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"lsulky" <lsulky@hidden.email> wrote:
>
> If I choose to call myself Kaleribyo, is that valid only as long as
> neither "le" nor "ri" is a classifier?
>
Yes. Here's an example:
Kibe lisi Kaleribyo gebumeswa?
Does Leri like ice cream?
As you can see, the current version of the software just chops off the
prefix and classifier for proper names that are not in the dictionary.
By the way, since "la" is not a classifier, "Kalaribyo" is also
acceptable.
>
> I saw an earlier post from Stephan on this, but the example
> featured a semi-root that began with a consonant cluster ("xte" or
> "sti") so it was invalid on that ground anyway. But he was
> wondering if a name that he chose could be rendered invalid by
> later developments in the language. I'm certain the answer is
> "no" but I don't understand the rules.
>
A proper name semi-root cannot start with a consonant cluster, but it
can contain one later on:
Kibe lisi Karenaldabyo gebumeswa?
Does Renalda like ice cream?
There are no formal rules that assign particular syllables to various
categories, but there are informal ones that I have never violated.
Here are the CVs reserved for prefixes and classifiers:
b, c, f, g, n, t, z, x, l followed by e or o
p, j, v, k, m, d, s followed by a, i, or u
If a consonant precedes one of the above (creating a consonant cluster)
and/or if a semi-vowel and/or vowel is added, the result is also
reserved. For example, "be" and "mbe" are classifiers, while "beo",
"bwe", and "bewa" are unused but reserved for future use. "Ka" and
"kaye" are prefixes, while "xka" and "kayo" are unused but reserved for
future use.
If you use any combinations OTHER than the above, there will never be a
conflict except in the extremely unlikely case that I decide to assign a
different meaning to your complete proper name. For example, you're
screwed if I decide to use "Kaleribyo" for a name other than "Larry".
However, I doubt if this will ever happen.
Regards,
Rick Morneau
http://www.srv.net/~ram
http://www.eskimo.com/~ram