I might drink this beer

Logo

I am a jack of some trades and definitely a master of none. That doesn't mean I haven't had some experience and a handful of opinions to go with it. All of the opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer

@mjmengerGitHub

Encrypted chat via Keybase markjmenger

mstdn.socialmastodon

mastodon.f2a.iomastodon

pdx.socialmastodon

RSS

summer
sweet
devops
dark
year-round
big-ip
automation
hashicorp
terraform
winter
brewing
yeast
complexity
fragile2agile
technology
history
lean
modernization
evolutionary
revolutionary
innovation
strategy
security
agility
linguistics
ai
architecture

27 May 2024

A Study of Old Angry (OA) Grammar

by Mark J Menger

A Study of Old Angry (OA) Grammar

Introduction

Old Angry (OA), a proto-language identified as a precursor to the Indo-European language family, is characterized by its primary function in expressing anger and frustration. This study aims to provide a detailed examination of OA’s grammar, including phonetic features, sentence structure, and examples, to better understand its linguistic constructs and their implications for modern languages.

Phonetic Features

OA is marked by harsh, guttural phonetics, which convey strong emotions. Key phonetic characteristics include:

Sentence Structure

OA’s grammar is relatively simple, reflecting its function as an expressive language. Key grammatical structures include:

Examples of OA Grammar

  1. Basic Sentence Structure:
    • Example: “Kragh vrak thum.”
    • Translation: “I hit you.”
    • Analysis: The subject (Kragh) is followed by the verb (vrak) and the object (thum). The sentence is direct and forceful.
  2. Expressing Anger:
    • Example: “Ghrak! Kragh vor drak!”
    • Translation: “Stop! I am very angry!”
    • Analysis: “Ghrak” is an imperative verb meaning “stop.” The following sentence uses the SVO order with an intensifier (“drak” meaning “very”) to convey strong emotion.
  3. Emphasizing the Subject:
    • Example: “Thum kragh vrak.”
    • Translation: “You, I hit.”
    • Analysis: By placing the object “thum” at the beginning, the sentence emphasizes the target of the action, adding intensity.
  4. Conflict-Oriented Vocabulary:
    • Example: “Ghor drak thrak!”
    • Translation: “War is imminent!”
    • Analysis: “Ghor” means “war,” “drak” is an intensifier, and “thrak” means “is imminent.” The sentence structure is simple but highly emotive.

Grammatical Constructs

  1. Imperative Mood:
    • Form: Verbs in the imperative mood are often single words or short phrases.
    • Example: “Kragh!” (Stop!)
    • Usage: Imperatives are commonly used to command or demand immediate action.
  2. Intensifiers:
    • Form: Words like “drak” (very) are used to intensify the meaning of adjectives and verbs.
    • Example: “Vor drak” (very angry)
    • Usage: Intensifiers are placed directly before the word they modify.
  3. Negation:
    • Form: The prefix “gh-“ is used to negate verbs.
    • Example: “Ghvark” (do not strike)
    • Usage: Negation is straightforward, altering the verb form to indicate the opposite action.

Conclusion

The study of Old Angry’s grammar reveals a language designed for the forceful expression of emotions, particularly anger. Its phonetic harshness, simple sentence structures, and direct communication style have left a lasting legacy on modern languages descended from OA. By examining these grammatical constructs and their usage, we gain deeper insights into the emotional and social dynamics of early human societies and their impact on contemporary communication.

Understanding OA’s grammar not only enhances our knowledge of linguistic evolution but also informs modern diplomatic and intercultural communication strategies, helping to navigate the complexities of language and emotion in international relations. Further research into OA and its linguistic descendants promises to uncover more about the roots of human language and the enduring power of emotional expression.

tags: linguistics - history