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Please note: Throughout this guide, descriptions of technical language will be given in light gray text. If you are confused about any part of the guide, make sure to read the light gray text.
Zese has a simple phonology (sound system). Below is a list of all of the letters and their pronunciations.
Consonants:
Vowels:
Zese has only 275 words. The lexicon (set of all the words in the language) is intentionally small so that the language is easy to learn.
Every word has exactly four letters and has the structure CVCV (C = consonant; V = vowel). Zese words are traditionally written in uppercase letters, but this is not mandatory. Here are some examples of Zese words:
PEKA = person
BIKI = to see
GOGI = good
POKI = near
Every word in the dictionary is associated with exactly one part of speech. The parts of speech in Zese are noun, verb, descriptor, and preposition. (Descriptors may behave as adjectives, adverbs, or intransitive verbs.)
Here are the parts of speech of the words listed earlier:
PEKA (person) is a noun
BIKI (to see) is a verb
GOGI (good) is a descriptor
POKI (near) is a preposition
Zese is an analytic and isolating language with absolutely no inflection.
Each Zese word has only one form. Zese words are never modified by endings or other markers. This is not true in English. For example, in English we indicate that word is plural by adding "-s" to the word. (In Zese we use the word "KUKO" to show plurality; "KUKO PUTA" = "rocks".)
The most simple sentence contains a subject followed by a verb. (A subject is a noun which performs the action of a verb.) Here are some example sentences:
PEKA BIKI.
A person is seeing.
TOSE BUDE.
A machine is pushing.
KIKE GOTA.
I am enjoying.
A direct object may be placed after a verb. (A direct object receives the action of a verb.) Examples:
PEKA BIKI PAZU.
A person is seeing a tree.
TOSE BUDE PUDU.
A machine is pushing dirt.
KIKE GOTA PIDI.
I am enjoying food.
Every Zese verb is transitive. (Every Zese verb may accept a direct object. Some English verbs are not transitive, such as "to sit".)
Descriptors are placed before the words they modify. A descriptor may modify a word of any part of speech.
GOGI PEKA
Good person
DEZU GOGI
Very good
PEKA GOGI BIKI.
The person sees well (in a good way).
Prepositions are placed before nouns and after nouns or verbs. Prepositions relate the words between which they are placed.
PEKA POKI TOZU
Person near a building
PEBE POPI DUPE
Bird in the sky
PEZI DIKU PEZU
A woman and a man
Congratulations, you have finished the first lesson! Of course, learning grammar is not very useful without learning vocabulary. To learn Zese words, I recommend using the Practice Utility or Practice Utility 2.0.