Luno Lei

About

Luno Lei is a constructed language with a tiny dictionary, where grammar is used to give words a wide range of meanings.

For example, the words for small, huge, size, measure, reduce, smaller, biggest etc. can be derived from the same root word using simple grammatical rules. When derivatives of base words are not enough, words are combined in descriptive and creative ways to express different concepts.

Any translations and derived words in the dictionary should be treated as suggestions and examples rather than exact definitions.

What it is

Optimised for getting by with a small vocabulary
The entire language could fit on a poster
Has a rich and flexible grammar
A way to practice communicating with minimal knowledge of languages

What it is not

Not as simple as Toki Pona - being as easy as possible to learn is not a goal, although simplicity is striven for
Often does not result in compact sentences
Not built for precision, but minimalistic communication
Not strict with word usage - if a sentence follows the grammatical rules and is comprehended, it is completely valid

Examples

Hover (tap on mobile) on different parts of the words to see the meaning/purpose.

loma n

I eat

loma paa

It is food

ike pes, ne ve ike ve

It is big, not small

ekli sa tu vesi teo kuluste di muni di

Toothpaste (paste of the small mouth lumps)

ekli sa tu tuo muni di

Toothbrush

dei ve vesi sva go noka pu bio tat wo bio sa ti et ma sva ye keta pu mue sa kotu t aula tu slu

The strong winds breezed through the trees in the forest and the animals tried to find a safer location

mauto sva ma sva ye vesi vola ste di sita sa paa

The ducks are outside
(the birds of the pond are outside)

mou ve n lanka ma sva teo da (ato noka da)

I am scared of spiders

Exercises

1 (easy)

Pitan tama kotut
Tama kiasva selavepaa
Lavon loket kotumasvayet

2 (medium)

Pitasan kotut enindi, paikatu kotun enipaali
Gomioli neve tais mautosanokaslu, nokatuastu
Gomioli neve tais nokatuaslu, nokastu
Gomioli neve tais nokaslu, nokivenokastu
Eya nesa gomio, alustu gonokaslu

3 (hard)

Deleisamiye su aluslupi lavotuslut nokimeblot vesiusivelolinatat