Siye Verbal Morphology

Verb and Participle Structure

Verb Structure

The minimal Siye verb consists of two pronominal prefixes, one verb root, a pronominal number suffix, and a polarity-aspect-mood (PAM) suffix. The maximal Siye verb consists of two pronominal prefixes, a verb root, a pronominal number suffix, a causative or portative suffix, a "coverbal" suffix, a directional suffix, and a PAM suffix. Relational and coordinative suffixes are often classed as verbal suffix due to the verb-final nature of Siye, but both types of suffix are more accurately described as clause-final suffixes, The explicit negative suffix is a mobile suffix, but less used than one might expect. Certain Siye verbs also have a grammaticalized declined noun as a preposed adjective.

Prefixes

The two prefixes are the pronominal prefixes: one for the object pronoun, and one for the subject pronoun. Pronominal prefixes work on a nominative-accusative basis.

There are two conjugations in Standard Siye: the yi-conjugation and the ya-conjugation. The yi-conjugation is the basic conjugation, while the ya-conjugation is used when the object of the clause is topicalized. The object prefix and the subject prefix can combine according to the rules of vowel dominance. If you are correcting a text using non-standard pronominal prefixes, this can be very confusing.

1. Object Prefix

The object prefix is used to indicate the person of the grammatical object of the clause. The object prefix can change depending on whether the verb is yi-conjugation or ya-conjugation. The last form in each list is the ya-conjugation form. The others are yi-conjugation forms.

Object Prefixes	yi-forms	ya-forms	Notes
1st	le	la
2nd	pe-	sa-
3rd animate	i-, y-	ya-	/i-/ is used before a subject prefix beginning in a consonant. /y-/ is used before a subject prefix beginning in a vowel. /ya-/ appears before either a consonant or a vowel. /n/ is not an object prefix; it is the epenthetic residue of an elided initial vowel.
3rd inanimate	e-	a-	/n/ is not an object prefix; it is the epenthetic residue of an elided initial vowel.
3rd definite	me-		/me-/ is the definite object prefix. It references a previously known argument, from noun to noun phrase to entire clause.
3rd indefinite	mu-	mu-	/mu-/ is the object prefix before all subject prefixes except /-(h)i-/ or /-(h)e-/ (for its replacement, see below). Many Siye-speakers despise this exception as a neologism. Such persons prefer to rely on nouns and pronouns to avoid ambiguity.
3rd indefinite	tum-	tum-	In Standard Siye, /tum-/ replaces /mu-/ before the 3rd person suffixes /-(h)i-/ or /-(h)e-/ in order to eliminate ambiguity. There are many Scholars, however, including the "Mooneys", who despise this neologism.
reflexive	um-	um-	Although the reflexive prefix is listed as an object prefix, reflexivity is a valency-changing operation. A reflexive verb form, therefore, although it has the prefixes of a transitive verb, is actually intransitive.

2. Subject Prefix

The subject prefix is used to indicate the person of the grammatical subject of the clause, for both transitive and intransitive verbs. The subject prefix is identical to the yi-conjugation form of the object prefix.

Subject Prefixes	yi-forms	Notes
1st	le-, l-	/-l-/ appears before vowel-initial verb roots.
2nd	pe-, p-	/-p-/ appears before vowel-initial verb roots.
3rd animate	i-, y-, -hi-, 0-	/y-/ appears before vowel-initial verb roots. -hi- appears between /tum-/ or /um-/ and a consonant-initial vowel root. Vowel dominance and the weak position of /i/ within the hierarchy often results in the deletion of the 3rd animate subject prefix /-i-/. The Guild of Scholars insists that this is a case of a deleted /i/ rather than a zero-marked morpheme /0-/, because intransitive verbs, which vowel dominance does not effect, maintains the subject prefix /i-/. There is no zero-marked morpheme for intransitive verbs.
3rd inanimate	-e-, -en-	/-en-/ breaks the rules of vowel dominance by appearing as a separate syllable before vowel-initial verb roots. Vowel dominance and the weak position of /e/ within the hierarchy often results in the deletion of the 3rd animate subject prefix /-e-/ (although it is retained in the portmanteau pronominal prefix /ye-/ '3-4'. The Guild of Scholars insists that this is a case of a deleted /e/ rather than a zero-marked morpheme /0-/, because intransitive verbs, which vowel dominance does not effect, maintains the subject prefix /e-/. /-en-/ occurs before vowel-initial verb roots. There is no zero-marked morpheme for intransitive verbs.
3rd definite	me-	/me-/ is the definite subject prefix. It references a previously known argument, from noun to noun phrase to entire clause.
3rd indefinite	-mu-, -m-	/-m-/ appears before vowel-initial verb roots
infinitive	ke-	/ke-/ is the infinitive suffix. Its pronominal number suffix is always -pe-.

A note on zero-marking: on occasion, in the marketplace, one will hear the use of forbidden forms. The zeal of the merchants is to be commended, but their habit of shortening forms is a moral weakness.

Furthermore, the elision of an initial /i/ or /e/ as the object or subject of a verb can lead to confusion. If the busty, lusty, and loud village girl asks /yetelo maputesumo/, how is one to know if she means seeds /yete/ (inanimate) or fruit /yete/ (animate)? She should say /emaputesumo/ for the former, and /imaputesumo/ for latter. Sadly, such grammatical integrity is seldom found in those who use poor grammar consciously.

Root

Siye verb roots are the "heart" of the verb. with a maximum length of three syllables. The roots are often less defined than equivalent English verbs, because both causative suffix and the directional suffixes derive new stems from the root. The meaning of the stem may not be apparent from the meaning of the root. The primary accent of the verb is on the first syllable of the verb root.

Consonant-Initial Root

Consonant-initial roots are the most common form of roots.

Vowel-Initial Roots

Vowel-initial roots are less common than consonant-initial roots. The rules of vowel dominance are suspended at the ligature between the subject pronoun prefixes and the vowel-initial roots.

Suppletive Roots

Although there are a limited number of suppletive roots in Siye, they include most of the most common verbs. Many of these verbs are highly productive in their derivational interactions between the root, the causative suffix, and the directional suffixes, so it can appear to the learner that the Siye verb consists of nothing but suppletive verbs. One former suppletive root, nu/mu 'give', spontaneously regularized in the period 2200-2210. The forms derived before this date, however, retain the suppletive form. Eventually, no doubt, new regular forms wil arise.

If a verb root is suppletive, the suppletion marks a division between the perfective and imperfective aspects.

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary semantically empty verbs to support converbal meanings are -mke- for transitive and -ne- for intransitive. These are necessary because the converbal suffixes often govern specific polarities, aspects, and moods.

Extended Verbal Roots

The only verbal root extension documented so far is the augmentive suffix -po.

Example	Translation
im yimpuna.	The wind is blowing
impo yimpopusuna.	The North Wind blew mightily.

Derivative Verbal Roots

Derivative verbal roots are formed when a participle, which lacks the grammatical number suffix, reinterprets the sequence of root and following suffix as a new root, thereby creating a new root and opening the position previously filled by the incorporated suffix. Although the derivational mechanics is systematic, the complexities of the suppletive roots results in much lexical overruling of potential derivative verbal roots.

Suffixes

Grammatical Number (4.)

4. Grammatical Number

The grammatical number suffix in Standard Siye is nominative-accusative if the verb is imperfective, agreeing with the subject of a transitive clause. If the verb is perfective, the grammatical number suffix is ergative-absolutive, agreeing with the grammatical object of the transitive clause. If the noun with which the grammatical number suffix must agree is indefinite or unknown, the default number is singular.

Grammatical Number	Abbreviation	Form	Notes
Null	NUL	-ku-	The null grammatical number is a fiction of members of the Guild of Scholars who prefer systemacity over the duty to reflect the necessary distinctions for effective commerce. A Terrestrial analogy would be those letters of the Sanskrit alphabet which do not exist in any extant words but appear in the charts to eliminate asymmetry.
Singular	SG	-pu-	Also indefinite. /-p-/ is only used before the continuative suffix /-u-/ or the tense marker /-ulu-/
Dual	DU	-so-, -s-	/-s-/ is only used before the continuative suffix /-u-/ or the tense marker /-ulu-/
Paucal	PAUC	-ke-	Paucal number is generally 3-5 instances of the noun to which it applies, unless context dictates otherwise.
Plural	PL	-lo-, -l-	Plural number is generally more than 5 instances of the noun to which it applies, but context may dictate a different understanding.
Pantic	PAN	-ka-	When -ka- is used as an ethnic suffix (and here it must be stated that 'ethnic' here could be defined either linguistically or genetically), it is important to not combine this sense with the basic pantic sense.
Exclusive	EXCL	-pi-	The exclusive marker -pi- may replace the dual, paucal, or plural number if and only if the dual, paucal, or plural number is marked on the noun with which the verb agrees in number, or with the ethnic sense of -ka- as a nominal grammatical number.
Infinitive	INF	-pe-	-pe- is the pronominal number suffix which always accompanies the infinitive prefix ke-.
Colloquial	COL	-k-, -p-	/-k-/ (null, paucal, pantic), /-p-/ (singular, exclusive, infinitive) are found before the continuative suffix /-u-/ or the tense marker /-ulu-/ in non-standard Siye. The Guild of Scholars, however, has ruled the ambiguity too confusing for Standard Siye. The primary use, therefore, is in folk songs and poetry, and especially puns.

Causative (5.)

Causatives	Abbreviations	Form	Notes	Example	Translation
Causative	CAUS	-sum-	This is a valence-increasing, often derivational, suffix which changes an intransitive verb to a transitive verb, and a transitive to a ditransitive.	le nesakam eletupusumsuna	I sent the letter (probably via messenger)
				ilesupusumsuma.	I sent him.
				a ileyempusumtuna.	I showed it to him.
				le ya iletupusumnana.	I lifted him. I promoted him.
Portative	PORT	-yosam-	This is almost identical to the causative suffix, but implies that the subject or causor performed the action herself in a direct physical way.	le nesakam eletupuyosamsuna	I sent the letter (it was in my pocket)
				le ya iletupuyosamnana.	I lifted him.

Converbals (6.)

This is a rich category. If a particular converbal suffix triggers a particular aspect (perfective or imperfective), this does not mean that one will never find that suffix coupled with the other aspect. The use of the uncharacteristic aspect. however, does indicate markedness. There is only one converbal suffix per verb.

Converbal	Abbreviation	Meaning	Notes	Example	Translation
-hi-, -nam- + Imperfective	INCEPTIVE (INCP)	to begin Xing	-hi- occurs after nasal vowels, -nam- elsewhere	Umloya sili nukepu enulonam' 'nama.	They began to build the tower.
-hi-, -nam- + Perfective		to begin but not finish Xing		Umloya sili nukepu ekepunamnana.	They began but did not finish building the tower.
-hom-,-mnu-	LASC	to do X lasciviously	-hom- occurs after nasal vowels, -mnu- elsewhere	itupumnukina.	She danced lasciviously.
-ka- + Perfective	INTENTIVE/INTNT	to have resolved to X	Perfective -ka- and imperfective -te- form a strong contrast in the derivative system.	Kumayam sili nukepu eyempu' 'ka' 'na.	The Lord had resolved to see the tower.
-kaku- +Imperfective		to be unreliable at Xing		eyuluwepukakutuma.	He is an unreliable tracker.
-kaku- + Perfective		to waver on doing X		lepetusokakusuna.	You hesitated to send the two of us.
-kom-	PROM	to promise to X	-kom- can govern the Causative Construction, especially with a ditransitive root	La letumpusum' 'kom' 'na.	He promised to marry me.
-like- + Positive	FALL	to fail to X	The negative of -like- + Positive is -likeku- + Positive, not -like- + Negative	pe yeteka ipetomka' 'like' 'sunaya ...	Because you have failed to sell all the fruit …
-like- + Negative	The negative of -like- + Negative is -likeku- + Negative, not -like- + Positive	to succeed in Xing		umloya lusili ekepu' 'like' 'sunu.	The men have succeeded in building the city.
-lo-, -te-	PRAC	to to practice doing X	-lo- occurs with the imperfective aspect, -te- with the perfective. The perfective association of -te- differentiates this from the imperfective desiderative suffix -te-. This suffix -lo- always appears after the pronominal number suffix, thus there is no potential for confusion.	Epesipulonamumo?	Have been you been practicing (your) singing?
-lo-, -te-				Epeyeputenanu.	I have not been practicing singing. (*I wanted to sing)
-lote- + Positive		to pretend to X		enesakampulotema.	She pretended to write.
-lote- + Negative		to act authentically in doing X		Le sa pelipulotemu.	I really do love you. (I am not pretending to love you)
-mmu-/-num-	PERMISSIVE2/PERM2	to continue to X	-num- occurs after nasal vowels; -mmu- occurs elsewhere. -mmu-/-num- is used for the notions of allowance or hindering, without the official implication of the suffix -numu-. If it is contrasted with the suffix -numu-, -mmu-/-num- indicates an allownance or hindering without official sanction.	Layeke mena tupilotu um lumsa yinumupummusuna.	This girl allowed the foreigner to steal (lit. take/receive) the birds.
-u-, -hu, -tam- + Imperfective	CONTINUATIVE/CONT	to continue to X	-u occurs after the shortened pronominal number suffixes -s- and -l-; -hu occurs after nasal vowels; -tam occurs everywhere else.	Tupikaya esika' 'tam' 'nama.	All the birds continued singing.

-mulu-: 'to do X in vain' (FRUSTRATIVE/FRUST)

ilo anepopumulununa.

They debased the currency in vain.

-muluka-: 'to fail to do what one has resolved to do'. It takes the perfective aspect.

lepekepisummulukanuna.

You have failed to kill us (said to the would-be assassins of the poet Kupi).

-muluyam-: 'to try'

-muluyam- takes the imperfective aspect

lekusomuluyamnuma.

We (two) are trying to sleep.

-mum-/-mnu-: 'to do X number of times'

pewaku ilosupumnutuna.

I kissed her thrice. -neme-: 'stop X-ing' (TERMINAL/TERM)

-neme- with the perfective aspect indicates 'to stop Xing'.

Umloya sili nukepu ekepu' 'neme' 'nana.

The men stopped building the tower.

-neme- with the imperfective aspect indicates 'can't stop Xing'

le kenolo elapunemetuma.

I can't stop buying books.

-ni-: 'do X together' (COOPERATIVE/COOP)

This suffix can only occur with the paucal, plural, or pantic numbers. Note that the number restriction applies to the subject of the clause; it does not vary depending on the aspect of the verb.

lelikaninuma.

We will all die together.

-nim-: 'do X well' (BENEFACTIVE/BEN) Inverse: 'do X badly'

layekeya esipunimnama.

The girl sings well.

amakimna esipunimnama.

The merchant sings badly.

-numu- 'permit/forbid' (PERMISSIVE1/PERM1)

-numu- indicates permission or lack thereof. In a transitive clause, the translation is 'someone is allowed to perform the action of the verb'. In a ditransitive clause using the Causative Construction, the translation is 'someone allows someone to perform the action of the verb.' If it is contrasted with the suffix -mmu-/-num-, -numu- indicates official permission.

le a elekopu' 'numu' 'ma

I am allowed/permitted to see it.

Le petu a elekop' 'numu' 'mu.

I forbid you from seeing it.

-so-: 'twice'

ilosupusotuna.

I kissed her twice.

-te-: 'want to X' (DESIDERATIVE/DES)

-te- always triggers the imperfective aspect. -ka- and -te- form a strong contrast in the derivative system.

(Le) nesakam elesupusum' 'te' 'suma.

I want to send a letter.

-teka- 'should X' (+ma, +mu)

-teka- with the realis mood indicates 'should X'.

(Le) nesakam elesupusum' 'teka' 'suma.

I should send a letter.

-teka- with the irrealis mood indicates 'would like to X'

-teka- triggers the subjunctive or contrafactual moods.

(Le) nesakam elesupusum' 'teka' 'sume.

I would like to send a letter.

-teku-: 'to fear X happening'

-teku- takes the imperfective aspect

lomkatekanuma.

We all fear death.

-to-: negative imperative 'do not X'. (NEGATIVE IMPERATIVE/NIMV)

-to- triggers a negative aspect/polarity/tense suffix. Its aspect is always imperfective, and the verb requires an external object. Note that imperatives place the direct object after the verb. Imperatives do not take pronominal prefixes and are assumed to be second person. Imperatives do require grammatical number suffixes.

Lilopusum' 'to' 'numu la!

Do not kill me!

-tum-: once

ilosuputumtuna.

I kissed her once.

-hulu-, -lu-, -ulu-: tense marker. (TENSE/TNS)

-(h)ulu- plus perfective aspect suffix -n- creates a definite past tense, while -(h)ulu- with the imperfective aspect suffix -m- creates a strong future tense (the future cannot be definite). Since the tense marker is a converbal suffix, it replaces any other converbal suffix. -ulu- is the form after the pronominal number suffixes -s- and -l-, -lu- otherwise. After the causative suffix -sum- or the portative suffix -yosam-, the form is -lu-, but -hulu- is a permissible alternative.

Uku um nimupu ikimpulukina.

Uhu was a good man.

Uku Pukani um nimusopu ikimsulukina.

Uhu and Fuka were good people.

Uku Puka yikepusum(hu)lununa.

Uhu killed Fuka.

-wi-: positive imperative 'do X' (IMPERATIVE/IMV)

-wi- triggers a positive aspect/polarity/tense suffix. Its aspect is always imperfective, and the verb requires an external object. Note that imperatives place the direct object after the verb. Imperatives do not take pronominal prefixes and are assumed to be 2nd person. Imperatives do require grammatical number suffixes.

Lilosum' 'wi' 'numa yaso!

Kill those two!

-wi: obligatory 'must X' (OBL)

When -wi- is suffixed to a verb root that possesses pronominal prefixes, it means 'must'.

Yaso ipekelosumwinuma.

You must kill these two.

-yam-: 'able to X' (ABILITATIVE/ABIL)

-yam- usually triggers the imperfective aspect, but the association is not as strong as it is with some of the other derivatives. -yam- triggers the Causative Construction in transitive verbs.

Leyaloya Nesa ekolo' 'yam' 'ma.

The men are able to see Nesa.

-yem-: iterative 'again' (ITERATIVE/ITER)

-yem- does not have a characteristic aspect.

Leyaloya Nesasum itulo' 'yem' 'tuna.

The men have returned from Nesa.

-yosa-: 'supposedly' (DUBITATIVE/DUB) Inverse: 'certainly'

-yosa- takes the irrealis mood suffixes.

amayamna yetelo etomloyosasune.

The merchant supposedly sold the seeds.

um lumsaloya nimuku esiloyosameku.

The foreigners certainly speak badly.

Negatives with Inverse Meanings

Suffixes with direct/inverse meanings cannot express negatives with the standard PAM (polarity/aspect/mood) suffix, the negative suffix -ku- and -(h)u- is affixed to the direct/inverse suffix directly.

amayamna yetelo etomloyosasune.

The merchant supposedly sold the seeds.

amayamna yetelo etomloyosakusune.

The merchant supposedly did not sell the seeds.

um lumsaloya nimuku esiloyosameku.

The foreigners certainly speak badly.

um lumsaloya nimuku esiloyosakumeku.

The foreigners certainly speak badly.

Directionals

General Directionals

Directionals derive from suffixes indicating direction of motion; in many cases, however, the verb root and the directional suffix combine to create a discrete verb stem. The sense of motion or stationary position is encoded by the verb root and the valency of the verb complex.

-ki-: 'in place' (DIR.STAT)

-na-: 'up' (DIR.SUPER)

-nu-: 'down' (DIR.SUB)

-su-: 'away from' (DIR.ABL)

-tu-: 'towards' (DIR.ALL)

The other suffixes are fairly self-explanatory, but -ki- probably requires some clarification. The suffix -ki- places emphasis on the stationary or heavily localized nature of the verb. This need not, however, be completely stationary. The basic directionals are egophoric, i.e., related to the position of the speaker, although in the case of transitive verbs the person upon whom the relative position is based may be conventionalized.

Examples:

eletomputuna I bought it

eletompusuna I sold it

eletompukina I kept it in stock

ikimpukima She is

ikimpunama She has grown up

sakipo ekimpunuma The lake has shrunk

lesupunama I will go up

lesupunuma I will go down

lesupusuma I will go

lesuputuma I will come

lesupukima I will wander

Specific Directional Suffixes

The specific directionals are directional converbal suffixes in Position 7 which refer to absolute rather han egophoric position, as the basic directionals do. The specific directionals, therefore, can only be literal directions. A sentence in which the specific directional suffix has usurped the place of a basic directional suffix must express the egophoric directional information using the Siye case system.

-(k)una- 'from north to the Valley' (< kemhu-na)

-kana- 'from the Valley to the north' (< kasa-na)

–(k)unu- 'from the south to the Valley' (< kasa-nu)

-kanu- 'from the Valley to the south' (< -kasa-nu)

-posum- 'from the east to the west/center' (< sakipo-sum)

-pomsu 'from the west to the east/center' (< pomi-su)

-sakinu- 'from the west to the east (via the River, or general)' (< saki-nu)

-sakina- 'from the east to the west (via the River, or general)' (<saki-na)

-lutesu- 'from the east/center to the west ( < lupate-su)

-posum- 'from the west to the east/center' (< sakipo-su).

Umloya itulosakinanam Sinaluke umhikimlosumkina.

Men came from the east and settled at Shinar.

Le Nesasu Lusilisum sususuyamke iletukesumpomsuna.

I summoned the (few) messengers to Nesa from the City.

lusilisum ya ipetupusumtuna.

You have summoned him from the city.

lusilisum ya petu ipetupusumposumna.

You have summoned him from east westward unto you from the city.

Aspect and Polarity

8 & 9. Aspect (8) & Polarity (9)

Several concepts are conflated in these suffixes. The first is aspect. Siye verbs have two aspects, perfective and imperfective. Siye aspect is totally detached from time considerations. The perfective is used if the event is viewed as complete action or state, the imperfective if it is viewed as a continuing action or state. Various converbal suffixes may control the choice of aspect or polarity or mood or any combination thereof.

Siye realis divides into two polarities: positive and negative.

-ma-: imperfective positive realis

-na-: perfective positive realis

-me-: imperfective positive subjunctive

-meku-: imperfective negative subjunctive

-ne-: perfective positive contrafactual

-neku-: perfective negative contrafactual

-mu-, -mew-: imperfective negative realis. -mew- occurs before the coordinative suffix -am.

-nu-, -new-: imperfective negative realis. -new- occurs before the coordinative suffix -am.

Relational

10. Relational

-(a)me: Relative 'who/what/which/that'

-(e)ki: Purpose, 'so that', Result, 'with the result that'

-(e)kem: Temporal, 'when'

-(e)su: Apodotic, 'then'

-(e)sum/-(e)sunam: Conditional, 'if

-(e)ya: Explanatory, 'because'

-umo: positive interrogative (dial. -(a)mo, Eastern Provinces, Lake)

-ukumo: negative interrogative (dial. -(a)mo, Eastern Provinces, Lake)

These suffixes and the coordinative suffix are clause final, rather than verb-final. A sentence with OVS word order, i.e., one in which the subject is the final word, will take these suffixes even though the nouns retains its original case ending.

Coordinative

11. Coordinative

-(h)(a)m: 'and'. The coordinative suffix is -ham after a syllable containing a nasal consonant; -am after a syllable ending in the vowels -i or -e; -m after a syllable containing ending in vowel -u. The expected form -sum 'then and' is homophonous with -sum 'if', so the Standard Siye form of 'then and' is -sunam (< -su-ni-am).

Negative

12. Negative

-ku: negative

The negative suffix -ku- originated as a general floating negative suffix, but has evolved into a method of restoring negation in converbal constructions such as -yosa-/-yosaku- and relational suffixes such as -umo/-ukumo.

Miscellaneous Information

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

Siye participles are derived from Siye verbs. The verb is stripped of its pronominal prefixes and therefore the person suffix. Roots which supplete according to aspect still do so. There are in fact more suppletive roots for participles than finite verbs, since the initial stress and the lack of any pronominal prefixes preserved weak verb-initial roots. The characteristic suffix of the participle is the nominalizer. There are three nominalizing suffixes: -yam, -ki, and -kim. These create a nominal stem which govern number and case suffixes. -yam creates active, mostly animate nouns; these are usually imperfective unless the converbal suffix requires perfective aspect. -ki with a perfective aspect creates passive, mostly inanimate nouns; with the imperfective aspect it creates instrumental nouns. Again, a converbal suffix may overrule these considerations. -kim with the imperfective aspect indicates a place or time in which the characteristic action of the verb takes place; -ki with the perfective aspect indicates a place or time in which the characteristic activity took place but no longer occurs.

-ki: passive, instrumental

namtunaki- - door

itumaki- - key

-kim: locative

amakim- - market

tomnakim - the Old Market

-yam: active, ergative

amayam- - merchant

susumsuyam- - messenger, missionary