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Kola: Difference between revisions
→Noun classes
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<small><sup>1</sup></small> Subject and object concords are used for the subject and object of a verb respectively, and adjective concords are used with adjectives. Most other words use pronominal concords. The extended pronominal concords are used to form pronouns (see [[Kola#Pronouns|pronouns]]). | <small><sup>1</sup></small> Subject and object concords are used for the subject and object of a verb respectively, and adjective concords are used with adjectives. Most other words use pronominal concords. The extended pronominal concords are used to form pronouns (see [[Kola#Pronouns|pronouns]]). | ||
These concord prefixes are considered formal and old-fashioned, and are normally replaced with animacy-based concords. Words agreeing with animate nouns use classes 1/2, while those agreeing with inanimate nouns use classes 5/6, 9/10 (used by this article), or some combination ( | These concord prefixes are considered formal and old-fashioned, and are normally replaced with animacy-based concords. Words agreeing with animate nouns use classes 1/2, while those agreeing with inanimate nouns use classes 5/6, 9/10 (used by this article), or some combination (e.g. 9/6). When a modifier is used with a noun, the concord prefix can optionally be omitted. With verbs, class 16 and 17 prefixes are used even in informal language; others are replaced with animacy concords. | ||
The locative classes (classes 16 and 17) most often behave as prepositions. Their concord prefixes are used with verbs; otherwise, the prefix appears at the beginning of the noun phrase. However, there are some nouns inherently in these classes; these behave as nouns in any other class - e.g. በት ''bätt'' "place", ግት ''gïtt'' "area". | The locative classes (classes 16 and 17) most often behave as prepositions. Their concord prefixes are used with verbs; otherwise, the prefix appears at the beginning of the noun phrase. However, there are some nouns inherently in these classes; these behave as nouns in any other class - e.g. በት ''bätt'' "place", ግት ''gïtt'' "area". | ||
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::class 5 ዚጨ ''zichä'' "eye" (stem: ''-ichä'') → class 6 ሜጨ ''mechä'' or መሜጨ ''mämechä'' / መዚጨ ''mäzichä'' "eyes" | ::class 5 ዚጨ ''zichä'' "eye" (stem: ''-ichä'') → class 6 ሜጨ ''mechä'' or መሜጨ ''mämechä'' / መዚጨ ''mäzichä'' "eyes" | ||
::class 5 ዝት ''zïtt'' "giant; great person" (stem: ''-tt'') → class 6 መት ''mätt'' or class 2 ወመት ''wämätt'' / ወዝት ''wäzïtt'' "giants; great people" | ::class 5 ዝት ''zïtt'' "giant; great person" (stem: ''-tt'') → class 6 መት ''mätt'' or class 2 ወመት ''wämätt'' / ወዝት ''wäzïtt'' "giants; great people" | ||
Younger speakers tend to add the prefixes to the noun's singular form, while older speakers add them to the plural forms or don't add them at all. | Younger speakers tend to add the prefixes to the noun's singular form, while older speakers add them to the plural forms or don't add them at all. In this article, the traditional plurals are used. | ||
<small><sup>6</sup></small> Diminutive and augmentative prefixes may be added before the prefix of the base noun or directly to the stem. Locative prefixes are always added to the beginning of the noun phrase before any other prefixes and/or modifiers. | <small><sup>6</sup></small> Diminutive and augmentative prefixes may be added before the prefix of the base noun or directly to the stem. Locative prefixes are always added to the beginning of the noun phrase before any other prefixes and/or modifiers. | ||