Dagostinian English (AKA Daglish or Daglang) is a partial conlang based on a widely used language with unique language additions. The language is constantly being created by the residents as new usages come into play. Linguists may consider this to be more of a dialect, though it is not necessarily pronunciations that affect the language, and the additions are unique to Dagostinia.  Dagostinian English evolves naturally out of American English, Italian, Spanish and speech errors such as spoonerisms, blends, metatheses, portmanteaux, and various exchange errors. Some words are purposely created to fill a void where no viable substitute exists.

Unique Words:

• • Bistick: Corruption of 'biscuit'.

  • Botmin: Corruption of 'bottom'.

  • Chicaneer: A winter hat with longer sides that covers the cheeks and ears.

  • Chore: Currency coin worth twelve Mins. Also a unit of time counting ten minutes.

  • Cocktin: A name for any unknown bird.

  • Cofi: Currency coin worth 30 Mins (one half Wage). Commonly called the Coffee Coin.

  • Coldfoot: Winter version of barefoot.  See also muddyfoot.

  • Cord: Currency note worth two Wages.

  • Critterzin: A Dagostinian citizen, not human.  No voting rights are given.

  • Deleven: a number meaning multitudinous, uncountable, but not infinite.

  • Dem: Currency note worth four Wages (from Latin demi- referring to half a day).

  • Den: Currency note worth eight Wages (from Greek denarius).

  • Dodth: A one-twelfth part.

  • Doodle: A generic word used as a verb, noun, or any other form.  Generally means 'silly'.

  • Dunt: To move someone or something along by means of "hopping" it.

  • Golder: A mythical being with a large bouncy rumpipod.

  • Grosth: One part of 144.

  • Honey egg: An undercooked egg where the yolk is still runny.  Considered a delicacy.

  • Increm: a unitless amount equal to a little bit.

  • Melexicon: A reference material of Daglish.

  • Min: Currency coin worth one minute of work.

  • Minizen: A Dagostinian citizen under the age of majority (13 years).

  • Mon: A unit of measure equal to 6'-3" (from the height of the Monarch).

  • Muddyfoot: Summer version of barefoot.  See also coldfoot.

  • Nakin: A corruption of 'naked'.

  • One-pot: A traditional dish cooked in one pot including a starch, protein, and vegetable.

  • Pin: Currency coin, one half a Min.

  • Residay: Residue of the day, the stuff that dreams are made of.

  • Ses: Currency coin worth six Mins.

  • Sesth: A one-sixtieth part (corrupted from sexagesimal).

  • Snoose: To blow out one's nose.

  • Stroni: A delicious little morsel taken from minestrone (many stroni) soup.

  • Tay: Corruption of 'toy'.

  • Vence: A counting unit equal to 124, 20,736 approximated to 20,000 (from Italian venti for 'twenty').

  • Wage: Currency note worth one hour of work.

Also of note is the relaxed use of the possessive form.  The 's can be used to refer to someone's use of something in the moment, even if they are not the sole or permanent owner.  Thus anything that the Monarch is currently using is referred to as "the Monarch's".  Lest this be considered an arrogant act of imminent domain, the Office of Oversight started and approved this usage.

Borrowed Words:

• • Bellito: Italian for 'belly button'.

  • Buona notte: Italian for 'good night'.

  • Dek: The tenth number in dozenal counting.

  • Doz: The twelfth number in dozenal counting.

  • El: The eleventh number in dozenal counting.

  • Grazie: Italian for 'thank you'

  • Mass: One dozen gross or a great-gross, 1728 (from German).

  • Mi'scusi: Italian for 'excuse me'.

  • Prego: Italian for 'you're welcome'

  • Salute: Italian for 'bless you'.

  • Sopra: Italian for 'up'. Used by minizens when asking to be carried. Falling into disuse.

An early experiment was created to make the Dagostinian language based off of 13 key words or meanings as assigned to the alphabet (` being considered a null letter). Each letter of the constructed alphabet was given two meanings based off of it's shape. The first meaning was that of a noun. The second meaning is a closely related adjective or verb.

• • o - eye; see or know

  • þ - time; progress

  • ð - tool; work

  • £ - life; move

  • q - flag; communicate

  • i - fuel; grow

  • j - water; pour

  • l - road; travel

  • m - dirt or hill; large or much

  • ŋ - tail or hook; carry

  • r - air; breathe or invisible

  • ß - love; gentle

  • u - shelter; safety

Words began to be formed by combining the letters with the first letter being descriptive and the second letter being the subject. Double letter words implied an intensity of the meaning. Thus 'mð' (mith) would mean 'earth tool' or 'earth work' and imply shovel or digging. the word 'jl' (jil or chil) would mean 'water road' and imply a river or stream. Double lettered words include 'þþ' (pip) which gives an intensity to time, implying forever and '££' (fifi) which would mean much life and imply vigor or possibly a large population.

This linguistic form has been largely ignored and has never been fully completed. Resistance by most of the citizens has led to the present demise of the language. The manuscripts are left in the archive for possible future reconsideration.