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| {{Kala 2}} | | {{Kala 2}} |
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| | {{wip}} |
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| | <big>'''THIS SECTION IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED TO REFLECT A NEW GRAMMAR.'''</big> |
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| The Kala conlang... | | The Kala conlang... |
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| * [[Kala/chat|conversations]] | | * [[Kala/chat|conversations]] |
| * [[Kala/etymology|etymology]] | | * [[Kala/etymology|etymology]] |
| | ** [[Kala/roots|roots]] |
| * [[Kala/lexicon|lexicon]] | | * [[Kala/lexicon|lexicon]] |
| | ** [[Kala/affixes|affixes]] |
| ** [[Kala/lexicon/theme|thematic lexicon]] | | ** [[Kala/lexicon/theme|thematic lexicon]] |
| * [[Kala/particles|particles]] | | * [[Kala/particles|particles]] |
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| * [[Kala/writing|writing]] | | * [[Kala/writing|writing]] |
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| =Introduction=
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| '''Kala''' is a personal [[wp:Constructed_language|conlang]] (actually more of an [[wp:Artistic_language|artlang]]), based on my aesthetic preferences, not attached to any [[wp:Worldbuilding|conworld or conculture]]. This language draws on [[wp:Natural_language|natlangs (natural language)]], other conlangs, and of course imagination. '''Kala''' was started in late 2009. The phonemic inventory is based on [[wp:Classical_Nahuatl|Classical Nahuatl]] while the syllable structure and vowels are based on the strict (C)V structure of [[wp:Japanese_phonology#Phonotactics|Japanese]], and the presence of [[wp:Prenasalized_consonant|prenasalized]] stops is influenced by [[wp:Bantu_languages|Bantu languages]]. '''Kala’s''' grammar was initially based on Japanese but has changed based on influence from several natural and constructed languages. Many – if not most – of '''Kala''' lexemes are derived from or inspired by natural languages. A few have been taken from previous projects or constructed languages such as '''Ajara''' (a [[wp:Substitution_cipher|cipherlang]] from my youth) and [[Qatama]] (a conlang that I abandoned several years ago).
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| == Characteristics ==
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| '''Kala''' has two parts of speech. Nouns and verbs are [[wp:Content_word|content words]], while particles (and others) tend to be only [[wp:Function_word|functional]]. Many content words can be used as both nouns and verbs. The best and most common example would be '''ina''' /iːˈna/ "''food; to eat''". '''Kala''' is a context-oriented language. In most cases, the more important elements of a phrase are clustered toward the end of the sentence (e.g. verbs and their modifiers). The less important an element is to the understanding of a sentence, the more likely it is to be dropped. Consequently, many '''Kala''' sentences end-up consisting solely of a verb (or adjectival verb); more so in conversation than in written Kala, these short phrases are grammatically correct and natural. Here are some examples:
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| * '''muya ka''' - /muːja gaː/ - <small>do Q</small> - ''(What are you) doing?''
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| * '''ina''' - /iːna/ - <small>eat</small> - ''(I am) eating.''
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| * '''tamatse''' - /tamaːˌt͡ʃɛ/ - <small>good-seem</small> - ''(That looks) good.''
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| * '''ueha ka''' - /weːɦa kaː/ - <small>want Q</small> - ''(Do you) want (some)?''
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| * '''nyasak''' - /ɲaːʃak/ - <small>thank-NEG</small> - ''No, thank (you).''
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| Notice that none of the above contains any pronouns, or nouns. Any contextually understood elements may be omitted unless indispensable. There can be considerable divergence from what is grammatical, and what is acceptably idiomatic. The spectrum of formality and grammatical to idiomatic can be seen in the example below:
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| * '''na’etla muyaye''' – <small>1s-P.4s do-PST</small> – ''I did it.'' > [grammatical, formal]
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| * '''etla muyaye''' – <small>P.4s do-PST</small> – ''(I) did it. >> It was done.'' > [grammatical, formal, passive]
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| * '''na muyaye''' – <small>1s do-PST</small> – ''I did (it).'' > [grammatical, informal]
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| * '''muyaye''' – <small>do-PST</small> – ''(I) did (it).'' > [semi-grammatical, idiomatic]
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| * '''muyye''' – /muːɟɛ/ – <small>do-PST</small> – ''(I) did (it).'' > [ungrammatical, idiomatic]
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| == Borrowing ==
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| :: ''See also'': [[Kala/etymology|''Kala etymology'']]
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| '''Kala''' borrows extensively from various natural languages. This is a very small sample of borrowings:
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| * '''pato''' – ''duck (Anatidae)''; from Spanish [[wiktionary:pato#Noun_9|''pato'']]
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| * '''kala''' – ''to speak, talk, converse''; from Arabic [[wiktionary:تكلم|''takallama'']]
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| * '''myonta''' – ''to allow, permit''; from Finnish [[wiktionary:myöntää|''myöntää'']]
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| * '''na''' – ''I, me''; from Arabic [[wiktionary:أنا|''ʾanā'']]
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| * '''tsenka''' – ''orange''; from Chinese [[wiktionary:橙#Chinese|''chéng'']]
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| * '''uasi''' – ''to take, get, acquire''; from Lakota [[wiktionary:wasicu|''wasichu'']]
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| * '''a''' – ''to be, exist, yes''; from Japanese [[wiktionary:ある|''aru'']]
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| So, some phrases can contain words from multiple natlangs:
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| * '''ta ke inu uasiye ka'''
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| : <small>2s O drink take-PST Q</small>
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| : ''Did you take the drink?''
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| * '''ta''' - Arabic [[wiktionary:أنت|''ʾanta'']]; '''ke''' - Chinese [[wiktionary:個#Definitions|''gè'']]; '''inu''' - Hawaiian [[wiktionary:inu#Hawaiian|''inu'']]; '''uasi''' - Lakota [[wiktionary:wasicu|''wasichu'']]; '''ka''' - Japanese [[wiktionary:か#Particle|''か'']]
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| =Phonology=
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| == Consonants ==
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| * Where '''~''' appears, it indicates [[wp:Free_variation|free variation]] between phonemes.
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| {|class=wikitable style="text-align: center; width:40%;"
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| |+Consonants
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| !
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| !Labial
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| !colspan=2|Alveolar
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| !Palatal
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| !Velar
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| !Glottal
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| |-
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| ! Nasal
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| | m ('''m''')
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| |colspan=2|n ('''n''')
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| | ɲ ('''ny''')
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| |-
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| ! Plosive
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| | p~b ('''p''')
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| |colspan=2|t~d ('''t''')
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| | k~g ('''g''')
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| | ʔ (''' ' ''')
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| |-
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| ! Affricate
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| | ts~t͡ʃ ('''ts''') || t͡ɬ~tl ('''tl''')
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| |-
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| ! Continuant
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| | s~ʃ ('''s''') || l~ɾ ('''l''')
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| | h~ɦ ('''h''')
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| |-
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| ! Semivowel
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| |colspan=2|
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| | j ('''y''')
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| | w ('''u''')
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| |}
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| The [[wp:Glottal_stop|glottal stop]] is not phonemic but is included in the chart above for completeness. It is only ever intervocalic, meaning it is pronounced between two vowels and/or diphthongs. Where ~ appears, it indicates free variation between phonemes. However, certain sounds change in a predictable way. For example, /h/ becomes [ɦ] when preceded or followed by a front vowel, including when labialized or palatalized. The alveolar affricates are most often /t͡ʃ/ and /t͡ɬ/. The “s” is almost always /ʃ/ unless preceded or followed by a syllable with the onset /t͡ʃ/, in which case “s” becomes /s/. So, '''sama''' (''sun; star; solar'') is /ˈʃaːma/ where '''sitsa''' (''heat; hot'') is /ˈsiːt͡ʃa/ and '''tsisi''' (''embroider; embroidery'') is /t͡ʃiːsi/.
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| * '''Prenasalized''': /ᵐp ⁿt ᵑk/
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| * '''Labialized''':/pʷ kʷ mʷ nʷ ʃʷ hʷ t͡ʃʷ/
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| * '''Palatalized''': /pʲ kʲ mʲ hʲ/
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| <small>Note: Because of its small phoneme inventory, '''Kala''' allows for quite a lot of [[wp:Free_variation|allophonic variation]]. For example, /p t k/ may be pronounced [b d ɡ] as well as [p t k], /s l h/ as [ʃ ɾ ɦ], and /t͡s t͡ɬ/ as [t͡ʃ t͡l]; also, vowels may be either long or short.</small>
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| == Vowels ==
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| {| class="wikitable"
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| |+Vowels
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| !
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| !'''Front'''
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| !'''Back'''
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| |-align=center
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| !'''Close'''
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| |{{IPA|i~ɪ}} '''(i)''' || {{IPA|u~u:}} '''(u)'''
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| |-align=center
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| !'''Mid'''
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| |{{IPA|e~ɛ}} '''(e)''' || {{IPA|o~o:}} '''(o)'''
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| |-align=center
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| !'''Open'''
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| |colspan="2" align="center"|{{IPA|a~a:}} '''(a)'''
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| |}
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| '''Kala''' has five vowels /i/, /e/, /a/, /o/ and /u/. Each occurs in both stressed and unstressed syllables. Phonetic nasalization occurs for vowels occurring between nasal consonants or when preceding a syllable-final nasal, e.g. '''tsunka''' [ˈt͡ʃũᵑka] ('bug').
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| === Diphthongs ===
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| Phonetically, '''Kala''' has only two diphthongs, both falling; [aɪ̯] and [aʊ̯], but there are five syllables that can be analyzed as rising diphthongs; [wa], [we], [ja], [je], and [jo]. The two triphthongs [waɪ̯] and [jaʊ̯] are very rare but should be noted as possible.
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| == Phonotactics ==
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| There is a limited set of syllables, of the type CV (consonant-vowel), allowed by '''Kala''' phonotactics, similar to Japanese or Chinese. Kala phonotactics does not typically allow the onsets of adjacent syllables to be identical, nor both to be labialized or palatalized. (There are a few exceptions to this, such as '''tata''' for the informal/familiar form of “father”, etc.) Syllables beginning with /l/ do not occur as the first syllable of a headword (except in loanwords and toponyms).
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| === Syllables ===
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| Syllable structure in '''Kala''' is typically made up of open syllables of the type CV (consonant-vowel) with most lexemes having syllables exclusively of this type. The exception to this rule are the endings –'''m''' (indicating general plural), -'''n''' (indicating adverbial or adjectival use), and –'''k''' (indicating negative mood). These endings all are word final. In detail a Kala syllable can be analyzed thusly: '''(N)(C)(u, y)V(a, i)''' where ('''N''') indicates [[wp:Nasalization|nasalization]], and '''u''' and '''y''' indicate [[wp:Labialization|labialization]] and [[wp:Palatalization_(phonetics)|palatalization]] respectively.
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| === Syllable Chart ===
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| {| class="wikitable" style="width: 600px;"
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| |+the 136 basic Kala syllables
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| |-
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| !
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| ! a
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| ! e
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| ! i
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| ! o
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| ! u
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| ! ua
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| ! ue
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| ! ya
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| ! ye
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| ! yo
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| ! ai
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| ! ao
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| ! uai
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| ! yao
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| |-
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| ! p
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| | align="center"|''(m)pa''
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| | align="center"|''(m)pe''
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| | align="center"|''(m)pi''
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| | align="center"|''(m)po''
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| | align="center"|''(m)pu''
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| | align="center"|''pua''
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| | align="center"|''pue''
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| | align="center"|''pya''
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| | align="center"|''pye''
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| | align="center"|''pyo''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''pai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''pao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''puai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''pyao''</font>
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| |-
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| ! t
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| | align="center"|''(n)ta''
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| | align="center"|''(n)te''
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| | align="center"|''(n)ti''
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| | align="center"|''(n)to''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''tai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''tao''</font>
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| |-
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| ! k
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| | align="center"|''(n)ka''
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| | align="center"|''(n)ke''
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| | align="center"|''(n)ki''
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| | align="center"|''(n)ko''
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| | align="center"|''(n)ku''
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| | align="center"|''kua''
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| | align="center"|''kue''
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| | align="center"|''kya''
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| | align="center"|''kye''
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| | align="center"|''kyo''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''kai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''kao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''kuai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''kyao''</font>
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| |-
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| ! m
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| | align="center"|''ma''
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| | align="center"|''me''
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| | align="center"|''mi''
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| | align="center"|''mo''
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| | align="center"|''mu''
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| | align="center"|''mua''
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| | align="center"|''mue''
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| | align="center"|''mya''
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| | align="center"|''mye''
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| | align="center"|''myo''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''mai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''mao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''muai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''myao''</font>
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| |-
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| ! n
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| | align="center"|''na''
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| | align="center"|''ne''
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| | align="center"|''ni''
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| | align="center"|''no''
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| | align="center"|''nu''
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| | align="center"|''nua''
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| | align="center"|''nue''
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| | align="center"|''nya''
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| | align="center"|''nye''
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| | align="center"|''nyo''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''nai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''nao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''nuai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''nyao''</font>
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| |-
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| ! s
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| | align="center"|''sa''
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| | align="center"|''se''
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| | align="center"|''si''
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| | align="center"|''so''
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| | align="center"|''su''
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| | align="center"|''sua''
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| | align="center"|''sue''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''sai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''sao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''suai''</font>
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| |-
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| ! h
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| | align="center"|''ha''
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| | align="center"|''he''
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| | align="center"|''hi''
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| | align="center"|''ho''
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| | align="center"|''hu''
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| | align="center"|''hua''
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| | align="center"|''hue''
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| | align="center"|''hya''
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| | align="center"|''hye''
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| | align="center"|''hyo''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''hai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''hao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''huai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''hyao''</font>
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| |-
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| ! ts
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| | align="center"|''tsa''
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| | align="center"|''tse''
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| | align="center"|''tsi''
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| | align="center"|''tso''
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| | align="center"|''tsu''
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| | align="center"|''tsua''
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| | align="center"|''tsue''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''tsai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''tsao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''tsuai''</font>
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| |-
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| ! tl
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| | align="center"|''tla''
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| | align="center"|''tle''
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| | align="center"|''tli''
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| | align="center"|''tlo''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''tlai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''tlao''</font>
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| |-
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| ! l
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| | align="center"|''la''
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| | align="center"|''le''
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| | align="center"|''li''
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| | align="center"|''lo''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''lai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''lao''</font>
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| | align="center"|'' ''
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| |-
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| ! -
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| | align="center"|''a''
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| | align="center"|''e''
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| | align="center"|''i''
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| | align="center"|''o''
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| | align="center"|''u''
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| | align="center"|''ua''
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| | align="center"|''ue''
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| | align="center"|''ya''
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| | align="center"|''ye''
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| | align="center"|''yo''
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''ai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''ao''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''uai''</font>
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| | align="center"|<font color="red">''yao''</font>
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| |}
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| <small>Syllables such as '''nsa''', '''ntla''', or '''ntsa''' can occur but usually only in place names or loanwords. The red syllables above occur infrequently and most often as the final syllable of a word.</small>
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| === Collating Order ===
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| The collating sequence (alphabetical order) is based on the order established in the '''Naua''' script.
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| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 400px;"
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| ! Consonants
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| | '''p'''
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| | '''t'''
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| | '''k'''
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| | '''m'''
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| | '''n'''
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| | '''s'''
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| | '''h'''
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| | '''ts'''
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| | '''tl'''
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| | '''l'''
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| |-align=center
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| ! Vowels
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| | '''a'''
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| | '''e'''
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| | '''i'''
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| | '''o'''
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| | '''u'''
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| | '''ua'''
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| | '''ue'''
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| | '''ya'''
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| | '''ye'''
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| | '''yo'''
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| |-align=center
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| |}
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| Based on this order, '''ma''' would come before '''ha''', etc. Prenasalized syllables are ordered after their non-prenasalized counterparts, i.e. '''mpa''' comes after '''pyo''' but before '''ta'''. To see the collating sequence in action, look through the [[Kala/lexicon|lexicon]].
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| == Stress ==
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| [[wp:Stress_(linguistics)|Stress]] generally falls on the penultimate syllable, which means that stress is ''de facto'' initial in most lemma given that stems are most often (CVCV). Monosyllabic words are not stressed. So;
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| * '''<u>ma</u>sa''' - /ˈmaːsa/ → '''ma<u>sa</u>ko''' - /maːˈsako/
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| * '''tli<u>ya</u>ma''' - /tɬiːˈjama/ → '''tliya<u>ma</u>lo''' - /tɬiːjaˈmalo/
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| * '''kam''' - /kaːm/ → '''<u>ka</u>myo''' - /ˈkaːmʲo/
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| =Morphology=
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| Kala is a mostly agglutinative language that makes extensive use of compounding, incorporation and derivation. That is, it can add many different prefixes and suffixes to a root until very long words are formed, and a single word can sometimes constitute an entire sentence. The words of Kala can be divided into two basic functional classes: verbs and nouns as content words, and particles and others as functional. Adjectives exist, but they generally behave like verbs and there are very few adjectives that are not derived from either verbal or nominal roots. The few adverbs that exist fall into the class of particles or are derived from verbs. The most important element of Kala lexemes to keep in mind is that they may function as a verb, noun, adjective, or an adverb based on where they fall in the phrase, and any various endings that may be affixed.
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|
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| == Nouns ==
| |
|
| |
| Nouns in '''Kala''' are inflected only for number. Other relevant distinctions are animacy and possession, but these are not marked on the noun itself. Animacy plays a role both for pronoun choice and for the validity of some syntactic constructions.
| |
|
| |
| === Number ===
| |
|
| |
| In general the plural suffix is not used when the plurality of the noun is clear from context. For example, while the English sentence "''there are three dogs''" would use the plural "dogs" instead of the singular "dog", the '''Kala''' sentence '''mita ha'o a''' "''dog three exist''" keeps the word '''mita''' "''dog''" in its unmarked form, as the numeral makes the plural marker redundant.
| |
|
| |
| Nouns are marked for number; plural and collective:
| |
|
| |
| * <b>mita</b> - <small>dog</small> - <i>a dog</i>
| |
| ** <b>mitam</b> - <small>dog-PL</small> - <i>dogs</i>
| |
| ** <b>tlimita</b> - <small>COL-dog</small> - <i>a dog pack / a pack of dogs</i>
| |
| ** <b>tlimitam</b> - <small>COL-dog-PL</small> - <i>dog packs / packs of dogs</i>
| |
|
| |
| When the final syllable of a word contains an <b>m</b>, <b>mp</b>, and sometimes a <b>p</b> the plural marking changes to <b>-lo</b>.
| |
|
| |
| * <b>yama</b> - <small>mountain</small> - <i>a mountain</i>
| |
| ** <b>yamalo</b> - <small>mountain-PL</small> - <i>mountains</i>
| |
| ** <b>tliyama</b> - <small>COL-mountain</small> - <i>a mountain range / range of mountains</i>
| |
| ** <b>tliyamalo</b> - <small>COL-mountain-PL</small> - <i>mountain ranges / ranges of mountains</i>
| |
|
| |
| The collective plural is marked by '''tli'''-, derived from '''tatli''', meaning "''group; collection; gathering''". It is mainly used to indicate collectives of animals, but can also indicate groups of flora, geographic features, and various other groupings. This is called the [[wp:Collective_noun|collective]] plural ('''COL''').
| |
|
| |
| === Gender ===
| |
|
| |
| Gender is not normally marked but can be with the endings <b>-na</b> and <b>-ta</b> to mark the feminine and masculine, respectively or nouns such as '''naka''', '''tlaka''', '''nahi''', or '''tahi''' (''the woman, the man, the girl, the boy''), etc. A gender neutral suffix, '''-nta''' may be used when the gender is unknown or ambiguous.
| |
|
| |
| * <b>kuma</b> - <small>bear</small> - <i>a bear</i> → <b>kumana</b> - <small>bear-FEM</small> - <i>sow</i> → <b>kumata</b> - <small>bear-MASC</small> - <i>boar</i>
| |
| * <b>masa</b> - <small>deer</small> - <i>a deer</i> → <b>masana</b> - <small>deer-FEM</small> - <i>doe</i> → <b>masata</b> - <small>deer-MASC</small> - <i>stag</i>
| |
| * <b>uma</b> - <small>horse</small> - <i>a horse</i> → <b>umana</b> - <small>horse-FEM</small> - <i>mare</i> → <b>umata</b> - <small>horse-MASC</small> - <i>stallion</i>
| |
|
| |
| === Pronouns ===
| |
|
| |
| '''Kala''' agent pronouns are often omitted when the person is obvious from context. There are four persons in Kala. The 4th being inanimate, or indefinite. The pronoun '''na'am''' is used as the 1st person plural exclusive, meaning "We, but not you." The 3rd person plural is irregular, all other pronoun decline regularly. Pronouns do not inflect for gender; if gender is significant, one can use words like '''naka, tlaka, nahi, tahi''' (''the woman, the man, the girl, the boy''), etc.
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| {{col-begin}}
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| {{col-break}}
| |
| Personal pronouns:
| |
|
| |
| * '''na''' - 1st person
| |
| * '''ta''' - 2nd person
| |
| * '''ha''' - 3rd person
| |
| * '''tla''' - 4th person ("it", "one") (used for [[wp:Animacy|inanimate]] nouns)
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| {{col-break}}
| |
| Modifiers:
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|
| |
| * '''-m''' - plural
| |
| * '''-nku''' - [[wp:Reciprocal_pronoun|reciprocal]] (only attaches to plural pronouns)
| |
| * '''e-''' - patient
| |
| * '''-i''' - reflexive
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| * '''-yo''' - possessive
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| Other pronouns include:
| |
|
| |
| * '''tlokua''' - everyone, everybody
| |
| * '''kola''' - someone, somebody; whomever, anyone, anybody
| |
| * '''tlok''' - no one, nobody
| |
| * '''nokua''' - everything
| |
| * '''nola''' - something; whatever, anything
| |
| * '''nok''' - nothing
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
|
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 600px;"
| |
| |+ nkalo
| |
| |-
| |
| !
| |
| ! Agent
| |
| ! Patient
| |
| ! Reflexive
| |
| ! Possessive
| |
| ! Reciprocal
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 1sg
| |
| | '''na''' || '''ena''' || '''na'i''' || '''nayo''' || '''-'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 2sg
| |
| | '''ta''' || '''eta''' || '''ta'i''' || '''tayo''' || '''-'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 3sg
| |
| | '''ha''' || '''eha''' || '''ha'i''' || '''hayo''' || '''-'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 4sg
| |
| | '''tla''' || '''etla''' || '''tla'i''' || '''tlayo''' || '''-'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 1pl<br>1pl exclusive
| |
| | '''nam'''<br>'''na'am''' || '''enam'''<br>'''ena'am''' || '''nami'''<br>'''na'ami''' || '''namyo'''<br>'''na'amyo''' || '''nanku'''<br>'''na'anku'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 2pl
| |
| | '''tam''' || '''etam''' || '''tami''' || '''tamyo''' || '''tanku'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 3pl
| |
| | '''kam''' || '''ekam''' || '''kami''' || '''kamyo''' || '''kanku'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! 4pl
| |
| | '''tlam''' || '''etlam''' || '''tlami''' || '''tlamyo''' || '''tlanku'''
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
| ====Pronominal constructions====
| |
|
| |
| The agent and patient pronouns are linked in most constructions. That means that the agent and the patient form one word. This is done with the pronominal patient marking affix -'''e'''-.
| |
|
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''na’eha anya'''
| |
| : <small>1s-P.3s see</small>
| |
| : ''I see her.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''kameta motoyek'''
| |
| : <small>3pl-P.2s remember-PST-NEG</small>
| |
| : ''They didn’t remember you.''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''tametla yohauek'''
| |
| : <small>2pl-P.4s have-DES-NEG</small>
| |
| : ''You (all) don’t want to have it.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''nye ta’ena tapya ka'''
| |
| : <small>reason 2s-P.1s follow Q</small>
| |
| : ''Why are you following me?''
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
|
| |
| === Reflexives and Reciprocals ===
| |
| Kala handles reflexives and reciprocals using suffixes that can be added to either the pronoun or the verb. The reflexive suffix added to pronouns is –'''i''', when added to verbs it is –'''ki''', from '''ki''' meaning “''self; essence''”. The reciprocal suffix added to pronouns and verbs is –'''nku''', , from '''anku''' meaning “''reciprocate; [in] return''”.
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''na'i sepaye'''
| |
| : <small>1s.REFL injure-PST</small>
| |
| : ''I hurt myself.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''ha'i tlela'''
| |
| : <small>3s.REFL bathe</small>
| |
| : ''She bathes herself.''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''kanku ke onta nayo itsa'''
| |
| : <small>3pl.RECP O parent 1s.GEN love</small>
| |
| : ''My parents love each other.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''na'anku amyapak'''
| |
| : <small>1pl.EXCL.RECP like-ABIL-NEG</small>
| |
| : ''We (but not you) are not able to like each other.''
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
|
| |
| In order to differentiate non-singular reflexives from reciprocals, -'''li''' (“''each; every''”) can be added – to the subject for reflexives, and to the object for reciprocals. Note however that this construction usually implies that all members of the subject group were actually affected by the action.
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''tanakoli matakiye'''
| |
| : <small>fight-AG-each kill-REFL-PST</small>
| |
| : ''Each one of the warriors killed himself.''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''kanku ke tanakoli matakiye'''
| |
| : <small>3pl.RECP O fight-AG-each kill-REFL-PST</small>
| |
| : ''The warriors killed each other ['''and nobody survived'''].''
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
|
| |
| === Determiners & Demostratives ===
| |
|
| |
| The demonstratives can be prefixed to any noun to show [[Wikipedia:Deixis|deixis]]. Kala makes a three-way distinction. Typically there is a distinction between [[Wikipedia:Demonstrative#Distal_and_proximal_demonstratives|proximal]] or first person (objects near to the speaker), [[Wikipedia:Demonstrative#Distal_and_proximal_demonstratives|medial]] or second person (objects near to the addressee), and [[Wikipedia:Demonstrative#Distal_and_proximal_demonstratives|distal]] or third person (objects far from both).
| |
|
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''itla''' ('''i-''') - this (near me)
| |
| * '''uatla''' ('''ua-''') - that (near you)
| |
| * '''yetla''' ('''ye-''') - that (over there)
| |
|
| |
| Examples:
| |
|
| |
| * '''imitami''' - <small>PROX-dog-few</small> - ''These few dogs''
| |
| * '''yemitampa''' - <small>DIST-dog-many</small> - ''Those many dogs (over there)''
| |
| * '''uamitali''' - <small>MED-dog-each</small> - ''Each dog (each of those dogs) (near you)''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| Quantifiers follow the noun that modify.
| |
|
| |
| * '''kua''' ('''-kua''') - all; every; whole
| |
| * '''oli''' ('''-li''') - each; every
| |
| * '''ula''' ('''-la''') - whatever; any; some
| |
| * '''mi''' ('''-mi''') - few; little
| |
| * '''nke''' ('''-k''') - none
| |
| * '''mpa''' ('''-mpa''') - many; much; a lot
| |
| * '''maha''' - more; plus
| |
| * '''ohi''' - less; fewer
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
| === Correlatives ===
| |
|
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 800px;"
| |
| |+ uatse
| |
| |-
| |
| !
| |
| ! Proximal<br>'''i-'''
| |
| ! Medial<br>'''ua-'''
| |
| ! Distal<br>'''ye-'''
| |
| ! Inclusive<br>'''-kua'''
| |
| ! Negative<br>'''-k'''
| |
| ! Indefinite<br>'''-la'''
| |
| |-
| |
| ! mo<br>''(place)''
| |
| | '''hina'''<br>here || '''uana'''<br>there || '''yemua'''<br>over there || '''mokua'''<br>everywhere || '''mok'''<br>nowhere || '''mola'''<br>somewhere; anywhere
| |
| |-
| |
| ! ko<br>''(person)''
| |
| | '''iko'''<br>this person || '''uako'''<br>that person || '''yeko'''<br>that person<br>(over there) || '''tlokua'''<br>everyone || '''tlok'''<br>no one || '''kola'''<br>someone; anyone
| |
| |-
| |
| ! uku<br>''(amount)''
| |
| | '''iku'''<br>this much || '''uaku'''<br>that much || '''-''' || '''kua'''<br>all; every|| '''ok'''<br>none || '''ula'''<br>some; any
| |
| |-
| |
| ! ama<br>''(time)''
| |
| | '''ima'''<br>now, at present || '''uama'''<br>then; at that time || '''-''' || '''kuama'''<br>always || '''amak'''<br>never || '''tlama'''<br>sometime; anytime
| |
| |-
| |
| ! so<br>''(kind, type)''
| |
| | '''iso'''<br>this kind || '''so'o'''<br>that kind || '''yeso'''<br>that kind<br>(over there) || '''sokua'''<br>all kinds || '''sok'''<br>no kind (at all) || '''sola'''<br>some/any kind
| |
| |-
| |
| ! no<br>''(thing)''
| |
| | '''itla'''<br>this || '''uatla'''<br>that || '''yetla'''<br>that<br>(over there) || '''nokua'''<br>everything || '''nok'''<br>nothing; none || '''nola'''<br>something; anything
| |
| |-
| |
| ! to<br>''(manner, way)''
| |
| | '''yoto'''<br>thus; like this; this way|| '''uato'''<br>that way || '''ato'''<br>that way<br>(over there) || '''tokua'''<br>every way || '''tok'''<br>no way || '''tola'''<br>somehow; anyway
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
| == Verbs ==
| |
|
| |
| '''Kala''' relies on analytic serial verb constructions, and can therefore get by with very little verbal morphology. Each verb has at most two possible forms: the [[wp:Dynamic_verb|''active'']] and the [[wp:Stative_verb|''stative'']]. Passivity is marked on the subject thus verbs are unmarked and must be analyzed based on surrounding morphology. Active verbs solely denote actions and occurrences and never states in Kala. Stative verbs are the words that modify nouns in an attributive and often adjectival way. They often express a state like a quality or result. Verbs can be marked with several suffixes to add or change meaning. The modals and tense affixes can be added in different order to a verb to create a new meaning; their placement is not always fixed. The negative, adverbial, and plural endings are always final, while other affixes can be varied, but in general they should be ordered:
| |
|
| |
| <tt>STEM-(SIZE/IMPORTANCE)-(MOOD)-(ASPECT)-(TENSE)-(NEGATIVE)</tt>
| |
|
| |
| Example:
| |
|
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 600px;"
| |
| |+
| |
| |-
| |
| ! Verb Stem
| |
| ! Size/Importance
| |
| ! Mood
| |
| ! Aspect
| |
| ! Tense
| |
| ! Negative
| |
| |-
| |
| | '''empa''' || '''-hi''' || '''-pa''' || '''-nko''' || '''-ye''' || '''-k'''
| |
| |-
| |
| | run || DIM || ABIL || PROG || PST || NEG
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''na empahipankoyek'''
| |
| : <small>1s run-DIM-able-PROG-PST-NEG</small>
| |
| : ''I was not able to keep jogging.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''na empahik'''
| |
| : <small>1s run-DIM-able-NEG</small>
| |
| : ''I don’t jog.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''na empankoye'''
| |
| : <small>1s run-PROG-PST</small>
| |
| : ''I was running.''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''na empa’uk'''
| |
| : <small>1s run-ABIL-NEG</small>
| |
| : ''I can’t run.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''na empayepak'''
| |
| : <small>1s run-PST-ABIL-NEG</small>
| |
| : ''I couldn’t run.''
| |
|
| |
| * '''na empahahye'''
| |
| : <small>1s run-AUG-REC</small>
| |
| : ''I just sprinted.''
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
|
| |
| === Tense ===
| |
|
| |
| Kala has three simple tenses; past, present, and future. Present tense is unmarked. However, past ('''-ye''') and future ('''-tli''') tenses can be modified to include immediate future ("''is about to''..."), distant future ("''will...in a long while''"), recent past ("''just'' ..."), and remote past ("...''a long while ago''"). These distinctions are made with the augmentative and diminutive endings '''-ha''' and '''-hi'''. Kala’s distinguishing three levels of both past and future time is a unique typological trait. The use of the variations of past and future are not subject to strict grammatical rules and are a question of pragmatics. The recent and immediate markers are most commonly used for near-scope, that is, things which have just happened or will happen very soon. Of the triad tense–aspect–mood this section will only cover basic uses of the marked tense categories, followed by a discussion of complex tense combinations such as past-in-future. Subsequent sections will provide more insight into the morphological marking of aspectual categories; and the following section deals with the morphology of mood marking in Kala. Verbs in Kala are unmarked for present tense, as it is the normal mode of speaking. Besides being used to comment or report on current events, the present tense is also used to make statements of general truth. Also, Kala does not strictly mark its verbs for past tense in narrative discourses (instead the adverbial '''aye''' (“''it was''”) will start the first phrase); verbs may therefore appear as a present-time reference in spite of recounting past events, whether historical or fictional.
| |
|
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 700px;"
| |
| |+ eme
| |
| |-
| |
| !
| |
| ! ''Kala''
| |
| ! ''gloss''
| |
| ! ''English''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | remote past
| |
| | '''kamahi hina<span style="color:red">yeha</span>'''<br>or <span style="color:red">-'''hai'''</span>
| |
| | <small>town-DIM be.here-[[wp:Past_tense|REM]]</small>
| |
| | ''There was a village here (long ago).<br>''(before the lifetime of the speaker)
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | past
| |
| | '''naka mita anya<span style="color:red">ye</span>'''
| |
| | <small>woman dog see-[[wp:Past_tense|PST]]</small>
| |
| | ''The woman saw the dog.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | recent past
| |
| | '''ota namyo akya<span style="color:red">yehi</span>'''<br>or <span style="color:red">-'''hye'''</span>
| |
| | <small>father 1pl.GEN wake-[[wp:Past_tense|REC]]</small>
| |
| | ''Our father just woke.<br>''(action just finished)
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | present
| |
| | '''mita tahi yatsi'''
| |
| | <small>dog boy bite</small>
| |
| | ''The dog bites the boy.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | future
| |
| | '''naka tahi tlepa<span style="color:red">tli</span>'''
| |
| | <small>woman boy teach-[[wp:Future_tense|FUT]]</small>
| |
| | ''The woman will teach the boy.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | immediate future
| |
| | '''na tlela<span style="color:red">tlihi</span>'''<br>or <span style="color:red">-'''tlai'''</span>
| |
| | <small>1s bathe-[[wp:Future_tense|FUT]]</small>
| |
| | ''I'll bathe soon.''<br>(within the day)
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | distant future
| |
| | '''panam opua<span style="color:red">tliha</span>'''
| |
| | <small>rain-PL end-[[wp:Future_tense|FUT]]</small>
| |
| | ''The rains will end.''<br>(months from now)
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
| The present tense can show immediacy by using the adverb '''ima''', "''now; at this time''"; If a temporal adverb is used, the tense suffix may be omitted:
| |
|
| |
| * '''ima mita ina''' - <small>now dog eat</small> - ''The dog is eating right now.''
| |
| * '''yomaye nam ina''' – <small>yesterday 1pl eat</small> – ''We ate yesterday.''
| |
| * '''anyotli ha huato''' – <small>year-FUT 3s move.about</small> – ''He will move next year.''
| |
| * '''semaye kamena ke mita yeta''' – <small>week-PST 3pl-P.1s O dog give</small> – ''(A) week(s) ago they gave me a dog.''
| |
|
| |
| Note that the recent and the remote past tense are not generally marked if the past context is clear, for instance, when a past context has already been established in discourse. This may also happen explicitly by using a temporal adverbial such as '''yomaye''' (“''yesterday''”) or '''anyoye nye’o''' (“''a hundred years ago''”). In the presence of an explicit temporal adverb, redundant tense marking is also dropped subsequently. Like the past tense, the future is often not explicitly marked if the time frame is clear from context or has been clarified with such adverbials as “''tomorrow''”.
| |
|
| |
| “''Already''”, past in past & past in future; so far, we have only dealt with tense marking from the point of view of the present. However, it is also possible to refer to an event which precedes another event in the past. Kala uses the particle '''tso''' ("''already; since''") to indicate actions that took place prior to the primary tense of the verb. It is most often placed at the beginning of a verb phrase.
| |
|
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''tso mikelo yetla inaye'''
| |
| : <small>already Michael DIST-4s eat-PST</small>
| |
| : ''Michael already ate that (before).''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''tso maliya yetla inatli ama nam talatli'''
| |
| : <small>already Mary DIST-4s eat-FUT time 1pl arrive-FUT</small>
| |
| : ''Mary will have already eaten that (before) when we (will) arrive.''
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
|
| |
| === Aspect ===
| |
|
| |
| There are four aspects in Kala. The progressive, also called the [[Wikipedia:Continuous_and_progressive_aspects|continuous]] ['''CONT'''], this is used to express an incomplete action or state in progress at a specific time. It is marked with '''-nko''', from '''nkoso''' - "''to continue; proceed; progress''". The [[Wikipedia:Perfective_aspect|perfective]] aspect indicates that an action is completed ['''PFV''']. It is often translated by the English present perfect (''have done some-thing''). It is marked with '''-pua''', from '''opua''' - "''to end; finish; complete''". The [[Wikipedia:Inchoative_aspect|inchoative]] aspect refers to the beginning of a state ['''INCH''']. It is marked with '''-mu''', from '''mula''' - "''to begin; start; initiate''". The [[Wikipedia:Frequentative|frequentative]] aspect refers to a repeated action ['''FREQ''']. It is marked with '''-nua''', from '''nua''' - "''frequent; often; regular''".
| |
|
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 700px;"
| |
| !
| |
| ! ''Kala''
| |
| ! ''gloss''
| |
| ! ''English''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Continuous
| |
| | '''na ke niye puku<span style="color:red">nko</span>'''
| |
| | <small>1s O undergarment wear-[[wp:Continuous_and_progressive_aspects|CONT]]</small>
| |
| | ''I am wearing underclothes.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Frequentative
| |
| | '''tlaka ke apua tlato<span style="color:red">nua</span>'''
| |
| | <small>man O song recite-[[wp:Frequentative|FREQ]]</small>
| |
| | ''The man recites the song repetitively.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Inchoative
| |
| | '''nahi yoti<span style="color:red">mu</span>'''
| |
| | <small>girl play-[[wp:Inchoative_aspect|INCH]]</small>
| |
| | ''The girl begins to play.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Perfective
| |
| | '''kam ina<span style="color:red">pua</span>'''
| |
| | <small>3pl eat-[[wp:Perfective_aspect|PFV]]</small>
| |
| | ''They have eaten.''
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
| A few aspectual derivations:
| |
|
| |
| * '''kuali''' - drill; bore; dig into → '''kualinua''' - cultivate, farm
| |
| * '''oma''' – shout; yell → '''omanua''' - scream
| |
| * '''noko''' – stay; remain → '''nokonua''' - survive, be resilient
| |
| * '''moku''' – sleep; rest → '''mokumu''' – fall asleep
| |
| * '''yelo''' – ice → '''yelomu''' – freeze; solidify → '''yelopua''' – frozen; solid
| |
|
| |
| === Mood ===
| |
|
| |
| Besides various aspects, '''Kala''' also marks moods other than [[wp:Realis_mood|realis]]: irrealis, imperative, hortative, and negative. These are also expressed by suffixes on the verb and typically follow aspectual marking where it is expressed by a suffix. As is common throughout natural and constructed languages, the indicative mood is unmarked. Subjunctive, conditional, and imperative moods are marked lexically, by various particles, and as such are covered in detail in the “particles” of this grammar.
| |
|
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 900px;"
| |
| !
| |
| ! ''Kala''
| |
| ! ''gloss''
| |
| ! ''English''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Abilitative
| |
| | '''na mokuye<span style="color:red">pa</span>k'''
| |
| | <small>1s sleep-PST-[[wp:Natchez_language#Preverbs|ABIL]]-NEG</small>
| |
| | ''I was unable to sleep.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Attemptative
| |
| | '''neko ke panya mata<span style="color:red">pya</span>'''
| |
| | <small>cat O mouse kill-ATT</small>
| |
| | ''The cat is trying to kill the mouse.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Desiderative
| |
| | '''otsokai ka'e moli yala<span style="color:red">ue</span>'''
| |
| | <small>wolf-red toward forest go-[[wp:Desiderative_mood|DES]]</small>
| |
| | ''Redwolf wants/intends to go to the forest.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Dubitative
| |
| | '''ha tsakahue<span style="color:red">ke</span>'''
| |
| | <small>3s home-LOC-[[wp:Irrealis_mood#Dubitative|DUB]]</small>
| |
| | ''I guess he is at home.'' lit: ''He is at home, supposedly.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Hortative
| |
| | '''yala<span style="color:red">kya</span>'''
| |
| | <small>walk-[[wp:Hortative|HORT]]</small>
| |
| | ''Let's go!''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Necessitative
| |
| | '''mita ina<span style="color:red">he</span>'''
| |
| | <small>dog eat-[[wp:Irrealis_mood#Necessitative|NEC]]</small>
| |
| | ''The dog needs to eat.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Negative
| |
| | '''naku nayo hina<span style="color:red">k</span>'''
| |
| | <small>sister 1s-GEN be.here-[[wp:Affirmative_and_negative|NEG]]</small>
| |
| | ''My sister is not here.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Permissive
| |
| | '''ta ke hina sima<span style="color:red">myo</span>k'''
| |
| | <small>2s O here sit-[[wp:Irrealis_mood#Permissive|PERM]]-NEG</small>
| |
| | ''You are not allowed to sit here.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Precative
| |
| | '''ke asi yeta<span style="color:red">te</span>'''
| |
| | <small>O salt give-[[wp:Irrealis_mood#Precative|PREC]]</small>
| |
| | ''Will you please pass me the salt?''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Preparative
| |
| | '''tahi moku<span style="color:red">sue</span>'''
| |
| | <small>boy sleep-PREP</small>
| |
| | ''The boy is ready to sleep.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Propositive
| |
| | '''ta moku<span style="color:red">ne</span>'''
| |
| | <small>2s sleep-[[wp:Propositive_mood|PROP]]</small>
| |
| | ''You should sleep.''
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| The negative mood (always marked finally) is indicated by the suffix –'''k''' or '''–nke''' (when the last syllable contains /k/).
| |
|
| |
| * '''mita inayek''' - <small>dog eat-PST-NEG</small> - ''The dog did not eat.''
| |
| * '''mita mokunke''' - <small>dog sleep-NEG</small> - ''The dog does not sleep.''
| |
|
| |
| === Evidentiality ===
| |
|
| |
| Verb clauses in '''Kala''' may optionally be marked for evidentiality, particularly if the described event took place in the past and/or when the speaker was not directly involved in it. This set of six verbal suffixes indicating the nature of the evidence supporting a statement. These morphemes are not obligatory; however, the lack of an evidential in a main clause not marked as interrogative or irrealis is usually taken as a sign of pure speculation and thus likely to raise suspicions about the statement's truth.
| |
|
| |
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 900px;"
| |
| !
| |
| ! ''Kala''
| |
| ! ''gloss''
| |
| ! ''English''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | "so-called" *
| |
| | '''kamahi<span style="color:red">tai</span> taha'''
| |
| | <small>village-so.called be.big</small>
| |
| | ''The so-called village is large.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Dubitative [DUB]
| |
| | '''ha tsakahue<span style="color:red">ke</span>'''<br>'''kam inya<span style="color:red">ke</span>'''
| |
| | <small>3s home-LOC-DUB</small><br><small>3pl hunger-DUB</small>
| |
| | ''I guess he is at home.'' <tt>lit: He is at home, supposedly.</tt><br>''(It's doubtful that) they are hungry.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Hearsay [HSY]
| |
| | '''ha ina<span style="color:red">nu</span>'''
| |
| | <small>3s eat-HSY</small>
| |
| | ''She eats (I hear).'' / ''(It's said) She is eating.''
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Visual Sensory [VIS]
| |
| | '''ke kana kupaye<span style="color:red">nya</span>'''
| |
| | <small>O chief die-PST-VIS</small>
| |
| | ''The chief died.'' <tt>and I saw it</tt>
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Assumptive [ASS]
| |
| | '''naka hina<span style="color:red">ho</span>'''
| |
| | <small>woman be.here-ASS</small>
| |
| | ''The woman must be here. (I assume)''<br><small>(also used as "assertive")</small>
| |
| |-align=center
| |
| | Evidential [EVID]
| |
| | '''nahi nya katso ke punka tsame<span style="color:red">tsi</span>'''
| |
| | <small>girl for meal O fruit gather-EVID</small>
| |
| | ''The girl is collecting fruit for dinner.''
| |
| |}
| |
|
| |
| * -<span style="color:red">tai</span> <small>indicates that the speaker thinks what he is referencing is not actually represented by the noun</small>
| |
|
| |
| * -<span style="color:red">tsi</span> <small>indicates inferred from physical or situational evidence</small>
| |
|
| |
| It is worth noting that none of the evidentials distinguish between direct and indirect evidence, i.e. they only assert that the relevant knowledge was indeed acquired in the specified way, but not necessarily by the speaker himself. By whom exactly can only be deduced from context.
| |
|
| |
| =Derivational morphology=
| |
|
| |
| Because '''Kala''' has only two main parts of speech ([[wp:Content_word|content]] and [[wp:function_word|functional words]]), new words formed by derivation should be analyzed based on context. [[wp:Function_word|Functional]] words can rarely be used to form new words, but this is typically to form extensions of functions, or new functions.
| |
|
| |
| == Compounding ==
| |
|
| |
| New nouns are usually created through head-initial compounding, using both nominal and verbal stems as the second, dependent element of the compound. The resulting lexical entries usually behave as single phonological words, which, however, have four full syllables: '''kuatlatloha''' "grass snake". Compounding of more than two elements is not common.
| |
|
| |
| * '''kayapusu''' - "earthquake" → '''kaya''' - earth + '''pusu''' - vibrate
| |
| * '''asuaseka''' - "leather" → '''asua''' - skin + '''seka''' - dry
| |
|
| |
| Clipped compounding does occur and is distinctive. This clipping occurs consistently in content words, but is usually blocked in functional words and auxiliaries. Syllables are clipped based on euphonic choices but must remain recognizable and retain grammatical functionality.
| |
|
| |
| * '''naka''' – woman & '''kana''' – leader → '''nakkan''' – chieftess; queen
| |
| * '''naua''' – to tie & '''ualo''' – bring → '''naualo''' – get someone involved in one's trouble
| |
| * '''uaso''' – cup; jug; vessel & '''sitsa''' – hot; heat → '''uassitsa''' – flask; thermos; bottle
| |
| * '''yasa''' – wind & '''sitsa''' – hot; heat → '''yassitsa''' – warm breeze
| |
| * '''yasa''' – wind & '''yesa''' – peace → '''yassa''' – peaceful-wind
| |
|
| |
| There are also numerous [[Kala/affixes|'''affixes''']] used to form new meanings. A few examples are;
| |
|
| |
| * '''tiyasu''' - "bakery" → '''tiya''' - bread + '''-su''' - market; shop
| |
| * '''onyomo''' - "school" → '''onyo''' - learn + '''-mo''' - place; location
| |
| * '''kuhasa''' - "kitchen" → '''kuha''' - cook + '''-sa''' - room; chamber
| |
| * '''pyetampu''' - "egg-shaped" → '''pyeta''' - egg + '''-mpu''' - shape; form
| |
|
| |
| == Derivation ==
| |
|
| |
| In Kala, new words can be formed by adding prefixes or suffixes to existing words, or by combining two existing words as a compound noun. It's also possible to reuse adjectives as nouns, and verbs as nouns, without adding an affix.
| |
|
| |
| The most common ending (other than tense, aspect, and modals) is the adverbial ending –'''n'''. It is used to mean ''"similar to ...", "-like", "-ish", "full of ..." or "made of ..."'', and ''"pertaining to ..."'' or ''"to do with ..."''.
| |
|
| |
| Here are some common examples:
| |
|
| |
| * '''kyo’a''' - "quiet" → '''kyo’an''' – ''quietly''
| |
| * '''enke''' - "simple" → '''enken''' – ''simply''
| |
| * '''ntahi''' - "child" → '''ntahin''' – ''childish; childlike''
| |
| * '''putsu''' - "monster" → '''putsun''' – ''monstrous''
| |
| * '''yoti''' - "game" → '''yotin''' – ''playful''
| |
| * '''hanya''' - "nation" → '''hanyan''' – ''national''
| |
| * '''kuaha''' - "science" → '''kuahan''' – ''scientific''
| |
| * '''olo''' - "gold" → '''olon''' – ''made of gold''
| |
|
| |
| === Verbalization ===
| |
|
| |
| Causative verbs (as well as achievement verbs) can be formed from other verbs by adding [[Kala/affixes#mya|-'''mya''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#ma|'''muya''']] - ''"do, make, cause"'') or [[Kala/affixes#la|-'''la''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#a|'''ela''']] - ''"become; change into; turn into"''). This type of derivation is fairly common; however, verbs created in this way are syntactically defective and tend to appear only in serial verb constructions.
| |
|
| |
| * '''tinamya''' - "bend" ← '''tina''' - be bent
| |
| * '''pitamya''' - "hollow out" ← '''pita''' - be hollow; void
| |
| * '''enomya''' - "annoy, bother" ← '''eno''' - be angry
| |
| * '''tsipuela''' - "slow down" ← '''tsipue''' - be slow
| |
| * '''kyolola''' - "speed up" ← '''kyolo''' - be quick
| |
|
| |
| Intensive verbs can be formed from other verbs by adding [[Kala/affixes#mpa|-'''mpa''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#mpa|'''mpa''']] - ''"many; much; very"''), or more commonly [[Kala/affixes#hu|-'''hu''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#ka|'''kyohu''']] - ''"be drastic; extreme; aggressive"'').
| |
|
| |
| * '''ketsahu''' - "dismiss, reject, repudiate" ← '''ketsa''' - doubt
| |
| * '''amyampa''' - "fall in love with" ← '''amya''' - be fond of; like; prefer (of people)
| |
|
| |
| Adjective-like stative verbs which name an associated quality may be formed from nouns by [[Kala/affixes#n|-'''n''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#na|'''no''']] - ''"thing" (-ish, -ly, -ous)'').
| |
|
| |
| * '''timan''' - "be cruel, be bloody" ← '''tima''' - blood
| |
| * '''amyan''' - "be welcoming, be hospitable" ← '''amya''' - be fond of
| |
|
| |
| === Nominalization ===
| |
|
| |
| ==== Agentive ====
| |
|
| |
| Nouns referring to a human subject of a verb (''usually in a habitual sense'') can be formed with the agentive suffix [[Kala/affixes#ko|-'''ko''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#ka|'''ko''']] - ''"individual; person"''). This suffix changes to '''-tlo''' when a [[wp:Velar_stop|velar stop]] is present in the preceding syllable.
| |
|
| |
| * '''kitlako''' - "craftsman" ← '''kitla''' - create; invent; make-up
| |
| * '''sutako''' - "inhabitant (of)" ← '''suta''' - live; reside; dwell; inhabit; settle
| |
| * '''yekatlo''' - "unmarried young adult" ← '''yeka''' - be separate, be on one's own
| |
| * '''makatlo''' - "musician" ← '''maka''' - music; play ~; tune
| |
| * '''tsaniko''' - "storyteller" ← '''tsani''' - recite, tell (a story)
| |
|
| |
| ==== Instrumental ====
| |
|
| |
| Instrument nouns and names for tools and other inanimates can be derived from verbs or from other nouns by adding the suffix [[Kala/affixes#nyo|-'''nyo''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#ma|'''mayo''']] - ''"device; equipment; tool"'').
| |
|
| |
| * '''hitanyo''' - "atlatl (spear-thrower)" ← '''hita''' - throw; cast; expel
| |
| * '''amonyo''' - "handle (for carrying)" ← '''amo''' - transport; carry
| |
| * '''kusunyo''' - "clasp, brooch, fibula" ← '''kusu''' - squeeze
| |
| * '''toponyo''' - "lock" ← '''topo''' - door; gate
| |
|
| |
| ==== Locative ====
| |
|
| |
| Location nouns can be formed from both nouns and verbs by several suffixes. These indicate specific places where either something happens, or something resides there are a few affixes which modify both verbs and nouns.
| |
|
| |
| [[Kala/affixes#mo|-'''mo''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#ma|'''mo''']] - ''"location; place; site"''). This suffix is used to form the general idea of where something happens or resides.
| |
|
| |
| * '''tanamo''' - "battlefield; boxing ring; wrestling mat, etc." ← '''tana''' - fight; combat
| |
| * '''uelomo''' - "bicycle-place; bike path; bike rack, etc." ← '''uelo''' - bicycle; bike
| |
| * '''inamo''' - "eat-place; dining room; restaurant" [This can also mean food-place; pantry, etc.] ← '''ina''' - food; eat
| |
| * '''onyomo''' - "learn-place; school" ← '''onyo''' - learn; study
| |
|
| |
| [[Kala/affixes#su|-'''su''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#sa|'''suku''']] - ''"market; shop; store"''). This suffix is used to specify a business where items are produced and/or sold.
| |
|
| |
| * '''tiyasu''' - "bread-shop; bakery" ← '''tiya''' - bread
| |
| * '''inasu''' - "food-market; grocery store; restaurant" ← '''ina''' - food; eat
| |
| * '''uelosu''' - "bicycle-shop" ← '''uelo''' - bicycle; bike
| |
|
| |
| [[Kala/affixes#kyo|-'''kyo''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#ha|'''hakyo''']] - ''"college; school; university"''). This suffix is used to specify a location where students learn. This can also be used to indicate a school of thought, or ideology.
| |
|
| |
| * '''tanakyo''' - "dojo; martial arts training academy; etc." ← '''tana''' - fight; combat
| |
| * '''kuhakyo''' - "culinary-school; chef’s academy" ← '''kuha''' - cook; prepare food
| |
| * '''tsiyakyo''' - "liberalism" ← '''tsiya''' - freedom; liberty
| |
| * '''ya'akyo''' - "medical-school" ← '''ya'a''' - medicine; drug; cure
| |
|
| |
| [[Kala/affixes#sa|-'''sa''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#sa|'''sala''']] - ''"chamber; room; section"''). This is more specific than
| |
| [[Kala/affixes#mo|-'''mo''']] and used primarily for spaces inside buildings.
| |
|
| |
| * '''kuhasa''' - "cook-room; kitchen" ← '''kuha''' - cook; prepare food
| |
| * '''mokusa''' - "sleep-room; bedroom" ← '''moku''' - sleep; rest
| |
| * '''inasa''' - "eat-room; dining room" ← '''ina''' - food; eat
| |
| * '''onyosa''' - "learn-room; classroom" ← '''onyo''' - learn; study
| |
|
| |
| ==== Diminutive ====
| |
|
| |
| Diminutive nouns and endearment terms can be formed from verbs and other nouns by adding the suffix [[Kala/affixes#hi|-'''hi''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#a|'''ahi''']] - ''"few; small"''). This becomes '''-ki''' after a syllable that contains a [[wp:Glottal_fricative|glottal fricative]].
| |
|
| |
| * '''mukuhi''' - "blade" ← '''muku''' - knife
| |
| * '''umahi''' - "foal" ← '''uma''' - horse; equine
| |
| * '''mitahi''' - "puppy" ← '''mita''' - dog; canine
| |
| * '''ohuaki''' - "indulgence" ← '''ohua''' - luxurious; extravagant
| |
|
| |
| ==== Augmentative ====
| |
|
| |
| Augmentative nouns can be formed from verbs and other nouns by adding the suffix [[Kala/affixes#ha|-'''ha''']] (from [[Kala/lexicon#ta|'''taha''']] - ''"big; large; grand"''). This becomes '''-ka''' after a syllable that contains a [[wp:Glottal_fricative|glottal fricative]].
| |
|
| |
| * '''kamaha''' - "city" ← '''kama''' - village; town
| |
| * '''ohaka''' - "dislocate one's jaw" ← '''oha''' - yawn; open one's mouth
| |
| * '''mosaha''' - "epic; novel" ← '''mosa''' - book; letter; scroll
| |
| * '''tiniha''' - "hurricane" ← '''tini''' - spiral; whorl
| |
|
| |
| ==== Honorific ====
| |
|
| |
| Honorific nouns can be formed from other nouns by prefixing [[Kala/affixes#o|'''o'''-]].
| |
|
| |
| * '''omasa''' - "stag" ← '''masa''' - deer; cervine
| |
| * '''okama''' - "capital" ← '''kama''' - town; village
| |
|
| |
| =Particles=
| |
|
| |
| Particles in Kala cover a broad spectrum of what are more accurately called function words. These include adverbs, prepositions (more accurately locative or relative verbs), conjunctions, interjections, onomatopes, and structural particles.
| |
|
| |
| ==Locative Verbs==
| |
|
| |
| Kala does not have prepositions (or postpositions) as a distinct part of speech. Instead, many locative verbs can be used as adpositionals, in which case they precede the noun they modify. There is one general locative (-'''hue''') which is affixed to nouns (and occasionally verbs) to indicate the sense of ''“at; in; on”''. Here are some common verbs used as adpositions:
| |
|
| |
| * -'''hue''' – in; at; on (general locative)
| |
| * '''nahe''' – within; inside
| |
| * '''nyaue''' – out; outside of; exterior
| |
| * '''ma’e''' – before; in front of
| |
| * '''pue''' – behind; after; in back of
| |
| * '''ua’e''' – above; over; on
| |
| * '''tahe''' – below; under; beneath; bottom
| |
| * '''ya’e''' – near; close to
| |
| * '''uaye''' – away (from)
| |
| * '''maye''' – between; among
| |
|
| |
| The above are used as prepositions, but can also function strictly as verbs.
| |
|
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''mita tahe yempa ina'''
| |
| : <small>dog under table eat</small>
| |
| : ''The dog is eating under the table.''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''mita ke yempa tahe'''
| |
| : <small>dog table be.under</small>
| |
| : ''The dog is under the table.''
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
|
| |
| The suffix -'''la''' (from '''yala''' ''“go; walk; travel”'') forms an allative (or motive) preposition, expressing movement in the indicated direction, stopping at the position indicated by the locative:
| |
|
| |
| * '''nahela topu''' – ''into bed''
| |
| * '''pahela ke ana tayo''' – ''onto your head''
| |
| * '''tsayela tsaka''' – ''up to the house''
| |
|
| |
| The locative/allative pair works like English on/onto, in/into, but in Kala this distinction is made for all locatives: you must distinguish between them:
| |
|
| |
| * '''pue’ela kuanu''' – ''go behind a bush'' - (motion implied → allative)
| |
| * '''pue kuanu koma''' – ''hide behind a bush'' - (no motion → locative)
| |
|
| |
| =Syntax=
| |
|
| |
| Kala has an extremely regular grammar, with very few exceptions to its rules. Sentences are made up of one or more phrases. Each phrase consists of a verb (optionally followed by modifying particles) and a subject (optionally followed by modifying particles). The subject, if understood, can be omitted at the end of an utterance: '''pana''' ("''It is raining.''") '''pana!''' ("''Rain!''") An utterance can be anything from an interjection to a story.
| |
|
| |
| ==Basic Sentences==
| |
|
| |
| The importance of word order can be seen by comparing the following sentences:
| |
|
| |
| {{col-begin}}
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''mita tlaka anya'''
| |
| : <small>dog man see</small>
| |
| : ''The dog sees the man.''
| |
| {{col-break}}
| |
| * '''tlaka mita anya'''
| |
| : <small>man dog see</small>
| |
| : ''The man sees the dog.''
| |
| {{col-end}}
| |
| In both sentences, the words are identical: '''mita''' – “''dog''”, '''tlaka''' – “''man''”, '''anya''' - “''eye; see''”. The only way to know who is seeing whom is by the order of the words in the sentence. Intransitive (including those of the existential type) clauses in Kala minimally consist of a subject followed by an intransitive verb, giving SV word order.
| |
| {{col-begin}}
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''nta’i moku'''
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| : <small>baby sleep</small>
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| : ''The baby sleeps.''
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''sama nala'''
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| : <small>sun shine</small>
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| : ''The sun shines.''
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| {{col-end}}
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| Transitive clauses follow a SOV pattern and grammatically require the object particle '''ke'''.
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| {{col-begin}}
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''ona ke matla kuha'''
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| : <small>mother O stew cook</small>
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| : ''(The) mother is cooking (the) stew.''
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''tasako ke masami yake'''
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| : <small>hunt-AG O deer-PAU pursue</small>
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| : ''The hunters are chasing some deer.''
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| {{col-end}}
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|
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| ==Predicates==
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|
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| In the simplest form, the adjective simply appears after the noun, in verbal position. Many statements that would be phrased as adjectival predicates in English are preferably expressed with stative intransitive verbs in Kala, requiring no copula. (For simplicity, such verbs are glossed without “be” in interlinears.)
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|
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| {{col-begin}}
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''mita hikya'''
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| : <small>dog old</small>
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| : ''The dog is old.''
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''nahi tayo aya'''
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| : <small>daughter 2s.GEN beautiful</small>
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| : ''Your daughter is beautiful.''
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| {{col-end}}
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|
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| The same phrases can be formed using the copula '''a''', this is grammatical but bulky and jarring.
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|
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| {{col-begin}}
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''mita hikya a'''
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| : <small>dog old COP</small>
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| : ''The dog is old.''
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''nahi tayo aya a'''
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| : <small>daughter 2s.GEN beautiful COP</small>
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| : ''Your daughter is beautiful.''
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| {{col-end}}
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| ===Negation===
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|
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| The negative mood [NEG] (always marked finally on the primary verb) is indicated by the suffix –'''k''' or –'''nke''' (when the last syllable contains /k/). ''See also: 3.2.3) Mood''
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|
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| {{col-begin}}
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''tahi inyak'''
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| : <small>boy hunger-NEG</small>
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| : ''The boy is not hungry.''
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''yohuaye ha ke samalo anyak'''
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| : <small>night-PST 3s O star-PL watch-NEG</small>
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| : ''She did not watch the stars last night.''
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| {{col-end}}
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|
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| In general, contiguous serial verb constructions can only be negated as a whole. Negating one or more of the verbs in the construction separately is ungrammatical.
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|
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| * '''na ke tsakahue nya ina ka’elatlik'''
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| : <small>1s O home-LOC for eat toward-MVT-FUT-NEG</small>
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| : ''I'm not coming home for dinner.''
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|
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| However, if there is a modal auxiliary, negation may either take scope over the modal (and thus over the whole clause), or alternatively only over the non-modal part of the serial verb construction:
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|
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| {{col-begin}}
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''eta tlahapok'''
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| : <small>P.2s leave-compel-NEG</small>
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| : ''You don't have to leave.''
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| {{col-break}}
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| * '''eta tlahamyok'''
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| : <small>P.2s leave-PERM-NEG</small>
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| : ''You're not allowed to leave.''
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| {{col-end}}
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|
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| In some serial verb constructions, where the middle noun phrase acts both as the object of the first verb and as the subject of the second verb, each verb phrase can be negated separately.
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|
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| ===Voice===
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|
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| ==Compound Sentences==
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| ==Compliment Clauses==
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| ==Relative Clauses==
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| ===Adverbial clauses===
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| ==Copular Sentences==
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| ==Questions==
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| ===Polar questions===
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| ===Content questions===
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|
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| ==Comparison==
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| ==Indirect Objects==
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| ===Dative===
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| ===Instrumental===
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| ===Comitative===
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| ===Locative===
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|
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|
| =Semantic Fields and Pragmatics=
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| =Numbers=
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| =Writing System=
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| =Examples=
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| =Lexicon=
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|
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|
|
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| [[Category:Conlangs]][[Category:Conscripts]] | | [[Category:Conlangs]][[Category:Conscripts]][[Category:Kala]] |
