Qino: Difference between revisions

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====Number====

Many nouns are by default unmarked for number. The singulative is formed with suffixes such as ''-sha, -ha, -ka, -icha, -eesha, -ocha,'' (masculine) or ''-ti, -itti, -eeti, -otti'' (feminine). The plural is formed with suffixes such as ''-oota, -ani, -aani, -eeni, -ooni, -eeCi, -ooCi, -eeya, -ooya, -iina'' and ''-aati''. Broken plurals are common in Arabic loanwords and are sometimes extended to other words.

Many nouns are by default unmarked for number. The singulative is formed with suffixes such as ''-sha, -ha, -ka, -icha, -eesha, -ocha,'' (masculine) or ''-ti, -itti, -eeti, -otti'' (feminine). The plural is formed with suffixes such as ''-oota, -ani, -aani, -eeni, -ooni, -eeCi, -ooCi, -eeya, -ooya, -oowa, -iina'' and ''-aati''. Broken plurals are common in Arabic loanwords and are sometimes extended to other words. The endings ''-eeya'', ''-oowa'', and ''-ooya'' may be analyzed as collectives rather than true plurals.

The exact usage depends on the noun in question. When all three forms exist, the unmarked form is generally used with numerals, as a collective, and when number is not particularly important. The singulative is used to refer to a specific individual, and the plural is used to emphasize the plurality (especially if it is not clear from context) or to refer to multiple groups. Multiple plural forms often exist and ad-hoc forms are common.

The gender of the plural depends on the suffix used. The collective endings (in ''-wa/-ya'') are grammatically masculine and the rest are feminine. This mainly affects articles and attributives; regardless of plural formation, main verbs generally take either plural or feminine singular agreement when referring to a plural noun. In very formal language, the verb agrees with the noun in gender (with plural being used only when the subject is a plural pronoun).

Non-plural nouns that refer to people take articles and attributives according to the gender of the noun, whether that agrees with the person's gender or not. Note that some nouns do not have a fixed gender and instead take the gender of the referent. The verb, however, agrees with the gender of the person. Similarly, nouns that are unmarked for number may take singular or plural verb agreement depending on the referent (except in very formal language).

The exact usage of the different numbers depends on the noun in question. When all three forms exist, the unmarked form is generally used with numerals, as a collective, and when number is not particularly important. The singulative is used to refer to a specific individual, and the plural is used to emphasize the plurality (especially if it is not clear from context) or to refer to multiple groups. Multiple plural forms often exist and ad-hoc forms are common. For some nouns, the singulative and/or plural have an unpredictable meaning.

Not every noun has all three forms. If there is no unmarked form, the singulative and plural are used for singular and plural respectively, but the singulative is used with numerals. Some uncountable nouns are always in the plural (pluralia tantum) - e.g. ''bisheeya'' "water".

If a noun has a different gender than the person it refers to, the noun takes articles according to its gender but verbs normally conjugate according to the gender of the person. Similarly, nouns that are unmarked for number take singular or plural forms depending on the referent. In very formal language, however, the verb conjugates according to the gender and number of the noun. In both formal and colloquial language, plural nouns can either take plural or feminine singular verbal agreement.

=====Some examples=====

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*''shimmira'' "bird" uses the singulative for a single bird and the unmarked form as a collective. It does not have a dedicated plural form, though ad-hoc formations such as ''shimmiroota'' may be used to refer to a very large number of birds.

*''afka'' "mouth/language" uses the singulative for a single mouth/language and the plural for more than one. It does not have an unmarked form.

*''bisheeya'' "water" is always in the plural. A singulative ''bisheeti'' ~~meaning~~ "~~cup/bottle~~ of water" exists, but it is treated as a separate noun ~~and has~~ its own plural (''bisheetoota'').

*''bisheeya'' "water" is always in the plural. It has a singulative ''bisheeti'' "drop of water" exists, but it is effectively treated as a separate noun, even having its own plural (''bisheetoota'').

====Diminutives and Augmentatives====

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 ====Number====
-Many nouns are by default unmarked for number. The singulative is formed with suffixes such as ''-sha, -ha, -ka, -icha, <!---ta, -->-eesha, -ocha,'' (masculine) or ''-ti, -itti, -eeti, -otti'' (feminine). The plural is formed with suffixes such as ''-oota, -ani, -aani, -eeni, -ooni, -eeCi, -ooCi, -eeya, -ooya, -iina'' and ''-aati''. Broken plurals are common in Arabic loanwords and are sometimes extended to other words.
+Many nouns are by default unmarked for number. The singulative is formed with suffixes such as ''-sha, -ha, -ka, -icha, <!---ta, -->-eesha, -ocha,'' (masculine) or ''-ti, -itti, -eeti, -otti'' (feminine). The plural is formed with suffixes such as ''-oota, -ani, -aani, -eeni, -ooni, -eeCi, -ooCi, -eeya, -ooya, -oowa, -iina'' and ''-aati''. Broken plurals are common in Arabic loanwords and are sometimes extended to other words. The endings ''-eeya'', ''-oowa'', and ''-ooya'' may be analyzed as collectives rather than true plurals.
-The exact usage depends on the noun in question. When all three forms exist, the unmarked form is generally used with numerals, as a collective, and when number is not particularly important. The singulative is used to refer to a specific individual, and the plural is used to emphasize the plurality (especially if it is not clear from context) or to refer to multiple groups. Multiple plural forms often exist and ad-hoc forms are common.
+The gender of the plural depends on the suffix used. The collective endings (in ''-wa/-ya'') are grammatically masculine and the rest are feminine. This mainly affects articles and attributives; regardless of plural formation, main verbs generally take either plural or feminine singular agreement when referring to a plural noun. In very formal language, the verb agrees with the noun in gender (with plural being used only when the subject is a plural pronoun).
+Non-plural nouns that refer to people take articles and attributives according to the gender of the noun, whether that agrees with the person's gender or not. Note that some nouns do not have a fixed gender and instead take the gender of the referent. The verb, however, agrees with the gender of the person. Similarly, nouns that are unmarked for number may take singular or plural verb agreement depending on the referent (except in very formal language).
+The exact usage of the different numbers depends on the noun in question. When all three forms exist, the unmarked form is generally used with numerals, as a collective, and when number is not particularly important. The singulative is used to refer to a specific individual, and the plural is used to emphasize the plurality (especially if it is not clear from context) or to refer to multiple groups. Multiple plural forms often exist and ad-hoc forms are common. For some nouns, the singulative and/or plural have an unpredictable meaning.
 Not every noun has all three forms. If there is no unmarked form, the singulative and plural are used for singular and plural respectively, but the singulative is used with numerals. Some uncountable nouns are always in the plural (pluralia tantum) - e.g. ''bisheeya'' "water".
-If a noun has a different gender than the person it refers to, the noun takes articles according to its gender but verbs normally conjugate according to the gender of the person. Similarly, nouns that are unmarked for number take singular or plural forms depending on the referent. In very formal language, however, the verb conjugates according to the gender and number of the noun. In both formal and colloquial language, plural nouns can either take plural or feminine singular verbal agreement.
 =====Some examples=====
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 *''shimmira'' "bird" uses the singulative for a single bird and the unmarked form as a collective. It does not have a dedicated plural form, though ad-hoc formations such as ''shimmiroota'' may be used to refer to a very large number of birds.
 *''afka'' "mouth/language" uses the singulative for a single mouth/language and the plural for more than one. It does not have an unmarked form.
-*''bisheeya'' "water" is always in the plural. A singulative ''bisheeti'' meaning "cup/bottle of water" exists, but it is treated as a separate noun and has its own plural (''bisheetoota'').
+*''bisheeya'' "water" is always in the plural. It has a singulative ''bisheeti'' "drop of water" exists, but it is effectively treated as a separate noun, even having its own plural (''bisheetoota'').
 ====Diminutives and Augmentatives====