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
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
Verbs
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
Form | Formation | Examples | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Simple present | Present stem | li fâla "he speaks" | |
Present prospective/subjunctive | Infinitive | mi falâ "I'll speak"; ki mi falâ "that I speak" | |
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" |
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:
- mi kére falâ "I will speak" (lit. "I want speak") , versus
- mi kére ki mi falâ "I want to speak" (lit. "I want that I speak")
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.