As it turned out, the Kavim language, properly named Velensolvth, was similar to American and even English.
"The formation of sentences is identical as is the tone of voice and vocal inflection when stressing meaning. The differences began to become readily apparent when Razor Wit and I began translating simple words. 'Emooli' means hello/greetings, 'heef' means yes/affirmative, and 'xae' means no/negative. However, the pronunciations for each are unusual for an American speaking person to read out loud. For example the Velensolvth word 'visi' is pronounced 'vees-eye'. Thankfully their lettering system is fairly similiar with one huge exception, they have no symbol or use for the letter 'B' or its sound and they have, in its place a sound where you let your lips hang limply and blow air through them. That makes a flapping noise that seems to replace the 'B' sound. Interrogatives are a perfect example of how Velensolvth can be confusing. The language works on an extensive system of suffixes. The Velensolvth word for indicating a question is 'hetl', however, depending on the suffix you add onto it, it can alter the meaning significantly.
Hetlin = who
Hetlar = what
Hetlun = where
Hetleer = when
Hetliru = why
Hetlima = how much
Hetlim = how
Fortunately the suffixes seem to be universal:
In = refers to a person, Pony, or sentient individual
Ar = refers to a thing, an item, or a non-sentient organism
Un = refers to a location, a place, or coordinates
Eer = refers to time or duration
Iru = refers to a reason or explanation
Ima = refers to quantity, length, width, volume
En = indicates to possession
Mane = male
Mine = female
Ix = dead, deceased, not alive, expired
Im = alive, vigorous, vivacious
Other full words are:
En = my (indicating ownership)
Anen = mine (indicating ownership)
Gano = I
Rem = it
Oom = is
Entala = going, go, venture
Raa = to
Evanin = you
Quellya = injure, hurt, damage
Helunti = name
Hundiri = that
Uldin = are
Pesto = here
Pestop = there
Wan = good or acceptable
Awan = bad or unacceptable
Khiri = fertile
Khirim = pregnant
Linvo = sterile
Linvix = dying
Fenovie = species, breed, tribe, race
Eet = with
Ivt = and
Nuvia = over
Nuviu = under
Degnif = read
Degnifa = write
Jemca = speak
Jemces = silence or stop speaking
Fridath = creature, beast, animal
Piramin = Guard
Piramun = civilian
Piramine = Princess
Piramane = Prince
Giramine = Queen
Giramane = King
Kavimane = stallion
Kavimine = mare
Sevahe = retrieve
Semin = them
Tunun = camp
Peb-b-bun = return
Dufen = our
Ostarn = understand or comprehend
Av = one
Ava = two
Ev = three
Eve = four
Ov = five
Ovo = six
Uv = seven
Uvu = eight
Iv = nine
Ivi = ten
Avav = eleven
Avava = twelve
Avev = thirteen
Aveve = fourteen
Avov = fifteen
Avovo = sixteen
Avuv = seventeen
Avuvu = eighteen
Aviv = nineteen
Avaivi = twenty
Dav = twenty-one
Dava = twenty-two
Davev = twenty-three
Dev = thirty
Deve = forty
Dov = fifty
Dovo = sixty
Duv = seventy
Duvu = eighty
Div = ninety
Kivi = one hundred
Kava = two hundred
Kev = three hundred
Keve = four hundred
Ftil = buy or purchase
Ftul = sell
Grut = big or large (size not amount)
Grat = small or little (size not amount)
Keetil = sugar
Keetal = salt
Svandi = circle
Svandit = oval or egg-shaped
Opo = square
Opot = cube or three-dimensional square
B-b-bram = triangle
B-b-bramt = cone
Opa = rectangle
Opat = rectangular box
Otel = apple
Amino = orange
Erlon = pear
B-b-b-onla = strawberry
Denola = blueberry
Amnelo = raspberry
Rajhal = tomato
Tineb-b-b = potato
Agon = red
Agan = yellow
Agyan = blue
Agyoan = black
Aget = white
Ageon = pink
Agayn = purple
Agaon = orange
Agayan = green
Agvad = silver
Agkum = gold
Lamine = blood Mother
Petamine = non-blood Mother
Lamane = blood Father
Petamane = non-blood Father
Pteramine = co-wife
Uldimine = sister (same Mother and Father)
Uldimane = brother (same Mother and Father)
Vindamine = sister (same Father, different Mother)
Vindamane = brother (same Father, different Mother)
Selamine = sister (different Father and Mother / adopted)
Selamane = brother (different Father and Mother / adopted)
Themnia = friendship / kinship / close bond (non-blood)
Now, oftentimes an entire word is merely a mixture of suffixes, 'her's' (indicating ownership) is 'minen' or 'his' (indicating ownership) is 'manen'. Other times a whole word is added to another word as a suffix, 'it's' is 'remoom'."
I put down the pencil and rubbed my eyes,
"Cinlel Duron, " I addressed my tan companion, her name was one of the first things I dedicated to memory.
She raised her head from her flashcards,
"Where is incorrect?"
She meant to ask, 'what is wrong?' but I understood her well enough. She had been trying to understand American and I had been trying to understand Velensolvth. It was slow going. So many small words with so many similar pronunciations but opposite meanings, it was maddening.
I tried to piece together what I wanted to say in Velensolvth,
"Pesto awan. Gano oom entala raa entala ix . . . " I trailed off with a frustrated sigh.
Razor Wit cocked her head to the left,
"Celestia?" she asked.
I nodded,
"Celestia."
* * *
I specifically made it a point to disturb Princess Celestia as little as possible, but this time it could not be helped.
The white Alicorn strode purposefully into the room, accompanied by two of her Guards as usual,
"What's wrong?" she asked concerned, "You said something about death?"
I scratched the back of my head with my left hand,
"Yeah, I tried to use a phrase that didn't translate very well. What I meant to say was, 'if I don't get out of this room I'm going to die of boredom.' I've been cooped up in here for the past three weeks. Cinlel and I have been working from sun up until sun down every single day and I'm losing my mind. I need to get out, I need exercise, and as much as I hate to say it, I need meat. I haven't had a scrap of chicken, beef, pork, or fish since I woke up. I'm going stir crazy in here." I gestured to Celestia, "You have my memories, you should know I'm a kinetic learner, I learn by doing, by practice. Cinlel is doing the best she can, but I need some variety, some flavor. I know I'm being whiny about this, but here soon, I'm going to be trying to climb the walls. I don't mean to sound ungrateful by any means but what if one of your Kavim actually need to use the rooms on this floor? Surely there's a spare room SOMEWHERE in Canterlot. I really do need to exercise too, I'm weak and lethargic. I'd also like the chance to interact with more than Cinlel, the doctor, and the two Guards and besides I really miss my friends. There's only so much I can do at a time, I mean would it really be so bad to just give Razor . . . Cinlel my language?"
Celestia let out a sigh and shook her head,
"You already know I won't do that. I thought I explained last time."
I waved my right hand dismissively as I turned and began pacing,
"I know, I know. You only use those spells in unusual circumstances, yeah I got that part. Princess please, I'm only one man here, I'm not a machine. Besides, Academic learning is my weakest suit, kinetic learning is how I adapt the best. I learn by doing. Why not have Cinlel escort me me out in Canterlot, you know, as a safety measure in case I say something truly idiotic by accident."
Celestia lapsed into a contemplative silence for several long minutes before a creepy smile slowly crept its way onto her features. She turned to Razor Wit and asked her a question too quickly for me to follow.
After a brief conversation between the two mares, which left Razor looking terribly excited, Celestia turned back to me,
"You want social interaction, exercise, and time away from working so you have a chance to learn by action, right?" I nodded and she continued, "How about I throw in the chance to learn about our cultural similarities and differences too?"
She had my undivided attention,
"Your troll-grin is creeping me out something fierce, but you have my attention."
Her grin broadened significantly,
"How about I set you up to interact with say . . . a farmer, an animal specialist, an athlete, a seamstress, a librarian, and . . . a baker so you can put on a few pounds?"
The idea sounded odd to me, it was a strange combination,
"I like the idea, but that's a heck of a wide variety."
Celestia smiled innocently and tilted her head to the side,
"Well you can get your exercise from the athlete and working with the farmer will earn you some money so you can learn about our system of currency. The animal specialist and the seamstress will broaden your social experiences to all sides of life, besides you need some clothes. The Librarian will be there to assist you and Razor Wit with academic learning when you need a reference point and the baker will simply be a friendly face and source of treats." she put her left fore hoof up to her chin and rubbed, "Do you really think it's wise to just jump right into Canterlot, the capital of Equestria? Wouldn't you be a little more comfortable starting out . . . smaller?"
I was still somewhat caught up on the baker,
"I'm not overly fond of sugary foods, but a slice of zucchini bread does sound heavenly." I pondered the idea for a moment before registering what she had said, "Yeah, big crowds do make me nervous actually. I think I'd prefer something a lot smaller, some little village perhaps."
Celestia's troll-grin hit a figurative crescendo that assured me she was up to something,
"I know just the place."