User:Masako/pataka

Basic syntax

akana.conlang.org/wiki/Ronc_Tyu/Basic_syntax

Simple sentences

Intransitive clauses

Intransitive clauses in Kala minimally consist of a subject followed by an intransitive verb, giving SV word order.

• nta'i moku

baby sleep

The baby sleeps.

• mita ina

dog eat

The dog eats.

• sama nala

sun shine

The sun shines.

• kama ke naha ya'e

village O river be.near

There is a village near the river.

• ke apua muyapua

O song do-PFV

The song has been sung.

Transitive clauses

Clauses with transitive verbs follow a SOV pattern.

• ona ke matla kuha

mother O stew cook

The mother is cooking stew.

• tasako ke masala yake

hunt-AG O deer-INDEF chase

The hunters are chasing some deer.

• kyali ke itohuatla peha

spear O tree-oak pierce

The spear pierces the oak tree.

• tasako ke mitla hita ma ne masa mata

hunt-AG O arrow cast and DO deer kill

The hunter shoots an arrow and kills the deer.

Predication

Nominal predicates are formed with the copula a, using SOV word order. However, more common is the idiomatic omission of the copula and object marker.

• tsola ke haya a

fox O animal COP

The fox is an animal. (grammatical)

• tsola haya

fox animal

The fox is an animal. (idiomatic)

• itlaka ke taya nayo a

PROX-man O husband 1sg.POSS COP

This man is my husband. (grammatical)

• itlaka ke taya nayo

PROX-man O husband 1sg.POSS

This man is my husband. (idiomatic)

Oblique participants

Dative and benefactive

Dative participants are marked with the preposition nya ‘for, by, via’.

• ntahi ke nyotlomi nya kinti yeta

child O nut-PAUC BEN squirrel give

The child gives a few nuts to the squirrel.

• ikema nya na tlahi

PROX-task BEN 1sg be.easy

This task is easy for me.

Benefactive participants are also marked with the preposition nya ‘for, by, via’.

• mekatlo nya ntakum ke tsani yomu

holy-AG BEN sibling-PL O story recite

The shaman recites a story for the siblings.

Antibenefactive participants are marked like ordinary datives using nya:

• tekim nya kamahi namyo tanyaye

enemy-PL BEN town-DIM 1pl.POSS destroy-PST

The enemies destroyed our village.

Negation

Negation, both of noun phrases and of clauses, is made with the negating suffix -k (or -nke), which affixes to the negated element. Kala utilizes multiple negation, like tlok ak (AG-NEG COP-NEG) - (there isn't anyone / there is no-one).

• intahi ke nok onyotlik - PROX-child O thing-NEG learn-FUT-NEG - This child will learn nothing.

• mita inyak - dog hunger-NEG - The dog is not hungry.

The suffix -nke also marks the abessive, meaning without, or lacking.

• ha ke’e hatsanke nya potsi hayo kayoye - 3SG so luck-ABE for wallet 3SG.POSS lose-PST - He was unlucky enough to lose his wallet.