Tuesday 25 October 2016

Taking a new look at Cornish grammar 6 (boas locative)

The verb “to be” for use with verbs
As promised, here is an expanded version of boas locative. Late Cornish (SWFLt) is shown first, followed by Middle Cornish (SWFM). You will see a change of consonant, from Middle Cornish s to Late Cornish r, which occurred during the evolution of the language. It is called “rhotacism”. A similar change occurred earlier and independently in English (e.g. the cheer “huzzah” to “hurrah”).  Another difference you will see is at the beginning of the verb. Middle Cornish yth is another separate verbal particle, which is shortened in Late Cornish to th and added to the front of the verb. (If you leave it off, the sentence becomes a question.)
Thero vy[1]
Yth esov vy
I am
Thesta[2]
Yth estos ta
You are (familiar)
Ma va
Yma ev
He/it is
Ma hei
Yma hi
She/it is
Thero nei
Yth eson ni
We are
Thero whei
Yth esowgh hwi
You are (formal or plural)
Mons[3]
Ymons i
They are

Let’s put these with a new verb, redya “to read”.
Thero vy o redya.
Yth esov vy ow redya.
I am reading
Thesta o redya.
Yth esos ta ow redya.
You are reading.
Ma va o redya.
Yma ev ow redya.
He/it is reading.
Ma hei o redya.
Yma hi ow redya.
She/it is reading.
Thero nei o redya.
Yth eson ni ow redya.
We are reading.
Thero whei o redya.
Yth esowgh hwi ow redya.
You are reading.
Mons o redya.
Ymons i ow redya.
They are reading.




[1]  May also be written thera vy, therama or theram.
[2]  May also be thera che. Nei and whei may also follow thera.
[3]  For more emphasis you may use ma anjei

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