Middle Semitic/Morphophonology: Difference between revisions

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* Three numbers: singular and plural, with duals only for body parts, glasses, pants.  The dual is frozen, not productive.
* Three numbers: singular and plural, with duals only for body parts, glasses, pants.  The dual is frozen, and not productive.
* SVO word order, though others are possible
* SVO word order, though others are possible with clefting or in questions.
* No case marking
* No case marking
* Two genders
* Two genders
* Two states - regular and construct.  Construct is frozen, not productive.  The genitive clitic (cp. English ‘’of’’) is dal - [[ܕܠ]]<ref>a combination of Aramaic '’d-'', and Western Arabics ''dyal’’</ref>
* Two states - regular and construct.  Construct is frozen, not productive.  The genitive clitic (cp. English ‘’of’’) is dal - {{C|ܕܠ}}<ref>a combination of Aramaic '’d-'', and Western Arabics ''dyal’’</ref>
* Definiteness can only be achieved through proper nouns or the definite article [[ܗܠ]]/hal<ref>Graciously lifted from Semitish - http://palisra.com - by Nizar Habash, with permission</ref>.  No indefinite article.
* Definiteness can only be achieved through proper nouns or the definite article {{C|ܗܠ}} (hal)<ref>Graciously lifted from Semitish - http://palisra.com - by Nizar Habash, with permission</ref>.  No indefinite article.
* {{C|ܗ}} (ha) is the sentence initial, polar question particle<ref>From Hebrew הַ, האם; Egyptian هل (hal) ; MSA أَ</ref>
* No pausal forms
* No pausal forms
* Adjectives
* Adjectives
** Agree in number, gender, and state with their head
** Agree in number, gender, (and state) with their head
** Elatives are uninflected
** Elatives are uninflected
** Agree number, gender, but not state for copulative clause
** No agreement for copulative clause
* Only one, uninflecting relative pronoun
* Only one, uninflecting relative pronoun {{C|ܠܝܕ}} (lîd) <ref>From Maltese ''li'', Aramaic ܕ, Levantine/Egyptian اللي, MSA ٱلَّذِي</ref>
Notice that we do not maintain the gender distinction in the second person plural.
Notice that we do not maintain the gender distinction in the second person plural.


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! !! singular !! dual !! plural
! !! singular !! dual !! plural
|-
|-
! m.
! masculine
| MvLKÂ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܐ}} || MvLKÎM {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܡ}} || MvLKIN {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܢ}}
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܰܐ}} MvLKâ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܐ}} || {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܺܝܡ}} MvLKîm {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܡ}} || {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܽܝܢ}} MvLKîn {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܢ}}
|-
|-
! ''m. con.''
! ''construct''
| MvLaK {{Sy|ܡܠܟ}} || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | MvLKÎ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝ}}
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟ}} MvLaK {{Sy|ܡܠܟ}} || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܺܝ}} MvLKî {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝ}}
|-
|-
! f<sup>1</sup>
! crypto-feminine
| MvLKÂ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܐ}} || MvLKÎM {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܡ}} || MvLKÛT {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘܬ}}
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܰܐ}} MvLKâ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܐ}} || {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܺܝܡ}} MvLKîm {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܡ}} || {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܽܬ}} MvLKût {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘܬ}}
|-
|-
! ''f<sup>1</sup> con.''
! ''construct''
| MvLKaT {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬ}} || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | MvLKÛ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘ}}
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܰܬ}} MvLKat {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬ}} || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܽܘ}} MvLKû {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘ}}
|-
|-
! f<sup>2</sup>
! (true) feminine
| MvLKaTÂ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬܐ}} || MvLKÎM {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܡ}} || MvLKÛT {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘܬ}}
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܰܬܱܐ}} MvLKaTâ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬܐ}} || {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܺܝܡ}} MvLKîm {{Sy|ܡܠܟܝܡ}} || {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܽܘܬ}} MvLKût {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘܬ}}
|-
|-
! ''f<sup>2</sup> con.''
! ''construct''
| MvLKaT {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬ}}|| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | MvLKÛ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘ}}
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܰܬ}} MvLKat {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬ}}|| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܽܘ}} MvLKû {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘ}}
|}
|}
M-L-K is the triliteral root.  '''v''' might be '''u''', or '''a''', or '''i''' (or '''e''' or '''o''' in foreign-based words).  For example, ''king'' is '''malkâ, malkin''' (constr. '''malak, malkî''') and ''queen'' is '''malkatâ, malkut''' (constr. '''malkat, malkû''').  ''earth'' is '''ʾarṣâ, ʾarṣut''' (constr. '''ʾarṣat, ʾarṣû''').  ''eye/spring'' is f<sup>1</sup> and exists in the dual: '''ʿenâ, ʿenim, ʿenut''' (constr. '''ʿenat, ʿenû''')
M-L-K is the triliteral root.  '''v''' might be '''u''', or '''a''', or '''i''' (or '''e''' or '''o''' in foreign-based words).  For example, ''king'' is '''malkâ, malkin''' (construct '''malak, malkî''') and ''queen'' is '''malkatâ, malkut''' (construct '''malkat, malkû''').  ''earth'' is '''ʾarṣâ, ʾarṣut''' (construct '''ʾarṣat, ʾarṣû''').  ''eye/spring'' is f<sup>1</sup> and exists in the dual: '''ʿenâ, ʿenim, ʿenut''' (construct '''ʿenat, ʿenû''')


=== Adjectives ===
=== Adjectives ===
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| -ø || -î
| -ø || -î
|-
|-
! -(a)t || û
! F
| -(a)t || û
|}
|}


=== Pronouns ===
=== Pronouns ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:auto;"
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:auto;"
|+ object pronouns
|+ object/possessive pronouns
! !! sg. !! pl.
! !! sg. !! pl.
|-
|-
! 1  
! 1  
| -nî {{Sy|[[-ܢܝ]]}} || -nû {{Sy|[[-ܢܘ]]}}
| -nî {{Sy|{{C|-ܢܝ}}}} || -nû {{Sy|{{C|-ܢܘ}}}}
|-
|-
! 2  
! 2  
| -kâ<sub>m</sub> {{Sy|[[-ܟܐ]]}}    -kî<sub>f</sub> {{Sy|[[-ܟܝ]]}} || -kûm {{Sy|[[-ܟܘܡ]]}}
| -kâ <sub>m</sub> {{Sy|{{C|-ܟܐ}}}}    -kî <sub>f</sub> {{Sy|{{C|-ܟܝ}}}} || -kûm {{Sy|{{C|-ܟܡ}}}}
|-
|-
! 3  
! 3  
| -hû<sub>m</sub> {{Sy|[[-ܗܘ]]}}  -hâ <sub>f</sub> {{Sy|[[-ܗܐ]]}} || -hûm {{Sy|[[-ܗܘܡ]]}}
| -hû <sub>m</sub> {{Sy|{{C|-ܗܘ}}}}  -hâ <sub>f</sub> {{Sy|{{C|-ܗܐ}}}} || -hûm {{Sy|{{C|-ܗܡ}}}}
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:auto;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:auto;"
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|-
|-
! 1  
! 1  
| {{Sy|[[ܐܢܐ]]}} 'anâ || {{Sy|[[ܐܢܚܢܘ]]}} 'anaħnû
| {{Sy|{{C|ܐܢܐ}}}} 'anâ || {{Sy|{{C|ܐܢܚܢܘ}}}} 'anaħnû
|-
|-
! 2
! 2
| {{Sy|[[ܐܢܬܐ]]}} 'antâ<sub>m</sub>, {{Sy|[[ܐܢܬܝ]]}} 'antî<sub>f</sub> || {{Sy|[[ܐܢܬܘܡ]]}} 'antum
| {{Sy|{{C|ܐܢܬܐ}}}} 'antâ <sub>m</sub>, {{Sy|{{C|ܐܢܬܝ}}}} 'antî<sub>f</sub> || {{Sy|{{C|ܐܢܬܘܡ}}}} 'antûm
|-
|-
! 3
! 3
| {{Sy|[[ܗܘܐ]]}} huwâ<sub>m</sub>, {{Sy|[[ܗܝܐ]]}} hiyâ<sub>f</sub>
| {{Sy|{{C|ܗܘܐ}}}} huwâ <sub>m</sub>, {{Sy|{{C|ܗܝܐ}}}} hiyâ <sub>f</sub>
| {{Sy|[[ܗܘܡ]]}} hûm
| {{Sy|{{C|ܗܘܡ}}}} hûm
|}
|}
Pronouns are strange for Indo-Europeans, but utterly normal for Semitic speakers.  There are indepedent forms which can only serve as the subject of a clause.  Another set of forms serves two functions: they attach to verbs to mark direct objects, or they attach to nouns to indicate genitival possession.


The pronouns may seem strange for Indo-Europeans, but are utterly normal for Semitic speakers.  There are independent forms which can only serve as the subject of a clause.  Another set of forms serves two functions: they attach to verbs to mark direct objects, or they attach to nouns to indicate genitival possession.


== Verbs ==
== Verbs ==
Line 105: Line 107:
|-
|-
! 3m
! 3m
| MaLaK
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟ}} MaLaK {{Sy|ܡܠܟ}}
| rowspan="2" | MaLKÛ
| rowspan="2" | {{Sy|ܡܰܠܟܽܘ}} MaLKû {{Sy|ܡܠܟܘ}}
|-
|-
! 3f
! 3f
| MaLaKaT
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟܰܬ}} MaLaKat {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬ}}
|-
|-
! 2m
! 2m
| MaLaKTÂ
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟܬܱܐ}} MaLaKtâ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬܐ}}
| rowspan="2" | MaLaKTUM
| rowspan="2" | {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟܬܾܘܡ}} MaLaKtûm
|-
|-
! 2f
! 2f
| MaLaKTÎ
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟܬܻܝ}} MaLaKtî {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬܝ}}
|-
|-
! 1c
! 1c
| MaLaKTÛ
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟܬܾܘ}} MaLaKtû {{Sy|ܡܠܟܬܘ}}
| MaLaKNÂ
| {{Sy|ܡܰܠܱܟܢܰܐ}} MaLaKnâ {{Sy|ܡܠܟܢܐ}}
|}
|}


Line 128: Line 130:
|-
|-
! 3m
! 3m
| YaMLUK
| {{Sy|ܝܰܡܠܱܟ}} yaMLaK {{Sy|ܝܡܠܟ}}
| rowspan="2" | YaMLaKUN
| rowspan="2" | {{Sy|ܝܰܡܠܱܟܽܘܢ}} yaMLaKûn {{Sy|ܝܡܠܟܘܢ}}
|-
|-
! 3f
! 3f
| rowspan="2" | TaMLUK
| rowspan="2" | {{Sy|ܬܱܡܠܱܟ}} taMLaK {{Sy|ܬܡܠܟ}}


|-
|-
! 2m
! 2m


| rowspan="2" | TaMaLUKNÂ
| rowspan="2" | {{Sy|ܬܱܡܠܱܟܢܰܐ}} taMLaKnâ {{Sy|ܬܡܠܟܢܐ}}
|-
|-
! 2f
! 2f
| TaMLaKÎ
| {{Sy|ܬܱܡܠܱܟܺܝ}} taMLaKî {{Sy|ܬܡܠܟܝ}}


|-
|-
! 1c
! 1c
| 'aMLUK
| {{Sy|ܐܰܡܠܱܟ}} 'aMLaK {{Sy|ܐܡܠܟ}}
| NaMLUK
| {{Sy|ܢܰܡܠܱܟ}} naMLaK {{Sy|ܢܡܠܟ}}
|}
|}


: Part. maMLaK-
: Part. maMLaK- ܡܡܠܟ
: Inf.  laMLaK
: Inf.  laMLaK ܠܡܠܟ
 
: Imp. ܡܠܟ
Only indicative and imperative moods
 
no productive causative
 
vowel prefixing to make imperfect/non-past


== Notes ==
== Notes ==

Latest revision as of 02:38, 4 February 2025

  • Three numbers: singular and plural, with duals only for body parts, glasses, pants. The dual is frozen, and not productive.
  • SVO word order, though others are possible with clefting or in questions.
  • No case marking
  • Two genders
  • Two states - regular and construct. Construct is frozen, not productive. The genitive clitic (cp. English ‘’of’’) is dal - ܕܠ[1]
  • Definiteness can only be achieved through proper nouns or the definite article ܗܠ (hal)[2]. No indefinite article.
  • ܗ (ha) is the sentence initial, polar question particle[3]
  • No pausal forms
  • Adjectives
    • Agree in number, gender, (and state) with their head
    • Elatives are uninflected
    • No agreement for copulative clause
  • Only one, uninflecting relative pronoun ܠܝܕ (lîd) [4]

Notice that we do not maintain the gender distinction in the second person plural.


Nouns

Nouns come in three declensions:

  1. masculine,
  2. true feminine (f2 below), and
  3. feminine-appearing-masculine-in-the-singular (f1 below).
singular dual plural
masculine ܡܰܠܟܰܐ MvLKâ ܡܠܟܐ ܡܰܠܟܺܝܡ MvLKîm ܡܠܟܝܡ ܡܰܠܟܽܝܢ MvLKîn ܡܠܟܝܢ
construct ܡܰܠܱܟ MvLaK ܡܠܟ ܡܰܠܟܺܝ MvLKî ܡܠܟܝ
crypto-feminine ܡܰܠܟܰܐ MvLKâ ܡܠܟܐ ܡܰܠܟܺܝܡ MvLKîm ܡܠܟܝܡ ܡܰܠܟܽܬ MvLKût ܡܠܟܘܬ
construct ܡܰܠܟܰܬ MvLKat ܡܠܟܬ ܡܰܠܟܽܘ MvLKû ܡܠܟܘ
(true) feminine ܡܰܠܟܰܬܱܐ MvLKaTâ ܡܠܟܬܐ ܡܰܠܟܺܝܡ MvLKîm ܡܠܟܝܡ ܡܰܠܟܽܘܬ MvLKût ܡܠܟܘܬ
construct ܡܰܠܟܰܬ MvLKat ܡܠܟܬ ܡܰܠܟܽܘ MvLKû ܡܠܟܘ

M-L-K is the triliteral root. v might be u, or a, or i (or e or o in foreign-based words). For example, king is malkâ, malkin (construct malak, malkî) and queen is malkatâ, malkut (construct malkat, malkû). earth is ʾarṣâ, ʾarṣut (construct ʾarṣat, ʾarṣû). eye/spring is f1 and exists in the dual: ʿenâ, ʿenim, ʿenut (construct ʿenat, ʿenû)

Adjectives

Unlike nouns, adjectives don't have multiple declensions.

adjective endings
sg. pl.
M -â - în
F -tâ ût

Technically, there are construct forms of all of these, but they are not productive.

sg. pl.
M -ø -î
F -(a)t û

Pronouns

object/possessive pronouns
sg. pl.
1 -nî -ܢܝ -nû -ܢܘ
2 -kâ m -ܟܐ -kî f -ܟܝ -kûm -ܟܡ
3 -hû m -ܗܘ -hâ f -ܗܐ -hûm -ܗܡ
subject pronouns
sg. pl.
1 ܐܢܐ 'anâ ܐܢܚܢܘ 'anaħnû
2 ܐܢܬܐ 'antâ m, ܐܢܬܝ 'antîf ܐܢܬܘܡ 'antûm
3 ܗܘܐ huwâ m, ܗܝܐ hiyâ f ܗܘܡ hûm

The pronouns may seem strange for Indo-Europeans, but are utterly normal for Semitic speakers. There are independent forms which can only serve as the subject of a clause. Another set of forms serves two functions: they attach to verbs to mark direct objects, or they attach to nouns to indicate genitival possession.

Verbs

Past
Sing. Pl.
3m ܡܰܠܱܟ MaLaK ܡܠܟ ܡܰܠܟܽܘ MaLKû ܡܠܟܘ
3f ܡܰܠܱܟܰܬ MaLaKat ܡܠܟܬ
2m ܡܰܠܱܟܬܱܐ MaLaKtâ ܡܠܟܬܐ ܡܰܠܱܟܬܾܘܡ MaLaKtûm
2f ܡܰܠܱܟܬܻܝ MaLaKtî ܡܠܟܬܝ
1c ܡܰܠܱܟܬܾܘ MaLaKtû ܡܠܟܬܘ ܡܰܠܱܟܢܰܐ MaLaKnâ ܡܠܟܢܐ
Non-past
Sing. Pl.
3m ܝܰܡܠܱܟ yaMLaK ܝܡܠܟ ܝܰܡܠܱܟܽܘܢ yaMLaKûn ܝܡܠܟܘܢ
3f ܬܱܡܠܱܟ taMLaK ܬܡܠܟ
2m ܬܱܡܠܱܟܢܰܐ taMLaKnâ ܬܡܠܟܢܐ
2f ܬܱܡܠܱܟܺܝ taMLaKî ܬܡܠܟܝ
1c ܐܰܡܠܱܟ 'aMLaK ܐܡܠܟ ܢܰܡܠܱܟ naMLaK ܢܡܠܟ
Part. maMLaK- ܡܡܠܟ
Inf. laMLaK ܠܡܠܟ
Imp. ܡܠܟ

Notes

  1. ^ a combination of Aramaic '’d-, and Western Arabics dyal’’
  2. ^ Graciously lifted from Semitish - http://palisra.com - by Nizar Habash, with permission
  3. ^ From Hebrew הַ, האם; Egyptian هل (hal) ; MSA أَ
  4. ^ From Maltese li, Aramaic ܕ, Levantine/Egyptian اللي, MSA ٱلَّذِي


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