Gramatik

XI. FORMATION OF WORDS.

§ 71. Words are distinguished into primitives (otherwise known as radicals), e. g. tabl table, derivatives, e., g. nemult few, drogist druggist, and compound words, e.g. grand-patrgrandfather.

(a) PRIMITIVES.

§ 72. Radicals are taken from the Aryan languages. The “International Academy of the Universal Language” has laid down the following rule for the selection of radicals: “That word is most suitable for an international language, which already exists as a national word or as a foreign word in the most of the leading languages of Europe.” (r. 11). In this the following seven languages were especially considered: English (e), French (f), German (d) [from the first letter of the word: deutsch], Spanish (s), Italian (i), Russian (r) and Latin (l), and, wherever practicable, such words were chosen as occur in all seven languages, e. g. apetit, e f d s i r l, appetite; diametr, e f d s i r l, diameter; eksaminar, e f d s i r l, to examine; tri, e f d s i r l, three, etc. This work of the Academy has shown that there are very many words which are already international, — many more than is generally believed. The most of the radicals chosen occur in at least four of the above-mentioned leading languages; only exceptionally had roots to be taken, that are common to fewer than four of these languages, e. g. trotoar, f d r, side walk ; urs, f i l, bear; tint, d s, ink. For those notions for which there are no international words, derivatives or compounds (see below) were given the preference over words of the natural languages; thus were formed, for instance, words such as nemult, (*)few; kanalet, ditch, trench; saneskar, to convalesce; bel-filio, son-in-law.

(*) The meaning of the separate parts of words can be easily looked up in the dictionary; they are therefore not repeated here.

§ 73. In order to bring the pronunciation into agreement with the orthography, that is, in order to obtain a really simple, easily acquired orthography, it was resolved to write:

1. ku, where qu appears in the national word, e. g. kuadrat quadrat, square. (. 120).

2. that c before consonants and before a, o, u is, in accordance with general pronunciation, replaced by k, e. g. kart card, klas class, kolor color, kub cube; and before e and i by s, e. g. selebr celebrated, sipres cypress. (r. 23).

3. that t in the ending -tion is, in accordance with the pronunciation, replaced by s, (*) e. g. nasion nation. (r. 23)

4. if a word occurs in English, French and German, but with different endings, e. g. Anker d, anchor e, ancre f;—Meter d, meter e, mètre f; Bibel d, Bible e f, —two or three consonants may be written consecutively at the end, e. g. ankr, metr, bibl, because the insertion of a vowel, for instance e, before the final consonant, would, according to the general rule for accentuation, cause an unnatural accentuation, e. g. bibél, and on the other hand the writing of a meaningless vowel at the end of a word is useless. (r. 23).

5. that z of the national languages is replaced by s, (*) e g. basar bazaar, market. (r. 23).

(*) For the pronunciation of s see Chapter 1, § 1.

6. ph is replaced by f, e. g. fosfor phosphorus. (r. 23).

7. x is replaced by ks, e. g. eksaminar to examine. (Gl , n., c. 23/28).

8. if for the same meaning different roots are extant, e. g. vid and vis, redig and redakt, kresk krev and kret, kolig and kolekt, that root was chosen which is the better known, the more general, e. g. visar to see, redaktar to edit, kreskar to grow, kolektar to collect (r. 23).

9. in some cases roots having the same form but different meanings were admitted, but only when they belong to different parts of speech, e. g. dur hard, durar to last; libr book, libr free; nov new, nov nine. (r. 23).

10. ae and oe of Latin words were replaced by e, e. g. diet diet, homeopati homeopathy. (r. 23).

11. ch of Greek words was replaced by k, e. g. kerub cherub, Krist Christ. (r. 23).

12. double consonants of the national languages were replaced by simple, e. g. aprendar to learn, erar to err, suposar to suppose, because double consonants possess merely a historical, and no practical, value. and at the same time are by no means international, e. g. adresse f d, address e. (r. 23).

13. that j of Latin words was replaced by y, e. g. yug yoke, obyekt object, mayestet majesty. (r. 23, 112).

14. g (before e and i) and j in words of French origin are written j and pronounced like the French j (the sound of z in the English words azure, seizure), e. g. jalus jealous, kurtajbrokerage. (r. 110).

15. the sound sh was written sh, e. g. shalup sloop, sharm charm. (r, 109).

16. in the endings -ion, -ier i was written, e. g. nasion nation, kavalier knight. (r. 113).

17. in words which in French contain li and gn liquid, an i was written after l and n, e.g. biliet billet, viniet vignette. (r II4).

18. it was resolved to use: (a) no consonants with any distinctive mark, e. g. c with a cedilla as in French, (b) no inverted letters, e. g. [*an inverted g], such as phonetic societies make use of. (r. 108).

These rules served in general for guidance, but the Academy did not deem them binding in every instance, and examined each particular root as to its form and meaning. (r. 24).

§ 74. All words that, in any respect, do not agree with the rules given below for the formation of derivatives and compounds, are considered radicals of the Neutral Language, even if they are derivatives in the national languages, e. g. dialekt dialect, doktor doctor, eksempl example, optimist optimist, original original, perpendikular perpendicular. (r . 25).

§ 75. A root remains always unchanged; prefixes and suffixes may be added to it, or a second radical may be joined with it. (r. 26).

§ 76. Radicals can belong to all the parts of speech, e. g. tabl table, grand great, tri three, mie my, [mi] am [I] love, ergo therefore, de of, if if, fi fie. (r. 12).

§ 77. There are radicals of one, two, three, four, and even (in a few instances) five syllables. e. g. verb verb, tortur torture, mineral mineral, temperatur temperature, perpendikularperpendicular. (r. 1, 2, 21).

§ 78. Roots may begin with a vowel. e. g. adres address, amar to love, and end in a vowel, e.g. akua water, lingu language, kontinuar to continue, pronunsiar to pronounce, fluar to flow, vaku empty. (r. 18, 19).

§ 79. Two, three, and even four consecutive consonants may stand at the beginning and in the middle of a word, if such spelling is found in English, French and German, e. g. katastrof catastrophe, magistrat magistracy, monstrar to show, obskur obscure, splendar to shine. (r. 22).

(b) DERIVATIVES.

Derivatives are formed by the addition of prefixes or suffixes to the root.

§ 80. PREFIXES. (r. 99, 124, 125, 129, 134, 141).

1. anti- corresponds to the preposition kontr against: antialkoholik antialcoholic; antipap antipope.

2. arki- signified precedence, superiority: arkiangel arch-angel; arkiepiskop archbishop.

3. auto- signifies self, auto-: autobiografi autobiography.

4. dis- signifies a separating, a parting, a sundering: disfrangar to break to pieces; diskupar to cut up.

5. ekui- signifies equality: ekuikrurik isosceles; ekuivalar to be equivalent.

6. elektro- signifies electricity: elektroteknik electrotechnics.

7. foto- signifies light: foto-grafar to photograph.

8. gala- signifies magnificence or pomp: galadiné state-dinner; galavest gala dress (attire).

9. hidro- signifies water: hidrodens water-tight.

10. homo- signifies proportionateness: homoton consonance.

11. kali- signifies beauty: kali-graf calligrapher.

12. ke- signifies interrogation: keloke? where? kekause? why?

13. krono- signifies time: krono-metr chronometer.

14. ksilo- signifies wood: ksilo-graf xylographer, wood-engraver.

15. kubik- signifies cubic: kubikradik cube root.

16. mikro- signifies smallness: mikrokapik small-headed, microcephalous; mikro-metr micrometer.

17. mis- signifies something not good or something miscarrying: miskredit discredit; miskomprendar to misunderstand.

18. ne- signifies contradictory opposition: neamik enemy; nemult few; nefasil difficult.

19. neo- signifies something new: neopersian Neopersian.

20. no- signifies contrary opposition: nokuande never; noloke nowhere; nokos nothing.

21. para- signifies preservation from (against) something: parapluvi umbrella; parasol parasol.

22. pleni- signifies fullness: plenilun full moon; plenipotent plenipotent(iary).

23. poli- signifies many-, poly-: poliangul polygon; politeknikal polytechnic.

24. pre- signifies pre-, before: prelud prelude; preskribar to prescribe.

25. proto- signifies origin: protoforest primeval forest; prototip prototype.

26. pseudo- signifies something not authentic, not genuine: pseudonom pseudonym.

27. re- signifies repetition or return: redonar to give back, to return.

28. semi- signifies semi-, half: semilun half moon; semifilio stepson.

29. si- signifies the present time or the nearest object: sitempe now; siloke here; sidiurne to-day.

30. te- forms words correlative with the interrogative words formed by means of the prefix ke-: teloke there; tekause for that reason.

31. termo- signifies heat: termo-metr thermometer.

32. ultra- signifies something excessive ultra-: ultraviolet ultra-violet.

33. vise- signifies a person taking the place of another; subordinate; vice-: visedirektor vice-director.

These prefixes may be appended to all radicals, in so far as the sense allows it.

§ 81. SUFFIXES.

Besides the suffixes given above in the discussion of the various parts of speech, the Neutral Language has the following:

-ad;

this suffix has no fixed meaning and forms substantives having some reference to the root; it is used also for the formation of substantives that denote the result of an action; e.g. bene-fasiad benefit; edad food; fontad spring; garantad guarantee, surety; intrad entrance; kampestrad country (not city); kandelad candlestick; kavalkad cavalcade; konosadknowledge; limonad lemonade; mediad middle; merkantad merchandise; piktad painting, picture; platad dish; preferad preference; promenad promenade; skribad writing; ganiad earnings; kaptad capture, catch, booty; pensad thought; rostad roast; skribad writing, treatise, essay. (r. 70, 93).

-aj

forms collective nouns signifying things: foliaj foliage; linaj linen (washing); montaj mountain range; ekipaj equipage (e.g. horse and carriage); plumaj plumage. (r. 104, 110, 127).

-asion

with a verbal root forms substantives denoting action: deklinasion declension; preparasion preparation. (r. 53).

-ativ

with a verbal root forms adjectives expressing a capability or possibility: purgativ purgative. (r. 103).

-ator

with a verbal root forms substantives denoting a person or thing acting: orator orator; salvator savior; ventilator ventilator; numrator numerator. (r. 54).

-el

forms collective nouns signifying persons: parentel kindred, relations, relatives; klientel clients, customers, clientele. (r. 105).

-er

with a non-verbal root forms substantives denoting persons or things having some reference to the root, and for which the suffix -ist (see below), according to its special signification, is not suitable: aksioner stockholder; milioner millionaire; senater senator; tabler cabinet-maker, joiner; pinser eye-glasses, pince-nez. (r. 28, 138).

-eri

forms substantives denoting place: taneri tannery; apieri beehive; restaureri restaurant; kaferi coffee-house, café; bireri beer-house, ale-house. (r. 106).

-esk[ar]

forms verbs denoting to become, to grow, to begin; verdeskar to become green; putreskar to putrefy; palideskar to become pale; saneskar to recover, to convalesce. (r. 51).

-graf forms substantives that denote persons who write, draw, in a certain way: foto-graf photographer. (r. 131).

-ia

forms substantives that denote a country: Espania Spain, Rusia Russia; Italia Italy; patria fatherland, native country. (r. 30).

-ifik[ar]

forms verbs denoting that something specified in the root is made: grandifikar to make large; falsifikar to falsify; simplifikar to simplify. (r. 52).

-ism

forms substantives denoting a religion or a mental disposition: protestantism Protestantism; realism realism; kosmopolitism cosmopolitanism; partikularism particularism. (r. 140).

-ist

with a non-verbal root forms substantives denoting persons who apply themselves to something, occupy themselves with something: velosipedist velocipedist; drogistdruggist; telegrafist telegrapher, telegraphist. (r. 29, 140).

-itet

with an adjective forms substantives denoting a quality: egualitet equality; amablitet amiability; kualitet quality; raritet rareness, rarity; totalitet totality. (r. 27).

-metr

forms substantives denoting a person or thing measuring something: termo-metr thermometer; hormetr clock. (r. 102).

-on

forms substantives that denote an enlargement: rastron harrow. (r. 101).

-or

forms substantives denoting the state or affection of a person or thing acting, e.g. amor love, ardor ardor, eror error. (r. 70).

All these suffixes may be employed in the formation of new words, and in accordance with the rules given above, by anyone using the language; the suffix -ad is, however, excepted; the Academy reserves to itself the formation of new words in which this suffix appears, on account of its indeterminate meaning. (r. 70).

(c) COMPOUND WORDS.

§ 82. Compound words, that is, words containing two roots, may be formed from all the parts of speech with the exception of the cardinal numbers (see below), if the sense allows it, by simple juxtaposition, with a hyphen or (usually) without it; the determining (or modifying) word precedes the determined, e.g. post-mark postage stamp; grand-patr grandfather; dupl-akuil double eagle; omni-potent omnipotent; bene-fasiar to benefit; eks-posar to expose, to exhibit. — Instead of cardinal numbers special prefixes are used, the principal of which are the following: 1 mono-, 2 bi-, 3 tri-, 4 kuadri-, 5 penta-, 6 heksa-, 7 hepta-, 8 okto-, 9 nona-, 10 deka-, 100 hekto-, and 1000 kilo-, e.g. monookulik one-eyed; bikavaliktwo-horse; pentaangul pentagon. (r. 86).

§ 83. Remark. As the most common prefixes and suffixes taken from the natural languages have been chosen, the most of the artificially formed words correspond fully to the natural words with the same meaning; e.g. preskribar, prototip, kavalkad, deklinasion, ventilator, milioner, patria, falsifikar, realism, drogist, kualitet are formed according to the rules of the Neutral Language, and yet they are perfectly international words. Often, however, the natural words that have become international are not identical with the regularly formed, artificial words,e .g. visibl — visabl visible; egualisar —egualifikar to equalize; anual — anuik annual; infeksion — infektasion infection. Such international words are placed in the dictionary (in the orthography of Idiom neutral) in parentheses immediately after the regularly formed, artificial word of the same meaning. It is allowed to use at will either form. (r. 56).

XII. Abbreviations.

§ 84. The following abbreviations are used in the Neutral Language (r. 137):

e s. for e setri means: etc., and so forth.

i.e. for it es means: i.e., that is.

kh for kelk-hom means: somebody, some one.

kk for kelk-kos means: something.

p.e. for pro eksempl means: e.g., for instance, for example.

s. (before numerals) for sirka means: c., circa, about.

CONCLUSION.

§ 85. The following will serve to show how whole sentences are formed:

Sankt-Peterburg, 8 februar 1901.

A sinior

P. Lachou, injenier,

in Boulogne sur Seine; Fransia.

Respondante votr letr de 1 februar 1901, direktorad de sosietet de relsrut S. Peterburg-Tobolsk av honor komitar a vo, sinior estimed, trides (30) nivelmetri (*) de votr sistem pro lokomotivi a pris de seksdeskuink (65) franki pro eksemplar franku S. Peterburg, a termin 8 april 1901 loku S. Peterburg e a kondisioni sekuant:

1. Aparati deb esar adresed a shef de stasion Peterburg de relsrut nomed e deb esar asekured per vo e pro votr kont; if aparati u partii de ili esero ruined u perded in voyaj, vo deb mitar nemediate otri, plasu aparati e partii ruined u perded.

2. Vo prend su vo garantad de funksion rekt de aparati durantu un anu da resivasion de ili per ofiseri de relsrut nomed.

3. Mon esero payed a vo no plu tarde ka un seman po resivasion definitiv de aparati.

Direktorad nomed av honor pregar vo, sinior estimed, avisar di akseptasion de ist komision no plu tarde ka 15 februar 1901 – If tetempe votr respond no esero resived, direktorad nomed estimero, ke vo av refused ist komision.

Shef de seksion ekonomik, N. N.

President de direktorad, N. N.

Kristiania, 27 februar 1902.

A doktor de medisin P. O.

in S. Peterburg, Rusia.

Koleg estimed!

Mi aprendav, ke votr artikl di influensa es traduked eks lingu rusik in lingu fransik.

It es motiv pro mi komunikar a vo, ke “Akademi internasional de lingu neutral” av publiked in ist anu diksionar e gramatik de idiom neutral, tale ke sitempe artikli medisinik potes esar skribed in ist idiom, kel potes esar komprended per omnihom kultived kuasi sine aprendasion anterior.

It es ver, ke ekspresioni mult spesiale medisinik no ankor eksist in diksionar nomed, ma it no es obstakl pro skribasion de artikli sientifik in ist lingu, kause ist ekspresioni es paroli internasional.

Skribasion in idiom neutral don profiti sekuant in komparasion ko kelkun lingu nasional:

1. Libri e broshuri sientifik publiked in ist idiom potes esar lekted per omnihom in original,

2. traduksion no plu es nesesar,

3. ili avero sirkl multe plu grand de lektatori, e tekause

4. ili potes esar imprimed in kuantitet plu grand de eksemplari; ergo

5. ili potes esar vended a pris plu minim, e

6. profit material de editor (respektive de autor) esero plu grand.

Idiom neutral es usabl no sole pro skribasion, ma et pro parlasion; sikause in kongres sekuant internasional de medisinisti mi av intension usar ist idiom pro mie raport di maladitet “lupus” e mi esper esar komprended per omni medisinisti present.

Publikasion de idiom neutral interesero et votr filio, kel kolekt postmarki, kause ist idiom es lingu praktikal pro korespondad ko kolektatori in otr landi.

Ko respekt grand e ko saluti kordial mi rest

Votr serv leplu devot

F.