Náŋifi Fasúxa: Difference between revisions
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The phonology is relatively simple, with 9 consonants (p,t,k,m,n,ŋ,f,s,x). There are 3 basic vowels. which may be short or long (a,i,u; aa, ii, uu). There are also six diphthongs (ai [aj], au [aw], iu [ju], ia [ja], ui [wi], ua [wa]. The acute accent on a vowel indicates stress and a rising pitch; the unmarked vowels have a falling pitch. | The phonology is relatively simple, with 9 consonants (p,t,k,m,n,ŋ,f,s,x). There are 3 basic vowels. which may be short or long (a,i,u; aa, ii, uu). There are also six diphthongs (ai [aj], au [aw], iu [ju], ia [ja], ui [wi], ua [wa]. The acute accent on a vowel indicates stress and a rising pitch; the unmarked vowels have a falling pitch. | ||
A peculiarity of Náŋifi Fasúxa is the ability of the syllables in its three-syllable roots to flip form CV to VC depending on the use of the root in the sentence. In discussion of the grammar of Náŋifi Fasúxa, the terms 'initial syllable', 'medial syllable', and 'final syllable' refer to the syllables of the masculine singular CVCVCV root before any flipping; the feminine plural adjective kuáŋit [kwa.ŋit] has stress on the flipped radical medial syllable -aŋ-, even though the realization of the stress is on the initial syllable of the | A peculiarity of Náŋifi Fasúxa is the ability of the syllables in its three-syllable roots to flip form CV to VC depending on the use of the root in the sentence. In discussion of the grammar of Náŋifi Fasúxa, the terms 'initial syllable', 'medial syllable', and 'final syllable' refer to the syllables of the masculine singular CVCVCV root before any flipping; the feminine plural adjective kuáŋit [kwa.ŋit] has stress on the flipped radical medial syllable -aŋ-, even though the realization of the stress is on the initial syllable of the word as pronounced. | ||
Nouns: | Nouns: | ||
Revision as of 20:16, 2 July 2010
Have mercy; I'm rusty on wiki editing. This is just an initial infodump.
Náŋifi Fasúxa (the Common Language) is the native language of the Pínaax (the People).
The phonology is relatively simple, with 9 consonants (p,t,k,m,n,ŋ,f,s,x). There are 3 basic vowels. which may be short or long (a,i,u; aa, ii, uu). There are also six diphthongs (ai [aj], au [aw], iu [ju], ia [ja], ui [wi], ua [wa]. The acute accent on a vowel indicates stress and a rising pitch; the unmarked vowels have a falling pitch.
A peculiarity of Náŋifi Fasúxa is the ability of the syllables in its three-syllable roots to flip form CV to VC depending on the use of the root in the sentence. In discussion of the grammar of Náŋifi Fasúxa, the terms 'initial syllable', 'medial syllable', and 'final syllable' refer to the syllables of the masculine singular CVCVCV root before any flipping; the feminine plural adjective kuáŋit [kwa.ŋit] has stress on the flipped radical medial syllable -aŋ-, even though the realization of the stress is on the initial syllable of the word as pronounced.
Nouns: Nouns indicate gender and grammatical number. The masculine singular retains all the syllables as CV; plurality is indicated by flipping the final syllable, femininity by flipping the medial syllable. Nouns are accented on the initial syllable. Thus:
pínaxa [pi.na.xa] man
pínaax [pi.na:x] men
pianxa [pjan.xa] woman
pianax [pja.nax] women
Adjectives: Adjectives are similar to nouns, and agree with the noun they modify in gender and number (the exceptions are the possessive pronouns). Adjectives are accented on the medial syllable and follow the nouns they modify. Thus:
pínaxa kuŋáti [pi.na.xa ku.ŋa.ti] a great man
pínaax kuŋáit [pi.na:x ku.ŋajt] great men
pianxa kuáŋti [pjan.xa kwaŋ.ti] a great woman
pianax kuáŋit [pja.nax kwaŋ.ti] great women
Prepositions:
Preposition are accented on the final syllable and agree with the noun they govern in gender and number. The personal pronouns are exceptions. Thus:
tamapú páŋasa [ta.ma.pu pa.ŋa.sa] above the house
taamíx paaŋas [ta:.mix pa:.ŋas] under the huts
