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<p>
<h1>Basfahe • <vv>Basfahe</vv></h1>
This document explores the speech of the lower classes of Verduria-city in the 3400s, commonly called <b>Basfahe</b> ‘low speech’ or ‘vulgar speech’.
<img src="illo/basfaheci.gif" align="right" alt="Speakers of Basfahe" title="Speakers of Basfahe">
It's preparatory to the study of <b>Modern Verdurian</b> (MV), spoken in the 3670s, which will be described in an upcoming document. The Verdurian of 3480— what we’ve known and loved for years— will be identified as <b>Early Modern Verdurian</b> (EMV).
<p>For clarity, I’ll cite Basfahe in <tt>blue</tt>, standard EMV in <b>black</b>.
<p>First, a word on <b>sources</b>. We don’t have recordings till the late 3500s. We do have attempts at representing Basfahe in novels, plays, and newspaper articles. Then there are misspellings, grammarians’ complaints, and a few scholarly papers. All of this has to be considered carefully and skeptically: people without training in phonology mis-hear, and there was a long tradition of what we might call <b>fake Basfahe</b>— a way to represent servants and street urchins and bandits in literature. Examples:
<ul>
<li>The poor are represented as using 1p for 1s: <b>Hro epam erh colapren</b> ‘I can’t help you’. This dates back literally centuries, and if it ever had any relation to reality, it was about peasants in Ctésifon, not slumdwellers in Verduria.
<li>That <b>hro</b> for <b>řo</b> is also suspect: the actual sound was [x]. People knew [h] from several southern dialects, but had no way of perceiving or representing [x].
<li>Representations of lower-class speech are full of Viminianisms (e.g. <b>az</b> for <b>aď</b> ‘god’, <b>wi</b> for <b>lü</b> ‘loves’. There was very little Viminian influence on Basfahe, but audiences found it comic.
<li>Verdurians found foreigner-talk funny, so literature is full of comic Kebreni, Ismaîn, Flaids, and Xurnese all butchering Verdurian— e.g. it was considered hilarious to address an important man using feminine gender. Inevitably the trope was applied as well to dumb or low-class speakers. (An early comic strip has a comic male servant whose tagline is <b>Ai pyereca</b> ‘I’m regretful.’)
</ul>
Fortunately Verdurian scholars have done the work for us; the best treatment is Someše Hutoreya’s <i>Soa Basfahe</i> (3532). Even this requires caveats— Basfahe was not a monolith; the dating of sound changes is very inexact; sometimes our reconstruction of a particular sound is no more than a best guess.
<p>Later sources are also valuable— those recordings, for instance, or Toťio Pohneu’s 3594 monograph <i>Soa sfahe prosië Verdúria-mažtane</i>. But how people spoke in 3594 won’t be the same as how they spoke in 3480, and it’s always a pitfall to assume that features of later Basfahe, or Modern Verdurian in general, existed in earlier Basfahe.
<p>Some writers and scholars (not those cited above!) have exaggerated the “ungrammaticality” of Basfahe. Bad grammar is an easy way to get laughs and mark differences. But native speakers of Basfahe had— with the exceptions listed below— mastered the case system, the gender system, the tense system. There are actually more divergences from 3400s EMV in Modern Verdurian, partly because of historical change, partly because 3600s Verduria-city had a much higher foreign-born population. But those changes shouldn’t be blindly pushed back into the past.
<p>This is not of course a standalone grammar; it’s a <b>list of differences</b> from the <a href="vergram.html">Verdurian reference grammar</a>, and follows the same order. Anything not mentioned can be assumed to be the same as in that grammar.
<h2>Phonology</h2>
Let’s begin with some sound changes that are clearly attested in the 3400s, and apply unconditionally:
<ul>
<li>Palatalization (due to <b>y</b> or <b>ë</b>) tends to change to fricativization or affrication:
<ul>
<li><b>sy</b> > <tt>š</tt>, <b>zy</b> > <tt>ž</tt>
<li><b>ty</b> > <tt>č</tt>, <b>dy</b> > <tt>j</tt>
<li>No evidence yet for a change to <b>ny, my</b>.
</ul>
<li><b>ř</b> is pronounced [x] or [h], which I will write <tt>ȟ</tt>
<li><b>ts</b> > <tt>č</tt>: <b>tsesi</b> > <tt>česi</tt>.
<li>Consonants are not doubled— <b>prenne</b> is prounced like <tt>prene</tt>.
<li>Similarly, <b>ä</b> is not lengthened, but it preserves the stress: <b>lädeca</b> > <tt>ládeca</tt>.
<li>A nasal before a final stop is nasalized: <b>šank</b> > <tt>šãk</tt>, <b>viond</b> > <tt>viõd</tt>. This may also apply earlier in the word, especially in unstressed syllables: <b>imbraki</b> > <tt>ĩbraki</tt>. Word-final nasals do not nasalize.
</ul>
It’s common, but not universal, for word-initial stop + <b>t</b> or nasal + liquid, to be separated by an epenthetic vowel, usually that of the main syllable: <b>ptoc</b> > <tt>potoc</tt>, <b>mlake</b> > <tt>malake</tt>.
<p>More sporadically, unstressed vowels may be lost, though only if the resulting consonant cluster is phonologically permitted: <b>baraďu</b> > <tt>braďu</tt>, <b>belacát</b> > <tt>blacát</tt>.
<p>Basfahe seems to be more consistent on voice assimilation than the standard language. Thus <b>kazčal</b> > <tt>kasčal</tt>, <b>mažtana</b> > <tt>maštana</tt>, <b>ředtao</b> > <tt>ȟetao</tt>. Some speakers inserted an epenthetic vowel instead: <tt>kazičal, mažitana, ȟeditao</tt>.
<p>The evidence for monophthongization is controversial. It seems to have started among some speakers by this time, but was not necessarily applied everywhere. It particularly affected vowel sequences beginning with unstressed <b>u/o</b>— thus <b>uestu</b> > <tt>ostu</tt>, <b>šual</b> > <tt>šal</tt>. We can see three instances in this fragment:
<blockquote> <tt> Ȟo sešo, Piro, e braďo še.</tt> <br/>
<b> = Řo e sešue, Piro, e baraďu esë.</b> <br/>
not be.3s heavy-m / father / be.3s brother 1s-gen<br/>
<i> He ain’t heavy, Father, he’s m’ brother.</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
The general trend is <b>ue/uo</b> > <tt>o</tt>, <b>ua</b> > <tt>a</tt>, <b>ui</b> > <tt>ü</tt>.
<p>For what it’s worth, <b>řo e</b> is commonly written <tt>ř’e</tt>, while MV definitely has <grn>ȟo</grn>. Hutoreya has no less than three possible explanations:
<ul>
<li><tt>Ř’e</tt> [xe] is earlier Basfahe, not an instance of <b>oe</b> > <tt>o</tt> at all.
<li><tt>Ř’e</tt> was the best attempt at some intermediate stage of the sound change, perhaps [xə].
<li>It was already [xo], but this would confuse speakers of the standard, so <tt>ř’e</tt> was a convention which represented the merger but not the actual vowel sound.
</ul>
Some speakers in the 3400s had already lost front rounded vowels (<b>lübor</b> > <tt>libor</tt>), but there is ample evidence that most had not.
<p>For almost any of the changes described for MV, there are some scholars who trace them back to the 3400s or earlier, but I follow Hutoreya who does not.
<h2>Verbal morphology</h2>
There’s a tendency to regularize the <b>person/number</b> endings. Generally this means conjugating R verbs as if they were C; however, the 1s is not affected. E.g.:
<blockquote>
<b>baďu, baďeu, baďe / baďum, baďo, baďü </b> <br/>
> <tt>baďu, baďeo, baďe / baďom, baďo, baďu</tt>
</blockquote>
Compare the C conjugation <b>elirao, elireo, elire / elirom, eliro, eliru</b>.
<p>The <b>future</b> tense of R verbs is simplified: <b>ret</b> > <tt>t</tt>, also matching C verbs. Thus:
<blockquote>
<b>baďretu, baďreteu, baďrete / baďretum, baďreto, baďretü </b> <br/>
> <tt>baďtu, baďteo, baďte / baďtom, baďto, baďtu</tt>
</blockquote>
Or <tt>baťtu</tt> etc, with voicing assimilation.
<p>The <b>past anterior</b> is never used in Basfahe.
<p>For many speakers, the <b>imperative</b> has merged with the past tense: <tt>rihnei</tt> = ‘you looked’ or ‘look!’. It’s also common to use the present tense as an imperative: <tt>rihei!</tt> It can be emphasized with the interjection <b>ey</b>, thus <tt>Ey rihei! </tt>
<h2>Nominal morphology</h2>
Where there is a separate accusative, it’s increasingly regularized to -<tt>m</tt>. Thus:
<blockquote> <table>
<tr> <td bgcolor="#C0E0C0"> nom.</td> <td> dasco</td> <td> esta</td> <td> casi</td> <td> leve</td> </tr>
<tr> <td bgcolor="#C0E0C0"> EMV</td> <td> <b> dascam</b> </td> <td> <b> esta</b> </td> <td> <b> casa</b> </td> <td> <b> leve</b> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td bgcolor="#C0E0C0"> Basfahe</td> <td> <tt> dascom</tt> </td> <td> <tt> estam</tt> </td> <td> <tt> casim</tt> </td> <td> <tt> levem</tt> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> </td> </tr>
</table> </blockquote>
Speakers vary in which of these changes they use; the <tt>dascom</tt> column is most common, next <tt>dascom + estam</tt>, next all four.
<p>Sometimes <b>dalum, katim</b> > <tt>dalom, katom</tt>, from the plural paradigm.
<p>Many speakers merge the singular and dative plurals, using the singular masculines and the plural feminines— note that this takes the simpler forms in each gender. Thus:
<blockquote> <table>
<tr> <td bgcolor="#C0E0C0"> nom.</td> <td> dasco</td> <td> dalu</td> <td> katy</td> <td> esta</td> <td> rana</td> <td> lavísia</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td bgcolor="#C0E0C0"> EMV s.</td> <td> <b>dascon</b></td> <td> <b>dalun</b></td> <td> <b>katín</b></td> <td> <b>estan</b></td> <td> <b>ranan</b></td> <td> <b>lavísian</b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td bgcolor="#C0E0C0">EMV pl.</td> <td> <b> dascoin</b> </td> <td> <b> daluin</b> </td> <td> <b> katuin</b> </td> <td> <b> estain</b> </td> <td> <b> ranen</b> </td> <td> <b> lavisen</b> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td bgcolor="#C0E0C0"> Basfahe</td> <td> <tt> dascon</tt> </td> <td> <tt> dalun</tt> </td> <td> <tt> katín</tt> </td> <td> <tt> estan</tt> </td> <td> <tt> ranen</tt> </td> <td> <tt> lavisen</tt> </td> </tr>
</table> </blockquote>
In Basfahe, the dative of possession is replaced by the genitive (<b>dalu sen</b> > <tt>dalu še</tt>), and dative NPs are double-marked with <b>ad</b>: <b>dalun</b> > <tt>ad dalun</tt>. The end result is that except for pronouns and lexicalized expressions, the dative is largely a prepositional case.
<h2>Pronouns</h2>
1s.gen <b>esë</b> > <tt>ešé</tt>, and often just <tt>še</tt>.
<p>In literature, the poor are represented as saying <tt>ilem/ilam</tt> for (3s.acc) <b>ilet/ilat</b>. This is an anachronism— this usage died out in the 3200s.
<p>Basfahe speakers had trouble distinguishing <b>lë</b> and <b>lië</b>, and many now regularized the latter to <tt>ilë</tt>.
<p>The plural reflexive forms (<b>za, zam</b>…) were lost— the singular forms were used instead. That is, <b>zam lelu</b> ‘they see themselves’ > <tt>zet lelu</tt>.
<p>Basfahe speakers avoided impersonal <b>tu</b>, including its use as a formal ‘you’. Instead you can use <tt>(so) žen</tt> ‘people’ or equivalents such as <tt>zevî</tt> ‘guys’:
<blockquote> <tt> Žen ȟo ’pe cunësan Ismaem.</tt> <br/>
<b> Tu řo epe cunësan Ismaä.</b> <br/>
people not can-3s trust Ismaîn<br/>
<i> You can’t trust an Ismaîn.</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
It’s also proper to use the 1p— <tt>Ȟo epam cunësan Ismaem</tt>. Or the 2s: <tt>Ȟo epei…</tt>
<p>In general the use of <b>tu</b> is a distancing strategy, and the ethos of Basfahe is directness and inclusion.
<p>Obviously those who had to (e.g. servants) used the formal 2s <b>tu</b>. But Basfahe speakers never used it among themslves.
<h2>Case usage</h2>
The dative alone survives only for pronouns. Compare:
<blockquote> <tt> Ihano done anelom ad Rahelin.</tt> <br/>
<b> Ihano done anelam Rahelin.</b> <br/>
Ihano give.past-3s ring-acc to Raheli-dat<br/>
<i> Ihani gave Raheli a ring.</i> <br/>
<br/>
<tt> Ihano ilan done anelom.</tt> <br/>
<b> Ihano ilan done anelam.</b> <br/>
Ihano 3sf-dat give.pat-3s ring-acc<br/>
<i> Ihano gave her a ring.</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
Exception: time expressions like <b>utron</b> ‘in the morning’ survive, as well as lexicalized constructions like <b>ladan žesán</b> ‘go home’.
<p>As noted, the dative of possession is not used: <tt>osán Ihanei</tt> ‘Ihano’s master’.
<p>The genitive is rarely used as a partitive. It’s correct in Basfahe to say <tt>Vulu šerä</tt> for ‘I want some beer’. If you want to emphasize that you want just part of it, use <b>tórece</b> or <tt>torec</tt> ‘in part’.
<h2>Verbal anaphora</h2>
<b>Kies</b> ‘do what?’ is still used, but an alternative is <tt>kiel fasec</tt>, literally ‘how (do you) do that’. Thus:
<blockquote> <tt> Zevu, kiel faseo?</tt> <br/>
<b> Druk, kiei?</b> <br/>
friend / how do.2s<br/>
<i> Dude, what are you doing?</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
<h2>Prepositions</h2>
The distinction between ‘movement to’ and ‘movement at’ is blurred. <b>Im atunán</b> can be used for both “in the room” and “into the room”. To emphasize the movement, the preposition can be repeated: <tt>im atunán im</tt>.
<p>In EMV a preposition can be turned into a dative: <b>imán</b> ‘inside’, <b>dörán</b> ‘outside’, <b>hipán</b> ‘below, downstairs’. In Basfahe the preposition alone can be used: <tt>ladan im</tt> ‘go inside’.
<p>The prepositional prefixes are rarely if ever used.
<h2>Questions</h2>
Basfahe has innovated two new ways to ask questions. One is to precede or follow the sentence with <b>dy</b> (pronounced <tt>ji</tt>); this derives from <b>E dy…?</b>
<blockquote> <tt> Ji bešun ilë e rožy?</tt> <br/>
<b> E dy besyun lë e rožy? </b> <br/>
Q boyfriend 3-gen be.3s crazy<br/>
<i> Is your boyfriend crazy?</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
Another is to postpend <b>eto</b> ‘that’:
<blockquote> <tt>Imbogatir e rožy, eto? </tt> <br/>
<i>Is getting rich crazy?</i>
</blockquote>
<h2>Relativization</h2>
Relative clauses, beyond the simplest ones, usually include a resumptive pronoun:
<blockquote> <tt> Ȟo šatu so zevom ke ȟeje še ilun uteke.</tt> <br/>
<b> Řo šatu so uestum u ken cira esë uteke.</b> <br/>
no like-1s the dude-s.acc who chick 1s.gen 3sm-dat hang.out<br/>
<i> I don’t like the dude my wife is hanging out with.</i> <br/>
<br/>
</blockquote>
<h2>Constituent Dislocation</h2>
As noted in the grammar, colloquial speech allows free use of Constituent Dislocation, with pronouns added to the verb complex. Dislocated constituents may be unmarked for case:
<blockquote> <tt> Pruso, ilan marine cečel, Ihano, Raheli.</tt> <br/>
<b> Prusin, ilan marine cečel, Ihano, Rahelin.</b> <br/>
inn / 3sf-dat marry-past-3s there / Ihano / Raheli<br/>
<i> The inn, he got married to her there, Ihano and Raheli.</i> <br/>
<br/>
</blockquote>
<h2>Conditionals</h2>
The subtleties in the use of the irrealis tend to be lost in Basfahe. Usually both clauses of an <i>if</i> clause are irrealis:
<blockquote> <tt> Esli ešelei čume, ilavricelei dör.</tt> <br/>
<b> Esli ei lerte, ilavrcelei dör eton.</b> <br/>
if be-irr-2s smart / stay-irr-2s outside<br/>
<i> If you got brains, you’ll stay out of this.</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
<h2>Pragmatic particles</h2>
Review the <a href="vergram.html#Pragmatic">list of particles</a> (and swear words) given in the reference grammar— they apply to all colloquial speech, especially Basfahe.
<h2>Word games</h2>
Words are often altered with suffixes. Most of these are shared with the standard language, though some are met there only in nicknames.
<blockquote> <table>
<tr> <td> <b> <tt>-ul-</tt></b> </td> <td> diminutive</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b> <tt>-áš-</tt></b> </td> <td> augmentative</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b> <tt>ãk</tt> (m), <tt>ẽk</tt> (f)</b> </td> <td> pejorative</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b> <tt>-obo</tt> (m), <tt>oni</tt> (f)</b> </td> <td> affectionate-pejorative</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b> <tt>-(e)no, -ye</tt></b> </td> <td> affectionate diminutive</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b> <tt>-ako, -uto, -ena</tt></b> </td> </tr>
</table> </blockquote>
There is no slang term for <b>orel</b> ‘ear’, but you can easily produce <tt>orelul, oreláš, orelye, orelako</tt>, etc. Vowel reduction adds <tt>relye, relako, relobo</tt>, etc.
<p>In Basfahe, there’s a language game, <b>Sfapa</b>, similar to our Pig Latin or French <i>verlan</i>. It’s based on partial reduplication of the stressed syllable, usually with a different homorganic consonant:
<blockquote> <table>
<tr> <td> <b>besya </b>><tt> bepi</tt></td> <td> girlfriend</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>boua </b>><tt> bovo</tt></td> <td> mark, victim</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>bröca </b>><tt> bröpa</tt></td> <td> pants</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>bruȟo </b>><tt> bruvo</tt></td> <td> belly</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>druk </b>><tt> drutu</tt></td> <td> friend</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>fale </b>><tt> fapa</tt></td> <td> silver coin</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>flanec </b>><tt> flama</tt></td> <td> nose</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>ismaë </b>> <tt>zmazu</tt></td> <td> Ismaîn</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>boc </b>><tt> borbo</tt></td> <td> die (for gambling)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>pičo </b>><tt> pibičo</tt></td> <td> drink</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>polne </b>><tt> pomone</tt></td> <td> naked</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>pruso </b>><tt> prupu</tt></td> <td> innkeeper</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>sfahe </b>><tt> sfapa</tt></td> <td> Sfapa itself</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>tyurma </b>><tt> čudu</tt></td> <td> prison</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <b>žaye </b>><tt> žača</tt></td> <td> foxy</td> </tr>
</table> </blockquote>
It’s sometimes said that such wordplay is intended to confuse the cops. However, cops (and innkeepers and novelists) very quickly pick up underworld slang.
<h2>Lexicon</h2>
The flavor of Basfahe, and its variation from the standard, is mostly conveyed by its words.
<p>It’s the nature of slang to change, so this (incomplete!) list is most appropriate for 3480. (On the other hand, certain slang words have staying power. English <i>kids</i> is at least 300 years old, <i>dude</i> is half that, <i>cool</i> is almost a century old.)
<p>Especially offensive words are italicized. I really don’t want you going to Verduria, blasting these words about, and getting punched.
<p>With the (plentiful) sexual terms, I’ve supplied very bland glosses; I don’t think the reader will need help to come up with vulgar equivalents.
<p>I’ve already applied Basfahe’s phonological change, so some of these words will not match the standard dictionary. But I haven’t included incipient or sporadic changes (e.g. <b>šual</b> > <tt>šal</tt>).
<blockquote> <table>
<tr bgcolor="#C0E0C0"> <td> <i> word</i> </td> <td> <i>meaning</i></td> <td> <i>literally…</i></td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> acen</tt> </td> <td> scold, tell off</td> <td> abbr. ‘admonish’</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> aďrašec</tt> </td> <td> priest</td> <td> god-screwer</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> alcalë</tt> </td> <td> vagina</td> <td> treasure</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> alir</tt> </td> <td> deal with</td> <td> (Flaidish)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> Ataféy</tt> </td> <td> VIP, big boss</td> <td> (emperor Attafei)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>baco</i></tt> </td> <td> vagina</td> <td> (Caď.)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> bruȟo</tt> </td> <td> belly, gut</td> <td> animal stomach</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> boďpila</tt> </td> <td> head, esp. a bald one</td> <td> ball</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> borpo</tt> </td> <td> drunk (invar.)</td> <td> (Flaidish)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> boua</tt> </td> <td> mark, victim</td> <td> cow</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> bouan</tt> </td> <td> john, trick</td> <td> bull</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> bumuše</tt> </td> <td> brainless</td> <td> scarce</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> buona</tt> </td> <td> cool, great</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> cacian</tt> </td> <td> fire; be fired</td> <td> break off</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> caleon</tt> </td> <td> blowhard, showoff</td> <td> (after the king)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> caumen</tt> </td> <td> blow off</td> <td> (Caď)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> cipošir</tt> </td> <td> get angry</td> <td> be a teapot</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ciuto</tt> </td> <td> cop</td> <td> dim. of <b>cilu</b></td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> cišuran</tt> </td> <td> have a crush on</td> <td> weaken</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> clačir</tt> </td> <td> spill the beans</td> <td> break</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> crusul</tt> </td> <td> tense, uptight</td> <td> stretched</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>cruy</i></tt> </td> <td> vagina</td> <td> hollow</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> cũdrožir</tt> </td> <td> impregnate</td> <td> leaven</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> cũguan</tt> </td> <td> whine, complain</td> <td> (Sfapa)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> culanul</tt> </td> <td> loot, treasure</td> <td> cake</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> čekizen</tt> </td> <td> bore, be tedious</td> <td> saw</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> čine</tt> </td> <td> face</td> <td> plate</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> činek</tt> </td> <td> boss</td> <td> triangle</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> čosa</tt> </td> <td> crap; thing</td> <td> (taboo-def.)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> čuč </tt> </td> <td> asshole</td> <td> spotty</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> čuma</tt> </td> <td> crap</td> <td> plague</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> čume</tt> </td> <td> brainy</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>čuza</i></tt> </td> <td> shit</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> daluy</tt> </td> <td> fancy; good in bed</td> <td> royal</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> deďaner</tt> </td> <td> trick, steal from</td> <td> shear</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> deëžul</tt> </td> <td> naked</td> <td> plucked</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> demetan</tt> </td> <td> vomit, or poop</td> <td> unload</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> depolnir</tt> </td> <td> get dressed</td> <td> un-naked</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zet desizer</tt> </td> <td> have a drink</td> <td> be quenched</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> destaven</tt> </td> <td> wipe out, kill</td> <td> extinguish</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> dodoir</tt> </td> <td> sleep</td> <td> (baby talk)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> drukul</tt> </td> <td> amigo, pal</td> <td> (abbr.)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> duisir</tt> </td> <td> steal, swipe</td> <td> lead (an animal)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> dvažoc</tt> </td> <td> menstruation</td> <td> 28</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> enalir</tt> </td> <td> go away</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> Ertala</tt> </td> <td> self-important idiot</td> <td> (after the king)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> eže</tt> </td> <td> homey</td> <td> neighborhood</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zet faban</tt> </td> <td> take the blame</td> <td> paint oneself</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> fazis</tt> </td> <td> good-for-nothing</td> <td> do-nothing</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> fečel</tt> </td> <td> boss, jefe</td> <td> (Flaidish ‘swallow’, play on <i>fedjel</i> ‘chief’)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> fipu</tt> </td> <td> buttocks</td> <td> split (Sfapa)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> flanec</tt> </td> <td> nose</td> <td> smeller</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> fodro</tt> </td> <td> bitch</td> <td> witch</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>foračir</i></tt> </td> <td> have anal sex</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>forë</i></tt> </td> <td> anus</td> <td> (Old Verdurian)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> frifi</tt> </td> <td> coward, scaredy-cat</td> <td> shake</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> friser</tt> </td> <td> dance</td> <td> shake</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> fsetec</tt> </td> <td> complain, whine</td> <td> fart</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>futaš</i> </tt> </td> <td> fuck</td> <td> Caď. ‘fill’</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> galumo</tt> </td> <td> ship</td> <td> bathtub</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> gara</tt> </td> <td> breast</td> <td> swelling</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>gob</i></tt> </td> <td> penis</td> <td> mushroom</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> gobačir</tt> </td> <td> ejaculate</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> goly</tt> </td> <td> face</td> <td> animal’s face</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> goma</tt> </td> <td> belly, gut</td> <td> (Flaidish)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> grogec</tt> </td> <td> annoy, irritate</td> <td> mill</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> guya</tt> </td> <td> prostitute</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> hiȟaner</tt> </td> <td> get drunk</td> <td> soak</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> host</tt> </td> <td> nerve, chutzpah</td> <td> bone</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ȟeje</tt> </td> <td> girl, broad; wife</td> <td> abbr. ‘woman’</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> Iãko</tt> </td> <td> Joe Blow; everyman</td> <td> abbr. Ihan(ank)o</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ĩbrakošan</tt> </td> <td> steal</td> <td> into the sleeve</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> iluve</tt> </td> <td> money</td> <td> shiny</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zet ĩpočen</tt> </td> <td> pass out drunk</td> <td> bury oneself</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> iripuli!</tt> </td> <td> bottoms up!</td> <td> (glasses) upside-down</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zet ĩšagir</tt> </td> <td> vomit</td> <td> empty oneself</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ispolnir</tt> </td> <td> remove clothes</td> <td> skin</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> isu</tt> </td> <td> very</td> <td> enough</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ivrorom</tt> </td> <td> homosexual</td> <td> bookseller</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> kadul</tt> </td> <td> ass</td> <td> dim. ‘buttocks’</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> kadulolf</tt> </td> <td> brown-noser</td> <td> ass-nose</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> kaduloma</tt> </td> <td> piece of tail</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> kasčal</tt> </td> <td> monster</td> <td> horrible</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> kebrén</tt> </td> <td> gibberish</td> <td> Kebreni language</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> kîčosa</tt> </td> <td> whatsit</td> <td> which-thing</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> klokan</tt> </td> <td> kill</td> <td> knock</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> klušan</tt> </td> <td> piss</td> <td> splash</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zet klušan</tt> </td> <td> bungle, fuck up</td> <td> piss oneself</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> koprul</tt> </td> <td> drunk</td> <td> distilled</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> koška</tt> </td> <td> girl, chick</td> <td> female cat</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> kroďi</tt> </td> <td> damn! </td> <td> blood of gods</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ktüec</tt> </td> <td> give head; cheat</td> <td> suck</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zet ktüec</tt> </td> <td> fuck up, mess up</td> <td> suck oneself</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> <i>kuda</i></tt> </td> <td> vagina</td> <td> hole</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> labir</tt> </td> <td> kiss</td> <td> abbr. ‘use lips’</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> lácati</tt> </td> <td> nice outfit</td> <td> cotton</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> lečec</tt> </td> <td> gambler</td> <td> scatterer </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> lef</tt> </td> <td> crime boss</td> <td> wolf</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> leful</tt> </td> <td> pimp</td> <td> wolfie</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> lertáš </tt> </td> <td> big brain</td> <td> clever</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> lescoma</tt> </td> <td> prostitute</td> <td> marketwoman</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> leta</tt> </td> <td> penis</td> <td> coin</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> luana</tt> </td> <td> fox, looker</td> <td> abbr. ‘beautiful’</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> luru</tt> </td> <td> red wine</td> <td> Luyšor (Sfapa)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> maco</tt> </td> <td> wimp; bourgeois</td> <td> dough</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> Mália</tt> </td> <td> VIP woman, boss lady</td> <td> (an empress)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> meloš </tt> </td> <td> beer</td> <td> honey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> mémia</tt> </td> <td> loser</td> <td> turkey</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> mẽse</tt> </td> <td> cool, neat</td> <td> wavy</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> meunen</tt> </td> <td> tell off, reprimand</td> <td> plow</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> meyan</tt> </td> <td> lie, exaggerate</td> <td> irrigate</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> micose</tt> </td> <td> depressed</td> <td> moldy</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> mimu</tt> </td> <td> scam, gaffed object</td> <td> (Kebreni)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> miškičy</tt> </td> <td> delicious</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> nagobo</tt> </td> <td> hobo, bum</td> <td> foot guy</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> narnë</tt> </td> <td> breast</td> <td> orange</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> nilne</tt> </td> <td> woman</td> <td> skirt</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> nižny</tt> </td> <td> wiped, exhausted</td> <td> prone</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> õleta</tt> </td> <td> tit for tat</td> <td> change</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> olf</tt> </td> <td> crime boss</td> <td> nose (play on <b>lef</b>)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> orto</tt> </td> <td> dummy</td> <td> toe</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> oskanáe</tt> </td> <td> bed</td> <td> louse land</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pabatan</tt> </td> <td> chatter, talk a lot</td> <td> talk (Sfapa)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pasetir</tt> </td> <td> have sex</td> <td> visit</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pav</tt> </td> <td> kid</td> <td> small</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pelačir</tt> </td> <td> uncover, figure out</td> <td> shovel up</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> peza</tt> </td> <td> beer</td> <td> hops</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pilačec</tt> </td> <td> eye</td> <td> blinker</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pilke</tt> </td> <td> testicle</td> <td> ball, bullet</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pona</tt> </td> <td> mannish; dyke</td> <td> hero</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> prenan</tt> </td> <td> understand, get it</td> <td> take</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> procesen</tt> </td> <td> flatter, con</td> <td> massage</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> proletka</tt> </td> <td> prostitute</td> <td> for money girl</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> prozec</tt> </td> <td> penis</td> <td> piercer</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> pusan</tt> </td> <td> rib, kid</td> <td> flea</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> puyok</tt> </td> <td> clitoris</td> <td> button</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> rälec</tt> </td> <td> pregnant</td> <td> baking</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> raše</tt> </td> <td> frigging</td> <td> sexual</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> riasni</tt> </td> <td> vagina; woman</td> <td> thigh</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> rizdan</tt> </td> <td> have sex</td> <td> fertilize</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ružkadul</tt> </td> <td> moneylender</td> <td> (play on <b>ružkunom</b>)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> ryotka</tt> </td> <td> frigid woman</td> <td> ice girl</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> seše</tt> </td> <td> easily, no sweat</td> <td> dry</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> sevnilna</tt> </td> <td> tramp, easy girl</td> <td> raise skirt</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> skičir</tt> </td> <td> shut up</td> <td> clench</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> sišen</tt> </td> <td> have sex</td> <td> slip</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> söl</tt> </td> <td> drunk</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> solial!</tt> </td> <td> get wise! (or get up!)</td> <td> sunrise</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> sosir</tt> </td> <td> squeal, gossip</td> <td> whisper</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> subu</tt> </td> <td> idiot</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> subuďuďa</tt> </td> <td> nonsense</td> <td> idiot drool</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> suian</tt> </td> <td> speak up </td> <td> squeak</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> suin</tt> </td> <td> loose, easy</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> susurkse</tt> </td> <td> shorty</td> <td> undersized</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šari</tt> </td> <td> marijuana</td> <td> weed</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šaute</tt> </td> <td> hair</td> <td> hide, skin</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šida</tt> </td> <td> cool dude</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šriftom</tt> </td> <td> doc, skilled person</td> <td> professor</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šoz</tt> </td> <td> stuff</td> <td> thing</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šušnáe</tt> </td> <td> ruin, abandoned place</td> <td> graveyard</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šuten</tt> </td> <td> ejaculate; screw</td> <td> spill</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> šuyan</tt> </td> <td> give head</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> tabošaše</tt> </td> <td> pregnant</td> <td> lumpy</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> tecai</tt> </td> <td> penis</td> <td> dagger</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> tocan</tt> </td> <td> have sex</td> <td> bounce</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> tompec</tt> </td> <td> hit, beat</td> <td> drum</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> tričec</tt> </td> <td> have sex</td> <td> poke</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> tričešuča</tt> </td> <td> sword, swordsman</td> <td> pig-poker</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> trogan</tt> </td> <td> affect, concern</td> <td> touch</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zet trogan</tt> </td> <td> masturbate</td> <td> touch oneself</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> unyaga</tt> </td> <td> foot</td> <td> hoof</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> urk</tt> </td> <td> penis</td> <td> log</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> valitan</tt> </td> <td> go to bed; be stunned</td> <td> fall over</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> vetra</tt> </td> <td> up front, right away</td> <td> yesterday</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> vimin</tt> </td> <td> idiot</td> <td> Viminian</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> yez</tt> </td> <td> story, anecdote</td> <td> (Flaidish)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> yezačir</tt> </td> <td> B.S., tell tall stories</td> <td> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> yolno</tt> </td> <td> small boy</td> <td> knee</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> yolye</tt> </td> <td> small girl</td> <td> knee</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zdesir</tt> </td> <td> look, dig</td> <td> here</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zëföy</tt> </td> <td> clothes</td> <td> seaweed</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> zevu</tt> </td> <td> dude, man</td> <td> (Keb.)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> žẽte</tt> </td> <td> silver piece</td> <td> (abbr.)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> žižyo</tt> </td> <td> piss; white wine</td> <td> (imitative)</td> </tr>
<tr> <td> <tt> žoubo</tt> </td> <td> con man</td> <td> trick guy</td> </tr>
</table> </blockquote>
Also worth a look are the many vivid idioms of Basfahe, such as these:
<blockquote>
<tt>ad ombrilin!</tt> ‘to the navel’ = goodbye (play on <b>ad onlelán</b>)
<br/><tt>beďir soem obelom</tt> ‘observe the clouds’ = be laid flat
<br/><tt>bežir soi oreli</tt> ‘make the ears work’ = listen
<br/><tt>brugiven so ȟayzöm</tt> ‘twist the faucet’ = start or stop crying
<br/><tt>bulõdir culanul</tt> ‘bake a cake’ = speechify, make a big deal of something
<br/><tt>cel ďunin bouanin</tt> ‘between two bulls’ = in a fix
<br/><tt>com bardinon</tt> ‘like a coyote’ = cleverly, or impudently
<br/><tt>com Ervëan</tt> ‘like Ervëa’ = rich, loaded
<br/><tt>com ktuvocán</tt> ‘like a ktuvok’ = intensifier for anger, madness, drunkenness, etc.
<br/><tt>com murtanin</tt> ‘like a múrtany= intensifier for annoyance, irritation, etc.
<br/><tt>cum alyon er ĩdán</tt> ‘garlic and pepper’ = with sass
<br/><tt>cum sažin mišun</tt> ‘with an empty sack’ = hungry
<br/><tt>cum sudán er calton</tt> ‘with sweat and By-Calto’s’ = with great effort
<br/><tt>cum tësem iëžom</tt> ‘with all the feathers’ = all dolled up
<br/><tt>crežen fornom zië</tt> ‘eat one’s hay’ = eat up; or, mind one’s business
<br/><tt>čine Enäronei</tt> ‘Enäron’s face’ = poker face
<br/><tt>dan urek bečkan</tt> ‘teach the barrel a lesson’ = drink a lot
<br/><tt>demišen so mišum</tt> ‘unpack the sack’ = get down to business (or to details)
<br/><tt>dešen soi šuali</tt> ‘stop the horses’ = slow down, hold up
<br/><tt>druk Fifelei</tt> ‘friend of Fifel’ = gay
<br/><tt>druk Tolereë</tt> ‘friend of Tolerei’ = kinkster, pervert
<br/><tt>ečitan so ciutom</tt> ‘wake the cop’ = make a ruckus
<br/><tt>egulen so mišum</tt> ‘sew the sack’ = shut up
<br/><tt>esan im čanan</tt> ‘be in the pot’ = be involved, be in
<br/><tt>faban soa lácatim</tt> ‘paint the cotton’ = have a bloody fight
<br/><tt>faban soem parnem</tt> ‘touch the mountains’ = exaggerate
<br/><tt>fako Lagei</tt> ‘Lagos box’ = hoax
<br/><tt>fasil com huvonán</tt> ‘easy as an egg’ = simple as pie
<br/><tt>fasil com nuvan</tt> ‘easy as bed’ = simple as pie
<br/><tt>griman soa traca</tt> ‘pull the cart’ = toil, do a job
<br/><tt>ȟark guye</tt> ‘whore’s spit’ = bilge, slop, any tasteless drink
<br/><tt>ȟo esan u X</tt> ‘not right near X’ = need X
<br/><tt>ȟo ulelan ďun iy ďin</tt> ‘can’t tell two or three apart’ = be sick, bleary, or hung over
<br/><tt>ĩsisul ab ȟarkán</tt> ‘polished with spit’ = dressed up
<br/><tt>kumpen soi rakani</tt> ‘stomp the cockroaches’ = dance furiously
<br/><tt>labir Enäron</tt> ‘kiss Enäron’ = die
<br/><tt>ladan proseon</tt> ‘go for a siesta’ = shove off, leave
<br/><tt>ladan visaner soa letuä</tt> ‘go study the wall’ = go out to urinate
<br/><tt>olotan brunem nočim</tt> ‘experience a brown night’ = have diarrhea
<br/><tt>onlelan so prãdom</tt> ‘see your dinner again’ = vomit
<br/><tt>oreloš im bröcan</tt> ‘pillow in the pants’ = pot-belly
<br/><tt>platir soán fericomán</tt> ‘pay the funeral director’ = die
<br/><tt>põdre com Maranhán</tt> ‘bold as Maranh’ = cheeky, brassy
<br/><tt>praten civrum com oȟán</tt> ‘talk the copper like gold’ = flatter, exaggerate
<br/><tt>pro Ervëan</tt> ‘(fit) for Ervëa’ = first rate, grand
<br/><tt>sam iluven</tt> ‘without shiny’ = free, or penniless
<br/><tt>sesuan so golim</tt> ‘wet the muzzle’ = drink liquor
<br/><tt>sevan nilna</tt> ‘lift the skirt’ = have sex
<br/><tt>siča faitan ur</tt> ‘be turning into clay’ = be done for
<br/><tt>so dõyoš e seltavul?</tt> ‘the candle is lit?’ = do you get it now?
<br/><tt>sučat im nuvan</tt> ‘dead in bed’ = hung over
<br/><tt>šenan so olf</tt> ‘test the nose’ = stink
<br/><tt>šesan friser soem letuem</tt> ‘make the walls shake’ = cause a ruckus
<br/><tt>tombir so ansel</tt> ‘drop the key’ = blab, snitch
<br/><tt>tompec soi ȟaom</tt> ‘thump the edges’ = just miss, have a close call
<br/><tt>tromir com pizan</tt> ‘fool like a pixie’ = trick, fool
<br/><tt>ublian mira zië</tt> ‘forget one’s mother’ = fall in love, or go astray
<br/><tt>ublian soa lukona</tt> ‘forget the chin’ = gape at, mouth open
<br/><tt>vauter hupom</tt> ‘worth a tuft of grass’ = be worthless
<br/><tt>zovec par cruri</tt> ‘play four-legs’ = have sex
<br/><tt>žalan soa ya (sur X)</tt> ‘rub the eye on X’ = have X in mind or in sight
<br/><tt>žesan sur žicsen</tt> ‘live on cushions’ = have it easy
<br/><tt>žõbrulen soi rakani</tt> ‘scare the roaches’ = wake up or carouse at night
</blockquote>
<h2>Sample</h2>
Here’s a short dialog in Basfahe.
<blockquote> <tt> Mihel: Demišam so mišum: am ďin, se, soa nilne, er so šriftom. Ac ȟ’ am u tričešučan.</tt> <br/>
unpack-1p the.s.m.acc sack-acc / be.1p three / 1s the.f skirt and the.m doctor / but no be.1p next.to poke-pig-dat<br/>
<i> Mihel: Let’s get down to brass tacks: there’s three of us— me, the chick, and the professor. But we’re short a pigsticker. </i> <br/>
<br/>
<tt> So Pav: Ji par šidî? Matisî, ȟo cam ĩbrakošai. Vulo klokan zevum? </tt> <br/>
Q four dude-pl / purse-pl / no 3p-acc in-sleeve-1s / want-2p knock dude-acc<br/>
<i> The Little Guy: Four dudes? I ain’t stealing purses. You wanna whack a dude?</i> <br/>
<br/>
<tt> M: Ȟo futaš, žalam soa ya sur šušnáen. So šriftom ilat peladre— tene culanul im, er e čistë com žayen im pruson ivroromië.</tt> <br/>
no fuck / rub-1p the.f.acc eye.acc on cemetary-dat / the doctor 3sf.acc dig.up-past-3s / have-3s cake in / and be-3s pure-f like fox-dat in tavern-dat bookseller-pl.gen<br/>
<i> Fuck no, we got a ruin in mind. The professor researched it— it’s got loot in it, and it’s as untouched as a hot girl in a gay bar. </i> <br/>
<br/>
<tt> SP: Zdeseo, zevu, ȟo scesmai glavom še ifkiel im rašan gečilán. Epei tenec šöna čuza hip, ac co teneo ce-rašem kasčali.</tt> <br/>
look-2s / dude / no rattle-fut-1s sword-acc 1s.gen whatever in frigging-s.m.dat dungeorn-dat / can-2s have pretty-s.f.acc shit-acc down / but alongside have-2s that-frigging-m.pl.acc nasty-pl.acc<br/>
<i> Look, dude, I’m not gonna rattle my sword in any frigging dungeon. Maybe you got great shit down there, but you also got frigging monsters.</i> <br/>
<br/>
<tt> M: Frifri ei? Ifkiel futaš, ci-mišek cum dvadec fapem vetra, lade ad otren orton.</tt> <br/>
coward be-2s / whatever fuck / this-bag with twenty silver.coin-f.pl.acc yesterday / go-3s to other-m.s.dat toe-dat<br/>
<i> You yellow? Never mind, this sack of 20 shiny up front will go to some other fool.</i> <br/>
<br/>
<tt> SP: Dešei soi šuali, šida. Tvedec vetra, er ai im čanan.</tt> <br/>
stop-2s the-m.pl.acc horse-pl.acc / dude / thirty yesterday / and be.1s in pot-dat<br/>
<i> Not so fast, guy. 30 up front and I’m in.</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
<h2>User manual</h2>
Who uses Basfahe, and when?
It belongs to the “lower classes”; but as a reminder, in the 3400s that describes the majority of the population of Verduria-city. It’s not (just) an underworld thing; it belongs to the whole working class. Those with an education will speak EMV; of course, almost everything that’s written is written in EMV.
<p>Basfahe is not exactly a dialect; it’s more of a register. Many speakers can speak Basfahe or EMV depending on circumstances… some can even master upper-class speech (<b>Melaštei</b>) as well.
<p>The three-way distinction is of course simplistic. We could try to divide up the continuum much finer, or even look at specific neighborhoods. For more on this, see Hutoreya’s book.
<p>It doesn’t take much to “clean up” Basfahe and create standard EMV with a Basfahe feel to it. The third sample text in the reference grammar, <a href="vergram.html#Abend">“Abend P.I.”</a>, is an example. Nothing is incorrect and only a few slang words are used, but the vigor and irreverence of Basfahe— Abend’s native register— shine through.
<p>At the same time, nothing falls flatter to Verdurian ears than a sudden dip into bad Basfahe— what we might call “youth pastor” or “Steve Buscemi” mode:
<blockquote> <tt> Ai pëse, iy lačai mizec micose, kiam ašu soi maucruseci, kaë řo šri dy Aď e, iy epe esan, drukobo can.</tt> <br/>
be-1s sad / or should-1s say moldy / when consider-1s the-m.pl.acc lost-pl.acc / who.pl no know.3s sub God be-3s / or can-3s be / pal 3p-dat <br/>
<i>I’m sad, or should I say bummed, when I think of the lost souls who do not know that God is, or can be, their pally. </i><br/>
</blockquote>
<p>I should also emphasize that Basfahe need not be vivid, or full of slang, or concerned with sex and crime— these are just what sets it off from EMV. The following is also unexceptional Basfahe, and almost identical in EMV:
<blockquote> <tt> Cišurnai prî Rahelin, ac išrifao dy ȟo šri kio e nom ešé.</tt> <br/>
<b> Cišurnai prî Rahelin, ac iššrifao dy řo šri kio e nom esë.</b> <br/>
weaken-1s about Raheli / but guess-1s sub no know-3s what be-3s name 1s-gen<br/>
<i> I fell in love with Raheli, but she probably doesn’t know what my name is.</i> <br/>
</blockquote>
If for some reason you wanted to use Basfahe in a written Verdurian text, my advice would be the same as if you wanted to represent a non-standard dialect in English: tone it down— a little dialect flavor goes a long way. To see what I mean, it might well accurately represent an English speaker’s dialect to write
<blockquote>
<i>I feww ‘n love wi’ Rachel, but she prolly duh’n know whuh m’name is.</i>
</blockquote>
but it’s tiring to read and does the character no favors. If we’re talking to someone, we’re only half-conscious of their dialect anyway, and less so the more the dialog goes on. Better to emphasize class and individuality with syntax and word choice.
<p>I haven’t used the Verdurian alphabet in this section, for similar reasons. Contemporary writers might or might not attempt to reproduce phonological features of Basfahe; and for some of them (e.g. <tt>ȟ</tt> or <tt>j</tt>, or nasalization) they had no good representation.
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