Post hZhZia3Zihv

Александр Запрягаев May 21, 2017 (13:45)

I've devised a Greek-type orthography for Quenya which it honestly deserves in its Classical approach. An example as follows:

Αἴ. Λαύριε λάνταρ λάσσι θοῦρινεν,
Ιήνι οὒνώτιμε βε ρᾶμαρ ἄλδαρον.
Ιήνι βε λίντε ιύλδαρ αβᾶνιερ
Μι ὀρομάρδι λισσε-μιρυβώρεβα
Ανδοῦνε πελλα, ΒΆΡΔΟ τέλλυμαρ
Νυ λυίνι ιάσσεν τίντιλαρ ἰέλενι
Ὠμάρͺο αἰρετᾶρι-λείρινεν.

Ση μαν ἰιύλμα νιν ἐνκϝάντυβα;

Ἀν ση Τιντάλλε ΒΆΡΔΑ Οἰολόσσεο
Βε φάνͺαρ μᾶρͺατ Ἐλεντᾶρι ὀρτανε
Ἀρ ἴλͺε τίερ ὐνδυλᾶβε λύμβυλε
Ἀρ σινδανωριέλλο καίτα μόρνιε
Ἰφαλμαλίνναρ ἰμβε μετ, ἀρ εἷθιε
᾿Υντοῦπα Καλακίρͺο μεῖρι οἴαλε.
Ση βάνϝα νᾳ, Ρωμέλλο βανϝα, Βάλιμαρ.
Ναμᾶριε. Ναι ἱρυβάλͺε Βάλιμαρ.
Ναι έλͺε ἵρυβα. Ναμᾶριε.

The main features:

- Usage of letter ϝ digamma as a marker of labialization. This was chosen instead of revivng koppa ϙ, which is absent in most fonts and still insufficient, due to the absence of corresponding gw symbol etc. This extends to an isolated w.
- δβγ denote voiced stops, as in Classical Greek, as opposed to Modern.
- θφχ are used for those fricatives that Quenya possesses, that is, þ, f and h respectively, when the word-initial h before vowels and also devoicing r and l gets a perfect counterpart in the spiritus asper and is rendered accordingly.
- ng is rendered γγ, as in actual Greek. This also provides a solution to the challenge of marking word-initial ñ and ñw: the impossibility of G in such position makes a single γ quite sufficient.
- b and v are both rendered β alike, being in a complementary distribution, somewhat alike Spanish.
- y can always be rendered ι, word-initially without an aspiration.
- ht and ꝑt are rendered κτ and πτ respectively, minding their specific etymology.
- Iota subscriptum/adscriptum is controversially used under the consonants, though see also below, to mark their palatalization.
- Vowels: short are written α ε ι ο υ and stressed with acutes: ά έ ί ό ύ. Long are spelt ᾳ εὶ η ω οὺ, that is, with the letters where possible, with iota or Greek's own combinations otherwise. Graves are used to contrast with diphthongs. Stressed are with acute where no confusion arises, circumflex and absence of the other markers otherwise: ᾶ εῖ ύ ώ οῦ.
- Diphthongs are spelled as they are and stressed by acutes: αι ει οι υι αυ ευ ιυ ου, αί εί οί υί αύ εύ ιύ ού.

The corresponding Sindarin system would clash with a totally incompatible phonology, leading to too thoroughly unGreek solutions:
- The need to express voiced fricatives: taking a page from Welsh's book, we could try φφ ββ out, with γγ reserved for ng.
- How to express the possible word-initial ñ.
- How to express u when y is present as well.

Tamas Ferencz May 21, 2017 (16:13)

You've obviously worked a lot on that! Interesting exercise.