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===Nouns=== | ===Nouns=== | ||
There are two articles: the definite article ''fi'', from the distal demonstrative ''fi'', and the specific article ''se'' (m), from the proximal demonstrative ''se''. Indefinite nonspecific nouns do not take an article. The English definite article, and some unpreceded nouns such as ''society'', ''man'' (humanity), and ''life'', correspond closely to the Windermere definite article, but the English indefinite article can be translated into either Windermere indefinite nouns or specific nouns depending on context. | There are two articles: the definite article ''fi'', from the distal demonstrative ''fi'', and the specific article ''se'' (m), from the proximal demonstrative ''se''. Indefinite nonspecific nouns do not take an article. The English definite article, and some unpreceded nouns such as ''society'', ''man'' (humanity), and ''life'', correspond closely to the Windermere definite article, but the English indefinite article can be translated into either Windermere indefinite nouns or specific nouns depending on context. | ||
*nonspecific: ''Rüe șa rie imyar!'' = "Give me some flowers! (any flowers, I don't care what flowers they are)" | |||
* | |||
*specific: ''Rüe șa rie se imyar!'' = "Give me some flowers! (specific ones I have in mind)" | *specific: ''Rüe șa rie se imyar!'' = "Give me some flowers! (specific ones I have in mind)" | ||
**This command would probably be met with ''Imyar ra?'' "What flowers?". | **This command would probably be met with ''Imyar ra?'' "What flowers?". | ||
*definite: ''Rüe șa rie fi imyar!'' = "Give me the flowers! (you and I both know what flowers)" | *definite: ''Rüe șa rie fi imyar!'' = "Give me the flowers! (you and I both know what flowers)" | ||
The nonsepcific-specific distinction often makes pluralization unnecessary where English would require it: | |||
:'''''Rie die poar fa binfăndaw.''''' | |||
:1SG NEG like from NOM-test | |||
:''I don't like exams.'' | |||
The articles contract with a preceding preposition such as ''mi'' 'in, at' and ''șa'' 'to, for': for example, ''mis, mif'' and ''șas, șaf''. Before a sibilant (resp. labial), forms such as ''mise'' (resp. ''mifi'') are used. | The articles contract with a preceding preposition such as ''mi'' 'in, at' and ''șa'' 'to, for': for example, ''mis, mif'' and ''șas, șaf''. Before a sibilant (resp. labial), forms such as ''mise'' (resp. ''mifi'') are used. | ||