NEOSLAVONIC

ZONAL CONSTRUCTED
LANGUAGE

Vojtěch Merunka Prague, January 2017


NEOSLAVONIC ZONAL CONSTRUCTED LANGUAGE

ISO-690 citation example

MERUNKA, Vojtěch. Neoslavonic Zonal Constructed Language. 1st edition, 6th corrected reprint,
Nová Forma, January 2017, 164 p.




Support for this book was provided by the research project "Collaboration of the Czech Republic with
CERN laboratories - LA08015" of the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.




monograph, first edition

811.16* Slavic languages.
811.92* Artificial languages for use among human beings, auxiliary interlanguages.
376* Education, teaching, training of special groups of persons. Special schools.




reviewers

Olga Felkina, A. S. Pushkin Brest State University, Faculty of Philology
Emil Heršak, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Elpidoforos Lambriniadis, Metropolitan of Bursa, abbot of the Halki Holy Trinity in Constantinople
Zdeněk Linhart, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Commenius/Grundtvig training programmes
Snezhina Stojanova, Plovdiv University, Faculty of Economics

proofread by Steeven Radzikowski, The Interslavic Project, San Diego, California



Nová Forma, s. r. o.
tř. 28 října 1308/24
370 01 České Budějovice
Czech Republic
www.novaforma.cz
issued as the 386th publication

load 500 copies
164 pages (146 normalized pages)

© 2012-2017, Vojtěch Merunka , author
© 2012-2017, Nová Forma s. r. o., publisher

ISBN 978-80-7453-291-7



graphics on the cover of the book is a collage made from a photo of Codex Assemanus from the early
11th century and a picture of medieval Croatian Glagolitic. © Codex Assemanus, Vatican library,
© RADAN, V. Missale Romanum Glagolitice Editio Princeps 1483, San Jose State University 2006

this text was assembled and typeset thanks to the technology of Apple Inc.

to
Iveta, Anna and Jan

4

Preface

Your knowledge is nothing when no one else knows that you know it.
Ничто jест твоıе знанье, ако ли ıего други не знают.
Ničto jest tvoje znanje, ako li jego drugi ne znajut.
Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter.
Aulus Persius Flaccus, Sat. I-27

Dear reader, it is my duty to thank all of the people who have contributed to the creation,
development and preservation of the Interslavic language.
First of all, I must acknowledge the brilliant Constantine the Philosopher (Cyril),
professor at the University of Constantinople in Magnaura (Πανδιδακτήριον της
Μαγναύρας), philologist, alphabet and conlang creator and his brother Methodius, the
first Slavic archbishop, Bible translator and author of many other religious and secular
publications. Brothers Constantine and Methodius are honorably declared by the
Western and Eastern churches as co-patron saints of united Europe. I also acknowledge
those people who assisted Constantine and Methodius in their work: the disciples and
followers Gorazd, Angelarios, Sava, Lazar, Clemens of Ohrid, Eastern Roman Emperor
Michailos III, Patriarch Fotios of Constantinople (teacher of Constantine the Philosopher
and rector of the University), princes Rostislav, Kocel and Bořivoj and the king,
Svatopluk. Finally I acknowledge enlightened Roman Pope Hadrian II and librarian
Anastasius in Rome, as well as all those who in subsequent centuries at various places
continued this pioneering work and preserved it. They are among many other brothers
and sisters of Preslav, Ohrid, Sázava, Senj, Croatian Islands, Holy Mountain Athos and
many others from various nations to this day.

The Neoslavonic project was great experience for me, because I probably touched a little
extent of similar problems and challenges as in the past were solved by our Slavic
language revivalists, reformers, designers and Interslavic idea propagators and
defenders. They are in alphabetical order: Bohuslav Balbín, Vjačeslav Bambas, Antonín
Bernolák, Josef Dobrovský, Ljudevit Gaj, Josef Jungmann, Vuk Karadžić, Ján Kollár,
Konstantin Maladinov, Pavel Šafárik, Ľudovít Štúr, Faust Vrančić, Matija Ziljski, Partenij
Zografski and many others having our sincere respect and admiration.

I also want to honestly thank to my deeply respectable colleagues from our Interslavic
community and our supporters for their hard work, enthusiasm and significant
contribution to the broadcasting of the Interslavic project idea in media, Facebook
discussions, internet news, practical business, etc. They are in alphabetical order: Bojan
Antić, Karol Biegała, Ivan Canjar, Martin Čudek, Vratislav Datel, Petr Jandáček, Jozef
Janočko, Světlana Lavičková, Roberto Lombino, Václav Marhoul, Jozef Mikita, Lubor
Mojdl, Andrej Pyžov, Steeven Radzikowski namely for his text corrections and assistance,
Ondrej Rečnik, Rostislav Řepka, Anna Řepková, Pavel Skrylev, Dušan Spáčil, Jan van
Steenbergen namely for his knowledge and co-editing of our “Memorandum” (see page
27), Gabriel Svoboda, Antonios A. Tachiaos, Andrej Teterevov, Tomáš Vaňák, Jan Vít,
Grzegorz Wiśniewski and many others. And at last but not least to Rumjan Lazov for his
lovely Cyrillic font and Filip Cvitić for his beautiful Glagolitic font.
Vojtěch Merunka, Prague 2012, www.neoslavonic.org

5

Table of Contents
Preface ................................................................................................................................................ 5
Index ................................................................................................................................................. 11
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 17
why do we need an artificial inter-Slavic language? .................................................................... 18
motivation ...................................................................................................................................................... 20
why Neoslavonic instead of Russian? ................................................................................................ 21
where to use Neoslavonic? ..................................................................................................................... 22
Neoslavonic and Old Church Slavonic ................................................................................................ 23
alphabets ........................................................................................................................................................ 24
Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 25
used abbreviations and acronyms ....................................................................................................... 25
Memorandum of the Interslavic Community about the languages Novoslovienski,
Slovianski and Slovio .................................................................................................................. 27
1. pronunciation and alphabet ................................................................................................ 33
pronunciation ............................................................................................................................................... 33
alphabet and orthography ...................................................................................................................... 33
soft pronunciation of consonants versus simplicity .................................................................... 36
palatalization and euphony .................................................................................................................... 36
losing vowels "e" and "o" ......................................................................................................................... 37
1st example ..................................................................................................................................................... 38
2nd example .................................................................................................................................................... 38
2. sentence structure, word order ......................................................................................... 39
1st example ..................................................................................................................................................... 40
2nd example .................................................................................................................................................... 41
3. definite and indefinite articles ........................................................................................... 43
Bulgarian and Slavo-Macedonian exception ................................................................................... 44
4. nouns, cases, prepositions ................................................................................................... 45
number ............................................................................................................................................................ 45
gender .............................................................................................................................................................. 45
cases .................................................................................................................................................................. 45
nominative case ...................................................................................................................................... 46
vocative case ............................................................................................................................................ 46
accusative case ........................................................................................................................................ 46
dative case ................................................................................................................................................. 46
locative case ............................................................................................................................................. 46
instrumental case ................................................................................................................................... 47
genitive case ............................................................................................................................................. 47
animate and inanimate masculine patterns .................................................................................... 47
feminine patterns ........................................................................................................................................ 48
neuter patterns ............................................................................................................................................ 49

6

 special feminine pattern kost (a bone) and dual number ......................................................... 49
prepositions ................................................................................................................................................... 50
how to learn cases - declension symmetries ................................................................................... 52
irregular declension patterns ................................................................................................................ 52
appendix ......................................................................................................................................................... 53
5. verbs to be, to have ................................................................................................................. 55
cases with verbs to be and to have ...................................................................................................... 56
to be / to have complementarity .......................................................................................................... 56
6. query sentences, yes and no, negation ............................................................................ 57
yes and no, negation .................................................................................................................................. 58
7. pronouns .................................................................................................................................... 59
personal pronouns ..................................................................................................................................... 59
hard pattern - pronoun toj, ta, to = the .............................................................................................. 60
soft pattern - pronoun sej, sa, se = the ............................................................................................... 60
soft pattern - pronouns on, ona, ono, oni = he, she, it, they ...................................................... 60
possessive pronouns moj = my, tvoj = yours, naš = our, vaš = your ..................................... 61
possessive pronouns jego = his, jej = her, jego = its, jih = their ............................................... 62
interrogative pronouns kto, ktory = who; čto, kaky = what .................................................... 62
interrogative pronoun koj ....................................................................................................................... 63
interrogative pronouns kogo, čego = whose ................................................................................... 63
interrogative pronouns and their answers ...................................................................................... 63
relative pronouns in subordinate clauses - ktory=koj, kaky, ..., iže ....................................... 64
8. adjectives ................................................................................................................................... 65
declension ...................................................................................................................................................... 66
gradation ......................................................................................................................................................... 67
descriptive gradation ................................................................................................................................ 67
irregular gradation ..................................................................................................................................... 68
adjectives at noun positions ................................................................................................................... 68
9. numerals .................................................................................................................................... 69
ordinal numbers .......................................................................................................................................... 70
interrogative, demonstrative and indefinite number ................................................................. 71
fractions, set numbers, multiple numbers ....................................................................................... 72
10. present tense of verbs ......................................................................................................... 73
hard conjugation pattern (-eš verbs) ................................................................................................. 73
soft conjugation pattern (-iš verbs) .................................................................................................... 74
irregular verbs byti = to be, iti = to go, jesti = to eat .................................................................... 75
examples ......................................................................................................................................................... 76
11. adverbs, idioms ..................................................................................................................... 77
derived adverbs ........................................................................................................................................... 77
interrogative adverbs and their answers ......................................................................................... 78
gradation ......................................................................................................................................................... 79
idioms ............................................................................................................................................................... 79
7

12. imperative of verbs .............................................................................................................. 81
imperative of irregular verbs, subjunctive mood ......................................................................... 82
13. past tenses of verbs ............................................................................................................. 83
L-participle ..................................................................................................................................................... 83
simple past tense ......................................................................................................................................... 84
composed past tense = prior present tense .................................................................................... 85
symmetric system of Neoslavonic present and past tenses ..................................................... 86
14. future tenses of verbs ......................................................................................................... 87
prior future tense ........................................................................................................................................ 87
symmetric system of Neoslavonic future, present and past tenses ...................................... 88
15. medial, passive, conditional, aspect of verbs .............................................................. 89
active voice .................................................................................................................................................... 89
medial voice ................................................................................................................................................... 89
passive voice, passive participle ........................................................................................................... 90
conditional ..................................................................................................................................................... 91
aspect of verbs .............................................................................................................................................. 92
16. verbal nouns, participles ................................................................................................... 95
verbal noun (gerund) ................................................................................................................................ 95
transformation clause↔gerund ............................................................................................................ 95
adjectival participles ................................................................................................................................. 96
adverbial participles, clause transformation to adverbial participle ................................... 98
17. conjunctions, particles and interjections ................................................................... 101
conjuctions .................................................................................................................................................. 101
particles ........................................................................................................................................................ 102
interjections ............................................................................................................................................... 103
a joke ............................................................................................................................................................. 104

8

18. sentences with coordinate and subordinate clauses, writing commas ........... 105
coordinate clauses ................................................................................................................................... 105
subordinate clauses ................................................................................................................................ 106
writing commas ........................................................................................................................................ 107
19. non-conforming attributes, transformations, capitalization .............................. 109
non-conforming attribute ..................................................................................................................... 109
transformation of the subject in clause with verb byti = to be ............................................ 110
transformation of the subject in clause with other verb than byti (to be) ..................... 110
transformation of the entire clause ................................................................................................. 111
multiple attribute ..................................................................................................................................... 111
capitalization .............................................................................................................................................. 112
20. word formation, diminution ........................................................................................... 113
Latin and Greek words in Neoslavonic ........................................................................................... 113
words from other languages ............................................................................................................... 114
word formation - suffixes ..................................................................................................................... 115
word formation - prefixes .................................................................................................................... 115
diminution ................................................................................................................................................... 116
transition words ......................................................................................................................... 117
transition of logic ..................................................................................................................................... 117
transition of thought ............................................................................................................................... 120
pronouns ................................................................................................................................................. 120
keyword repetition ............................................................................................................................ 120
synonyms ................................................................................................................................................ 120
demonstrative pronouns ................................................................................................................. 120
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 121
Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 123
Conversation .............................................................................................................................................. 123
greetings ................................................................................................................................................. 123
wish someone something ................................................................................................................ 123
asking for help ...................................................................................................................................... 124
introducing yourself .......................................................................................................................... 124
understanding ...................................................................................................................................... 125
directions ................................................................................................................................................ 126
time ........................................................................................................................................................... 127
shopping, hotel, restaurant ............................................................................................................. 128
numbers .................................................................................................................................................. 129
other useful words .............................................................................................................................. 129
Neoslavonic-English vocabulary ....................................................................................................... 131
English-Neoslavonic vocabulary ....................................................................................................... 139
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 147

9

Interslavic projects .................................................................................................................... 149
internet news - IZVĚSTI.info ............................................................................................................... 149
INTERSLAVIC LEXICON - dict.interslavic.com ............................................................................ 151
Facebook group ........................................................................................................................................ 151
speech synthesizer - generator.neoslavonic.org ....................................................................... 151
false friends of the slavist ..................................................................................................................... 151
E.U. grant projects - Commenius Grundtvig Training .............................................................. 151
modern Slavic nations ....................................................................................................................... 152
our village ............................................................................................................................................... 152
modern Slavic nations - in Cyrillic ............................................................................................... 153
our village - in Cyrillic ....................................................................................................................... 153
information flier for hotel guests ................................................................................................. 154
ecclesiastical texts .............................................................................................................................. 155
optional Neoslavonic alphabets ............................................................................................ 157
ancient alphabets - Venetic/Etruscan, Glagolitic and old-Cyrillic ...................................... 158
interslavic Braille ..................................................................................................................................... 160
Neoslavonic grammar tables .................................................................................................. 161

10

Index

Byzantium, 159
A
ablative, 110, 111
C
accusative, 46, 111 capitalization, 112
active participle, 97 case, 45, 109
active voice, 89 Celtic, 158
active-passive voice symmetry, 24 centum Indoeuropean, 158
adjectival participle, 96 CERN, 22
adjective, 39, 65 clause, 42, 105, 106, 110
Adriatic, 159 Clemens of Ohrid, 5
Adriatic Veneti, 159 Commenius Grundtvig Training, 151
adverb, 39, 77 comparative, 67
adverbial participle, 98 complementarity of to be and to have, 56
Albanian, 39 conditional, 91
Amber Path, 159 conforming attribute, 109
Anastasius, 5 conjugation, 39
ancient Slavic alphabet, 160 conjunction, 101
Andrej Pyžov, 5 Constantine the Philosopher, 5, 17, 20,
Andrej Tetervov, 5 159
Angelarios, 5 Constantinople, 5
animate noun, 45 containers, 72
animate pattern, 47 content management systems, 151
Anna Řepková, 5 control element, 106
Antonín Bernolák, 5 coordinate clause, 105
Antonios A. Tachiaos, 5 coupling clauses, 101
Appian, 159 creation adjectives, 115
Arabic, 21, 39, 158 Croatia, 160
Aramaic, 39 Croatian Islands, 5
Arebica, 158 Cyril, 5, 17, 20, 159
aspect, 92 Cyrillic, 24, 33, 114, 159
astrological symbols, 159 Cyrillic j, 153
athematic verbs, 23
Athos, 5 D
augmentative, 67 Daniel Bunčić, 151
Aulus Persius Flaccus, 5 dative, 46
decimal number, 72
B declension, 39
Baltic, 159 declension pattern, 23
Balto-Slavic, 20 declension symmetry, 52
Bible, 20 definite article, 44, 60
Bohuslav Balbín, 5 demonstrative pronoun, 43, 120
Bojan Antić, 5 descriptive gradation, 67
Bojan Antics, 158 descriptive gradation of adverbs, 79
Bořivoj, 5 diacritics, 33
Bosnian script, 158 diminution, 116
branched tree, 39, 42 direct gradation of adverbs, 79
Bulgarian, 44, 55 direct object, 46
11

dotless i, 153 Great Moravia, 159
double negative, 58 Greek, 37, 39, 42, 45, 53, 113, 114, 160
dual, 45, 59, 73 Greek alphabet, 24, 33
Dušan Spáčil, 5 Grzegorz Wiśniewski, 5

E H
ě=ѣ, 35 hard pronoun pattern, 60
Eastern Slavic languages, 37 hard verb pattern, 73
Ellis Howell Minns, 159 has-a relationship, 56
emotion, 103 Hebrew, 19, 39
Enetoi, 159 Herodotos, 159
English-like word order, 40
Esperanto, 18, 19, 20, 27, 30 I
Este, 158 i kratke, 33, 34, 81
Etruscan, 158 idiom, 22
Etruscan alphabet, 158 idioms, 79
Euboian Greek script, 158 Ido, 20
euphony, 73, 74 ie, 33
euphony rules, 37 Illyrian, 158
European Union, 22 illyro-slavinity, 159
exclamation, 103 imperative, 81
imperfective aspect, 92
F inanimate noun, 45
Facebook, 5 inanimate pattern, 47
false friends, 151 indefinite article, 43
Farsi, 158 indefinite numeral, 71
feminine, 45 indicative, 67
feminine pattern, 48 indirect object, 46
Filip Cvitić, 5, 159, 160 Indo-Aryan languages, 39
flavorization, 28 Indoeuropean, 158
Fotios, 5 Indonesian, 19
fraction, 72 infinitive, 73
free word order, 42 infinitive stem, 23
fusional language, 39 inflecting language, 39
future tense, 87, 88 information technology, 151
instrumental, 47
G interjection, 103
Gabriel Svoboda, 5 Interlingua, 19, 20, 30
gender, 45, 59, 109 interogative pronoun, 62
genitive, 47, 71, 111 interrogative, 57
German, 53 interrogative pronoun, 63
Germanic, 37 Interslavic, 121
Germanic runes, 158 Interslavic Community, 17
gerund, 95 Interslavic dialogue, 28
Glagolica, 20 Interslavic project, 18
Glagolitic, 20, 24, 33, 159 iota, 153
Gorazd, 5 IPA, 34
GOST standard, 33 irregular declension pattern, 52
gradation, 67 irregular pattern, 49
gradation of adverbs, 79 irregular verb, 83
12

irregular verbs, 23, 75 Lusatian, 159
irregular vocative, 46
is-a relationship, 56 M
ISO 9, 33 Magnaura, 5
isolated adjective, 68 Malj Skrylev, 5
Ivan Canjar, 5 Mark Hučko, 30
marketing, 22
J Martin Čudek, 5
Jan Hus, 33 masculine, 45
Ján Kollár, 5 masculine pattern, 48
Jan van Steenbergen, 5 Matija Ziljski, 5, 18
Jan Vít, 5 medial voice, 89
jatj, 35 memorandum, 18
jer, 33, 35 metaphor, 22
jor, 35, 83 Methodius, 5, 17, 20
Josef Dobrovský, 5 Michailos III, 5
Josef Jungmann, 5 Middle Ages, 29
jotization, 35, 36 mobile computing technology, 151
jotization before vowels, 33 multiplicative article, 72
jotized vowels, 153 Muslims, 158
Jozef Janočko, 5
Jozef Mikita, 5 N
ju=ю, 35 nasal vowels, 23
Judeo-Spanish, 158 nasals, 35
natural grammatical forms, 24
K natural numbers, 69
Karol Biegała, 5 negation, 58
knowledge representation, 151 neuter, 45
knowledge transfer, 151 neuter pattern, 49
Kocel, 5 nominative, 46
Konstantin Maladinov, 5 non-accented Latin letters, 33
non-conforming, 109
L non-inflected word, 77
Ladino, 158 non-Slavic people, 21
Latin, 24, 33, 37, 39, 42, 45, 53, 113 noun, 39
Latino sine flexion, 20 number, 109
Latvian, 39
Lazar, 5
O
Ligurian, 158 object, 46
Lingua Terrana, 20 object part, 39
Lithuanian, 39 Occidental, 20
locative, 46 Ohrid, 5
longer present verb stem, 73 old Bulgarian, 159
loosing effect, 37 Old Church Slavonic, 17, 21, 23, 27, 30,
loosing vowel e, 23, 37 35, 37, 44, 69, 153
loosing vowel o, 23, 37 omega, 155
lost-less clause transformation, 24 Ondrej Rečnik, 5
L-participle, 83, 91 ordinal number, 70
Lubor Mojdl, 5, 158 Orthodox Church, 17, 20, 23
Ľudovít Štúr, 5 orthography, 114
13

Ottoman Empire, 158 Q

P querying particle, 102

Qur’an, 21
Padua, 158
pair, 72 R
palatalization, 23, 35, 36, 65, 73
receptive understanding, 21
Pandidaktirion tis Magnauras
reduced vowels, 23, 35, 37, 115
(Πανδιδακτήριον της Μαγναύρας), 5
relative pronoun iže, 64
Partenij Zografski, 5
Roberto Lombino, 5
participles, 24
Roman-Catholic Church, 17, 20
particle, 102, 105
Rome, 5
particle li, 57, 102
Rostislav, 5
passive participle, 90, 97
Rostislav Řepka, 5
passive understanding, 21
Rumjan Lazov, 5
passive voice, 90
Russian, 18, 21, 22
past passive participle, 95
Russian Empire, 21
past stem, 73
Russian Federation, 21
past tense, 83, 86, 88
Pavel Šafárik, 5
S
perfective aspect, 92
personal pronouns overuse, 22 Sanskrit, 39
Petr Jandáček, 5 Sava, 5
phonetic orthography, 114 Sázava, 5
plagiarized Slovio, 30 second person, 75
Plinius, 159 Semitic languages, 39
plural, 59 Senj, 5
Polish, 35, 37, 44 sentiment, 103
Polish word order, 44 Seversk, 20
position of words, 39 shortening of present verbs, 74
possessive pronoun, 61, 62 simplified orthography, 35
Prague, 160 Slavisk, 20
preposition, 39, 50, 109 Slavo-Germanian, 20
prepositions, 46 Slavo-Iranian, 20
present stem, 73 Slavo-Macedonian, 43, 44, 55
present tense, 86, 88 Slovak, 19, 37
Preslav, 5 Slovenian, 55, 159
prior past tense, 85, 86, 88 Slovianski, 28
prior-future tense, 88 Slovianto, 29
prior-present tense, 86, 88 Slovio, 20, 27
problem of i/y, 66 soft consonants, 36, 37
pronoun, 39, 59 soft pronoun pattern, 60
pronoun prefixes, 63 soft pronunciation, 36
proto-Cyrillic, 159 soft sign, 33, 35
Proto-Slavic, 17 soft verb pattern, 74
Proto-Slavs, 159 softening the preceding consonants, 35
proverbial part, 39 softer present verb stem, 73
proverbial structure, 77 speech generator, 38
Ptolemaios, 159 Steeven Radzikowski, 5
stress, 33
Styrian region, 158
subject part, 39
14

subject reference, 59 V
subjunctive mood, 82
Václav Marhoul, 5
subordinate clause, 106
Venedi, 159
superlative, 67
Veneti, 158
Světlana Lavičková, 5
Venetic, 158
syllabic l and r, 23, 35
Venetic script, 158
syllable, 33
Veneto, 158
symmetries between pronouns,
verb conjugation, 23
numerals and adverbs, 78
verb part, 39
symmetry ě/i, 59
verb tenses, 23
symmetry o/e, 59, 66
verb to be, 22, 55, 75, 83, 87, 91, 110
synonym, 120
verb to eat, 75, 83
Syrian, 159
verb to go, 75, 83
T verb to have, 22, 55
verbal noun, 95, 111
Tacitus, 159 Vjačeslav Bambas, 5, 18
Tomáš Vaňák, 5 vocative, 46
tourism, 22 Volapük, 20
tourist attraction, 160 vowel e, 52, 59
training courses, 151 vowel ě, 59
transformation clause - gerund, 95 vowel i, 59
transformation of the subject, 110 vowel jotization, 153
transition of logic, 117 vowel o, 52, 59
transition of thought, 120 Vratislav Datel, 5
transition words and phrases, 117 Vuk Karadžić, 5, 153
transport, 22
triple negative, 58 W
Turkic, 159
Wiching of Nitra, 21
U word-building tools, 29
writing commas between clauses, 107
UN 1987, 33 wrong homonym, 36
UNGEGN, 33
United Nations Group of Experts on Y
Geographical Names, 33
Yiddish, 158
University of Constantinople, 5

15

Introduction

Welcome to the book of the Neoslavonic language (NS), which is a part of the non-
commercial Interslavic language project of the Interslavic Community. Neoslavonic
(Interslavic) is a "zonal constructed language" intended to facilitate communication
among the speakers and writers of the modern day Slavic languages - Belorussian,
Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Kashubian, Slavo-Macedonian, Montenegrin, Polish,
Russian, Rusyn, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Sorbian (i.e. Lusatian, Wendish), Ukrainian and
their various dialects - all of which derive from an original "Proto-Slavic" tongue, which
over thousands of years, morphed into very divergent "dialects," each becoming a
separate language unto itself. (www.neoslavonic.org)

Over half of Europe’s territory is inhabited by Slavic-speaking communities; moreover,
the worldwide population of people of Slavic descent is estimated to be about 400
millions.

Because all our Slavic languages derive from that common Proto-Slavic tongue,
knowledge of one Slavic language will often allow one to have at least a rough
understanding of text written in another Slavic language - but not sufficiently enough to
achieve a strong comprehension. This fact has inspired linguists and others over the
centuries to attempt to create a universal Slavic language that would be more
understandable to all Slavs. Among these include Old Church Slavonic, developed in the
9th century by two Byzantine Greek missionaries and co-patrons saints of the Europe,
the brothers Constantine the Philosopher (Cyril) and Methodius of Thessalonica, as well
as dozens of other projects since today. What they have in common is that they are all
based on the assumption that the Slavic languages are similar enough to make such an
auxiliary language possible at all.

Neoslavonic language design is based on the harmony of following three principles:

1. To share grammar and common vocabulary with modern spoken Slavic

languages in order to build a universal language that Slavic people can
understand without any prior learning.

2. To be an easy-learned language for those who want to use this language actively.
Non-Slavic people can use this language as the entrance door to the big Slavic
world. We believe that knowledge of Neoslavonic enables both Slavic and non-
Slavic people greater passive (e.g. receptive) understanding and better learning
of the real national Slavic languages.

3. Neoslavonic follows the tradition of the Old Church Slavonic language (OCS). OCS
was the first literary Slavic language, believed to have been artificially developed
in the 9th century by two brave Byzantine Greek missionaries Saints Cyril and
Methodius, who were credited with standardizing the Slavic dialects and using it
for translating the Bible and other ecclesiastical texts as the tool of the
Christianization of the Slavic people. OCS is still frequently used by the Orthodox
Church and sometimes also by the Roman-Catholics in many Slavic countries up
to present day. Neoslavonic is designed as the modernized and simplified but
still sufficiently compatible version of this old language.

17

Our Interslavic project is not the only one of its kind. Over the last two centuries, several
other similar constructed languages were proposed, the most progress in which was
made during the 19th century by the Slovenian priest and linguist Matija Majar Ziljski
and the Czech translator and writer Václav František (Vjačeslav) Bambas. Our project
has also been inspired by the successful reconstruction of the modern Serbian, Czech,
Slovak, Indonesian, Arabic and Hebrew languages.

Our Memorandum says, that our Interslavic language project is based exclusively on
forms that exist throughout the Slavic language continuum and that Esperanto-like
artificiality is carefully avoided: every word stem, grammatical ending or morphological
element can be found in several Slavic languages and ideally in all of them. This design
strategy locates the Interslavic language at the very center of living Slavic languages.

why do we need an artificial inter-Slavic language?

We know that about one half (maybe more) of the total number of Slavic-speaking
people use the Russian language. If the Russian language is sufficiently simple and
understandable to other Slavs without learning, our project would be unnecessary; but
unfortunately it is not. Russian is far from the imaginary linguistic center of Slavic
languages. It has a specific alphabet, phonetics, grammar and significant portion of its
vocabulary without the universal Slavic validity. Of course, the same holds true in
varying instances for all of our modern national Slavic languages.

European countries with Slavic as an official language (from Wikimedia)

18


Indo-European language tree (from Nature 449, 665-667, Oct. 2007)

Our strategy is to develop and broadcast Interslavic project in such way that it can be
naturally incorporated into the collection of spoken Slavic languages as an auxiliary
language tool, enabling international dialogue, knowledge and cultural transfer without
the need of translating information into several national languages.

Our experience is that speakers of Slavic languages tend to perceive the
Neoslavonic/Interslavic language as either an ancient or remote dialect of their own
native language, or as a neighboring language closely related to their own. People are
often surprised how much they can understand of it.

Spoken languages are living things and we know that no constructed language
(Esperanto, Interlingua, ...) or reconstructed modern national language (Slovak, Hebrew,
Indonesian, ...) in the world is used in the exact same form as when it was first
published. Therefore we welcome anybody – linguist, non-linguist, native speaker, non-
native speaker – to join our ranks and work with us on this great task!

19

motivation
The name of Neoslavonic (Novoslověnski in original reading) comes from the Old
(Church) Slavonic language, which was the first literary Slavic language, developed by
the 9th century Byzantine Greek missionaries Saints Constantine the Philosopher (Cyril)
and Methodius who were credited with standardizing vulgar Slavic dialects and using
them for translating the Bible and other ecclesiastical texts as part of the
Christianization of the all Slavic peoples (Slavs = Slověni).

The Neoslavonic language (NS) is a constructed language (conlang) dating from 2009. It
is an attempt to create a modern artificial auxiliary Interslavic language made to
facilitate both written and spoken communication between speakers of modern Slavic
nations. Neoslavonic design is based on historical stages of evolution of the actual Slavic
languages starting from the Old (Church) Slavonic. The idea of an artificial universal
Slavic language is not new. Since the 19th century to the present day, approximately a
hundred artificial Slavic languages have been created, most with a Slavic basis, but some
mixed (Balto-Slavic, Slavo-Germanian or Slavo-Iranian).

Neoslavonic is inspired by following:

• The Esperanto-like constructed language by Mark Hučko called “Slovio”,

• the similar language Slovianski, which is now a collaborative partner with

Neoslavonic in the common interslavic project “Medžuslovjanski”,

• Glagolica and similar projects, also now collaborative partners within our
Interslavic project, and

• the contemporary spoken modern dialects (Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian,

Croatian, ...) of Church Slavonic, which are directly based on the original Old
Slavonic as they are used by the Orthodox and Roman-Catholic Church.

Neoslavonic is one of many artificial Indo-European languages like Esperanto, Ido,

Interlingua, Latino sine flexione, Lingua Terrana, Occidental, Volapük, Slovio, Glagolitic,
Slavisk, Seversk, and many more. Plenty of these languages prefer simplicity and
reduction of grammar, which, in case of Esperanto or Slovio, makes comic impression.

This is why in my opinion, reduction of everything ad absurdum is not the right way. A
universal language should primarily have a logical structure - a clear, understandable,
but morphologically rich set of rules with minimum exceptions and idioms. Here, there
is no space for unnatural structures made from a combination of random consonants
and vowels. A universal language should not even have too abbreviated words and
unnatural grammatical building blocks. This means that it should (for better clarity)
prefer words in natural, full and euphonic forms. Here, in my opinion, Esperanto has
failed (e.g. the Esperanto system of unnatural pronouns and adverbs mutually differing
in only one vowel or consonant without any natural analogy to some real language).

This all means that Neoslavonic is created as an auxiliary language that appears to be
almost the same as real spoken languages. As such, it is ideal for being used for the
following purposes:

• To share grammar and a common vocabulary with modern spoken Slavic

languages in order to build a universal language that Slavic people can
understand without any - or very minimal - prior learning.
20

 • To be an easy-learned language for those who want to use it actively. Non-Slavic
people can use this language as the door to the “big Slavic world”. We believe
that knowledge of Neoslavonic enables both Slavic and non-Slavic people greater
passive (e.g. receptive) understanding and better learning of the living Slavic
languages.
• To be a basic conversation platform for Slavs and non-Slavs alike, without having
to learn a specific real Slavic language.
• Neoslavonic continues the tradition of Church Slavonic. It is designed as the
modernized and simplified - but still sufficiently compatible - version of Church
Slavonic.

Neoslavonic is also an interesting experiment of alternative history: If there was not

such strong pressure from the Frankish Latin-oriented church (e.g. Wiching of Nitra and
his band) against the Moravian Church in the 9th century, the invasion of the Hungarians
into Central Europe and the subsequent collapse of contacts between Moravia (now a
territory of both the Czech and Slovak Republics) and Bulgarian, Serbian and Kiev (later
Russian) states, it is possible to imagine a hypothetic different evolution of the Slavic
early Middle Age language - a similar phenomenon we have seen in the Arabic World:
After the end of natural linguistic unity during the Middle Ages, the modernized
universal Arabic language based on the religious language of the Qur'an still prevails. It
is an artificial language which is close enough to the various contemporary spoken
national dialects of Arabic that it is recognized as the standard for communication
between Arabic nations and for contact with foreigners and used as an auxiliary
language by both state apparatus and the media.

why Neoslavonic instead of Russian?

In this project we cannot ignore the existence of the Russian language. Russian is the
largest spoken Slavic language. The amount of its users together exceeds the holders of
all other Slavic languages. Russian also holds a strong international position. It is the
language of the UN, the language of the astronauts, etc.; it is taught in the USA, China,
India, Iran and Arabic countries, and is often preffered as the only Slavic language under
“Slavic Studies” programs at foreign universities.

Sure, we accept that the Russian Federation, the largest country in the world, is Slavic
and that historically the Russian Empire was long-time the only country in which the
ruling class belonged to a Slavic nation. Also, we must acknowledge past and present
performances of Russian science, technology, culture and sport.

But such Russian dominance has also given way to problems of frequent Russian-centric
underestimating perceptions of other Slavic nations as being only “derivative” (or
“mutated”) Russians.

Regardless of the actual politics and mutual relations between Russian and other Slavic
nations, there are very serious bottlenecks as to why we cannot use Russian as the
auxiliary Interslavic language. Key among these is the fact that most non-Russian Slavic
speakers would not be able to comprehend Russian without at least some prior Russian
language study.
This is because Russian is part of the “eastern branch” of the Slavic languages, and
although it is closely related to the simplified Church Slavonic, it contains language style
elements which others Slavs cannot automatically understand because these “features”

21

are absent in their “western branch” and “southern branch” native Slavic tongues. In the
same way, Russians do not automatically understand Polish, Czech, Croatian, Slovenian
or Macedonian speakers. Some of the Russian languages specigic elements include:

• Specific Cyrillic alphabet and specific English-oriented Latin transcription, which

is very different from Latin orthographies of other Slavic nations (e.g. Croatian,
Czech, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian and Sorbian).
• Unlike other Slavic languages or the common Indo-European standard, the
Russian language rarely uses the verb "to have" or the present tense of the verb
"to be", but uses descriptive idioms instead.
• Unlike other Slavic languages, the Russian language overuses personal pronouns
(I, you, he, she, we, they) in verb conjugations, in contrast to most other Slavic
speakers utilizing either the primary verb form with varying tense suffixes or a
coupling of the primary verb with present tense conjugations of the verb “to be”
verb (e.g. I do, you do = dělaju, dělaješ; I did, you did = jesm dělal, jesi dělal but
Russian: я делаю, ты делаешь, я делал, ты делал).
• Specific Russian phonetics (e.g. oversoftness, pronunciation of written "o" as [a],
additional vowels between consonants, ...).
• Russian vocabulary has specific word subset, even of basic words (e.g.
лошадь/lošadj = a horse, собака/sobaka = a dog, туман/tuman = mist,
бумага/bumaga = paper, ...), which are not present in other Slavic languages.
• Many specific idioms and metaphors also specific only for Russian.

where to use Neoslavonic?

Modern people are travelling much more than in the past. Six Slavic languages are
official languages of the European Union member states. Except for the long time
separation of Slavic nations, Slavic people still feel their mutual cohesiveness and
affinity. This is often well manifested during tourism, business and social events, when
Slavic people from miscellaneous nations tend to speak together not in English but in
some randomly assembled common inter-slavic language, which is sufficient for many
situations. The Neoslavonic language is therefore an original and proffesional response
to this phenomenon as follows:
1. A universal common auxiliary language usable in business, international
transport (information texts and labels in trains, buses, planes, ...), marketing
(product manuals and description), tourism (info leaflets, news, ...) and social
events. Neoslavonic is intended for use as an auxiliary tool in scientific and
research groups of people from Slavic countries, such as scientists at CERN labs.
2. An auxiliary language tool to facilitate rapid knowledge acquisition of Slavic
languages using a receptive method, by which a person is able to gradually
receive some real Slavic language using his/her native Slavic language
background combined with Neoslavonic grammar. During this learning process,
Neoslavonic is step-by-step gradually replaced by the knowledge of the new
adopted language.
3. An auxiliary language demonstrating cultural and historical reality for interested
people in experimental archeology in order to bring together enthusiasts from
various Slavic nations.

22

 4. A practical usable auxiliary language for multinational Slavic groups in touristic
destinations, historical and cultural places and exhibitions and religious
communities (Slavic Orthodox Church for example).
5. A practical tool to demonstrate the similarity of today’s Slavic languages for
teaching and learning purposes. This covers also historical themes where
Neoslavonic imitates the original Old Slavonic language (e.g. movies, theatre, ...).

Neoslavonic and Old Church Slavonic

Neoslavonic language can be considered as a dialect of (Old) Church Slavonic which has
evolved into a modern Slavic standard. Neoslavonic can serve as a substitute for Church
Slavonic. The biggest differences between "Old" and "New" Slavonic are in some
grammatical endings, vocalization and the presence of words from modern Slavic
languages. It should be noted that the "Old" Slavonic also has its own dialects (e.g.
Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, ...) which mutually differ in
pronunciation and details of grammar. Neoslavonic is not so far from them, as it has
been approved in orthodox monasteries in the south-eastern Europe. The main
characteristics of Neoslavonic are:

1. Neoslavonic is better balanced between western, southern and eastern Slavic

languages. Therefore, it may sometimes act surprisingly "old-Serbian" for
Serbian speakers, "old-Czech" for Czech speakers, "old-Slovenian" for Slovenian
speakers etc.
2. Neoslavonic follows phonetic changes which have occurred in the evolution of
modern Slavic languages. This is the loss of nasal vowels, for example.
3. Neoslavonic has a limited and regularized collection of declension and
conjugation patterns. Moreover it has numerous miscellaneous symmetries
between its grammatical rules – i.e. the same or analogous element shares the
same rule in all its occurrences.
4. Neoslavonic unites concepts of determinate and indeterminate forms of
adjectives. This is common in most modern Slavic languages.
5. Neoslavonic replaces reduced vowel ь by standard or loosing vowel "e" and
standard or loosing "o" for the hard reduced vowel ъ.
a. Soft reduced vowel j/ь is used only for consonant softening.
b. Hard reduced vowel '/ъ is used as a vowel only with syllabic l/r, grammar
endings (e.g. plural genitive of hard feminine and neuter patterns).
c. One-consonant prefixes are amended by -o- (e.g. ko-, vo-, so-).
6. Neoslavonic unites the concept of verb conjugation to only two regular patterns.
All verbs - except for only three irregular verbs - belong to either a hard or soft
pattern. There is no difference between so-called thematic and athematic verbs.
7. Pronoun and adjective declination share the same declension pattern.
8. Vowels in all past verb tense endings follow the same vowels from the infinitive
stem. (e.g. dělal, dělah, dělaše... = dělati; viděl, viděh, viděše... = viděti)
9. Second palatalization of noun conjugation is not supported.

23

 10. There are both adjective and adverb verbal participles. Total numbers of
participle species is four: active present, passive present, active past and passive
past.
11. There is active-passive voice symmetry between the verb "to be" and the verb "to
have". These two verbs create a two voice forms of the same ontological concept.
12. There are 6 symmetrical verb tenses in three levels of time: two past, two present
and two future. There is lost-less clause transformation among these time levels.
Thus, although Neoslavonic is an artificial language and is much more regular than
contemporary spoken Slavic languages, it is not reduced to an unnatural level like
Esperanto or Slovio. Neoslavonic contains only natural grammatical forms which are
the same or very similar to those in contemporary Slavic languages. Like in natural
Slavic languages, because Neoslavonic does not reduce the grammar and phonetics to
Esperanto or Slovio levels, Slavic speakers using Neoslavonic can make the same errors
in conjugation patterns (using different vowels etc.) as Slavs of various nations today
normally do when they speak in non-native Slavic language with each other (for
example, when an Ukrainian speaks Czech or a Pole speaks Croatian, etc.)

alphabets
Of course, Cyrillic and Latin are two equal options for writing Neoslavonic, but there are
yet more interesting options. The first of all there are Greek and Glagolitic alphabets.
Although the Greeks have had long and historical contact with the Slavs, the Greek
language does not have a standardized way of writing Slavic words and names.

Glagolitic is a uniqe decorative writing option, which has recently had renewed interest
in Croatia. Glagolitic and other interesting writing options (e.g. Hebrew alphabet,
Arabic/Farsi, etc.) are noted in the appendix.

24

Overview

This book consists of following 20 essential chapters, which step-by-step explains the
grammar and morphology of the Neoslavonic Language:
1. pronunciation and alphabet 14. future tenses of verbs
2. sentence structure, word order 15. medial, passive, conditional,
3. definite and indefinite article aspect of verbs
4. nouns, cases, prepositions 16. verbal nouns, participles
5. verbs to be, to have 17. conjunctions, particles and
6. query sentences, yes and no interjections
7. pronouns 18. sentences with coordinate and
8. adjectives subordinate clauses, writing
9. numerals commas
10. present tense of verbs 19. nonconforming attributes,
11. adverbs, idioms transformations, capitalization
12. imperative of verbs 20. word formation, diminution
13. past tenses of verbs

used abbreviations and acronyms
sent. sentence num. number
clause clause pers. personal
subj. subject dem. demonstrative
obj. object int. interrogative
prov. proverbial rel. relative
sg. singular number indef. indefinite
pl. plural number v. verb
du. dual number inf. infinitive
m. masculine imp. imperative
f. feminine cond. conditional
n. neuter pres. present tense
noun noun past past tense
N nominative case fut. future tense
G genitive case pf. perfective aspect
D dative case ipf. imperfective aspect
A accusative case adv. adverb
V vocative case prep. preposition
L locative case conj. conjugation
I instrumental case part. particle
1. 1st person of verb pref. prefix
2. 2nd person of verb suff. suffix
3. 3rd person of verb inter. interjection
adj. adjective NS Neoslavonic
pron. pronoun OCS Old Church Slavonic

25

Memorandum of the Interslavic Community about the
languages Novoslovienski, Slovianski and Slovio

INTRODUCTION VOVEDENJE
The Slavic languages are a relatively Slověnski jezyky sut grupa sebě relativno
coherent language group. Knowledge of razumivih jezykov. Znanju jednogo Slo-
one Slavic language is often sufficient to věnskogo jezyka jest mnogaždy najmenše
get at least a rough understanding of what dostatečno domysliti grubo razuměnje
a text in any other Slavic language is about. smysla textov v drugih Slověnskih jezykah.
During the course of history, this fact has Tutoj fakt v tečenju věkov inspirovaše
inspired linguists and others to build a lingvisty i druge ljudi tvoriti univerzalny
universal Slavic language that would be slověnsky jezyk, iže by byl razumivy vsim
understandable for all Slavs, including the Slověnom, pričitajuč prěhvalny Staro-
famous Old Church Slavonic language from slověnsky crkveny jezyk i takože desetice
the 9th century, as well as dozens of other drugih projektov ot 16-ogo věka dalěje.
projects from the 16th century onwards. Vsi tuti projekty sut zajedno postavěni na
What they have in common is that they are prědpoloženji, že slověnski jezyky sut sebě
all based on the assumption that the Slavic dostatečno podobni do možnogo dělanja
languages are similar enough to make such takogo jezyka.
a language possible at all.

SLOVIO SLOVIO
Mr. Mark Hučko was one of the first who Gospod Mark Hučko běše jedin iz prvih,
picked up this idea in the digital era. He kto postignuše digitalnu eru. On sotvoriše
made his Slovio in 1999 on almost the svoje Slovio v 1999 na blizko podobnih
same principles as Esperanto, but using principah kako Esperanto, no otlišeno ot
Slavic word roots instead. Initially, the Esperanta s slověnskimi korenami slov.
project was received with some Iznačala běše projekt prijaty na Internetu s
enthusiasm on the Internet, but interest in dehověnjem, no potom je interes v njego
it later fizzled. One significant drawback of izčeznul. Jedin iz priznačnih nedostatkov
the Slovio language is the artificial jezyka Slovio jest umětny charakter jego
character of its grammar. Slavic voca- grammatiky. Slověnsky slovnik jest ko-
bulary is used only for word stems, but ristjeny samo v korěnah slov, no suffixy i
suffixes and many other grammatical mnogo drugih grammatičnih elementov
elements were taken from Esperanto or sut byli izbrani iz Esperanta ili Englijskogo
English, or designed artificially. For non- ili sut byli autorom umětno prědloženi.
Slavs, this language may serve as a kind of Neslověnom tutoj jezyk može služiti kako
Esperanto with the advantage that Slavic poddrug Esperanta s prinosom častečnogo
people can understand some of it; razuměnja ot Slověnov, ali Slověni tutoj
nonetheless, for Slavs the entire concept vsej koncept čujut neprirodnim i někogda
comes across as unnatural and sometimes směšnim. V razrěšenji Slovio nikogda ne
ridiculous. As a result, Slovio never gained bylo prijato, i nyně jest praktično izčeznulo
acceptance, and by now it has practically iz sceny.
vanished from the scene.



27


THE INTERSLAVIC PROJECT MEDŽUSLOVĚNSKY PROJEKT
Most other projects past and present have Bolša čast projektov iz prošlogo ili sučnogo
chosen a more naturalistic approach, vremene izbrala sebě prirodnějši pristup, iže
which has accumulated today into our two se dnes izvršil do dvěh otnošeno rabotajučih
collaborative community projects: Novo- sobornih projektov: Novoslověnski i Slo-
slovienski (Neoslavonic) and Slovianski vianski. Oba dva učestjut podobnu prirodnu
(Slavic). Both share a similar, naturalistic grammatiku, i imajut zajedno jedin slovnik i
grammar, a common vocabulary and one jednu cělj: Popisati univerzalny Slověnsky
common goal: to describe a universal jezyk, jemuže by vsi Slověni razuměli bez
Slavic language that Slavs can understand nikakogo prědhodnogo učenja i jegože by
without any prior learning and use actively koristili samo poslě někakogo minimalnogo
after some minimal learning only. This učenja. Toj jezyk nazvany Medžuslověnski
language, called Interslavic, is based jest osnovany otlučajno na formah, iže izplno
exclusively on forms that exist throughout sustvujut v prostranstvu Slověnskih jezykov
the Slavic language continuum, and i jih umětnost jest promyšleno otklonjena:
artificiality is carefully avoided: every vsekaky slovny koren, grammatične za-
word stem, grammatical ending or mor- končenje ili morfologičny element jest
phological element can be found in several možno naiti v mnogih Slověnskih jezykah,
Slavic languages, ideally in all of them. idealno v vsih iz njih. Tuta strategija prěd-
This design strategy locates Interslavic at loženja nastavuje Medžuslověnsky jezyk do
the very center of the living Slavic samoj srědiny živih Slověnskih jezykov.
languages.
In addition, speakers can easily mix words Navyše, govorci možut udobno měšati slova
or other elements from their mother ili druge elementy iz svojego rodnogo jezyka
do Medžuslověnskogo, čto jih dělaje vyše
tongue into Interslavic, which enables
razumivimi drugim Slověnskim govorcam, i
them to make themselves clearer to other
takože jim davaje možnost koristiti
Slavic speakers, and also allows them to
use Interslavic as a transient tool for faster Medžuslověnski kako prěhodny instrument
brzejšego i udobnějšego učenja drugogo
and easier learning of another Slavic
language. Likewise, Interslavic can easily Slověnskogo jezyka. S Medžuslověnskim
be manipulated by using characteristics jezykom se takože može dvigati koris-
tjenjem svojstev iz jezykov specifično
from the language(s) of a specific target
narěčenoj gruppy. Tuti procesy "pridavanja
group. We call these processes "flavori-
zation". vkusa" sut nami nazyvani "flavorizacija".

Imajeme opyt, že govorci Slověnskih jezykov

Our experience is that speakers of Slavic
languages tend to perceive Interslavic as strmjut svoje počutje Medžuslověnskogo
either an ancient or remote dialect of their kako davnověkovy dialekt svojego jezyka, ili
own language, or a neighboring language kako susedny jezyk blizko vezany k jih
closely related to their own. People are jezyku. Često sut ljudi udiveni, kako mnogo
often surprised how much they can možut Medžuslověnskomu razumiti. Naša
understand of it. Our strategy is to strategija jest iztvoriti tutoj pridavny jezyk
tako, že može byti prirodno priključeny do
develop this auxiliary language in such
občiny govorimih Slověnskih jezykov, može
way that it can be naturally incorporated
popustiti medžuslověnsky dialog, prě-
into the collection of spoken Slavic
languages, to enable Interslavic dialogue, nesenje znanja i kultury bez potrěby
prěloženja informacije do mnogih narodnih
knowledge and cultural transfer without
the need of translating information into jezykov.
several national languages.
28

It should be emphasized that Interslavic is Trěba jest znamenati, že Medžuslověnsky
not related to any religion, ideology or jezyk ne jest vezany na nikaku religiju ili
political movement. It is neither intended političsko dviženje. Ni ne jest ustaveny
to ever replace any living language, nor to někogda izměniti někaky živy jezyk, ni byti
become a universal second language of any univerzalnim vtorim jezykom vsih črěd, no
kind, but merely to serve as a tool for jemu jest toliko služiti priborom těm, iže
those who wish to communicate with hočut komunikirati s drugimi Slověnami, i
other Slavs, and to those who hope to těm, iže nadějajut sebě dobytje lučšego
achieve a better understanding of the razuměnja Slověnskim jezykam.
Slavic languages.


SLOVIANSKI SLOVIANSKI
Slovianski consists of elements that are Slovianski držaje elementy, iže sut najvyše
most common in today’s living Slavic zajedno v dnešnih živih Slověnskih jezykah.
languages. Grammar is basic, simple and Grammatika jest osnovna, prosta i regularna.
regular. To maximize understandability to Radi maximalizacije razumivosti ot Slo-
Slavic speakers, all words and forms are věnskih govorcev, vse slova i formy sut
consistently based on majority solutions. konsistentno osnovane na majoritnom
Because Slovianski is a multi-purpose razrěšenji. Po pričině jezyka do mnogih
language, it is not a closed system with značenjej, on ne jest zaključena systema s
hard rules, but a flexible collection of pevnimi zakonami, ali flexibilno sobiranje
Interslavic language instruments, inclu- jezyčnih priborov vkupě s mnogimi in-
ding numerous word-building tools. The strumentami strojenja slov. Projekt Slo-
Slovianski project also encompasses vianski takože obimaje Slovianto, vysoko
Slovianto, a highly simplified experimental oprostjenu experimentalnu formu Medžu-
form of Interslavic, designed to have an slověnskogo, narečeno imati ješte menšu
even lower complexity level than Slovio, urovenj složnosti ot Slovio no koristjuče
but using natural forms only. toliko prirodne formy.

NEOSLAVONIC NOVOSLOVĚNSKI
Neoslavonic is an artificial evolution of the Novoslověnski jest umětno razvity staro-
Old Church Slavonic language from the slověnsky jezyk iz skorogo srědnogo věka do
early Middle Ages into modern times. It modernogo vremene. Na Novoslověnsky
can be regarded as the simplified grammar jezyk se može nazirati kako na oprostjenu
and vocabulary of all Slavic languages. grammatiku i slovnik vsih slověnskih
Neoslavonic includes elements that are no jezykov. Novoslověnsky obimaje elementy,
longer universal in Slavic (multiple past iže ne sut vyše univerzalni (bolše čisel
and future verb tenses, the dual, the prošlogo i budučego vremene glagolov,
present passive participle, ...). This dvojina, sučny pasivny participij, ...). Tuta
somewhat greater complexity has the malo vyšejša složnost imaje prědnost v tom,
advantage that it contributes to a greater že prinašivaje lučše pasivno (to jest
passive (e.g. receptive) understanding of receptivno) razuměnje lokalnim jezykam.
the local languages. Even so, Neoslavonic Obače tomu, grammatika Novoslověnskogo
grammar is not very complicated at all; a jezyka ne jest mnogo komplikirana; osnovny
basic overview fits on two pages. prěgled jest položeny na dvěh stranicah.

29

 COOPERATION KOOPERACIJA
Practically, differences between Slovianski Praktično, razlišenja medžu Slovianskim i
and Neoslavonic are minimal. Slovianski is Novoslověnskim sut minimalni. Slovianski
based on the commonalities of the living jest osnovano na zajednostih živih
Slavic languages, but to ensure con- Slověnskih jezykov, ali po pričině utvr-
sistency, we never borrow straight from djenja konzistencije, my nikogda ne
any living Slavic language but reconstruct beremo prosto iz živogo Slověnskogo
protoforms and take those as a starting jezyka, no rekonstrirujemo iz njih proto-
point instead. On the other hand, Neo- formy, ot njihže načinajemo. Iz vtoroj točki
slavonic is Old Church Slavonic mo- zrěnja, Novoslověnsky jezyk jest staro-
dernized through the prism of the modern slověnsky modernizirany črěz prizmu
languages. Not surprisingly, the results are modernih jezykov. Ne udivuje, že izrě-
often identical. Words, forms and šenje jest često identično. Slova, formy i
conventions from one dialect can be very konvencije iz jednogo dialekta možut byti
easily used in the other and vice versa, to udobno koristjeni v vtorom i povratno do
the point that nobody can tell the takoj točki, že nikto nemože kazati někako
difference anymore. This is proven by razlišenje. Tuto jest potvrdjeno mnogimi
many columns written in our Internet člankami napisanimi do naših internetovih
news and the Internet discussions within novin i internetovimi diskusijami izmedžu
our community. našeju kommunitoju.

Both projects cooperate very closely. Our Oba dva dialekta mnogo blizko kooperujut.
project members write and read in both Členi našego projekta pišut i čitajut v
language forms, have their discussions on obojih jezyčnih formah, besedujut na
the same Internet forums, share the same rovnih internetovih forah i zajedno imajut
dictionary, the same Internet newspaper, rovny slovnik, internetove noviny i
as well as several other places. Moreover, několiko drugih prostorov. Navyše, my
we have chosen the name INTERSLAVIC as jesmo sebě izbrali priložno ime ME-
a common denominator for both our DŽUSLOVĚNSKI kako obče nazvanje za oba
projects. We expect that our two appro- dva dialekta. Čajemo, že naši dva pristupy
aches will continue to inspire and enrich jedin drugomu prodlžajut inspiraciju i
each other in the future, but in the obogatjenje do budučego, i v tutom vre-
meantime, we thoroughly enjoy our coope- meni gluboko uživajemo našu kooperaciju:
ration: the fruit of mutual appreciation of plody iz ocenivanja raboty jednogo ot
each other’s work, respect for different drugogo, respektovanje različnih toček
points of view, overcoming personal zrěnja, prěmoženje ličnoj ambičnosti,
ambitions, constructive criticism and most konstruktivnu kritiku i najbolje věrovanje,
of all, the belief that our common goal is že našemu jedinakomu narěčenji služimo
best served if we work together. najlučše, ako li rabotajemo zajedno.


DISCLAIMER OTMĚTANJE
Despite our differences, we do appreciate Nebrežno ot našego razlišenja my pravdivo
pioneering work of Mr. Hučko and we still ocenivajemo pioneersku rabotu gospodina
consider Slovio a part of the Interslavic Hučka i navěk pomnimo Slovio do
family. Sadly, Mr. Hučko considers Medžuslověnskoj občiny. Na žalkost, gos-
himself to be an exclusive owner of the podin Hučko sebe polagaje exkluzivnim
entire concept of Interslavic. He držitelem vsego Medžuslověnskogo koncep-
consistently refers other Interslavic ta. Druge projekty sut jim prisno nazyvajemi
projects as "plagiarized Slovio clones" or kako "plagirani klony ot Slovio" ili
30

"useless copy-cut languages". "nepotrěbni copy-cut jezyky".

We want to stress that our projects do not Hočemo podčrtati, že naši projekty ne
use Slovio material. Any coincidences are koristjut material iz Slovio. Vsi sorečnosti
the logical result of both projects being sut samo logičny rezultat našego projekta i
based on the same Slavic source material. projekta Slovio po pričině osnovanija na
It is our belief that no one has the moral rovnih slověnskih iztočnikah. Po našem vě-
right to call himself the owner of Slavic rovanji nikto ne imaje moralno pravo byti
vocabulary, and that the Interslavic imajučim slověnskogo slovnika, i medžu-
language should never be used as a vehicle slověnskomu jezyku ne jest možno nikogda
for anybody’s personal ambitions or byti koristjeny kako kolesnica ličnoj ambicije
financial gains. ili finančnogo prinosa.

CONCLUSION ZAKLJUČENJE
Our Interslavic team is perfectly aware of Naš Medžuslověnsky team otlično znaje fakt,
the fact that we are only in the beginning, že jesmo toliko na počatku, i jest prěd nami
and that there is still a lot of work ahead of ješte mnogo raboty. Jest nam trěba
us. We need to practice, produce more praktizirati, strojiti bolše texta i drugogo
texts and other materials, and we always materiala, i vsegda jest trěba nam dostavati
need more feedback from others. We, as povratny vez ot drugih. My, kolaborativni
the collaborative creators, do what we tvorci, dělajemo najbolše, čto myslimo, no
think is best, but we know very well that mnogo dobro znajemo, že vsegda ne
we cannot always take the right decision. možemo prijati pravo razrěšenje. Govorimi
Spoken languages are living things and we jezyky sut živi věči, i znajemo, že nijedin
know that no conlang (Esperanto, konstruirany jezyk (Esperanto, Interlingua)
Interlingua) or reconstructed modern ili rekonstruirany moderny narodny jezyk
national language (Slovak, Hebrew, (Slovacky, Evrejsky, Indonezijsky) světa ne
Indonesian) in the world is used in the jest dnes koristimy v točno rovnoj formě,
exactly same form as when it was first kako kogda je izprva byl publikirany. Zato
published. Therefore we welcome prizyvajemo vsekakogo - lingvista, ne-
anybody – linguist, non-linguist, native lingvista, rodimogo govorca, nerodimogo
speaker, non-native speaker – to join our govorca - pričestiti se k našim činam i
ranks and work with us on this great task! rabotati s nami na tutom velikom dělu!


THE INTERSLAVIC COMMUNITY, September 2011 (editorially shortened)

31

1. pronunciation and alphabet

pronunciation
Unlike English, Neoslavonic words are pronounced in the same way as they are written.
This is good news. It means that once you learn how to pronounce individual
Neoslavonic characters, you will be able to read correctly any Neoslavonic text.

Stress is on the first syllable of short words. That syllable is only slightly emphasized,
just like in the English words "table", "memory". Long words have the stress on the
internal syllable where there are more consonants - just like in the English word
"December".

However, Neoslavonic is an artificial language and therefore allows different kinds of

stress. Polish speakers, for example, will tend to put the stress on the second to last
syllable of a word; Czechs will tend to put stress always on the first syllable of a word.

alphabet and orthography

Neoslavonic uses two equivalent alphabets: Latin and Cyrillic. In addition, it also has a
transcript available in ASCII and Greek alphabets, and it is possible to use the first-ever
Slavic script: Glagolitic.

In this book we will prefer the Latin alphabet with a brief outline of the transcription in
Cyrillic. Do take notice that Neoslavonic uses the English version of the Latin alphabet
supplemented by three diacritically marked consonants č, š, ž and one diacritically
marked vowel ě. These four letters can be written using combinations of non-accented
Latin letters as cz, sz, zh and ie (example: člověk = človiek = czloviek = a man). Polish
characters ć, ś, ż are also acceptable as č, š, ž.

When writing in Cyrillic, please be aware that this script is richer than Latin. The
following table explains the biggest difference between Cyrillic and Latin, which is a
three-ways Cyrillic transcript of the only one Latin character j.

three different roles of the Latin character j Cyrillic Latin

consonant softening (e.g. jer, soft sign) ь j
jotization before vowels (e.g. ja, je, ju, ji, jo) ɪ (the same as j or i) j
semiconsonant [ j ] in all other cases й (kratko и) j


There are no other accented letters or other "non-English" characters except those four
in Latin orthography of Neoslavonic. The Neoslavonic Latin alphabet is derived from the
international standard ISO 9 and the Russian state standard GOST and the United
Nations standard UN 1987 made by the United Nations Group of Experts on
Geographical Names (UNGEGN). Neoslavonic letters can be found in many Slavic
languages (for example marked Latin letters č, š, ž are in Slovenian, Croatian, Czech,
Slovak, ... and Cyrillic letters are almost the same in Church Slavonic, Russian, Bulgarian,
Serbian, ...). For your information, this system of Latin character diacritics has been
introduced in the early 15th century by the Czech thinker, martyr and reformer Jan Hus.
33

 Latin Latin Cyrillic Greek IPA how to pronounce it name
a a а α [a] alphabet, but a
b b б μπ [b] beer, bird be
c c ц τσ [ ts ] cats ce
č cz ч τζ [ tʃ ] chimney, bench, Czech, China če
d d д δ [d] date, do, odd de
dj dj дь δι [ɟ] duty dje
dž dzh дж δζχ [ dʒ ] juice, gymnastics dže
e e е ε [ɛ] bed, yes e
ě ie ѣ (е, ӗ) ιε [ jɛ ] yes, bien (Spanish), piedra (Spanish) jatj
f f ф φ [f] photo, leaf ef
g g г γ [g] go, get ge
h h х χ [x] loch (Scottish), José (Spanish) ha
i i и η [i] city, see, meat i
j j й ϊ [j] yes, you kratko i
j j ɪ (j, i) ι [j] yes, you je
ju ju ю ιου [ jʊ ] you, cute ju
k k к κ [k] kill, skin ka
l l л λ [l] like, loop el
lj lj ль λι [ʎ] caballero (Spanish) elj
m m м μ [m] man, ham em
n n н ν [n] no, nose en
nj nj нь νι [ɲ] new, cognac, mañana (Spanish) enj
o o о (ω) ο (ω) [ɔ] law, talk, no (Spanish) o
p p п π [p] pen, spin pe
q q к κ [k] kill, skin kve
r r р ρ [r] sombrero (Spanish) er
s s с σ [s] see, city, pass es
š sz ш σχ [ʃ] she, shame eš
št szt щ (шт) σχτ [ ʃt ] š and t (two consonants) šta
t t т τ [t] to, motor te
th th ѳ (ф) θ [θ] thing, teeth the
tj tj ть τι [c] Tuesday, opportunity tje
u u у ου [ʊ] put, good u
v v в β [v] voice, have ve
w w в β [v] voice, have dvojne ve
x x кс (ξ) ξ [ ks ] sex, six eks
y y ы (ѵ) υ [i] city, see, meat ypsilon
z z з ζ [z] zoo, zombie, rose zet
ž zh ж ζχ [ʒ] pleasure, Jean (French) žet
j j ь ι no sound, only palatalization sign jer
’ ’ ъ ’ [ ɜ̆ ] very short sound from burn, earth, bird jor

34

Neoslavonic has an auxiliary letter, which is actually a character without its own sound.
It is the letter "j" written after consonants in the Latin alphabet and is called a "jer" or
a "soft sign". It has its own shape "ь" in the Cyrillic alphabet. This soft sign letter is
used to represent a change in the pronunciation of an immediately
preceding consonant (this is sound change effect is called palatalization in linguistics)
by which the pronunciation of a consonant comes to be produced with the tongue in a
position in the mouth near the palate.
examples: dj=дь, tj=ть, nj=нь, lj=ль

note:

1. There is no sound difference between characters i and y (as well as in modern

Greek, for example). We use these two symbols of the same sound in order to
express different grammatical information about gender and case in order to
separate some homonyms only. In case of "simplified orthography", it is
possible to write only one character i.
2. Letter ě=ѣ is pronounced in the same way as standard e but softens the
preceding consonants from dě, tě, ně, lě to dj+e, tj+e, nj+e, lj+e. In other cases
this character is pronounced as jotized e (eg. two sounds j+e). This character is
often written in Cyrillic (and simplified Latin as well) as the standard e only.

3. Letter combination ch can be used instead of simple h for the same sound [ x ]
but only in international words - in order to keep original Greek/Latin
orthography (archiv, chorus, architektura, for example).
4. Ligature ju=ю softens the preceding consonants from d+ju, t+ju, n+ju, l+ju to
dj+u, tj+u, nj+u, lj+u. In other cases it is pronounced as two sounds ju. In Cyrilic,
it replaces separate writing of ɪ+у or ь+у (e.g. imaju=имаю) and ь+у (e.g. konj,
konju = конь, коню).
5. Some Slavic languages (Slovak, Russian, ...) use vowels e and i for softening the
preceding consonants in the same way as softening using ě and ju. Neoslavonic
does not support softening using e and i, but only using ě and ju: For example,
the combination of the letters ne is pronounced only as n+e, but not as nj+e, or
the combination of the letters ni is pronounced only as n+i, but not as nj+i.
6. Neoslavonic has syllabic l and r, which behave in the same way as vowels when
forming syllables (the same situation is in Sanskrit, Croatian, Czech, Slovak,
Slovenian, ...), but some modern national Slavic languages (Russian, Ukrainian, ...)
lost this feature and therefore must combine r and l with standard vowels in
order to create normal syllable (ol and or, for example). Syllabic l and r typically
stay between more consonants (e.g. p-r-st = a finger, sm-r-t = death, ...) and are
written using preceding auxiliary character "jor" as 'l=ъл and 'r=ър. In Latin, we
do not need to write ' (e.g. пърст = p'rst → prst, смърт = sm'rt → smrt).
7. Old Church Slavonic (and similarly modern Polish) has nasal vowels ę=ѧ=[æⁿ]
and ų=ѫ=[oⁿ] plus their jotized versions ję=ѩ=[jæⁿ] and jų=ѭ=[joⁿ]. In
accordance with the evolution of most Slavic languages, we do not use nasals.
There is simple application rule for this nasal replacement: ę=ѧ → e and ų=ѫ → u.
(e.g. język → jezyk = language, bǫdǫ → budu = I will be)

35

However, Neoslavonic is an artificial and auxiliary language and therefore allows more
different kinds of pronunciation. It will not be a big mistake, for example, if Russians or
anyone else pronounces e and i softly everywhere.

soft pronunciation of consonants versus simplicity
The eastern (partly also western) Slavic languages are known for their softness and
jotization. However this soft pronunciation can be a problem especially for southern
Slavs and many non-Slavic people. Therefore, the Neoslavonic phonology design
principle keeps following simplistic principle:

1. Soft consonants should only continue by a consecutive vowel in order to facilitate

easier pronunciation.

(e.g. nedělja = Sunday, poneděljek = Monday, burja = storm, večerja = evening

meal, dinner)

2. If a word terminates with a consonant without any consecutive vowel, we prefer

to write and pronounce this word hardly.

(e.g. kost = a bone, radost = joy, učitel = a teacher)

Of course, we acknowledge that the soft pronunciation (e.g. Eastern-Slavic

accent) is also acceptable. These words have completely the same level of
understandability regardless of whether they are pronounced softly or hardly.
(e.g. kost/kostj [kɔst / kɔsc] = a bone; učitel/učitelj [ʊtʃitɛl / ʊtʃitɛʎ] = a teacher;
on jest/on jestj [ɔn jɛst / ɔn jɛsc] = he is) Moreover, declination of these words
always follows the soft patters. (e.g. učitel, učitelem ...)

3. Only in specific instances, where hardening could lead to the loss of clarity or
could create a wrong homonym with another word, we would need to keep soft
pronunciation and need to write soft consonants.
(e.g. konj = a horse ⟷ kon = termination; mědj = copper ⟷ med = honey)

palatalization and euphony

Slavic languages are known by their consonant softening in certain situations of word
derivation, declension or conjugation. This process is called palatalization.
Neoslavonic also observes this, but in a very limited way with only three regular rules
for the soft consonants č, š, ž as follows:
1. k → č,
2. h → š,
3. g → ž.
examples:
člověk (a man N), člověče! (man! V);
prah (a dust, noun), prašny (dust, adj.);
d’lgy (long, adj.), d’lžejši (longer, adj.).

36

In order to sound almost like an ordinary natural Slavic language, we need to improve
certain artificially generated sound combinations caused by application of grammatical
endings to verbs in order to create personal forms and participles. There are only three
euphony rules related to the same soft consonants č, š, ž as

1. cj → č = ць → ч,
2. sj → š = сь → ш,
3. zj → ž = зь → ж.

example:
prositi / просити (to please, inf.),
prosju→prošu / просю→прошу (I please),
prosjenje→prošenje / просьенье→прошенье (pleasing, verbal noun).


losing vowels "e" and "o"
As in Latin, Greek, Germanic and the Romanesque languages, there is a so-called losing
vowel "e" in Neoslavonic word endings. The most frequent case of this losing vowel
effect is in noun declension, where "e" is present only in the nominative.

example:
pes (a dog N), psa (a dog G),
sen (a dream N), sna (a dream G),
otec (a father N), otca (a father G),
članek (an element N), članka (an element G),
December (December N), Decembra (December G).


Although there is a preferred losing vowel "e" because of its analogy with other
European languages (e.g. Greek, Latin, Germanic, ...), it is also possible to use a losing
vowel "o" because it is common in Eastern Slavic languages, Polish and Slovak. This
reflects the change of the original hard reduced vowel "ъ" from the Old Church Slavonic
to the vowel "o" in these languages.

This "o" option applies only in case of replacement of the hard reduced vowel "ъ".
Remember that the transformation of the soft reduced vowel "ь" must go always only to
the losing "e".

example:

son (a dream N), sna (a dream G), (based on the original OCS сънъ)
članok (an element N), članka (an element G). (based on the original OCS чланъкъ)

but be careful on:

otec (a father N), otca (a father G), (based on the original OCS отьць)

37

1st example
(You can hear these words using speech generator at http://generator.neoslavonic.org)

voda [ vɔda ] water
hlěb [ xljɛb ] a bread
auto [ aʊtɔ ] a car, an automobile
s’lnce [ sɜ̆lntsɛ ] a sun
člověk [ tʃlɔvjɛk ] a man (human being)
muž [ mʊʒ ] a man (masculine)
žena [ ʒɛna ] a woman
dětko [ ɟɛtkɔ ] a child
imaju [ imajʊ ] I have
imaješ [ imajɛʃ ] you have
imajemo [ imajɛmɔ ] we have
veliky [ vɛliki ] big (sg. m. adj.)
maly [ mali ] small (sg. m. adj.)
doma [ dɔma ] at home (adv.)
jedin [ jɛdin ] one (m.)
dva [ dva ] two (m.)
tri [ tri ] three
četyri [ tʃɛtiri ] four
pet [ pɛt ] five
deset [ dɛsɛt ] ten
sto [ stɔ ] hundred


2nd example
(You can hear these words using speech generator at http://generator.neoslavonic.org)

Vsi ljudi rodjut se svobodni i rovni v svojem dostojenstvu i pravah.
[ vsi ʎʊdi rɔɟʊt sɛ svɔbɔdni i rɔvni v svɔjɛm dɔstɔjɛnstvʊ i pravax ]
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Oni sut obdareni razumom i svěstju,
[ ɔni sʊt ɔbdarɛni razʊmɔm i svjɛscʊ ]
They are endowed with reason and conscience,

i trěba jest jim postupati drug s drugom v duhu bratstva.
[ i trjɛba jɛst jim pɔstʊpati drʊg s drʊgɔm v dʊxʊ bratstva ]
and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

(article 1. of preamble of the universal declaration of human rights by the United Nations)

38

2. sentence structure, word order

In the Neoslavonic language (as well as in all Slavic languages), the word order in a
sentence is rather flexible. In English, the position of words in sentences is necessary
to inform whether it is a noun, adjective, verb, subject, object or something else.
Neoslavonic words have their own endings (declension and conjugation), in which the
complete information about their grammatical category is stored, so there is no need for
any word to respect a specific position in the sentence. This system of endings is
specific for the family of fusional (or “inflecting”) languages. Fusional languages do not
need to use position of words for expressing grammatical categories but use word
position for another finer expression details, which are not as easily expressible in other
languages.

Examples of other fusional Indo-European languages include Sanskrit (and many of the
modern Indo-Aryan languages), Greek (both classical and modern), Latin, Lithuanian,
Latvian and Albanian. Another notable group of fusional languages is the Semitic
languages group (Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic). A high degree of fusion is also found in
many other languages in the world.

Though the Neoslavonic sentence is generally arranged "subject-verb-object" as in
English, the grammatical rules allow the use of virtually any combination of subject,
verb, object, ... in order to stress different components of the sentence.

Here we can observe the semantic rule: The most important information of a sentence
should be contained in its first approximate 7 words.

Of course this does not mean that Neoslavonic (or Slavic) words can be mixed in any
haphazard way. For example, if adjectives belong to a specific noun, they must be
positioned either in front of or behind that corresponding noun, and other elements of
the sentence cannot intervene between them. Metaphorically, a Neoslavonic sentence is
like a branched tree – the branches representing particular sentence components.
Mutually branches may have flexible order, but elements within each branch must not
be mixed with elements of another branch.

Basic sentence elements are:

1. subject part. This is a noun or conjunction of several nouns or pronouns or

numerals in the nominative case,
2. verb part, which is made up of at least one verb optionally extended by adverbs,
3. object part, which is a noun or conjunction of several nouns in the accusative
case or other cases without a preposition,
4. proverbial parts, which are either made up by adverbs or nouns or pronouns
or numerals in various cases with prepositions.

• Any noun or pronoun or numeral at any position can be extended by additional

adjectives or pronouns or numerals or attributes,
• any adjective can be extended by additional adjectives or adverbs, and
• any adverb can be extended by additional adverbs.

39


1st example
Veliky zajec bystro běži okolo nas do mnogo temnogo lěsa.
A big hare quickly runs around us to a very dark forest.

A standard sentence with the English-like word order:

Different word order, where "a big hare" is less important than the information about
our experience (running something around us, running something to a dark forest).
This new sentence has the same syntactical tree as the previous example. The only
difference is in the order of its tree branches. This cannot be easily expressed in English:

Okolo nas do mnogo temnogo lěsa bystro běži veliky zajec.

40

This is an example of an incorrect sentence, where words have been impermissibly
mixed between two branches (as it resembles the chaotic language of master Yoda from
StarWars Episodes):

2nd example
Dobry student piše svojemu učitelu veliko pismo na novom komputeru.
A good student writes his/her teacher a big letter on a new computer.

If we will want to stress 1) "a new computer" and 2) "size of a letter" and then later
speak about the writing process and its details (a student, a teacher), we can reorder the
sentence as follows (note that in this case, the arrangement of all five tree branches is
completely reversed from the English order):

Na novom komputeru veliko pismo svojemu učitelu piše dobry student.

41

appendix

People educated in applied mathematics know that these branched trees can also be
displayed as plain texts using special brackets. (Davis & Weyuker, 1983) Elements
within each brackets can change the order, but the content inside the brackets can not
be mixed with the content of another brackets:


{{veliky zajec} {bystro běži} {okolo nas} {do mnogo temnogo lěsa}}

{{okolo nas} {do mnogo temnogo lěsa} {bystro běži} {veliky zajec}}

{{dobry student} {piše} {svojemu učitelju} {veliko pismo} {na novom komputeru}}

{{na novom komputeru} {veliko pismo} {svojemu učitelu} {piše} {dobry student}}


or in more detail as


{clause {subj. veliky zajec}
{v. bystro běži}
{prov. okolo nas}
{prov. do mnogo temnogo lěsa}}

{clause {prov. okolo nas}
{prov. do mnogo temnogo lěsa}
{v. bystro běži}
{subj. veliky zajec}}

{clause {subj. dobry student}
{v. piše}
{obj. D svojemu učitelu}
{obj. A veliko pismo}
{prov. na novom komputeru}}

{clause {prov. na novom komputeru}
{obj. A veliko pismo}
{obj. D svojemu učitelu}
{v. piše}
{subj. dobry student}}

We can say that English needs to use the fixed position of words in sentences in order to
add words missing information about whether these words are subjects, objects, verbs
or something else. It is obvious that Slavic languages (as well as Latin and Greek)
operate with words containing more unambiguous grammatical information without the
need to use fixed positions. Free word order can then be used to express the finer
details of communication in these languages.

42

3. definite and indefinite articles

In the Neoslavonic language (as well as in all Slavic languages, Latin and Greek, for
example) there is no indefinite article (a, an). In normal situations, we speak without
an indefinite article. In special cases, when we strongly need to express our
unfamiliarity to an object, it is possible to use the standard numeral "one" (m. jedin, f.
jedna, n. jedno) or the indefinite pronoun "some, any" (m. někaky, f. někaka, n.
někake).

In limited circumstances, the English definite article "the" can be translated in

Neoslavonic by using the demonstrative pronouns m. toj, f. ta, n. to and pl. ti. This
demonstrative pronoun declines in 7 cases and 3 numbers, as you will see later in
chapter 7. However, please note that these Neoslavonic definite articles are used
only in clauses where one is referring to something already "existing" or "referred
to" in a previous clause (in this sense, they are similar to the English pronouns "this,
that, these & those"). In all other situations except Bulgarian and Slavo-Macedonian, the
definite article is not used at all.

The demonstrative pronoun m. toj, f. ta, n. to can be supplemented by more detail as:

• m. tutoj, f. tuta, n. tuto (this here)

• m. tamtoj, f. tamta, n. tamto (that there)

examples:

(dialogue between two persons)

A: Moj brat imaje veliky dom.
A: My brother has (3 sg.) (a) big house. (dom = a house, moj brat = my brother)

B: Kako stary je toj dom?
B: How old is that house? (toj dom = the house, that house)

(dialogue between two persons)

A: Tu jest dom mojego brata.
A: Here is (a) house of my brother. (dom = a house, mojego brata = of my brother)

B: Kako stary je toj/tutoj dom?

B: How old is this house? (tutoj dom = this house here)

43

Bulgarian and Slavo-Macedonian exception
Bulgarian and Slavo-Macedonian are exceptions to the absence of a distinctive "definite
article" among the natural Slavic languages. They both use their definite article in
(almost) the same way as in English - with one big difference: it is spoken after the noun
- moreover, it is written together with the noun: "a woman" = žena, "the woman"
= ženata. Interestingly, it should be noted that both the Bulgarian and Slavo-
Macedonian languages, unlike all of the other natural Slavic languages, have "lost" their
original noun declension system - as in English - and, like English, they have replaced
this structure through the use of "prepositions" and the "definite article".
Of further note in this regard is that the Bulgarian and Slavo-Macedonian "definite
article" structure is very similar to the word order used in archaic Slavic: noun-article-
adjective versus the modern Slavic word order: article-adjective-noun. (e.g. modern
ta dobra žena = the/this good women, versus Old Church Slavonic: žena ta dobra and
modern Bulgarian: ženata dobra). Even here an exception exists in the Polish language,
where word order is yet far more flexible than in the other modern Slavic languages.

Moreover, for appendix purposes, we note that the Southern Slavic languages and Czech
have yet another special way to convey a sense of the "definite" and "indefinite" in
speech, through the existence of definite and indefinite adjectives, which is manifested by
different suffix forms derived from Old Slavonic formations. This is not incorporated
into Neoslavonic.

44

4. nouns, cases, prepositions

There are three important grammatical categories that determine the composition of
Neoslavonic nouns (and also pronouns, adjectives and numerals): case, number, and
gender. Please, download and print this from here.

number
Number is singular and plural. Neoslavonic has the optional dual as well, which is like
a special form of plural for exactly two objects. Dual is fully used only in Slovene and
Sorbian, but its residua are in almost all Slavic languages. In this book we will not use
the dual because it is not absolutely needed for basic communication. We will address it
only with respect to paired body parts (e.g. eyes, ears).

Unfortunately there is no simple rule to form the plural from the singular-like "-s"
ending in English and Spanish. As in Latin and Greek, each grammatical pattern has its
own specific plural endings. You have to learn them together with the case endings.

gender
There are three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. Unlike English, these three
genders are assigned to all words.
• Of course, if a living being is visibly a masculine (e.g. žrebec = a stallion,
byk = a bull, ...), it is grammatically masculine as well. The same goes for feminine.
Neuter are all cubs of animals (e.g. tele = a calf).

• If a living (animate) being does not clearly have the distinguishable male or
female sex, its grammatical gender can be any of these three. For example
ryba = a fish is feminine, pes = a dog is masculine, životno = "an animal" is neuter.

• Also inanimate things may have masculine or feminine gender. For example,
nož = a knife is masculine, voda = water is feminine, mlěko = milk is neuter.

For this reason, grammatical gender of words must be given in the dictionary. Generally,
the majority of feminine words are ending in -a, neuter words ending in -o or -e, and
masculine words ending in a consonant, but a beginner can not rely absolutely upon this.

cases
Neoslavonic has 7 grammatical cases. (modern Greek and German has 4, ancient Greek
has 5, Latin has 6, Sanskrit has 8, ...) Neoslavonic cases are:
1. N nominative
2. G genitive
3. D dative
4. A accusative
5. V vocative
6. L locative
7. I instrumental

45

Remember that the nominative and vocative can never be combined with prepositions.
Other cases (genitive, dative, accusative, locative and instrumental) are used with
prepositions, but may also be used without them.

nominative case
The nominative case answers the questions kto, čto? = who, what? The Neoslavonic
nominative is the very basic form of any word found in dictionaries. The nominative
case is used for the subject of the sentence.
We must point out that in some Slavic sentences the subject in the nominative case is
hidden. This is when the subject of a sentence is a personal pronoun in English. In
English, we need to use the pronoun in order to express the personal form of the verb;
however, Slavic verbs themselves carry this information using the personal postfixes.
example:
Čitaju = (I) read. Čitaje = (he) reads. Čitajemo = (we) read. Čitajut = (they) read. ...

vocative case
The vocative is used only for calling/addressing someone or something. The vocative is
very similar to the nominative. It is the only case where palatalization of consonants
may occur due to the added vocative ending. Remember still the same palatalization
g→ž, h→š, k→č. Moreover, the vocative of some traditional words can be irregular.

example: žena = a woman N, ženo! = woman! V, Bog = the God N, Bože! = Thou God!,
Oh God! V, gospod = Sir N, gospodi! = Sir! V (irregular).

accusative case
The accusative case designates the object of some action.

example: Pišu pismo = (I) write (a) letter. Vidim ženu. = (I can) see (a) woman.

dative case
The dative case is a grammatical case generally used to indicate the noun to which
something is given, as in "John gave Mary a drink". In general, the dative marks the
indirect object of a verb.

example:
Pišu pismo svojemu prijatelu. = (I) write (a) letter (to) my friend.
or (I) write my friend (a) letter.

locative case
Nouns take the locative case when their existence is used to refer to an object, place or
time associated with some action we speak about. It corresponds vaguely to the English
prepositions "in", "on", "at", "about". In an ordinary conversation the locative case is
always used with some necessary preposition.
example:
v zimě = in Winter, na vrhu = on (the) top, ...
Pišu pismo o našem autu. = (I) write (a) letter about our car.

46

instrumental case
In general the Slavic instrumental case is used to indicate how something is done or the
means by which an action is carried out. In English it is usually expressed by the
prepositions "by, with, using", but in Neoslavonic it does not need prepositions.

example:
Q: Kako jesi prišel k nam? = How did (You) come to us?
A: Autom. = Using a car.

genitive case
The genitive case refers to things (or living beings) belonging to other things (or living
beings). Just like when you use "of" or the possessive "-'s" in English.

example: Kniga mojego brata. = A book of my brother.

animate and inanimate masculine patterns

All masculine patterns have the accusative (A) either identical with the genitive (G) or
with the nominative (N). These two different kinds of masculine declension are called
animate declension and inanimate declension. The animate declension (A=G) is intended
only for those nouns who represent living beings or other subjects able to perform some
actions (e.g. robots and similar machines, ...). Here the accusative must be different
from the nominative in order to make clear who is a performer of an action and who is a
matter of an action. The inanimate declension (A=N), has the accusative identical with
the nominative as it is in all neuter patterns.

Example 1: Petr slyši Ivana. (Peter is listening to Ivan) The accusative of Ivan is
animate and therefore identical with the genitive, because both Petr and Ivan are able
to listen. Thus, here we need to make clear “who” is listening to “whom.”

Example 2: Petr stroji dom. (Peter makes/builds a house) The accusative of dom (a
house) is inanimate and therefore identical with the nominative of dom, because a
house is not able to make/build somebody. It this sentence, it is clearly obvious who is a
builder and what is built.

Remember that there is an easy tool to distinguish animate and inanimate subjects in
Neoslavonic: We ask of animate subjects by using kto? (who?), but we ask of inanimate
subjects by using čto? (what?). Here you can see that even English distinguishes
animate and inanimate subjects in the same way as Neoslavonic.

47

Look at these hard and soft declension patterns. Only inanimate patterns have identical
nominative and acusative.

declension of the hard animate masculine pattern brat (a brother) and

soft animate masculine pattern muž (a man)

sg. pl. sg. pl.

N brat brat-i muž muž-i

G brat-a brat-ov muž-a muž-ev

D brat-u brat-am muž-u muž-am
A brat-a brat-y muž-a muž-e

V brat-e! brat-i! muž-u! muž-i!
L brat-u brat-ah muž-u muž-ah
I brat-om brat-ami muž-em muž-ami

declension of the hard inanimate masculine pattern grad (a town, a city) and
soft inanimate masculine pattern kraj (a district, an area, a province)

sg. pl. sg. pl.

N grad grad-y kraj kraj-e

G grad-a grad-ov kraj-a kraj-ev

D grad-u grad-am kraj-u kraj-am
A grad grad-y kraj kraj-e

V grad-e! grad-y! kraj-u! kraj-e!
L grad-u grad-ah kraj-u kraj-ah
I grad-om grad-ami kraj-em kraj-ami

feminine patterns
Feminine gender does not have the concept of animation, but its nominative and
accusative are different only in singular. It has only two regular patterns (hard and soft).
declension of the hard feminine pattern žena (a woman) and
soft feminine pattern duša (a soul)

sg. pl. sg. pl.

N žen-a žen-y duš-a duš-e

G žen-y žen-’ duš-e duš-ej

D žen-ě žen-am duš-i duš-am
A žen-u žen-y duš-u duš-e

V žen-o! žen-y! duš-e! duš-e!
L žen-ě žen-ah duš-i duš-ah
I žen-oju žen-ami duš-eju duš-ami

48

neuter patterns
Neuter patterns do not contain the concept of animation (e.g. different nominative and
accusative). There are only two regular patterns (hard and soft) of the neuter gender.
Neuter patterns can be regarded as combination of masculine and feminine features:

declension of the hard neuter pattern selo (a village) and soft neuter pattern polje (a field)

sg. pl. sg. pl.

N sel-o sel-a polj-e polj-a

G sel-a sel-’ polj-a polj-ej

D sel-u sel-am polj-u polj-am
A sel-o sel-a polj-e polj-a

V sel-o! sel-a! polj-e! polj-a!
L sel-u sel-ah polj-u polj-ah
I sel-om sel-ami polj-em polj-ami

special feminine pattern kost (a bone) and dual number

A majority of the Slavic languages still use the remnants of the dual case number for
human body parts.

Please remember that oko n. (an eye), oči (two eyes), oka (eyes) and uho n. (an ear),
uši (two ears), uha (ears) have their singular and plural according to the standard
neuter pattern slovo, slova (a word, words), but if we are talking about exactly one pair
of eyes and ears of some living being, we need to use a palatalized dual, which is
identical with the feminine plural of the special pattern kost (a bone).
declension of the dual by the neutral pattern oko and the feminine irregular pattern kost

sg. dual pl. sg. pl.

N ok-o oč-i ok-a kost kost-i
G ok-a oč-ij ok-’ kost-i kost-ij
D ok-u oč-im ok-am kost-i kost-im
A ok-o oč-i ok-a kost-i kost-i
V ok-o! oč-i! ok-a! kost-i! kost-i!
L ok-u oč-ih ok-ah kost-i kost-ih
I ok-om oč-imi ok-ami kost-ju kost-imi

example: Moje oči N. My (two) eyes, oči as consistent with the pattern kost in the plural,
Sto ok’ G. Hundred eyes, ok’ as consistent with the pattern for selo in the plural.

note: The pattern for kost in the plural is also used for many feminine words ending
with a consonant (myš, myši ... a mouse, for example) and for the plural of words ljudi,
ljudij, ljudim ... (people) and děti, dětij, dětim ... (children).

49

prepositions
Prepositions stand before nouns, pronouns and numerals. They help to create and
modify relationships between clause elements in the same way as in English. A
preposition itself is not a clause member; it becomes one only in conjunction with the
appropriate expression. Prepositions create adverbial parts of sentences that carry
the information about "when?", "where?", "how? or "why?". Please learn them together
with prepositions:

kogda? when?
kako? or jako? how?
začto? why?
kdě? where? (an existing position of something/somebody)
kamo? where? (a new desired position of something/somebody)
where?
kudě?
(on the way to a new desired position from an existing position)

Neoslavonic includes miscellaneous prepositions associated with the various cases

except for the nominative and vocative. Some prepositions (underlined) are associated
with more cases in order to clarify the precise meaning. But for the basic conversation,
it would be enough to know just these prepositions and their appropriate cases.

genitive: bez without, except

iz from
do into, inside, to
ot out from, by
u near to, at
kromě except
poslě after
vně out of, outside of
okolo around
radi due to, in order to, because
dative: k to, at
protiv against
po in the way of
accusative: nad above, over
pod below, under
prěd before, ahead of, in the face of
črěz through
v in, into, inside of
za after, behind, for, towards
na on, at, onto, upon
vně out of, outside of
medžu between, among
mimo beyond, outside, aside, except
50

 locative: o about, concerning
po after, upon, on
pri at, near to, by (where?)
v in, into, inside of
na on, at, onto, upon
instrumental: s with, together with, by (how?)
nad above, over
pod below, under
prěd before, ahead of, in the face of
za after, behind
medžu between, among

Please remember that

1. accusative structures are always about the desired/wanted/expected space/time

positions of something or somebody being actually somewhere alse (e.g.
answers to kamo? or kudě?) and

2. other structures (non-accusative) are always about an actually existing

space/time position of something or somebody (e.g. answers to kdě?).
example:
Idu na veliku goru. (veliku goru is the accusative of velika gora = a big hill.)
(I) go to a big hill. (I am not not yet there, but I want to be there, I am moving there.)

Jesm na velikoj gorě. (velikoj gorě is the locative of velika gora = a big hill.)
(I) am at a big hill. (I am already there, this is where I am.)

51

how to learn cases - declension symmetries
We know that this matter is most difficult for non-Slavic speakers. For this reason we
created a collection of simplified case patterns and introduced some auxiliary
symmetries between these patterns. Please try to find them in the Neoslavonic
grammar tables and learn them:

1. There are basically two fundamental patterns for each gender: hard and soft.
The vowels "o,ě" from the hard patterns corresponds to the vowels "e,i" from the
soft patterns. This means, for example, that you will find a variety of hard-soft
pairs of endings of the same cases as -om/-em, -oj/-ej, -ov/-ev, -oju/-eju, ...

2. The singular dative and singular locative of the same pattern have the same
endings.

3. The singular dative and singular locative of masculine hard and soft patterns and
neuter hard and soft patterns have only one endings -u.

4. In all patterns of all genders (except the pattern kost = a bone), the plural dative
has -am, the plural locative has -ah and the plural instrumental has -ami.

5. In all patterns and all genders (except the pattern kost = a bone), the dual
genitive together with the dual locative has -u and the dual dative together with
the dual instrumental has -ama.

6. The plural genitive (-’/-ъ) is identical for the hard feminine and the hard neuter
patterns. The plural genitive is identical for the soft feminine and the soft neuter
patterns (-ej/-ей).

7. In the same feminine and neuter pattern, the singular genitive is identical to the
plural nominative.

irregular declension patterns

Although Neoslavonic is an artificial language, it must be understood by Slavs without
the need to learn it. This is why Neoslavonic must contain, at least partially, some
popular but unfortunately irregular phenomena that exist in living Slavic languages.

1. There are masculine words (both soft and hard) which have a feminine declension
pattern in the singular. These words end with -a in the nominative. But their
plural follows the regular masculine patterns, thus this exception is applicable to
the singular only and is usually noted in dictionaries.

example: vladyka (a ruler, a governor) is masculine, but its singular cases are
identical with the feminine pattern žena (a woman).

2. There are yet four more irregular patterns, which in their case endings add extra
consonants. They are called N-patterns, R-patterns, S-patterns and T-patterns
accordingly on the consonant to be added. This irregularity is also typical for
classical European languages. Remember an example of the Greek word drama
with its derivatives drama-ti-cal or pragma, pragma-ti-cal, ... As in the previous
point, these words have special inflections only in their singular, while their
plural and dual are regular. In order to make this challenge easier, there is a
strong symmetry of endings among these four patterns:
52

 irregular declensions in singular number

-N- -R- -S- -T-

N ime mati tělo děte
G im-ene mat-ere těl-ese dět-ete
D im-eni mat-eri těl-esi dět-eti
A ime mati tělo děte
V ime! mati! tělo! děte!
L im-eni mat-eri těl-esi dět-eti
I im-enom mat-erju těl-esom dět-etom

examples:
děte N, dětete G, děteti D (a child n. , T-pattern),
plural: děti (regular plural pattern kosti);

ime N, imene G, imeni D (a name n., N-pattern),
plural: imena (regular plural pattern sela);

tele N, telete G, teleti D (a calf n., T-pattern),
plural teleta (regular plural pattern sela);

doci N, docere G, doceri D (a daughter f., T-pattern),
plural docere (regular plural pattern duše).

appendix
If you are familiar with other Indo-European languages having cases (e.g. Latin, Greek,
German, ...), this information can help you, because Neoslavonic, together with the living
Slavic languages, shares common Indo-European declension paradigms as follows:
1. All neuter patterns have identical the nominative, the accusative and the vocative.

2. Masculine and neuter patterns are similar and have many identical endings of the
same cases. Neuter patterns can be regarded as the masculine patterns with
some feminine properties (e.g. plural genitive).

53

5. verbs to be, to have

Please, learn carefully the present forms of the verb byti = to be and the corresponding
personal pronouns:

I am (ja) jesm we are (my) jesmo

you (thou) are (ty) jesi you are (vy) jeste
he, she, it is (on, ona, ono) jest they are (oni) sut


And the same for the present forms of the verb imati = to have:

I have (ja) imaju we have (my) imajemo

you (thou) have (ty) imaješ you have (vy) imajete
he, she, it has (on, ona, ono) imaje they have (oni) imajut

note

1. There is yet one personal pronoun for "I", az. This is an old pronoun from the Old
(Church) Slavonic language still used in Slovenian (jaz), Bulgarian (az) and Slavo-
Macedonian (jas). In Neoslavonic, we prefer to use ja, because it is used in the
majority of modern Slavic languages.

2. There is yet a short form of "he, she, it is", je = jest. This shorter form is well
suitable to use when we create a compound verb form (e.g. past tense or passive
mode for example).

3. The western and southern Slavic languages do not use the personal pronoun with
verbs. Complete information about the verbal persons themselves is contained in
the verb endings. The personal pronoun is used for emphasis purpose only. For
this reason, in normal situations, try to use verbs without personal pronouns.

example: imajemo = we have, my imajemo = we personally have.

4. Negative forms "not to be" and "not to have" can be shortened into forms used in
many modern Slavic languages and in Old Church Slavonic:

ne jesm = nesm ne jesi = nesi ne jest = nest

ne jesmo = nesmo ne jeste = neste ne sut = nesut

ne imaju = nemaju ne imaješ = nemaješ ne imaje = nemaje,

ne imajemo = nemajemo ne imajete = nemajete ne imajut = nemajut

5. The original old Slavic form of the verb "to be" is little bit different: iměti. It can
be used as an option as well:

iměju iměješ iměje

imějemo imějete imějut

55

cases with verbs to be and to have
1. Equivalency or an "is-a" relationship of two subjects is expressed by
byti + nominative.

example: Pes jest životno. (A) dog N is (an) animal N.
Moj prijatel jest dobry. My friend N is good N.

2. Employment or other kind of a status or property description is expressed by

byti + instrumental.

example: Moj prijatel jest učitelem. My friend N is (a) teacher I.

3. Ownership ("has-a" relationship) of something is expressed by

imati + accusative.

example: Moj prijatel imaje psa. My friend N has (a) dog A.

4. Being of somebody (e.g. inverted "has-a") is expressed by

byti + genitive.

example: Tutoj pes jest mojego prijatela. This dog N is of my friend G.
(e.g. This dog belongs to my friend.)

to be / to have complementarity
Note that (as shown in statements 3. and 4.) the verb byti is like an inverted variant of
the verb imati. For this reason (among others) the verb imati does not have its passive
version, because it is expressed by the verb byti, and vice versa.

56

6. query sentences, yes and no, negation

Interrogative sentences in Neoslavonic are created in two ways (either one way or the
other way, but not both):
1. The sentence contains an interrogative pronoun or an interrogative adverb or an
interrogative numeral. The sentence typically starts with this interrogative word
(which in most cases begins with k- consonant).

2. The sentence containing any verb in the indicative form directly followed by the
particle li. The sentence typically starts with this verb.

Please, learn these interrogative pronouns, adverbs and numerals:

kto? pron. who?

čto? pron. what?
ktory? pron. which?
kaky? or jaky? pron. which?, what kind of?
koliko? num. how much?, how many?
koliky? num. what?, what order?
kogda? adv. when?
kako? or jako? adv. how?
začto? adv. why?
kdě? adv. where? (an existing position of something/somebody)
kamo? adv. where? (a new desired position of something/somebody)
kudě? adv. where? (on the way to a new position from an existing position)


examples (particle "li")

Jesi li doma? Are you at home?
Imate li knigu? Do you have a book?
Jest li on veliky? Is he big?


examples (interrogative words without "li")

Kto jest tvoj prijatel? Who is your Friend?
Koliko imaš knig? How many (of) books G do you have?
Kdě jest Tvoj pes? Where is your dog?

57

yes and no, negation
Please remember these particles: da = yes, ne = no. Moreover, negation of verbs is made
by the same particle ne being written directly before its corresponding verb. The same
word ne- is used as a negating prefix in pronouns, adjectives and adverbs.
Jesi li doma? Are you at home?
Da, jesm. Yes, I am.
Ne, ne jesm. No, I am not.

Ne imaješ li knigu? Do not you (sg.) have a book?
Ne, imaju! No, I have it!

On ne jest veliky. He is not big.

Ne znaju, kdě jest vaš pes. I do not know, where is your (pl.) dog.

In contrast to the English language, Neoslavonic, as well as all the Slavic languages,
permits and uses double, even triple negatives in the same sentence, but only if these
multiple negatives separately belong to independent syntactic tree branches described
at page 40.

examples (first negative is in the verb branch, second negative is in the object branch):

Ne imaju nijednu knigu. I do not have no one book. = I do not have any book.

Ne imaju ničto do raboty. I do not have nothing to do. = I do not have anything to do.

58

7. pronouns

All pronouns inflect like nouns in three genders. Fortunately, there are only two
declension patterns: soft (-ego, -emu, ...) and hard (-ogo, -omu, ...) for all pronouns.
The same pattern is also used in adjectives. Please locate these in our grammatical
tables and learn them. The following information may be helpful:
1. Endings are divided into three genders only in the singular. Plural (and dual) are
the same for all genders.

2. Masculine endings in the singular accusative follow the same model of the
animate (accusative = genitive) and inanimate (accusative = nominative)
declension paradigm of nouns. (e.g. togo = accusative animate, toj = accusative
inanimate of the pronoun toj = this)
3. There are symmetries between soft and hard endings:

o Vowel "o" in hard endings corresponds to the vowel "e" in soft endings
(eg. -omu ↔ -emu).

o Vowel "ě" in hard endings corresponds to the vowel "i" in soft endings
(eg. -ěh ↔ -ih).

personal pronouns
nominative ja I ty you - my we vy you
genitive mne tebe sebe nas vas
dative mně tebě sebě nam vam
accusative mne me tebe you sebe *self nas us vas you
vocative - ty - my vy

locative mně tebě sebě nas vas
instrumental mnoju teboju seboju nami vami

1. The pronoun ty (you) is used for singular, the pronoun vy (you) is used for plural
or for politeness and courtesy to one person.
2. It is possible to optionally use short forms mně=mi, tebě=ti, sebě=si and
sebe=se.

3. Pronoun sebe, sebě, seboju is referring the subject of the sentence. It is obvious,
that this pronoun does not exist in the nominative.
example: Pišu sebe do knigy. = I write myself in a book. Pišeme sebe do knigy. =
We write ourselves in a book.

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hard pattern - pronoun toj, ta, to = the
masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative t-oj t-a t-o t-i
genitive t-ogo t-oj t-ogo t-ěh
dative t-omu t-oj t-omu t-ěm
accusative t-ogo, t-oj t-u t-o t-e
vocative t-oj t-a t-o t-i
locative t-om t-oj t-om t-ěh
instrumental t-im t-oju t-im t-ěmi

Remember that this pronoun has popular derivatives tutoj, tuta, tuto = this (here),
tamtoj, tamta, tamto = that (there).

soft pattern - pronoun sej, sa, se = the

masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative s-ej s-a s-e s-i
genitive s-ego s-ej s-ego s-ih
dative s-emu s-ej s-emu s-im
accusative s-ego, s-ej s-u s-e s-e
vocative s-ej s-a s-e s-i
locative s-em s-ej s-em s-ih
instrumental s-im s-eju s-im s-imi

The pronoun sej, sa, se is a very rarely used alternative to the definite article toj, ta, to.
But remember it has very frequent derivative: vsej, vsa, vse (vsego, vsemu, ...) =
everybody, everyone, anybody, anyone. Moreover, certain words use this pronoun: vsej
+ mir (world) = vsejmir (space, cosmos, universe).

soft pattern - pronouns on, ona, ono, oni = he, she, it, they
masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative on on-a on-o on-i
genitive (n)j-ego (n)j-ej (n)j-ego (n)j-ih
dative (n)j-emu (n)j-ej (n)j-emu (n)j-im
accusative (n)j-ego (n)j-u (n)j-e (n)j-e
vocative - - - -
locative (n)j-em (n)j-ej (n)j-em (n)j-ih
instrumental (n)j-im (n)j-eju (n)j-im (n)j-imi

1. If this pronoun is used with a preposition, we need to add an n- at the beginning.

example:
prodaj jemu (D) = sell him, idu k njemu (D) = I go to him,
vidim ju (A) = I see her, tuto jest za nju (A) = this is for her.

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 2. There is no need to add personal pronouns (ja, ty, on, ona, ono, my, vy, oni) to
verbs. In English, we need to say pronoun in order to express the personal form
of the verb, but Slavic verbs themselves carry this information through the
personal postfixes. This style is also known in many Romance languages.
example: čitaju = (I) read, čitaje = (he) reads, čitajemo = (we) read,
čitajut = (they) read ...

possessive pronouns moj = my, tvoj = yours, naš = our, vaš = your
These pronouns are used in all three genders and are inflected according to the soft
pattern.

masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative moj moj-a moj-e moj-i
genitive moj-ego moj-ej moj-ego moj-ih
dative moj-emu moj-ej moj-emu moj-im
accusative moj-ego, moj
moj-u moj-e moj-e
vocative moj moj-a moj-e moj-i
locative moj-em moj-ej moj-em moj-ih
instrumental moj-im moj-eju moj-im moj-imi

The same style as moj, moja, moje, moji = "my, of me" has tvoj, tvoja, tvoje, tvoji =
"yours, of you (sg.)" and svoj, svoja, svoje, svoji = "of self".

masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative naš naš-a naš-e naš-i
genitive naš-ego naš-ej naš-ego naš-ih
dative naš-emu naš-ej naš-emu naš-im
accusative naš-ego, naš
naš-u naš-e naš-e
vocative naš naš-a naš-e naš-i
locative naš-em naš-ej naš-em naš-ih
instrumental naš-im naš-eju naš-im naš-imi

It is obvious, that in the same style as naš, naša, naše, naši = "our, of us" is vaš, vaša,
vaše, vaši = "yours, of you (pl.)".

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possessive pronouns jego = his, jej = her, jego = its, jih = their
Note that these pronouns are identical to the genitive of pronouns on = he, ona = she,
ono = it, oni = they. This means that they remain unchanged regardless their subject is
inflected.
example: jego dobra žena = his good woman/wife/lady

nominative jego dobra žena

genitive jego dobroj ženy
dative jego dobroj ženě
accusative jego dobru ženu
vocative jego dobra ženo!
locative jego dobroj ženě
instrumental jego dobroju ženoju

interrogative pronouns kto, ktory = who; čto, kaky = what

Please remember that pronouns kto? = "who?", čto? = "what?" are used at the position
of the noun, and pronouns ktory? = "who?, which?", kaky? (or jaky?) = "what?, what
kind of?" are used at the position of the adjective. But semantically there is no difference
between kto? and ktory? and between čto? and kaky?

examples:

Kto jest doma? = Who is at home?

(kto = subject of the sentence in nominative, at the position of a noun)
Čto tu dělaješ? = What are you doing here?
(čto = object of the sentence in accusative, at position of a noun)

Ktory student tamo sedi? = Which student (male) is sitting there?

(ktory = "which" is added to the noun student as its adjective)

Kako jest ime tvojego prijatela? = What is the name of your friend?
(kaky = "what, what kind of" is added to the noun prijatel as its adjective)
Remember, that kto is declined using entirely the animate (A = G) hard pattern, čto is
declined using entirely the inanimate (A = N) soft pattern. They have only one form for
all three genders and have only singular form:

nominative kto čto

genitive kogo čego
dative komu čemu
accusative kogo čto
vocative - -
locative kom čem
instrumental kim čim

ktory, ktora, ktorо, ktori and kaky, kaka, kake, kaki are declined in the hard pattern
as any ordinary adjective (e.g. kakogo, kakomu, kakoj, ...).
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interrogative pronoun koj
The interrogative pronouns koj, koja, koje = are the Southern Slavic forms identical to
the Eastern and Western Slavic pronoun forms ktory, ktora, ktorо. These pronouns
are inflected in the same way as the possessive pronouns moj and tvoj = "my", "your" -
by the soft pattern.

masculine Feminine neuter plural

nominative koj koj-a koj-e koj-i
genitive koj-ego koj-ej koj-ego koj-ih
dative koj-emu koj-ej koj-emu koj-im
accusative koj-ego/koj koj-u koj-e koj-e
vocative koj koj-a koj-e koj-i
locative koj-em koj-ej koj-em koj-ih
instrumental koj-im koj-eju koj-im koj-imi

Both the koj and ktory forms are inflected in all three genders and all cases as
adjectives.
examples:

Koj student tamo sedi? = Which student (male) is sitting there?

(ktory = koj = "which" is added to the noun student as its adjective)

interrogative pronouns kogo, čego = whose

Note that these pronouns are identical to the genitive of pronouns kto = who, čto = what.
This means that they remain noninflected regardless if their subject is inflected.
example:

Kogo jest tuto auto? = Whose is this car?

interrogative pronouns and their answers

In Neoslavonic, as in most Slavic languages, a basic interrogative pronoun can be
modified to create different meanings by adding prefixes to the interrogative pronoun’s
root form. These same prefixes (e.g. t-, in-, ni-, ně-, vse-, ...) are used for numerals and
adverbs as well.

k-version (main version) j-version (optional version)

kaky? which? jaky? which?
taky this, such a taky this, such a
ovaky this, such a (roughly) ovaky this, such a (roughly)
onaky this, such a (distantly) onaky this, such a (distantly)
inaky other one inaky other one
nikaky nobody nijaky nobody
někaky somebody, anybody nějaky somebody, anybody
vsekaky everybody, whoever vsejaky everybody, whoever

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relative pronouns in subordinate clauses - ktory=koj, kaky, ..., iže
There are two ways how to refer something from the superordinate clause to the
subordinate clause:
1. Using any standard interrogative pronoun (e.g. ktory=koj, kaky, ...). This
method is chosen in a situation where a subordinate clause adds or clarifies some
still not fully known concept from a main sentence.

example:

Kto jest tamtoj člověk, ktory imaje zeleno auto? = Who is that man, who has a
green car? (Here we need to define this unknown man.)
Ne hoču auto, v ktorom jest slaby motor. = I do not want a car, in which the
engine is weak. (Here we need to define this unknown car.)

Ne hoču auto, v kojem jest slaby motor. = I do not want a car, in which the
engine is weak. (Here we need to define this unknown car.)
2. Using special relative pronoun iže. This method is used in contexts where a
subordinate clause adds a new feature to some already known and definite
concept in the main sentence.
example:

Otče naš, iže jesi na nebesah. = Our Father (V), who are in heaven.
(Here we add the new feature to the already known Father.)

The relative pronoun iže has the form iže in all (m., f., n., pl.) nominatives, and in all other
cases it has the same forms as the pronoun on, ona, ono, oni with added postfix -že.

masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative iže iže iže iže
genitive (n)jegože (n)jejže (n)jegože (n)jihže
dative (n)jemuže (n)jejže (n)jemuže (n)jimže
accusative (n)jegože (n)juže (n)ježe (n)ježe
vocative - - - -
locative (n)jemže (n)jejže (n)jemže (n)jihže
instrumental (n)jimže (n)jejuže (n)jimže (n)jimiže

examples:
Moj prijatel, jegože mlada žena tamo ide, jest bolestny. = My friend, whose young
wife is going there, is sick.
Moj dom, v njemže žijut šest ljudi, jest maly. = My house, in which 6 people live, is
small.
Finally, it should be noted that it is not a big mistake to use only interrogative pronouns
(ktory, ktora, ktoro, ktori) in all situations.

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8. adjectives

Neoslavonic adjectives are formed by adding endings (and sometimes also prefixes) to
other words. They are inflected and have three genders in singular (note: there is only
one plural form for all genders). Words are palatalized when these endings are added
(e.g. k→č, h→š, g→ž). Adjectives ending at č,š,ž,j have soft pattern (e.g. svěži, svěžego),
otherwise have hard pattern (e.g. dobry, dobrogo).
The most commonly-used endings (in the order m. f. n. pl.) are:

• -sky, -ska, -sko, -ski. These are the most common endings making adjectives.

example: Rus, russky = Russian (noun), Russian (adj.),

Slovak, slovačsky = Slovak (noun), Slovak (adj.).
• -ji, -ja, -je, -ji. (soft pattern) This expresses some origin, in the way of meaning
"ot + genitive" (ablative) = "from somebody/something".

example: bog, božji = God (noun), god, divine (adj.m.),

něčto ot Boga jest božje = something from the God is divine (adj.n.).

• -ov, -ova, -ovo, -ovi. This expresses some kind of an ownership by a masculine
subject, in the way of meaning "genitive" = "of somebody/something".
example: petrova kniga = Peter’s book, book of Peter.

• -in, -ina, -ino, -ini. This expresses some kind of an ownership by a feminine
subject, in the way of meaning "genitive" = "of somebody/something".

example: Anina kniga = Anna’s book, book of Anna.

• -ny, -na, -no, -ni. This expresses some source, in the way of meaning
"iz + genitive" = "from somebody/something".

example: železo, železny = iron (noun), iron (adj.m.),

něčto iz železa jest železno = something from iron is from iron.

• bez- -ny, bez- -na, bez- -no, bez- -ni. This expresses some exclusion, in the way
of meaning "bez + genitive" = "without somebody/something".
example: meso, bezmesny = meat (noun), without meat (adj.), něčto bez mesa
jest bezmesno = something without meat is without meat.

• nad- -ny, nad- -na, nad- -no, nad- -ni. This expresses some augmentation or
elevation, in the way of meaning "nad + instrumental" = "above/super
somebody/something"

example: zemja, nadzemny = earth (noun), aerial, superterrestrial (adj.),

něčto nad zemjej jest nadzemno = something above the Earth is aerial.

Of course, these endings can be combined as for example:

petrovska orchestra (-ov + -ska) = The orchestra of Peter ("of Peter" as adjective).

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declension
Contemporary Slavic languages use two patterns for the inflection of adjectives: soft and
hard. Both these patterns evolved from the Old Slavonic system of definite inflection
adjectives: adjective + pronoun on, ona, ono in its archaic form i, ja, je:
N: dobrъ + i → dobrъi N: svěžь+ i → svěžьi
G: dobra + jego → dobrajego G: svěža+ jego → svěžajego
D: dobru + jemu → dobrujemu D: svěžu+ jemu → svěžujemu

In Neoslavonic, we need to find a consensus across all contemporal Slavic languages. The
solution is yet more complicated, that there evolved complicated and mutualy different
orthography traditions in writing wowels i/y after consonants k and g during centuries
of evolution. For example in Russian is k regarded as a hard consonant (e.g. -kogo), but
the Russian orthography tradition does not allow to write y after it.
Fortunately, the difference between adjective inflection patterns are only in their
different vowels (e.g. Russian hard pattern -ogo and soft -ego, Polish hard pattern -ego
and soft -iego, Czech hard pattern -ého and soft -ího and so on ...). This means that the
Neoslavonic simplified solution of having two adjective patterns very similar to
corresponding two pronoun patterns is understandable to everyone.

The problem of i/y in different orthography traditions is ignored in Neoslavonic. The

writing of i/y is not related to any predecessing consonant but has only the
morphological role (e.g. dobr-y is masc. N sg., dobr-i is universal N pl.).

example 1: dobry = good

(hard pattern)

masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative dobr-y dobr-a dobr-o dobr-i
genitive dobr-ogo dobr-oj dobr-ogo dobr-ih
dative dobr-omu dobr-oj dobr-omu dobr-im
accusative dobr-ogo dobr-u dobr-o dobr-e
vocative dobr-y dobr-a dobr-o dobr-i
locative dobr-om dobr-oj dobr-om dobr-ih
instrumental dobr-im dobr-oju dobr-im dobr-imi

example 2: svěži = fresh

(soft pattern used only after soft consonants -č, -š, -ž, -j)

masculine feminine neuter plural

nominative svěž-i svěž-a svěž-e svěž-i
genitive svěž-ego svěž-ej svěž-ego svěž-ih
dative svěž-emu svěž-ej svěž-emu svěž-im
accusative svěž-ego svěž-u svěž-e svěž-e
vocative svěž-y svěž-a svěž-e svěž-i
locative svěž-em svěž-ej svěž-em svěž-ih
instrumental svěž-im svěž-eju svěž-im svěž-imi

66

gradation
Neoslavonic and English adjectives share the same three-stage system of gradation:
indicative, comparative and superlative. In addition, there is yet a fourth augmentative
form of the indicative which may be used to “amplify” the value of the adjective.
1. indicative, This is the standard form of an adjective.
examples:
zeleny = green;
gluboky = deep;
dragy = dear;
svěži = fresh.
2. comparative, This the higher level of property made by endings -ějši, -ějša, -ějše,
-ějši or -ejši, -ejša, -ejše, -ejši after palatalized soft consonants č, š, ž. When
comparing, the genitive case and the preposition ot (from) is used.

examples:
zelenějši = greener;
glubočejši = deeper;
dražejši = dearer;
svěžejši ot tutogo = fresher (more fresh) than this.

3. superlative, This the absolute level of property made by prefix naj- added to the
comparative form. When comparing, the genitive case and the preposition
iz (from) is used.

example:
najdražejši iz vsih ljudij = the most dear/valuable from all people.

4. augmentative, This is the augmented form of the indicative made by prefix naj-
added to the indicative form. It is used for example in a respectful salutation.

example:
najdragy gospodi! = (very) dear Sir!

descriptive gradation
Like in English we can also use descriptive gradations. Unlike English, however, the
basic form of gradation is applicable to all kinds of adjectives. This descriptive gradation
also applicable to all kinds of adjectives is made by adding adverbs vyše, najvyše
(higher, the highest) or bolje, najbolje (bigger, the biggest). Both have exactly the same
meaning as "more, the most" in English. The augmentative can be expressed using the
adverb mnogo (much, many, a lot of, plenty of) or vysoko (high).

example:

1. dragy
2. dražejši = vyše dragy = bolje dragy
3. najdražejši = najvyše dragy = najbolje dragy
4. najdragy = vysoko dragy = mnogo dragy


67

irregular gradation
Although Neoslavonic is an artificial language, it cannot exist without irregular
adjectives. They are present in all Slavic languages. Neoslavonic has only five of them:

indicative comparative
veliky big, great bolši
dobry good lučši
blagy pleasant, joyfull unši
maly small menši
zly bad, evil gorši

adjectives at noun positions

Normally adjectives extend nouns. But there is also an option to use an isolated
adjective without any subsequent noun or pronoun. In this case an adjective behaves as
an ordinary noun. In English is this same situation expressed by an adjective + word one
(for example: good one, this one, wrong one, black one, ...)

examples:

Tuzi tu ne možut spati. (tuzy adj. = foreign)
Foreigners/foreign people/foreign ones cannot sleep here.

Dajte mi zelenogo. (zeleny adj. = green)

Give me (this) green one.

68

9. numerals

Please learn Neoslavonic natural numbers from this table:

nula
0 nijedin 10 deset
jedin m.
1 jedna f. 11 jedinnast 10 deset 100 sto 1000 tysuč
jedno n.
dva m.
2 dvě f. 12 dvanast 20 dvadeset 200 dvěsto 2000 dvětysuč
dvě n.
3 tri 13 trinast 30 trideset 300 tristo 3000 tritysuč
4 četyri 14 četyrinast 40 četyrideset 400 četyristo 4000 četyritysuč
5 pet 15 petnast 50 petdeset 500 petsto 5000 pettysuč
6 šest 16 šestnast 60 šestdeset 600 šeststo ...
7 sedem 17 sedemnast 70 sedemdeset 700 sedemsto 106 milion
8 osem 18 osemnast 80 osemdeset 800 osemsto 109 bilion
9 devet 19 devetnast 90 devetdeset 900 devetsto 1012 trilion

1. Just for your interest, Neoslavonic teen numbers (11...19) were evolved from this
Old Church Slavonic scheme:

number+na+deset, e.g. 15 = pet+na+deset = petnast.

2. Number jedin (m.), jedna (f.), jedno (n.) is declined as a hard pronoun (toj) in
the singular.

example: jedin člověk (N), jednogo člověka (G), jednemu člověku (D), jednej
ženy (G), ...

3. When added to other numbers, the number 1 has only one universal form jedna
in all cases.

example: dvadesetjedna ljudi (N), dvadesetjedna ljudij (G), dvadesetjedna

ljudim (D), dvadesetjedna žen (G), ...
4. Number dva (m.), dvě (f.), dvě (n.) is declined as a hard pronoun (toj) in plural.

example: dva ljudi (N), dvěh ljudij (G), dvěm ljudim (D), dvěh žen (G), ...

5. Numbers tri and četyri are also declined as a hard pronoun (toj) in plural.
example: tri ljudi (N), trěh ljudij (G), trěm ljudim (D), trěh žen (G), ...

6. All other numbers ending with a consonant (e.g. -t, -m) are declined as the noun
declension pattern for kost (a bone) in the singular.
example: pet ljudi (N), peti ljudij (G), peti ljudim (D), peti žen (G), ...

69

 7. Number nula (zero, nula) is declined as the noun declension pattern žena
(a woman) in the singular.

example: nula ljudi (N), nuly ljudij (G), nulě ljudim (D), nuly žen (G), ...

8. There is an alternative form of number zero: nijedin (m.), nijedna (f.), nijedno
(n.).
example: nijedin člověk (N), nijednogo člověka (G), nijednomu člověku (D),
nijednoj ženy (G), ...

9. Number sto (hundred) and its derivatives is declined as the noun declension
pattern selo (a village) in the singular and the subject has corresponding plural
case.

example: sto ljudi (N), sta ljudij (G), stu ljudim (D), sta žen (G), ...
10. Number tysuč (thousand) and its derivatives is declined as the noun declension
pattern kost (a bone) and the subject remains in the plural genitive.
example: tysuč žen (N), tysuči žen (G), tysuči žen (D), ...

11. Number milion (million) and its derivatives is declined as the noun declension
pattern grad (town) in the singular and the subject remains in the plural genitive.
example: milion žen (N), miliona žen (G), milionu žen (D), ...
12. Composed numbers are written together in decadic triplets separated by spaces,
declining the last numeric element only.

example: 12 327 = dvanasttysuč tristodvadesetsedem (N), dvanast tysuč

tristodvadesetsedmi (G), ...

ordinal numbers
Neoslavonic ordinal numbers behave (and are declined, of course) in the same way as
standard pronouns. Composed ordinal numbers have ordinal form of the last numeric
element only.

0 nulty 10 desety
1 prvy 11 jedninasty
2 vtory 20 dvadesety
3 trety 21 dvadesetyp’rvy
4 četvrty 22 dvadesetyvtory
5 pety 100 sotny
6 šesty 200 dvěsotny
7 sedmy 1000 tysučny
8 osmi 2000 dvatysučny
9 devety 106 milionty

70

interrogative, demonstrative and indefinite number
These number-related forms are not inflected because they behave grammatically as
adverbs. The corresponding subject is attached to them in genitive plural.
Different number-related word forms may be created by adding prefixes to their root:
Please learn these from the following table (note: the prefixes are the same as we
discussed above for pronouns - t-, ni-, ně-, ...

adverb - like adjective - like

koliko? how much?, how many? koliky? which one? (question on the order)
toliko this amount toliky this (answer to the question on the order)
nikoliko no, nothing nikoliky no (answer to the question on the order)
několiko some, some number of několiky some (answer to the question on the order)


Remember also the following two indefinite numerals:

mnogo many, much (derived from the adjective mnogy = multiple)

malo a little, few (derived from the adjective maly = small, little)

examples:

Koliko imaješ aut? = How many cars (G) do you have?
Imaju toliko, koliko jest mi trěba. = I have as many I need.
Vidim několiko ljudij. = I can see some number of people.

71

fractions, set numbers, multiple numbers
1. Multiple numbers are made using multiplicative article -krat (times, multiplied
by) and behave as adverbs.
example: dvakrat = two times, desetkrat = ten times.

2. Pair (doublet) is par in Neoslavonic, declined as the noun grad (town).

Corresponding subjects are in genitive plural.

example: Imaju tri pary obuvij. = I have three pairs of shoes.

3. All kind of containers or similar concepts are expressed in the same way as pairs.
Corresponding subjects are in genitive plural.
example: Imaješ jedin buket květov. = You have one bouquet of flowers.

4. One half (½) is polovina declined by the feminine noun pattern žena (woman).
Corresponding subjects are in genitive singular.
example: polovina hlěba = one half of bread.

5. Other fractions (⅓, ¼, ...) are made from ordinal numbers by adding suffix -ina
and are declined by the feminine noun pattern žena (woman). Corresponding
subjects are in genitive singular.
example: tretina hlěba = one third of bread.
6. Decimal numbers have točka (decimal point). This word originally means any
point and is declined by the feminine noun pattern žena (woman), but in decimal
numbers it has always the same fixed form točka.

example: 3.14 = tri točka četyrinast.

7. In written text, we need to write ordinal numbers in the nominative with point
and in all other cases with their corresponding inflection endings.

example:
5. = 5th, fifth (m. sg. N), 5-ogo = 5th, fifth (m. sg. G), 5-im = 5th, fifth (m. sg. I), ...

72

10. present tense of verbs

Verbs are the foundation of any language. Neoslavonic verbs have (like in English) three
persons, singular and plural (optionally dual) number, imperative, participles,
conditional and three tenses (present, past and future) extendable to the total number of
six tenses. From this perspective, Neoslavonic does not differ from any other Indo-
European language. The difference with English is that all these verbal forms are
formed by adding endings to the word stem (root). Therefore, Neoslavonic is much
more similar to Greek. Latin or Romance languages.
Fortunately verb system is not so difficult to learn as inflection. With just a few
exceptions, Neoslavonic has only two verb classes. Like inflection, we have two
patterns: hard and soft. This means that it is enough to learn these two sets of endings
and apply them to each verb.

1. Each Neoslavonic verb can have two different word stems: past and present. The
present stem can be either identical with the past stem, or the present stem is
either longer or softer than corresponding past stem. This information should be
written in dictionaries.

2. Neoslavonic verbs have the infinitive. Remember, that the infinitive of all verbs
has ending -ti added to the past stem. The infinitive has almost the same role as
in English. (Details will be explained in subsequent chapters.)

3. We should also remind palatalization and euphony. Remember that in order to

sound almost like an ordinary natural Slavic language, we need to improve some
artificially generated sound combinations caused by word bases and endings.
Look the first chapter to remember.

hard conjugation pattern (-eš verbs)

verb dělati (to do) - an example of longer present verb stem

ja (I) dělaj-u my (we) dělaj-emo

ty (you sg.) dělaj-eš vy (you pl.) dělaj-ete
on, ona, ono (he, she, it) dělaj-e oni (they) dělaj-ut

verb pisati (to write) - an example of short and soft present verb stem

ja (I) piš-u my (we) piš-emo

ty (you sg.) piš-eš vy (you pl.) piš-ete
on, ona, ono (he, she, it) piš-e oni (they) piš-ut

It is obvious that the endings (-u, -eš, -e, -emo, -ete, -ut) are identical for both longer or
softer (and unchanged, of course) present stems.

Please note that modern western and southern Slavic languages tend to shorten longer
forms by removing syllable -je- (e.g. děla-je-š → děla-š, děla-je-mo → děla-mo, ...).

73

In Neoslavonic it is not so much recommended because this phenomenon is not present
in the same way in all Slavic languages. But You can meet with it.

Try to conjugate these additional verbs:

čitati, čitaj-eš to read

prodati, prodaj-eš to sell
možti, mož-eš to can
hotěti, hoč-eš to want
piti, pij-eš to drink
znati, znaj-eš to know
iskati, iskaj-eš to search, to look for
kazati, kaž-eš to tell
pluti, pluj-eš to swim

soft conjugation pattern (-iš verbs)

verb variti (to cook) - an example

ja (I) var-ju my (we) var-imo

ty (you sg.) var-iš vy (you pl.) var-ite
on, ona, ono (he, she, it) var-i oni (they) var-jut

possible optional set of endings of the same example

ja (I) var-im my (we) var-imo

ty (you sg.) var-iš vy (you pl.) var-ite
on, ona, ono (he, she, it) var-i oni (they) var-it


Good message is, that all verbs in this soft pattern (-ju/-im, -iš, -i, -imo, -ite, -jut/-it)
have identical past and present stems. But unlike in the hard pattern they can be
affected by a euphony rule from the 1st chapter (c-ju→č-u, s-ju→š-u, z-ju→ž-u) in order
to improve the final form as follows:

verb prositi (to please) - an example of euphony (s-ju→š-u)

ja (I) proš-u my (we) pros-imo

ty (you sg.) pros-iš vy (you pl.) pros-ite
on, ona, ono (he, she, it) pros-i oni (they) proš-ut

Verb prositi (to please) - an example of possible optional set of endings without need to
apply euphony:

ja (I) pros-im my (we) pros-imo

ty (you sg.) pros-iš vy (you pl.) pros-ite
on, ona, ono (he, she, it) pros-i oni (they) pros-it


There is the question which option (-ju/-im, ...) to choose. Eastern Slavic languages (e.g.
74

Russian) prefer ending (-ju, -jut or similar), but western and southern Slavic languages
tend to prefer ending (-im, -it or similar). Decide yourself what is the best for you.

Try to conjugate these additional verbs:

spati, sp-iš to sleep

kupiti, kup-iš to buy
slyšeti, slyš-iš to hear
viděti, vid-iš to can
platiti, plat-iš to pay
letěti, let-iš to fly
govoriti, govor-iš to speak
razuměti, razum-iš to understand
blagodariti, blagodar-iš to thank, to bless

irregular verbs byti = to be, iti = to go, jesti = to eat

Spoken language have many exceptions to their verbs. We have reduced these
exceptions of Neoslavonic to an absolute minimum in order to maximize
understandability for Slavic speakers. Thus, we have only three fully irregular verbs:
byti (to be), iti (to go) and jesti (to eat). You have already learned the verb byti.
Remember it and learn the next two verbs in addition:

byti iti jesti

(to be) (to go) (to eat)
jesm jesmo idu idemo jedu jedemo
jesi jeste ideš idete jedeš jedete
jest, je sut ide idut jede jedut

Please note that some other verbs also follow these irregular patterns. They are
miscellaneous derivatives of them, and also verbs having the infinitive endig of -sti.
These verbs are conjugated in the same way as jesti, for example: vesti; vedu, vedeš,
vedl, ... (to lead, to guide, to conduct); krasti; kradu, kradeš, kradl ... (to steal).

Moreover remember it is also possible to use a special constricted form of the negated
verb byti = to be:

ne byti
(not to be)
nesm nesmo
nesi neste
nest, ne je ne sut

notes
1. Neoslavonic recognizes two forms of the second person (you): singular (ty) and
plural (vy). Although one is singular and the other plural, the plural form (vy) is
also used among our Slavic languages when you are addressing one person in a
formal, polite manner (like a child addressing an adult, or when you converse
with someone you have never met before). Once you become more than
75

 acquaintances, the verb forms can shift to the singular form (ty). Adults,
however, will almost always address children using the singular verb form (ty).

Gospodi doktore (sg. V), kako jeste (pl.)? (Sir/Mr.) doctor, how are you?

Moj prijatelu (sg. V), kdě jesi (sg.)? My friend, where are you?

2. Just to remember again: There is no need to add personal pronouns (ja, ty, on,
ona, ono, my, vy, oni) to verbs in all situations. In English, one must use the
pronoun in order to be clear which verb tense is being used (“I go” “they go”),
whereas in Slavic, the verbs themselves carry full personal information through
the personal postfixes. This style is also similar in several Romance languages.
example:
čitaju = (I) read, čitaje = (he) reads, čitajemo = (we) read, čitajut = (they) read ...

3. There is the verb blagodariti, blagodar-iš (to thank). The second option is to
use the noun hvala (f. thank), or the derived verb hvaliti, hval-iš
(to bless, to laud).

examples
Idete li autom? Ne možeš iti ot nas.
Do you (pl.) go by a car (I)? - note You cannot go from us.
instrumental case without preposition.
Idete li do kina?
Moj prijatel meso na jade, on jest Do you (pl.) go to cinema?
vegetarian.
My friend (m.) does not eat meat, he is a Da, idemo.
vegetarian. Yes, we do. (We go.)

Moja prijatelica meso na jede, ona jest Piješ li pivo?
vegetarianica. Do you (sg.) drink beer?
My friend (f.) does not eat meat, she is a
vegetarian. Ne, pivo ne piju.
No, I do not drink beer.
Kaku knigu čitaješ?
What book do you (sg.) read? Hočete li něčto kupiti?
Do you (pl.) want to buy something?
Prošu/prosim, kdě jest stanica
autobusa? Tutoj gospod vse plati.
Please where is the bus station? This gentleman is paying for everything.

Vidimo veliky dom. Prosime Vas, čto tamo vidite?
We (can) see a big house. Please, what can you (pl.) see there?

Koliko platim? Moj prijatel mně ne hoče prodati svoje
How much do I need to pay? auto.
My friend does not want to sell me his car.

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11. adverbs, idioms

Adverbs are words which extend the meanings of some corresponding verb or adjective.
Adverbs are not conjugated.
1. Adverbs which are regularly formed from adjectives in the neuter nominative
form. (e.g. the ending -o or -e after soft consonants č, š, ž, j)

example:
mnogy,-a,-o (numerous, adj.) → mnogo (much, many, plenty of, adv.)
dobry,-a,-o (good, adj.) → dobro (good, adv.)
maly,-a,-o (small, adj.) → malo (a few, adv.)
novy,-a,-o (new, adj.) → novo (new, adv.)
prěmy,-a,-o (straight, adj.) → prěmo (straight, adv.)
povratny,-a,-o (backward, return, adj.) → povratno (backward, return, adv.)
lěvy,-a,-o (left, adj.) → lěvo (left, adv.)
desny,-a,-o (right, adj.) → desno (right, adv.)
pravy,-a,-o (right, correct, adj.) → pravo (right, correct, adv.)
krivy,-a,-o (false, awry, adj.) → krivo (false, awry, adv.)
svěži,-a,-e (fresh, adj.) → svěže (fresh, adv.)
2. Adjectives -sky, -ska, -sko, ... have the adverbs -ski.

example:
novoslověnsky (Neoslavonic, adj.) → novoslověnski (Neoslavonic, adv.)
englijsky (Neoslavonic, adj.) → englijski (Neoslavonic, adv.)

derived adverbs
Some adverbs are formed from fossilized proverbial structures of a noun and, in some
cases, with an optional added preposition or pronoun. Such a structure is then written
together as one word and behaves as one non-inflected word. They include for example:

vkupě v kupě (L) together (originally: in a group)

izjutra iz jutra (G) tomorrow (originally: from the morning)
gorě gorě (L) up, to the top (originally: a hill in locative)
dolu dolu (L) down, to the bottom (originally: a valley in locative)
lětom letom (I) in/during a summer (originally: a summer in instr.)
zimoju zimoju (I) in/during a winter (originally: a winter in instr.)
jutrom jutrom (I) in/during a morning/sunrise (orig: a morning in instr.)
včera večera (G) yesterday (originally: an evening in genitive)
doma doma (G) at home (originally: a house in genitive)
jutras jutra sego (G) today morning (originally: this morning in genitive)
polednes poledne sego (G) today noon (originally: this noon in genitive)
večeras večera sego (G) today evening (originally: this evening in genitive)
dnes dne sego (G) today (originally: this day in genitive)
nočis noči sej (G) tonight (originally: this night in genitive)

77

interrogative adverbs and their answers
current location way-through location requested location
kdě? where? kudě? where? kamo? where? interrogative
sdě here sdě here semo here dmnstr. exactly
tudě,tu here tudě,tu here tamo there demonstrative
ovdě there ovdě there ovamo there dmnstr. roughly
ondě there ondě there onamo there dmnstr. distantly
indě elsewhere inudě elsewhere inamo elsewhere alternatively
nikdě no where nikudě no where nikamo no where nowise, no way
někdě anywhere někudě anywhere někamo anywhere some, any
vsekdě everywhere vsekudě everywhere vsemo everywhere always

time modus numeral adverb

kogda when? kako? how? koliko? howmuch? interrogative
segda now - - - - dmnstr. exactly
togda that time tako this way toliko so much demonstrative
ovegda that time ovako this way - - dmnstr. roughly
onegda that time onako this way - - dmnstr. distantly
inogda another time inako other way - - alternatively
nikogda never nikako no way nikoliko no nowise, no way
někogda sometimes někako some way několiko some some, any
vsegda always vsekako all way - - always

1. Note in this table that there are several symmetries among pronouns, numerals
and adverbs made by the same prefixes (e.g. t-, in-, ni-, ně-, vs-). For details,
refer to the chapters about pronouns and numerals again.
2. Adverbs kamo?, semo, tamo, ... can be combined with the prefix ot- (from) in
order to make adverb otkamo? (where from?), ottamo (from there), ...
3. Adverbs kako, nikako, někako, ... have their optional alternatives jako, nijako,
nějako, ...

78

gradation
Gradation of adverbs is symmetrical to the gradation of adjectives. There are 4 levels
and two modes: direct and descriptive. The prefix is naj- (the same as for adjectives)
and the suffix is -ěje or -eje after č, š, ž, j. There are five irregular adverbs made from
the same irregular adjectives in the comparative: bolše, lučše, unše, menše, gorše
according to irregular adjectives.

example:

1. silno = strong
2. silněje = vyše silno = stronger, more strong
3. najsilněje = najvyše silno = strongest, the most strong
4. najsilno = mnogo silno = very strong

idioms
Like virtually every human language, Neoslavonic has idioms as well. They were chosen
with the aim of maximum similarity to spoken Slavic languages and an acceptable level
of simplicity. Please learn these idioms:

jest trěba D N/infinitive needs to, it is required, ... (whom, what)

hoču D A/infinitive I want (for D) to (A or infinitive) ...
v redu in order, OK, no problem
i kako li že although (exactly: and how if that)
drug druga each other (exactly: a friend of a friend)
otnošeno mutually (from the verb otnositi = relate to)
na žalkost unfortunately (exactly: at disfavor)
na štastje fortunately (exactly: at fortune)
ako ... potom ... inako ... if ... then ... else ...

examples:

Trěba jest pisati pismo. = It is required to write a letter.
Trěba jest Tebě pisati pismo. = It is required you to write a letter.
Hočemo Vam iti do Pragy. = We want you to go in Prague.
Dobro govoriš novoslověnski. = You speak Neoslavonic well.

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12. imperative of verbs

Imperative is formed from the present stem of any verb.

dělaj-eš = to do piš-eš = to write vid-iš = to see
imaj-eš = to have hoč-eš = to want slyš-iš = to hear
pluj-eš = to swim govor-iš = to speak var-iš = to boil, to cook
znaj-eš = to know plat-iš = to pay sp-iš = to sleap
prodaj-eš = to sell let-iš = to fly gybn-eš = to die


1. Verbs with their present stem ending by semiconsonant j have the imperative
endings -! (you singular), -mo! (we plural), -te! (you plural).

note about Cyrillic: The semiconsonant j from the present stem is written as ɪ in
the indicative, but as й (e.g. kratke i) in the imperative.

examples:

dělaj-eš дѣлаɪ-еш dělaj! дѣлай! = do! (you singular)

imaj-eš имаɪ-еш imajmo! имаймo! = let we have!
znaj-eš знаɪ-еш znajmo! знаймo! = let we know!
pluj-eš плуɪ-еш plujmo! плуймo! = let we swim!
prodaj-eš продаɪ-еш prodaj! продай! = sell! (you singular)

2. All other verbs have the imperative endings -i! (you singular), -imo! (we plural),
-ite! (you plural).

examples:

piš-eš пиш-еш piši! пиши! = write! (you singular)

hoč-eš хоч-еш hočimo! хочимo! = let we want!
govor-iš говор-иш govorite! говорите! = speak! (you plural or polite)
plat-iš плат-иш plati! плати! = pay! (you singular)
let-iš лет-иш letimo! летимо! = let us fly!
vid-iš вид-иш vidite! видите! = see! (you plural or polite)
slyš-iš слыш-иш slyšite! слышите! = hear! (you plural or polite)
var-iš вар-иш vari! вари! = boil!, cook! (you singular)
sp-iš сп-иш spi! спи! = sleap! (you singular)
gybn-eš гыбн-еш gybnimо! гыбнимо! = let we die!
note:

Verbs with their present stem ending by a soft consonant (č, š, ž) can optionally
have the the same shorter imperative endings -! (you singular), -mо! (we plural),
-te! (you plural) as of the first case.
examples:
piš-eš пиш-еш piš! пиш! = write! (you singular)
hoč-eš хоч-еш hočmo! хочмo! = let we want!
slyš-iš слыш-иш slyšte! слыште! = hear! (you plural)
81

imperative of irregular verbs, subjunctive mood
irregular verbs byti, iti, jasti have imperative
budi, budite, ...,
idi, idite, ...,
jedi, jedite, ...

Subjunctive mood is used to express various states of unreality such as wish, emotion,
possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or an action that has not yet occurred.

In Neoslavonic, the subjunctive mood is made from any sentence in the standard (e.g.
indicative) mood introduced by the particle da (let, let is, may, ...)

examples:

Da imajete dobro vreme! = May you have a good weather!
Da žije kral! = Vivat the king! Let the king lives!

82

13. past tenses of verbs

Past tenses of Neoslavonic verbs are very easy and regular. There is only one pattern for
all verbs (except for the three irregular verbs byti = to be, iti = to go, jesti = to eat). This
pattern is based on the infinitive.

L-participle
Neoslavonic (as well as spoken Slavic languages) operates past tenses with the so called
L-participle. It is a special form of indeclinable verbal adjective made from the infinitive.
1. The L-participle is created from the infinitive via simple replacing ending -ti by
ending -l (m.), -la (f.), -lo (n.), -li (universal plural).

2. Verbs having the infinitive ending -ti connected directly to their stems without a
vowel (for example možti = to be able, pečti = to bake, ...), have their stems
hardened via backward palatalization (e.g. from soft -č, -š, -ž back to -k, -h, -g)
and have jor (’/ъ) in masculine form in order to play the role of missing vowel:
mož-ti, mog-’l, mog-la, mog-lo, mog-li ... peč-ti, pek-’l, pek-la, pek-lo, pek-li ...
(in standard latin orthography, we write only mogl, pekl, ...)
3. The irregular verb byti (to be) has its own unique L-participle: byl, byla, bylo,
byli.

4. The irregular verb iti (to go) has its own unique L-participle: išel, išla, išlo, išli
and its derivatives are for example: do-šel, pri-šel, na-šel for prefixes ending by
a vowel and ot-išel, vaz-išel for prefixes ending by a consonant.

5. The irregular verb jesti (to eat) has its own unique L-participle: jed-l (jed-’l),
jed-la, jed-lo, jed-li ...

examples:

děla-ti → děla-l, děla-la, děla-lo, děla-li (to do)
pisa-ti → pisa-l, pisa-la, pisa-lo, pisa-li (to write)
vidě-ti → vidě-l, vidě-la, vidě-lo, vidě-li (to see)
peč-ti → pek-’l, pek-la, pek-lo, pek-li (to bake)
mož-ti → mog-’l, mog-la, mog-lo, mog-li (to can)

83

simple past tense
The simple past tense of all verbs is formed in a very similar way as the L-participle.
1. Simple past tense is created from the infinitive via simply replacing the ending -ti
by these endings:

ja -h my -hom
ty -še vy -ste
on, ona, ono -še oni -hu

2. Verbs having the infinitive ending -ti connected directly to the stem without a
vowel (for example možti = to can, pečti = to bake, ...) have the stem appended
by adding the vowel -e-. (e.g. mož-e-h, mož-e-še, ..., peč-e-h, peč-e-še, ...)
3. The irregular verb byti (to be) has the following past tense forms:
bě-h, bě-še, bě-še, bě-hom, bě-ste, bě-hu.
4. The irregular verb iti (to go) has the following past tense forms :
ide-h, ide-še, ide-še, ide-hom, ide-ste, ide-hu.

5. The irregular verb jesti (to eat) has the following past tense forms :
jede-h, jede-še, jede-še, jede-hom, jede-ste, jed-ehu.

examples:

děla-ti → děla-h, děla-še, děla-še, děla-hom, děla-ste, děla-hu (to do)
pisa-ti → pisa-h, pisa-še, pisa-še, pisa-hom, pisa-ste, pisa-hu (to write)
peč-ti → peč-e-h, peč-e-še, peč-e-še, peč-e-hom, peč-e-ste, peč-e-hu (to bake)

note:

The foregoing simple past tense forms are found in the past tenses of Croatian, Serbian,
Montenegrin, Slavo-Macedonian and Bulgarian only but were in all Slavic languages in
the past. They are not, however, found in the modern Western Slavic and Eastern Slavic
languages except for Sorbian.

84

composed past tense = prior present tense
As noted above, the Western Slavic and Eastern Slavic languages do not use the simple
past tense (-h, -še, ...). Instead, they use the composed past tense made by the
combination of the verb byti (to be) in the present tense and the L-participle in
corresponding personal form (m. or f. or n. or pl.).

example:

dělati (to do) in the composed past tense

jesm dělal/dělala/dělalo I did jesmo dělali we did

jesi dělal/dělala/dělalo you did jeste dělali you did
je dělal/dělala/dělalo he/she/it did sut dělali they did

Jesi li pisala pismo? Did you (f.) write a letter?
Ne, on je pisal to pismo. No, he did write this letter.

note:

If you use the past form of the verb byti (to be) instead of the present form, you will
create the "prior past tense".

example:

Běše li pisala pismo? Had you (f.) written a letter?
Ne, on běše pisal to pismo. No, he had written this letter.

85

symmetric system of Neoslavonic present and past tenses
If we do not assume a simplified system with only one past tense (either simple or
composed), we can define the complex symmetric system of four tenses in two time
levels: the present level and the past level:
1. present tense (e.g. dělaju, dělaješ, ...) - this is the actual time of the present
2. prior-present tense (e.g. jesm dělal, jesi dělal, ...) - this is another auxiliary time
just before the present tense, but related to the present tense

3. past tense (e.g. dělah, dělaše, ...) - this is some time in the past

4. prior past tense (e.g. běh dělal, běše dělal, ...) - this is another auxiliary time just
before the past tense, but related to the past tense

Example of the present time level:

Hvalimo Vas, že jeste razdělili knigy.
Thank you for sorting the books. (thanking = present, sorting = prior-present)

The same example moved to the past time level:

Hvalihom Vas, že běste razdělili knigy.
We did thank you for sorting the books. (thanking = past, sorting = prior-past)

It is obvious, that the relationship between thanking and sorting is the same in both time
levels: Sorting goes first, thanking goes after.

86

14. future tenses of verbs

Future tenses are even simpler than the past tenses. The only verb having its own
uncomposed future tense is byti (to be). Please, learn it.

budu I will be budemo we will be

budeš you will be budete you will be
bude he/she/it will be budut they will be

1. The future tense is created by the personal future form of the verb byti (to be)
and the infinitive of the second verb.
example:

budu pisati = I will write
budemo dělati = we will do
budeš slyšeti = you (sg.) will hear

2. As an optional alternative, you may use the verb hotěti (to want) instead of the
verb byti (to be).

example:

hoču pisati = I will write, I want to write
hočemo dělati = we will do, we want to do
hočeš slyšeti = you (sg.) will hear, you (sg.) want to hear

prior future tense

This is the future tense being before another future event. This additional future tense
is created by the personal future form of the verb byti (to be) and the L-participle.

example:

budu pisal = I will write
budemo dělali = we will do
budeš slyšel = you (sg.) will hear

87

symmetric system of Neoslavonic future, present and past tenses
If we do not assume a simplified system with only one past tense (either simple or
composed), we can define the complex symmetric system of six tenses in three time
levels: the future level and the present level and the past level.
1. future tense (e.g. budu dělati, budeš dělati, ...) - this is some time in the future
2. prior-future tense (e.g. budu dělal, budeš dělal, ...) - this is another auxiliary
time just before the future tense, but semanticaly related to the future tense

3. present tense (e.g. dělaju, dělaješ, ...) - this is the actual time of the present
4. prior-present tense (e.g. jesm dělal, jesi dělal, ...) - this is another auxiliary time
just before the present tense, but semanticaly related to the present tense

5. past tense (e.g. dělah, dělaše, ...) - this is some time in the past
6. prior past tense (e.g. běh dělal, běše dělal, ...) - this is another auxiliary time just
before the past tense, but semanticaly related to the past tense


example of the present time level:

Hvalimo Vas, že jeste razdělili knigy.
Thank you for sorting the books. (thanking = present, sorting = prior-present)

the same example moved to the future time level:

Budemo Vas hvaliti, že budete razdělili knigy.
We will thank you for sorting the books. (thanking = future, sorting = prior-future)

the same example moved to the past time level:

Hvalihom Vas, že běste razdělili knigy.
We did thank you for sorting the books. (thanking = past, sorting = prior-past)

It is obvious, that the temporal relationship between "thanking" and "sorting" is the
same in all three time levels: Sorting is before subsequent thanking.

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15. medial, passive, conditional, aspect of verbs

active voice
All verbs listed in previous chapters were in the active voice. The active voice means
that a subject in the nominative is the performer (= initiator) of action represented by a
verb. An object (= target) of action is in the accusative.

example:

Moj prijatel (N, subject) vidi (verb) veliky dom (A, object).
My friend can see a big house.
• performer (subject) = moj prijatel,

• action (verb) = vidi and

• target (object) = veliky dom.

medial voice
This verbal voice means that the object in the accusative is identical with the subject in
the nominative. Neoslavonic uses a reflexive personal pronoun se, sebe, sebě, ... which
exactly refers back to the subject. This pronoun has been already introduced in the
chapter 7. - pronouns. Note that this pronoun does not have its own nominative case
form and that its other cases are symmetrical to personal pronouns "I" and "you".
(e.g. mne = tebe = sebe, mně = tebě = sebě, ...)

This means that the medial voice can be regarded as a special kind of the active voice,
where the subject and the object are identical. These verbs are written with the
pronoun se in dictionaries (e.g. kupati se = to take a bath).

example:

(Ja) kupaju sebe v bazenu. = Kupaju se v bazenu.
I bathe (myself) in a swimming pool.

subject: ja = I
verb: kupati = to take a bath
object: se = I, myself

compare this example with the active voice having a different object in accusative:

Kupaju svojego psa v bazenu.
I bathe my dog in a swimming pool.

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passive voice, passive participle
The passive voice is a verbal mode, where the subject in the nominative is not a
performer, but a target. This means that it is quite the opposite than in the active voice.
This voice is used when a target information is about far more important than
performer information. The performer, which is less important, may (but need not) be
expressed using the instrumental.

The passive voice is formed in the exactly same way as in English: Using a combination
of the verb byti (to be) and the passive participle in the nominative. The passive
participle behaves as an adjective and is made in a very similar way as the L-participle
from the infinitive via modification of the infinitive ending as follows:

1. Hard (-eš) verbs ending by -iti, -eti, -uti, -yti have the passive participle
-ty, -ta, -to, -ti and keep the same vowel -i-,-e-,-u-,-y- from the infinitive endings.

example:

piti, piješ = to drink; pity, ... = drunk
biti, biješ = to beat, to hit; bity, ... = beaten, hit
kleti, kleješ = to damn, to profane; klety, ... = damned, profaned
obuti, obuješ = to boot, to take shoes; obuty, ... = booted, having shoes
gybnuti, gybneš = to die; gybnuty, ... = died
kryti, kryješ = to cover; kryty, ... = covered

2. Soft (-iš) verbs ending by -iti have the passive participle -eny, -ena, -eno, -eni
with following consonant softening changes from d,t,n,l,c,s,z to dj,tj,nj,lj,č,š,ž:

infinitive -diti makes -djeny, -djena, -djeno, -djeni (e.g. d → dj),
infinitive -titi makes -tjeny, -tjena, -tjeno, -tjeni (e.g. t → tj),
infinitive -niti makes -njeny, -njena, -njeno, -njeni (e.g. n → nj),
infinitive -liti makes -ljeny, -ljena, -ljeno, -ljeni (e.g. l → lj),
infinitive -citi makes -čeny, -čena, -čeno, -čeni (e.g. c → č),
infinitive -siti makes -šeny, -šena, -šeno, -šeni (e.g. s → š),
infinitive -ziti makes -ženy, -žena, -ženo, -ženi (e.g. z → ž).

(about c, s, z transformation remember euphony rules in chapter 1)

example:
variti, variš = to boile; vareny, ... = boiled
ljubiti, ljubiš = to love; ljubeny, ... = loved
vratiti, vratiš = to return; vratjeny, ... = returned
goniti, goniš = to hunt, to chase; gonjeny, ... = hunted, chased
prositi, prosiš = to please; prošeny, ... = pleased
poraziti, poraziš = to defeat, to shock; poraženy, ... = defeated, shocked

90

 3. All other verbs (both hard and soft) have the passive participle -ny, -na, -no, -ni.
and keep the same vowel, which is in the infinitive endings. If there is no vowel
in infinite endings, the vowel -e- is added.

example:

vid-ě-ti = to see; vid-ě-ny, ... = seen
děl-a-ti = to do; děl-a-ny, ... = done
pis-a-ti = to write; pis-a-ny, ... = written
slyš-e-ti = to hear; slyš-e-ny, ... = heard
peč-ti = to bake; peč-e-ny, ... = baken
nes-ti = to carry, to bear; nes-e-ny, ... = carried, beard
jes-ti = to eat; jad-e-ny, ... = eaten

(jasti, jadu, jadeš, jadl ... = to eat is an irregular verb - see chapter 10)

examples:

Moj pes jest kupany v bazenu. My dog is bathed in a swimming pool.
Tuto pismo jest pisano na dobry paper. This letter is written on a good paper.
note: For euphonic reason, it is also possible to use masculine endings without -y. (e.g.
viděn, pisan, pečen, gybnut, jaden, ...) Even so, this shorter form of masculine passive
participle is semantically identical with the normal form (e.g. viděny, pisany, pečeny,
gybnuty, jedeny, ...).

conditional
The conditional refers to a hypothetical state of affairs, or an uncertain event that is
contingent on another set of circumstances. The only verb having its own conditional is
byti = to be.

byh I would byhom we would

bys you would byste you would
by he,she,it would byhu, by they would

The conditional of all verbs is made by the combination of the L-participle and the
subsequent conditional of byti (to be).

examples:

Dělal byh. = I would like to do.
Dělal li bys? = Would you like to do?
Pili byhom. = We would like to drink.
Slyšela bys. = You (f.) would like to hear.
Jedli by. = They would like to eat.

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aspect of verbs
The aspect defines the temporal flow (or lack thereof) in a given action, event, or state,
from the point of view of the speaker. Neoslavonic has two possible aspects:
1. The unitary view without any internal temporal flow is known as the perfective
aspect, and
2. the non-bound view with reference to some internal temporal flow is known as
the imperfective aspect.

The perfective aspect allows the speaker to describe the action related to some concrete
event as finished, completed or launched, started in the natural way.
The imperfective aspect does not present the action as related to some exact time event,
but rather as pending or ongoing and still opened or uncompleted.

Unfortunately, spoken Slavic languages are very different in verbal aspect. It is possible
that the same verb is perfective in one language and imperfective in another language.
Moreover, western and eastern Slavic languages (in contrast with southern languages)
use the present tense in perfective mode as a substitute for the future tense (e.g.
napisati (to write pf.), napišu = I will write down). It is important to know this
phenomenon while talking to native Slavic speakers.
In Neoslavonic, we have only a few of simple rules, which are almost common and
comprehensible to various Slavic speakers:

1. All verbs having infinitive -vati and present tense -vaju, -vaješ, -vaje, -vajemo,
-vajete, -vajut (regardless if they have or do not have any prefix) are imperfective.

examples:

davati: davaju, davaješ, ... (to give)
strahovati: strahovaju, strahovaješ, ... (to afraid, to fear)
ot-rěkavati: otrěkavaju, otrěkavaješ, ... (to deny)
o-strahovati: ostrahovaju, ostrahovaješ, ... (to assure, to cover by insurance)
na-pinavati: napinavaju, napinavaješ, ... (strain, stretch)

2. All verbs having infinitive -nuti and present tense -nu, -neš, -ne, -nemo, -nete,
-nut (regardless if they have or do not have any prefix) are perfective.

examples:

gryznuti: gryznu, gryzneš, ... (to bite)
seknuti: seknu, sekneš, ... (to cut, to strike by a hatchet or a sword)
o-vladnuti: ovladnu, ovladneš, ... (to govern, to gain control of something)
o-slepnuti: oslepnu, oslepneš, ... (to go blind)
na-pnuti: napnu, napneš, ... (strain, stretch)

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 3. All other verbs without any prefix are imperfective.

examples:

čitati: čitaju, čitaješ, ... (to read)
pisati: pišu, pišeš, ... (to write)
viděti: vidim, vidiš, ... (to see)
slyšeti: slyšim, slyšiš, ... (to hear)
čuti: čuju, čuješ, ... (to feal)
platiti: platim, platiš, ... (to pay)
hotěti: hoču, hočeš, ... (to want)

4. All other verbs with any prefix are perfective. Any preposition can be used as a
prefix. Explore what prepositions these verbal prefixes are originated from.

examples:

ot-běgati: otběžim, otběžiš, ... (run out)
iz-končiti: izkončim, izkončiš, ... (to close, to conclude, to expire)
so-vršiti: sovršim, sovršiš, ... (to culminate, to improve, to make perfect)
pri-stupati: pristupim, pristupiš, ... (to accede, to come on)
pro-dati: prodaju, prodaješ, ... (to sell)
na-ložiti: naložim, naložiš, ... (to load, to put down)
pro-slaviti: proslavim, proslaviš, ... (to celebrate, to proclaim)

5. There are a few very commonly used prefixes, which is good to remember:

vaz- (to begin/launch the process)
na- (to perform one event of a process)
iz- (to finish/leave the process)

s-/so- (to finish/complete the process and join/merge/create something)
raz- (to finish/complete the process and separate something)
do- (to finish/complete the process and complete/close something)

examples:

vaz-letěti: vazletim, vazletiš, ... (to fly up, to take off, to start flying)
na-pisati: napišu, napišeš, ... (to write down)
iz-měriti: izměrim, izměriš, ... (to measure, to complete measurement)

so-vezati: sovezaju, sovezaješ, ... (to unify, to link, to bind, to unite)
raz-děliti: razdělim, razděliš, ... (to split, to separate)
raz-vezati: razvezaju, razvezaješ, ... (to unlace, to dissolve, to unbound)
raz-mysliti, razmyslim, razmysliš, ... (to think over, to hesitate)
do-pisati, dopišu, dopišeš, ... (to complete writing)

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16. verbal nouns, participles

verbal noun (gerund)

A verbal noun (or gerund) is a word having the grammatical behavior (e.g. cases,
gender, ...) of a noun, but representing some process expressed by a verb. A verbal noun
is a noun that is derived from a verb and can still have a subject and a subject as an
ordinary verb.

A verbal noun is made from the past passive participle by adding the endings -je. Verbal
nouns have a neutral gender and are inflected with the soft neuter pattern polje, polja,
polju, ...
examples:

pisati, pisany → pisanje (writing)
slyšeti, slyšeny → slyšenje (hearing)
variti, vareny → varenje (boiling)
gybnuti, gybnuty → gybnutje (dying)
dělati, dělany → dělanje (doing)

verbal nouns (gerunds) are used in the same way as in English:

Govorenje jest srebro, mlčenje jest zlato. = Speaking is silver, silence is golden.

transformation clause↔gerund
see the following table showing how to transform a clause into a gerund. In this way we
can compress a whole sentence to a gerund, which can then be used as a part of another
clause.

entire clause verbal noun (gerund)

verb in a personal form gerund
adverb (extending verb) adjective (extending gerund)
subject of a sentence (in nominative) attribute in genitive with preposition ot (from)
attribute in genitive without any preposition or
object of a sentence (in accusative)
possessive pronoun
adverbial part in some case and with attribute in the same case and with the same
some preposition preposition

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examples:

(Ja) pišu pismo.
I write a letter. - normal clause

moje pisanje pisma
my writing of a letter - gerund with transformed subject (ja) and object (pismo).

Jesi li viděl moje pisanje pisma?
Did you see my writing of a letter? - gerund used as an object in another clause

(Ty) čitaješ dobro.
You are reading good. - normal clause

dobro čitanje ot tebe
good reading of you - gerund with transformed subject (ty) and adverb (dobro).

Bog čuděsno iztvoriše (pf.) člověka.
God miraculously created a man. - normal clause

čuděsno iztvorenje člověka ot Boga
miraculous creation of a man by God. - gerund with transformed subject (Bog),
object (člověk) and adverb (čuděsno).

Věruju v čuděsno iztvorenje člověka ot Boga.
I believe in the miraculous creation of man by God. - gerund used as
an object in another clause

adjectival participles
Neoslavonic has a total of four participles having adjectival behavior (e.g. gender,
number and cases in the same way as ordinary adjectives). One of them is already
known – the passive participle. But there are two passive participles: One is related to
the past tense, the second is related to the present tense. The same symmetry stands for
both active participles. Please remember these symmetries:

1. All past-tense adjectival participles are made from the infinitive. There is only
one pattern for the past-tense adjectival participles - both for passive and active.
2. All present-tense related participles are made from the present-time stem.
Symmetrical to the vowels in the present tense conjugation, there are two
patterns of present-tense adjectival participles (e.g. -eš → e/u and -iš → i/ju)
both for passive and active.
table of Neoslavonic adjective participles

active (soft adjective) passive (hard adjective)

present -eš pattern -uči -emy
present -iš pattern -juči -imy
universal past pattern -vši -ny or -ty *

96

* rules for selecting -ny or -ty with corresponding vowel has been already described in
the previous chapter on passive voice at page 90.

Note that English has only two participles: present active and past passive. This means
that the English speaker will need to take care, that there are four participles having two
tenses for both active and passive participle.

Examples of passive participles:

adjectival participles of the verb pi-ti, pij-u, pij-eš, ...,
pi-l, ... (to drink, -eš pattern)

active passive
present pij-uči pij-emy
past pi-vši p-i-ty

adjectival participles of the verb rabota-ti, rabotaj-u, rabotaj-eš, ...,
rabota-l, ... (to drink, -eš pattern)

active passive
present rabotaj-uči rabotaj-emy
past rabota-vši rabota-ny

adjectival participles of the verb vari-ti, var-ju, var-iš, ...,
vari-l, ... (to boil, to cook, -iš pattern)

active passive
present var-juči var-imy
past vari-vši vare-ny

examples of passive participles:

Tuto jest najpijemo pivo v našej krajině. = This is the most drunk beer in our country.
(this is the present passive participle, because we speak about drinking in the present time)

Moja butylka jest izpita. = My bottle is drunk.
(this is the past passive participle, because now my bottle is empty)

Hočeš li jesti vareno meso? = Do you want to eat boiled meat?
(this is the past passive participle, because meat has been boiled before our present time)

examples of active participles:

Rabotajuči člověk ne imaje svobodno vreme. = A working man has no free time.
(this is the present active participle - a man is working now, in the present)

Na stolu jest varjuča voda. = There is boiling water at the table.
(this is the present active participle - water is boiling now, in the present)

Prosimo, davajte dorabotavše električske pribory do ekologičnogo otpada.
Please, put "old, used" electrical appliances in ecological waste.
(this is the past active participle - appliances have finished their working)
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adverbial participles, clause transformation to adverbial
participle
Adverbial participles are similar to verbal nouns (gerunds). Both represent a process
using different grammatical category (e.g. as a noun or as an adverb).

Adverbial participles are very useful in situations when we want to incorporate one
clause to another clause, if both clauses have the same subject. An adverbial participle
behaves as an ordinary adverb and can be semanticaly interpreted as the second
auxiliary/subordinate verb to the main superordinate verb of the same sentence.
There are two adverbial participles: present and past. Adverbial participles are made
from active adjectival participles by simple endings modification as follows:

Neoslavonic adverbial participles

present -eš pattern -uč

present -iš pattern -juč
universal past pattern -v

note that these participles (as well as ordinary adverbs) do not have gender, number and
cases

Example of the present adverbial participle:

1st (superordinate) clause:

Redaktor slyši šum aut na ulici. An editor hears the noise of cars on the street.

2nd (subordinate) clause:

Redaktor piše članek do novin. An editor is writing an article for newspapers.

Both clauses have the same subject.

We can merge them into the one complex sentence as follows:
Redaktor pišuč članek do novin slyši šum aut na ulici.
An editor (when writing an article for newspapers) hears the noise of cars on the street.

The same sentence moved to the past time:

Redaktor pišuč članek do novin je slyšel šum aut na ulici.
An editor (when writing an article for news.) has heard the noise of cars on the street.

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The same example of the past adverbial participle:

1st (superordinate) clause:

Redaktor slyši šum aut na ulici.

An editor hears the noise of cars on the street.

2nd (subordinate) clause:

Redaktor je dopisal članok do novin.
An editor wrote (e.g. completed writing) an article for newspapers.

Both clauses have the same subject.

We can merge them into the only one sentence as follows:

Redaktor dopisav članok do novin slyši šum aut na ulici.

An editor (after writing an article for newspapers) hears the noise of cars on the street.

The same sentence moved to the past time:

Redaktor dopisav članok do novin je slyšel šum aut na ulici.

An editor (after writing an article for news.) have heard the noise of cars on the street.

99

17. conjunctions, particles and interjections

conjuctions
A conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, phrases or clauses together.
Conjunctions are non-inflected and are used in exactly the same way as in English.
Learn the most used Neoslavonic conjunctions from this table:

i and
conjunctive
ni ... ni ... neither ... nor ...
ili (either) or
disjunctive
i ili or (logically)
contradicted ale, no but
bo, zatože because
causal
da in order to/that
referential že that

Coupling clauses can also be referenced by various reference, demonstrative and
interrogative pronouns, numerals and adverbs (e.g. iže, ktory, koliko, kdě, ...) that can
be in any case in order to connect the main concepts between the superordinate and the
subordinate clause.

examples:

hlěb i vino
bread and wine

ni cěsara ni krala
neither any emperor nor any king

Hočete li piti pivo ili vino?
Do you want to drink beer or wine? (either beer or wine)

Dobro to mysliš, no ne jest to možno.
You mean it well, but it is not possible.

Išel jesm kupovati do trgu, bo doma ne bylo nikako jedenje.
I went for shopping at the market, because there was nothing to eat at home.

Ne hoču auto, v ktorom jest slaby motor.
I do not want a car, in which the engine is weak.
(pronoun with preposition v ktorom makes the conjunction)

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particles
A particle is a special part of speech, which complements the word or clause by some
additional information detail. We already learned the particle li, which changes the verb
from the indicative mode to the interrogative mode, and the particles da, ne. Here is the
table of the most used Neoslavonic particles:

da yes
agreeing
ej yes, of course, eh, yea
disagreeing ne no, not
ako ..., potom ..., inako ... . if ..., then ..., else ... .
querying
li (querying verbs)
ubo thus, therefore, hence
ale however
emphasizing
navyše moreover
obače despite of, yet, notwithstanding

examples:

Ako izjutra bude dobro vreme, potom ne hoču ostati v domu.

If the weather will be good tomorrow, then I do not want to stay at home.

Esperanto imaje prostu grammatiku. Obače važi, že to ne jest dobry jezyk.
Esperanto has a simple grammar. Yet it is not a good language.

Ej, to jest pravda!
Oh yes/yea, it is true!

note:
Slavic languages often replace the querying particle ako (or similar) by a verb in
querying mode (e.g. bude li dobro vreme, ...). Remember that this style has the same
meaning as the standard ako ... .

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interjections
An interjection or an exclamation is a non-inflected word used to express an emotion or
sentiment on the part of the speaker. They are for example oh! = oh!, uva! = lo!, see!,
behold!
example:

Oh, to ne jest možno! = Oh, this is not possible!

Moreover, any direct speech closed in quotation marks is semantically considered as an

interjection too.
example:

"Dobro jesmo!" je kazal tamtoj člověk.
"We are all right" said that man.

Žaba "plesk!" je skočila do vody.
A frog "splash!" jumped into the water.

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a joke
t e l e f o n a t
Dědko telefoniruje do doma, i telefon bere maly Ivanek.
dědko: "Zdravej! Prošu, daj mi mamku!"
Ivanek slabim glasom otgovorivaje: "Ja ne možu, mamka jest v kuhnji i mnogo
plače."
dědko: "Dobro, daj mi otca!"
Ivanek iznovo slabo otgovorivaje: "Ja ne možu, otec jest takože v kuhnji i mnogo
kriči."
dědko: "Spokojno, daj mi babku!"
Ivanek: "Babku takože ne možu. Ona je s mamkoju i plače."
dědko nervozno: "Prošu Tebe, jest li u Vas ješte někto vazrastly?"
Ivanek: "Da, policija tu je."
dědko kriči do telefona: "Bože! I čto u Vas dělaje policija?"
Ivanek slabim glasom otgovorivaje: "Oni mně iskajut."

dědko (m.) = a grandfather, granddad
Ivanek = little Ivan (personal name)
telefon (m.) = a phone
telefonirati, telefoniruješ (v. impf.) = to call
dom (m.) = a house
brati, bereš (v.) = to take
maly (adj.) = small
zdravej! (int.) = hi!
prositi, prosiš (v.) = to please
dati, daješ (v. pf.) = to give
dělati, dělaješ (v. pf.) = to do
mamka (f.) = a mother, mummy
plakati, plačeš (v.) to cry
slaby (adj.) = weak
glas (m.) = a voice
otgovorivati, otgovorivaješ (v. impf.) = to answer
otec (m.) = a father
takože (adv.) = too, as well
iznovo (adv.) = again
kuhnja (f.) = a kitchen
mnogo (adv.) = a lot
kričati, kričiš (v. impf.) = to shout, to scream
spokojno (adv.) = well-content, cheerfully
nervozno (adv.) = nervously
babka (f.) = a grandmother, granny
ješte (adv.) = yet more
vazrastly (adj.) = adult
policija (f.) = police
Bog, Bože! (m.) = the God
iskati, iskaješ (v. impf.) = to search, to look for

104

18. sentences with coordinate and subordinate
clauses, writing commas

coordinate clauses
A clause has a coordinate relationship when it has the same information without any
dependence to the other clause. Sentences with coordinate clauses are created easily by
using conjunctions or particles between particular clauses. Here they are:

i and
conjunctive
ni ... ni ... neither ... nor ...
ili (either) or
disjunctive
i ili or (logically)
contradicted ale, no But
bo, zatože because
causal
da in order to/that
implicative ako ..., potom ..., inako ... if ..., then ..., else ...

examples:

Včera je byla velika zima, i my jesmo ostali doma.
Yesterday it was very cold, and we stayed home.

Budete li letěti samoletom, ili hočete iti autom?
Will you fly by a plane, or do you want to go by a car?

Jesmo se učili Esperanto, no ne je byl to dobry jezyk.
We learned Esperanto, but it was not a good language.

Učihom Esperanto, no ne běše to dobry jezyk.
We learned Esperanto, but it was not a good language.

Učime se govoriti Novoslověnski, bo hočemo razumiti Slověnam.
We learn to speak Neoslavonic, because we want to understand Slavic people.

Hočemo, da imate dobro vreme!
We want you to have good weather!

Ako bude dobro vreme, potom idemo do prirody.
If there will be the good weather, then we will go to the countryside/nature.

subordinate clauses
Two clauses have the subordinate relationship when one clause (e.g. subordinate) has
dependent content on the other clause (e.g. superordinate). This means, that
subordinate clauses cannot stand alone without their control elements contained in
superordinate clauses.

In Neoslavonic, the subordinate clause must begin by some referential grammatical

element, which represents something from a corresponding superordinate clause. This
can be done by:

1. referential conjunction že = that. Here the entire subordinate clause refers to the
verb from the superordinate clause.
2. relative pronoun iže, jegože, jemuže, jejže, ... (see chapter 7. for details). Here
the relative pronoun refers to some noun, numeral or pronoun from the
superordinate clause.

3. any interrogative pronoun, numeral or adverb (e.g. ktory, koliko, kogda, ...).
Here the interrogative pronoun, numeral or adverb refers to some noun, numeral
or adverb from the superordinate clause.

examples:

Govorim, že to ne jest dobro.
I say, that this is not good. (že ↔ govorim)

Kto jest tamtoj člověk, ktory imaje zeleno auto?
Who is that man, who has a green car? (ktory ↔ člověk)

Ne hoču auto, v ktorom jest slaby motor.
I do not want a car, in which the engine is weak. (ktorom ↔ auto)

Moj prijatel, jegože mlada žena tamo ide, jest bolestny.
My friend, whose young wife is going there, is sick. (jegože ↔ prijatel)

Ne znaju točno, koliko imajemo ljudij.
I do not know, how many people we have. (koliko ↔ točno)

Idemo do prirody, kogda je dobro vreme.
We will go to the countryside/nature, when there is the good weather.
(kogda ↔ do prirody)

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writing commas
Neoslavonic is an auxiliary language, and therefore has no strict rules for writing
commas between clauses. Thus, you can use the same rules that you know from your
native language. But there is one simple rule that would be good to follow:
Each clause having its verb and other elements (e.g. subject, object, adverbial parts, ...)
should be separated from other clauses with a comma.

This rule is followed in all examples in this book:

Idemo do prirody, kogda bude dobro vreme. - here we need one comma.

First clause = Idemo do prirody.
Second clause = Kogda bude dobro vreme.


Moj prijatel, jegože mlada žena tamo ide, jest bolestny. - here we need two commas

First clause = Moj prijatel jest bolestny.
Second clause = Jegože mlada žena tamo ide.

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19. non-conforming attributes, transformations,
capitalization

A conforming attribute is consistent with the object (noun, pronoun, numeral, ...) in case,
gender and number, and changes in both these categories according to its corresponding
object. It is usually before its object and is most often represented by an adjective or an
adjective pronoun.

example:

dobry (N) člověk (N),

dobrogo (G) člověka (G),
dobromu (D) člověku (D), ... = a good (wo)man

non-conforming attribute
A non-conforming attribute is not consistent with the object (noun, pronoun,
numeral, ...) in case, gender and number, and keeps its own case regardless if its
corresponding object changes its cases. It is usually after its object and is most often
represented by a noun or pronoun in some case with optional preposition.

example:
člověk (N) iz Ameriky (G),
člověka (G) iz Ameriky (G),
člověku (D) iz Ameriky (G), ... = a (wo)man from America

It is obvious that both a conforming and a non-conforming attribute can be added to the
same object. (e.g. dobromu (D) člověku (D) iz Ameriky (G))

transformation of the subject in clause with verb byti = to be
In some situations we need to convert (compress) an entire clause into a unique element
for use in another clause. Original clause components in the nominative are converted
to the conforming attribute and other non-nominative clause components are converted
to the non-conforming attributes.

example:

Muž jest dobry. Toj muž jest iz Ameriky. Vidimo tu togo muža.
A man in good. This man is from America. We can see this man here.

first two clauses transformed to two elements of the third clause:

Vidimo tu dobrogo muža iz Ameriky. = We can see a good man from America.

Passive clauses are transformed in the same way as other clauses having the verb byti =
to be. The only difference is that a performer in the instrumental case is transformed to
the non-conforming attribute with the preposition ot + genitive (i.e. ablative expression).
example:
Slovo jest pisano Bogom (I). = A word is written by the God.

is transfomed to:
slovo ot Boga (G) = a word by/from the God

transformation of the subject in clause with other verb than byti

(to be)
A verb of this clause is converted to the active adjectival participle of the subject. Other
clause components are converted to the non-conforming attributes.

example:

Žena piše pismo. Ta žena sedi doma. = A woman writes a letter. This woman is
sitting at home.

first clause transformed to an element of the second clause:

Žena pišuča pismo sedi doma. = A woman (writing a letter) is sitting at home.

110

transformation of the entire clause
When we need to transform an entire clause, we can transform the verb into a verbal
noun and other clause elements to non-conforming attributes. Then we need:
1. The subject of the original clause in the nominative transformed to the non-
conforming attribute with the preposition ot + genitive (e.g. ablative).
2. The object of the original clause in the accusative transformed to the non-
conforming attribute in genitive.

3. Adverbs transformed into adjectives of the verbal nouns.

example:

Brat dobro rysovaje naš dom.
The brother draws our house well.

when we apply these transformations:

brat (N) → ot brata (G)
dobro (adv.) → dobro (adj.)
rysovaje (v.) → rysovanje (noun)
naš dom (A) → našego doma (G)

we can transform the original clause into an extended verbal noun as follows:

dobro rysovanje našego doma ot brata

multiple attribute
Multiple attribute is a very simple matter. This is about more attributes in the same case,
gender and number being repeated several times in some sequence.

example:

Kto jest toj filosof učitel naš?
Who is that philosopher (and) teacher (and) ours?

111

capitalization
Neoslavonic is an auxiliary language, and therefore it has no strict rules for
capitalization. Thus, you can use the same rules that you know from your native
language. But there is one simple rule that would be good to follow:
Each name of any unique subject/object should have nouns and adjectives capitalized.

examples:

Slovačska Republika = Slovak Republic
Europska Unija = European Union
Naum Ohridsky = Naum of Ohrid

112

20. word formation, diminution

Latin and Greek words in Neoslavonic

1. Latin and Greek words are written in phonetic orthography but with correct
Neoslavonic suffixes in correct cases. Latin and Greek masculine and
neuter suffixes of the nominative case are used in Neoslavonic as well, but are
replaced in other declination cases in the same way as in original Latin and Greek.

example:

filozofij-a (f. N), filozofij-e (f. G), ... (declension pattern duša)
= philosophy (greek: φιλοσοφία)
theatr-o (n. N), theatr-a (n. G), ... (declension pattern selo)
= theater (greek: θεάτρο)
kosm-os (m. N), kosm-u (m. G.), ... (declension pattern grad)
= space, universe (greek: κόσμος)
kapitalizm-us (m. N), kapitalizm-a (m. G), ... (declension pattern grad)
= capitalism
architektur-a (f. N), architektur-y (f. G), ... (declension pattern žena)
= architecture

2. The original Latin or Greek gender is retained.

example:

fakulta (f.) = a faculty, (latin: facultas f.)
univerzita (f.) = a university, (latin: universitas f.)
problem (n.) = a problem, (greek: προβλήμα n.)

3. Greek nouns -ια or Latin -ia are transformed to -ija.
filozofija, astronomija, ...

Greek nouns -η/-ις or Latin -a are transformed to -a.
baza, ...

Greek adjectives -κος or Latin -cus are transformed to palatalized -sky.
filosofijsky, ekonomičsky (ekonomika k→č), ...

Latin -sio is transformed to -zija.
televizija, ...

Latin -ssio is transformed to -sija.
diskusija, ...

Latin -tio/-tia is transformed to -cija.
gravitacija, ...

113

 4. Latin or Greek -s- between vowels is transformed to -z-.
vaza, baza, ...

Latin or Greek -ss- is transformed to -s-.
masiv, ...

Greek -σμος or Latin -smus is transformed to -smus.
kapitalismus, ...

Greek -ο(ν) or Latin -um is transformed to -um, Greek -ος or Latin -us is
transformed to -us, -os.
muzeum, forum, korpus, kosmos, ...

Greek adjective -στικος or Latin adjective -sticus is transformed to -stičsky.
kapitalističsky, ...

Latin or Greek -stus, -στος is transformed to -st.
kapitalist, ...

words from other languages

Words from another Latin-written language keep their original orthography and are
pronounced in their original phonetics but follow Neoslavonic grammar in endings
(gender, cases, ...)

examples:

metro [mɛtrɔ], metra [mɛtra], ... (n.) = tube, subway, underground
laser [lɛjzr], lasera [lɛjzra], ... (m.) = laser
bypass [bajpas], bypassa [bajpasa], ... (m.) = bypass

Note, that Cyrillic and Greek orthography traditions are different. These orthographies
prefer more phonetic style. It is also possible in Neoslavonic as well:

метро [mɛtrɔ], метрa [mɛtra], ... (n.) = tube, subway, underground
лейзр [lɛjzr], лейзра [lɛjzra], ... (m.) = laser
байпас [bajpas], байпаса [bajpasa], ... (m.) = bypass

μετρο [mɛtrɔ], μετρα [mɛtra], ... (n.) = tube, subway, underground
λεϊζρ [lɛjzr], λεϊζρα [lɛjzra], ... (m.) = laser
μπαϊπας [bajpas], μπαϊπασα [bajpasa], ... (m.) = bypass

114

word formation - suffixes
This matter has already been discussed at page 65. See it again in order to repeat the set
of endings used for the creation adjectives.
Moreover, learn these two endings:

1. -ica making a feminine species from something.

example:

cěsar = an emperor → cěsarica = an empress.
glup-y,-a,-o (adj.) = stupid → glupica (N) = stupid (noun, f.)

2. -ec (loosing -e-, see page losing vowels "e" and "o") making a masculine species from
something.

example:

glup-y,-a,-o (adj.) = stupid → glupec (N), glupca (G), glupče! (V) = stupid (noun, m.)

word formation - prefixes

Neoslavonic prefixes are made from prepositions. In addition, there are some special
prefixes mostly used with verbs, which are not related to any prepositions (see page 92
for details about the aspect of verbs).

vaz- (to begin/launch the process)

raz- (to finish/complete the process and separate something)

Other prefixes are regularly made from prepositions. One-consonant prefixes are
amended by either hard reduced vowel '/ъ or standard vowel "o" if they are connected
to a word beginning with a consonant.

example:
so-vršiti: sovršim, sovršiš, ... (to culminate, to improve, to make perfect)

Other prefixes are made directly from the preposition without any change.

examples:

ot-běgati: otběžim, otběžiš, ... (run out)

pro-dati: prodaju, prodaješ, ... (to sell)
na-ložiti: naložim, naložiš, ... (to load, to put down)
pro-slaviti: proslavim, proslaviš, ... (to celebrate, to proclaim)

115

diminution
Diminution of words is very characteristic for all Slavic languages. By diminution we
can express either smaller or younger species of something/somebody or our some kind
of familiar relationship to something/somebody.
Neoslavonic supports the very basic common basis of this huge Slavic system. Please
learn these only endings:

1. -ek, -iček = masculine diminution.

example:

slon = an elephant
slonek = a little/young/familiar elephant
sloniček = a very little/young/familiar elephant
2. -ka, -ička = feminine diminution.

example:

krava = a cow
kravka = a little/young/familiar cow
kravička = a very little/young/familiar cow

3. -ko, ičko = neuter diminution

example:

děte = a child
dětko = a little/young/familiar child
dětičko = a very little/young/familiar child

tele = a calf
teletko = a little/young/familiar calf
(syllable -et- is added due to declension T-pattern tele, telete, see page 52)

brat = a brother
bratko = a little/young/familiar brother as a neuter noun

116

transition words

This page is assembled from the texts of Robert Harris and the Writing Center,
University of Wysconsin - Madison applied to the Neoslavonic language.

To improve your language skills you need to make sure, that your ideas stick together
and that the gap between them is bridged smoothly. This is by using transition words
and phrases that help bring two ideas together. Certain words help you to continue an
idea, indicate a shift of though or contrast, or sum up a conclusion. See the following list
of words to find those that will pull your thoughts together.

transition of logic
Transition of logic consist of words or phrases that convey "logical intent": that is, they
show the logical connection between two ideas. Since there are several possible logical
connections (such as time, purpose, contrast), there are several categories of transitions
of logic. The table below lists many of these transitions, arranged by category and listed
as milder or stronger. (Note that there is some double listing, because of the different
ways words can be used.) Some hints for use:

• transition become stronger when they are the first word in a sentence, milder
when they are moved a few words into the sentence

• keep this list handy while you write, until the words come automatically
This matter has been already discussed in chapter 18. - sentences with coordinate and
subordinate clauses at page 105. Moreover, you need to remember words from the
table in chapter 11. - adverbs and idioms at page 78.

Here you can see the most used transition words and phrases. Before using a particular
transitional word from this table, be sure you understand its exact meaning and usage
completely and try to translate all words, which this glue is made from.

addition and i
or ili
neither ... nor ... ni ... ni ...
moreover, in addition navyše
further, furthermore, even more ješte (adv.)
also, too takože
besides kromě (adv.)
again iznovo (adv.)
first, in the first place izprva, v prvih
second, secondly v vtorih
third v tretih
finally nakonec (adv.)
next dalěje (adv.)
last poslědno (adv.)

117

 time while, when kogda (adv.)
after, afterwards potom (adv.), poslě (prep. G)
during v tečeniji ... G
next dalěje (adv.)
immediately sejčasno (adv.), neposredno (adv.)
now, this time sejčas (adv.), nyně (adv.)
later pozdněje (adv.)
earlier raněje (adv.)
soon skoro (adv.)
sometimes několikokrat (adv.)
following slědujuč (adv.)
never nikogda (adv.)
always vsegda (adv.)
whenever někogda (adv.)
once jedin raz (adv.)
simultaneously jednočasno (adv.) s ... I
subsequently postupno (adv.) ot ... G
place here tu, tudě, tamo (adv.)
beyond za (prep. G)
wherever někdě, někamo (adv.)
neighboring on slěd (prep. G), susědno (adv.) s ... I
nearby bliz (prep. G)
opposite to protiv (prep. D)
above nad (prep. A,I)
below pod (prep. A,I)
exemplification to illustrate, to demostrate ukazajuč (adv.) ... A
for instance, for example napriměr (adv.)
specifically specifično (adv.) ot ... G
e.g. napr.
comparison in the same way rovno s ... I, rovno kako ... N
in like manner, likewise podobno ot ... G
similarly podobno (adv.)
contrast but no, ale
however jedinako, medžutim
on the contrary na razliku ot ... G
on the other hand, otherwise iz drugoj strany ... G
despite of, yet, notwithstanding obače
vice versa, backwards povratno (adv.) ot ... G
clarification that is to say tako rěčeno
i.e., that is to jest
in other words, to rephrase it drugimi slovami
to clarify, to explain na objasnjenje ... G
thus, therefore, hence ubo

118

 cause because zatože
since ot (prep. G)
on account of radi (prep. G)
let us assume that prědpokladajmo, že ... N
for reason po pričině ... G
effect thus, therefore, hence ubo
consequently slěd (prep. G)
accordingly rovno s ... I
as a result v rezultatu ... G
purpose in order that da, da by
for this purpose v smyslu ... G
qualification almost bliz (prep. G), nemalo (adv.)
never nikogda (adv.)
always vsegda (adv.)
maybe, perhaps možno (adv.)
probably pravděpodobno (adv.)
frequently često (adv.), frekventirano (adv.)
although hotě (adv.)
intensification indeed, sure ej
of course jasno (adv.)
without doubt, undoubtedly bezsumno (adv.)
yes da
by all means v vsih značenjah ... G
certainly istino (adv.)
concession to be sure uvěreno (adv.)
it is true pravda jest, že ...
of course jasno (adv.)
obviously očevidno (adv.)
summary to sum up, in summary, together vkupě (adv.)
in short, in brief kratko (adv.)
to dissolve na razrešenje ... G
conclusion to conclude na zaključenje ... G
finally nakonec (adv.)

119

transition of thought
Transition of thought consist of words that help maintain the continuity of thought from
one sentence or paragraph to the next. Transition of thought are produced by the
following techniques:

pronouns

Follow a noun with a personal pronoun in order to continue the same subject and a
possessive pronoun in order to move to something related to the original subject. See
chapter 7. for details.
Fido spi. On jest dobry pes. Jego dom jest pod jablonjej.
Fido is asleep. He is a good dog. His house is under the apple tree.
Personal pronouns are ja, ty, on, ona, ono, my, vy, oni.
Possessive pronouns are moj, tvoj, naš, vaš
and possesive genitives made from on, ona, ono, oni are jego, jej, jego, jih.

keyword repetition

Repeat the word around which the discussion is focusing.

Praga imaje mnogo istoričnih pamětnikov. Tuti pamětniky sut stari domy, mosty,
theatra i hramy. Najstarějši pražsky pamětnik jest iz romanskoj ery.
Prague has a lot of historical monuments. These monuments are old houses, bridges,
theaters and churches. The oldest monument is from the Romanesque period.

synonyms

A synonym is a word that means nearly the same as another word. This is very
important for your communication in Neoslavonic. Using synonyms will help you
convince that your partners really understand what you are saying.

Vaše auto jest lěpo. Ale myslim, že taky voz jest mnogo skupy.
Your car is very nice. But I think, that such kind of vehicle is very expensive.

demonstrative pronouns

Use demonstrative pronouns in order to refer something already existed in the previous
clause. Demonstrative pronouns are toj, ta, to and their derivatives tutoj, tamtoj, ... .
See chapter 3. for details.

Moj brat imaje veliky dom. Kako stary jest toj dom?
My brother has a big house. How old is this house?

120

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have arrived at the end of this book. You have been fully
introduced to the Neoslavonic language. Now you should be ready to try it out in
practice.

Remember that Neoslavonic is only an auxiliary and artificial language. Don’t be shy to
say that you are learning Neoslavonic and wish to use it in discussion. Speak slowly and
try to adjust yourself to your speakers. If they do not understand you, repeat the same
idea in another way using other words. If you are not sure about what your speaking
partners are saying, ask them to repeat themselves again using different words. And
don’t be afraid to ask about the words they use.

Slavs are friendly people, there is no need to pretend them that you are speaking in one
of their natural langauges. For example, a Bulgarian may think that you are speaking
Croatian or Slovak etc. Tell them the truth – that you are speaking in an universal
interslavic language. Slavic people will be happy about your talking in this language,
which sounds so similarly to their own speech. Explain your partners what this
language really is and what is its background.

Moreover, remember that Slavic languages each have their own local specifics – their
own "jargon" , which is useful for you to know. For example, it can be not suitable to use
some Neoslavonic concept that is not used in the local language of your speaking
partners. The table on the next page shows these differences in simplified form.

We wish you the best of fun and success in your interslavic communication!

121


122

Appendix

Conversation
Learn to say hello, good bye, thank you, and other useful words and phrases in
Neoslavonic language. This conversation is a useful tool for English-speaking business
and leisure travelers. Enjoy it!

greetings Goodbye.
Doviděnja.
Welcome!
Dobro došli! Good luck!
Mnogo štastja!
Hello!
Zdravej! See You soon!
Zdravejte! (politely or pl.) Da se skoro vidimo!

How are You? Congratulations!
Kako jesi? Čestim!
Kako jeste? (politely or pl.) Gratulacija!

How do You do? Say hi to ... for me!
Čto dělaješ? Kaži pozdrav ... ot mne! (dative)
Čto dělajete? (politely or pl.) Kažite pozdrav ... ot mne! (dative)

I am fine.
Dobro mi je.

wish someone something
Nice to see You again. Cheers! Good health!
Raduju se, že Tebe iznovo vidim. Na zdravje!
Raduju se, že Vas iznovo vidim. (politely

or pl.)
Have a nice day!
Da imaješ blagy den!
Long time no see. Da imajete blagy den! (politely or pl.)
Davno jesmo se ne viděli.


Bon appetit! Enjoy Your meal!
Good morning. Dobry vkus!
Dobro jutro. (earlier)

Dobry den. (later) Bon voyage!

Štastny put!
Good afternoon.
Dobry den. Enjoy!
Uživaj!
Good evening. Uživajte! (politely or pl.)
Dobry večer.

Merry Christmas!
Good night. Vesela koleda!
Dobru noč. Hristos se rodi!


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Happy New Year! Help me!
Blaga Nova Godina! Pomagaj mi!
Pomagajte mi! (politely or pl.)
Happy Easter!
Hristos vazkres! Fire!
Požar!
answer to "Happy Easter!"
V istinu vazkres! Call the police!
Pozvonj policiju!
Happy Birthday! Pozvonjte policiju! (politely or pl.)
Mnoge lěta!
I need to use the restroom/toilet.
Trěba mi je iti na toaletu.

asking for help
I feel sick.
Please! Čuju se bolestno.
Prošu!
Prosim! I need doctor.
Trěba mi je doktora.
I want ... .
Hoču ... . (accusative or infinitive verb) I’m hungry.
Jesm gladny. (m.)
I need ... . Jesm gladna. (f.)
Trěba mi je ... . (accusative or inf. verb)
I’m thirsty.
I’m looking for ... . Jesm žeždny. (m.)
Iskaju ... . (accusative) Jesm žeždna. (f.)

Thanks! I want to eat.
Hvala! Hoču jesti.

Thank You! I want to drink.
Blagodarju! Hoču piti.
Blagodarim!

Can I help You? introducing yourself
Možu li Tebě pomožti?
Možu li Vam pomožti? (politely or pl.) My name is ... .
Moje ime je ... .
I’m waiting for ... .
Čakaju ... . (accusative) What is Your name?
Kako je Tvoje ime?
Where is the restroom/toilet? Kako je Vaše ime? (politely or pl.)
Kdě je toaleta?
Where are You from?
Help! Otkuda jesi?
Pomoč! Otkuda jeste? (politely or pl.)

Where do You live?
Kdě žijete?

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 understanding
I live in ... . (locative)
Žiju v ... . (locative) Can You say it again?
Možeš li to kazati ješte jedin raz?
Pleased to meet You. Možete li to kazati ješte jedin raz?
Blago mi je Tebe viděti. (politely or pl.)
Blago mi jest Vas viděti. (politely or pl.)
Please speak more slowly!
How is ... ? Prošu, govori pomalko!
Kako je ... ? Prošu, govorite pomalko! (politely or pl.)

Where do You work? Please do not speak so fast!
Kdě rabotaješ? Prošu, ne govori tako bystro!
Kdě rabotajete? (politely or pl.) Prošu, ne govorite tako bystro!
(politely or pl.)
Are You from around here?
Jesi li městny? (m.) Please write it down!
Jesi li městna? (f.) Prošu, napiši to!
Jeste li městni? (politely or pl.) Prošu, napišite to! (politely or pl.)

How old are You? Do You speak Neoslavonic?
Koliko imaješ lět? Govoriš li Novoslověnski?
Koliko imajete lět? (politely or pl.) Govorite li Novoslověnski?
(politely or pl.)
I am ... years old.
Imaju ... lět. Do You understand Neoslavonic?
Razuměješ li Novoslověnski?
What’s your phone number? Razumějete li Novoslověnski?
Kake imaješ čislo telefona? (politely or pl.)
Kake imajete čislo telefona? (politely or
pl.) Yes, a little.
Da, slabo.
My phone number is ... .
Moje čislo je ... . Do You understand me?
Razuměješ li mně?
What do you like to do? Razumějete li mně? (politely or pl.)
Čto ljubiš dělati?
Čto ljubite dělati? (politely or pl.) I understand.
Razuměju.
What is Your profession?
Kaka je Tvoja profesija? I do not understand.
Kaka jest Vaša profesija? (politely or pl.) Ne razuměju.

Do you like it here (at us)? Please repeat it!
Dobro li je Tebě u nas? Prošu ješte jedin raz!
Dobro li jest Vam u nas? (politely or pl.)
Good.
Dobro.

Fair.
Dostatečno.
125

 There.
Weak. Tamo.
Slabo.
Where is ... ?
Just a little. Kdě je ... ?
Samo malo.
Station.
Nothing. Stanica.
Ničto.
Train.
I want to talk to You. Vlak.
Hoču s Teboju govoriti.
Hoču s Vami govoriti. (politely or pl.) Bus.
Autobus.
Talk to You later.
Budemo govoriti pozdnějše. Taxi.
Taxi.
How do You say ... in Neoslavonic?
Kako je ... Novoslověnski? Car.
Auto.
I’ve been learning Neoslavonic for one
month. Airplane.
Učim se Novoslověnski jedin mesec. Samolet.

I like (love) Slavic languages. Go straight, left, right, back!
Ljubim Slověnske jezyky. Idi prěmo, lěvo, desno, povratno!
Idite prěmo, lěvo, desno, povratno!
(politely or pl.)

directions
Then continue ... meters.
How can I go to ... please? Potom idi ... metrov.
Prošu, kako možu iti do ... ? (genitive) Potom idite ... metrov. (politely or pl.)

Which way? Come with me!
Kudě? Idi s mnoju!
Idite s mnoju! (politely or pl.)
This way.
Tudě. I’m lost.
Jesm zabludil. (m.)
Where? (direction, movement to a place, Jesm zabludila. (f.)
position)
Kamo? May I come with You?
Možu li iti s Teboju?
Where? (place, position) Možu li iti s Vami? (politely or pl.)
Kdě?
I’ll be back.
Here. Budu se vratiti.
Tu.

126

time Thursday.
Četvrtek.
What time is it?
Koliko je vremene? Friday.
Kaka je časina? Petek.

Saturday.
It is ... : ... o’clock.
Subota.
Je ... časin i ... minut.
Je ... ... . Sunday.
Nedělja.
I’m running late. January.
Idu pozdno. Januar.

When? February.
Kogda? Februar.

Today. March.
Dnes. Marec.
April.
Now. April.
Segda.
Nyně. May.
Maj.
Tomorrow.
Izjutra. June.
Jun.
Yesterday.
July.
Včera.
Jul.

Next week. August.
Sledujuču nedělju. August.

Last week. September.
Prošlu nedělju. September.

Next month. October.
Sledujuči mesec. Oktober.
November.
Last month. November.
Prošly mesec.
December.
Monday. December.
Poneděljek.

Tuesday.
Vtorek.

Wednesday.
Srěda.

127

shopping, hotel, restaurant
I want to pay.
I want this. Hoču platiti.
Tuto hoču.
May I pay by a card?
How much is it? Možu li platiti karticoju?
Koliko to stoji?
This gentleman will pay for everything.
This is good price. Tutoj gospod bude vse platiti.
To je dobra cena.
This lady will pay for everything.
This is not good price. Tuta gospoda bude vse platiti.
To ne je dobra cena.

This is expensive.
To je skupo.
To je drago.


I have a reserved room here.
Imaju tu rezerviranu komnatu.

Do You have a free room?
Imajete li svobodnu komnatu? (politely
or pl.)

... days.
... dnov.

Breakfast.
Jutrenica.

Lunch.
Oběd.

Dinner.
Večerja.

May I have Your menu please?
Prošu, možu li dostati Vaše menu?
(politely or pl.)

Soup.
Supa.

Drink.
Pitje.

Bread.
Hlěb.
128

numbers other useful words

0 nula Yes.
1 jedin (m.), jedna (f.), jedno (n.) Da.
2 dva (m.), dvě (f.), dvě (n.)
3 tri No.
4 četyri Ne.
5 pet
6 šest OK.
7 sedem OK.
8 osem
9 devet
10 deset
11 jedinnast Well.
12 dvanast Good.
13 trinast Dobro.
14 četyrinast
15 petnast
16 šestnast In order.
17 sedemnast Redno.
18 osemnast
19 devetnast Calmly!
20 dvadeset Pokojno!
30 trideset
40 četyrideset Quiet, please!
50 petdeset Tiho prošu!
60 šestdeset
70 sedemdeset No problem!
80 osemdeset Ne je problema!
90 devetdeset
100 sto Don’t worry!
200 dvěsto Ne staraj se!
300 tristo Ne starajte se! (politely or pl.)
400 četyristo
500 petsto Oh! That’s good!
600 šeststo Ej, tuto je dobro!
700 sedemsto
800 osemsto What a shame!
900 devetsto Sramota!
1000 tysuč Stydno!
2000 dvě tysuč
3000 tri tysuč I can’t believe it.
Ne možu tomu věriti.

Sorry! Excuse me!
Izvini!
Izvinite! (politely or pl.)

Big.
Veliky. (m.) Velika. (f.) Veliko. (n.)
Veliki. (pl.)
129

 This is ... .
Small. To je ... .
Maly. (m.) Mala. (f.) Male. (n.) Mali. (pl.)
This is mine.
Much, very. Tuto je moje.
Mnogo.
This is Yours.
Little. A few of. Tuto je Tvoje.
Malo. Tuto je Vaše. (politely or pl.)

Sir! Give me this!
Gospodi! Daj mi to!
Dajte mi to! (politely or pl.)
Madam!
Gospodo! Do You like ... ?
Nravi li se Tebě ... ?
My pleasure. Nravi li se Vam ... ? (politely or pl.)
Drago mi je.
I like ... .
You are welcome. Nravi se mi ... . (accusative)
S radostju.
I like Your ... .
You’re very kind! Nravi se mi Tvoje ... . (accusative)
Jesi mnogo milostivy! (m.) Nravi se mi Vaše ... . (accusative, politely
Jesi mnogo milostiva! (f.) or pl.)
Jeste mnogo milostivi! (politely or pl.)
Are You kidding?
Would you like to dance with me? Šutiš li?
Hočeš li se mnoj tancovati? Šutite li? (politely or pl.)
Hočete li se mnoj tancovati? (politely or
pl.) Yes, I am kidding.
Možu li prositi tanec? Ej, šutim.

One moment please. We are friends.
Moment prošu. My jesmo prijateli.

Only a little/few. Do You love me?
Samo malo. Ljubiš li mne?
Ljubite li mne? (politely or pl.)
Look!
Pozri! I don’t love You.
Pozrite! (politely or pl.) Ja Tebe ne ljubju/ljubim.
Ja Vas ne ljubju/ljubim. (politely or pl.)
What is this?
Čto je to? I love You.
Ja Tebe ljubju/ljubim.
Ja Vas ljubju/ljubim. (politely or pl.)

130

Neoslavonic-English vocabulary
A Čestim! idiom Congratulations!
ako ... potom ... inako ... article if ... then četvrty num. ordinal fourth
... else ... četyri num. four
ale but četyrideset num. fourty
ali article however četyrinast num. fourteen
auto n. /selo car, vehicle, automobile čitati, čitaješ v. ipf. read
autobus m. /grad autobus, bus člověk, člověče! m. /brat man (human
being)
B čto? pron. interrog. what?
bazen m. /grad pool (swimming), basen črez prep. acc. through
bez prep. gen. without, except čuti, čuješ v. ipf. feel
bezmesny adj. meat-free, vegetarian čuti se, čuj- v. ipf. feel myself
běgati, běžiš v. ipf. run
běh, běše, běše, běhom, běste, běhu v. D
ipf. * past tense (to be) da conj. in order to, that
běly adj. white da article yes
Blaga Nova Godina! idiom Happy New Da se skoro vidimo! idiom See You soon!
Year! dati, daješ v. pf. give
blagodariti, blagodariš v. ipf. thank, bless davati, davaješ v. ipf. give
blagy adj. nice, pleasant, joyfull davno adv. long ago, long time
bo conj. because davny adj. long ago, long time
Bog m. /brat God den, dn- m. /grad day
bolest f. /kost disease deset num. ten
bolestno adv. sick desety num. ordinal tenth
bolestny adj. sick desno adv. right
bolje adv. more desny adj. right
bolnica f. /duša hospital dete n. /tele child
bolši adj. bigger detko n. /selo child
brat m. /brat brother devet num. nine
bratstvo n. /selo brotherhood devetdeset num. ninety
budu, budeš, bude, budemo, budete, devetnast num. nineteen
budut v. ipf. * future tense (to be) devety num. ordinal nineth
byh, bys, by, byhom, byste, byhu v. ipf. * dělati, dělaješ v. ipf. work, do
conditional (to be) dětko n. /selo child
byk, byče! m. /brat bull dnes adv. today
bystro adv. quickly do prep. gen. into, inside, to
bystry adj. quick Dobro jutro! idiom Good morning!
byti, jesm, jesi, ... v. ipf. be (earlier)
dobro adv. good
C Dobro došli! idiom Welcome!
cěsar m. /brat emperor Dobro mi je. idiom I am fine.
cěsarica f. /duša empress Dobru noč! idiom Good night!
cukr m. /grad sugar dobry adj. good
cvět m. /grad color Dobry den! idiom Good morning! (later),
Good afternoon!
Č Dobry ukus! idiom Bon appetit!, Enjoy
čakati, čakaješ v. ipf. wait Your meal!
černy adj. black Dobry večer! idiom Good evening!
červeny adj. red dočera f. /žena daughter
doči f. /mati daughter Gratulacija! idiom Congratulations!
doktor m. /brat doctor gryznuti, gryzneš v. pf. bite
doktorica f. /duša doctor (female) gybnuti, gybneš v. pf. die
dol m. /grad valley, lowlands
dolina f. /žena valley, lowlands H
dolu adv. down hladny adj. cold
dom m. /grad house, building hlěb m. /grad bread
doma adv. at home hotel m. /grad hotel
domačny adj. home hotěti, hočeš v. ipf. want
dopisati, dopišeš v. pf. complete writing Hristos se rodi! idiom Merry Christmas!
dorabotati, dorabotaješ v. pf. finish Hristos vazkres! idiom Happy Easter!
working Hvala! idiom thanks!, blessing!, laud!
dosta adv. enough hvaliti, hvališ v. ipf. thank, bless
dostati, dostaneš v. pf. obtain, get
dostojenstvo n. /selo dignity I
Doviděnja! idiom Goodbye! i conj. and
dragy adj. dear i ili conj. or (logically)
drevo n. /selo wood ili conj. or (either)
drug m. /brat friend, partner imati, imaješ v. ipf. have
drug s drugom idiom one another, ime n. /ime name
progressively iměti, iměješ v. ipf. have
duh, duše! m. /brat spirit iskati, iskaješ v. ipf. look for, seek
dva num. two istina f. /žena truth, certainty
dvadeset num. twenty iti, ideš, išel v. ipf. go, walk
dvanast num. twelve iz prep. gen. from
izjutra adv. tommorrow
E izkončiti, izkončiš v. pf. close, conclude,
ej article yes, of course, eh, yea expire
ekologičny adj. ekological izměriti, izměriš v. pf. measure
englijski adv. English iznovo adv. again
englijsky adj. English izpiti, izpiješ v. pf. drink (out)
iztvoriti, iztvoriš v. pf. create
G
glad m. /grad hunger J
gladny adj. hungry ja pron. personal I
glupec, glupče! m. /muž stupid man Jako jesi? idiom How are You?
glupica f. /duša stupid woman Jako jeste? idiom How are You? (politely
glupo adv. stupid or pl.)
glupy adj. stupid jako? adv. interrog. how?
gněvati, gněvaješ v. ipf. make angry jaky? pron. interrog. which?, what kind
god m. /grad year of?
godina f. /žena year jedenje n. /polje eating, meal
gora f. /žena hill, mountain jedinast num. eleven
gorě adv. up, to the top jedin, jedna, jedno num. one
gorny adj. upper jesm, jesi, jest/je, jesmo, jeste, sut v.
gorsky adj. mountain ipf. * present tense (to be)
gorši adj. worst jesti, jedeš, jedl v. ipf. eat
gospod m. /brat sir, Mr., gentleman ješte adv. yet
gospoda f. /žena lady, Ms., Mrs. jezyk m. /grad language
govoriti, govoriš v. ipf. say, talk jutras adv. today morning, this morning
grammatika f. /žena grammar jutreny adj. morning, in sunrise
132

jutro n. /selo morning li article * querying
jutrom adv. morning ljudi f. pl. /kost men (plural)
ložica f. /duša spoon
K lučši adj. better
k prep. dat. to, at
kako? adv. interrog. how? M
kaky? pron. interrog. which?, what kind malo adv. few, a little of
of? maly adj. small
kamo? adv. interrog. where? (a new mama f. /žena mother, mummy
desired position of mati f. /mati mother
something/somebody) medžu prep. acc. between, among
kancelarija f. /duša office medžu prep. instr. between, among
kazati, kažeš v. ipf. say menši adj. smaller
kdě? adv. interrog. where? (an existing meso n. /selo meat, flesh
position of something/somebody) měriti, měriš v. ipf. measure
kino n. /selo cinema milion num. milion
kniga f. /žena book mimo prep. acc. beyond, outside, aside,
kočka f. /žena cat except
kogda? adv. interrog. when? mir m. /grad world
kokoška f. /žena hen, chicken mlady adj. young
koliko? num. interrog. how much?, how mlěko n. /selo milk
many? Mnoge lěta! idiom Happy Birthday!
koliky? num. interrog. what?, what mnogo adv. very, much, many, a lot of,
order? plenty of
komputer m. /grad computer Mnogo štastja! idiom Good luck!
končiti, končiš v. ipf. close, conclude, mnogy adj. numerous
expire moj, moja, moje, ... pron. poss. my
konj m. /muž horse motor m. /grad engine, motor
kraj m. /kraj area, land, district možno adv. possibly
krajina f. /žena land, district, state možny adj. possible
krava f. /žena cow možti, možeš v. ipf. can
krivo adv. false, awry muž m. /muž man (masculine)
krivy adj. false, awry my pron. personal we
kromě prep. gen. except mysliti, mysliš v. ipf. think
ktory? pron. interrog. which?
kto? pron. interrog. who? N
kudě? adv. interrog. where? (on the way na prep. acc. on, at, onto, upon
to a new desired position from an na prep. loc. on, at, onto, upon
existing position) Na zdravje! idiom Cheers!, Good health!
kupati, kupaješ v. ipf. swim, take a bath nad prep. acc. above, over (direction)
kupiti, kupiš v. pf. buy nad prep. instr. above, over (place)
kupovati, kupuješ v. ipf. buy naj- prefix the most
najbolje adv. the most
L najvyše adv. the most
letěti, letiš v. ipf. fly naložiti, naložiš v. pf. load, put down
lěs m. /grad forest, wood napinavati, napinavaješ v. ipf. strain,
lětny adj. summer stretch
lěto n. /selo Summer, year napisati, napišeš v. pf. write down
lětom adv. in Summer naš pron. poss. our
lěvo adv. left navyše article moreover
lěvy adj. left ne article no, not
133

něčto pron. indef. something P
několiko num. indef. some, some amount paper m. /grad paper
of par m. /grad pair
něčto pron. indef. something pečti, pečeš v. ipf. bake
ni ... ni ... conj. neither ... nor ... pes, ps- m. /grad dog
no conj. but pet num. five
noč f. /kost night petdeset num. fifty
nočis adv. today night, this night, tonight petnast num. fifteen
noviny f. pl. /žena news, newspaper pety num. ordinal fifth
novo adv. new pěše adv. pedestrian, a foot, by foot, on
novoslověnski adv. Neoslavonic foot
novoslověnsky adj. Neoslavonic pěši adj. pedestrian, a foot, by foot, on
novy adj. new foot
nož m. /kraj knife pisati, pišeš v. ipf. write
nula num. nula, zero pismo n. /selo letter, script
piti, piješ v. ipf. drink
O pitje n. /polje drink
o prep. loc. about, concerning pivo n. /selo beer
obače article despite of, yet, platiti, platiš v. ipf. pay
notwithstanding plavati, plaveš v. ipf. swim
obdariti, obdariš v. pf. endow, endue plavy adj. blue
oblast f. /kost land, district, state plaža f. /duša beach
obuti, obuješ v. pf. put on shoes, boot pluti, pluješ v. ipf. swim
obuv f. /kost shoe po prep. dat. in the way of
okolo prep. gen. around po prep. loc. after, upon, on
on pron. personal he pod prep. acc. below, under
ona pron. personal she pod prep. instr. below, under
oni pron. personal they polednes adv. today noon, this noon
ono pron. personal it policija f. /duša police
on, ona, ono pron. personal he, she, it polje n. /polje field
orchestra f. /žena orchestra polovina f. /žena half
osem num. eight pomagati, pomagaješ v. ipf. help, assist
osemdeset num. eighty pomoč f. /kost help
osemnast num. eighteen pomožti, pomožeš v. pf. help, assist
oslepnuti, oslepneš v. pf. go blind poslě prep. gen. after
osmy num. ordinal eighth postupati, postupuješ v. pf. act towards,
ostati, ostaneš v. pf. stay come on, proceed
ostrahovati, ostrahovaješ v. ipf. assure, potom part. then
insure, cover by insurance povratno adv. reversed, return,
ot prep. gen. out from, by oppositely
otběgati, otběžiš v. pf. run out povratny adj. reversed, return, opposite
otec, otče! m. /muž father pozdrav m. /grad greeting
otlično adv. excellent, super pozvoniti, pozvoniš v. pf. ring the bell,
otličny adj. excellent, super make a phone call
otpad m. /grad waste požar m. /grad fire
otrěkavati, otrěkavaješ v. ipf. deny pravda f. /žena truth, verity
ovca f. /duša sheep pravo n. /selo right, claim, privilege
ovladnuti, ovladneš v. pf. govern, gain pravo adv. right, correctly
control pravy adj. correct, right
prěd prep. acc. before, ahead of, in the
face of, in front of
134

prěd prep. instr. before, ahead of, in the samo adv. only
face of, in front of samolet m. /brat airplane, plane
prěmo adv. straight, directly (airplane)
prěmy adj. straight, direct sedem num. seven
pri prep. loc. at, near to, by (where?) sedemdeset num. seventy
priiti, priideš, priišel v. ipf. come, arrive sedemnast num. seventeen
prijatel m. /muž friend seděti, sediš v. ipf. sit
prijatelica f. /duša friend (female) sedmy num. ordinal seventh
priroda f. /žena nature, countryside sej, sa, se pron. demonstr. the
pristupiti, pristupiš v. ipf. accede, come seknuti, sekneš v. pf. strike, cut
on sestra f. /žena sister
prodati, prodaješ v. pf. sell se, sebe, sebě pron. * reflexive pronoun
prodavati, prodavaješ v. ipf. sell silno adv. strong
prositi, prosiš v. ipf. please, ask silny adj. strong
proslaviti, proslaviš v. pf. celebrate, skakati, skakaješ v. ipf. jump
proclaim skočiti, skočiš v. pf. jump
protiv prep. dat. against slaby adj. weak
prvy num. ordinal first sladky adj. sweet
put m. /grad way, travel slaviti, slaviš v. ipf. celebrate, proclaim
slepo adv. blind
R slepy adj. blind
rabotati, rabotaješ v. ipf. work slnce n. /polje sun
radi prep. gen. due to, in order to, slon m. /brat elephant
because slovo n. /selo word
radovati se, raduj- v. ipf. rejoyce, nice to slovo n. /nebo word
... slušati, slušaješ v. ipf. listen
razděliti, razděliš v. pf. separate, slyšeti, slyšiš v. ipf. hear, can hear
distribute sol f. /kost salt
razdělivati, razdělivaješ v. ipf. separate, sotny num. ordinal hundreth
distribute sovezati, sovezaješ v. pf. bind, link, unite,
razmysliti, razmysliš v. pf. think over, unify
hesitate sovršiti, sovršiš v. pf. culminate, improve,
razum m. /grad reason, intellect make perfect
razuměti, razuměješ v. ipf. understand spati, spiš v. ipf. sleap
razumiti, razumiš v. ipf. understand srebro n. /selo silver
razvezati, razvezaješ v. pf. unlace, stanica f. /duša station
dissolve, unbind staro adv. old
redaktor m. /brat editor stary adj. old
roditi, rodiš v. ipf. breed sto num. hundred
roditi se, rod- v. ipf. be born stol m. /grad table
rovno adv. equally, the same strahovati, strahovaješ v. ipf. afraid, fear
rovny adj. equal, the same strojiti, strojiš v. ipf. build, construct
rukavica f. /duša glove student m. /brat student
Rus m. /brat Russian studentica f. /duša student (female)
russky adj. Russian svěst f. /kost conscience
ryba f. /žena fish svět m. /grad world
rysovati, rysuješ v. ipf. draw svěže adv. fresh
svěži adj. fresh
S svinja f. /duša pork
s prep. instr. with, together with, by svobodno adv. free
(how?) svobodny adj. free
135

svoj, svoja, svoje, svoji pron. poss. * učitelica f. /duša teacher (female)
reflexive pronoun učiti, učiš v. ipf. teach
syn m. /brat son učiti se, uč- v. ipf. learn
ukus m. /grad taste
Š ulica f. /žena street
šest num. six unši adj. nicer, more pleasant, more
šestdeset num. sixty joyfull
šestnast num. sixteen uživati, uživaješ v. ipf. enjoy
šesty num. ordinal sixth
škola f. /žena school V
Štastny put! idiom Bon voyage! v prep. acc. in, into, inside of
čto pron. interrog. what v prep. loc. in, into, inside of
Čto dělaješ? idiom How do You do? V istinu vazkres! idiom answer to
Čto dělajete? idiom How do You do? "Happy Easter!"
(politely or pl.) variti, variš v. ipf. boile, cook
čto? pron. interrog. what? vaš pron. poss. your (pl. or politely)
šum m. /grad noise vazkresnuti, vazkresneš v. pf. ressurect,
revive
T vazletěti, vazletiš v. pf. fly up, take off,
tamo adv. there start flying
tele n. /tele calf važiti, važiš v. ipf. be valid, apply
temno adv. dark včera adv. yesterday
temny adj. dark včerajši adj. yesterday
teply adj. warm večer m. /grad evening
toaleta f. /žena restroom, toilet večeras adv. today evening, this evening,
točka f. /žena point, decimal point tonight
točno adv. exactly, precisely vegetarian m. /brat vegetarian
točny adj. exact, precise veliky adj. big, large, great
toliko num. as much, as many, this Vesela koleda! idiom Merry Christmas!
amount, only vezati, vezaješ v. ipf. bind, link, unite,
trěba f. /žena need unify
trěba jest, dative, accusative idiom it is viděti, vidiš v. ipf. see, can see
necessary, should (somebody should vidlica f. /duša fork
something) vino n. /selo wine
trěbovati, trebuješ v. ipf. need vkupě adv. together
trětina f. /žena third vladyka m. /žena+brat ruler, governor
trěty num. ordinal third vlak m. /grad train
trg, trže! m. /grad market, shop vně prep. gen. out of, outside of
tri num. three vně prep. acc. out of, outside of
trideset num. thirty voda f. /žena water
trinast num. threeteen vreme n. /ime time, weather
tu adv. here vrh, vrše! m. /grad hill, peak
tvoj pron. poss. your (sg.) vsejmir m. /grad universe, space, cosmos
tvoriti, tvoriš v. ipf. create vsej, vsa, vse, vsi pron. indef. all, every,
ty pron. personal you (sg.) each
tysuč num. thousand vtory num. ordinal second
vy pron. personal you (pl. or politely)
U vyše adv. more
u prep. gen. near to, at
ubo article thus, therefore, hence Z
učitel m. /muž teacher za prep. acc. after, behind, towards
136

za prep. acc. for, in favour zly adj. bad, evil
za prep. instr. after, behind znati, znaješ v. ipf. know
začto? adv. interrog. why?
zajec, zajc-, zajče! m. /muž hare, rabbit Ž
začto? adv. interrog. why? že conj. that
Zdravejte! idiom Hello! (politely or pl.) železny adj. iron
Zdravej! idiom Hello! železo n. /selo iron
zdravje n. /polje health žena f. /žena woman, wife, lady
zdravy adj. healthy, sane žežda f. /žena thirst
zeleny adj. green žeždny adj. thirsty
zima f. /žena Winter, cold žiti, žiješ v. ipf. live
zimě adv. in winter životno n. /selo animal
zimny adj. winter žluty adj. yellow
zimoju adv. in Winter žrebec, žrebc-, žrebče! m. /muž stallion
zlato n. /selo gold
zlo adv. bad, evil

137

English-Neoslavonic vocabulary
conditional (to be) byh, bys, by, byhom, autobus autobus m. /grad
byste, byhu v. ipf. automobile auto n. /selo
future tense (to be) budu, budeš, bude, awry 1 krivo adv. 2 krivy adj.
budemo, budete, budut v. ipf.
past tense (to be) běh, běše, běše, B
běhom, běste, běhu v. ipf. bad 1 zlo adv. 2 zly adj.
present tense (to be) jesm, jesi, jest/je, bake pečti, pečeš v. ipf.
jesmo, jeste, sut v. ipf. basen bazen m. /grad
querying li article be byti, jesm, jesi, ... v. ipf.
reflexive pronoun 1 se, sebe, sebě pron. be born roditi se, rod- v. ipf.
2 svoj, svoja, svoje, svoji pron. poss. be valid važiti, važiš v. ipf.
beach plaža f. /duša
A because 1 bo conj. 2 radi prep. gen.
a foot 1 pěše adv. 2 pěši adj. beer pivo n. /selo
a little of malo adv. before 1 pred prep. acc. 2 pred prep.
a lot of mnogo adv. instr.
about o prep. loc. behind 1 za prep. acc. 2 za prep. instr.
above 1 nad prep. acc. 2 nad prep. instr. below 1 pod prep. acc. 2 pod prep. instr.
accede pristupiti, pristupiš v. ipf. better lučši adj.
act towards postupati, postupuješ v. pf. between 1 medžu prep. acc. 2 medžu
afraid strahovati, strahovaješ v. ipf. prep. instr.
after 1 po prep. loc. 2 poslě prep. gen. 3 beyond mimo prep. acc.
za prep. acc. 4 za prep. instr. big veliky adj.
again iznovo adv. bigger bolši adj.
against protiv prep. dat. bind 1 sovezati, sovezaješ v. pf. 2 vezati,
ahead of 1 pred prep. acc. 2 pred prep. vezaješ v. ipf.
instr. bite gryznuti, gryzneš v. pf.
airplane samolet m. /brat black černy adj.
all vsej, vsa, vse, vsi pron. indef. bless 1 blagodariti, blagodariš v. ipf. 2
among 1 medžu prep. acc. 2 medžu prep. hvaliti, hvališ v. ipf.
instr. blessing! Hvala! idiom
and i conj. blind 1 slepo adv. 2 slepy adj.
animal životno n. /selo blue plavy adj.
answer to "Happy Easter!" V istinu boile variti, variš v. ipf.
vazkres! idiom Bon appetit! Dobry ukus! idiom
apply važiti, važiš v. ipf. Bon voyage! Štastny put! idiom
area kraj m. /kraj book kniga f. /žena
around okolo prep. gen. boot obuti, obuješ v. pf.
arrive priiti, priideš, priišel v. ipf. bread hlěb m. /grad
as many toliko num. breed roditi, rodiš v. ipf.
as much toliko num. brother brat m. /brat
aside mimo prep. acc. brotherhood bratstvo n. /selo
ask prositi, prosiš v. ipf. build strojiti, strojiš v. ipf.
assist 1 pomagati, pomagaješ v. ipf. 2 building dom m. /grad
pomožti, pomožeš v. pf. bull byk, byče! m. /brat
assure ostrahovati, ostrahovaješ v. ipf. bus autobus m. /grad
at 1 k prep. dat. 2 na prep. acc. 3 na prep. but ale, no conj.
loc. 4 pri prep. loc. 5 u prep. gen. buy 1 kupiti, kupiš v. pf. 2 kupovati,
at home doma adv. kupuješ v. ipf.
by ot prep. gen. D
by (how?) s prep. instr. dark 1 temno adv. 2 temny adj.
by (where?) pri prep. loc. daughter 1 dočera f. /žena 2 doči f. /mati
by foot 1 pěše adv. 2 pěši adj. day den, dn- m. /grad
dear dragy adj.
C decimal point točka f. /žena
calf tele n. /tele deny otrěkavati, otrěkavaješ v. ipf.
can možti, možeš v. ipf. despite of obače article
can hear slyšeti, slyšiš v. ipf. die gybnuti, gybneš v. pf.
can see viděti, vidiš v. ipf. dignity dostojenstvo n. /selo
car auto n. /selo direct prěmy adj.
cat kočka f. /žena directly prěmo adv.
celebrate 1 proslaviti, proslaviš v. pf. 2 disease bolest f. /kost
slaviti, slaviš v. ipf. dissolve razvezati, razvezaješ v. pf.
certainty istina f. /žena distribute 1 razděliti, razděliš v. pf. 2
Cheers! Na zdravje! idiom razdělivati, razdělivaješ v. ipf.
chicken kokoška f. /žena district 1 kraj m. /kraj 2 krajina f. /žena
child 1 dete n. /tele 2 detko n. /selo 3 3 oblast f. /kost
dětko n. /selo do dělati, dělaješ v. ipf.
cinema kino n. /selo doctor doktor m. /brat
claim pravo n. /selo doctor (female) doktorica f. /duša
close 1 izkončiti, izkončiš v. pf. 2 končiti, dog pes, ps- m. /grad
končiš v. ipf. down dolu adv.
cold 1 hladny adj. 2 zima f. /žena draw rysovati, rysuješ v. ipf.
color cvět m. /grad drink 1 piti, piješ v. ipf. 2 pitje n. /polje
come priiti, priideš, priišel v. ipf. drink (out) izpiti, izpiješ v. pf.
come on 1 postupati, postupuješ v. pf. 2 due to radi prep. gen.
pristupiti, pristupiš v. ipf.
complete writing dopisati, dopišeš v. pf. E
computer komputer m. /grad each vsej, vsa, vse, vsi pron. indef.
concerning o prep. loc. eat jesti, jedeš, jedl v. ipf.
conclude 1 izkončiti, izkončiš v. pf. 2 eating jedenje n. /polje
končiti, končiš v. ipf. editor redaktor m. /brat
Congratulations! 1 Čestim! idiom 2 eh ej article
Gratulacija! idiom eight osem num.
conscience svěst f. /kost eighteen osemnast num.
construct strojiti, strojiš v. ipf. eighth osmy num. ordinal
cook variti, variš v. ipf. eighty osemdeset num.
correct pravy adj. ekological ekologičny adj.
correctly pravo adv. elephant slon m. /brat
cosmos vsejmir m. /grad eleven jedinast num.
countryside priroda f. /žena emperor cěsar m. /brat
cover by insurance ostrahovati, empress cěsarica f. /duša
ostrahovaješ v. ipf. endow obdariti, obdariš v. pf.
cow krava f. /žena endue obdariti, obdariš v. pf.
create 1 iztvoriti, iztvoriš v. pf. 2 tvoriti, engine motor m. /grad
tvoriš v. ipf. English 1 englijski adv. 2 englijsky adj.
culminate sovršiti, sovršiš v. pf. enjoy uživati, uživaješ v. ipf.
cut seknuti, sekneš v. pf. Enjoy Your meal! Dobry ukus! idiom
enough dosta adv.
equal rovny adj.
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equally rovno adv. glove rukavica f. /duša
evening večer m. /grad go iti, ideš, išel v. ipf.
every vsej, vsa, vse, vsi pron. indef. go blind oslepnuti, oslepneš v. pf.
evil 1 zlo adv. 2 zly adj. God Bog m. /brat
exact točny adj. gold zlato n. /selo
exactly točno adv. good 1 dobro adv. 2 dobry adj.
excellent 1 otlično adv. 2 otličny adj. Good afternoon! Dobry den! idiom
except 1 bez prep. gen. 2 kromě prep. Good evening! Dobry večer! idiom
gen. 3 mimo prep. acc. Good health! Na zdravje! idiom
expire 1 izkončiti, izkončiš v. pf. 2 Good luck! Mnogo štastja! idiom
končiti, končiš v. ipf. Good morning! (earlier) Dobro jutro!
idiom
F Good morning! (later) Dobry den! idiom
false 1 krivo adv. 2 krivy adj. Good night! Dobru noč! idiom
father otec, otče! m. /muž Goodbye! Doviděnja! idiom
fear strahovati, strahovaješ v. ipf. govern ovladnuti, ovladneš v. pf.
feel čuti, čuješ v. ipf. governor vladyka m. /žena+brat
feel myself čuti se, čuj- v. ipf. grammar grammatika f. /žena
few malo adv. great veliky adj.
field polje n. /polje green zeleny adj.
fifteen petnast num. greeting pozdrav m. /grad
fifth pety num. ordinal
fifty petdeset num. H
finish working dorabotati, dorabotaješ v. half polovina f. /žena
pf. Happy Birthday! Mnoge lěta! idiom
fire požar m. /grad Happy Easter! Hristos vazkres! idiom
first prvy num. ordinal Happy New Year! Blaga Nova Godina!
fish ryba f. /žena idiom
five pet num. hare zajec, zajc-, zajče! m. /muž
flesh meso n. /selo have 1 imati, imaješ v. ipf. 2 iměti, iměješ
fly letěti, letiš v. ipf. v. ipf.
fly up vazletěti, vazletiš v. pf. he on pron. personal
for za prep. acc. health zdravje n. /polje
forest lěs m. /grad healthy zdravy adj.
fork vidlica f. /duša hear slyšeti, slyšiš v. ipf.
four četyri num. Hello! Zdravej! idiom
fourteen četyrinast num. Hello! (politely or pl.) Zdravejte! idiom
fourth četvrty num. ordinal help 1 pomagati, pomagaješ v. ipf. 2
fourty četyrideset num. pomoč f. /kost 3 pomožti, pomožeš v. pf.
free 1 svobodno adv. 2 svobodny adj. hen kokoška f. /žena
fresh 1 svěže adv. 2 svěži adj. hence ubo article
friend 1 drug m. /brat 2 prijatel m. /muž here tu adv.
friend (female) prijatelica f. /duša hesitate razmysliti, razmysliš v. pf.
from iz prep. gen. he, she, it on, ona, ono pron. personal
hill 1 gora f. /žena 2 vrh, vrše! m. /grad
G home domačny adj.
gain control ovladnuti, ovladneš v. pf. horse konj m. /muž
gentleman gospod m. /brat hospital bolnica f. /duša
get dostati, dostaneš v. pf. hotel hotel m. /grad
give 1 dati, daješ v. pf. 2 davati, davaješ v. house dom m. /grad
ipf. How are You? Jako jesi? idiom
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How are You? (politely or pl.) Jako know znati, znaješ v. ipf.
jeste? idiom
How do You do? Čto dělaješ? idiom L
How do You do? (politely or pl.) Čto lady 1 gospoda f. /žena 2 žena f. /žena
dělajete? idiom land 1 kraj m. /kraj 2 krajina f. /žena
how many? koliko? num. interrog. 3 oblast f. /kost
how much? koliko? num. interrog. language jezyk m. /grad
however ali article large veliky adj.
how? 1 jako? adv. interrog. 2 kako? adv. laud! Hvala! idiom
interrog. learn učiti se, uč- v. ipf.
hundred sto num. left 1 lěvo adv. 2 lěvy adj.
hundreth sotny num. ordinal letter pismo n. /selo
hunger glad m. /grad link 1 sovezati, sovezaješ v. pf. 2 vezati,
hungry gladny adj. vezaješ v. ipf.
listen slušati, slušaješ v. ipf.
I live žiti, žiješ v. ipf.
I ja pron. personal load naložiti, naložiš v. pf.
I am fine. Dobro mi je. idiom long ago 1 davno adv. 2 davny adj.
if ... then ... else ... ako ... potom ... inako ... long time 1 davno adv. 2 davny adj.
article look for iskati, iskaješ v. ipf.
improve sovršiti, sovršiš v. pf. lowlands 1 dol m. /grad 2 dolina f. /žena
in 1 v prep. acc. 2 v prep. loc.
in favour za prep. acc. M
in front of 1 pred prep. acc. 2 pred prep. make a phone call pozvoniti, pozvoniš v.
instr. pf.
in order to 1 da conj. 2 radi prep. gen. make angry gněvati, gněvaješ v. ipf.
in Summer lětom adv. make perfect sovršiti, sovršiš v. pf.
in sunrise jutreny adj. man (human being) člověk, člověče! m.
in the face of 1 prěd prep. acc. 2 prěd /brat
prep. instr. man (masculine) muž m. /muž
in the way of po prep. dat. many mnogo adv.
in Winter zimoju adv. market trg, trže! m. /grad
in winter zimě adv. meal jadenje n. /polje
inside do prep. gen. measure 1 izměriti, izměriš v. pf. 2
inside of 1 v prep. acc. 2 v prep. loc. měriti, měriš v. ipf.
insure ostrahovati, ostrahovaješ v. ipf. meat meso n. /selo
intellect razum m. /grad meat-free bezmesny adj.
into 1 do prep. gen. 2 v prep. acc. 3 v prep. men (plural) ljudi f. pl. /kost
loc. Merry Christmas! 1 Hristos se rodi!
iron 1 železny adj. 2 železo n. /selo idiom 2 Vesela koleda! idiom
it ono pron. personal milion milion num.
it is necessary treba jest, dative, milk mlěko n. /selo
accusative idiom more 1 bolje adv. 2 vyše adv.
more joyfull unši adj.
J more pleasant unši adj.
joyfull blagy adj. moreover navyše article
jump 1 skakati, skakaješ v. ipf. 2 skočiti, morning 1 jutreny adj. 2 jutro n. /selo
skočiš v. pf. 3 jutrom adv.
mother 1 mama f. /žena 2 mati f. /mati
K motor motor m. /grad
knife nož m. /kraj mountain 1 gora f. /žena 2 gorsky adj.
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Mrs. gospoda f. /žena our naš pron. poss.
Mr. gospod m. /brat out from ot prep. gen.
Ms. gospoda f. /žena out of 1 vně prep. gen. 2 vně prep. acc.
much mnogo adv. outside mimo prep. acc.
mummy mama f. /žena outside of 1 vně prep. gen. 2 vně prep.
my moj, moja, moje, ... pron. poss. acc.
over 1 nad prep. acc. 2 nad prep. instr.
N
name ime n. /ime P
nature priroda f. /žena pair par m. /grad
near to 1 pri prep. loc. 2 u prep. gen. paper paper m. /grad
need 1 treba f. /žena 2 trebovati, trebuješ partner drug m. /brat
v. ipf. pay platiti, platiš v. ipf.
neither ... nor ... ni ... ni ... conj. peak vrh, vrše! m. /grad
Neoslavonic 1 novoslověnski adv. 2 pedestrian 1 pěše adv. 2 pěši adj.
novoslověnsky adj. plane (airplane) samolet m. /brat
new 1 novo adv. 2 novy adj. pleasant blagy adj.
news noviny f. pl. /žena please prositi, prosiš v. ipf.
newspaper noviny f. pl. /žena plenty of mnogo adv.
nice blagy adj. point točka f. /žena
nice to ... radovati se, raduješ v. ipf. police policija f. /duša
nicer unši adj. pool (swimming) bazen m. /grad
night noč f. /kost pork svinja f. /duša
nine devet num. possible možny adj.
nineteen devetnast num. possibly možno adv.
nineth devety num. ordinal precise točny adj.
ninety devetdeset num. precisely točno adv.
no ne article privilege pravo n. /selo
noise šum m. /grad proceed postupati, postupuješ v. pf.
not ne article proclaim 1 proslaviti, proslaviš v. pf. 2
notwithstanding obače article slaviti, slaviš v. ipf.
nula nula num. progressively drug s drugom idiom
numerous mnogy adj. put down naložiti, naložiš v. pf.
put on shoes obuti, obuješ, v. pf.
O
obtain dostati, dostaneš v. pf. Q
of course ej article quick bystry adj.
office kancelarija f. /duša quickly bystro adv.
old 1 staro adv. 2 stary adj.
on 1 na prep. acc. 2 na prep. loc. 3 po R
prep. loc. rabbit zajec, zajc-, zajče! m. /muž
on foot 1 pěše adv. 2 pěši adj. read čitati, čitaješ v. ipf.
one jedin, jedna, jedno num. reason razum m. /grad
one another drug s drugom idiom red červeny adj.
only 1 samo adv. 2 toliko adv. rejoyce radovati se, raduj- v. ipf.
onto 1 na prep. acc. 2 na prep. loc. ressurect vazkresnuti, vazkresneš v. pf.
opposite povratny adj. restroom toaleta f. /žena
oppositely povratno adv. return 1 povratno adv. 2 povratny adj.
or (either) ili conj. reversed 1 povratno adv. 2 povratny adj.
or (logically) i ili conj. revive vazkresnuti, vazkresneš v. pf.
orchestra orchestra f. /žena
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right 1 desno adv. 2 desny adj. 3 pravo n. spirit duh, duše! m. /brat
/selo 4 pravo adv. 5 pravy adj. spoon ložica f. /duša
ring the bell pozvoniti, pozvoniš v. pf. stallion žrebec, žrebc-, žrebče! m. /muž
ruler vladyka m. /žena+brat start flying vazletěti, vazletiš v. pf.
run běgati, běžiš v. ipf. state 1 krajina f. /žena 2 oblast f. /kost
run out otběgati, otběžiš v. pf. station stanica f. /duša
Russian 1 Rus m. /brat 2 russky adj. stay ostati, ostaneš v. pf.
straight 1 prěmo adv. 2 prěmy adj.
S strain napinavati, napinavaješ v. ipf.
salt sol f. /kost street ulica f. /žena
sane zdravy adj. stretch napinavati, napinavaješ v. ipf.
say 1 govoriti, govoriš v. ipf. 2 kazati, strike seknuti, sekneš v. pf.
kažeš v. ipf. strong 1 silno adv. 2 silny adj.
school škola f. /žena student student m. /brat
script pismo n. /selo student (female) studentica f. /duša
second vtory num. ordinal stupid 1 glupo adv. 2 glupy adj.
see viděti, vidiš v. ipf. stupid man glupec, glupče! m. /muž
See You soon! Da se skoro vidimo! idiom stupid woman glupica f. /duša
seek iskati, iskaješ v. ipf. sugar cukr m. /grad
sell 1 prodati, prodaješ v. pf. 2 prodavati, Summer lěto n. /selo
prodavaješ v. ipf. summer lětny adj.
separate 1 razděliti, razděliš v. pf. 2 sun slnce n. /polje
razdělivati, razdělivaješ v. ipf. super 1 otlično adv. 2 otličny adj.
seven sedem num. sweet sladky adj.
seventeen sedemnast num. swim 1 kupati, kupaješ v. ipf. 2 plavati,
seventh sedmy num. ordinal plaveš v. ipf. 3 pluti, pluješ v. ipf.
seventy sedemdeset num.
she ona pron. personal T
sheep ovca f. /duša table stol m. /grad
shoe obuv f. /kost take a bath kupati, kupaješ v. ipf.
shop trg, trže! m. /grad take off vazletěti, vazletiš v. pf.
should (somebody should talk govoriti, govoriš v. ipf.
something) treba jest, dative, taste ukus m. /grad
accusative idiom teach učiti, učiš v. ipf.
sick 1 bolestno adv. 2 bolestny adj. teacher učitel m. /muž
silver srebro n. /selo teacher (female) učitelica f. /duša
sir gospod m. /brat ten deset num.
sister sestra f. /žena tenth desety num. ordinal
sit seděti, sediš v. ipf. thank 1 blagodariti, blagodariš v. ipf. 2
six šest num. hvaliti, hvališ v. ipf.
sixteen šestnast num. thanks! Hvala! idiom
sixth šesty num. ordinal that 1 da conj. 2 že conj.
sixty šestdeset num. the sej, sa, se pron. demonstr.
sleap spati, spiš v. ipf. the most 1 naj- prefix 2 najbolje adv. 3
small maly adj. najvyše adv.
smaller menši adj. the same 1 rovno adv. 2 rovny adj.
some několiko num. indef. then potom part.
some amount of několiko num. indef. there tamo adv.
something něčto pron. indef. therefore ubo article
son syn m. /brat they oni pron. personal
space vsejmir m. /grad think mysliti, mysliš v. ipf.
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think over razmysliti, razmysliš v. pf. upper gorny adj.
third 1 tretina f. /žena 2 trety num.
ordinal V
thirst žežda f. /žena valley 1 dol m. /grad 2 dolina f. /žena
thirsty žeždny adj. vegetarian 1 bezmesny adj. 2 vegetarian
thirty trideset num. m. /brat
this amount toliko num. vehicle auto n. /selo
this evening večeras adv. verity pravda f. /žena
this morning jutras adv. very mnogo adv.
this night nočis adv.
this noon polednes adv. W
thousand tysuč num. wait čakati, čakaješ v. ipf.
three tri num. walk iti, ideš, išel v. ipf.
threeteen trinast num. want hotěti, hočeš v. ipf.
through črez prep. acc. warm teply adj.
thus ubo article waste otpad m. /grad
time vreme n. /ime water voda f. /žena
to 1 do prep. gen. 2 k prep. dat. way put m. /grad
to the top gorě adv. we my pron. personal
today dnes adv. weak slaby adj.
today evening večeras adv. weather vreme n. /ime
today morning jutras adv. Welcome! Dobro došli! idiom
today night nočis adv. what čto, čto pron. interrog.
today noon polednes adv. what kind of? 1 jaky? pron. interrog. 2
together vkupě adv. kaky? pron. interrog.
together with s prep. instr. what order? koliky? num. interrog.
toilet toaleta f. /žena what? 1 koliky? num. interrog. 2 čto?
tommorrow izjutra adv. pron. interrog.
tonight 1 nočis adv. 2 večeras adv. when? kogda? adv. interrog.
towards za prep. acc. where? (a new desired position of
train vlak m. /grad something/somebody) kamo? adv.
travel put m. /grad interrog.
truth 1 istina f. /žena 2 pravda f. /žena where? (an existing position of
twelve dvanast num. something/somebody) kdě? adv.
twenty dvadeset num. interrog.
two dva num. where? (on the way to a new desired
position from an existing
U position) kudě? adv. interrog.
unbind razvezati, razvezaješ v. pf. which? 1 jaky? pron. interrog. 2 kaky?
under 1 pod prep. acc. 2 pod prep. instr. pron. interrog. 3 ktory? pron. interrog.
understand 1 razuměti, razuměješ v. ipf. white běly adj.
2 razumiti, razumiš v. ipf. who? kto? pron. interrog.
unify 1 sovezati, sovezaješ v. pf. 2 vezati, why? začto? adv. interrog.
vezaješ v. ipf. wife žena f. /žena
unite 1 sovezati, sovezaješ v. pf. 2 vezati, wine vino n. /selo
vezaješ v. ipf. winter zimny adj.
universe vsejmir m. /grad Winter zima f. /žena
unlace razvezati, razvezaješ v. pf. with s prep. instr.
up gorě adv. without bez prep. gen.
upon 1 na prep. acc. 2 na prep. loc. 3 po woman žena f. /žena
prep. loc. wood 1 drevo n. /selo 2 lěs m. /grad
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word 1 slovo n. /selo 2 slovo n. /nebo
work 1 dělati, dělaješ v. ipf. 2 rabotati,
rabotaješ v. ipf.
world 1 mir m. /grad 2 svět m. /grad
worst gorši adj.
write pisati, pišeš v. ipf.
write down napisati, napišeš v. pf.

Y
yea ej article
year 1 god m. /grad 2 godina f. /žena
3 lěto n. /selo
yellow žluty adj.
yes 1 da article 2 ej article
yesterday 1 včera adv. 2 včerajši adj.
yet 1 ješte adv. 2 obače article
you (pl. or politely) vy pron. personal
you (sg.) ty pron. personal
young mlady adj.
your (pl. or politely) vaš pron. poss.
your (sg.) tvoj pron. poss.

Z
zero nula num.

146

Bibliography

ALEŠ, Pavel: Biskup Gorazd, z díla. 1. vyd. Brno, Ústřední církevní nakladatelství, 1988.

BAMBAS Václav F.: Die Formbildung der Slawischen Sprache - Tvarosklad Jazyka Slovanského,
Praha 1861.

BARTOŇ, Josef: Uvedení do klasické staroslověnštiny. 1. dotisk vyd. Praha Karolinum, 2004. 70 s.
ISBN 80-7184-980-4.

BLAGOVA E., CEJTLIN R.M., VEČERKA R.: Старославянзкий Словарь, Moskva 1994.

BOR, Matej et al.: Veneti, First Builders of European Community, Temeron Books, Inc. 1996, 533
pages, ISBN 978-0968123607.

DAVIS, Martin D., WEYUKER, Elaine J.: Computability, Complexity and Languages (Fundamentals
of Theoretical Computer Science). Academic Press Inc. New York, 1983. 425 pp. ISBN 0-12-
206380-5.

DERKSEN Rick: Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Boston, 2008.

HAUPTOVÁ, Zoe, VEČERKA, Radoslav: Staroslověnská čítanka. 1. vyd. Praha, Karolinum, 2004.
189 s. ISBN 80-246-0478-7.

HARRIS, Robert: Transition Words and Phrases. [http://www.virtualsalt.com/transits.htm]

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MOJDL, Lubor: Encyklopedie písem světa I., Písma Evropy, Kavkazu a helénské oblasti.
1. vyd. Praha, LIBRI 2005. 183 s. ISBN 80-7277-288-0.

NAZOR Anica: Knjiga o hrvatskoj glagoljici, Zagreb 2005. Društvo prijatelja glagoljice.

QUILES, Carlos, LOPEZ-MENCHERO, Fernando. A Grammar of Modern Indo-European. 2nd

Edition. Asociación Cultural Dnghu, Academia Byblos, Badajoz, 2009, 824 pp.
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Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir’s Seminary, 2001.

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univerzita, 1991. 112 s. ISBN 80-210-1375-3.

VONDRÁK, Václav, BARTOŇ, Josef: Vokabulář klasické staroslověnštiny. 1. vyd. Praha, Koniash
Latin Press, 2005. 137 s. ISBN 80-85917-60-2.

ZERVA, Georgia: Μη φοβάσαι τα ελληνικά - Μικρός οδηγός της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας, Prague,
Athis Europeen, 1999. 118 s. ISBN 80-239-5066-5.

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Books)

148

Interslavic projects

internet news - IZVĚSTI.info

During the first year of operation since October 2011, this news has read ¼ million
articles by 14,000 unique Internet readers from 93 countries. Articles are written in
various dialects of Slavic conlang. Interslavic news are operated by the Interslavic
Community at the web address http://IZVESTI.info

150

INTERSLAVIC LEXICON - dict.interslavic.com
INTERSLAVIC or MEDZUSLOVJANSKI is an auxiliary panslavic language intended for
regional communication among speakers and writers of the related SLAVIC languages
(Belarusian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovak,
Slovenian, Ukrainian), which all derive from an original "PROTO-SLAVIC" tongue, but
which, over thousands of years, have morphed into very divergent "dialects," each
becoming a separate language unto itself.

INTERSLAVIC is a collaborative effort of a group of SLAVIC LANGUAGE speakers to

establish the first panslavic language that is fully based on the commonalities of the
living SLAVIC languages, augmented with key elements of traditional Old Church
Slavonic word-forms.
INTERSLAVIC is currently being tested by a consortium of law firms in four SLAVIC
countries as a lingua franca for legal and financial agreements. Also, a Blog of
interesting articles written in INTERSLAVIC may be found at http://IZVESTI.info

If you have any questions or comments, please email them to:

Steeven Radzikowski, San Diego, admin@interslavic.com

Facebook group
Discussion group is at the address
https://www.facebook.com/groups/interslavic (about 900 members)

speech synthesizer - generator.neoslavonic.org

On-line speech generator is accessible at the address
http://generator.neoslavonic.org

false friends of the slavist

This is a collection of shared words having different meanings between Slavonic
languages made by Daniel Bunčić at the address:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/False_Friends_of_the_Slavist

This project was started in October 1999, when Daniel Bunčić was writing his master
thesis about false friends.

E.U. grant projects - Commenius Grundtvig Training

Since 2010 each year we organize training courses on information technology (e.g. web
content management systems, mobile computing technology, ...), management and
communication skills where the Neoslavonic language serves as an auxiliary tool for
knowledge transfer and knowledge representation.

For more details see the address http://www.onemore.eu

151

modern Slavic nations

moderni slověnski narody

Slověni sut jedna iz najsilnějših větev indoeuropskih narodov.

Slověni žijut v južnoj, srědnoj i vazhodnoj oblasti Europy i v Aziji.

Na europskom severu i zapadu ne žijut.
Vkupě na Zemji žije trista milionov slověnskih dušej.

Vsi Slověni imajut svoje državy, toliko sami Lužicski Srbi

svoju državu ne imajut i padajut pod Germaniju.
Ruska država Rossia jest najbolša država světa.

Južni slověnski narodi sut Slovenci (Ilyrski Slověni), Hrvati,

Ilyrski Srbi, Bosnjaki, Černogorci, Slavomakedonci i Bulgari.
Zapadni slověnski narodi sut Čehi, Slovaki (Karpatski Slověni),
Poljaki i Lužicski Srbi.

Vazhodni slověnski narodi sut Rusi, Ukrajinci, Bělorusi i Rusyni.

our village

naše selo (from the book by Mary Russel Mitford, Our Village, 1824)
Iz vsih možnih idealnih měst, v ktorih žijut ljudi, najbolše ljubju malo selo, daleko ot
šumnogo grada, s jego maloju občinoju. Ono ne imaje preplnjeni bloky, samo male
drvene budniky. Jest to prosto i slično město do života, s žitelami, ktorih lica sut rovno
znajemi kako cvěty v našem sadu. To jest zatvoreny svět s nemnogo ljudimi, blizko
ujednjenimi kako mravky v mravkovoj kupě, pčely v pčelniku, ovce v ovčej štalě, monahi
v monastiru ili morjaki na korabu, kdě vsej znaje vsego i vse jest znanо ot vsego, kdě vsej
se interesuje v vsim i vsej može imati naděju, že někto se v něm interesuje.
Кako drago by bylo zanoriti se v to srdečno čuvstvo ljubenja i neznamih potrěb, dvignuti
se i byti kolegami s těmi vsimi jedinstvenimi ljudimi okolo nas! Tako, že my budemo
znati i ljubiti vsi zakuty i povraty tenkih ulic i slncem pokryte poljany, črez ktoro
budemo hoditi vsej den ot jutra do večera. Mala socialna grupa, iže jest selska občina,
jest to, čemu poezija i proza blagodari najbolše. Ide tamo uzka droga, iže v lěpom teplom
dni prěhodi veliku široku drogu plnu aut i tirov. Ne hočeš li putovati s mnoju, dragy
čitateli? Put ne bude dlga. My budemo putovati ot počatku doliny i ottamo idemo nagoru.

152

note:

In these examples we replaced the Cyrillic character "j" (iota) by the dotless "ɪ". This
character better evokes the original character iota in the Old Church Slavonic. This kind
of detailed vowel jotization in the Old Church Slavonic style has been introduced by the
Serbian reformer Vuk Karadžić by reason to distinct between jotized and non-jotized
slavic vowels in South-Slavic languages.

modern Slavic nations - in Cyrillic

модерни словѣнски народы

Словѣни сут ɪедна из найсилнѣɪших вѣтев индоевропских народов.

Словѣни жиют в южной, срѣдной и вазходной области Европы и в Азиɪи.

На европском северу и западу не жиют.

Вкупѣ на Земɪи жиɪе триста милионов словѣнских душей.

Вси Словѣни имают своɪе държавы, толико сами Лужицски Сърби
свою държаву не имают и падают под Германию.
Русска държава Россиа ɪест найболша държава свѣта.

Южни словѣнски народи сут Словенци (Илырски Словѣни), Хървати,

Илырски Сърби, Босньаки, Черногорци, Славомакедонци и Булгари.

Западни словѣнски народи сут Чехи, Словаки (Карпатски Словѣни),

Польаки и Лужицски Сърби.

Вазходни словѣнски народи сут Руси, Украɪинци, Бѣлоруси и Русыни.

our village - in Cyrillic

нашe сeло (from the book by Mary Russel Mitford, Our Village, 1824)

Из всих можних идеалних мѣст, в кторих жиют люди, найболше любю малo сeло,
далеко от шумнoго града, с ɪего малoю обчиною. Оно не имаɪе препълньени блокы,
само мале дървене будникы. Іест то простo и сличнo мѣсто до живота, с
жителами, кторих лица сут ровно знаɪеми како цвѣты в нашем саду. То ɪест
затворены свѣт с немного людими, близко уɪедньеними како мравкы в мравковей
купѣ, пчелы в пчелнику, овце в овчей шталѣ, монахи в монастиру или морɪаки на
корабу, кдѣ всей знаɪе всего и все ɪест знано от всего, кдѣ всей се интересуɪе в
всим и всей може имати надѣю, же нѣкто се в нѣм интересуɪе.
Како драго бы было занорити се в то сърдечнo чувство любениɪа и незнамих
потрѣб, двигнути се и быти колегами с тѣми всими ɪединственими людими около
нас! Тако, же мы будемo знати и любити вси закуты и повраты тенких улиц и
сълнцем покрыте польаны, чрез кторo будемo ходити всей ден от ютра до вечера.
Мала социална група, иже ɪест сeлска обчина, ɪест то, чему поезиɪа и проза
благодари найболше. Иде тамо узка дрога, иже в лѣпoм теплoм дни прѣходи
велику широку дрогу пълну аут и тиров. Не хочеш ли путовати с мной, драгы
читатели? Пут не буде дълга. Мы будемo путовати от початку долины и оттамо
идемo нагору.

153

information flier for hotel guests

This Neoslavonic text has been made for our Interslavic project in the hotel OASIS DEAD
SEE for hotel guests coming from the Slavic countries. This project is organized with the
kind assistance of Ms. Viktorija Ajziković from the hotel management and Mr. Andrej
Teterevov from Be'er Sheva.

Dear Guests! Dragi gosti !

Check in time after 15:00 Do hotela se možete priglasiti ot 15:00

Check out time is by 11:00 Iz hotela jest trěba se otglasiti do 11:00

The Restaurant Marine Vreme otvorenja restauranta Marine

Breakfast: 07:00-10:30 jutrenica: 07:00 – 10:30
Supper: 18:00-20:30 večerja: 18:00 - 20:30

The lobby bar is open daily from 11:00 until Lobby-Bar jest otvoreny vsekaky den ot 11:00
22:30. Lobby bar offers light snacks meals all do 22:30. Lobby-Bar Vam vsej den prědlagaje
day with live entertainment in the evening. male jadenja. Večerom Vas priglašajemo na
veseljenje s živoju muzikoju.

The hotel's SPA hours are from 08:00 -18:00. Hotelova SPA jest otvorena ot 08:00 do 18:00.
It includes the Dead Sea water pool, Uslugy SPA sodržajut bazen s vodoju iz
Jacuzzi, Sauna, Turkish hamam (bath) Mrtvogo Mora, jacuzzi, saunu, turečske
and fitness room. kupanje i fitness komnatu.

We also recommend that you book your SPA Sovětujemo Vam, da byste uslugy sebě
appointments well in advance in the SPA najskoro rezervirali v recepciji SPA ili po
reception, or dial directly from your room telefonu iz vašej komnaty na čislu 8040.
8040.

The Fitness room hours are Fitness jest otvoreny ot 8:00 do 12:00 i potom
08:00 -12:00 and 13:00 – 18:00 ot 13:00 do 18:00.

Free entrance in the external swimming pool Bezplatny vstup na otkryty hotelovy bazen
hours are 08:00-18:00. jest ot 8:00 do 18:00.

In addition, our hotel has a private beach, Hotel takože imaje svoju privatnu plažu. Plaž
which located across the road from the right jest na drugoj straně ulice desno (napravo) ot
side of Ambulance through Ambulancije. Vstup na plažu jest črez velike
the big green gate. zelene vrata.
The beach hours are 07:30- 18:00 Hotelova plaž jest otvorena ot 7:30 do 18:00.
Hotel transport to the beach goes each 15 Na plaž ide hotelovy transport vsekakih 15
minutes from the central entrance. minut ot centralnogo vhoda.

You can get the towels for the pool, SPA and Ručniky do SPA , bazena ili na plažu dostanete
beach in the spa until 18:00. After 18:00, v SPA do 18:00. Po 18:00 dostanete ručniky
towels are available in the main reception. na glavnoj recepciji.

Our hotel has a paid wi-fi, to purchase internet Hotel takože iměje platjeno WiFi pripojenje na
access. Please contact to the reception. Internet. Prosimo kontaktujte recepciju.

The hotel staff makes every effort to ensure to Personal našego hotela prilagaje vse svoje
our guests a first-class vacation and full usilje za Vaš prvoklasny otdyh i plno lěčenje u
treatment at the Dead Sea. Mrtvogo Mora.

Sincerely, the hotel management S uvaženjem, personal hotela

154

ecclesiastical texts

These Neoslavonic texts are very close to the (Old) Church Slavonic originals. There are the
same words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, ...) in both Slavonic dialects, the only difference is in
orthography and grammar. The final effect of using Neoslavonic in this area is the
preservation of the original historical meaning and preciseness (language semantics)
combined with better understanding by virtue of comprehensible grammar and
orthography (language syntax).
Our Father
Отче наш, Otče naš,
иже јеси на небесах, iže jesi na nebesah,
да свети се име твоје, da sveti se ime Tvoje,
да прииде цѹсарство твоје, da priide cěsarstvo Tvoje,
да буде вольа твоја како на небеси, da bude volja Tvoja kako na nebesi,
и на земльи. i na zemlji.
Хлѹб наш насучны дай нам днес, Hlěb naš nasučny daj nam dnes,
и Ѳтстави нам длугы наше, i otstavi nam dlugy naše,
како и мы Ѳтставујемо kako i my otstavujemo
длужникѲм нашим. dlužnikom našim.
И не воведи нас в напаст, I ne vovedi nas v napast,
но избави нас Ѳт лукавогѲ. no izbavi nas ot lukavogo.
Како твоје јест цѹсарство Kako Tvoje jest cěsarstvo
и сила и слава в вѹки. i sila i slava v věki.

Амен. Amen.
Note that old-Cyrillic letter omega "Ѳ" designates according to the Church Slavonic and
Greek tradition the ordinary sound "о" [ɔ] in plural or genitive endings and prepositions.
blagosloven Bog naš - blessed is our God
Slava Tebě, Bože naš, slava Tebě.
Slava Otcu i Synu i Svetomu Duhu, jako běše na počatku, i nyně, i vsegda na věky věkov.
Amen.

molitvy pokajanja - prayers of repentance

Bože, pomiluj mne grěšnogo.
Gospodi Isuse Hriste, Syne Božij, pomiluj mne grěšnogo.
Presveta Trojice, pomiluj nas, Gospodi očisti grěhy naše;
Vladyko, prosti bezzakonstva naše;
Svety, poseti i izcěli nemoče naše, v imeni Tvojem.
Gospodi, pomni mne v cěsarstvu Tvojem.
Gospodi pomiluj.

molitva k Bogorodici - prayer to the Virgin Mary

Raduj se, Marije, blagodati plna! Gospod s Teboju;
blagoslovena jesi medžu ženami, i blagosloven plod života tvojego Isus.
Sveta Marije, Mati Božija, moli se za nas grěšnih, nyně i v vremeni smrti našej.
Amen.

155

 apostolsky symbol věry - apostles’ creed
Věruju v Boga, Otca Vsemogučego; Tvorca nebesa i zemlji.
I v Isusa Hrista, jedinogo jego Syna, Gospoda našego; iže běše počaty ot Duha Svetogo,
rodjeny ot Marije Děvy; stradaše pri Pontu Pilatu, razpět jest, umreše, i pogrěbeny;
sošel v ad; v trety den vazkreseny iz mrtvih; vazšel jest na nebesa;
sedi desno ot Boga Otca Vsemogučego; ottuda priide suditi žive i mrtve.
Věruju v Duha Svetogo; Svetu Vselensku Crkvu, občinu svetih; otstavenje grěhov;
vazkresenje těla i život věčny.
Amin.
osnovni pravdy věry - basic truth of faith
Bog jest jedin.
Neotdělimy Bog v trěh božskih licah jest: Otec, Syn i Duh Svety.
Bog jest najvyše spravedlivy.
Bog Syn jest se vočlověčil, da by nas smrtju svojeju na križi izkupil i v věky spasil.
Duša člověka bezsmrtna jest.
Do spasenja Blagodati Božjej trěba jest.
This Prayer (Greek: Εὐχἠ τοῦ Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ), is a prayer attributed to Saint Ephrem the
Syrian and used during the Great Lent by the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern
Catholic Churches that use the Byzantine rite. In the Eastern tradition, this prayer is
considered to be the most succinct summation of the spirit of Great Lent and is hence the
Lenten prayer par excellence, prayed during all Lenten weekday services, such as the
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and many more times in private. There are historically
two versions of the prayer - the Greek and the Church Slavonic.
O Lord and Master of my life,
give me not the spirit of sloth, despair, lust for power and idle talk.
But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother.
For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Gospodi i Vladyko života mojego,
duha unynja, nebreženja, srebraljubenja i prazdnoslovenja otženi ot mne.
Duha cělomudrovanja, smirenja, trpěnja i ljuby daruj mi, rabu tvojemu.
Ej Gospodi Cěsare, daj mi zrěti moje sogrěšenja, že ne osuždaju brata svojego.
Kako blagosloven jesi v věky. Amen.
The Kiev Missal is a Glagolitic Old Church Slavonic canon manuscript containing parts of
the Roman-rite liturgy. It is usually held to be the oldest Old Church Slavonic manuscript
with coherent text, dated at the latter half of the 10th century. This prayer is a plea for
preservation of the Slavic state from enemies:

Cěsarstvo naše Gospodi milostju tvojeju prizri,

i ne otdaj našego tuzim,
i ne obrati nas v plěn narodom poganskim.

156

1R3M1;=G!"81HG=O1;M5!=GR6=B83H!!
optional Neoslavonic alphabets
Latin a-B!%&$!
&=3M; HR, SLO _9?6HE!
&876:!
Polish #:[?6HE!
Latin &876:!
English *Q9MGGM5 -PHH68:!
Russian %;MR68:!
Latin Cyrillic *UM6??65!
Latin &876:!
Serbian 0988< ^8B98P! Arabic
Hebrew '9=BM5!
Cyrillic Greek Yiddish Farsi
Cyrillic *UM6??65! ]=9HM! )_'
IPA
!=
a !8!
a !8!
a !8!
a !l
а !ô!
а !ô!
а !≠
α ‫א‬# $ [a]
!B
b !R!
b !R!
b !R!
b !s
б !ö!
б !ö!
б !ß±
μπ ‫ב‬% & [b]
!5
c !5!
c !5!
c !5!
c !ê
ц !ù!
ц !ù!
ц !©¶
τσ ‫(צ 'ץ‬ )* (+) [ ts ]
!b
č !}!
č !5W!
cz !5W!
cz !ë
ч !ü!
ч !ü!
ч !©∞
τζ ,-
‫טש‬ .* (/) [ tʃ ]
!K
d !I!
d !I!
d !I!
d !i
д !°!
д !°!
д !∏
δ ‫ד‬0 1 [d]
!K2
dj !IC!
dj !IC!
dj !IC!
dj !iq
дь !°¢!
дь !Ï!
џ !∏¢
δι 220
‫דיי‬ 31 ("! ) [ɟ]
!K~
dž !I!
đ !IÌ!
dż !IWE!
dzh !iì
дж !°£!
дж !Ó!
ђ !∏∞π
δζχ ,40
‫דזש‬ 5 [ dʒ ]
!8
e !;!
e !;!
e !;!
e !j
е !•!
е !•!
е !´
ε ‫ע‬6 7 [ɛ]
!4!
ě !6;!
ie !6;!
ie !6;
ie !!
ѣ •!
е e!
e !¢´!
ιε 62
‫יע‬ 89 ("! ) [ jɛ ]
!F f !Q!
f !Q!
f !Q!
f !∫
ф !ß!
ф !ß!
ф !ª
φ ‫!ֿ"פ !ֿ"ף‬ : [f]
!?
g ![!
g ![!
g ![!
g !x
г !©!
г !©!
г !º
γ ‫;ג‬ < (=) [g]
!6
h !E!!
h !E!!
h !E!!
h !Ω
х !™!
х !™!
х !π
χ ‫)ה( >ח‬ (?) @ [x]
!M i i
!6! i
!6! i
!6! и
!∂ и
!´! и
!´! η
!° ‫י‬2 A [i]
!2 j j
!C! j
!C! j
!C! !Ç ɪ і
!Ô! ј
!Æ! ι
!¢ ‫י‬2 3 [j]
!2 j j
!C! j
!C! j
!C! й
!Ñ й
!¨! ј
!Æ! ϊ
!Ø ‫יי‬
22 3 [j]
ju
!2: ju
!CP! ju
!CP! ju
!CP! ю
!` ю
!Ø! ју
!Æ¿! ιου
!¢•æ ‫יו‬
B2 9C [ jʊ ]
k
!< k
!S! k
!S! k
!S! к
!t к
!±! к
!±! κ
!§ ‫ק‬D E [k]
!G l l
!?! l
!?! l
!?! л
!k л
!≤! л
!≤! λ
!Æ ‫ל‬F G [l]
lj
!G2 lj
!?C! lj
!?C! lj
!?C! ль
!kq ль
!≤¢! љ
!! λι
!Æ¢ ‫ליי‬
22F HI (")! [ʎ]
m
!A m
!=! m
!=! m
!=! м
!v м
!¥! м
!¥! μ
!ß ‫ם‬J ‫מ‬K L [m]
n
!; n
!:! n
!:! n
!:! н
!w н
!µ! н
!µ! ν
!® ‫נ‬M N [n]
nj
!;2 nj
!:C! nj
!:C! nj
!:C! нь
!wq нь
!µ¢! њ
!Ò! νι
!®¢ ‫ניי‬
22M HO (P) [ɲ]
o
!1 o
!9! o
!9! o
!9! о (ω)
!p!!!ø о
!∂! о
!∂! ο (ω)
!•!!!ø ‫!ָ"א‬ Q [ɔ]
p
!R p
!>! p
!>! p
!>! п
!™ п
!∏! п
!∏! π
!± ‫ף‬R ‫פ‬S T [p]
q
!W q
!|! q
!|! q
!|! к
!t к
!±! к
!±! κ
!§ ‫!כּ !ךּ‬ U [k]
r
!9 r
!M! r
!M! r
!M! р
!â р
!π! р
!π! ρ
!¨ ‫ר‬V W [r]
s
!H s
!H! s
!H! s
!H! с
!r с
!∫! с
!∫! σ
!¶ ‫ס‬X ) [s]
š
!g š
!Ü! sz
!HW! sz
!HW! ш
!o ш
!ª! ш
!ª! σχ
!¶π ‫ש‬
, . [ʃ]
št
!g3 ć
!Ü7! szt
!HW7! szt
!HW7! щ
!¿ щ
!º! шт
!ªæ! σχτ
!¶π© ‫שט‬
-, YZ [ ʃt ]
!3 t t
!7! t
!7! t
!7! т
!m т
!æ! т
!æ! τ
!© ‫ט‬- [ [t]
th
!36 th
!7E! th
!7E! th
!7E! ѳ
!" ф
!ß! ф
!ß! θ
!¡ ‫!תּ‬ \ [θ]
tj
!32 tj
!7C! tj
!7C! tj
!7C! ть
!mq ть
!æ¢! ћ
!Ú! τι
!©¢ ‫טיי‬
22- H* ("! ) [c]
u
!: u
!P! u
!P! u
!P! у
!u у
!¿! у
!¿! ου
!•æ ‫ו‬B C [ʊ]
v
!O v
!J! v
!J! v
!J! в
!∑ в
!¡! в
!¡! β
!¬ ‫!ֿ"ב‬ ] [v]
w
!P w
!T! w
!T! w
!T! в
!∑ в
!¡! в
!¡! β
!¬ ‫בֿ !ֿ"ב‬# ]] [v]
x
!L x
!<! x
!<! x
!<! кс
!tr!!(√) кс
!±∫! кс
!±∫! ξ
!√ ‫קס‬
XD )^ [ ks ]
y
!Q y
!U! y
!U! y
!U! ы
!n!!(æ) ы
!ƒ! и
!´! υ
!æ ‫וי‬
2B "! [i]
z
!Z z
!W! z
!W! z
!W! з
!í з
!≈! з
!≈! ζ
!∞ ‫ז‬4 _ [z]
ž
!~ ž
!Ì! ż
!Ì! zh
!WE! ж
!ì ж
!£! ж
!£! ζχ
!∞π ‫זש‬
,4 ` [ʒ]
!2 j j
!C! j
!C! j
!C! ь
!q ь
!¢! ј
!Æ! ι
!¢ ‫יי‬
22 3 [ ]
! Ü’ ! ë’! ! ë’! ! ë’! ъ
!y ъ
!∆! ! ë’! ! Ü’ ‫!ַ"א‬ a [ ɜ̆ ]
! 157
GY^!
! !
Greek orthography is based on the fact that Greeks do not have a standardized way of
writing Slavic words and names, although they are in the long historical contact with the
Slavs. This transcription of Slavic sounds is based on the both medieval and modern
Greek alphabet usage by the Slavic-speaking minority population in the northern Greece.
Hebrew transcription of Neoslavonic is based on the Yiddish language and the Ladino
language. Yiddish is a mixture of a German-like and Slavic-like language with about
three million Jewish speakers from the Central and Eastern Europe, mainly Ashkenazy
Jews, in the USA, Israel, Russia, Ukraine and other countries. Ladino was a kind of
Spanish dialect written in Hebrew characters and is still spoken by decreasing minority
of Judeo-Spanish people. This Hebrew transcription has been completely designed by
the Czech linguist and alphabet expert Mr. Lubor Mojdl.

And finally, Arabic transcription of Neoslavonic is based on the Bosnian script Arebica of
the Ottoman Empire, with added Slavic letters (both consonants and vowels) to the
Turkish version of the Arabic and Persian (Farsi). These added full letters are making
Arebica a true alphabet, unlike its Farsi-Arabic base, which does not support vowels.
Arebica was used mainly between the 15th and 19th centuries. There are some efforts by
Muslims to officially adopt Arebica as the third alphabet for Bosnian language alongside
Latin and Cyrillic. This transcription has been designed with kind help of the Bosnian
linguist and calligrapher Mr. Bojan Antics.
It is obvious that these exotic options are primarily aimed for users of these alphabets
and serves them as an aid to the writing of the Slavic words and Slavic names in these
different writing systems.

ancient alphabets - Venetic/Etruscan, Glagolitic and old-Cyrillic
This chapter is written by Lubor Mojdl
author of the book Encyclopedia of the Alphabets in the World (Mojdl, 2005)

Runic alphabet is popular especially among young people interesting in history, fantasy,
etc. But Slavic languages are difficult to be well written in runes. The Venetic script
probably served as a main source for the Germanic runes that appeared first in the
Styrian region. Nevertheless, the Venetic script contains almost all letters necessary for
its use in modern Slavic languages. As for the ancient script presented in this book, only
few Etruscan letters were added to the original Venetic alphabet in order to express all
the sounds of modern Slavic.

Venetic language was spoken in northeast Italy (Veneto) and part of contemporary
Slovenia by the Veneti, a people famous in the Greek world for their excellent horses.
They appear to have arrived to the region by the end of the second millenia B.C. The
main centers of the Venetic culture were the towns of Padua, Venetic capital, and Este.
The Venetic language is known by about 300 short inscriptions, either of the votive or
the funeral character, dated from 6th century B.C. to the 1st century A.C.
Venetic was the centum Indo-European language and the inscriptions were written in
the Venetic script, similar to the Etruscan alphabet, both derived from the Euboian
Greek script. Venetic may have been related either to the Italic or the Illyrian languages
but some scholars speak rather about independent Venetic group, probably related to
Illyrian, Ligurian and Celtic.

158

Most probably the Adriatic Veneti, the Veneti of Gaul (northwest France) and the North
Balkan Enetoi mentioned by Herodotos and Appian were not related to each other, nor
to the Veneti or Venedi mentioned by Tacitus, Plinius and Ptolemaios and placed to the
Baltic coasts.
Recently some Slovenian scholars (Bor, 1996) proposed a theory according to which the
Veneti were Proto-Slavs and bearers of the Lusatian culture along the Amber Path who
conquered and settled the region between the Baltic Sea and Adriatic Sea, as presented
in their book Veneti - First Builders of European Community. This theory has been
criticised and rejected by Slovenian and other European scholars, but mainly among
Slovenian amateurs at linguistics the opinion that Adriatic Veneti were the ancestors of
Slovenes is still alive. In fact, certain mixed "illyro-slavinity" cannot be definitely
excluded.

from right to left written script made from Venetic and Etruscan by Lubor Mojdl and author

Two Slavic scripts at the same time, Glagolitic and Cyrillic, are still an interesting enigma.
Which of those two scripts was the first one? The official opinion says that st.
Constantine the Philosopher (Cyril) first invented Glagolitic and his followers later made
Cyrillic based mainly on the Greek and the Hebrew letters. In fact, the oldest preserved
Slavic literature was actually written in Glagolitic. But some scholars oppose this
theory; e.g. the famous British linguist Sir Ellis Howell Minns (1874-1953) was of the
opinion that both alphabets were made by the same mind and that

Cyril first made Cyrillic, using the natural basis of uncial Greek. ... intending his creation
for the benefit of Slavs about Salonica. Afterwards when sent on a mission into a land
(Great Moravia), where Greek influence was struggling with Latin, he transformed the
Greek letters to make them less suspect in Latin eyes. (Minns, 1925)

Cyrillic alphabet (design of Rumjan Lazov)

Glagolitic and Cyrillic share the same system of orthography, order of letters, etc. The
only significant difference between these two scripts is visual shape of letters. Actually,
some Glagolitic letters cannot be reasonably explained not otherwise but by
transformation from Cyrillic originals.

This question remains open. However, some Glagolitic letters may have the origin in
some even more exotic scripts like old Bulgarian (Turkic), Syrian etc., but the main part
of letters was taken from Greek, Hebrew, Latin maybe also from proto-Cyrillic and from
Byzantium astrological symbols. The appearance of Glagolitic letters was changed by
rotation, turning over and decoration, in order to camouflage their actual origin. This
159

possible theory may also explain why Glagolitic alphabet in all orthodox countries was
quickly replaced by the Cyrillic alphabet, which is much easier to read because it is very
close to the Greek script. Glagolitic remained in use only in the catholic-oriented Croatia
(and also at the turn of the 14th and 15th century in Prague). Glagolitic survived in
Croatia until the early 20th century and now is still alive as a popular tourist attraction.
(Nazor, 2005) This is the reason why we deal with Glagolitic in this book and propose
Neoslavonic writing in this ancient Slavic alphabet.

Glagolitic alphabet made from angular Croatian version by Filip Cvitić

interslavic Braille
This chapter is written by Roberto Lombino

Braille is a tactile writing system used by the blind and the visually impaired, and found
in books, on menus, signs, elevator buttons, and currency, etc. Braille characters are
small rectangular blocks called cells that contain tiny palpable bumps called raised dots.
The number and arrangement of these dots distinguish one character from another.

Unfortunately, there are more mutually different Braille alphabets used for the Slavic
languages. This Interslavic Braille proposal described below is based mostly on the
Czech and Yugoslav Braille alphabets. It contains letters for all sounds of Neoslavonic
and other dialects of Interslavic and does not have different codes for Latin, Cyrillic and
Greek letters of the same sound.

Interslavic Braille designed by Roberto Lombino

160

Neoslavonic grammar tables

161

 ŽENA žensky tvrdy vzor -N- -R- -S- -T- specialni vzory
NOVOSLOVĚNSKY JEZYK jednina množina dvojina jednina
N žen-a žen-y žen-ě N kamen im-e mat-i těl-o dět-e
abeceda i pravopisanje January 2017
G žen-y žen-’ žen-u G kamen-e im-en-e mat-er-e těl-es-e dět-et-e
a b c č d dj dž e f g h i ě j ju k l lj m D žen-ě žen-am žen-ama D kamen-i im-en-i mat-er-i těl-es-i dět-et-i
а б ц ч д дь дж е ф г х и ѣ ј ю к л ль м A žen-u žen-y žen-ě A kamen im-e mat-er těl-o dět-e
n nj o p q r s š št t tj u v w x y z ž ‘ V žen-o! žen-y! žen-ě! V kamen-i im-e mat-i těl-o dět-e
н нь о п к р с ш щ т ть у в в кс ы з ж ъ L žen-ě žen-ah žen-u L kamen-i im-en-i mat-er-i těl-es-i dět-et-i
Plno pravopisanje koristi znak y, ě i može tvrdy jer ’. Prosto ne koristi. I žen-oju žen-ami žen-ama I kamen-em im-en-em mat-er-ju těl-es-em dět-et-em
napr.: ryba→riba věra→vera p’lny→plny/plni DUŠA žensky mekky vzor Na razlišenje ot staroslověnskogo, tuti vzory imajut svoje specijalno
Palatizacija: k→č, h→š, g→ž, cj→č, sj→š, zj→ž
jednina množina dvojina klonjenje toliko v jednině. Množina i dual jest v normalnih vzorah:
napr.: Grek→grečsky prah→prašny bog→božsky prosju→prošu N duš-a duš-e duš-i kamen-y=grad-y, imen-a,nebes-a=sěl-a, mater-e=duš-e, dět-i=kost-i
1. Staroslověnsko jatj=!=ѣ=ě se može pisao bez diakrioky kako ie. G duš-e duš-ej duš-u zaimeniky i pridavniky
Podobno č, š, ž se može pisao kako cz, sz, zh. D duš-i duš-am duš-ama
2. Znak ju/ю ne jest [i+ju] ale jedin slabo jotizirany zvuk [ju]. az, ja ty se my vy na va kto što, čo
A duš-u duš-e duš-i
3. Prěd slogotvornima r i l pišemo v cyrilici tvrdy znak ‘r/ър i ‘l/ъл. N az, ja ty - my vy na va kto što
V duš-e! duš-e! duš-i!
4. Staroslověnsko щ jest na počatkah slov kako št i potom kako č. G mne tebe sebe nas vas naj vaj kogo čego
L duš-i duš-ah duš-u
(napr. šot, pomoč, občina, svěča) D mně,mi tebě,o sebě,si nam vam nama vama komu čemu
I duš-eju duš-ami duš-ama
Novoslověnsky jezyk drži morfologično pravopisanje. Koren slov se v
A mne,me tebe,te sebe,se nas vas naj vaj kogo što, čo
KOST (MYŠ) žensky soglasnikovy vzor V - ty! - my! vy! na! va! - -
vsih padežah piše rovno. Latinski i grečski slova imajut v korenah
jednina množina dvojina L mně tebě sebě nas vas naj vaj kom čem
slov svoje originalno pravopisanje s NS zakončenjami (biologija, ...).
N kost- kost-i kost-i I mnoju teboju seboju nami vami nama vama kěm čim
imeniky G kost-i kost-ij kost-ju TOJ-TA-TO / KTO, KOGO, KOMU DOBRY,A,O tvrdy vzor
BRAT, GRAD mužsky tvrdy vzor
jednina množina dvojina D kost-i kost-im kost-ima mužska j. ženska j. stredna j. univ. množ. univ. dvoj.
N brat grad brat-i grad-y brat-a grad-a A kost- kost-i kost-i N toj dobry ta dobra to dobro ti dobri te dobre
G brat-a grad-a brat-ov grad-ov brat-u grad-u V kost-i! kost-i! kost-i! G togo toj togo těh dobrih tu
L kost-i kost-ih kost-ju D tomu toj tomu těm dobrim těma dobrima
D brat-u grad-u brat-am grad-am brat-ama grad-ama
I kost-ju kost-imi kost-ima A toj, togo tu to te dobre te
A brat-a grad brat-y grad-y brat-a grad-a
V brat-e! grad-e! brat-i! grad-y! brat-a! grad-a! V ty! dobry! ty! dobra! ty! dobro! vy! dobri! va! dobra!
SELO (SLOVO) srědny tvrdy vzor L tom toj tom těh dobrih tu
L brat-u grad-u brat-ah grad-ah brat-u grad-u
jednina množina dvojina I tim toju tim těmi dobrimi těma dobrima
I brat-om grad-om brat-ami grad-ami brat-ama grad-ama
N sel-o sel-a sel-ě ON-ONA-ONO/ČTO, ČEGO, ČEMU SVĚŽI,A,E mekky vzor
MUŽ, KRAJ mužsky mekky vzor G sel-a sel-’ sel-u mužska j. ženska j. stredna j. univ. množ. univ. dvoj.
jednina množina dvojina D sel-u sel-am sel-ama N on svěži ona svěža ono svěže oni svěži one svěže
N muž kraj muž-i kraj-e muž-a kraj-a A sel-o sel-a sel-ě G (n)jego (n)jej (n)jego (n)jih (n)ju
G muž-a kraj-a muž-ev kraj-ev muž-u kraj-u V sel-o! sel-a! sel-ě! D (n)jemu (n)jej (n)jemu (n)jim (n)jima
D muž-u kraj-u muž-am kraj-am muž-ama kraj-ama L sel-u sel-ah sel-u A (n)jego (n)ju (n)je (n)je svěže (n)je svěže
A muž-a kraj muž-e kraj-e muž-a kraj-a I sel-om sel-ami sel-ama V ty! svěži! ty! svěža! ty! svěže! vy! svěži! va! svěža!
V muž-u! kraj-u! muž-i! kraj-e! muž-a! kraj-a! POLJE srědny mekky vzor L (n)jem (n)jej (n)jem (n)jih (n)ju
L muž-u kraj-u muž-ah kraj-ah muž-u kraj-u jednina množina dvojina I (n)jim (n)jeju (n)jim (n)jimi (n)jima
I muž-em kraj-em muž-ami kraj-ami muž-ama kraj-ama N polj-e polj-a polj-i Mekky vzor klonjenja (-ego, -emu, ...) imajut zaimeniky:
Objekty, iže aktivno dělajut někaky proces, sut “životni” (ot pytanja G polj-a polj-ej polj-u MOJ-MOJA-MOJE, TVOJ-TVOJA-TVOJE,
KTO?) i po tutoj pričině imajut v jednině akuzativ rovny s genitivom. NAŠ-NAŠA-NAŠE, VAŠ-VAŠA-VAŠE, SEJ-SA-SE, VSEJ-VSA-VSE, ...
D polj-u polj-am polj-ama
Tvar n- pišemo toliko v padežah s prědlogom:
Ostalni objekty sut “neživotni” (ot pytanija ČTO) i imajut v jednině A polj-e polj-a polj-i slyšu jego, rabotaju za njego, idu s njimi, pišu jemu, idu k njemu
akuzativ rovny s nominativom. V polj-e! polj-a! polj-i!
napr.: gospod peče hlěb. (hlěb ne može pečti = jest neživotny) L polj-u polj-ah polj-u Pridavniki imajut padeže po mekkom ili tvrdom vzoru zaimenikov
gospod vidi člověka. (člověk može viděti = jest životny) I polj-em polj-ami polj-ama s modi]ikaceju ě→i. Napr.: dobry člověk, dobrogo člověka, dobrim
Slova mužskogo roda zakončeni na -a imajut v jednině klonjenje po člověkom, svěžego piva, svěžim pivom, těmi dobrimi ljudimi, ...
Dualne slově OKO, UHO imajete dual rovne s množinoju vzora KOST
tvrdom vzoru žena ili mekkom vzoru duša, ale v množině i dvojině s palatiziranim korenom: oč-i, oč-im, ... uš-i, uš-im, ... GRADACIJA bez palaozacije s palaozacijeju do č,š,ž
imajut normalny mužsky vzor. superlaov naj-bogat-ějš-i (iz ...) naj-draž-ejš-i (iz ...)
napr.: vladyk-a, vladyk-y, vladyk-ě, vladyk-u, vladyk-o, ... (jednina) NS jezyk koristi nestale [e/·] i [o/·] : otec, ot·ca, December, Decemb·ra, komparaov bogat-ějš-i (ot ...) draž-ejš-i (ot ...)
vladyk-i, vladyk-ov, vladyk-am, vladyk-ami, ... (množina) članok, član·ka, pes, p·sa, ... indikaov bogat-y drag-y
 glagoly neredny glagol byti čiselniky
IMATI tvrdy -eš vzor BYTI
infiniov im-a-o infiniov b-y-o 1 jedin, jedna, -o 11 jedinnast 21 dvadeset jedin
L-parocipij im-a-l im-a-la im-a-lo im-a-li im-a-le L-parocipij b-y-l b-y-la b-y-lo b-y-li b-y-le 2 dva, dvě, dvě 12 dvanast 22 dvadeset dva
glagolno ime im-a-nje (= ot prošl. pasivnogo parocipija) glagolno ime b-y-tje (= ot prošlogo pasivnogo parocipija) 3 tri 13 trinast 23 dvadeset tri
sučno vreme (tvrdi glagoly možut imao koren nerovny s infiniovnim) buduče vreme 4 četyri 14 četyrinast 24 dvadeset četyri
jednina množina dvojina jednina množina dvojina 5 pet 15 petnast 25 dvadeset pet
1 imaj-u imaj-emo imaj-evě 1 bud-u bud-emo bud-evě 6 šest 16 šestnast 26 dvadeset šest
2 imaj-eš imaj-ete imaj-eta 2 bud-eš bud-ete bud-eta 7 sedem 17 sedemnast 27 dvadeset sedem
3 imaj-e imaj-ut imaj-ete 3 bud-e bud-ut bud-ete 8 osem 18 osemnast 28 dvadeset osem
akovny parocipij imaj-uči ≈ jesmy akovny parocipij bud-uči 9 devet 19 devetnast 29 dvadeset devet
pasivny parocipij imaj-emy ≈ sučny pasivny parocipij bud-emy 10 deset 110 sto deset 1100 tysuč sto
imperaov imaj! imaj-mo! imaj-te! imperaov bud-i! bud-imo! bud-ite! 20 dvadeset 200 dvěsto 2000 dva tysuč
prošlo vreme (infiniovny koren i samoglasny iz inf. zakončenija) sučno vreme 30 trideset 300 tristo 3000 tri tysuč
jednina množina dvojina jednina množina dvojina 40 četyrideset 400 četyristo 4000 četyri tysuč
1 im-a-h im-a-hom im-a-hova 1 jesm jesmo jesvě 50 petdeset 500 petsto 5000 pet tysuč
2 im-a-še im-a-ste im-a-sta 2 jesi jeste jesta 60 šestdeset 600 šeststo 6000 šest tysuč
3 im-a-še im-a-hu im-a-ste 3 jest = je sut jeste 70 sedmdeset 700 sedemsto 7000 sedem tysuč
akovne parocipijum im-a-vši ≈ b-y-ty akovny parocipij sučny ≈ imaj-emy 80 osmdeset 800 osemsto 106 milion
pasivne parocipijum im-a-ny ≈ b-y-vši pasivny parocipij jesmy ≈ imaj-uči 90 devetdeset 900 devetsto 109 bilion
VARITI mekky -iš vzor prošlo vreme 100 sto 1000 tysuč 0 nula
infiniov var-i-o jednina množina dvojina
1 b-ě-h b-ě-hom b-ě-hova 1 prvy 11 jedinnasty 21 dvadeset prvy
L-parocipij var-i-l var-i-la var-i-lo var-i-li var-i-le
2 b-ě-še b-ě-ste b-ě-sta 2 vtory 20 dvadesety 200 dvěsotny
glagolno ime var-e-nje (= ot prošl. pasivnogo parocipija)
3 b-ě-še = b-ě b-ě-hu b-ě-ste 3 trety 30 tridesety 201 dvěstě prvy
sučno vreme (mekki glagoly imajut sučny koren rovny s infiniovnym)
akovny parocipij b-y-vši ≈ im-a-ny 4 četvrty 40 četyridesety 210 dvěstě desety
jednina množina dvojina
pasivny parocipij b-y-ty ≈ im-a-vši 5 pety 50 petdesety 5000 pet tysučny
1 var-ju = var-im var-imo var-ivě
kondicional 6 šesty 60 šestdesety 6000 šest tysučny
2 var-iš var-ite var-ita
jednina množina dvojina 7 sedmy 70 sedemdesety 7000 sedem tysučny
3 var-i var-jut (= var-it) var-ite
1 b-y-h b-y-hom b-y-hova 8 osmy 80 osemdesety 106 milionty
akovny parocipij var-juči
2 b-y-s b-y-ste b-y-sta 9 devety 90 devetdesety 109 bilionty
pasivny parocipij var-imy
3 b-y b-y-hu = b-y b-y-ste 10 desety 100 sotny 0 nulty
imperaov var-i! var-imo! var-ite!
25 746 = dvadeset pet tysuč sedemset četyrideset šest.
prošlo vreme (infiniovny koren i samoglasny iz inf. zakončenija) dva neredne glagola iti, jesti 25 746. = dvadeset pet tysuč sedemset četyrideset šesty.
jednina množina dvojina io, idjenje, ..., idu, ideš, ide, idemo, idete, idut, ..., išel, ideh, ..., idi!, idite!
1 var-i-h var-i-hom var-i-hova
sovezniky
jeso, jedenje, ..., jedu, jedeš, jede, jedemo, ..., jedl, jedeh, ..., jedi!, jedite! sojednjenja: i, ni ... ni razlučenja: ili, i ili popisanja: že
2 var-i-še var-i-ste var-i-sta prislovniky otpora: ale, no pričiny: bo, kakože smysla: da
3 var-i-še var-i-hu var-i-ste
Poslě tvrdih soglasnikov jest zakončenje -o, poslě mekkih č š ž j -e. častice
akovny parocipij var-i-vši
napr.: dobr-o bystr-o už-e daž-e menš-e soglašenja: da, ej otpora: ne, ni
pasivny parocipij var-e-ny
Imperativ vsih glagolov jest -i!, -ime!, -ite! Prislovniky iz pridavnikov zakončenih na -sky imajut zakončenje -ski. pytanja: li naglašenja: ako ... potom ... inako
Poslě j jest toliko -!, -mo!, -te! (napr. dělaj!, dělajmo!, dělajte!) napr.: pridavnik polsky,a,o → prislovnik polski medžuslovniky
GRADACIJA bez palaozacije s palaozacijej do č,š,ž oh! ah! uva! lutě!
GLAGOLNI VREMENA neizvršeni glagoly izvršeni glagoly superlaov naj-bogat-ěje (iz ...) naj-draž-eje (iz ...) “značenje rěčenja takože imajut vsi izrěčenja v navodnikah”
budušte vreme budu pisao budu napisao komparaov bogat-ěje (ot ...) draž-eje (ot ...) podredni izrěčenija
prědbuduče vreme budu pisal budu napisal indikaov bogat-o drag-o ..., kdě ... ..., ktoromu..., tako ..., kako ... toliko ..., koliko ... ..., že ...
sučno vreme pišu --- tvary iže, jegože, jimže, ... sut relativni zaimeniky ot on, ona, ono
prědlogy
predsučne vreme jesm pisal jesm napisal s genitivom: bez, iz, do, ot, u, kromě, poslě, vně, radi, ... glagolica
prošlo vreme pisah napisah s dativom: k, proov, ... a b c č d dj dž e f g h i ě ju j k l lj m
prědprošle vreme běh pisal běh napisal s akuzativom: nad, pod, prěd, črěz, v, za, na, vně, medžu, mimo, ... " # $ % & &' ( ) * + , - ě / ' 0 1 1' 2
Aktivni glagolni participija možut tvoriti sučno i prošlo prislovniky. s lokativom: o, po, pri, v, na, ... n nj o p q r s š št t tj u v w x y z ž ‘
napr.: dělao → dělaj-u-č, děl-a-v vario → var-ju-č, var-i-v s instrumentalom: s, nad, pod, prěd, za, medžu, ... 3 3' 4 5 0 6 7 8 9 : :; < = = 07 > ? @ A
 Vojtěch Merunka is born in 1967 in Čáslav, Central
Bohemia, where he spent his early life and graduated
from high school.
Initially a master in computer engineering from the
Czech Technical University in Prague, he became a PhD
in data processing and mathematical modeling and an
associate professor of information management at the
Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Economics
and Management and the Czech Technical University in
Prague, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering. Vojtěch is
professionally interested in object-based programming languages and object-
oriented methods and tools for modeling and simulation and has among
other activities long been concerned in conlanging. He is the chairman of the
Slavic Union in the Czech Republic. (http://slovane.org) This book is a result
of his practical experience in the international collaborative project
Interslavic (http://www.facebook.com/groups/interslavic).