Þolb
Þolb - Þolb texts | Þolb phrase book | Þolb vocabulary >>
there are no prepostions. these are done with adverbs.
Overview
Þolb is an ergative-absolutive language. Word order is generally Patient-Verb-Agent.
Nouns - ðâpþtpontek
Nouns are divided into several classes, depending on the type of item. Each class has a special set of pronouns. Ony classes one and two have a first person pronoun. Several of the classes have special words that may belong only to those classes, as well as special affixes. Some words may fall into several classes.
Nouns have two cases: a combined ergative/genetive, absolutive.
- kþeltomp - man or woman, person
- þmeltilb - God
- þkwelmport - King
- twilmerd - important person/VIP
| Markers | Ergative/Genetive | Absolutive |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | k | (þ) |
| Plural | wem (k) | þek (þ) |
| Dual (rare) | nilm k | nilm þ |
Pronouns
| Singular pronouns | Absolutive | Ergative/Genitive |
|---|---|---|
| First person | þkwâm | k þkwâm |
| Second person | meþt | k meþt |
| Third person | klont | k klont |
| Fourth person | wim | k wim |
First person plural pronouns are treated differently. See below.
| Plural pronouns | Absolutive | Ergative/Genitive |
|---|---|---|
| Second person | þek (þ) meþt | wem (k) meþt |
| Third person | þek (þ) klont | wem (k) klont |
| Fourth person | þek (þ) wim | wem (k) wim |
First person plural pronouns are distinct words. Unlike English, the first person plural pronouns distinguish who is included in "we".
| We pronouns | Absolutive | Ergative/Genitive |
|---|---|---|
| I + you (not he she or they) | hegrâl | k hegrâl |
| I + he, she or they (not you) | þkim | k þkim |
| I + he, she or they +you | bwok | k bwok |
Verbs - ðâpþthempt
Compared to the complex class system of nouns, verbs are relatively simple. Verbs fall into two types, transitive and intransitive.
There is no tense in the language, but aspect. Aspect and mood are expressed by prefixes to the verbs. These words may be combined together.
| verbs | perfective | continuous | habitually | negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| imperative | mok- | þkek- | hem- | lâmp- |
| would | mâr- | þâr- | hâr- | lâr- |
| negative | mek- | þek- | hek- | lek- |
| positive | mi- | þi- | hi- | li- |
| want | milþ- | þilþ- | hilþ- | lilþ- |
| must | mu- | þu- | hu- | lu- |
| can | muþ- | þuþ- | huþ- | luþ- |
| need | men- | þen- | hen- | len- |
- þke- to make, cause
- kwo- to become
Adjectives and adverbs
"Natural" adjectives follow the noun and a particle m. For example: þkor m tilmp "blue water"
- tem- (“made of” or “being a”): hirþ m temþkor “a water-way”, i.e. “a way made of water”.
- twu- (“of” or “relating to”) roptr m twuþkor “water sports”.
- kint- (“having” or “full of”): hirþ m kintþkor “a way full of water”.
yar m kintnidr - beautiful woman nidr = beauty
Adjectives are usually considered nouns. so...
Alphabet - kormpbarþt
a â b d ð e g h k l m n ng o p r t þ u û w y
Examples
- Darm halb remp.
- The man has arrived.
- Þkek meþt wipt k þkwâm.
- I love you.
- Milk halb gelþ t kolm r melm.
- The man walked into the house.
- Þkek þkor kwemp.
- The water is boiling.
- Þkek mantr þkekwemp k klont.
- I am boiling the potato.
<<
- Walm gelþ kolm balþteþ r grûmp.
- The girl walked inside the house.
>>
