Siye
| Siye | |
|---|---|
| Pronounced: | ['ʃi.je] |
| Timeline and Universe: | EJW Universe, Near Future |
| Species: | Indigenous Martian Humanoid |
| Spoken: | Mars |
| Total speakers: | 20,000,000 (est.) |
| Writing system: | syllabic |
| Genealogy: | Tide:* Tiye |
| Typology | |
| Morphological type: | Agglutinating/Polysynthetic |
| Morphosyntactic alignment: | Split Ergative |
| Basic word order: | SOV |
| Credits | |
| Creator: | Linguarum Magister |
Phonology and Orthography
Phonology
/m/ [m], > [ⁿ]/V_#, V_C
/n/ [n]
/p/ [p], > [pʰ]/#_, [f]/_u, [ç]/_i
/t/ [t], > [tʰ]/#_, [ʦ]/_u, [ʦʰ]/#_u
/k/ [k] > [kʰ]/#_, [x]/_u, [ʧ]/_i, [ʧʰ]/#_i
/s/ [s] > [ʃ]/_i
/w/ [v]
/y/ [j]
/l/ [l]
/h/ [placeholder after /m/ [ⁿ]]
/i/ [i]
/im/ [ɪⁿ]
/e/ [e]
/em/ [ɛⁿ]
/a/ [a]
/am/ [aⁿ]
/o/ [o]
/om/ [ɔⁿ]
/u/ [u]
/um/ [ʊⁿ]
Vowel Dominance
Siye Vowel Dominance indicates which vowel will dominate in a vowel-vowel sequence (nasalization of vowels does not affect this). The Vowel Dominance hierarchy is listed below: /u/ > /o/ > /a/ > /e/ > /i/
The 3rd person animate subject prefix of the verb is -i- and therefore vanishes most of the time after the object prefixes. It is, however, present in /yi-/ and /umhi-/ and /tumhi-/.
Stress Placement
A Siye noun receives a primary accent on the first syllable. Thus /laye silime/ receives primary accents on /la/ and /si/. A Siye verb receives a primary accent on the first syllable of the verb root. Thus /pelekopuyamma/ receives a primary accent on /ko/. If the root is monosyllabic, the number suffix does not receive stress, If the root is polysyllabic, the number suffix does receive stress. From the number suffix onward, secondary accents occur every other syllable, with the caveat that only the first syllable of a suffix can receive an accent. Thus /ekepunemena/ is stressed /eKEpuNEmeNA/ but /epomipunemena/ is stressed /ePOmiPUnemeNA/ not */ePOmiPUneMEna/.
Isoglosses
The Valley in which Siye is spoken stretches halfway across the Martian equator, so there are variations in speech along its length. The primary isogloss is the boundary line between nouns that use the Nominative and Accusative and those that use the Ergative and Absolutive. In Standard Siye, the dialect of the City in the Central Province and the variety on which this article is based, only pronouns and personal names can use Nominative and Accusative forms. As one travels east the range of the Nominative decreases; as one travels west towards the Mountain, the opposite occurs. Thus, all varieties of SIye use /le, la/ for the first person pronouns. All but the Far Eastern Province and the Lake use /pe, sa/ for the second person pronoun. The Mid-Eastern Province and points west place all pronouns, regardless of number, in the Nominative category. Standard Siye, from the Central Province, adds personal names to the Nominative category. The Near Western Province requires that nouns denoting humans must be in the Nominative category, reducing the number of complex cases in the spoken version of the western dialects. The Mid-Western Province treats all animate nouns as Nominative, and the Far Western Province is full nominative under the "contamination" of Ulok.
Nominal Morphology
Cases
1. NOMINATIVE (NOM): -0 NOM: Pronouns, Personal Names
The Nominative Case in Standard Siye is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or a personal name. Where a Siye dialect draws the line between Nominative/Accusative and Absolutive/Ergative, in other words, where the split of the split-ergative occurs, is the primary isogloss between Siye dialects.
2. ABSOLUTIVE (ABS): -0 ABS: Everything Except Pronouns and Personal Names
The Absolutive Case is used for the subject of an intransitive clause and the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is not a pronoun or a personal name.
3. ACCUSATIVE (ACC): -a, -0, -ha
The Accusative Case is used for the object of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is either a pronoun or personal name. -ha occurs after syllables containing a nasal vowel. The Accusative Case is vulnerable to the depredations of vowel dominance, and therefore has a -0 surface form. See the section on complex cases to understand the interactions of this case with others that may precede it.
4. ERGATIVE (ERG): -ya, -na
The Ergative Case is used for the subject of a transitive clause, provided that the noun is not a pronoun or a personal name. -na follows a syllable contained a nasal consonant or a nasal vowel; -ya follows otherwise. Some have suggested that this is a relic of the days when the Lake-dwellers were the primary speakers of Siye.
5. GENITIVE (GEN): -ne
The Genitive Case is used to describe alienable possession or an accidental characteristic of a object.
6. POSSESSIVE (POSS): -me
The Possessive Case is used to describe inalienable possession or an essential characteristic of an object. The Possessive Case, unlike the other Cases, precedes rather than follows the grammatical number suffix.
7. ABLATIVE (ABL): -sum
The Ablative Case is used to describe motion away from a point or origin from a particular location.
8. LOCATIVE (LOC): -kem
The Locative Case is used to describe a location, or, in ditransitive clauses, the object being transferred or the price of the object in the Absolutive Case (more rarely, Accusative Case).
9. (AL)LATIVE/DATIVE (ALL): -su ALL: Inanimates
The Dative Case is used for the inanimate indirect object of a main clause, the inanimate indirect object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb of the Causative Construction clause is in the imperfective aspect, and the inanimate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb of the Causative Construction clause is in the perfective aspect.
10. DATIVE (DAT): -tu DAT: Animates
The Dative Case is used for the animate indirect object of a main clause, the animate indirect object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb of the Causative Construction clause is in the imperfective aspect, and the animate direct object of a Causative Construction clause when the verb of the Causative Construction clause is in the perfective aspect.
11. INSTRUMENTAL (INS): -ki
The Instrumental Case is used to describe the means by which something is done. This case is only used with Inanimate nouns in Standard Siye; therefore it is rude to use the Instrumental Case with an Animate nouns.
12. ADVERBIAL (ADV): -ku
The Adverbial Case converts roots into adverbs. The Guild of Scholars treats this as a case rather than a separate part of speech.
13. EQUATIVE (EQ): -pu
The Equative Case is used to describe the second noun or adjective in a predicate statement. It is also used as a vocative external to the core arguments of the clause.
14. COMITATIVE (COM): -ni
The Comitative Case is used to describe accompaniment. It also serves as the primary nominal form of 'and', thus contrasting with the primarily verbal form -(h)(a)m.
Complex cases
Complex cases occur when Suffixaufnahme place an Accusative -a after another case suffix which ends in a vowel.
5. ACCUSI-GENITIVE (AGEN): -na (<-ne-a)
6. ACCUSI-POSSESSIVE (APOSS): -ma(< -me-a)
7. ACCUSI-ABLATIVE (AABL): -sumha (< -sum-a)
8. ACCUSI-LOCATIVE (ALOC): -kemha (< -kem-a)
9. ACCUSI-(AL)LATIVE/DATIVE (AALL): -su (< -su-a)
10. ACCUSI-DATIVE (ADAT): -tu (<-tu-a)
11. ACCUSI-INSTRUMENTAL (AINS): -ka (<-ki-a)
12. ACCUSI-ADVERBIAL (AADV): -ku (<-ku-a)
13. ACCUSI-EQUATIVE (AEQ): -pu (<-pu-a)
14. ACCUSI-COMITATIVE (COM): -na (<-ni-a)
Grammatical Number
Grammatical Numbers:
NULL (NL): -ku, -hu, -u
The Null Number refers to the absence of a particular thing. When used with an adjective, the Null Number changes an adjective to its opposite.
SINGULAR (SG): -0
The Singular Number is used with singular nouns, some abstract nouns, and mass nouns.
DUAL (DU): -so, -s
The Dual Number is used to refer to exactly two things. Although pairs of items, such as eyes, are in the Dual Number, the Dual Number does not inherently indicate a pair. The second form -s- only occurs before the continuative affix -u- and the tense affix -ulu-.
PAUCAL (PAUC): -ke
The Paucal Number refers to a group, smaller than that of Plural Number but more than the Dual Number.
PLURAL (PL): -lo, -l
The Plural Number refers to a group, larger than that of Paucal Number. This is the generic plural in Siye. The second form -l- only occurs before the continuative affix -u- and the tense affix -ulu-.
PANTIC (PAN): -ka
The Pantic Number refers to all of a certain thing. It is also used as an ethnic or group designation.
Structure: ROOT-NUMBER-CASE, except if there is a Possessive Case, in which case it is ROOT-CASE-NUMBER.
Definiteness and Numeral Placement
Siye nouns are inherently definite. An indefinite noun requires a following /tum/. Ajectives follow the noun. Examples;
tupi the bird
tupi tuki white bird
tupi me this bird
tupi tuki me this white bird
tupi tum a bird
tupi tuki tum a white bird
tum tupi one bird
tum tupi tuki one white bird
Pronouns
le, la: 1st person
pe, sa: 2nd person
i, ya: 3rd person animate
e, a: 3rd person inanimate
mu: 3rd person indefinite
tum: 3rd person indefinite (before subject prefix (h)i-)
m-: 3rd person indefinite (before verb root beginning with a vowel)
The second form is exclusively Accusative; all other case suffixes attach to the Nominative form.
Verb and Participle Structure
Verb Structure
Verb Structure
1. Object Prefix
The last prefix in each list is the ya-conjugation form. The others are yi-conjugation forms.
le-, la-: 1st person
pe-, sa-: 2nd person
i-, y-, ya-: 3rd person animate
e-, a-: 3rd person inanimate
mu-: 3rd person indefinite
tum-: 3rd person indefinite
um-: reflexive
2. Subject Prefix
-le-: 1st person
-pe-: 2nd person
-y-, -(h)i-: 3rd person animate
-e-: 3rd person inanimate
-mu-, -m-: 3rd person indefinite
3. Root
Many basic Siye roots are suppletive and correspond with a particular aspect. CHANGE: Others, such as /-im-/, have irregular object and subject prefixes. Most verbs, however, have the same form for both perfective and imperfective verbal forms.
4. Grammatical Number
-ku: null number
-pu: singular number (also indefinite)
-so, -s-: dual number
-ke: paucal number
-lo, -l-: plural number
-ka: pantic number (i.e., all); sometimes ethnic
-pi: exclusive marker (replaces dual, paucal, plural)
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.
5. Causative
-sum: causative
66. Derivatives
This is a semiproductive category and Terrestrial researchers are discovering new ones
-hi, -nam: 'begin to X'. -hi- occurs after -sum-; -nam occurs everywhere else.
-(h)u-,-tam: 'continue to X'. -u occurs after -s- and -l-; -hu occurs after -sum-; -tam occurs everywhere else.
-ka: 'intend to X'
-neme: 'stop X-ing'
-te: 'want to X'
-teka- 'should/must X' (+me, +meku)
-to: negative imperative 'do not X'. -to- must combine with a negative aspect/polarity/tense marker.
-ulu: tense marker. -ulu- plus perfective aspect suffix -n- creates a definite past tense; -ulu- plus imperfective aspect suffix -m- creates strong future tense.
-wi: positive imperative 'do X'
-yam: 'able to X'
7. Directionals
-ki: 'in place'
-na: 'up'
-nu: 'down'
-su: 'away from'
-tu: 'towards'
The other suffixes are fairly self-explanatory, but -ki- probably requires some clarification. The suffix -ki- places emphasis on the stationary nature of the verb. Examples:
eletomtuna I bought it
eletomsuna I sold it
eletomkina I kept it in stock
8 & 9. Aspect
-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.
10. Relational
-(a)me: 'who/what/which/that'
-(e)ki: 'so that', 'with the result that'
-(e)kem: 'when'
-(e)su: 'then'
-(e)sum: 'if'
-(e)ya: 'because'
-umo: positive interrogative (dial. -(a)mo)
-ukumo: negative interrogative (dial. -(a)mo)
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.
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).
12. Negative (floater)
-ku: negative
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
-ki: passive, instrumental
-kim: locative
-yam: active, ergative
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. Examples:
'I sold the bird to the girl'
Le layeketu tupi iletompusuna.
Kili le layeketu yaletompusuna.
Layeketu kili iletompusuna le.
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.
Complex Clause Order
NP → N Adj Gen Relative-Clause Possessive Numeral Case
/tupi tuki lupate tupikelo yiyokakanamesokani/
tupi tuki lupate tupike-lo i-i-yo-ka-ka-ne-a-ame-me-so-ka-ni
bird white mountain bird.DIM-PL
3.AN-3.AN-eat.PFV-PN-intend.to-PFV-POS.REALIS-POSS-DU-PN-COM
With all the white birds of the two mountains who intended to eat the many small birds.
Post-positions
Siye uses post-positions. The preceding noun is in the Genitive Case (much less commonly, the Possessive Case).
Relational Verb Order
A clause with a verb ending in -(a)me is usually embedded within the matrix clause.
A clause with a verb ending in -(e)ki is either embedded within the matrix clause or follows the matrix clause.
A clause with a verb ending in -(e)kem usually precedes the matrix clause.
A clause with a verb ending in -(e)ya may precede or follow the matrix clause.
In a conditional statement, the clause with a verb ending in -(e)sum precedes the clause a verb ending in -(e)su.
A clause ending -(a)mo is always the final clause.
