Germanech text

Il envirn est com vizers, com enférns, com enfantzes,
com lynchs cassantzes.
Is es com un roch sofer qui no musc créscez.
Is es com déntzes incompässivs
o las ungels achauzes d'un predazer.
Pforque quérem tze, "Es generos en la preivér?"
Vags sofer la tzir, e salauzes il amantz dé de la preivér,
qui un tras de verd lassaz.

Germanech interlinear

Il    envirn est         com  vizers, com  enférns, com  enfantzes,
the:M winter be-3SG:PRES like old-PL, like sick-PL, like child-PL,

com  lynchs  cassantzes.
like lynx-PL hunting-PL.

Is es com  un roch sofer qui no musc créscez.
he is like a  rock on    REL no moss grow-3SG:PRES.

Is es com  déntzes  incompässivs
he is like tooth-PL remorseless-PL

o  las      ungels  achauzes d'un predazer.
or the:F-PL claw-PL sharp-PL of a predator.

Pforque quérem       tze,
thus    ask-1PL:PRES you-ACC,

"Es          generos  en la    preivér?"
"be-2SG:PRES generous in the:F spring?"

Vags            sofer la    tzir,
wander-2SG:PRES on    the:F land,

e   salauzes       il    amantz dé  de la    preivér,
and greet-2SG:PRES the:M loving god of the:F spring,

qui un tras  de verd  lassaz.
REL a  trail of green leave.behind-3SG:PRES.

Germanech grammar notes

Germanech is a Romance language with German-like sound changes. Its syntax is verb-second, except that infinite forms and verbs in subclauses (such as relative clauses) go to the end of the clause. Adjectives usually follow nouns, but they may precede them. I think the interlinear gives the information you need to translate the text; if in doubt, you may ask me. I posted a sketch of Germanech on the CONLANG list in December 2001 (you can find it in the archive at listserv.brown.edu); however, that sketch is partly out of date.

Abbreviations:

1    1st person
2    2nd person
3    3rd person
ACC  accusative
F    feminine
M    masculine
PL   plural
PRES present
REL  relative pronoun
SG   singular

8-bit characters:

ä   a-umlaut
ö   o-umlaut
ü   u-umlaut
é   e-acute

Smooth English translation

Winter is like old people, like sick, like children,
like lynxes a-hunting.
It is like a rock on which no moss grows.
It is like remorseless teeth
or the sharp claws of a predator.
Thus we ask you,
"Are you generous in spring?"
You wander about the land,
and greet the loving god of spring,
who leaves behind a trail of green.