Emisc
Emisc/Emslandish is an East Frisian dialect, spoken in the Emsland of western Hannover.
Emisc is descended from the Anglo-Frisian branch of the Western Germanic group, and has been spoken in the area since the arrival of settlers from England in about the 10th century AD. The language most closely related to Emisc is Old English, however they are not mutually intelligible. Although having been quite isolated from the surrounding languages, it has still absorbed quite a large vocabulary from German and Batavian, some also coming via Frisian, with which Emisc shares many similarites.
Phonology and Orthogrgaphy
The orthography of Emisc closely resembles that of Old English, however with a few differences to write words of Low- and High German origin.
| Letter | X-SAMPA | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a | A | English: art |
| æ | { | English: hat |
| *ċ | c | Hungarian: latyak |
| c | k | English: cake |
| ð | ð | English: then |
| e | e | English: met |
| -e | @ | German: stande |
| *ġ | j | English: yes |
| g | g | English: guess |
| gh | x | Scottish: loch |
| hw | W | English: when |
| i | i | English: hit |
| hl/ll | K | Welsh: llaw |
| o | o | English: hot |
| hr | r_0 | Icelandic: hringar |
| *sċ | S | English: ship |
| sc | sk | English: skate |
| þ | T | English: thin |
| u | u | English: put |
| y | y | German: über |
| eo | 9 | French: neuf |
| ei/*eġ | ei | Dutch: meer |
| ai/*aġ | ai | English: sigh |
The letters j, k, q, and v are not part of the traditional Orthography. Other letters are pronounced as they are in English.
- These letters are not usually distinguished with the dot in common writing.
- Vowel length is traditionally marked with a macron, however this is not often employed. When length needs to be indicated when writing on a computer, and acute accent is used, as we are all aware of the sad limitations of HTML.
Loan words are usually given a new Emisc spelling.
Pronouns
| English | Nominative | Accusative/Dative | Genitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | iċ | mē | min/mīne |
| thou | þū | þē | þin/þīne |
| he | hē | him | his |
| she | sē | hær | hær |
| it | hið | hið | hise |
| we | wē | us | ure |
| you | ġē | ġō | ġōwe |
| they | þeġ | þem | þere |
| to be | wēsan |
|---|---|
| I am | iċ bēon |
| thou art | þū bis |
| he/she/it is | hē/sē/hið is |
| we are | wē sin |
| you are | ġē sin |
| they are | þeġ ære |
| to have | hafan |
|---|---|
| I am | iċ haf |
| thou art | þū hafes |
| he/she/it is | hē/sē/hið haf |
| we are | wē hafon |
| you are | ġē hafon |
| they are | þeġ hafon |
Verbs
There are two tenses, Present & Preterite, plus two compound tenses, Perfect & Imperfect. Verbs conjugate for 3 persons in the singular, and 1 in the plural.
| English | Present | Preterite | Perfect | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to speak | sprēcan | - | - | - |
| Participle | spreċende | sprōcan | - | - |
| I speak | iċ sprēc | iċ sprōc | iċ haf sprōcan | iċ had sprōcan |
| thou speaks | þū sprēces | þū sprōces | þū hafes sprōcan | þū had sprōcan |
| it speaks | hið sprēceð | hið sprōc | hið has sprōcan | hið had sprōcan |
| we/you/they speak | wē sprēcon | wē sprōcon | wē hafon sprōcan | wē hadde sprōcan |
- The -eð of the 3rd person present is not always pronounced.
| English | Present | Preterite | Perfect | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to hope | hōpan | - | - | - |
| Participle | hopende | hōpað | - | - |
| I hope | iċ hōp | iċ hōpeðe | iċ haf hōpað | iċ had hōpað |
| thou hopes | þū hōpes | þū hōpeðes | þū hafes hōpað | þū had hōpað |
| it hopes | hið hōpeð | hið hōpeðe | hið has hōpað | hið had hōpað |
| we/you/they hope | wē hōpon | wē hōpeðon | wē hafon hōpað | wē hadde hōpað |
- the -eð of the 3rd person present is not often pronounced. However, if this is followed by another letter, then it is pronounced as in the 2nd person preterite. The -að of the past participle is ALWAYS pronounced.
Nouns
Most nouns are regular in their declensions. However, some do employ ablaut to form the plural.
Example of an irregular (strong) noun: "word"
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Indefinite | worð | weōrð |
| Definite | worðan | weōrðen |
Example of a regular (weak) noun: "name"
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Indefinite | nām | nāme(n) |
| Definite | nāman | nāmen |
Adjectives
As a general rule, an -e is added to an adjective when it is used to qualify a noun.
Most adjectives preceed the noun that they qualify, as in: swarte cat black cat.
Adjectives will not decline for number when qualifying nouns, as in: swarte catten black cats.
When they are used on there own in the plural, the suffix -es is added. eg. þeġ ære þe rōdes they are 'the red ones' .
The comparative is formed by added -er to the adjective, and the superlative is formed by adding -est.
Thus, grean-green, greaner-greener, and greanest-greenest.
- Remember to add -e if used to qualify a noun!
Quite straightforward really, however there are a few exceptions.
E.g slæght-bad, minner-worse, minst-worst.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Emisc (Traditional Orthography)
Allen Men wor bærn frē ond līc in weōrdines ond righten. Þeġ ære beġift mið forstond ond wist, ond scēalon hōldan ān anōðer in a gāst o brōðerscip.
West Frisian
Alle minsken wurde frij en gelyk yn weardigens en rjochten berne. Hja hawwe ferstân en gewisse meikrigen en hearre har foar inoar oer yn in geast fan bruorskip te hâlden en te dragen.
English
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
German (Deutsch)
Alle Menschen sind frei und gleich an Würde und Rechten geboren. Sie sind mit Vernunft und Gewissen begabt und sollen einander im Geist der Brüderlichkeit begegnen.
The Lord's Prayer
Traditional Orthography
Faðir ure, hwī in himmelan is
Nāman ġōwe worðe hæliġað.
Cyngdom ġōwe cummeð.
Willan ġōwe wurðe,
Allīċ in himmelan
Sā ēc op erðan.
Giwon ġē us ure dæġliġ brēað.
Ond forgiwon ġē us sċulden ure,
Allīċ ēc wē forgiwon sċulderen ure.
Ond nē lēðan ġē us in forsēċening,
Ac forlōson ġē us fram yfele.
[For ġōwan is þe cyngdōm ond creaftan ond hērliċhēd uner ēfighhed.] "Āmen"
Tower of Babel
1. Allen Men hadde ān sprēac ond brughton þesċeōlftaðan weōrð.
2. Ond as þeġ fram þ'ēastan cwammon, fundon þeġ ā fēald in landan
Sċinār, ond dweldon þeġ þār.
3. Ond man saġðe til his neiġbour <<cummon, ond mācon wē tyl stānen
ond bācon wē þem mið fēr>> ond þeġ hadde tyl for stān, ond piċġe
for mortar.
4. Ond saġdon <<cummon, ond macon wē us ā sitē ond tyr,
hwīse hightnes reaċeð til himmelan; ond mācon we ā greate nām ure,
for þat wē wēsan departað til alle landen.>>
5. Dogh cwam þe Lord tō sīan þe sitē ond tyr, hwilċe þe sonen o
Adam hadde bowdan
6. ond hē saġðe <<<Lo, fōlcan is ān, ond o'n sprēac,
ond hafon þeġ begunnan þis tō mācan; ond nō nezt sċēal þem hāltan.
7. <<Cummon, lauwan us nīðer gōn ond sċēndon wē sprēacan þere,
sā þat ēlċe man nē hēreð reōtan o his neiġbour.>>
8. Ond sā þe Lord namðe þem fram þār til alle landen; ond þeġ
ċesseðon tō bōwan a sitē.
9. ond þārfeōr nāman þār-ō wor hētað Babel, for sprēacan o alle
erðan wor confoundað þar; ond þanon þe Lord sendað þem
ower hēle erðan.
Phrases
| English | Emisċ |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Wehlcumman |
| Hello | Morn |
| Good day | Gōð dæġ |
| Good evening | Gōð ġūn |
| Good night | Gōð næt |
| Good morning | Gōð morn |
| Good-bye | Færwehl/Adeō/Of Wiðersīan |
| How are you? | Hwō bis þū? |
| Fine | Wehl |
| Thank-you | Þanc'ī |
| You're welcome | Glæd don |
| Yes | Ġea |
| No | Nē |
| Please | Bittæ |
| Pleased to meet you | Hið freġteð me, ġō cennan to lernan/Fīl erfreġt |
| What is your name? | Hwat is nāman ġōwe? |
| My name is ... | Nāman min is ... |
| Do you speak English? | Sprēcon ġē Ænglisċ? |
| I don't speak Emisc | Iċ nē sprēc Emisċ |
| How old are you? | Hwō āld sin ġē? |
| I am ... years old | Iċ bēon ... ġēaren āld |
| Where is the toilet? | Hwār is þe WC? |
| How much is this? | Hwō fīle costeð þat? |
| Are you married? | Sin ġē ġyft? |
| I am single/married | Iċ bēon ēnsel/ġyft |
| Where do you come from? | Hwarō cummon ġē? |
| I come from ... | Iċ bēon o ... |
| Good luck | Fīl lūc |
| Cheers/Good Health | Prōst! |
| Have a nice day | Sċeōne dæġ |
| Bon voyage | Gōð Rais |
| Please speak more slowly | Sprēcon ġē mār langsom, bittæ |
| Please write it down | Scrīfon ġē þat of, bittæ |
| How do you say ... in Emisc? | Hwō seġan ġē ... in Emisċ? |
| This gentleman/lady will pay for everything | Þis man/þis frōw sċēal bezellan for alle |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Willan ġē/Wills þū dansan mið mē? |
| I love you | Iċ līwe þē |
| Get well soon | Gōð bettering |
| Leave me alone | Lāw mē in pās |
| Merry Christmas | Sċeōne Cristdæġ |
| Happy New Year | Lūclig Nyw Ġēar |
| One language is never enough | Ān sprēac is nēa nogh |
| One | Ān |
| Two | Twō |
| Three | Þrē |
| Four | Fiōwer |
| Five | Fīf |
| Six | Sex |
| Seven | Sewon |
| Eight | Eght |
| Nine | Neġn |
| Ten | Tean |
| Eleven | Elwe |
| Twelve | Tweōlfe |
| Thirteen | Þrittīn |
| Fourteen | Fiōwtīn |
| Fifteen | Fiftīn |
| Sixteen | Sextīn |
| Seventeen | Sewontīn |
| Eighteen | Eghtīn |
| Nineteen | Nentīn |
| Twenty | Tweontig |
| Twentyone | ān-on-tweontig |
| Thirty | Þrettig |
| Fourty | Fiōwtig |
| Fifty | Fiftig |
| Sixty | Sextig |
| Seventy | Sewontig |
| Eighty | Eghtig |
| Ninety | Nontig |
| Hundred | Hundrað |
| Thousand | Þōsund |
| Million | Milliōn |
Swadesh
| I | you | we | this | that | who? | what? | no | all | a lot |
| iċ | þū | wē | þis | þat | hwī? | hwat? | nē | alle | fīl |
| one | two | big | long | small | human | man | woman | fish | bird |
| ān | twō | stōr | lang | clēn | menisċ | man | frōw | fisċ | feōgel |
| dog | louse | tree | seed | leaf | root | earth | skin | meat | blood |
| hōwnd | lōs | bōm | sēd | blōt | rōt | erð | hīd | flesċ | blōð |
| bone | muscle | egg | head | horn | tail | feather | hair | ear | eye |
| bāġn | musel | æg | cāp | horn | stant | plym | hār | ear | æġ |
| nose | mouth | tooth | tongue | (finger-)nail | leg | knee | hand | stomach | neck |
| nās | mond | tān | tung | fingernaġel | beġn | cnē | hand | māgen | hols |
| breast | heart | liver | to drink | to eat | to bite | to see | to hear | to know | to sleep |
| brōst | heart | lewer | drincan | etan | bitan | sīan | heran | cennan | slepan |
| to die | to kill | to swim | to fly | to go | to come | to lie (down) | to sit | to stand | to give |
| stærfan | dedan | swemman | flyġan | gōn | cumman | liġan | sittan | stondan | giwan |
| to say | sun | moon | star | water | rain | stone | sand | earth | cloud |
| seġan | son | mōn | stear | water | rāġn | stān | sand | erð | woll |
| smoke | fire | ash | to burn | road | mountain | red | green | yellow | white |
| rūgh | fēr | asċ | brunnan | streat/gās | borg | rōd | grean | gīl | hwīt |
| black | night | hot | cold | full | new | good | round | dry | name |
| swart | næt | hēst | cald | fuhl | nyw | gōð | rond | þryc | nām |
Notes
- Possessive Pronouns follow the noun, when the noun takes the definite suffix, (which is generally most of the time), however when the noun cannot take the definite suffix, but is not qualified by a noun, the possessive follows.
- Names of family members (father, mother etc) cannot take a definite suffix.
- Nouns that a qualified by an adjective usually don't take the definite suffix.
- Definite suffix is -an for singular nouns, and -en for plural nouns. -en is also the general plural suffix, although the -n is usually not pronounced. * It is always pronounced in the definite plural suffix.
| Indo-European Languages | ||||||||||
| Germanic Languages | ||||||||||
| North Germanic | West Germanic | East Germanic | ||||||||
| Eastern subgroup | Western subgroup | Low Germanic (Anglo-Frisian) |
Continental-Germanic | Gothic | Burgundian † Lombardic † Vandalic † | |||||
| Anglic | Frisian | Franconian | Saxon | High German | Feytish | |||||
| Danish Gutnish (Gutemål) Riksmål Swedish (Sveamål) |
Faroese Greenlandic Icelandic Norwegian (Landsmål) |
English Northumbrian Scots Wessish † Emisc |
East Frisian North Frisian West Frisian |
Afrikaans Batavian (Dutch) Cruzan |
Low Saxon | Alemannic Bavarian Bohemian Daitsch German Luxemburgish Pennsylvaanish Rhenish Yiddish |
Føtisk | Crimean Gothic Gepid † Low Vissian | ||
