Poswa irregular nouns

Irregular nouns

Some y¹ nouns are prone to syncope in their oblique form and forms derived from the oblique.

Syncope is not the only irregularity, however. Some nouns have other unusual quirks, and could be called the irregulars' irregulars. Some of them feature syncope in addition to their other changes.

B

baby

The declension of baby "all, whole, entire" is below. This is an unusual word because, although it is considered a noun, it is almost always used immediately after another noun and therefore is seen as a modifier. Thus, it becomes unstressed. It thus has undergone the common sound change bVb ---> b in some of its forms but not others.

Note that this word is etymologically identical with the less common plural ending -by and with the pronoun baby meaning "we", but that the three words diverged long enough ago that the meanings have changed:

NOUN

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	baby	babo	babe	baba	babo
(Oblique)	bo	babo	babe	baba	babo
Accusative	bop	babop	babep	babap	babop
Locative	bom	babom	babem	babam	babom
Possessive	bos	babos	babes	babas	babos
Essive	babi	babi	babul	babel	babi
Instrumental	bub	babub	babi	babob	babub

bis

The declension of bis "substitute, replacement" is below. Note that this word, like baby, was originally an unstressed form of another noun; in this case, biris, which was first syncopated to bris and then simplified to bis. These were both regular sound changes for unstressed syllables, but not for stressed syllables:

bis

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	bis	bebo	bebe	beba	bebo
(Oblique)	bebo	bebo	bebe	beba	bebo
Accusative	bebop	bebop	bebep	bebap	bebop
Locative	bebom	bebom	bebem	bebam	bebom
Possessive	bebos	bebos	bebes	bebas	bebos
Essive	bebi	bebi	bebul	bebel	bebi
Instrumental	bebub	bebub	bebi	bebob	bebub

Note that the inflected forms of this word (that is, all but the nominative standalone form) do not have syncope, and thus retain the original /i/ as -e-, because another sound change happened first that removed the environment necessary for the syncope. Also, in some words, the sound change of bris --> bis did not happen, but these words decline the same way as the words ending in bis since the -r- had been removed in all of the inflected forms by another sound change anyway. Also, the full form of the word, biris, is still used as a word by itself, and it has a similar series of forms, the only difference being that the original -i- remains -i- instead of changing to -e-. Thus one can say

Bamba mumbebap pypembaba.

The baby is holding up her pacifier.

blem

Below is the declension for blem "bottle":

blem

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	blem	mio	mie	mia	mia
(Oblique)	mia	mio	mie	mia	mia
Accusative	miap	miop	miep	miap	miap
Locative	miam	miom	miem	miam	miam
Possessive	mias	mios	mies	mias	mias
Essive	miel	mie	miul	miel	miel
Instrumental	miob	miub	mie	miob	miob

blub

Below is the declension for blub "milk":

blub

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	blub	blwo	blwe	blwa	blwo
(Oblique)	blwu	blwo	blwe	blwa	blwo
Accusative	blwop	blwop	blwep	blwap	blwop
Locative	blwom	blwom	blwem	blwam	blwom
Possessive	blwos	blwos	blwes	blwas	blwos
Essive	blwi	blwi	blwul	blwel	blwi
Instrumental	blwub	blwub	blwi	blwob	blwub

Thus one can say:

Tus,₁ bom₂ blwe₃ miom?₄

Is that₁₂ your milk₃ in my bottle?₄

bub

Note that another common, and very similar, word for milk exists: bub. Bub specifically denotes human breast milk. The two words are related at a very deep level, as blub was long ago originally a compound with bub as its second element, despite the fact that blub has a wider range of meaning. The two declensions are exactly identical save for the presence or absence of the -l- in all forms. Below is the declension for bub "breast milk":

bub

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	bub	bwo	bwe	bwa	bwo
(Oblique)	bwu	bwo	bwe	bwa	bwo
Accusative	bwop	bwop	bwep	bwap	bwop
Locative	bwom	bwom	bwem	bwam	bwom
Possessive	bwos	bwos	bwes	bwas	bwos
Essive	bwi	bwi	bwul	bwel	bwi
Instrumental	bwub	bwub	bwi	bwob	bwub

Thus one can say

Plefi!₁ Tus₂ nobellam₃ be₄ bwul?₅

Whoa!₁ This₄ ice cream₃ is₂ made from your breast milk?₅

K

kuvar

The declension of kuvar "asymmetrical sphere; irregularly shaped bubble" is below:

kuvar

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	kuvar
(Oblique)	kuvvo
Accusative	kuvvop
Locative	kuvvom
Possessive	kuvvos
Essive	kuvvi
Instrumental	kuvvub

L

labal

The declension of labal "bed" is below:

labal

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	labal	lablio	lablie	lablia	lablo
(Oblique)	lablo	lablio	lablie	lablia	labžo
Accusative	lablop	labliop	labliep	labliap	labžop
Locative	lablom	labliom	labliem	labliam	labžom
Possessive	lablos	lablios	lablies	lablias	labžos
Essive	labli	lablie	labliul	labliel	labži
Instrumental	lablub	labliub	lablie	labliob	labžub

M

mimap

The declension of mimap "clumsy person, cripple" is below:

mimap

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	mimap	mimpio	mimpie	mimpia	mimpo
(Oblique)	mimpo	mimpio	mimpie	mimpia	mimpfo
Accusative	mimpop	mimpiop	mimpiep	mimpiap	mimpfop
Locative	mimpom	mimpiom	mimpiem	mimpiam	mimpfom
Possessive	mimpos	mimpios	mimpies	mimpias	mimpfos
Essive	mimpi	mimpie	mimpiul	mimpiel	mimpfi
Instrumental	mimpub	mimpiub	mimpie	mimpiob	mimpfub

minob

The declension of minob "(preserved) breast milk" is below:

minob

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	minob	mimbio	mimbie	mimbia	mimbo
(Oblique)	mimbo	mimbio	mimbie	mimbia	mimbo
Accusative	mimbop	mimbiop	mimbiep	mimbiap	mimbop
Locative	mimbom	mimbiom	mimbiem	mimbiam	mimbom
Possessive	mimbos	mimbios	mimbies	mimbias	mimbos
Essive	mimbi	mimbie	mimbiul	mimbiel	mimbi
Instrumental	mimbub	mimbiub	mimbie	mimbiob	mimbub

mipis

The declension of mipis "sweetheart, lover" is below:

mipis

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	mipis	mipsio	mipsie	mipsia	mipso
(Oblique)	mipso	mipsio	mipsie	mipsia	mipšo
Accusative	mipsop	mipsiop	mipsiep	mipsiap	mipšop
Locative	mipsom	mipsiom	mipsiem	mipsiam	mipšom
Possessive	mipsos	mipsios	mipsies	mipsias	mipšos
Essive	mipsi	mipsie	mipsiul	mipsiel	mipši
Instrumental	mipsub	mipsiub	mipsie	mipsiob	mipšub

P

pamaš

The declension of pamaš "winter" is below:

pamaš

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pamaš
(Oblique)	pampo
Accusative	pampop
Locative	pampom
Possessive	pampos
Essive	pampi
Instrumental	pampub

Thus one can say

Swo, blob blubo nambvap pampom.

I sleep with my window open in winter.

patyt

The declension of patyt "morning" is below:

patyt

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	patyt	pappo	pappe	pappa	patto
(Oblique)	patto	pappo	pappe	pappa	patwo
Accusative	pattop	pappop	pappep	pappap	patwop
Locative	pattom	pappom	pappem	pappam	patwom
Possessive	pattos	pappos	pappes	pappas	patwos
Essive	patti	pappi	pappul	pappel	patwi
Instrumental	pattub	pappub	pappi	pappob	patwub

pes

The declension of pes "hands; hand (plural)" is below:

pes

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pes	pifo	pife	pifa	pifa
(Oblique)	pipa	pifo	pife	pifa	pifa
Accusative	pipap	pifop	pifep	pifap	pifap
Locative	pipam	pifom	pifem	pifam	pifam
Possessive	pipas	pifos	pifes	pifas	pifas
Essive	pipel	pifi	piful	pifel	pifel
Instrumental	pipob	pifub	pifi	pifob	pifob

This noun does not normally take a plural suffix since it is seen as plural by default.

Pwopwa₁ pifas₂ plopum₃ pilabel.₄

The children₁ dipped₄ their hands₂ in the paint.₃

Note that the verb is intransitive and that the word for "their hands" is in the possessive case rather than the accusative.

pešaf

The declension of pešaf "book, poem, work of literature" is below:

pešaf

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pešaf	pešio	pešie	pešia	pešfo
(Oblique)	pešfo	pešio	pešie	pešia	pešfo
Accusative	pešfop	pešiop	pešiep	pešiap	pešfop
Locative	pešfom	pešiom	pešiem	pešiam	pešfom
Possessive	pešfos	pešios	pešies	pešias	pešfos
Essive	pešfi	pešie	pešiul	pešiel	pešfi
Instrumental	pešfub	pešiub	pešie	pešiob	pešfub

Thus one can say:

Pešiom₁ pwaefae!₂

You're sitting₂ on my books!₁

Note that this is an intransitive verb and that there is no object in this sentence.

pfop

The declension of pfop "hips (dual)" is below:

pfop

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pfop	putšo	putše	putša	putša
(Oblique)	puwa	putšo	putše	putša	putša
Accusative	puwap	putšop	putšep	putšap	putšap
Locative	puwam	putšom	putšem	putšam	putšam
Possessive	puwas	putšos	putšes	putšas	putšas
Essive	puwel	putši	putšul	putšel	putšel
Instrumental	puwob	putšub	putši	putšob	putšob

Note that this is the dual form of the word, not the plural, and thus is only used to describe one person's two hips.

Many of this word's forms collide with those of the unrelated word pwap "buttocks" (see below).

Note that Poswa uses the dual form in many cases where an English speaker would expect the singular:

Putšos mupawabub babužvabbi.

My hip measurement is seven hands.

pfwu

The declension of pfwu "diaper" is below:

punu

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pfwu	pfwo	pfwe	pfwa	pfwo
(Oblique)	pfwu	pfwu	pfwe	pfwa	pfwu
Accusative	pfwop	pfwop	pfwep	pfwap	pfwop
Locative	pfwom	pfwom	pfwem	pfwam	pfwom
Possessive	pfwos	pfwos	pfwes	pfwas	pfwos
Essive	pfwi	pfwi	pfwul	pfwel	pfwi
Instrumental	pfwub	pfwub	pfwi	pfwob	pfwub

Thus one could say

Bwumbom₁ pfwem?₂

What's that₁ in your diaper?₂

Note that most of the forms of this word are homophonous with forms of pyp "beetle, insect" but this does not cause a problem because in most contexts the two words would not replace each other and because pyp is more often found as the second element of a compound word (e.g. lypelpyp "scorpion") than as a free-standing form.

piraf

The declension of piraf "goal, planned victory" is below:

piraf

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	piraf	piffo	piffe	piffa	piffo
(Oblique)	piffo	piffo	piffe	piffa	piffo
Accusative	piffop	piffop	piffep	piffap	piffop
Locative	piffom	piffom	piffem	piffam	piffom
Possessive	piffos	piffos	piffes	piffas	piffos
Essive	piffi	piffe	pifful	piffel	piffi
Instrumental	piffub	piffub	piffe	piffob	piffub

Note that piraf and pešaf do not follow similar patterns because the origins of their final /fʷ/ are different. Pešaf comes from Babakiam peišafu, and piraf comes from Babakiam pivafiu.

pobbop

The declension of pobbop "dung, feces, “poop”" is below. This is a suppletive noun, with part of its declension borrowed from a different (though related) noun that later fell out of use:

pop

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pobbop	pobbo	pobbe	pobba	poppwo
(Oblique)	poppwo	pobbo	pobbe	pobba	poppwo
Accusative	poppwop	pobbop	pobbep	pobbap	poppwop
Locative	poppwom	pobbom	pobbem	pobbam	poppwom
Possessive	poppwos	pobbos	pobbes	pobbas	poppwos
Essive	poppwi	pobbi	pobbul	pobbel	poppwi
Instrumental	poppwub	pobbub	pobbi	pobbob	poppwub

The suppletive forms above (the middle three columns) came into use because the speakers were uncomfortable with having a three syllable word for such a commonly talked about thing. If the old forms had survived, they would have become bisyllabic like those of other similar words, but the change happened at a fairly early stage in the language:

Pobbopi pirtafwabo wublob.

I'm pushing my poop away with a stick.

Unlike most of their neighbors, the Poswobs have no significant differences between adults' speech and children's speech; everyone uses the same words for everything. However, they are fond of metaphors and will use unrealistic mental imagery to clearly communicate the thoughts in their mind.

pop

The declension of pop "bathtub, bathing area; shower stall" is below:

pop

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pop	poppo	poppe	poppa	poppae
(Oblique)	poppe	poppo	poppe	poppa	popfwe
Accusative	poppep	poppop	poppep	poppap	popfwep
Locative	poppem	poppom	poppem	poppam	popfwem
Possessive	poppes	poppos	poppes	poppas	popfwes
Essive	poppul	poppi	poppul	poppel	popfwul
Instrumental	poppi	poppub	poppi	poppob	popfwi

Thus one can say

Bwumbebe₁ pwarbiep₂ poppem?₃

What did you do₁ to the bubbles₂ in the bathtub?₃

poppel

The declension of poppel "pen for writing, especially one made from a feather" is below:

poppel

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	poppel	popfo	popfe	popfa
(Oblique)	popfa	popfo	popfe	popfa
Accusative	popfap	popfop	popfep	popfap
Locative	popfam	popfom	popfem	popfam
Possessive	popfas	popfos	popfes	popfas
Essive	popfel	popfi	popful	popfel
Instrumental	popfob	popfub	popfi	popfob

pube

Pube is a stem-changing noun, like most nouns that end in -be. This is due to a very old sound change of /bi/ > /ž/ when followed by a vowel. The declension of pube "plant, plants in general" is below:

pube

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pube	pužo	puže	puža	pubae
(Oblique)	pube	pužo	puže	puža	pube
Accusative	pubep	pužop	pužep	pužap	pubep
Locative	pubem	pužom	pužem	pužam	pubem
Possessive	pubes	pužos	pužes	pužas	pubes
Essive	pubul	puži	pužul	pužel	pubul
Instrumental	pubi	pužub	puži	pužob	pubi

Thus one can say

Pubes₁ beblalio₂ rappa,₃ bubum?₄

What's₄ the name₃ for these plants₁ growing on me?₂

pumes

The declension of pumes "hip" is below. Pumes is a partly suppletive noun which also has a suppletive dual and plural form (listed separately):

pumes

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	pumes	puvo	puve	puva	pumpae
(Oblique)	pumpe	puvo	puve	puva	pumpe
Accusative	pumpep	puvop	puvep	puvap	pumpep
Locative	pumpem	puvom	puvem	puvam	pumpem
Possessive	pumpes	puvos	puves	puvas	pumpes
Essive	pumpul	puvi	puvul	puvel	pumpul
Instrumental	pumpi	puvub	puvi	puvob	pumpi

Thus one can say:

Pumpae puvapwop sapwa.

My hip opened the swinging door.

Puvo pamwiržom bavbažel.

My hip was injured by the wine glass.

Note that nonliving objects such as wine glasses are inanimate in Poswa, and thus cannot be the subject of a sentence even when they are in motion and would be considered the agent of the verb in languages such as English. Thus, a passive verb is needed. The sentence above translates literally as "My hip was injured on the wine glass," with the wine glass in the locative case.

punu

The declension of punu "shrine, place of honor" is below:

punu

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	punu
(Oblique)	puvo
Accusative	puvop
Locative	puvom
Possessive	puvos
Essive	puvi
Instrumental	puvub

S

sabas

The declension of sabas "man, adult male human" is below:

sabas

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	sabas	sapšo
(Oblique)	sapsa	sapšo
Accusative	sapsap	sapšop
Locative	sapsam	sapšom
Possessive	sapsas	sapšos
Essive	sapsel	sapši
Instrumental	sapsob	sapšub

T

twu

The declension of twu "water" is below:

twu

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	twu	tšio	tšie	tšia	two
(Oblique)	two	tšio	tšie	tšia	tšio
Accusative	twop	tšiop	tšiep	tšiap	tšiop
Locative	twom	tšiom	tšiem	tšiam	tšiom
Possessive	twos	tšios	tšies	tšias	tšios
Essive	twi	tšie	tšiul	tšiel	tšie
Instrumental	twub	tšiub	tšie	tšiob	tšiub

W

wiwi

The declension of wiwi "tooth; sharp object; to blow forcefully" is below:

wiwi

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	wiwi	wiwio			wiwo
(Oblique)	wiwe	wiwio			wiwio
Accusative	wiwep	wiwiop			wiwiop
Locative	wiwem	wiwiom			wiwiom
Possessive	wiwes	wiwios			wiwios
Essive	wiwi	wiwie			wiwie
Instrumental	wiwub	wiwiub			wiwiub

Tašepi₁ nabi₂ wiwiub.₃

I carried₂ the apple₁ with my teeth.₃

Wiwepi₁ miswarabo!₂

I need₂ something sharp!₁

wup

The declension of wup "message, information, data" is below:

wup

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative	wup	wupio	wupie	wupia
(Oblique)	wupwo	wupio	wupie	wupia
Accusative	wupwop	wupiop	wupiep	wupiap
Locative	wupwom	wupiom	wupiem	wupiam
Possessive	wupwos	wupios	wupies	wupias
Essive	wupwi	wupie	wupiul	wupiel
Instrumental	wupwub	wupiub	wupie	wupiob

Wupiopi puvebe, pa?

Did you hear my message?

Scrub

blank noun table:

NOUN

The declension of NOUN " " is below:

NOUN

Case	Free	Possessed			Attached
		1p	2p	3p
Nominative
(Oblique)
Accusative
Locative
Possessive
Essive
Instrumental