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Lesson 43: First Declension Nouns

In English and other male-identified languages, emotions are given cursory treatment at best. If you’ve ever had the unfortunate experience of trying to describe an emotional state and your conversation partner (of either gender) loses interest half-way through the description of what the emotional state is, not to mention even discussing what to do with or about it, you have some inkling of how useful a more explicit way to discuss emotions could be.

Vocabulary


	dena		friendliness
	ména*		compassion
	nena		contentment
	ohena		respect
	wéná**		gratitude

We’ve also seen “thena” (joy) previously, with a promise that more attention would be paid to it later. Here, then, is the further discussion promised at that time.

Late Addition


	lena		trust

First Declension Nouns

The first declension of emotional states tends toward “happy” emotions; its various forms discuss various reasons for the emotion. The forms presented in the Vocabulary section are the most general forms, translated as “X for good reason(s).” This and the other forms are presented below with their meanings.


	–ena		for good reason(s)
	–ona		for foolish reason(s)
	–una		for bad reason(s)
	–ina		for no reason
	–ehena		despite negative circumstances

Due to accidents during the early days of new words being formed for Láadan, two of these words have irregular declensions (there are, as you may have noticed, very few irregular formations in Láadan). We’ll be exploring these below.

*The “é” in “ména” (compassion) causes the central vowels in its declensions to become high-toned also. Its various forms are: “ména”, “móna”, “múna”, “mína” and “méhéna”.

**Both vowels in “wéná” (gratitude) being high-toned is another irregularity. Its forms are: “wéná”, “wóná”, “wúná”, “wíná” and “wéhená”.

Examples


	Bíi loláad le dena wa.		I feel friendliness (for good reason).
	Bíi loláad le thona wa.		I feel joy (for foolish reason).
	Bíi loláad le nuna wa.		I feel contentment (for bad reason).
	Bíi loláad le ohina wa.		I feel respect (for no reason at all).
	Bíi loláad le wéhená wa.		I feel gratitude (despite negative circumstances).

An event or situation that causes an emotional response ought to be rendered in Cause case (–wáan). On the other hand a noun toward/at which/whom the emotional response is directed ought to be rendered in Goal case (–di/–dim)—just as is the person to whom speech is directed.

Exercises

Translate the following into English.


1	Báa loláad ne dina Beth bedi?
2	Ra, izh loláad le wéná bróo eril den be leth wa.
3	Báa eril loláad Másha bebáath ebaládi?
4	Bíi eril dóhéthe Therísha beth lanetho bethoth thunanal wáa.
5	Báa meduloláad nezh móna romidedi?
6	Em, izh methad meloláad ra lezh beth wa.

Did you notice that emotions, since they cannot “feel people,” do not require the Object suffix? On the other hand, when using a pronoun in place of any noun (even in place of one that would not require the Object suffix, as in #6), the pronoun does require the suffix because it is no longer transparent which is the Object. Alternatively, this sentiment could be phrased “Em, izh methad ra lezh wa” (Yes, but we cannot), or even “Em, izh medúuthad lezh wa” (Yes, but we are failing to be able to); either would by-pass the Object altogether.

Change the emotion, and the reason for it, to that presented; translate into English before and after.


7	Bíi eril meloláad onida thena shonewáan wáa.	contentment/despite neg. circumst.
8	Bíi dam háawith ohuna amedarahádi waá.	gratitude/no reason
9	Bíi loláad Ána ména thóo bethodi wáa.	friendliness/bad reasons
10	Bíi eril loláad ehá méhéna ezhadi wa.	friendliness/foolish reasons
11	Báa lath with múnawáan?	respect/despite neg. circumst.
12	Báa dam áwith nena lalewáan?	what

Translate the following into Láadan.


13	The weaver will demonstrate joy (despite neg. circumst.) in the morning.
14	When will the student be grateful (bad reason)?
15	The fish was content (foolish reason) in the river.
16	The healer feels compassion (no reason) toward the king but shows him respect (foolish reasons).
17	The farmer shows respect (good reason) for the land.
18	It is unclear what the carpenter may feel about the gift; is she manifesting signs of gratitude (foolish reasons) or joy (no reason)?

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Answers


1	Are you friendly (do you feel friendliness) (no reason) toward Beth?
2	No, but I am grateful (I feel gratitude) (good reason) because she helped me.
3	What did Marsha feel toward the baker?
4	Teresa cleaned her friend’s home joyfully (bad reason).
5	Are you (few) trying to feel compassion (foolish reason) for the wild animal?
6	Yes, but we cannot feel it.

7	The families were joyous (good reason) at peace.
	Bíi eril meloláad onida nehena shonewáan wáa.
	The families were contented (despite neg circumst) with peace.
8	The child is respectful (manifests signs of respect) (bad reason) to the dancer.
	Bíi dam háawith wíná amedarahádi waá.
	The child is grateful (shows signs of gratitude) (no reason) to the dancer.
9	Anna feels compassion (good reasons) toward her guest.
	Bíi loláad Ána duna thóo bethodi wáa.
	Anna feels friendliness (bad reasons) toward her guest.
10	The scientist felt compassion (despite negative circumstances) for the snake.
	Bíi eril loláad ehá dona ezhadi wa.
	The scientist felt friendliness (foolish reasons) for the snake.
11	Is the woman celibate (by choice) out of (because of) compassion (bad reason)?
	Báa lath with ohehenawáan?
	Is the woman celibate (by choice) out of (because of) respect (despite neg. circumst.)?
12	Does the baby appear to be content (good reason) because of the milk?
	Báa dam áwith bebáath lalewáan?
	What does the baby appear to be feeling because of the milk?

13	Bíi aril dam odá thehena háasháaleya wa.
14	Báa aril loláad bedihá wúná bebáaya?
15	Bíi eril loláad thili nona wiliha wa.
16	Bíi loláad duthahá mína huhidedi, izh dam be ohona behidedi wa.
17	Bíi dam ábedá ohena donidi wáa.
18	Bíi rawedeth loláad belidá bebáath biniwáanehée wa; báa dam be e wóná(th) e thina(th)?

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