Listen to Lesson 2 (WAV, 3.1 MB)

1. The most important word: AT

In Iradi, at mean horse. And at also mean name. Same word! For Iradi people this is not strange, because a man without a horse in old times was like a man without name. My grandfather say: "First God give you the name, then your father give you the horse, and you must keep both clean."

So when you say "Meniñ atım Jim", it mean "My name is Jim". But it can also mean "My horse is Jim". Iradi people understand from situation. Usually. Last year one American engineer introduce himself in a village, and the old man ask him very seriously: "And where is your horse Jim now?" Everybody laugh for ten minutes. The engineer also, after we explain.

The day of the saint whose name you have is called at künü - "name day" - and in the village children get a ride on a horse, or a toy horse. So you see, horse and name is always together.

2. No "is", no "the", no "a"

Good news! Iradi don't have "is/are", and don't have "the" or "a". (This is why Iradi people forget them in English. Now you know why. Be patient with us.)

3. Vowel harmony - the big secret

Iradi words are like a train: the word is the locomotive, and you add small wagons (endings) behind. The wagons must "match" the last vowel of the word. Back vowels (a, ı, o, u) want a / ı / o / u in the ending. Front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) want e / i / ö / ü. Round vowels (o, u, ö, ü) like round endings.

Plural (more than one): -lar / -ler / -lor / -lör, but after some consonants l change to d or t:

Don't worry if it look difficult. Iradi children learn this from mother. You will learn it from mistakes. Iradi people will understand you anyway, they will only smile.

4. My and your

In Iradi "my" and "your" is also a wagon on the end of word:

You can also put meniñ (my) and siziñ (your) before, for strong: meniñ atım, siziñ atıñız.

5. Questions with -bı / -bi / -bu / -bü

To make yes/no question, add a little wagon. (After p, t, k, s, ş, ç it become -pı / -pi / -pu / -pü.)

Homework

Translate to Iradi:

1. This is my house.
2. Is this your name?
3. Horses. Girls. Lakes.
4. My horse is white.

Answers are in Lesson 3. (Lesson 3)

Extra: if you want to know all words for horse, look at my horse glossary. There are many! We are horse people.