating, increasing the amount of information the all-new language-learner must take in. There are fewer rules regarding other word types, but none of those are broken.
 * 2) Conjugation is simple. Too many languages rely on complicated verb-suffixes that must describe both tense and subject, while not providing enough information for succinct communication. In Lidu, a single suffix can describe the tense of any verb. Of course, this ignores subject, requiring the speaker to name it. Fortunately, almost all situations in other languages already require the naming of the subject, so this does not add to time needed to communicate a message. Refer to the Verb Conjugation section.
 * 3) Nouns can be derived from verbs. The -u suffix converts any verb into the noun that is the product or basis of the verb. Speak becomes Speech, Think becomes Thought, etc. Of course, this does not work for all verbs. Understand that not all Lidu nouns are derived from verbs, and that this process generally does not work in reverse. The noun would have to end with -u before the verb was even invented.
 * 4) Gender is minimized. Gender equality should be inherent in the very words people speak. Thus, gender pronouns are very similar. San and sen(He and She) differ by just one letter, and are of equal length, convenience, etc. In plural form, when referring to a mixed group, the genderless fenet (They (neut)) is used. No word is meant to suggest gender, except where gender is inherent in its meaning.
 * 5) Subjects are simple and derived from 5 roots. All major forms are listed below. Refer to the next section.

Pronouns

 * {| class="wikitable"

! Lin ! Singular ! Plural ! ! Tan ! Singular ! Plural ! ! Fen ! Singular ! Plural
 * align=center|Regular|| I: Lin || We: Linet|| ||Regular|| You: Tan || You: Tanet || ||Regular|| It: Fen || They: Fenet
 * align=center|Honorific|| I: Helin || We: Helinet || ||Honorific|| You: Hetan || You: Hetanet || ||Honorific|| It: Hefen || They: Hefenet
 * }
 * align=center|Honorific|| I: Helin || We: Helinet || ||Honorific|| You: Hetan || You: Hetanet || ||Honorific|| It: Hefen || They: Hefenet
 * }


 * {| class="wikitable"

! San ! Singular ! Plural ! ! Sen ! Singular ! Plural
 * align=center|Regular|| He: San || They (male): Sanet || ||Regular|| She: Sen || They (female): Senet
 * align=center|Honorific|| He: Hesan || They (male): Hesanet || ||Honorific|| She: Hesen|| They (female): Hesenet
 * }
 * align=center|Honorific|| He: Hesan || They (male): Hesanet || ||Honorific|| She: Hesen|| They (female): Hesenet
 * }

Refer to Rule 4 in the guidelines above.

Using verbs
All verbs have the same format. There's the root, and there's whatever suffix gets attached. As an example, here's the verb Golkorv, to laugh. The -U suffix will yield Golkorvu, laugh (noun). The -Ep suffix results in Golkorvep, to laugh (in the present). The -Av and -Yt suffixes put the verb in the future and past, respectively. Latch on a subject and you have an action!

And of course, verbs can be used to create not just nouns, but new verbs, when combined with other words. Golkorv is a combination of Gol, to sound, and Korv, to smile.

=Dictionary=

Use-words
After: -Av- (as a prefix/suffix), Av (as a preposition)

And: Hut

Be (exist): Kal

Be (permanent condition): On

Be (temporary condition): Kit

Before: -Yt- (as a prefix/suffix), Yt (as a preposition)

Being: Kalu (derived from Be (exist))

Condition: Kitu (derived from Be (temporary condition))

Few: Laetuet (literally, "not many"; derived from Many)

Future: Avlyrk (literally, "time after")

He: San

(Honorific): He- (prefix, normally for pronouns)
 * Cultural Note: When placed in front of all other persons, he- designates respect. When an individual or group is referring to themselves, they are stating how seriously they view something. Used when making a promise, taking an oath, etc.

I: Lin

It: Fen
 * Note: Can represents a person, if their gender is not known. Also note They (neut.), the direct plural form of this.

Laugh (noun): Golkorvu (derived from Laugh (verb))

Laugh (verb): Golkorv (derived from Smile (verb))

Laughter: Golkorvuet (plural of Laugh (noun)

Many: Etuet (derived from (Plurality))

No: La

Now: -Ep- (as a prefix/suffix), Ep

Nothing: Lakalu (literally "No being"; derived from Being (exist))

(Objectification): -U (suffix derives a noun from a verb)

Past: Ytlyrk (literally, "time before")

(Pluality) -Et
 * Note: Attached to the ends of nouns, pronouns to mean that there is more than one of something.

Present (time): Eplyrk (literally "time now")

(Question): Kwi- (prefix)
 * Note: Attached to the beginnings of certain words, such as Number, Procedure, Condition, etc. Spares the creation of new roots for numerous "question words".

Silence: Lagolu (literally "No sound; derived from Sound (noun))

Smile (noun): Korvu (derived from Smile (verb))

Smile (verb) Korv

Sound (noun): Golu (derived from Sound (verb))

Sound (verb): Gol

Speak: Lid

She: Sen

Speech: Lidu (derived from Speak)

They (female): Senet (plural of She)
 * Note: Must refer to an exclusively feminine group; is thus rarely used. See They (neut.)

They (male): Sanet (plural of He)
 * Note: Must refer to an exclusively masculine group; is thus rarely used. See They (neut.)

They (neut.): Fenet
 * Note: Despite being the last entry in order, this is actually the default form used when referring to a group of mixed gender.

Think: Sind

Thought: Sindu (derived from Think)

Time: Lyrk

Too: Avhut (literally "and after", as in "and me [as well]"), Kelet (plural of Very; exceedingly, as in "too much")

Very: Kel

We: Linet (plural of I)

You (singular): Tan

You (plural): Tanet (plural of You (singular))

0-9

 * {| class="wikitable"

! Value ! Name ! Notes
 * align=center| 0|| Lakalu || Rather long for a small number, but never used in combination.
 * align=center| 1|| Al || Early numbers should be fast to pronounce.
 * align=center| 2|| Sat || Goal: No early number shares more than 1 letter with any other
 * align=center| 3|| Ban ||
 * align=center| 4|| Ko ||
 * align=center| 5|| Kim ||
 * align=center| 6|| Tep ||
 * align=center| 7|| Pak ||
 * align=center| 8|| Lik ||
 * align=center| 9|| Pil ||
 * }
 * align=center| 5|| Kim ||
 * align=center| 6|| Tep ||
 * align=center| 7|| Pak ||
 * align=center| 8|| Lik ||
 * align=center| 9|| Pil ||
 * }
 * align=center| 8|| Lik ||
 * align=center| 9|| Pil ||
 * }
 * }

10-99

 * {| class="wikitable"

! Value ! Name ! Notes
 * align=center|10|| Zal || The Z sound is reserved for numbers. It here acts as an x10 multiplier.
 * align=center|11|| Zal-al || The - represents a brief space between naming the 10s and 1s place.
 * align=center|12|| Zal-sat ||
 * align=center|13|| Zal-ban ||
 * align=center|20|| Zat || All early numbers after Al begin with consonants, which are best replaced by Z.
 * align=center|21|| Zat-al ||
 * align=center|30|| Zan ||
 * align=center|40|| Zo ||
 * align=center|50|| Zim ||
 * align=center|60|| Zep ||
 * align=center|70|| Zak ||
 * align=center|80|| Zik ||
 * align=center|90|| Zil ||
 * }
 * align=center|40|| Zo ||
 * align=center|50|| Zim ||
 * align=center|60|| Zep ||
 * align=center|70|| Zak ||
 * align=center|80|| Zik ||
 * align=center|90|| Zil ||
 * }
 * align=center|70|| Zak ||
 * align=center|80|| Zik ||
 * align=center|90|| Zil ||
 * }
 * align=center|90|| Zil ||
 * }

100-999

 * {| class="wikitable"

! Value ! Name ! Notes
 * align=center|100|| Satzal || Since additional Zs cannot be continuously tacked on, a logarithm-multiplication system is used. The Satz represents 10^2, which is then multiplied by Al (1) to get 100.
 * align=center|101|| Satzal-al || Unnamed places (10s) are ignored
 * align=center|110|| Satzal-zal ||
 * align=center|111|| Satzal-zal-al || The - is used to separate all named digit places.
 * align=center|120|| Satzal-zat ||
 * align=center|200|| Satzat || Higher multiples of 100 change the early number named at the end (At). Note that even though the Z is used with the front rather than the end of Satzal, the S is still cut off the second Sat.
 * align=center|300|| Satzan ||
 * align=center|400|| Satzo ||
 * align=center|500|| Satzim ||
 * align=center|600|| Satzep ||
 * align=center|700|| Satzak ||
 * align=center|800|| Satzik ||
 * align=center|900|| Satzil ||
 * }
 * align=center|400|| Satzo ||
 * align=center|500|| Satzim ||
 * align=center|600|| Satzep ||
 * align=center|700|| Satzak ||
 * align=center|800|| Satzik ||
 * align=center|900|| Satzil ||
 * }
 * align=center|700|| Satzak ||
 * align=center|800|| Satzik ||
 * align=center|900|| Satzil ||
 * }
 * align=center|900|| Satzil ||
 * }

1,000+

 * {| class="wikitable"

! Value ! Name ! Notes =Example text= ...
 * align=center|1000|| Banzal || Banz=10^3. Al=1. 10^3x1=1,000.
 * align=center|1,100|| Banzal-Satzal ||
 * align=center|1,252|| Banzal-Satzat-Zim-Sat ||
 * align=center|2,000|| Banzat ||
 * align=center|3,000|| Banzan ||
 * align=center|4,000|| Banzo ||
 * align=center|10,000|| Kozal || 10^4x1=10,000
 * align=center|20,000|| Kozat ||
 * align=center|100,000|| Kozim || The flexible logarithmic system in this form can reach 10^9x9.99, or almost 10 billion. Further expansion would involve numbers such as Zalzal, where 10 was raised to higher powers. Fortunately, there will not be much need for numbers on that range, outside of science.
 * }
 * align=center|3,000|| Banzan ||
 * align=center|4,000|| Banzo ||
 * align=center|10,000|| Kozal || 10^4x1=10,000
 * align=center|20,000|| Kozat ||
 * align=center|100,000|| Kozim || The flexible logarithmic system in this form can reach 10^9x9.99, or almost 10 billion. Further expansion would involve numbers such as Zalzal, where 10 was raised to higher powers. Fortunately, there will not be much need for numbers on that range, outside of science.
 * }
 * align=center|20,000|| Kozat ||
 * align=center|100,000|| Kozim || The flexible logarithmic system in this form can reach 10^9x9.99, or almost 10 billion. Further expansion would involve numbers such as Zalzal, where 10 was raised to higher powers. Fortunately, there will not be much need for numbers on that range, outside of science.
 * }
 * }