Ilya
- See also: Ilya dictionary
- See also: Ilya phrases
- See also: Ilya roots
Phonology
Bilabial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Labiovelar | Glottal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plosives | p b | t d | k g | ʔ (q) | ||
Nasals | m | n | ||||
Fricatives | s | ʃ (sh) | ||||
Approximants | l | j (y) | w | h | ||
Trill | r |
Note: The glottal stop /ʔ/ q, is used as a "buffer" to keep vowels apart when adding suffixes.
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
Close | i~ɪ | u~ʊ | |
Mid | e~ɛ | o | |
Open | a~ə |
Vowel length is productive and is marked by an acute accent. á é í ú
Nouns
Number
Ilya nouns can be singular, dual, or plural.
- kop-á - dog
- kop-ik - (two) dogs
- kop-im - dogs
- kop-ik - (two) dogs
Gender
Ilya does not have grammatical gender. However, where desired, masculine individuals may be distinguished by the suffix XXX, and feminine ones by XXX :
- kop-á - dog
Some
Case
nominative
The nominative case is the basic uninflected form of the noun.
accusative
The accusative case marks the direct object of a verb. It has two written forms whose use depends on the final letter of the word it qualifies.
- -wa Added to words ending in b, h, k, l, m, n, r, and sh.
- -o Added to words ending in d, g, p, q, s, t, w, and y.
genitive
The genitive case is used to show possession and is placed immediately after the first member of a genitive construction. It has two written forms whose use depends on the final letter of the word it qualifies.
- -ya Added to words ending in b, g, h, k, l, m, n, and r.
- -ai Added to words ending in d, p, q, s, sh, t, w, and y.
dative
The dative for the beneficiary of an action, indirect object, or motion towards. Unlike other case endings, it has morphed to being a prefix and has only one form, used in all instances. The exception to this is the form used with pronouns, ib-.
- bi-
- daqeshan éyemwa bikopá.
- give-PRF-1s food-ACC DAT-dog
- I gave food to the dog.
- ma (kayu) iban?
- what (COP-3s) DAT-1s
- What's for me?
locative
The locative case indicates the place or time at which something happens. Its meaning can be translated by the English prepositions 'to', 'at', 'on', 'in' etc. It has two written forms whose use depends on the final letter of the word it qualifies.
- -(é)da Added to words ending in b, l, m, n, p, r, s, sh, w and y. Often shortened to -éd after l, r, w, and y.
- -úsh Added to words ending in d, g, h, k, q and t.
ablative
The ablative case carries the meaning 'from' and shows separation away from an object. It is also used in comparisons and in this case translates as "than".
- -(é)sha
comitative / instrumental
The instrumental/comitative case denotes accompaniment. It is translated as "with", "together with", "by", "with" or "through". An important use of the instrumental is as an adverbial, since Ilya lacks a morphological adverb. It has two written forms whose use depends on the final letter of the word it qualifies.
- -ha Added to words ending in b, l, m, and r.
- sarha - quickly (with quickness)
- -ak Added to words ending in all others.
- betak - using; with the house
Vocative
Affect (diminutive and augmentative)
Pronouns
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
1 | -an | -uk |
2 | -ti / -e | -ut |
3 | -u / -a / il | -um |
Conjugation
There are two conjugations in Ilya, easily identified by the final -ek or -rá in the infinitive. Sample conjugations are given below, as well as the forms for the irregular verb hará 'to be (permanent)'.
hará be |
ashek want |
gelek arrive |
shabrá know | |
1s | han | ashan | gelan | shaban |
2s | hati | ashti | gele | shabti |
3s | ilha | ashu | gelu | shabu |
1p | haquk | ashuk | geluk | shabuk |
2p | haqut | ashut | geli | shabut |
3p | umha | ashum | gelum | shabum |
Demonstrative pronouns
Case
nominative | accusative | genitive | dative | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1s | -an | eyan | nai | iban |
2s | -ti / -e | eti / eye | tai | ibti |
3s | -u / -a | eya | ai | ibu |
1p | -uk | eyuk | kai | ibuk |
2p | -ut / -í | eyut | wai | ibut |
3p | -um | eyum | mai | imbu |
direct object incorporation
Direct object pronouns are incorporated to the verb inflection. So, instead of eya rayeshan (I saw her), rayeshana is grammatical. The DO pronouns are not used when the object is specified. So, instead of kawal rayeshanu (I saw (it) the horse), kawal rayeshan is grammatical.
verb | tense / aspect / mood | subject | object |
---|---|---|---|
ary | -esh | -an | -a |
see | simple past | 1sg | 3sg.FEM |
I saw her. |