Celabrian: Difference between revisions

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There are three levels of definiteness in Celabrian:
There are three levels of definiteness in Celabrian:
*Definite: Something known to both speaker and listener, usually either something that has been mentioned or that is unique. Equivalent to English "the" in "I saw '''the''' car."
*Definite: Something known to both speaker and listener, that may have been previously mentioned or that is uniquely specified. Equivalent to English "the" in "I saw '''the''' car."
*Semidefinite: Something specific that may not be known by the listener. Equivalent to English "a" in "I saw '''a''' car."
*Semidefinite: Something specific that is identifiable by the speaker but not the listener. Equivalent to English "a" in "I saw '''a''' car."
*Indefinite: Something non-specific. Equivalent to English "a" in "I need '''a''' (non-specific) car."  
*Indefinite: Refers non-specifically to a member of a class. Equivalent to English "a" in "I need '''a''' car."  
Nouns unmarked for definiteness are semidefinite by default. The definite article is ''-<u>ə</u>n'' (added before case endings).
Nouns unmarked for definiteness are semidefinite by default. The definite article is ''-<u>ə</u>n'' (added before case endings).


The indefinite article for singular, countable nouns is ''m<u>ə</u>-''. For plural nouns and uncountable nouns, it is ''-<u>a</u>'' (equivalent to the ablative case ending).
The indefinite article for singular, countable nouns is ''m<u>ə</u>-''. For plural and mass nouns, it is ''-<u>a</u>'' (equivalent to the ablative case ending and the partitive article).


Nouns with possessive suffixes do not take the definite article, but can take the indefinite article. Possessive suffixes come before case endings and the plural/uncountable indefinite suffix.
Nouns with possessive suffixes do not take the definite article, but can take the indefinite article. Possessive suffixes come before case endings and the plural/uncountable indefinite suffix.
In addition to definite and indefinite articles, Celabrian has partitive and negative articles. The partitive article is ''-<u>a</u>'' (equivalent to the ablative case and the plural/mass indefinite article). It refers to a non-specific quantity of something. It is equivalent to English "some" in "I want '''some''' coffee."
The negative article specifies none of something, and is equivalent to English "no" in "I see '''no''' car." The negative article is ''n<u>ə</u>-''.


===Adjectives===
===Adjectives===
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