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 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.

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

Nouns

Plural

Formation

The plural is regularly formed in the following ways:

1. Nouns ending in a vowel add -s - e.g. óju "eye" -> ójus "eyes"
2. Nouns ending in a consonant add -is - e.g. dêd "finger, toe" -> dêdis "fingers, toes"
3. 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

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:

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

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:

1. 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"

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.