Siye

I know this is a mess graphically, but I thought it would be a courtesy to post this information for Relay 20 starts.

Siye Cheat Sheet

Phonology and Orthography

Phonology

/m/ [m], > [_n]/V_#, V_C /n/ [n] /p/ [p], > [p_h]/#_, [f]/_u, [C]/_i /t/ [t], > [t_h]/#_, [ts]/_u, [ts_h]/#_u /k/ [k] > [k_h]/#_, [x]/_u, [tS]/_i, [tS_h]/#_i /s/ [s] > [S]/_i /w/ [v] /y/ [j] /l/ [l] /h/ [placeholder after _n] /i/ [I] /im/ [i_n] /e/ [e] /em/ [E_n] /a/ [a] /am/ [a_n] /o/ [o] /om/ [o_n] /u/ [u] /um/ [U_n]

Vowel Dominance

Vowel Dominance Siye Vowel Dominance indicates which vowel will dominate in a vowel-vowel sequence (nasalization of vowels does not affect this). /u/ > /o/ > /a/ > /e/ > /i/

Nominal Morphology

Cases

Cases: NOMINATIVE (NOM): -0 NOM: Pronouns, Personal Names ABSOLUTIVE (ABS): -0 ABS: Everything Except Pronouns and Personal Names ACCUSATIVE (ACC): -a ERGATIVE (ERG): -ya, -na GENITIVE (GEN): -ne POSSESSIVE (POSS): -me ABLATIVE (ABL): -sum LOCATIVE (LOC): -kem (AL)LATIVE/DATIVE (ALL): -su ALL: Inanimates DATIVE (DAT): -tu DAT: Animates INSTRUMENTAL (INS): -ki ADVERBIAL (ADV): -ku EQUATIVE (EQ): -pu COMITATIVE (COM): -ni

Grammatical Number

Grammatical Numbers: NULL: -ku, -hu SINGULAR (SG): -0, -pu DUAL (DU): -so PAUCAL (PC): -ke PLURAL (PL): -lo PANTIC (PN): -ka

Structure: ROOT-NUMBER-CASE, except if there is a Possessive Case, in which case it is ROOT-CASE-NUMBER.

NP → N Mod, N Art, Num N

Verb and Participle Structure

Verb Structure

Verb Structure 1. Object Prefix 2. Subject Prefix 3. Root 4. Grammatical Number 5. Causative 6. Derivatives 7. Directionals 8. Aspect 9. Mode 10. Relational 11. Coordinative 12. Negative (floater)

Positions 1 and 2 often combine due to Vowel Dominance. There are two conjugations, yi-conjugation and ya-conjugation. The ya-conjugation is object-prominent. Position 3 is often suppletive depending on aspect (Position 8). Position 4 reflects the subject if the verb is imperfective, the object if the verb is perfective. It is mandatory even in the singular number. Position 5 is often derivational and triggers the Causative (Syntactical) Construction in originally transitive verbs. Position 6 is derivational; each suffix may be associated with a particularly aspect. Position 6 triggers the Causative Construction in specific cases. Position 7 is sometimes derivational, sometimes not, usually mandatory. Position 8 and 9, usually combine into one syllable. Position 10 usually indicates a subordinate clause or a matrix clause in a conditional statement. Position 11 indicates parallel clauses and may combine with Position 8/9 or Position 10. Position 12 is a mobile suffix used to disambiguate certain negative statements or strengthen an already negative statement.

Participle Structure

1. Root 2. Causative 3. Derivatives 4. Directionals 5. Aspect 6. Mode 7. Nominalizer 8. Grammatical Number 9. Case Positions 2, 3, and 4 are only present if necessary. Position 7 has three variants, active, passive, and locative. A participle lacks the Object and Subject Prefixes of a verb in a relative clause.

Syntax

Syntax

Basic syntax is SOV, with a yi-conjungation verb. The indirect object and other non-core arguments precede the Direct Object. If the Direct Object is fronted, the verb changes from yi-conjugation to ya-conjugation. If the Subject is placed after the verb, the verb remains yi-conjugation. Pronouns are mandatory in formal Siye.

Causative Construction

If the causative suffix is added to a transitive verb, the cases of the core arguments from the original clause are governed by the aspect of the verb. If the verb is imperfective, the originally nominative or ergative subject of the original clause becomes dative or allative, while the originally accusative or absolutive object of the original clause remains accusative or absolutive. If the verb is perfective, the opposite occurs. Position 6 suffixes take the Causative Construction except when the Object of the Causative Construction is the same as the Subject of the Causative Construction. Thus “I wanted you to see the book” (le kenosu sa eleyemputena) uses the Causative Construction, while “I wanted to see the book” (le keno eleyamputena) does not.

NP → N Adj Gen Relative-Clause Possessive Numeral Case PP → N P