Conlang Relay 20/Doayâu
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by Jan Strasser
Doayâu text
Íyesàmulugo ìrè tsa kea gákù sòmau sítàní tsótùmaugo yarùla. Dàma tsugoaguretêa ìrì yarù buríyesarìne giri, “Gitù yeogusèsùlutá, Kâugàtsa? Reagimauritsé yairi nufìmàyù?” Gataibarirea naure giri, “Nà tumeagìlau nùyèmeagìna.” Dadirìne giri, “Nìnàmâugoamá, tumeagìla ga rìyau ànùyèmí mayai baibaitúputsilàgàgo.” Gataibarirea, “Tumeagìlau yeogúfàpùgo na, tsugoagúfàpùgo yasu figai tsógo kea.”
Gatáyesùgàgoa fà ìrì ayesirité tsa sìgetsègùrea, “Fainibáfùmaugòne nai tsógo kea.” Ìrì furá fà gáku tsugoagurùpùyetêa keogùmá. Burirìne yâi ìraure giri, “Misitamautá. Àtsatágúgoké tai tsógo kea?”, gataibarirea tsa dú ngaima, “Figai, gitàyòpùri.”
Translation
English
A woman and a man have come in order to stay at a house beside the shore. As the woman is about to walk away from that place, I ask her, “Why are you leaving, Kâugàtsa? Do you want to hear my advice?” She answers, “We are guests of the family.” I say, “As far as I know, the family always causes disagreement among their guests.” She replies, “I will not leave the family, nor will the man go away from the family.”
And then the woman apparently meets her host and announces, “I don't want to know the man.” However, then she walks away from the house together with him. In the end I ask the woman, “You will want to speak. Do you love the man?”, and she answers, “Indeed, so it is.”
English translation of previous text
- (Alurhsa, by Tony Harris)
A woman and a man have come in order to stay at a house beside the shore. When the woman is at the end of her walk, I ask her, “Why are you leaving, Káwkultsá? Would you want my opinion?”
She answers, “We are guests of the family.” I say, “In my opinion, the family causes arguments.”
She says, “I will not leave the family, nor will the man go away from the family.”
The woman visits her host and says, “I don't want to know the man.”
However, the woman and the man leave the house. I have asked the woman, “Do you love the man?”, and she answers, “Yes, so it is.”
Interlinear gloss
- Íyesàmulugo
- íyesə-mu-lu-go
- come-TEL-EVID-I.ABS
- ìrè
- ìrè-Ø
- woman-ABS.SG
- tsa
- tsa
- and
- kea
- kea-Ø
- man-ABS.SG
- gákù
- gáku-ù
- [house-OBL.SG
- sòmau
- sòmau
- [near
- sítàní
- síta-Ø=ní
- shore-ABS.SG]=on]
- tsótùmaugo
- tsótu-mau-go
- rest-OPT-I.ABS
- yarùla.
- yari-ù=la
- SUB-OBL=in_order_to
A woman and a man have come in order to stay at a house beside the shore.
- Dàma
- dàma-Ø
- that_place-ABS.SG
- tsugoaguretêa
- tsuga-agu-ri-eatá-a
- walk-away-SENS-III.ABS-3.ERG
- ìrì
- ìrè-ì
- woman-ERG.SG
- yarù
- yari-ù
- SUB-OBL
- buríyesarìne
- buri-yesə-Ø-ri-ne
- ask-towards-DIR-IV.ABS-1.ERG
- giri,
- gi-ri-Ø
- TOP-IV-ABS
As the woman is about to walk away from that place, I ask her this,
- “Gitù
- gitù
- why
- yeogusèsùlutá,
- yeogu-sèsì-lu-tá
- leave-MIR-EVID-2.ABS
- Kâugàtsa?”
- Kâugàtsa-Ø
- NAME-ABS.SG
“Why are you leaving, Kâugàtsa?”
- “Reagimauritsé
- rea-gí-mau-ri-tsé
- hear-Q-OPT-IV.ABS-2.ERG
- yairi
- yairi
- maybe
- nufìmàyù?”
- ni-fìmàyù-Ø
- 1SG:POSS-advice-ABS.SG
“Do you want to hear my advice?”
- Gataibarirea
- gataiba-ri-ri-a
- answer-SENS-IV.ABS-3.ERG
- naure
- na-ù=re
- 1SG-OBL.SG=to
- giri,
- gi-ri-Ø
- TOP-IV-ABS
- “Nà
- nà
- 1PL:ABS
- tumeagìlau
- tumeagìla-ù
- family-OBL.SG
- nùyèmeagìna.”
- nùyèmi-ayV-Ø-na
- guest-STAT-DIR-1.ABS
She answers, “We are guests of the family.”
- Dadirìne
- dadi-Ø-ri-ne
- say-DIR-IV.ABS-1.ERG
- giri,
- gi-ri-Ø
- TOP-IV-ABS
I say,
- “Nìnàmâugoamá,
- ni-nàmâu-ù=amá
- 1SG:POSS-knowledge-OBL.SG=by
- tumeagìla
- tumeagìla-Ø
- family-ABS.SG
- ga
- ga
- but
- rìyau
- rìyau
- among
- ànùyèmí
- a-nùyèmi-´
- 3SG:POSS-guest-ABS.PL
- mayai
- mayai
- always
- baibaitúputsilàgàgo.”
- baibai-túpə-tsilə`-gù-go
- rivalry-EMPH:FACT-ITER-REP-I.ABS
“As far as I know, the family always causes disagreement among their guests.”
- Gataibarirea,
- gataiba-ri-ri-a
- answer-SENS-IV.ABS-3.ERG
She replies,
- “Tumeagìlau
- tumeagìla-ù
- family-OBL.SG
- yeogúfàpùgo
- yeogu-fə-pù-go
- leave-NEG-AFF-I.ABS
- na,
- na-Ø
- 1SG-ABS
- tsugoagúfàpùgo
- tsuga-agu-fə-pù-go
- walk-away-NEG-AFF-I.ABS
- yasu
- yasu
- nor
- figai
- figai
- indeed
- tsógo
- tsé-go-Ø
- that-I-ABS.SG
- kea.”
- kea-Ø
- man-ABS.SG
“I will not leave the family, nor will the man go away from the family.”
- Gatáyesùgàgoa
- gatáyesə-gù-go-a
- meet-REP-I.ABS-3.ERG
- fà
- fà
- and_then
- ìrì
- ìrè-ì
- woman-ERG.SG
- ayesirité
- a-yesiri-té-Ø
- 3SG:POSS-receive-AGT-ABS.SG
- tsa
- tsa
- and
- sìgetsègùrea,
- sìgetsè-gù-ri-a
- declare-REP-IV.ABS-3.ERG
And then the woman apparently meets her host and announces,
- “Fainibáfùmaugòne
- fainiba-fə-mau-go-ne
- recognize-NEG-OPT-I.ABS-1.ERG
- nai
- na-ì
- 1SG-ERG
- tsógo
- tsé-go-Ø
- that-I-ABS.SG
- kea.”
- kea-Ø
- man-ABS.SG
“I don't want to know that man.”
- Ìrì
- ìrè-ì
- woman-ERG.SG
- furá
- furá
- however
- fà
- fà
- and_then
- gáku
- gáku-Ø
- house-ABS.SG
- tsugoagurùpùyetêa
- tsuga-agu-ri-pù-eatá-a
- walk-away-SENS-AFF-III.ABS-3.ERG
- keogùmá.
- kea-ù=má
- man-OBL.SG=with
However, then she walks away from the house together with him.
- Burirìne
- buri-Ø-ri-ne
- ask-DIR-IV.ABS-1.ERG
- yâi
- yâi
- eventually
- ìraure
- ìrè-ù=re
- woman-OBL.SG=to
- giri,
- gi-ri-Ø
- TOP-IV-ABS
In the end I ask the woman,
- “Misitamautá.”
- misitá-mau-tá
- speak-OPT-2.ABS
“You will want to speak.”
- “Àtsatágúgoké
- àtsatá-gí-go-tsé
- love-Q-I.ABS-2.ERG
- tai
- ta-ì
- 2SG-ERG
- tsógo
- tsé-go-Ø
- that-I-ABS.SG
- kea?”,
- kea-Ø
- man-ABS.SG
“Do you love the man?”,
- gataibarirea
- gataiba-ri-ri-a
- answer-SENS-IV.ABS-3.ERG
- tsa
- tsa
- and
- dú
- dú
- thus
- ngaima,
- ngaima
- QUOT
- “Figai,
- figai
- indeed
- gitàyòpùri.”
- gitá-ayV-Ø-pù-ri
- correct-STAT-DIR-AFF-IV.ABS
and she answers, “Indeed, so it is.”
Vocabulary
Prefixes
| morpheme | class | meaning | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ni-/nu- | prefix | (1st person singular possessor) | becomes nu- before a labial consonant |
| a- | prefix | (3rd person singular possessor) |
Suffixes
| morpheme | class | meaning | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| -Ø | suffix | (absolutive case singular) | |
| -´ | suffix | (absolutive case plural) | raises tone of preceding vowel |
| -ì- | suffix | (ergative case singular) | becomes -i- after /a/ |
| -ù-/-gù- | suffix | (oblique case singular) | combines with preceding /e a o/ into -au-, deletes other preceding monophthongal vowels, becomes -gù- after diphthongs |
| -ne- | suffix | (agreement 1st person ergative) | lowers tone of preceding vowel |
| -tsé-/-ké- | suffix | (agreement 2nd person ergative) | becomes -ké- after /u o/ |
| -a- | suffix | (agreement 3rd person ergative) | changes preceding /i u/ into /e o/ |
| -na- | suffix | (agreement 1st person absolutive) | lowers tone of preceding vowel |
| -tá- | suffix | (agreement 2nd person absolutive) | |
| -go- | suffix | (agreement noun class 1: humans, gods, spirits, birds, tools) | changes preceding /i e/ into /u o/ |
| -etê- | suffix | (agreement noun class 3: limited areas, settlements, buildings, boats) | becomes -yetê- after /u/ or a diphthong and replaces other preceding vowels |
| -ri- | suffix | (agreement noun class 4: food, ideas, unlimited areas, mass nouns) | |
| -Ø- | suffix | (evidential: direct participation) | |
| -ri- | suffix | (evidential: sensory perception) | |
| -lu- | suffix | (evidential: inferred from physical or situational evidence) | changes preceding /i e/ to /u o/ |
| -gù-/-gà- | suffix | (evidential: hearsay, fiction) | lowers tone of preceding vowel; becomes -gà- before a syllable with a back vowel |
| -gí- | suffix | (interrogative) | typically replaces evidential marking |
| -mau- | suffix | (optative; imperative when combined with 2nd person agreement) | typically replaces evidential marking; lowers tone of preceding vowel |
| -fu-/-fa- | suffix | (negation) | goes between evidential and participant marking; raises tone of preceding vowel; becomes -fa- before a syllable with a back vowel |
| -pù- | suffix | (affirmative emphasis) | goes between evidential and participant marking; lowers tone of preceding vowel and changes preceding /i e/ to /u o/ |
| -agi- | suffix | (forms stative verbs) | changes preceding /i u/ into /e o/ |
| -agu- | suffix | (indicates motion away from focus) | |
| -mu- | suffix | (forms telic or perfective verbs) | lowers tone of preceding vowel and changes preceding /i e/ into /u o/ |
| -sèsì- | suffix | (indicates unexpected information) | |
| -túpu- | suffix | (forms factitive or causative verbs) | |
| -tsilà- | suffix | (iterative) | |
| -yesa- | suffix | (indicates motion towards focus) | raises tone of preceding vowel |
| =la | pp. | so that, in order to, for the purpose of | postclitic, governs oblique case |
| =má | pp. | with, by, using | postclitic, governs oblique case; combines with preceding /u/ into =oamá |
| =ní | pp. | on, at, near, in contact with | postclitic, governs oblique case; lowers tone of preceding vowel |
| =re | pp. | to, towards | postclitic, governs oblique case |
Independent morphemes
| morpheme | class | meaning | notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| àtsatá- | v.tr | like very much, be in love with | |
| baibai | n.4 | disagreement, conflict, rivalry, feud | |
| buri- | v.it | ask, pose a question | |
| dadi- | v.tr | say sth. | |
| dàma | n.3 | there, that place | |
| dú | adv. | so, thus, therefore, in this way | |
| fà | cj. | also, and then, next, afterwards | |
| fainiba- | v.tr | recognize, be familiar with | |
| figai | adv. | really, indeed, definitely | |
| fìmàyù | n.4 | fact, hint, good advice | |
| furá | adv. | however, by contrast | |
| ga | cj. | but, yet | |
| gáku | n.3 | house, building (made of brick or stone) | |
| gataiba- | v.tr | answer, reply | |
| gatáyesu- | v.tr | meet, visit, spend time with | |
| gi- | pron. | (topic pronoun) | takes noun class agreement |
| gitàyo- | v.it | be appropriate, be true, be correct | |
| gitù | pron. | why, what for (interrogative pronoun) | |
| ìrè | n.1 | woman, wife | |
| íyesa- | v.it | come, get to, arrive, achieve | |
| Kâugàtsa | n.1 | (a proper name) | lit. “like a lover” |
| kea | n.1 | man, husband | oblique case singular: keogù |
| mayai | adv. | always, forever | |
| misitá- | v.it | speak, talk | |
| na | pron. | (1st person singular) | |
| nà | pron. | (1st person plural) | |
| nàmâu | n.4 | knowledge, wisdom, experience | |
| nùyèmi | n.1 | guest, visitor | |
| ngaima | adv. | (quotative particle) | |
| rea- | v.tr | hear, listen | |
| rìyau | pp. | among, between, within | |
| sìgetsè- | v.tr | announce, declare, insist | |
| síta | n.3 | shore, coastline, riverbank | |
| sòmau | pp. | near, close to, adjacent to | |
| ta | pron. | (2nd person singular) | |
| tumeagìla | n.1 | family, clan | |
| tsa | cj. | and, with | |
| tsé- | pron. | (medial demonstrative pronoun) | takes noun class agreement |
| tsótu- | v.it | lie down, rest, settle, stay | |
| tsugo- | v.it | go, walk | |
| yâi | adv. | in the end, eventually, as a result | |
| yairi | adv. | maybe, possibly | |
| yari | pron. | (subordinating pronoun) | |
| yasu | cj. | nor | |
| yeogu- | v.it | leave, depart, go away | |
| yesirité | n.1 | host, landlord, innkeeper |
Grammar notes
Doayâu is morphologically ergative, suffixing and agglutinative.
Nominal morphology
- There are seven noun classes, which are cross-referenced on verbs and deictic pronouns.
- Nouns inflect for three cases (absolutive, ergative, oblique) and two numbers (singular, plural)
- Possession is indicated with prefixes that show number and person of the possessor.
- There are no 3rd person pronouns. Instead, demonstratives are used, which inflect for noun class, case, and number.
Verbal morphology
- Verbs are mandatorily marked for evidentiality and (absolutive) participant agreement (in this order).
- Absolutive 3rd person arguments are tracked on the verb by noun class, but not by number.
- Transitive verbs are also marked for their ergative arguments (after the absolutive marker). Ergative arguments are tracked only by person and number, not by noun class.
- In addition, verbs can take a large array of derivational suffixes, which may pile up before the evidential suffix. Some of these suffixes can also create verbs from nominal stems.
Syntax
- Noun phrases are mostly head-initial, with genitives, participles and relative clauses following their head. However, demonstratives precede the head noun if both are present in the same NP.
- Adpositional phrases occur both with free-standing prepositions and with clitic postpositions. The latter attach to the oblique case of the noun and can be thought of as an extended case system. Note that if a prepositional phrase is nested within a postpositional phrase, the postpositional clitic attaches to the object of the nested preposition.
- The unmarked sentence order is VSO.
- Other sentence orders are often used for pragmatic purposes. Notably, subclauses tend to have SOV order, sentence topics are often fronted, and focused elements typically appear clause-finally.
- Pronouns in the absolutive or ergative case are often omitted, and left in only for emphasis (i.e. Doayâu is a pro-drop language).
- Adverbs and conjunctions are usually placed after the head of the first constituent in a clause (Wackernagel's position).
