Note about Spelling
Sorting of the original lists of words into Sgai order, by this wiki’s text-sorting system, ignores the non-Latin symbols of IPA. For this reason I have had to resort to a Latin approximation for some letters, which will need to be used when adding new rootwords:
IPA | Latin | IPA | Latin | IPA | Latin | IPA | Latin | IPA | Latin | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
æ | ae | ø | oe | ɯ | uu | ʔh | 7h | ŋ | ng | ||||
ɹ | r | ʃ | sh | θ | th | ɸ | wh | ʒ | zh |
Rootwords
Rootwords are carefully chosen units for word-building. They must be general, simple, elemental. I have referenced such things as classifiers of Thai and Japanese, classes of Bantu, Swadesh lists of ethnolinguists, and objects in the world of children and ancient humans. And they must match well with available cv connotations. There are still many gaps.
Most of the rootwords here are probably mine and cannot be altered. However, I am happy that alternatives to existing ones be added. And of course, new cv combinations are very welcome. If deemed necessary, you may add a note in the Comment field to explain your decision. Jot your name there too, if you haven't become a member.
Functions
- view Rootwords (in new window)
- add new Rootword
- report on new Rootwords (in new window)
Compound words
Rootwords by themselves are very limited in number, and it is unwise to stretch their application across too many meanings. So most words in the Lexicon will be made up of two or more rootwords. There are several ways that roots can combine — there being dedicated link phonemes to join them — and there are prefixes and suffixes to further detail the combined meaning. When adding new compound words using the function below, there are drop-downs for the affixes.
Functions
Vocabulary resources
Sometimes it is hard to know where to start in vocabulary building. Sometimes we have a semantic bias towards familiar words & ideas. Here are some resources to help break new ground.
Phrases & sentences
…
# | Sgai word | Derivation |
---|---|---|
1 | ty | single |
2 | tɾy | pair |
3 | nø | angle apex |
4 | slø | sides |
5 | to | flower (petals) |
6 | po | round |
7 | tiha | good number |
8 | tiwa | big number |
9 | nøja | bigger 3 |
ten | ba | hands-full |
# | Sgai word | Derivation |
---|---|---|
20 | tɾy-ba | 2 as handsful |
100 | bɾa | dup 10 |
k | sba | many 10 |
10k | baja | bigger 10 |
100k | bɾaja | bigger 100 |
M | sbɾa | many 100 |
G | səsba | many k |
E12 | sbaja | many 10k |
E15 | sbɾaja | many 100k |
E18 | səsbɾa | many M |
# | Sgai word | Derivation |
---|---|---|
zero | ɸa | nothing |
Hexadecimal context: |
||
ten | ba | ten (0x0A) |
eleven | beʔ | B |
twelve | seʔ | C |
thirteen | deʔ | D |
fourteen | heʔ | E |
fifteen | feʔ | F |
sixteen | ɡeʔ | G (radix) |
Complete Lexicon
This includes all words (original Rootwords, approved new Rootwords and all CompoundWords) added to the wiki site. Note the use of hyphen between prefix and first root, showing more clearly the ordering of Sgai words. Note that the lists use Latin approximations of some IPA symbols, so that the sorting of words is regular.
Functions
- view Lexicon (in new window)