Falamu

Falamu (native: [fælǽˑmʉ]) is a creole language based on Somali and Portuguese.

Introduction

Etymology

From early Falamu (nu) falâmu "we (incl.) speak" (= modern Falamu nu fâla) < Portuguese (nós) falamos "we speak".

Phonology

Orthography

Phonetic script

Note that in this article, accents are used for clarity. They are normally omitted in writing.

Consonants Letter IPA Remarks b b d d ~ ð /ð/ between vowels or after /h/ f f g ɡ h h j dʒ ~ tʃ Free variation k k l l m m n n ~ ŋ /ŋ/ syllable finally, /n/ otherwise. ny ɲ ~ j̃ Free variation r r s s t t w w x ʃ y j

Vowels Letter IPA Remarks "Front" "Back" a æ ɑ e e ɛ i i ɪ o ɞ ɔ u ʉ ʊ

Vowels

• A word cannot begin in a vowel. Instead, a glottal stop is inserted.
• Each vowel has a "front" and "back" variety. This is the basis of vowel harmony.

Prosody

Accent

• Pitch accent

Phonotactics

• No consonant clusters except at syllable boundaries.

Morphology

Verbs

Verb stems

Verb stems

Form	Formation	Examples	Remarks
Infinitive	Base stem with final accent	falâ
Present	Base stem with penultimate accent	fâla	The accent is final in monosyllabic verbs.
Past	Infinitive + -ba	falâba

Verb tenses

Tenses

Form	Formation	Examples	Remarks
Simple present	Present stem	li fâla "he speaks"
Present prospective	Infinitive	mi falâ "I'll speak"	Also used as present subjunctive.
Present progressive	tá + infinitive	bu tá falâ "you (sg.) are speaking"	tá is the present tense of tá "to be"
Simple past	Past stem	nus falâba "we (excl.) spoke"
Past progressive	tába + infinitive	nu tába falâ "we (incl.) were speaking"
Past remote	já + past	mi já falâba "I spoke (a long time ago)"
Future	kére + infinitive	bu kére falâ "you will speak"	kére is the present tense of keré "to want"

Sample Texts

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 1)

Regular: Adamis ses tod e lis nase kan lis se hor i nibrad na orra i deretus. E si daba rason i damir, ma e ki biso otu biso kuli li axi komu irmon.

Phonetic: Âdamis ses tôd é lis náse kán lis sê hór i nibrád na órra i derêtus. É si dába rasón i damír, ma é ki bisó ôtu bisó kûli li âxi kómu irmón.

Portuguese-based: Âdamis ses tôd é lis násce cã lis sê hór i nibrád na órra i derêtus. É si dába razõ i damír, ma é qui pissó ôtu pissó cûli li âji cómu irmõ.

IPA: /ǽðæmis ses tɞ́d ɛ́ lɪs nɑ́sɛ kɑ́ŋ lis sé hɔ́r i nɪbrɑ́d nɑ ʔɔ́rːɑ i derétʉs || ɛ́ si dɑ́bɑ rɑsɔ́ŋ ɪ dɑmɪ́r | mɑ ʔɛ́ kɪ bɪsɔ́ ɞ́tʉ bɪsɔ́ kʉ́li li ʔǽʃi kɔ́mu ʔɪrmɔ́ŋ/

Gloss: human-PL 3P.POSS all FOC 3P be_born while 3P be free and level in dignity and rights. FOC IMPRS give-PST reason and conscience, and FOC that person other person with 3S act like brother.