Horoscope

This page includes additional information and references about the SCC language horoscope, first seen in issue 2 of the SCC Zine.

Method

To identify the lucky languages, we first determine the positions of the brightest star of each zodiac constellation at noon (Pacific Time) on the day of publication of the Zine, then find the substellar point of that star (i.e. the point on the Earth for which the star is at zenith, or directly above). The closest language to each point in WALS is used as the lucky language for a given constellation.

Citations for language facts

Issue #3

Aries (Shuri Okinawan): P. Heinrich, S. Miyara, and M. Shimoji, Handbook of the Ryukyuan languages: history, structure, and use. in Handbooks of Japanese language and linguistics. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton, 2015.
Taurus (Puluwatese): S. H. Elbert, Puluwat grammar. in Pacific linguistics Ser. B, Monographs. Canberra: Dept. of Linguistics, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National Univ, 1974.
Gemini (International Sign): R. Rosenstock, An investigation of international sign: Analyzing structure and comprehension. Gallaudet University, 2004.
Cancer (Hawaiian): D. J. Medeiros, “The morpho-syntax of Hawaiian valency morphology,” in Proceedings of the 34th west coast conference on formal linguistics, Cascadilla Proceedings Project Somerville, MA, 2017, pp. 372–8.
Leo (Tepecano): J. A. Mason, Tepecano, a Piman language of western Mexico, vol. 25. New York Academy of Sciences, 1917.
Virgo (Machiguenga): G. Shepard, “Noun classification and ethnozoological classification in Machiguenga, an Arawakan language of the Peruvian Amazon,” Journal of Amazonian Languages, vol. 1, pp. 29–57, Jan. 1997.
Libra (Maxakalí):
- Silva, Mário André Coelho da. 2020. Tikmũũn yĩy ax tinã xohi xi xahĩnãg – Sons e pedaços da língua Maxakalí: Descrição da fonologia e morfologia de uma língua Macro‑Jê (PhD diss., Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 29 January 2020).
- Gudschinsky, Sarah C., Harold Popovich, and Frances Popovich. “Native Reaction and Phonetic Similarity in Maxakalí Phonology.” Language 46, no. 1 (1970): 77–88.
Scorpius (Krenak): “Aspectos Da Morfossintaxe Krenak: Orações Independentes”. 2012. LIAMES: Línguas Indígenas Americanas 4 (1): 131-48.
Sagittarius (Mbalanhu):
- Fourie, D. J. Mbalanhu. Languages of the World: Materials. Munich: Lincom Europa, 1993.
- Maho, Jouni Filip. NUGL Online: The Online Version of the New Updated Guthrie List, a Referential Classification of the Bantu Languages. Version dated June 4 2009. Archived February 3 2018.
Capricorn (Malagasy):
- Howe P. Central Malagasy. Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 2021;51(1):103-136. doi:10.1017/S0025100319000100
- Janie Rasoloson and Carl Rubino, 2005, “Malagasy”, in Adelaar & Himmelmann, eds, The Austronesian languages of Asia and Madagascar
Aquarius (Seychelles Creole): Michaelis, Susanne Maria, and Marcel Rosalie. 2013. “Seychelles Creole.” In The Survey of Pidgin and Creole Languages. Volume 2: Portuguese-Based, Spanish-Based, and French-Based Languages, edited by Susanne Maria Michaelis, Philippe Maurer, Martin Haspelmath, and Magnus Huber. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Pisces (Urak Lawoi’): Hogan, David W., and Stephen W. Pattemore. Urak Lawoi: Basic Structures and Dictionary. Pacific Linguistics, Series C, no. 109. Canberra: Department of Linguistics, Research School of Pacific Studies, The Australian National University, 1988.

Issue #2

Aries (Jamaican Creole): Irvine-Sobers, G. Alison. The acrolect in Jamaica: The architecture of phonological variation. Language Science Press, 2018.
Taurus: Romero-Figueroa, A., & Rybka, K. A. (2023). Warao. In P. Epps & L. Michael (Eds.), Amazonian languages an international handbook. (pp. 1243-1282). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110432732-015
Gemini (Canarian Spanish): Trujillo, Ramón, & Brent, Jeff (Translator). The Gomeran Whistle: linguistic analysis. Instituto de Linguística Andrés Bello Universidad de la Laguna, 1973.
Cancer (Ouargli): Mettouchi, Amina. “Foundations for a typology of the annexed/absolute state systems in Berber.” STUF-Language Typology and Universals 67.1 (2014): 47-61.
Leo (Komo): Otero, Manuel Alejandro. “Aspects of Ethiopian Komo (morpho) phonology.” Linguistic Discovery 16.2 (2019).
Virgo (Dhivehi): Fritz, Sonja. The Dhivehi language: a descriptive and historical grammar of Maldivian and its dialects I. Heidelberg, 2002.
Libra (Nhanda): Blevins, Juliette. Nhanda: an aboriginal language of Western Australia. University of Hawaii Press, 2001.
Scorpius (Nyungar): Symmons, Charles. “Grammatical introduction to the study of the Aboriginal language of Western Australia.” Perth: The author.(Repr., Perth: The Western Australian Almanac, 1842.)[=“Grammar of the language spoken by the Aborigines of Western Australia”.] (1841).
Sagittarius (Biri): Terrill, Angela. Biri. Lincom Europa, 1998.
Capricorn (Niuean): Tregear, Edward, and Stephenson Percy Smith. Vocabulary and grammar of the Niue dialect of the Polynesian language. J. Mackay, Government Printer, 1907.
Aquarius (Marquesan): Cablitz, Gabriele H. Marquesan: A grammar of space. Mouton de Gruyter, 2006.
Pisces (Nahuatl): Wolfrmuth, Carl., C. S. Mackay (Translator). Nahuatl Grammar of the Townships of Mecayapan and Tatahuicapan de Juárez, Veracruz. Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., 2007.