Speedlanging weekend IV: Weekend of April 8th

[Nachtuil]

Hi everyone,

The last speedlanging weekend challenge was in October 2016, found here: http://cbbforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5737

I had a lot of fun at the last one and would love to take a turn setting up constraints and theme for a new one. I wouldn't be handing out any awards but just providing an excuse to create a fun little sketch and am interested what others will come up with.

I am proposing the weekend of April 8th and would post the details around 10pm UTC-5 on April 7th. (Eastern North America).

Who is interested?

Cheers,
Nachtuil

Edit:
I had put in the wrong link above. Below are previous speedlanding weekend threads:
i. http://www.cbbforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5222
ii. http://cbbforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5485
iii. http://cbbforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5737

Edit:
Here it is! :)

Welcome to speedlang weekend IV! I am posting a bit earlier than I said I would but I am sure that won't be an issue. I am eager to see what people come up with and hope people have fun with this!

Theme:
The theme is "fantasy world" to be interpreted as you see fit. Maybe a language for dwarves, elves, wizards, vampires or perhaps just a sea faring group with some words for dragons and trolls. You are welcome to use this theme as lightly or heavily as you desire.

Phonemic Constraints
Maximum 25 phonemes, vowels and consonants. Go crazy with allophony if you wish.
Maximum 2 fricatives.
Maximum 2 affricates.
Minimum 2 central vowels of those found in this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_vowel

Grammatical constraints
1. Plurality-neutral nouns:
Your language cannot mark plurality directly on nouns, even with suffixes. Pronouns may still indicate plurality.

Spoiler:

Strategies to consider include possibly using classifiers, having definite or indefinite articles showing plurality, and perhaps verb forms. There are likely more.

2. Split Ergativity:
Your language must have ergativity in some aspect of its grammar. What gets absolutive-ergative alignment and what doesn't and how is up to you.

Spoiler:

Some possibilities to consider:
1. Marking can occur in word order, or from suffixes, or verb forms.
2. Some languages use ergativity only in the past tense or in the perfect aspect.
3. Many languages have a type of agency or animacy hierarchy with higher nouns using nominative-accusative and lower nouns using ergative-absolutive.
4. A known pattern related to the above includes marking first and second person in nominative-accusative and third in ergative absolutive.

[Keenir]

Hi everyone,

hi.

Who is interested?

I'm always up for a speedlanging. *signs up*

[DesEsseintes]

Ooh, I want in.

Edit: Wait, wouldn't this be the third speedlang weekend rather than the fourth?

[Keenir]

Ooh, I want in.

Edit: Wait, wouldn't this be the third speedlang weekend rather than the fourth?

are we counting from one, or from zero?

well, Stargate teaches us that advanced civilizations do it that second way. :)

[opipik]

Count me in!

Wait, wouldn't this be the third speedlang weekend rather than the fourth?

No, it wouldn't.

[DesEsseintes]

Huh? I don't remember organising that 3rd speedlanging weekend at all!

I must be going soft in the head...

[Nachtuil]

DesEsseintes, October was a very long time ago for me too! :)

I can't wait to see what people come up with!

[Man in Space]

Sign me up.

[Inkcube-Revolver]

I'd like to join! Are the rules going to be the same or are they different every speedlang contest?

[gestaltist]

I am tentatively interested. Are you going to provide constraints?

[qwed117]

I am tentatively interested. Are you going to provide constraints?

I had a lot of fun at the last one and would love to take a turn setting up constraints and theme for a new one.

[protondonor]

I'd love to participate. It's been a while since I've done anything like this.

[DesEsseintes]

I've just found out that I'll be in Hong Kong that weekend, but I'll see if I can take part anyway. (Maybe I'll speedlang on the plane.)

[Nachtuil]

I've just found out that I'll be in Hong Kong that weekend, but I'll see if I can take part anyway. (Maybe I'll speedlang on the plane.)

Such commitment! :) I may post the rules a few hours earlier than I indicated so that might help.

I'd like to join! Are the rules going to be the same or are they different every speedlang contest?

The only real rule is that you should follow the constraints set forth. Those constraints and the theme change every time. It is pretty relaxed and more a fun challenge for those involved than anything competitive.

gestaltist: Yes. There will be some constraints :)

[Creyeditor]

speedlang on the plane

Sounds almost like a Hollywood movie

[Man in Space]

speedlang on the plane

Sounds almost like a Hollywood movie

Enough is enough! I have had it with these monkey-fighting nooblangs on this Monday-to-Friday plane! Everybody strap in! I'm about to run some freakin' sound changes.

[Nachtuil]

speedlang on the plane

Sounds almost like a Hollywood movie

Enough is enough! I have had it with these monkey-fighting nooblangs on this Monday-to-Friday plane! Everybody strap in! I'm about to run some freakin' sound changes.

It is important to me that you know that this made me laugh out loud.

I almost regret setting the date out two weeks in advance! It'd be great to have done it this weekend too.

[wintiver]

I don't know if you're still allowing people to hop on board but I would love to crank out a speedlang.

[zyma]

I'd definitely like to participate. I might actually do something for the third one, which I missed, in the meantime.

[Nachtuil]

Wintiver: You absolutely can take part still!

Welcome aboard Shimobaatar!