Hi Daniel;
Thank you for the extensive and detailed response. So I don't miss a point, I'll respond by section. First, let me give you a bit of insight into my own language 'dysfunction.'
Without going into the whys, for the first 10 years of my life I rarely spoke (and I've never had any formal education, and was American born). From 11-24 I lived round the globe where people conversed with me in their own form of Pidgin English, slang from their language, and those languages were countless. To that end, for much of my life I spoke my own brand of pidgin... and still do in times of stress. It was not until my early 30's I learned to read, write, and began to converse in English. So, I have an anecdotal grasp of building a language, and bridging language barriers with pidgin.
1A. I have never seen that series (The 100). Though it looks awesome and I'll definitely look into it. What I did find was a clip of the language in use. Right off I can say, it is MUCH more advanced--has been used longer and evolved--than my own. I noted hints of Portuguese, Patios, elided English and Pidgin English. But, from its compressed and smooth verbalization, that hints to me (as a layman), that it has been in use much-much longer than my P-say.
1B. Newspeak actually has some direct relevance regarding the very last line in my text.
As pastoral residents’ exclusive use of English alloys with Pastoral Pidgin, their English vocabulary has rapidly declined, unfortunately assisting the RCFG’s ‘Policy of Erasure’ efforts.In my story, the government determines that it must wipe as much memory of the past and drive for the future from pastoral residents. As they have, many previous words simply have no relevance so are forgotten. But, they still need to express amplitudes, volume and so on. They do that via new universally applied adjectives and adverbs (like in Newspeak).
2. Thanks for that tip, I'll look into all of their work in more detail. That said, just like 1A above, their languages are (or likely more seem) much more advanced being true languages vs. my pidgin.
3A. At this stage it is definitely a pidgin... although, children are beginning to learn it as a first language (to their detriment, the language still so limited), it has a way to go before growing into a creole. That said, I have rules in place for its use when spoken, and as I mentioned, extensive rules in place for spelling, writing it, even a logical alphabet. So, it is getting there (toward a creole), yet is not there yet.
3B. In brief to not waste your time... In the introductory novel (of 4 spanning 4 subsequent years), people in pastoral areas have spoken P-say for ONLY 'four years.' Hence the push-back by previous residents with their own slang dialects.
In my story, 417-million have gathered in a very small area at the government's insistence. At that point, the government began segregating groups based on various factors. Do they have children, race and language. People in pastoral areas (263-million), do not have children (for the most part). In S. Philly where the pidgin began, people who were not Caucasian and who did not speak an Am. Eng. dialect were all crammed in together. So, though most speak some amount of English, it's like the tower of Babel. Naturally, even for native English speakers, slang begins to dominate... to that end, finding words which could be enunciated by all speakers, discounting words and sounds which could not, P-say began to grow like all pidgins.
So, we're very early into this language, most people have a minimal grasp of English, yet the people have chosen their own slang based pidgin over forcing English on their neighbors. Finally, the actual developers of P-say, P-bit (alphabet), and the resistance, use the new language to combat RCFG Policy of Erasure efforts, pull the people together as a group, merge the races and cultures to work as one... IOW, they choose to diverge from English (like kids and slang), to define their identity and resist.
P-say is influenced by English, Am.Eng. Dialects, Spanish, Portuguese, Caribbean Patios, West.Hem. Creoles, Thai, etc.. Basically, every language you might find in America at any one time, all compressed into a minuscule area. Finding common aspects and adopting those universally speak-able by the majority (pronunciations and such).
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The introduction will be contained in an
appendix section. Appendices in the first novel will be: Introduction to Pastoral Languages (and very-basic/introductory use by English readers), a P-say Glossary, a Sowfee-say Glossary, Translations by Chapter.
In the second novel's
appendix, Sowfee-say will be eliminated, detailed rules for speaking P-say will be added, and rules for spelling in P-say will be added. (ex.: long vowels like 'case' are written with two adjacent vowels, 'caas.' More true, hard-c's are now represented by K, so 'kaas').
In the third novel, a new
appendix section detailing the alphabet and it's use and reasons will be presented.
Throughout the series, discussions as to the language, it's origins, alphabet and so on, are extremely informal to keep the 'story a story.' That said, the languages are used by the appropriate characters... but, as allowed and reflecting the early stage, code-switching intermingling English (often elided) is used as dialogue WITH restraint (to not overwhelm the reader).
Ex.:
“Look, be quiet, okay? And if it’s help you’re offering, I don’t need any help,” Kae whispered back. “I just need to find somewhere to sleep, where I won’t be bothered—by anyone. What in the hell is that you’re speaking anyway? Speak English.”
“Po, yawut Meircan? Un ats P-say wha' pes. Welp, P-say Sowfilly style, Sowfee-say. As mi say, mi from ‘ere, mi ahways bint ‘ere. Mae’ say G-tahk fo' Meircan.”
Tr.: (question), you mean American (English)? And that's (the) Peoples' Language what else. Well, (the) Peoples' Language South Philadelphia style, Sowfee-say. As I said, I've always been here. We say G-tahk (government language) for American (the English language)."
So, in the story it reads like you or I might encounter it real life. All the detailed explanation, like the introduction, is there in the appendix IF someone wishes to look into it further.
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Specific critique:
1. I'm not sure what you mean by "using an English spelling for these words?" Could you point to where please?
What is presented here, is an '
appendix introduction.' In the story, and in the glossary, best-approximation English speaker pronunciations are used... In the next novel, just in the appendix, P-say spellings will be added along side those English pronunciations. Otherwise, I fear it would overwhelm the reader demanding they learn P-say rules (which means, they'll stop reading)... P-say is phonetically written and simplified (I don't want to bore you with my basic rules, but if you would like for me to present them, I'd be pleased to).
2. (See above, previously covered). Beyond that, the government has worked to reduce the intelligence, memory, and motivation of these residents. The dialects are an attempt by individual groups to retain their previous group identity/individuality... As to English loss, many people did not speak English as their first language when they came there. Others, used their own pidgins, creoles, patios, whatever. Pastoral Pidgin bridges those divides... yet, as they begin speaking it primarily (having no strong English influences), they focus on it gradually losing touch with the English they did know, especially finer points... The situation, however, makes memory difficult. So, they focus on the now and lose what they once worked at daily.
3. I understand your point. That said, P-say at this stage is just a 4-year old developing language being influenced by 263-million people. So, it is growing and refining. Refining as in 'firming up' vocabulary, usage, grammar, phrasing. Naturally, that helps me. It allows me to intermix English to help the reader understand, and lends a tremendous degree of flexibility in P-say's use. IOW, Bob does not have to say the exact same phrase the same way as Mary. Over time, that flexibility will reduce--refine--and ultimately become a creole.
4. Although that is NOT what I meant (elision modified), your suggestion of telegraphic speech should probably be added... although, I think that aspect would be better placed in the initial reading rules section. As an example of 'what I meant by
elision modified,' typically >
typ'cly > tipclee (when written in P-say).
That said, telegraphic speech as you suggest IS USED by the residents to varied degrees. So, I definitely need to add that aspect.
EDIT: With that in mind, after some investigation prompted by your suggestion, I'm curious if there are degree standards regarding telegraphic speech? IOW, a toddler might say, "give," representing Stage 1. Stage 2 might be, "give me candy," as voiced by a young child. Stage 4 (obviously I'm making these up), might be related to pidgin languages where complete vocabularies are unavailable.
If there are levels of distinction regarding telegraphic speech, I'd like to apply the correct one. It is definitely a condition that I show in the dialogue. Yet, I'd like to explain it correctly in the appendix.
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Since you have not mentioned them, please let me know if I used the introduction contained terms correctly (I'm pretty sure I have correctly used 'pidgin, dialect, and slang':
lexifier: (core/common language)
code-switching: (using English, patios, pidgin all in the same sentence)
elision modified/elided: (excluding vowels or consonants, sometimes larger portions when a word is spoken or written... typically above a good example)
vocabulary set: my way of saying... the users MUST use English or their own language, to supplement P-say's word deficiencies at this stage.
Elsewhere (in my rules not shown here), I also touch on 'reduplication, word-compounding, consonant reduction, vowel simplification, etc..' I WILL be adding your suggestion regarding 'telegraphic speech.'
Where I KNOW I'm having trouble is the application of the word 'phonic.' That phrasing I'll need to work on to ensure I apply the word correctly.
THANK YOU so very much for your time and help. If you have any other insights you'd care to suggest, they would be appreciated. Also, if you feel the 'formal appendix introduction' is too difficult to read (or perhaps reads like telegraphic speech itself), please let me know.
Thank you again!
K2
P.S.: Just for fun, here is that replacement alphabet I developed. You'll note that in actuality, there are only 3-symbols, rotated in three positions, with three positions for the accent mark. That reduces the number of print blocks required to 9 (perhaps even three if the accent mark is separate). So, as they begin mass producing documents for distribution, it will be easier to produce the equipment.
P-bit is written from top-to-bottom. At the page end, you shift right, then down again (point being, it keeps your hand away from messy inks/paint/etc..). Each word is ended with a dot. ALL punctuation uses the same accent mark. Sentences are ended with a line. Paragraphs, 2-lines.
