Falamu: Difference between revisions
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#Nouns ending in a consonant add ''-is'' - e.g. ''dêd'' "finger, toe" -> ''dêdis'' "fingers, toes" | #Nouns ending in a consonant add ''-is'' - e.g. ''dêd'' "finger, toe" -> ''dêdis'' "fingers, toes" | ||
#Nouns ending in ''-n'' change it to ''-ny-'' before adding ''-is'' - e.g. ''mán'' "hand" -> ''mányis'' "hands" | #Nouns ending in ''-n'' change it to ''-ny-'' before adding ''-is'' - e.g. ''mán'' "hand" -> ''mányis'' "hands" | ||
#Nouns ending in ''-l'' can optionally drop it (after ''-i-'' or ''-u-'') or change it to ''-y-'' (after other vowels) then add ''-s''. Alternatively, they can simply add ''-is'' as other consonant-final nouns - e.g. ''sinál'' "mark, trace" -> ''sináys'' or ''sinális'' "marks, traces" | <!--#Nouns ending in ''-l'' can optionally drop it (after ''-i-'' or ''-u-'') or change it to ''-y-'' (after other vowels) then add ''-s''. Alternatively, they can simply add ''-is'' as other consonant-final nouns - e.g. ''sinál'' "mark, trace" -> ''sináys'' or ''sinális'' "marks, traces"--> | ||
=====Usage===== | =====Usage===== |
Revision as of 07:33, 13 May 2022
Falamu (native: [fælǽˑmʉ]) is a creole language based on Somali and Portuguese.
Introduction
Etymology
From early Falamu (nu) falâmu "we (incl.) speak" (= modern Falamu é 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.
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Consonants
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
Intonation
Phonotactics
- No consonant clusters except at syllable boundaries.
Morphophonology
Morphology
Nouns
Plural
Formation
The plural is regularly formed in the following ways:
- Nouns ending in a vowel add -s - e.g. óju "eye" -> ójus "eyes"
- Nouns ending in a consonant add -is - e.g. dêd "finger, toe" -> dêdis "fingers, toes"
- Nouns ending in -n change it to -ny- before adding -is - e.g. mán "hand" -> mányis "hands"
Usage
Nouns are generally used in the singular when used with numerals.
Verbs
Verb stems
Form | Formation | Examples | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Infinitive | Base stem with final accent | falâ "(to) speak" | |
Present | Base stem with penultimate accent | fâla "speak(s)" | The accent is final in monosyllabic verbs. |
Past | Infinitive + -ba | falâba "spoke" | |
Passive participle | Infinitive + -d | falâd "spoken" |
Irregular verbs:
Infinitive | Present stem | Past stem | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
sê | é | éra | "to be" |
tê | tên | têba | "to have" |
bî | bên | bîba | "to come" |
bô | bôn | bôba | "to put" |
Verb tenses
Form | Formation | Examples | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Simple present | Present stem | é li fâla "he speaks" | |
Present prospective/subjunctive | Infinitive | é mi falâ "I'll speak"; ki mi falâ "that I speak" | |
Present progressive | tá + infinitive | é bu tá falâ "you (sg.) are speaking" | |
Simple past | Past stem | é nus falâba "we (excl.) spoke" | |
Past progressive | tá + past | é nu tá falâba "we (incl.) were speaking" | |
Past remote | já + past | é mi já falâba "I spoke (a long time ago)" | |
Future | kére + infinitive | é bu kére falâ "you will speak" | kére is the present tense of keré "to want" |
Future subjunctive | keré + infinitive | ki bu keré falâ "that you will speak" |
Notes:
- As the table shows, keré "to want" + infinitive is used to form the future. In order to express a desire, a subjunctive phrase is used. For example:
- é mi kére falâ "I will speak" (lit. "I want speak") , versus
- é mi kére ki mi falâ "I want to speak" (lit. "I want that I speak")
Particles
Focus particles
- é: used to form main clauses
Postpositions
- kûli: "with"
Syntax
Constituent order
Noun phrase
Verb phrase
Sentence phrase
Dependent clauses
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.
Translation: All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are given reason and conscience, and a person must behave towards other people like a brother.