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Neuromancer by William Gibson, Ch 1. Chiba City Blues

booQormAugust 6, 20262,171 words
Neuromancer by William Gibson, Ch 1. Chiba City Blues

Art source: https://www.deviantart.com/willinvadesearth/art/Skyline-Blues-1320424655

WIP

Part I: Chiba City Blues.

Chapter 1 Part 1

Du hemin après d'havre avait eu son blu une ferréseûne, gardée à une chaîne douée.
the.M.SG.DR sky over the.SG.M.OB port have.PST.3S had.SG.M 3.POSS.SG.M blee a.F far-appearance(=TV) | facing.SG.F at a.F chain(=channel) dead.SG.F
[d‿ɥeˈmɛ̃.n‿a.pʁɛ ˈd‿ɑvʁ a.vɛˈt‿y sɔ̃ ˈbly yn fɛ.ʁeˈsøn | gɑʁˈde a yn ˈʃɛn ˈdwe]
The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.

"C'est pas êt je neins," Case a ouï jacun sayant,
DEM.N be.3S NEG REL 1S.NOM take.1S || Case have.3S heard.SG.N someone.SG.M saying.SG.M
[s‿e ˈpa.z‿e ʒə ˈnɛ̃ || keɪs a ˈwi ʒaˈkœ̃ sɛˈjɑ̃]
"It's not like I'm using," Case heard someone say,

aux il va foquant son chemin troux du foule ombre Du Chat sa dore.
as 3SM.DR be.PST push_through 3.POSS.SG.M way through the.SG.F.OB crowd around the.SG.M.DR Chat 3.POSS.SG.F dood
[o.z‿il ˈva foˈkɑ̃ sɔ ʃeˈmɛ̃ tʁu dy ˈful ɔ̃bʁ dy ˈt͡ʃæt sa ˈdoʁ]
as he shouldered his way through the crowd around the door of the Chat.

"C'est vu mon ferve a développée dite mielle jevoyage par des drogues."
DEM.N be.3S how my.SG.M body have.3S developed.SG.F DEM.SG.F great deficiency for PL.OB drugs
[s‿e ˈvy mɔ̃ ˈfɛʁ.v‿a de.vloˈpe dit ˈmjɛl ʒə.vwaˈjaʒ paʁ de ˈdʁog ]
"It's like my body's developed this massive drug deficiency."

Ce va Éprule sa une étienne et Éprule sa une jauve.
DEM.N be Sprawl 3.POSS.SG.F voice and Sprawl 3.POSS.SG.F joke
[sə ˈva eˈpʁyl sa ˈy.n‿e.tjɛn e.t‿eˈpʁyl sa yn ˈʒov]
It was a Sprawl voice and a Sprawl joke.

Du Chatsubo va une barre fer des hollands cruїques;
the.SG.M.DR Chatsubo be.PST.3S a.M bar for PL.OB outland-er.PL craft-ish.PL.C
[dy t͡ɕa̠.t͡sɨ.bo̞ ˈva ym ˈbɑʁ fer de.z‿ɔˈlɑ̃ kʁyˈik]
The Chatsubo was a bar for professional expatriates;

on chant souvre hier par une guie, et ne ouїr jamais deux vœurs en japonais.
ASEX can.3S drink_alcohol.INF here during a.F week | and NEG hear.INF never two words in Japanese.SG.N
[ɔ̃ ˈʃɑ̃ suvˈʁ‿je pa.ʁ‿yn ˈgi | e nə ˈwiʁ ʒɑˈɯɛ dø ˈvœʁ.z‿ɑ̃ ʒa.poˈnɛ]
you could drink there for a week and never hear two words in Japanese.

Ratz va druyant par du barre, son arme côntique titruyant unartois aux il va follant un trage avec des éteils avec Kirin teint.
Ratz be.PST serving.SG.F by the.SG.F.OB bar | 3.POSS.SG.M arm artificial jerking.SG.F one-kind-y as 3SM.NOM be.PST filling.SG.M a.M tray with PL.OB glasses with Kirin pressured.SG.M
[ʁat͡s va dʁyˈjɑ̃ pɑʁ dy bɑʁ | sɔ̃ˈn‿ɑʁm kɔ̃ˈtik ti.tʁyˈjɑ̃ y.nɑʁˈtwa | o.z‿il ˈva fɔˈlɑ̃.t‿œ̃ ˈtʁa.ʒ‿aˈvɛk de.z‿eˈtej.z‿ɑ vɛk kʲi.rʲĩɴ tɛ̃]
Ratz was tending bar, his prosthetic arm jerking monotonously as he filled a tray of glasses with draft Kirin.

Il a suit Case et emblu, ses tances une gave au du étale août-européenne et nieuve brune.
3SM.DR have.3S seen.SG.M Case and smiled.SG.M | 3.POSS.PL teeth a.F webbing of the.SG.F.OB steel East-European and decay brown.SG.F
[i.l‿a ˈsɥi ˈkɛɪs e.t‿ɑ̃ˈbly | se ˈtɑ̃s.z‿yn ˈgav o dɥ‿eˈtal ˌu.t‿œ.ʁɔ.peˈɛn̪ e njøv bʁyn]
He saw Case and smiled, his teeth a webwork of East European steel and brown decay.

Case a fondue une place par du barre, entre son hâle inaçal Lonny Zone sa une houre
Case have.3S found.SG.F a.F place by the.SG.F.Ob bar | between 3.POSS.SG.M tan un-natural Lonny Zone 3.POSS.SG.F one.SG.F whore
[ˈkɛɪs a fɔ̃ˈdy ym ˈplɑs pɑʁ dy ˈbɑʁ | ˈɑ̃tʁ sɔ̃ˈn‿al i.naˈsal ˈlɒn.i ˈzoʊn sa yˈn‿uʁ]
Case found a place at the bar, between the unlikely tan on one of Lonny Zone's whores

et sa uniforme nouvique au du neôle un africain très étour, à jean ses pommettes vont gravées avec des argues fringiques ses rades nauves.
and 3.POSS.SG.F unifom battleship-ish.SG.C off the.SG.F.OB needle a.M Aftican.SG.F very tall.SG.F | at REL.SG.M 3.POSS.PL jawbones be.PST.3P carved.PL.F with PL.OB scars tribe-ish 3.POSS.PL rows precise.PL.F
[e ˈsa y.niˈfɔʁm nuˈvik o dy ˈnol œ̃.n‿a.fʁiˈkɛ̃ tʁɛ.z‿eˈtuʁ | a ʒɑ̃ se pɔˈmɛt vɔ̃ gʁaˈve.z‿aˈvɛk deˈz‿ɑʁg fʁɛ̃ˈʒik se ˈʁad ˈnov]
and the crisp naval uniform of a tall African whose cheekbones were ridged with precise rows of tribal scars.

"Wage va hier frou, avec deux batourds,"
Wage be.PST here earlyer | with two joeboy
[ˈweɪd͡ʒ va ˈje ˈfʁu | aˈvɛk dø baˈtuʁ]
"Wage was in here early, with two joeboys,"

_____________________________________________________________________
batourd
I don't know what "joeboy" means to be, so I decided to find some alternative. An ancient Steppe word bag/xatur, originally meaning "hero", has found its way into languages all across Eurasia, and while in Ukraїnian it still means "hero, champion", my Marathi-speaking friends were telling me that in their language it also began meaning "troublemaker" and hence "henchman". With  Vandalon's predecessor once being spoken by Germanic people of The Great Steppe, I decided it makes sense for this word to make its way into  Vandalon, and undergo the evolution similar to that in Marathi. This evolution could've been strengthened by phonetic similarity with "bâtard" - "bastard".
16.07.2025
Another possibility is that the word is learned from Vandalon colonies, of from European Gypsy-likes, which'd make the word even more likely to be used in derogatory sense
23.07.2025
____________________________________________________________________

Ratz a sait, écuvant un teint troux du barre avec sa hand guelle.
Ratz have.3S said.N | shoving.SG.M a.M pressed.SG.M through the.SG.F.OB bar with 3.POSS.SG.F hand well.SG.F
[ʁat͡s a sɛ | e.kyˈvɑ̃.t‿œ̃ ˈtɛ̃ tʁu dy ˈbɑʁ aˈvɛk sa ɑ̃ ˈgɛl]
Ratz said, shoving a draft across the bar with his good hand.

"Chant être, jacune dûtée avec toi, Case?"
can.3S be.INF | some.SG.F busyness with 2S.OB | Case
[ʃɑ̃.t‿etʁ | ʒaˈkyn dyˈte aˈvɛk twa | ˈkɛɪs]
"Maybe some business with you, Case?"

Case a haussées ses écoudres. De maisse a son roigt a flaqué et en a nouit.
Case raised.PL.F 3.POSS.PL shoulders || the.SG.F.DR girl as 3.POSS.SG.N right have.3S giggled.SG.N and 3SM.OB have.3S nudged.SG.M
[ˈkɛɪs a oˈse se.z‿eˈkudʁ || də ˈmɛ.s‿a sɔ̃ ˈʁwa.t‿a flaˈke eˈt‿ɑ̃.n‿a ˈnwi]
Case shrugged. The girl to his right giggled and nudged him.

Du barremand sa émelle s'a vûe.
the.SG.M.DR bar-man 3.POSS.SG.M smile REFL.3S have.3S widen.SG.F
[dy bɑʁˈmɑ̃ sa eˈmɛl s‿a ˈvy]
The bartender's smile widened.

_____________________________________________________________________
Holly sheet! I opted to extend the the vocab with advanced words, but didn't expect so much of the basics to be still missing - like "widen" above.
17.07.2025
____________________________________________________________________

Sa laideur va une arte épeau.
3.POSS.SG.F uglyness be.PST a.F kind epic.
[sa lɛˈdøʁ va yˈn‿ɑʁ.t‿e.pø]
His ugliness was the stuff of legend.

En sa age de fairé abloise, êt va jaquet héraldique en elle son jef par en.
in 3.POSS.SG.F age the.SG.F.DR beauty acquire-y.SG.F | it be something.SG.N heraldic.SG.N in 3SF.OB 3.POSS.SG.M lack by 3SM.OB
[ɑ̃ sa ˈaʒ də fɛˈʁe aˈblwaz | e ˈva ʒaˈke.t‿e.ʁalˈdi.k‿ɑ̃ˈn‿ɛl sɔ̃ ˈʒef paˈʁ‿ɑ̃]
In an age of affordable beauty, there was something heraldic about his lack of it.

Du arme audritois a guèné aux il a heint par un croug autre.
the.SG.M.DR arm old-ity-y.SG.M have.3S whined.SG.N as 3SM.DR have.3S reached_for.SG.N for a.M beer_mug other.SG.M
[ˈdɥ‿ɑʁm o.dʁiˈtwa.z‿a gɛˈne oˈz‿i.l‿a ˈɛ̃ pa.ʁ‿œ̃ ˈkʁuˈ.g‿otʁ]
The antique arm whined as he reached for another mug.

Dit va un arme contique hérique russe, un armandleur sien-marchique force-remeuçois, équessé en de plastique pinque chargne.
DEM.SG.M be.PST.3S a.M arm artificial.SG.M military.SG.M ruzzian.SG.N | a.M arm-handler seven-march-ish.SG.M force-respon-y.SG.M | encased.SG.M in the.SG.M.OB plastic pink.SG.C dirty.SG.C
[di ˈva œ̃ˈn‿ɑʁm kɔ̃ˈtik eˈʁik ʁys | œ̃.n‿aʁ.mɑ̃dˈløʁ sjɑ̃.mɑʁˈʃik fɔʁs.ʁmøˈswa | e.kɛˈse ɑ̃.n-ɑ̃ plɑsˈtik ˈpɛ̃k ˈʃɑʁɲ]
It was a Russian military prosthesis, a seven-function force-feedback manipulator, cased in grubby pink plastic.

"Y êtes trop fer un artiste, Herr Case."
2P.NOM be.2P too_much.SG.M for a.M artiste | Herr Case
[j‿e.te ˈtʁo fɛ.ʁ‿œ̃.n‿ɑʁ.tist | hɛʁ kɛɪs]
"You are too much the artiste, Herr Case."

Ratz a gronné; dit clû en a cheint aux du fluitre.
Ratz have.3S grunted.SG.N | | DEM.M sound 3SM.OB have.3S served.SG.N as the.SG.F.OB laughter
[ʁa.t͡s‿a gʁɔ.ne | di ˈkly ɑ̃.n‿a ˈʃɛ̃.t‿o dy ˈflɥitʁ]
Ratz grunted; the sound served him as laughter.

Il a écrevé son aprèsagne au ambe en un sarce blanc avec sa claue pinque.
3SM have.3S scratched.SG.M 3.POSS.SG.M overhang of belly in a.M shirt white.SG.M with 3.POSS.SG.F claw pink.SG.C
[i.l‿a e.kʁeˈve sɔ.n‿a.pʁɛˈza.ɲ‿o ˈɑ̃.b‿ɑ̃.n‿œ̃ ˈsɑʁs ˈblɑ̃.k‿aˈvɛk sa ˈklo ˈpɛ̃k]
He scratched his overhang of white-shirted belly with the pink claw.

"Y êtes son artiste une arte une lille drôle."
2P.NOM be.2P 3.POSS.SG.M artist a.F art a.F little.SG.F fully
[j‿eˈte sɔ̃.n‿aʁˈtis.t‿y.n‿ɑʁ.t‿yn lil dʁol]
"You are the artiste of the slightly funny deal."

"Vois", Case a sait, et a souvé son aloix.
sure || Case have.3S said.SG.N | and have.3S sipped.SG.M 3.POSS.SG.M ale
[ˈvwa || ˈkɛɪs a ˈsɛ | eˈt‿a suˈve sɔ̃.n‿aˈlwa]
"Sure," Case said, and sipped his beer.

"Jacun écoule être drôle hier ombre. Foutant vois il n'est pas tu."
someone.SG.M should.3S be.INF funny.SG.M here around || fucking.SG.N sure 3SM.NOM NEG be.3S NEG 2S.NOM
[ʒɑˈkœ̃.n‿e.kuˈl‿etʁ ˈdʁo.l‿jeˈʁ‿ɔ̃bʁ || fu ˈtɑ̃ ˈvwa.z‿il n‿e ˈpa ˈty]
"Somebody's gotta be funny around here. Sure the fuck isn't you."

D'houre sa flaquage est rise par une huittage.
[ˈd‿uʁ sa flaˈkaʒ e ˈʁiz paˈʁ‿y.n‿ɥi.taʒ]
The whore's giggle went up an octave.

"Et avec pas tu, sœur. Su, tu quinnes, okay? Zone, il est à moi un guin nève personnel."
and also NEG 2S.NOM | sister || so | 2S.NOM disappear.2S | okay || Zone | 3SM.DR at 1S.OB a.M friend close.SG.M personal.SG.M
[ˈe.t‿aˈvɛk pa ˈty | ˈsøʁ || ˈsy | ty ˈkin | ˌoʊˈkeɪ | ˈzəʊn | iˈl‿e.t‿a ˈmwa œ̃ gɛ̃ ˈnɛv pɛʁ.sɔˈnel]
"Isn't you either, sister. So you vanish, okay? Zone, he's a close personal friend of mine."

C'a glotté à Case en son œil, et fait une hûage son clû de flus moilois lince, ses lèrvres rochantes à faive. Mais s'est laite.
3SF.DR have.3S looked.SG.N at Case in 3.POSS.SG.M eye | and PROV.TRANS.3S a.F hissing 3.POSS.SG.M sound the.SG.M.OB more.SG.M possibly.SG.M soft.SG.M | 3.POSS.PL lips moving.F.PL at few.SG.N || but 3SF.NOM be.3S left.SG.F
[s‿a glɔˈte a kɛɪs ɑ̃ sɔ̃ˈn‿øj | e ˈfɛ.t‿y.n‿yˈaʒ sɔ̃ ˈkly də ˈfly mwaˈlwa ˈlɛ̃s | se ˈlɛvʁ ʁoˈʃɑ̃t.z‿a fɛv || mɛ s‿e ˈlɛt]
She looked Case in the eye and made the softest possible spitting sound, her lips barely moving. But she left.

"Mon Dieu," Case a sait, "haut fer un dompe tu marches hier? On ne chant pas hiedre un éteil."
my.SG.M god || Case have.3S said.SG.N || what for a.M dump 2S.NOM operate.2S here || ASEX NEG can.3S NEG hang.INF a.M glass
[mɔ̃ ˈdjø || ˈkɛɪs a ˈsɛ || ˈo fɛ.ʁ‿œ̃ ˈdɔ̃p ty ˈmɑʁʃ.z‿je || ˈɔ̃ nə ʃɑ̃ pɑˈz‿ɛ̃.dʁ‿œ̃.n‿eˈtej]
"Jesus," Case said, "what kinda creepjoint you running here? Man can't have a drink."
_____________________________________________________________________
Calqued "pendre un verre" for "have a drink", cf. "опрокинуть стакан" = "topple a glass" = "have a drink"
17.07.2025
____________________________________________________________________

"Ha," Ratz a sait, suavant d'hout écrevé avec un deu, "Zone garnit une parondrage."
INTJ || Ratz have.3S said.SG.N | swabbing.SG.M the.SG.M.OB wood scarred.SG.M with a.M rag || Zone provide.3S a.F percentage
[ˈa || ˈʁa.t͡s‿a ˈsɛ | sɥaˈvɑ̃ d‿u.t‿e.kʁeˈve aˈvɛ.k‿œ̃ ˈdø || ˈzoʊn gɑʁˈni.t‿yn pa.ʁɔ̃ˈdɑʒ]
"Ha," Ratz said, swabbing the scarred wood with a rag, "Zone shows a percentage."

"Toi, je te lavois travallier hier jains ontraudage."
2S.OB | 1S.NOM 2S.DAT allow.1S work.INF here against entertainment
[ˈtwa || ˈʒ‿tə laˈvwa tʁa.vaˈjeˌʁ‿je ʒɛ̃.z‿ɔ.tʁoˈdaʒ]
"You I let work here for entertainment value."

Aux Case va tiant son aloix, de chouice ses morges quieurs son un est faut,
as Case be.PST taking.SG.M 3.POSS.SG.M beer | the.SG.F.DR silence 3.POSS.PL instances strange.PL.M 3.POSS.SG.M one be.3S fallen.SG.M
[o ˈkɛɪs va ˈtjɑ̃ sɔ̃.n‿aˈlwa | də ˈʃwis se mɔʁʒ ˈkjøʁ sɔ̃ˈn‿œ̃.n‿e ˈfo]
As Case was picking up his beer, one of those strange instants of silence descended,

aux vu d'éprocs inaffaints son hondre est fassé saintois à une râte sagne.
as how PL.DR speech un-of-hanging.PL.M 3.POSS.SG.M hundred be.3S arrived.SG.M at a.F pause same
[o ˈvy d‿eˈpʁoc.z‿i.nɑˈfɛ̃ soˈn‿ɔ̃.dʁ‿e fɑˈse sɛ̃ˈtwa.z‿a yn ˈʁat ˈsaɲ]
as though a hundred unrelated conversations had simultaneously arrived at the same pause.

Dans d'houre son flac est freint, ...
Then the whore's giggle rang out, tinged with a certain hysteria.

Ratz a gronné. "Un ange est passé."
Ratz have.3S grunted.SG.N || a.M angel be.3S passed.SG.M
[ ˈʁa.t͡s‿a gʁɔˈne || œ̃ˈ.n‿ɑ̃.z‿e pɑˈse]
Ratz grunted. "An angel passed."

"Dé chinoises," a bellé un aoûtralien droncanné, "chinoises blouçoises ont entaite de

"The Chinese," bellowed a drunken Australian, "Chinese bloody invented nerve-splicing."

"Give me the mainland for a nerve job any day. Fix you right, mate..."

"Now that," Case said to his glass, all his bitterness suddenly rising in him like bile, "that is so much bullshit."