Nemuti: Syntax

Table of Phonemes

MOA	nasals			stops						sibilants			fricatives		tap	affricates			approximants		vowels
IPA	/m/	/n/	/ŋ/	/p/	/b/	/t/	/d/	/k/	/g/	/s/ (/θ/)	/z/ (/ð/)	/ʃ/	/ɸ/	/h/	/ɾ/ (/ʁ/)	/ʦ/	/ʧ/	/ʤ/	/j/	/w/	/i/	/e/	/ä/	/o/	/u/ (/ɯ/)
Latin	m	n	ŋ	p	b	t	d	k	g	s	z	x	f	h	r	ſ	c	j	y	w	i	e	a	o	u

Note:

Phonemes in parentheses indicate the pronunciation of the southern Nemuti.

Grammar

Word Order - Cocu mu Tupu

001. Nemuti word order is SVO, subject-verb-object.
002. The accent is normally on the penultimate syllable. A written acute accent indicates a different accent. The accent may be no farther back than the antepenult.
003. The indirect object precedes the direct object.
004. The noun denoting the possessor precedes the noun denoting what is possessd.
005. Determiners precede the nouns they qualify. Adjectives follow the nouns they qualify.
006. The adjective precedes the standard of comparison.
007. The adjective follows the dependent verb.
008. Adverbs follow the verbs they modify.
009. The order of adverbials is time, space, manner.

Verbs - Cetitup̨u

010. Verbs are a class of words that convey an action (bring, read, walk, run, learn), an occurrence (happen, become), or a state of being (be, exist, stand).
011. Tense is a grammatical category which expresses the time at which a state or action described by a verb occurs. Tense is indicated by modifying the word's initial phoneme.
012. The present tense is the base form of the verb without modification: nefo, see.

Idi ya nefo te ton̨u yo, I see the clouds.

013. The past tense is formed by labializing the first consonant: nefo, see.

Idi ya ňefo te ton̨u yo, I saw the clouds.

014. The future tense is formed by palatalizing the first phoneme: nefo, see.

Idi ya n̨efo te ton̨u yo, I will see the clouds.

015. A verbal noun is formed by suffixing the definite article, te, to the appropriate tense form. This verbal noun functions as an infinitive or gerund.

Te nefo se te ſeso, Seeing is believing.

016. Mood is a grammatical category by which the speaker expresses his attitude toward what he is saying.
017. The subjunctive mood is formed with the suffix -ne:

Imu ya ŋísane idi yo, She may love me.

018. The imperative mood is formed with the suffix -te.

Ŋísate idi yo, Love me.

019. The hortative and jussive moods are formed with the verb wofo, let, permit.

Wófote ifa yo te ŋopi, Let him sing.

020. The conditional mood is formed with the particle fi:

F' idi ya ŋisa ipi yo, If I love you....

F' idi ya ŋ̌isa ipi yo, If I loved you....

021. The recent past is formed with the suffix -pa:

Idi ya néfopa yime yo, I just saw a crocodile.

022. The passive form of the verb is formed with the suffix -fa; the subject takes the particle yo:

Te kiki yo ŋísafa, The mother is loved.

Te feŋu yo x̌ótofa, The apple was cooked.

023. The negation of the verb uses the suffix -go.

Te ſuma púyogo, The boy does not dance.

Te ſuma ŋ̨ísago, The boy will not love.

This particle follows any others:

Te ſucu puyónego mi, The girl may not want to dance.

024. A question is indicated by the use of the interrogative particle me at the end of the sentence:

Idi ya ŋisa ipi yo, I love you.

Idi ya ŋisa ipi yo me, Do I love you?

025. Dependent verbs, such as infinitives and gerunds, follow the verb or adjective upon which they are dependent:

Idi ya ŋ̌uzu te niye, I was afraid to go.

A direct object is placed before the infinitive:

Idi ya ŋ̌uzu dini yo te ziyi, I was afraid to touch a toad.

026. Verbs may be formed from adjectives and nouns with the auxiliary verb zo, e.g., rehu, wide; rehu zo, widen.

Ih̨a ya réhu zo te neje yo, They are widening the road.

nace, order, command.

Idi ya nace žo ifa yo t' eto, I ordered him to go.

027. The copulative verb to be is ſe.

Ifa ya ſe te wako ya, He is the chief.

Ifa ya ſ̬e te pepe ya, He was the father.

028. The existential copula is he, there is/are.

Yize he a te tetu, There is an eagle in the tree.

029. To be about to is translated with the particle tufu:

Imu ya žita tufu, She was about to scream.

030. Must, have to is translated with the particle miwa:

Idi ya zeri miwa tum̨u pim̨a yo, I have to plant these seeds.

Nouns - Eyetup̨u

031. Nouns are a class of words that function as the names of some specific thing or set of things, such as living creatures, objects, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.
032. There are no noun classes in Nemuti.
033. Plurality is formed by palatalizing the last consonant:

xote, moon; xot̨e, moons.

If the plurality is evident, then the singular form is used: ho xote, two rivers.

034. Possession is indicated by the possessive particle mu, of.

Te feŋu mu te tunu, the child's apple.

Te iſe mu te bime, the man's foot.

035. Abstract nouns are derived from adjectives with the suffix -ŋe:

nece, short; néceŋe, shortness.

036. Abstract nouns are derived from verbs with the suffix -ŋe:

ſemo, die; ſémoŋe, death.

037. Nouns naming a person characterized by an adjective are formed with the suffix -ſi:

yiti, young; yítiſi, youth; hofo, old; hófoſi, elder;

Note that the plural indicator is attached to the noun's root and not the suffix: yít̨iſi, youths; hóf̨oſi, elders.

038. The agent of a verb is formed with the suffix -ſi.

ŋopi, sing; ŋópiſi , singer; ŋóp̨iſi , singers.

039. The instrument for performing the action of a verb is formed with the suffix -te.

te, cut; tete, knife; t̨ete, knives.

040. Nouns denoting perceptible things are formed with the suffix -ŋa.

yifi, laugh; yífiŋa, laugh, laughter.

041. A noun may be specified as masculine or feminine by using the prefixes wo- and cu-, respectively: puhe, bird; wopuhe, cock; cupuhe, hen.
042. Collective nouns are formed from nouns or adjectives by making a compound with the word tone, group.

te puhetone, the flock of birds; te zimitone, the school of fish; te ſenitone, archipelago.

043. Diminutives of nouns are formed with the prefix ta-.

te pisa, the wind; te tapisa, the breeze; te tapis̨a, the breezes.

044. Nouns naming the member of a group are formed with the suffix -ce.

zipu, village; zípuce, villager.

045. Nouns may be used to modify other nouns.

te wini udiwi, the mountain stream; te wini udiw̨i, the mountain streams.

046. The subject of the verb and the predicate nominative, noun or pronoun, take the particle ya:

Te puh̨e ya zoyi ye te tet̨u, The birds are perching in the trees.

047. The object of the verb, noun or pronoun, takes the particle yo:

Idi ya bate te nefo uf̨a yo, I can see them.

048. Compound nouns are formed by joining the two (or more) elements, e.g. tina, bite + wije, tooth = tinawije canine tooth.
- If the second element begins with a vowel, then the final vowel of the first element is elided, e.g. bimjo, button + imi, hole = bimjimi, buttonhole.

Modifiers - Piŋetup̨u

049. In Nemuti grammar adjectives, adverbs and determiners are classed together as modifiers.

Adjectives - Guſiŋe Tup̨u

050. Adjectives are a class of words which qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified.
051. Adjectives are placed before the noun: te wuſe ſuma, the good boy.
052. The one degree of comparison, known as the comparative (COMP), is formed with adverb bo, more.

yiti, young; bo yiti, younger, youngest.

053. Negative comparison is formed with the word gobo, less: rifoti, distant; gobo rifoti, less/least distant.
054. The comparison of equality is formed with the conjunctions umi...tofi, as...as; ŋiti, red:

Tumu kimi ſe umi ŋiti tofi jeſu, This flower is as red as blood.

055. Participles are a form of a verb that is used to modify a noun, noun phrase, verb or verb phrase, playing a role similar to an adjective or adverb.
056. There are two participles in Nemuti.

a. The present participle is created by using the nonpast form of the verb + mu:

te ŋuwo mu zimi, the swimming fish.

b. The past participle is created by using the past form of the verb + mu:

te ſ̬eso mu homa, the sunken boat.

057. Word negation is indicated by the use of the prefix g(o)-.

pefi, even; gopefi, uneven.

058. The suffix -se combines with a noun to form an adjective denoting similarity, likeness or resemblance to what is named in the noun root, -ish, -like.

puhe, bird; púhese, like a bird.

059. Adjectives with the meaning without are expressed with the prefix -miſe, -less.

tegu, hope; tegúmiſe, hopeless.

Determiners - Tapatup̨u

060. Determiners are a class of words that serve to express the reference of that noun or noun phrase in the context. They may indicate whether the noun is referring to a definite or indefinite element of a class, to a closer or more distant element, to an element belonging to a specified person or thing, to a particular number or quantity, etc. They are placed before the noun.
061. The definite article is te.
062. There is no indefinite article.
063. The proximal demonstrative, this/these, is tumu.

tumu riki, this leaf; tumu rik̨i, these leaves.

064. The distal demonstrative, that/those, is zumu.

zumu tonu, that cloud; zumu ton̨u, those clouds.

065. Numerals precede the noun in the absence of a determiner.

Ne puz̨e xoto, Three women are cooking.

They follow the noun if the noun is preceded by a determiner.

Tumu puz̨e ne xoto, These three women are cooking.

066. The elective indefinite determiner is eye, any.
067. The exisential determiner is eſa, some.
068. The negative determiner is go, no.
069. The distributive determiner is wofo, every.

Numerals - Zoce

070. Nemuti has an octal numeral system.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
re	ho	ne	wu	xo	no	mi	ki

071. The numerals 9-15 are formed by suffixing the proper cardinal to wi, eight.

9	10	11	12	13	14	15
kire	kiho	kine	kiwu	kixo	kino	kimi

072. The numerals 16-64 are formed by prefixing the proper cardinal to ki, eight.

16	24	32	40	48	56	64
hoki	neki	wuki	xoki	naki	miki	kiki

073. The ordinals are made kith the prefix be-.

te beho xomi, the second rope

074. The adverbial numbers are made kith the suffix -te.

hote, twice; kite, eight times.

Adverbs - Pumetup̨u

075. Adverbs are a class of words that modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a determiner, a noun phrase, a clause, or a sentence. They typically express manner, place, time, frequency, degree, level of certainty, etc.
076. Adverbs are formed from adjectives with the suffix -to.

te wota bima, the brave man; Ifa t̬obu wótato, He acted bravely.

077. The comparative of these adverbs is formed in the same way as are adjectives; wótato, bravely; bo wótato, more bravely.

Pronouns - Tihitup̨u

078. Pronouns are a class of words that substitute for a noun or noun phrase. There are seven types of pronouns in Nemuti.
079. The personal pronouns are idi, I; id̨i, we; ipi, you (sg.); ip̨i, you (pl.); ifa, he; if̨a, they; imu, she; im̨u, they; ufa, it; uf̨a, they.

Idi ya ŋisa imu yo, I love her.

Imu ya ŋisa idi yo, She loves me.

Idi ya ŋ̌ipa m' imu te kimi yo, I gave her the flower.

If the group consists of both male and female beings, the male pronoun is used.

080. The interrogative pronouns are biha, who; bime, what; and haba, which.
081. The reflexive pronouns are translated by using the noun cedi, self.

Idi ya p̌ina cedi yo, I hurt myself.

082. The intensive pronouns are formed with the suffix -jedi, self.

Idijedi n̨iye, I myself will go.

083. The demonstrative pronouns are the demonstrative determiners with the appropriate particles.

This is a flower, Tumu ya ſe kimi ya.

Those are leaves, Zum̨u ya ſe rik̨i ya.

084. The indefinite pronouns are made from the indefinite determiners.

eyemema, anyone, anybody; eyenumu, anything.

eſamema, someone, somebody; eſanumu, something.

gomema, no one, nobody; numu, nothing.

085. There are no possessive pronouns. The possessor is expressed with a prepositional phrase using m(u), of. When this phrase is used, the subject particle ya is omitted.

Tumu ya ſe kimi m' ipi, zumu ya ſe m' idi. This is your flower, that is mine.

Prepositions - Nikitup̨u

086. Nemuti uses prepositions, a class of words that express spatial or temporal relations (in, under, towards, before) or mark various semantic roles (of, for).

a te rini, at the beach.

Te juto ya ſe ye te xota, The cup is on the table.

Conjunctions - Tup̨u mu Taxuŋe

087. A conjunction is a part of speech that connects words, phrases or clauses.
088. In Nemuti there are three types of conjunctions.
089. A coordinate conjunction joins two or more items of equal syntactic importance.

Te tobe m' idi pu idi ya curi wiſ̨e pu tiſ̨u yo, My brother and I like coconuts and bananas.

090. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to join two or more items of equal syntactic importance.

Idi n̨iye ju ti te rini ju ti te win̨i, I will go either to the beach or to the mountains.

091. Subordinating conjunctions join an independent clause and a dependent clause.

Cen' imu ſe gute, p̌iga ſepi toce yo, Although she is sick, she ate her breakfast.

Octal Table

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
re	ho	ne	wu	xo	no	mi	ki
9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
kire	kiho	kine	kiwu	kixo	kino	kimi	hoki
17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
hokire	hokiho	hokine	hokiwu	hokixo	hokino	hokimi	neki
25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32
nekire	nekiho	nekine	nekiwu	nekixo	nekino	nekimi	wuki
33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
wukire	wukiho	wukine	wukiwu	wukixo	wukino	wukimi	xoki
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48
xokire	xokiho	xokine	xokiwu	xokixo	xokino	xokimi	noki
49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56
nokire	nokiho	nokine	nokiwu	nokixo	nokino	nokimi	miki
57	58	59	60	61	62	63	64
mikire	mikiho	mikine	mikiwu	mikixo	mikino	mikimi	kiki