Siye Nominal Morphology: Difference between revisions

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Line 36: Line 36:
| 4
| 4
| -ne, (etym.) -e
| -ne, (etym.) -e
| from Tide -ŋe/i, Thide -ke/i
| from Tide -ŋë, Thide -kë
|-
|-
! Possessive
! Possessive
Line 51: Line 51:
| 7
| 7
| -kem
| -kem
| from Tide -ke/iŋ
| from Tide -këŋ
|-
|-
! Allative-Dative
! Allative-Dative
Line 71: Line 71:
| 13
| 13
| -ni
| -ni
| from Tide -ŋe/i, Thide -ke/i
| from Tide -ŋë, Thide -kë
|-
|-
! Adverbial
! Adverbial
Line 106: Line 106:
| 18
| 18
| -neto
| -neto
| from Siye -ne + to "without", from Thide tho "absence"
| from Siye -ne + to "without", from Thide tʰo "absence"
|-
|-
! Causal
! Causal
Line 212: Line 212:
The Nominative Case in Standard Siye is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or a personal name. Where a particular Siye dialect draws the line between Nominative/Accusative and Absolutive/Ergative, in other words, where the split of the split-ergative occurs, is the primary isogloss between Siye dialects.
The Nominative Case in Standard Siye is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or a personal name. Where a particular Siye dialect draws the line between Nominative/Accusative and Absolutive/Ergative, in other words, where the split of the split-ergative occurs, is the primary isogloss between Siye dialects.


mu 'some(one, thing)'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! mu
| Mu
| someone, something
|-
|}


1b. ABSOLUTIVE (ABS): -0  ABS: Everything Except Pronouns and Personal Names
1b. ABSOLUTIVE (ABS): -0  ABS: Everything Except Pronouns and Personal Names
Line 218: Line 228:
The Absolutive Case is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is neither a pronoun nor a personal name. Many Scholars believe that the existence of zero-marked surface forms for both Absolutive and Accusative Cases is the cause of the 'slippery slope' of confusion over which core cases to use.
The Absolutive Case is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is neither a pronoun nor a personal name. Many Scholars believe that the existence of zero-marked surface forms for both Absolutive and Accusative Cases is the cause of the 'slippery slope' of confusion over which core cases to use.


oya 'eagle'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! oya
| O.ya
| eagle
|-
|}


2. ACCUSATIVE (ACC): -a, -0, -ha
2. ACCUSATIVE (ACC): -a, -0, -ha ACC: Pronouns, Personal Names


The Accusative Case is used for the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or personal name. -ha occurs after syllables containing a nasal vowel. The Accusative Case is vulnerable to vowel dominance, and therefore has a -0 surface form identical to the Nominative and Absolutive. The issue of Siye personal names will be addressed elsewhere in this document.
The Accusative Case is used for the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or personal name. -ha occurs after syllables containing a nasal vowel. The Accusative Case is vulnerable to vowel dominance, and therefore has a -0 surface form identical to the Nominative and Absolutive.


Kumayamha 'Chief(ACC)'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! Kumayamha
| Ku.ma.yam.a
| Chief(ACC)
|-
! Kutu
| Ku.tu(a)
| Chief (NOM/ACC) (archaic)
|-
|}


Kutu 'Chief (NOM/ACC) (archaic)'
    
    
3. ERGATIVE (ERG): -ya, -na
3. ERGATIVE (ERG): -ya, -na


The Ergative Case is used for the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is neither a pronoun nor a personal name. -na follows a syllable containing a nasal consonant or a nasal vowel; -ya follows otherwise. This is a remnant of the period in which the Siye-speakers were a conquered people under the rule of a tribe that spoke a different but related dialect.
The Ergative Case is used for the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is neither a pronoun nor a personal name. -na follows a syllable containing a nasal consonant or a nasal vowel; -ya follows otherwise. This is a remnant of the period in which the Siye-speakers were a conquered people under the rule of a tribe that spoke a different but related dialect.


kumayamna 'the chief (ERG)'
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
kutuya 'the chief (ERG) (archaic)'
! Example
 
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! kumayamna
| Ku.ma.yam.na
| the chief
|-
! kutuya
| Ku.tu.ya
| the chief (archaic)
|-
|}


===Cases authorized 2229===
===Cases authorized 2229===
Line 244: Line 287:
The Vocative Case is used for direct address. -hi follows a nasal syllable, while -0 follows an oral syllable. In Early Siye, Vocative was the fourth case. In the transition from Early Siye to Modern Siye, the Vocative Case was lost via vowel dominance after oral syllables and by analogy after nasal syllables. From then to 2229, the vocative usage was covered by Nominative and Absolutive Cases. The post-2229 use is allegedly a restoration of the case, but in truth is an adoption of the Rural Ye Vocative Case -i derived from the Siye Equative Case -pu, via {{IPA|[i]}} < {{IPA|[y]}} < {{IPA|[hy]}} < {{IPA|[ɸy]}} < {{IPA|[ɸu]}}  
The Vocative Case is used for direct address. -hi follows a nasal syllable, while -0 follows an oral syllable. In Early Siye, Vocative was the fourth case. In the transition from Early Siye to Modern Siye, the Vocative Case was lost via vowel dominance after oral syllables and by analogy after nasal syllables. From then to 2229, the vocative usage was covered by Nominative and Absolutive Cases. The post-2229 use is allegedly a restoration of the case, but in truth is an adoption of the Rural Ye Vocative Case -i derived from the Siye Equative Case -pu, via {{IPA|[i]}} < {{IPA|[y]}} < {{IPA|[hy]}} < {{IPA|[ɸy]}} < {{IPA|[ɸu]}}  


kutummhi 'o priest!'
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
leyake-0 'o boy!'
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! kutumhi
| Ku.tum.i
| o priest!
|-
! leyake
| Le.ya.ke(i)
| o boy!
|-
|}


==Peripheral Cases==
==Peripheral Cases==
Line 317: Line 372:
4. GENITIVE (GEN): -ne
4. GENITIVE (GEN): -ne


The Genitive Case is used to describe alienable possession or an accidental characteristic of a object. There is an archaic form -e, which is found in place names such as Luse and is the origin of the adjectival ending -(h)e.
The Genitive Case is used to describe alienable possession or an accidental characteristic of a object. There is an archaic form -e, which is found in place names such as Luse and is the origin of the adjectival ending -(h)e and the "daughter" (e).


siline 'of the house'


silisone 'of the two houses'
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
pene summe 'because of you'
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! siline
| si.li.ne
| of the house
|-
! silisone
| si.li.so.ne
| of the two houses
|-
! pene summe
| Pe.ne sum.me
| because of you
|-
|}


5. POSSESSIVE (POSS): -me
5. POSSESSIVE (POSS): -me
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The Possessive Case is used to describe inalienable possession or an essential characteristic of an object. until recently the Possessive Case, unlike the other Cases, preceded rather than followed the grammatical number suffix. The reason for this anomaly is not clear, and many a scholar of the Guild has written his first professional linguistic essay on this topic. With the development and authorization of the post-2192 cases, however, the inverse possessive has developed a derivational rather than syntactic role, and the order has normalized to match the other cases.
The Possessive Case is used to describe inalienable possession or an essential characteristic of an object. until recently the Possessive Case, unlike the other Cases, preceded rather than followed the grammatical number suffix. The reason for this anomaly is not clear, and many a scholar of the Guild has written his first professional linguistic essay on this topic. With the development and authorization of the post-2192 cases, however, the inverse possessive has developed a derivational rather than syntactic role, and the order has normalized to match the other cases.


silime 'of the house'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! silime
| si.li.me
| of the house
|-
! silisome
| si.li.me
| of the two houses (post-2192)
|-
! silimeso
| si.li.me.so
| of the two houses (pre-2192)
|-
|}


silisome 'of the two houses (post-2192)'
silimeso 'of the two house (pre-2192)'


{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
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The Ablative Case is used to describe motion away from a point or (pre-2192) origin from a particular location. It is also used to describe the origin of a person (although the Genitive and Possessive are also used for this) or (pre-2217) reason of a condition. It is not used for origin from a person. The authorization in 2192 of the Elative Case 15. -nesum has narrowed the domain of the Ablative, as has the authorization in 2217 of the Causative Case -neya.  
The Ablative Case is used to describe motion away from a point or (pre-2192) origin from a particular location. It is also used to describe the origin of a person (although the Genitive and Possessive are also used for this) or (pre-2217) reason of a condition. It is not used for origin from a person. The authorization in 2192 of the Elative Case 15. -nesum has narrowed the domain of the Ablative, as has the authorization in 2217 of the Causative Case -neya.  


sakikemhusum 'away from the river'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! sakikemhusum
| sa.ki.kem.sum
| away from the river
|-
|}


7. LOCATIVE (LOC): -kem
7. LOCATIVE (LOC): -kem


The Locative Case is used to describe a location, or, in ditransitive clauses, the object being transferred or the price of the object in the Absolutive Case (more rarely, Accusative Case). The authorization in 2192 of the Inessive Case 16. -nemkim has narrowed the domain of the Locative. Some postpositions take the Locative rather than the Genitive.  
The Locative Case is used to describe a location, or, in ditransitive clauses, the object being transferred or the price of the object in the Absolutive Case (more rarely, Accusative Case). The authorization in 2192 of the Inessive Case 16. -nemkim has narrowed the domain of the Locative. Some postpositions take the Locative rather than the Genitive.  


neme lusilinekem 'at the border (end) of the city'
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
lupatekem pempesum 'from beyond the mountain'
! Example
 
! Transliteration
lupatekem pempetu 'to beyond the mountain'
! Translation
 
|-
lupatekem pempekim 'beyond the mountain'
! neme lusilinekem
|
| at the border (end) of the city
|-
! lupatekem pempesum
| Lu.pa.te.kem pem.pe.sum
| from beyond the mountain
|-
! lupatekem pempetu
| Lu.pa.te.kem pem.pe.tu
| to beyond the mountain
|-
! lupatekem pempekim
| Lu.pa.te.kem pem.pe.kim
| beyond the mountain
|-
|}


8. (AL)LATIVE/DATIVE (ALL): -su
8. (AL)LATIVE/DATIVE (ALL): -su
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The Allative Case is used for the inanimate indirect object of a main clause, direction towards, direction into (pre-2192), and the inanimate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb is perfective aspect. The authorization in 2192 of the Illative Case 17. -nemtu has narrowed the domain of the Allative-Dative.
The Allative Case is used for the inanimate indirect object of a main clause, direction towards, direction into (pre-2192), and the inanimate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb is perfective aspect. The authorization in 2192 of the Illative Case 17. -nemtu has narrowed the domain of the Allative-Dative.


lusilikesu 'towards the village'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! lusilikesu
| Lu.si.li.ke.su
| towards the village
|-
|}
   
   
9. DATIVE-BENEFACTIVE (DAT): -tu
9. DATIVE-BENEFACTIVE (DAT): -tu
Line 459: Line 580:
The Dative Case is used for the animate indirect object of a main clause, direction towards, direction into (pre-2192), and the animate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb is perfective aspect. The authorization in 2192 of the Illative Case 17. -nemtu has narrowed the domain of the Dative-Benefactive.
The Dative Case is used for the animate indirect object of a main clause, direction towards, direction into (pre-2192), and the animate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb is perfective aspect. The authorization in 2192 of the Illative Case 17. -nemtu has narrowed the domain of the Dative-Benefactive.


layeke lemetu 'for my sister'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! layeke lemetu
| La.ye.ke le.me.tu
| for my sister
|-
|}


{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
Line 476: Line 607:
|  
|  
|  
|  
| direct object of ditransitive causative imperfective verb  
| inanimate direct object of ditransitive causative imperfective verb  
|-
|-
!  
!  
Line 499: Line 630:
The Instrumental Case is used to describe the means by which something is done. This case is only used with Inanimate nouns in Standard Siye; it is rude to use the Instrumental Case with an Animate nouns. The Instrumental Case is used for the inanimate direct object of a Causative Construction Clause when the verb is perfective aspect. Prior to 2192, the postposition /eki/ (e+INS) plus an animate noun in the Genitive Case was used for the animate equivalent. In 2192, the Animate Instrumental case (14. -neki) was authorized to replace this construction.
The Instrumental Case is used to describe the means by which something is done. This case is only used with Inanimate nouns in Standard Siye; it is rude to use the Instrumental Case with an Animate nouns. The Instrumental Case is used for the inanimate direct object of a Causative Construction Clause when the verb is perfective aspect. Prior to 2192, the postposition /eki/ (e+INS) plus an animate noun in the Genitive Case was used for the animate equivalent. In 2192, the Animate Instrumental case (14. -neki) was authorized to replace this construction.


koki 'by hand; manually'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! koki
| Ko.ki
| by hand; manually
|-
|}


13. COMITATIVE (COM): -ni
13. COMITATIVE (COM): -ni
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The Comitative Case is used to describe accompaniment. It also serves as the primary nominal form of 'and', thus contrasting with the primarily verbal form -(h)(a)m. When used as 'and', the grammatical number of the verb is governed by the noun in the Nominative or Absolutive.
The Comitative Case is used to describe accompaniment. It also serves as the primary nominal form of 'and', thus contrasting with the primarily verbal form -(h)(a)m. When used as 'and', the grammatical number of the verb is governed by the noun in the Nominative or Absolutive.


leyake layekeni isuputuma 'the boy walks with the girl'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! leyake layekeni isuputuma
| Le.ya.ke.La.ye.ke.ni.I.su.pu.tu.me(a)
| the boy walks with the girl
|-
|}


{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
Line 533: Line 684:
11. ADVERBIAL (ADV): -ku
11. ADVERBIAL (ADV): -ku


The Adverbial Case converts roots into adverbs. The Guild of Scholars treats this as a case rather than a derivational affix. This suffix is used to adverbialize secondary converbal suffixes excluded from their usual placement by a primary converbal suffix.
The Adverbial Case converts roots into adverbs. The Guild of Scholars treats this as a case rather than a derivational affix. This suffix is used to adverbialize secondary adverbial suffixes excluded from their usual placement by a primary adverbial suffix.


um miku isuputuma 'the man hops/hobbles forward (on one foot)
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
um misoku isuputuma 'the man walks forward (on two feet)'
! Example
 
! Transliteration
kewim mikeku isuputuma 'the Martian walks forward (on four feet)
! Translation
 
|-
umo miloku isuputuma 'the spider walks forward (on many feet)  
! um miku isuputuma
| Um.Mi.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a)
| the man hops/hobbles forward (on one foot)
|-
! um misoku isuputuma
| Um.Mi.so.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a)
| the man walks forward (on two feet)
|-
! kewim mikeku isuputuma
| Ke.wim.Mi.ke.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a)
| the Martian lion walks forward (on four feet)
|-
! umo miloku isuputuma
| U.mo.Mi.lo.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a)
| the spider walks forward (on many feet)
|-
|}


12. EQUATIVE (EQ): -pu
12. EQUATIVE (EQ): -pu


The Equative Case is used to describe the second noun or adjective in a predicate statement. In Early (pre-vowel dominance) Siye, it was sometimes used as a Vocative Case.
The Equative Case is used to describe the second noun or adjective in a predicate statement. In Early (pre-vowel dominance) Siye, it was sometimes used as a Vocative Case. In the earliest stage of vowel dominance, it served as a replacement for the elided 20. (Classic) Vocative following an oral vowel. Contemporary Standard Siye elected to eliminate the Vocative entirely, but contemporary Rural Ye, having collapsed the Adverbial, Equative, and Allative into {{IPA|[-hu]}} or {{IPA|[hy]}}, chose to regularize the Vocative usage.


um me kutumpu ikimpukima 'that man is a hutsu-priest'
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Example
! Transliteration
! Translation
|-
! um me kutumpu ikimpukima
| Um.Me.Ku.tum.pu.I.Kim.pu.ki.me(a)
| that man is a hudzu-priest
|-
|}


==Cases Authorized 2192==
==Cases Authorized 2192==
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The Animate Instrumental Case is used for the demoted animate agent of the subordinate clause in imperfective  aspect in a Causative Construction. See INSTRUMENTAL (INS) (10.) above and Causative Construction under Siye Sytax.
The Animate Instrumental Case is used for the demoted animate agent of the subordinate clause in imperfective  aspect in a Causative Construction. See INSTRUMENTAL (INS) (10.) above and Causative Construction under Siye Sytax.


Le ineki liyo elelipunama.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
le-0 i-neki liyo-0 e-le-li-pu-sum-na-ma
!
 
!
1-NOM  3-ANS food-ABS 4-1-eat.IMPFV-SG-CAUS-DIR.UP-IMPFV.POS.REALIS
|-
 
!
I will feed him (=I will cause him to eat the food)
| Le ineki liyo elelipunama.
|-
!
| Le.I.ne(e).ki.Li.yo.E.le.Li.pu.na.me(a)
|-
!
| le-0 i-neki liyo-0 e-le-li-pu-sum-na-ma
|-
!
| 1-NOM  3-ANS food-ABS 4-1-eat.IMPFV-SG-CAUS-D1-P1
|-
!
| I will feed him (=I will cause him to eat the food)
|-
|}


15. ELATIVE (ELA): -nemsum
15. ELATIVE (ELA): -nemsum
Line 598: Line 789:
The Elative Case is used for motion out of a location, superceding this use of 6. ABL.
The Elative Case is used for motion out of a location, superceding this use of 6. ABL.


Laye silinemsum itupusuna.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
laye-0 sili-nemsum i-tu-pu-tu-na
!
 
!
woman-ABS house-ELA 3-go.PFV-SG-DIR.ALL-PFV.POS.REALIS
|-
 
!
The woman came out of the house.
| Laye silinemsum itupusuna.
|-
!
| La.ye.si.li.ne(e)m.sum.I.Tu.pu.su.ne(a)
|-
!
| laye-0 sili-nemsum i-tu-pu-tu-na
|-
!
| woman-ABS house-ELA 3-go.PFV-SG-D5-P2
!
| The woman exited the house.
|-
|}


16. INESSIVE (INE): -nemkim
16. INESSIVE (INE): -nemkim
Line 610: Line 814:
The Inessive Case is used for position inside of a location, superceding this use of 7. LOC.
The Inessive Case is used for position inside of a location, superceding this use of 7. LOC.


Laye silinemkim ikupununa.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
laye-0 sili-nemkim i-ku-pu-nu-ma
!
 
!
woman-ABS house-ILL 3-sleep.IMPFV-SG-DIR.DOWN-IMPFV.POS.REALIS
|-
 
!
The woman came out of the house.
| Laye silinemkim ikupununa.
|-
!
| La.ye.si.li.ne(e)m.kim.I.Ku.pu.nu.ne(a)
|-
!
| laye-0 sili-nemkim i-ku-pu-nu-ma
|-
!
| woman-ABS house-INE 3-sleep.IMPFV-SG-D3-P1
|-
!
| The woman is sleeping in the house.
|-
|}


17. ILLATIVE (ILL): -nemtu
17. ILLATIVE (ILL): -nemtu
Line 622: Line 840:
The Illative Case is used for motion into a location, superceding this use of 8. ALL and 9. DAT.
The Illative Case is used for motion into a location, superceding this use of 8. ALL and 9. DAT.


Laye silinemtu itupusuna.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
laye-0 sili-nemtu i-tu-pu-su-na
!
 
!
woman-ABS house-ILL 3-go.PFV-SG-DIR.ABL-PFV.POS.REALIS
|-
 
!
The woman went to the house.
| Laye silinemtu itupusuna.
|-
!
| La.ye.si.li.ne(e)m.tu.I.Tu.pu.su.ne(a)
|-
!
| laye-0 sili-nemtu i-tu-pu-su-na
|-
!
| woman-ABS house-ILL 3-go.PFV-SG-D4-P2
|-
!
| The woman entered the house.
|-
|}


==Cases Authorized 2200==
==Cases Authorized 2200==
Line 652: Line 884:
The Abessive Case is used to describe lack. A counterpart to the Comitative case, the authorization of the Abessive Case was proposed in 2192, but some members of the Guild of Scholars felt that the conflation of the Genitive Case with the postposition /to/ was not as strong as that of situations such as inessive /-nemtu/ from /-ne emtu/, since there was no natural contraction. A minority of Scholars lobbied for /-nito/ on the analogy of Comitative /-ni/.
The Abessive Case is used to describe lack. A counterpart to the Comitative case, the authorization of the Abessive Case was proposed in 2192, but some members of the Guild of Scholars felt that the conflation of the Genitive Case with the postposition /to/ was not as strong as that of situations such as inessive /-nemtu/ from /-ne emtu/, since there was no natural contraction. A minority of Scholars lobbied for /-nito/ on the analogy of Comitative /-ni/.


Liyoneto lelilulununa.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
liyo-neto le-li-lo-ulu-nu-ma
!
 
!
food-ABE 1-die.IMPFV-PL-TNS-DIR-IMPFV.POS.REALIS
|-
 
!
Without food, we will die.
| Liyoneto lelilulunuma.
|-
!
| Li.yo.ne.to.Le.Li.lo.u(lu).nu.me(a)
|-
!
| liyo-neto le-li-lo-ulu-nu-ma
|-
!
| food-ABE 1-die.IMPFV-PL-TNS-D3-P1
|-
!
| Without food, we will die.
|-
|}


==Cases Authorized 2217==
==Cases Authorized 2217==
Line 682: Line 928:
The Causal Case is used to describe the cause of something when the cause is expressed as a noun. Although the causative has long been expressed formally either by -sum, the Ablative Case or by -ne summe, that is, the noun 'cause' in the Possessive Case preceded by the causative object in the Genitive Case, the postposition 'eya' has long been used informally with the Genitive Case. The recent conflations of postposition using the dummy noun 'e' with preceding Genitive Case -ne have created many new informal case endings, all of which the Gulld of Scholars are examining in order to determine whether and when such neologisms should be accepted as part of Standard Siye.
The Causal Case is used to describe the cause of something when the cause is expressed as a noun. Although the causative has long been expressed formally either by -sum, the Ablative Case or by -ne summe, that is, the noun 'cause' in the Possessive Case preceded by the causative object in the Genitive Case, the postposition 'eya' has long been used informally with the Genitive Case. The recent conflations of postposition using the dummy noun 'e' with preceding Genitive Case -ne have created many new informal case endings, all of which the Gulld of Scholars are examining in order to determine whether and when such neologisms should be accepted as part of Standard Siye.


Neponeya susumsuyamloya Simayamke yitukesumnuna.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
nepo-neya susumsuyam-lo-ya Simayam-ke-0 I-I-tu-ke-sum-nu-na
!
 
!
money-CAUS missionary-PL-ERG  Siye-speaker-PAUC-ABS 3-3-move.PFV-PAUC-CAUS-DIR.SUB-PFV.POS.REALIS
|-
 
!
The missionaries drowned (baptized?) the Siye-speakers because of (their) money.
| Neponeya susumsuyamloya Simayamke yitukesumnuna.
|-
!
| Ne.po.ne.ya.su.sum.su.yam.lo.ya.si.m(e)a.yam.ke.I(i).Tu.ke.sum.nu.ne(a)
|-
!
| nepo-neya susumsuyam-lo-ya Simayam-ke-0 i-i-tu-ke-sum-nu-na
|-
!
| money-CAUS missionary-PL-ERG  Siye-speaker-PAUC-ABS 3-3-move.PFV-PAUC-CAUS-D3-P2
|-
!
| The missionaries drowned (baptized?) the few Siye-speakers because of (their) money.
|-
|}


==Complex cases==
==Complex cases==
Line 700: Line 960:
! Case Suffix
! Case Suffix
! Contraction of
! Contraction of
! Transliteration
|-
|-
! Accusi-genitive (AGEN)
! Accusi-genitive (AGEN)
Line 705: Line 966:
| -na
| -na
| -ne-a
| -ne-a
| ne(a)
|-
|-
! Accusi-possessive (APOSS)
! Accusi-possessive (APOSS)
Line 710: Line 972:
| -ma
| -ma
| -me-a
| -me-a
| me(a)
|-
|-
! Accusi-ablative (AABL)
! Accusi-ablative (AABL)
Line 715: Line 978:
| -sumha
| -sumha
| -sum-ha
| -sum-ha
| sum.a
|-
|-
! Accusi-locative (ALOC)
! Accusi-locative (ALOC)
Line 720: Line 984:
| -kemha
| -kemha
| -kem-a
| -kem-a
| kem.a
|-
|-
! Accusi-allative (AALL)
! Accusi-allative (AALL)
Line 725: Line 990:
| -su, -sa
| -su, -sa
| -su-a
| -su-a
| su(a), sa
|-
|-
! Accusi-dative (ADAT)
! Accusi-dative (ADAT)
Line 730: Line 996:
| -tu, -sa, -ta
| -tu, -sa, -ta
| -tu-a
| -tu-a
| tu(a), sa, ta
|-
|-
! Accusi-instrumental (AINS)
! Accusi-instrumental (AINS)
| 7
| 7
| -ki, -sa
| -ki, -sa
| -ki-a
| -ki-a, sa
| ki(a)
|-
|-
! Accusi-adverbial (AADV)
! Accusi-adverbial (AADV)
Line 740: Line 1,008:
| -ku
| -ku
| -ku-a
| -ku-a
| ku(a)
|-
|-
! Accusi-equative (AEQ)
! Accusi-equative (AEQ)
Line 745: Line 1,014:
| -pu
| -pu
| -pu-a
| -pu-a
| pu(a)
|-
|-
! Accusi-comitative (ACOM)
! Accusi-comitative (ACOM)
Line 750: Line 1,020:
| -na
| -na
| -ni-a
| -ni-a
| ni(a)
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 755: Line 1,026:
===Notes===
===Notes===


AGEN & APOSS: When noun phrases which are used in the Western Provinces are authorized as composite nouns, there is often a choice between the AGEN ending -na and the APOSS ending -ma as the correct syllable. In general, the Guild of Scholars follows Standard Siye guidelines and therefore chooses -na to follow nasal syllables and act as a case ending, and -ma to follow oral syllables and act as the new final syllable of the word. If, however, there is a substantial semantic difference between the meaning of the noun phrase using the Genitive Case and that using the Possessive Case, the Guild of Scholars may authorize an otherwise illegal use of -na following an oral syllable as a new final syllable.
AGEN & APOSS: When noun phrases which are used in the Western Provinces are authorized as composite nouns, there is often a choice between the AGEN ending -na < ne(a) > and the APOSS ending -ma < me(a) > as the correct syllable. In general, the Guild of Scholars follows Standard Siye guidelines and therefore chooses -na < na > to follow nasal syllables and act as a case ending, and -ma < ma > to follow oral syllables and act as the new final syllable of the word. If, however, there is a substantial semantic difference between the meaning of the noun phrase using the Genitive Case and that using the Possessive Case, the Guild of Scholars may authorize an otherwise illegal use of -na following an oral syllable as a new final syllable.


ACOM: If a noun phrase which is used in the Western Provinces uses the ACOM ending -na and is authorized as a composite noun, the Guild of Scholars requires that the -na become the case ending if the now ultimate syllable contains a nasal vowel; otherwise, -na becomes the final syllable of the word.
ACOM: If a noun phrase which is used in the Western Provinces uses the ACOM ending -na < ni(a) > and is authorized as a composite noun, the Guild of Scholars requires that the -na < na > become the case ending if the now ultimate syllable contains a nasal vowel; otherwise, -na < na > becomes the final syllable of the word.


AALL & ADAT: When the AALL OR ADAT 'cases' are used in a sentence with a transitive verb, it seems as though there is no grammatical direct object. If the Accusative suffix is abosrbed, the verb remains transitive and is treated as though it had a covert applicative suffix.
AALL & ADAT: When the AALL OR ADAT 'cases' are used in a sentence with a transitive verb, it seems as though there is no grammatical direct object. If the Accusative suffix is absorbed, the verb remains transitive and is treated as though it had a covert applicative suffix.


-sa: The various 'cases' of -sa (AALL, ADAT, AINS) form a contentious issue for the Guild of Scholars. There is a proposal, originally brought forth at the same time as the proposals for the cases authorized in 2192, to replace the Animate Instrumental (ANS) case -neki with -sa. The "Saists" or "Eastern Saists" are part of the Animacist faction which strongly believes in maintaining the distinction between animate and inanimate nouns. These Saists support (unofficially, of course) the use of AALL and ADAT endings. This group should not be confused with the group who call themselves Saists or Western Saists. The latter group is comprised of Scholars from the Far Western Province who advocate the adotion of -sa as an animacy-neutral form of the Dative and Allative Cases in order to prevent the commercial exploitation of Far Westerners who have difficulty with animacy distinctions. As of the current date (2229 AD), the Eastern Saists have diminished in power, but the Western Saists have fared better, although they have not yet received official recognition.
-sa <sa >: The various 'cases' of -sa < sa > (AALL, ADAT, AINS) form a contentious issue for the Guild of Scholars. There is a proposal, originally brought forth at the same time as the proposals for the cases authorized in 2192, to replace the Animate Instrumental (ANS) case -neki with -sa. The "Saists" or "Eastern Saists" are part of the Animacist faction which strongly believes in maintaining the distinction between animate and inanimate nouns. These Saists support (unofficially, of course) the use of AALL and ADAT endings. This group should not be confused with the group who call themselves Saists or Western Saists. The latter group is comprised of Scholars from the Far Western Province who advocate the adotion of -sa as an animacy-neutral form of the Dative and Allative Cases in order to prevent the commercial exploitation of Far Westerners who have difficulty with animacy distinctions. As of the current date (2229 AD), the Eastern Saists have diminished in power, but the Western Saists have fared better, although they have not yet received official recognition.


=Grammatical Number=
=Grammatical Number=
Line 770: Line 1,041:
! Abbreviation
! Abbreviation
! Ending
! Ending
! Transliteration
|-
|-
! Null
! Null
| NL
| NL
| -ku, -hu, -u
| -ku, -hu, -u
| ku
|-
|-
! Singular
! Singular
| SG
| SG
| -0
| -0
| N/A
|-
|-
! Dual
! Dual
| DU
| DU
| -so
| -so
| so
|-
|-
! Paucal
! Paucal
| PAUC
| PAUC
| -ke
| -ke
| ke
|-
|-
! Plural
! Plural
| PL
| PL
| -lo
| -lo
| lo
|-
|-
! Pantic
! Pantic
| PAN
| PAN
| -ka
| -ka
| ka
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 801: Line 1,079:
The Null Number refers to the absence of a particular thing. As of the current date (2229 A.D.), the null number is primarily poetic. /hu/ appears after nasal syllables.  
The Null Number refers to the absence of a particular thing. As of the current date (2229 A.D.), the null number is primarily poetic. /hu/ appears after nasal syllables.  


tupiku sakike mekem imikukima. No birds swim in this pond.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
yetamku etamkukima. No stones remain. "Lament of the Fall of the Third Moon"
! Example
 
! Translation
! Literary Source
|-
! tupiku sakike mekem imikukima.
| No birds swim in this pond.
|
|-
! yetamku etamkukima.
| No stones remain.
| "Lament of the Fall of the Third Moon"
|-
|}


The Singular Number is used with singular nouns, some abstract nouns, and mass nouns. It is also the citation form of a Standard Siye word.
The Singular Number is used with singular nouns, some abstract nouns, and mass nouns. It is also the citation form of a Standard Siye word.


uku sakike mekem imipukima. A fish swims in this pond.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
kamna 'a piece of cloth'
! Example
 
! Translation
 
! Literary Source
|-
! uku sakike mekem imipukima.
| A fish swims in this pond.
|
|-
! kamna
| piece of cloth
|
|-
|}


The Dual Number is used to refer to exactly two things. Although pairs of items, such as eyes, are normally in the Dual Number, the Dual Number does not inherently indicate a pair.
The Dual Number is used to refer to exactly two things. Although pairs of items, such as eyes, are normally in the Dual Number, the Dual Number does not inherently indicate a pair.


layekeso sakikem imisokima. A pair of girls walk by this pond.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
wapomso 'the two merchants'
! Example
 
! Translation
! Literary Source
|-
! layekeso sakikem imisokima.
| A pair of girls walk by this pond.
|
|-
! wapomso
| the two merchants
|
|-
|}




The Paucal Number refers to a group which is smaller than that of Plural Number but more than the Dual Number. This is a culturally determined distinction.
The Paucal Number refers to a group which is smaller than that of Plural Number but more than the Dual Number. This is a culturally determined distinction.


kekeke tupime sakike mekem imikekima. A few fledglings swim in this pond.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
olake 'the few eagles'
! Example
! Translation
! Literary Source
|-
! kekeke tupime sakike mekem imikekima.
| A few fledglings swim in this pond.
|
|-
! olake
| the few eagles
|
|-
|}


It is true that Paucal suffix -ke and the Diminutive suffix -ke are homophonous (but different etymologically). Context and greater familiarity with the language will allow the Sinammayam (learner of Siye) to distinguish between the two.
It is true that Paucal suffix -ke and the Diminutive suffix -ke are homophonous (but different etymologically). Context and greater familiarity with the language will allow the Sinammayam (learner of Siye) to distinguish between the two.
Line 833: Line 1,155:
The Plural Number refers to a group, larger than that of Paucal Number. This is the generic plural in Siye.
The Plural Number refers to a group, larger than that of Paucal Number. This is the generic plural in Siye.


kekelo tupime sakike mekem imilokima. Many fledglings swim in this pond.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
kewimlo 'the many lions'
! Example
 
! Translation
! Literary Source
|-
! kekelo tupime sakike mekem imilokima.
| Many fledglings swim in this pond.
|
|-
! kewimlo
| the many lions
|
|-
|}


The Pantic Number refers to all of a certain thing. It is also used as an ethnic or group designation.
The Pantic Number refers to all of a certain thing. It is also used as an ethnic or group designation.


kekeka tupime ileyempuyamtumame sakike mekem imikakima. All of the fledgings whom I espy are swimming in this pond.  
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
Simayamka '(all) Siye-speakers'
! Example
! Translation
! Literary Source
|-
! kekeka tupime ileyempuyamtumame sakike mekem imikakima.
| All of the fledgings whom I espy are swimming in this pond.
|
|-
! Simayamka
| (all) Siye-speakers
|
|-
|}


Structure: ROOT-NUMBER-CASE, except (until 2192) for the Possessive Case, in which case the order is ROOT-CASE-NUMBER.  
Structure: ROOT-NUMBER-CASE, except (until 2192) for the Possessive Case, in which case the order is ROOT-CASE-NUMBER.  
Line 919: Line 1,264:
! Nominative
! Nominative
! Accusative
! Accusative
! Transliteration
! Transliteration
! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
Line 924: Line 1,271:
| le
| le
| la
| la
| Le, le
| Le(a)
| /le/ derives from Thide first person pronoun /de/
| /le/ derives from Thide first person pronoun /de/
|-
|-
Line 929: Line 1,278:
| pe
| pe
| sa
| sa
| Pe, pe
| Sa, sa
| /pe/ and /sa/ derive from different Thide pronominal roots, /be/ and /ša/ respectively
| /pe/ and /sa/ derive from different Thide pronominal roots, /be/ and /ša/ respectively
|-
|-
Line 934: Line 1,285:
| i
| i
| ya
| ya
| /i/ and /e/ both derive from Thide third person pronoun /ŋe/, /ŋi/
| I
| Ya, ya
| /i/ and /e/ both derive from Thide third person pronoun /ŋë/
|-
|-
! 3rd inanimate (aka 4th)
! 3rd inanimate (aka 4th)
| e
| e
| a
| a
| /i/ and /e/ both derive from Thide third person pronoun /ŋe/, /ŋi/.
| E, e
| E(a), e(a)
| /i/ and /e/ both derive from Thide third person pronoun /ŋë/.
|-
|-
! 3rd person indefinite (INDEF)
! 3rd person indefinite (INDEF)
| mu
| mu
| mu
| mu
| mu
| mu(a)
| /mu/ is both Nominative and Accusative, animate and inanimate.
| /mu/ is both Nominative and Accusative, animate and inanimate.
|-
|-
Line 950: Line 1,307:
In Standard Siye, all the pronouns have a nominative-accusative contrast rather than an ergative-absolutive one. The accusative form is used exclusively for the Accusative case; peripheral cases use the same form as the nominative. Most accusative forms end in /a/. In most cases this is derived from vowel dominance contraction with the Early Siye Accusative suffix /-a/ (Tide -ŋa, Thide -ŋa), but /a/ in /sa/ is original to Thide.
In Standard Siye, all the pronouns have a nominative-accusative contrast rather than an ergative-absolutive one. The accusative form is used exclusively for the Accusative case; peripheral cases use the same form as the nominative. Most accusative forms end in /a/. In most cases this is derived from vowel dominance contraction with the Early Siye Accusative suffix /-a/ (Tide -ŋa, Thide -ŋa), but /a/ in /sa/ is original to Thide.


===Non-standard pronouns===
==Isoglosses==
 
The Valley in which Siye is spoken stretches halfway across the Martian equator, so there are variations in speech along its length. The primary isogloss is the boundary line between nouns that use the Nominative and Accusative and those that use the Ergative and Absolutive. In Standard Siye, the dialect of the City in the Central Province and the variety on which this article is based, only pronouns and personal names can use Nominative and Accusative forms. As one travels east the range of the Nominative decreases; as one travels west towards the Mountain, the opposite occurs. Thus, all varieties of Siye use /le, la/ for the first person pronouns. All but the Far Eastern Province and the Lake use /pe, sa/ for the second person pronoun. The Mid-Eastern Province and points west place all pronouns, regardless of number, in the Nominative category. Standard Siye, from the Central Province, adds personal names to the Nominative category. The Near Western Province requires that nouns denoting humans must be in the Nominative category, reducing the number of complex cases in the spoken version of the western dialects. The Mid-Western Province treats all animate nouns as Nominative, and the Far Western Province is full nominative under the "contamination" of Ulok.
 
==Non-standard pronouns==


The non-standard pronouns presented here (with one exception) are the ergative-absolutive forms used in the eastern provinces in lieu of the nominative-accusative ones. In documents other than contracts and academic works, non-standard pronouns may appear. The Valley is large, and the combination of vowel dominance and suffixation produce more forms than can be presented here.
The non-standard pronouns presented here (with one exception) are the ergative-absolutive forms used in the eastern provinces in lieu of the nominative-accusative ones. In documents other than contracts and academic works, non-standard pronouns may appear. The Valley is large, and the combination of vowel dominance and suffixation produce more forms than can be presented here.
Line 1,061: Line 1,422:
|}
|}


===Accusative Portmanteau Pronouns===
==Accusative Portmanteau Pronouns==


The accusative portmanteau pronouns are /la/, /pa/, /ya/, and /ma/. The first three are the result of a contraction of single nominative pronouns /le/, /pe/, and /i/ with the fourth person accusative pronoun /a/. Note that /la/ and /ya/ are homophonous with the simple accusative pronouns /la/ and /ya/. The accusative portmanteau pronoun /ma/ is derived analogically from the definite pronominal prefix /ma-/. The nominative pronouns /e/ and /mu/ do not have accusative portmanteau pronominal forms. The interrogative pronoun /pala/ has nothing to do the portmanteau process.
The accusative portmanteau pronouns are /la/, /pa/, /ya/, and /ma/. The first three are the result of a contraction of single nominative pronouns /le/, /pe/, and /i/ with the fourth person accusative pronoun /a/. Note that /la/ and /ya/ are homophonous with the simple accusative pronouns /la/ and /ya/. The accusative portmanteau pronoun /ma/ is derived analogically from the definite pronominal prefix /ma-/. The nominative pronouns /e/ and /mu/ do not have accusative portmanteau pronominal forms. The interrogative pronoun /pala/ has nothing to do the portmanteau process.
Line 1,067: Line 1,428:
Accusative portmanteau pronouns can occur under the following conditions: the verb of the clause is transitive; the verbal aspect is imperfective; neither the subject nor the direct object is expressed by a noun; the direct object is fourth person; the number suffix on the portmanteau pronoun refers to the number of the direct object, not the number of the subject; the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the subject, not the number of the direct object.
Accusative portmanteau pronouns can occur under the following conditions: the verb of the clause is transitive; the verbal aspect is imperfective; neither the subject nor the direct object is expressed by a noun; the direct object is fourth person; the number suffix on the portmanteau pronoun refers to the number of the direct object, not the number of the subject; the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the subject, not the number of the direct object.


Palo epekosoyammumo?
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!
!
|-
!
| Palo epekosoyammumo?
|-
!
| palo-a epekosoyammumo
|-
!
| pa-lo-a  e-pe-ko-so-yam-ma-umo
|-
!
| 2>4-PL-ACC 4-2-see.IPFV-DU-INCPTV-P1-Q
|-
!
| Can you two see them?
|-
|}


Can you two see them?
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
palo-a epekosoyammumo
!
 
!
pa -lo-a  e-pe-ko      -so-yam  -ma          -umo
|-
 
!
2>4-PL-ACC 4-2-see.IMPFV-DU-INCPTV-IMPFV.POS.MOD-Q
| Yaka elipulunama.
 
|-
Yaka elipulunama
!
 
| palo-a epekosoyammumo
He won't eat them all.
|-
 
!
ya -ka -a  e-i-li-pu   -ulu-na       -ma
| ya-ka-a  e-i-li-pu-ulu-na-ma
 
|-
3>4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.IMPFV-TNS-DIR.SUPER-IMPFV.POS.MOD
!
| 3>4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.IMPFV-TNS-D2-P1
|-
!
| He won't eat them all.
|-
|}


Accusative portmanteau pronouns can occur with a perfective verb, but the permissible range is limited to subjects in the singular number and sentences where the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the direct object rather than the subject.
Accusative portmanteau pronouns can occur with a perfective verb, but the permissible range is limited to subjects in the singular number and sentences where the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the direct object rather than the subject.


Yaka eyokalunanu.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!
!
|-
!
| Yaka eyokalunanu.
|-
!
| ya-ka-a  e-i-yo-ka-ulu-na-nu
|-
!
| 3>4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.PFV-PAN-TNS-D3-P6
|-
!
| He did not eat them all.
|-
|}


He did not eat them all.
{|class="wikitable"
 
|-
ya -ka -a  e-i-yo    -ka -ulu-na      -nu
!
 
!
3>4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.PFV-PAN-TNS-DIR.SUPER-PFV.NEG.MOD
|-
 
!
Yakaka eyokalunamu
| Yakaka eyokalunamu
 
|-
The few of them won't eat all of them.
!
 
| ya-ke-a-ka-a  e-i-yo-ka-ulu-na-mu
ya -ke -a-ka -a  e-i-yo       -ka -ulu-na       -mu
|-
 
!
3>4-PAUC-4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.IMPFV-PAN-TNS-DIR.SUPER-IMPFV.POS.MOD
| 3>4-PAUC-4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.IMPFV-PAN-TNS-D3-P1
|-
!
| The few of them won't eat all of them.
|-
|}


===Portmanteau Pronouns in Causative Construction (Instrumental and Allative)===
==Portmanteau Pronouns in Causative Construction (Instrumental and Allative)==


Instrumental portmanteau pronouns can occur in Causative Constructions with an imperfective verb under the following conditions: the verb of the clause is ditransitive; the aspect of the verb is imperfective; neither the causee nor the recipient are expressed by nouns; the causee is fourth person; the number suffix on the portmanteau pronoun refers to the number of the causee, not the number of the recipient; the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the causor, not the number of the recipient.
Instrumental portmanteau pronouns can occur in Causative Constructions with an imperfective verb under the following conditions: the verb of the clause is ditransitive; the aspect of the verb is imperfective; neither the causee nor the recipient are expressed by nouns; the causee is fourth person; the number suffix on the portmanteau pronoun refers to the number of the causee, not the number of the recipient; the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the causor, not the number of the recipient.
Line 1,119: Line 1,528:
! Animacy
! Animacy
! Meaning
! Meaning
! Transliteration
! Example
! Example
! Translation
! Translation
! Notes
|-
|-
! -memtu
! -memtu
| Animate
| Animate
| Indicates someone who is striving towards a goal
| Indicates someone who is striving towards a goal
| me(m).tu
| kutummemtu
| kutummemtu
| apprentice of a hutsung-priest
| apprentice of a hutsung-priest
|
|-
|-
! -memsum
! -memsum
| Inanimate
| Inanimate
| Indicates a lineage
| Indicates a lineage
| me(e)m.sum
| Kikamemsum
| Kikamemsum
| from the lineage of Chika, Mr. or Mrs. Chikamengsung (surnames in the Western tradition are a recent borrowing from Terrestrial missionaries)
| from the lineage of Chika, Mr. or Mrs. Chikamengsung (surnames in the Western tradition are a recent borrowing from Terrestrial missionaries)
|
|-
|-
! -memkim
! -memkim
| Inanimate
| Inanimate
| Indicates the interior of a place
| Indicates the interior of a place
| me(e)m.kim
| silimemkim
| silimemkim
| room
| room
|
|-
|-
! -meki
! -meki
| Animate
| Animate
| Indicates an animate agent
| Indicates an animate agent
| me(e).ki
| a(tom)meki
| a(tom)meki
| merchant
| merchant
|
|-
|-
! -meto
! -meto
| Animate Adjective
| Animate Adjective
| Indicates a living being lacking something expected
| Indicates a living being lacking something expected
| me.to
| isometo
| isometo
| blind
| blind
| The older word for 'blind person' /ule/, which has an unfortunate homophone /ule/ 'idiot', is currently losing ground to the new formation /isometo/ 'blind, blind person', from /iso-/ 'a pair of eyes' and /-meto/ 'without', just as /ule/ has peviously replaced /wule/ and mostly displaced /nule/, both in turn derived from /ung-ure/. The dual number suffix in /iso-/, although still recognizable, has been reanalyzed as part of the root; thus 'many blind people' is /isometolo/, with the plural suffix /-lo/.
|-
|-
!  
!  
Line 1,157: Line 1,578:
| imeto
| imeto
| one-eye
| one-eye
|-
|
!
|
|
|
| The older word for 'blind person' /ule/, which has an unfortunate homophone /ule/ 'idiot', is currently losing ground to the new formation /isometo/ 'blind, blind person', from /iso-/ 'a pair of eyes' and /-meto/ 'without', just as /ule/ has peviously replaced /wule/ and mostly displaced /nule/, both in turn derived from /ung-ure/. The dual number suffix in /iso-/, although still recognizable, has been reanalyzed as part of the root; thus 'many blind people' is /isometolo/, with the plural suffix /-lo/.
|-
|-
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 13:15, 25 March 2019

Cases

Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Nominative 1, 1a -0
Absolutive 1, 1b -0
Accusative 2 -a, -ha, -0 from Tide -ŋa
Ergative 3 -ya, -na from Tide -ɲa, Thide -sa
Vocative 20 -hi, -0 alleged from restored Tide -ŋi (the lost Case 4.); actually an adoption of Rural Ye -i from Early Siye Equative -pu
Genitive 4 -ne, (etym.) -e from Tide -ŋë, Thide -kë
Possessive 5 -me possibly from Tide definite pronoun /me/, Thide /me/
Ablative 6 -sum from Tide -suŋ
Locative 7 -kem from Tide -këŋ
Allative-Dative 8 -su from Tide -su
Dative-Benefactive 9 -tu from Tide -tu
Instrumental 10 -ki from Thide -gi
Comitative 13 -ni from Tide -ŋë, Thide -kë
Adverbial 11 -ku from Tide -ku, Thide -ku
Equative 12 -pu from Tide -bu
Animate Instrumental 14 -neki from Siye -ne + eki, instrumental postposition from instrumental case of inanimate pronoun 'e'
Elative 15 -nemsum from Siye -ne + emsum, analogical ablative of emtu 'inner' from emtu 'innards'
Inessive 16 -nemkim from Siye -ne + emkim, analogical locative of emtu 'inner' from emtu 'innards'
Illative 17 -nemtu from Siye -ne + emtu, locative postposition 'inner' from emtu "innards"
Abessive 18 -neto from Siye -ne + to "without", from Thide tʰo "absence"
Causal 19 -neya from -ne + eya, analogical causal of clause-final causal -ya


Core Cases

Core Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Nominative 1, 1a -0 subject of intransitive verb
subject of transitive verb
subject of ditransitive verb
direct address (pre-2229)
Absolutive 1, 1b -0 subject of intransitive verb
direct object of transitive verb
direct object of ditransitive verb
direct address (pre-2229)
direct object of causee in ditransitive causative perfective verb
indirect object of recipient in ditransitive causative imperfective verb
Accusative 2 -a, -ha, -0 direct object of transitive verb
direct object of causee in ditransitive causative perfective verb
indirect object of recipient in ditransitive causative imperfective verb
Ergative 3 -ya, -na subject of transitive verb
subject of ditransitive verb
Vocative 20 -hi, -0 direct address (post-2229)


1a. NOMINATIVE (NOM): -0 NOM: Pronouns, Personal Names

The Nominative Case in Standard Siye is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or a personal name. Where a particular Siye dialect draws the line between Nominative/Accusative and Absolutive/Ergative, in other words, where the split of the split-ergative occurs, is the primary isogloss between Siye dialects.

Example Transliteration Translation
mu Mu someone, something

1b. ABSOLUTIVE (ABS): -0 ABS: Everything Except Pronouns and Personal Names

The Absolutive Case is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is neither a pronoun nor a personal name. Many Scholars believe that the existence of zero-marked surface forms for both Absolutive and Accusative Cases is the cause of the 'slippery slope' of confusion over which core cases to use.

Example Transliteration Translation
oya O.ya eagle

2. ACCUSATIVE (ACC): -a, -0, -ha ACC: Pronouns, Personal Names

The Accusative Case is used for the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or personal name. -ha occurs after syllables containing a nasal vowel. The Accusative Case is vulnerable to vowel dominance, and therefore has a -0 surface form identical to the Nominative and Absolutive.

Example Transliteration Translation
Kumayamha Ku.ma.yam.a Chief(ACC)
Kutu Ku.tu(a) Chief (NOM/ACC) (archaic)


3. ERGATIVE (ERG): -ya, -na

The Ergative Case is used for the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is neither a pronoun nor a personal name. -na follows a syllable containing a nasal consonant or a nasal vowel; -ya follows otherwise. This is a remnant of the period in which the Siye-speakers were a conquered people under the rule of a tribe that spoke a different but related dialect.

Example Transliteration Translation
kumayamna Ku.ma.yam.na the chief
kutuya Ku.tu.ya the chief (archaic)

Cases authorized 2229

20. VOCATIVE (VOC): -hi, -0

The Vocative Case is used for direct address. -hi follows a nasal syllable, while -0 follows an oral syllable. In Early Siye, Vocative was the fourth case. In the transition from Early Siye to Modern Siye, the Vocative Case was lost via vowel dominance after oral syllables and by analogy after nasal syllables. From then to 2229, the vocative usage was covered by Nominative and Absolutive Cases. The post-2229 use is allegedly a restoration of the case, but in truth is an adoption of the Rural Ye Vocative Case -i derived from the Siye Equative Case -pu, via [i] < [y] < [hy] < [ɸy] < [ɸu]

Example Transliteration Translation
kutumhi Ku.tum.i o priest!
leyake Le.ya.ke(i) o boy!

Peripheral Cases

Genitive Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Genitive 4 -ne, (etym.) -e alienable possession
accidental characteristic
origin
postpositional case
postpositional animate direct object (with 'eki') of ditransitive causative imperfective verb
postpositional animate instrument (with 'eki')
Possessive 5 -me inalienable possession
essential characteristic
origin
postpositional case
postpositional animate instrument (with 'eki')


4. GENITIVE (GEN): -ne

The Genitive Case is used to describe alienable possession or an accidental characteristic of a object. There is an archaic form -e, which is found in place names such as Luse and is the origin of the adjectival ending -(h)e and the "daughter" (e).


Example Transliteration Translation
siline si.li.ne of the house
silisone si.li.so.ne of the two houses
pene summe Pe.ne sum.me because of you

5. POSSESSIVE (POSS): -me

The Possessive Case is used to describe inalienable possession or an essential characteristic of an object. until recently the Possessive Case, unlike the other Cases, preceded rather than followed the grammatical number suffix. The reason for this anomaly is not clear, and many a scholar of the Guild has written his first professional linguistic essay on this topic. With the development and authorization of the post-2192 cases, however, the inverse possessive has developed a derivational rather than syntactic role, and the order has normalized to match the other cases.

Example Transliteration Translation
silime si.li.me of the house
silisome si.li.me of the two houses (post-2192)
silimeso si.li.me.so of the two houses (pre-2192)


Locative Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Ablative 6 -sum motion away from
motion out of (pre-2192)
origin of a person
reason (pre-2217)
Locative 7 -kem location
inside (pre-2192)
transferred object
price of transferred object
postpositional case
Allative-Dative 8 -su towards
into (pre-2192)
inanimate indirect object of transitive clause
inanimate indirect object of ditransitive causative perfective verb
Dative-Benefactive 9 -tu benefactive
animate or intimate possession
animate indirect object of transitive clause
animate indirect object of ditransitive causative perfective verb


6. ABLATIVE (ABL): -sum

The Ablative Case is used to describe motion away from a point or (pre-2192) origin from a particular location. It is also used to describe the origin of a person (although the Genitive and Possessive are also used for this) or (pre-2217) reason of a condition. It is not used for origin from a person. The authorization in 2192 of the Elative Case 15. -nesum has narrowed the domain of the Ablative, as has the authorization in 2217 of the Causative Case -neya.

Example Transliteration Translation
sakikemhusum sa.ki.kem.sum away from the river


7. LOCATIVE (LOC): -kem

The Locative Case is used to describe a location, or, in ditransitive clauses, the object being transferred or the price of the object in the Absolutive Case (more rarely, Accusative Case). The authorization in 2192 of the Inessive Case 16. -nemkim has narrowed the domain of the Locative. Some postpositions take the Locative rather than the Genitive.

Example Transliteration Translation
neme lusilinekem at the border (end) of the city
lupatekem pempesum Lu.pa.te.kem pem.pe.sum from beyond the mountain
lupatekem pempetu Lu.pa.te.kem pem.pe.tu to beyond the mountain
lupatekem pempekim Lu.pa.te.kem pem.pe.kim beyond the mountain

8. (AL)LATIVE/DATIVE (ALL): -su

The Allative Case is used for the inanimate indirect object of a main clause, direction towards, direction into (pre-2192), and the inanimate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb is perfective aspect. The authorization in 2192 of the Illative Case 17. -nemtu has narrowed the domain of the Allative-Dative.

Example Transliteration Translation
lusilikesu Lu.si.li.ke.su towards the village

9. DATIVE-BENEFACTIVE (DAT): -tu

The Dative Case is used for the animate indirect object of a main clause, direction towards, direction into (pre-2192), and the animate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb is perfective aspect. The authorization in 2192 of the Illative Case 17. -nemtu has narrowed the domain of the Dative-Benefactive.

Example Transliteration Translation
layeke lemetu La.ye.ke le.me.tu for my sister
Comitative Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Instrumental 10 -ki inanimate instrument
inanimate direct object of ditransitive causative imperfective verb
adverbial elaboration
Comitative 13 -ni accompaniment 'with'
nominal 'and'

10. INSTRUMENTAL (INS): -ki

The Instrumental Case is used to describe the means by which something is done. This case is only used with Inanimate nouns in Standard Siye; it is rude to use the Instrumental Case with an Animate nouns. The Instrumental Case is used for the inanimate direct object of a Causative Construction Clause when the verb is perfective aspect. Prior to 2192, the postposition /eki/ (e+INS) plus an animate noun in the Genitive Case was used for the animate equivalent. In 2192, the Animate Instrumental case (14. -neki) was authorized to replace this construction.

Example Transliteration Translation
koki Ko.ki by hand; manually

13. COMITATIVE (COM): -ni

The Comitative Case is used to describe accompaniment. It also serves as the primary nominal form of 'and', thus contrasting with the primarily verbal form -(h)(a)m. When used as 'and', the grammatical number of the verb is governed by the noun in the Nominative or Absolutive.

Example Transliteration Translation
leyake layekeni isuputuma Le.ya.ke.La.ye.ke.ni.I.su.pu.tu.me(a) the boy walks with the girl
Adverbial Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Adverbial 11 -ku forms adverbs
Equative 12 -pu predicate
direct address (very rare)

11. ADVERBIAL (ADV): -ku

The Adverbial Case converts roots into adverbs. The Guild of Scholars treats this as a case rather than a derivational affix. This suffix is used to adverbialize secondary adverbial suffixes excluded from their usual placement by a primary adverbial suffix.

Example Transliteration Translation
um miku isuputuma Um.Mi.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a) the man hops/hobbles forward (on one foot)
um misoku isuputuma Um.Mi.so.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a) the man walks forward (on two feet)
kewim mikeku isuputuma Ke.wim.Mi.ke.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a) the Martian lion walks forward (on four feet)
umo miloku isuputuma U.mo.Mi.lo.ku.I.su.pu.tu.me(a) the spider walks forward (on many feet)

12. EQUATIVE (EQ): -pu

The Equative Case is used to describe the second noun or adjective in a predicate statement. In Early (pre-vowel dominance) Siye, it was sometimes used as a Vocative Case. In the earliest stage of vowel dominance, it served as a replacement for the elided 20. (Classic) Vocative following an oral vowel. Contemporary Standard Siye elected to eliminate the Vocative entirely, but contemporary Rural Ye, having collapsed the Adverbial, Equative, and Allative into [-hu] or [hy], chose to regularize the Vocative usage.

Example Transliteration Translation
um me kutumpu ikimpukima Um.Me.Ku.tum.pu.I.Kim.pu.ki.me(a) that man is a hudzu-priest

Cases Authorized 2192

As of 2192,the following cases were declared legal for formal writing. All of them are the result of contractions between the Genitive Case and postpositions that began with e-.

New Locative Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Animate Instrumental 14 -neki animate direct object of ditransitive causative imperfective verb (post-2192)
Elative 15 -nemsum out of a location (post-2192)
Inessive 16 -nemkim inside a location (post-2192)
Illative 17 -nemtu into a location (post-2192)

14. ANIMATE INSTRUMENTAL (ANS): -neki

The Animate Instrumental Case is used for the demoted animate agent of the subordinate clause in imperfective aspect in a Causative Construction. See INSTRUMENTAL (INS) (10.) above and Causative Construction under Siye Sytax.

Le ineki liyo elelipunama.
Le.I.ne(e).ki.Li.yo.E.le.Li.pu.na.me(a)
le-0 i-neki liyo-0 e-le-li-pu-sum-na-ma
1-NOM 3-ANS food-ABS 4-1-eat.IMPFV-SG-CAUS-D1-P1
I will feed him (=I will cause him to eat the food)

15. ELATIVE (ELA): -nemsum

The Elative Case is used for motion out of a location, superceding this use of 6. ABL.

Laye silinemsum itupusuna.
La.ye.si.li.ne(e)m.sum.I.Tu.pu.su.ne(a)
laye-0 sili-nemsum i-tu-pu-tu-na
woman-ABS house-ELA 3-go.PFV-SG-D5-P2 The woman exited the house.

16. INESSIVE (INE): -nemkim

The Inessive Case is used for position inside of a location, superceding this use of 7. LOC.

Laye silinemkim ikupununa.
La.ye.si.li.ne(e)m.kim.I.Ku.pu.nu.ne(a)
laye-0 sili-nemkim i-ku-pu-nu-ma
woman-ABS house-INE 3-sleep.IMPFV-SG-D3-P1
The woman is sleeping in the house.

17. ILLATIVE (ILL): -nemtu

The Illative Case is used for motion into a location, superceding this use of 8. ALL and 9. DAT.

Laye silinemtu itupusuna.
La.ye.si.li.ne(e)m.tu.I.Tu.pu.su.ne(a)
laye-0 sili-nemtu i-tu-pu-su-na
woman-ABS house-ILL 3-go.PFV-SG-D4-P2
The woman entered the house.

Cases Authorized 2200

As of 2200,the following case was authorized to replace -ne to.

New Comitative Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Abessive 18 -neto without (post-2200)

18. ABESSIVE (ABE): -neto

The Abessive Case is used to describe lack. A counterpart to the Comitative case, the authorization of the Abessive Case was proposed in 2192, but some members of the Guild of Scholars felt that the conflation of the Genitive Case with the postposition /to/ was not as strong as that of situations such as inessive /-nemtu/ from /-ne emtu/, since there was no natural contraction. A minority of Scholars lobbied for /-nito/ on the analogy of Comitative /-ni/.

Liyoneto lelilulunuma.
Li.yo.ne.to.Le.Li.lo.u(lu).nu.me(a)
liyo-neto le-li-lo-ulu-nu-ma
food-ABE 1-die.IMPFV-PL-TNS-D3-P1
Without food, we will die.

Cases Authorized 2217

As of 2217, the following case was declared legal for formal writing.

Comitative Cases Case Number Case Suffix Notes
Causal 19 -neya because of (post-2217)

19. CAUSAL (CAUS): -neya

The Causal Case is used to describe the cause of something when the cause is expressed as a noun. Although the causative has long been expressed formally either by -sum, the Ablative Case or by -ne summe, that is, the noun 'cause' in the Possessive Case preceded by the causative object in the Genitive Case, the postposition 'eya' has long been used informally with the Genitive Case. The recent conflations of postposition using the dummy noun 'e' with preceding Genitive Case -ne have created many new informal case endings, all of which the Gulld of Scholars are examining in order to determine whether and when such neologisms should be accepted as part of Standard Siye.

Neponeya susumsuyamloya Simayamke yitukesumnuna.
Ne.po.ne.ya.su.sum.su.yam.lo.ya.si.m(e)a.yam.ke.I(i).Tu.ke.sum.nu.ne(a)
nepo-neya susumsuyam-lo-ya Simayam-ke-0 i-i-tu-ke-sum-nu-na
money-CAUS missionary-PL-ERG Siye-speaker-PAUC-ABS 3-3-move.PFV-PAUC-CAUS-D3-P2
The missionaries drowned (baptized?) the few Siye-speakers because of (their) money.

Complex cases

Complex cases occur when Suffixaufnahme places an Accusative -a after another case suffix which ends in a vowel. These are not official cases, and therefore illegitimate and immoral; furthermore, their illegitimacy means that the crude names herein given are descriptive rather than prescriptive. It is necessary, however, to recognize these forms when in the the western provinces or handling a document from that region. It is difficult to purify immoral grammar if you do not know what the author intended.

Complex Cases Case Number Case Suffix Contraction of Transliteration
Accusi-genitive (AGEN) 1 -na -ne-a ne(a)
Accusi-possessive (APOSS) 2 -ma -me-a me(a)
Accusi-ablative (AABL) 3 -sumha -sum-ha sum.a
Accusi-locative (ALOC) 4 -kemha -kem-a kem.a
Accusi-allative (AALL) 5 -su, -sa -su-a su(a), sa
Accusi-dative (ADAT) 6 -tu, -sa, -ta -tu-a tu(a), sa, ta
Accusi-instrumental (AINS) 7 -ki, -sa -ki-a, sa ki(a)
Accusi-adverbial (AADV) 8 -ku -ku-a ku(a)
Accusi-equative (AEQ) 9 -pu -pu-a pu(a)
Accusi-comitative (ACOM) 10 -na -ni-a ni(a)

Notes

AGEN & APOSS: When noun phrases which are used in the Western Provinces are authorized as composite nouns, there is often a choice between the AGEN ending -na < ne(a) > and the APOSS ending -ma < me(a) > as the correct syllable. In general, the Guild of Scholars follows Standard Siye guidelines and therefore chooses -na < na > to follow nasal syllables and act as a case ending, and -ma < ma > to follow oral syllables and act as the new final syllable of the word. If, however, there is a substantial semantic difference between the meaning of the noun phrase using the Genitive Case and that using the Possessive Case, the Guild of Scholars may authorize an otherwise illegal use of -na following an oral syllable as a new final syllable.

ACOM: If a noun phrase which is used in the Western Provinces uses the ACOM ending -na < ni(a) > and is authorized as a composite noun, the Guild of Scholars requires that the -na < na > become the case ending if the now ultimate syllable contains a nasal vowel; otherwise, -na < na > becomes the final syllable of the word.

AALL & ADAT: When the AALL OR ADAT 'cases' are used in a sentence with a transitive verb, it seems as though there is no grammatical direct object. If the Accusative suffix is absorbed, the verb remains transitive and is treated as though it had a covert applicative suffix.

-sa <sa >: The various 'cases' of -sa < sa > (AALL, ADAT, AINS) form a contentious issue for the Guild of Scholars. There is a proposal, originally brought forth at the same time as the proposals for the cases authorized in 2192, to replace the Animate Instrumental (ANS) case -neki with -sa. The "Saists" or "Eastern Saists" are part of the Animacist faction which strongly believes in maintaining the distinction between animate and inanimate nouns. These Saists support (unofficially, of course) the use of AALL and ADAT endings. This group should not be confused with the group who call themselves Saists or Western Saists. The latter group is comprised of Scholars from the Far Western Province who advocate the adotion of -sa as an animacy-neutral form of the Dative and Allative Cases in order to prevent the commercial exploitation of Far Westerners who have difficulty with animacy distinctions. As of the current date (2229 AD), the Eastern Saists have diminished in power, but the Western Saists have fared better, although they have not yet received official recognition.

Grammatical Number

Grammatical Number Abbreviation Ending Transliteration
Null NL -ku, -hu, -u ku
Singular SG -0 N/A
Dual DU -so so
Paucal PAUC -ke ke
Plural PL -lo lo
Pantic PAN -ka ka


The Null Number refers to the absence of a particular thing. As of the current date (2229 A.D.), the null number is primarily poetic. /hu/ appears after nasal syllables.

Example Translation Literary Source
tupiku sakike mekem imikukima. No birds swim in this pond.
yetamku etamkukima. No stones remain. "Lament of the Fall of the Third Moon"

The Singular Number is used with singular nouns, some abstract nouns, and mass nouns. It is also the citation form of a Standard Siye word.

Example Translation Literary Source
uku sakike mekem imipukima. A fish swims in this pond.
kamna piece of cloth

The Dual Number is used to refer to exactly two things. Although pairs of items, such as eyes, are normally in the Dual Number, the Dual Number does not inherently indicate a pair.

Example Translation Literary Source
layekeso sakikem imisokima. A pair of girls walk by this pond.
wapomso the two merchants


The Paucal Number refers to a group which is smaller than that of Plural Number but more than the Dual Number. This is a culturally determined distinction.

Example Translation Literary Source
kekeke tupime sakike mekem imikekima. A few fledglings swim in this pond.
olake the few eagles

It is true that Paucal suffix -ke and the Diminutive suffix -ke are homophonous (but different etymologically). Context and greater familiarity with the language will allow the Sinammayam (learner of Siye) to distinguish between the two.


The Plural Number refers to a group, larger than that of Paucal Number. This is the generic plural in Siye.

Example Translation Literary Source
kekelo tupime sakike mekem imilokima. Many fledglings swim in this pond.
kewimlo the many lions

The Pantic Number refers to all of a certain thing. It is also used as an ethnic or group designation.

Example Translation Literary Source
kekeka tupime ileyempuyamtumame sakike mekem imikakima. All of the fledgings whom I espy are swimming in this pond.
Simayamka (all) Siye-speakers

Structure: ROOT-NUMBER-CASE, except (until 2192) for the Possessive Case, in which case the order is ROOT-CASE-NUMBER.

Definiteness and Numeral Placement

Definiteness and Numeral Placement
Siye nouns are inherently definite. tupiya tupi-ya bird-ERG the bird
An indefinite noun requires a following /tum/. tupi tumna tupi tum-na bird INDEF-ERG a bird
Adjectives follow the noun. tupi tukiya tupi tuki-ya bird white-ERG the white bird
Adjectives follow the noun. tupi tuki tumna tupi tuki tum-na bird white INDEF-ERG a white bird
The demonstrative /me/ provides further definition tupi tuki mena tupi tuki me-na bird white DEF-ERG this/that white bird
Numerals precede the verb. They are definite. tum tupiya tum tupi-ya one bird-ERG one bird
so tupisoya so tupi-so-ya two bird-DU-ERG two birds
ko tupiloya ko tupi-lo-ya five bird-PL-ERG five birds
ko tupilo mena ko tupi-lo me-na five bird-PL DEF-ERG those five birds

Pronouns

Personal Pronouns Nominative Accusative Transliteration Transliteration Notes
1st le la Le, le Le(a) /le/ derives from Thide first person pronoun /de/
2nd pe sa Pe, pe Sa, sa /pe/ and /sa/ derive from different Thide pronominal roots, /be/ and /ša/ respectively
3rd animate i ya I Ya, ya /i/ and /e/ both derive from Thide third person pronoun /ŋë/
3rd inanimate (aka 4th) e a E, e E(a), e(a) /i/ and /e/ both derive from Thide third person pronoun /ŋë/.
3rd person indefinite (INDEF) mu mu mu mu(a) /mu/ is both Nominative and Accusative, animate and inanimate.

In Standard Siye, all the pronouns have a nominative-accusative contrast rather than an ergative-absolutive one. The accusative form is used exclusively for the Accusative case; peripheral cases use the same form as the nominative. Most accusative forms end in /a/. In most cases this is derived from vowel dominance contraction with the Early Siye Accusative suffix /-a/ (Tide -ŋa, Thide -ŋa), but /a/ in /sa/ is original to Thide.

Isoglosses

The Valley in which Siye is spoken stretches halfway across the Martian equator, so there are variations in speech along its length. The primary isogloss is the boundary line between nouns that use the Nominative and Accusative and those that use the Ergative and Absolutive. In Standard Siye, the dialect of the City in the Central Province and the variety on which this article is based, only pronouns and personal names can use Nominative and Accusative forms. As one travels east the range of the Nominative decreases; as one travels west towards the Mountain, the opposite occurs. Thus, all varieties of Siye use /le, la/ for the first person pronouns. All but the Far Eastern Province and the Lake use /pe, sa/ for the second person pronoun. The Mid-Eastern Province and points west place all pronouns, regardless of number, in the Nominative category. Standard Siye, from the Central Province, adds personal names to the Nominative category. The Near Western Province requires that nouns denoting humans must be in the Nominative category, reducing the number of complex cases in the spoken version of the western dialects. The Mid-Western Province treats all animate nouns as Nominative, and the Far Western Province is full nominative under the "contamination" of Ulok.

Non-standard pronouns

The non-standard pronouns presented here (with one exception) are the ergative-absolutive forms used in the eastern provinces in lieu of the nominative-accusative ones. In documents other than contracts and academic works, non-standard pronouns may appear. The Valley is large, and the combination of vowel dominance and suffixation produce more forms than can be presented here.

Personal Pronouns Subject Object Where Used Other Notes
2nd person peya pe Far Eastern Province, Lake /pe/ (absolutive) is identical to standard /pe/ (nominative)
3rd person animate iya i Eastern Provinces, Lake /i/ (absolutive) is identical to standard /i/ (nominative). /iya/ appears frequently in folk songs, even those composed by speakers of Standard Siye, as a strengthened form of /i/, which is monosyllabic, a lone vowel, and lowest on the vowel dominance hierarchy.
3rd person inanimate eya e Far Eastern Province, Mid-Eastern Province, Lake Non-standard /e/ (absolutive) is identical to standard /e/ (nominative). /eya/ appears outside of the eastern dialects much less frequently than /iya/.
3rd person inanimate aya a Central Province innovation Originally an extremely vulgar usage, most common in the seedier parts of the City starting in the late 22nd century A.D., but it spreadi rapidly and now (2250) is heard in lower middle class contexts.
3rd person indefinite muna mu Far Eastern Province, Mid-Eastern Province, Lake Note that in those dialects the ergative and absolutive forms of the 3rd person indefinite are distinct. Since the emergence of vowel dominance, there has been a small but vocal faction in the Guild of Scholars (the "Munayamlo") which advocates the use of /muna/~/mu/ to resolve ambiguities in current Standard Siye. The syllabary distinguishes between the two using a modified form of the basic < mu > character. The advocated use of of 'muna' is only as an independent pronoun, not as a verb suffix. As of the current date (2229), the Munayamlo have been gaining ground. But they have also been complaining for a millennium.

Portmanteau Pronouns

Portmanteau Pronouns Accusative Instrumental Allative
Verb Valence Transitive Ditransitive (Causative) Ditransitive (Causative)
Verb Aspect Imperfective Imperfective Perfective
Not Expressed By Noun Subject, Direct Object Causee, Recipient Causee, Recipient
3rd Person Inanimate Direct Object Causee Recipient
Number Suffix on Pronoun Refers To Direct Object Causee Recipient
Number Suffix on Verb Refers To Direct Object Causor Causee


Portmanteau Pronouns Accusative Notes
1st & Inanimate la
2nd & Inanimate pa
3rd & Inanimate ya
Definite & Inanimate ma Analogical

Accusative Portmanteau Pronouns

The accusative portmanteau pronouns are /la/, /pa/, /ya/, and /ma/. The first three are the result of a contraction of single nominative pronouns /le/, /pe/, and /i/ with the fourth person accusative pronoun /a/. Note that /la/ and /ya/ are homophonous with the simple accusative pronouns /la/ and /ya/. The accusative portmanteau pronoun /ma/ is derived analogically from the definite pronominal prefix /ma-/. The nominative pronouns /e/ and /mu/ do not have accusative portmanteau pronominal forms. The interrogative pronoun /pala/ has nothing to do the portmanteau process.

Accusative portmanteau pronouns can occur under the following conditions: the verb of the clause is transitive; the verbal aspect is imperfective; neither the subject nor the direct object is expressed by a noun; the direct object is fourth person; the number suffix on the portmanteau pronoun refers to the number of the direct object, not the number of the subject; the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the subject, not the number of the direct object.

Palo epekosoyammumo?
palo-a epekosoyammumo
pa-lo-a e-pe-ko-so-yam-ma-umo
2>4-PL-ACC 4-2-see.IPFV-DU-INCPTV-P1-Q
Can you two see them?
Yaka elipulunama.
palo-a epekosoyammumo
ya-ka-a e-i-li-pu-ulu-na-ma
3>4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.IMPFV-TNS-D2-P1
He won't eat them all.

Accusative portmanteau pronouns can occur with a perfective verb, but the permissible range is limited to subjects in the singular number and sentences where the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the direct object rather than the subject.

Yaka eyokalunanu.
ya-ka-a e-i-yo-ka-ulu-na-nu
3>4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.PFV-PAN-TNS-D3-P6
He did not eat them all.
Yakaka eyokalunamu
ya-ke-a-ka-a e-i-yo-ka-ulu-na-mu
3>4-PAUC-4-PAN-ACC 4-3-eat.IMPFV-PAN-TNS-D3-P1
The few of them won't eat all of them.

Portmanteau Pronouns in Causative Construction (Instrumental and Allative)

Instrumental portmanteau pronouns can occur in Causative Constructions with an imperfective verb under the following conditions: the verb of the clause is ditransitive; the aspect of the verb is imperfective; neither the causee nor the recipient are expressed by nouns; the causee is fourth person; the number suffix on the portmanteau pronoun refers to the number of the causee, not the number of the recipient; the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the causor, not the number of the recipient.

Allative portmanteau pronouns can occur in Causative Constructions with a perfective verb under the following conditions: the verb of the clause is ditransitive; the aspect of the verb is perfective; neither the causee nor the recipient are expressed by nouns; the recipient is fourth person; the number suffix on the portmanteau pronoun refers to the number of the recipent, not the number of the causee; the number suffix on the verb refers to the number of the causee, not the number of the causor.

The number of the causor is singular.

Post-2192 and post-2200 Derivational Suffixes

The authorization of the new cases derived from -ne and postpositions has yielded new derivational suffixes for nouns. Whereas previously there was contrast between Genitive -ne and Possessive -me in these postpositional phrases, where the Genitive indicated alienable possession and the Possessive inalienable possession, the new case suffixes with -n- are perceived as cases, while the suffixes with -m- are perceived as suffixes which create new nouns.

Derivative Suffixes Animacy Meaning Transliteration Example Translation Notes
-memtu Animate Indicates someone who is striving towards a goal me(m).tu kutummemtu apprentice of a hutsung-priest
-memsum Inanimate Indicates a lineage me(e)m.sum Kikamemsum from the lineage of Chika, Mr. or Mrs. Chikamengsung (surnames in the Western tradition are a recent borrowing from Terrestrial missionaries)
-memkim Inanimate Indicates the interior of a place me(e)m.kim silimemkim room
-meki Animate Indicates an animate agent me(e).ki a(tom)meki merchant
-meto Animate Adjective Indicates a living being lacking something expected me.to isometo blind The older word for 'blind person' /ule/, which has an unfortunate homophone /ule/ 'idiot', is currently losing ground to the new formation /isometo/ 'blind, blind person', from /iso-/ 'a pair of eyes' and /-meto/ 'without', just as /ule/ has peviously replaced /wule/ and mostly displaced /nule/, both in turn derived from /ung-ure/. The dual number suffix in /iso-/, although still recognizable, has been reanalyzed as part of the root; thus 'many blind people' is /isometolo/, with the plural suffix /-lo/.
imeto one-eye
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