Qino

Qino (native: Qino afka /ɠíno afka/) is a Lowland East Cushitic conlang.

Introduction

Qino is a Lowland East Cushitic language with implosives. The phonology is largely inspired by Hadda. The syntax and verbal morphology are most similar to Saho-Afar.

Phonology

Morphology

Nouns

Nouns (and pronouns) are declined by case.

• Absolutive: Citation form, used for the direct object of a verb, the object of adpositions, and predicative nouns. Personal pronouns have a distinct accusative form that is used for direct objects.
• Nominative: Subject of verb.
• Genitive: Possession.
• Dative: Recipient, benefactor, purpose.
• Ablative: Source.
• Instrumental: Instrument, means, agent, reason, time.
• Comitative: Accompaniment.
• Locative: Location.

Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

Qino independent personal pronouns

	Absolutive	Nominative	Accusative	Possessive	Dative	Ablative	Instrumental	Comitative	Locative
1S	ana	anú	kiyya	kíyyi	anoo	anak	anas	anal	anad
2SM	ata	atú	kaaha	kaáhi	atoo	atak	atas	atal	atad
2SF	ati	atí	taati	taáti	atii	atiik	atis	atil	atid
3SM	usa	usú	keesha	keéshi	usoo	usak	usas	usal	usad
3SF	ishi	ishí	teeti	teéti	ishii	ishik	ishis	ishil	ishid
1Ex	una	unú	keena	keéni	unoo	unak	unas	unal	unad
1Inc	anáni	ananí	kiina	kiíni	ananii	ananik	ananis	ananil	ananid
2P	atáni	ataní	siina	siíni	atanii	atanik	atanis	atanil	atanid
3P	isáni	isaní	koota	koóti	isanii	isanik	isanis	isanil	isanid

Qino clitic personal pronouns

	Subject	Accusative 1	Accusative 2	Dative	Ablative	Instrumental	Comitative	Locative
1S	an	yi	kii	yoo	yak	yas	yal	yad
2SM	at	ku	kaa	kuu	kuk	kus	kul	kud
2SF	at	tu	taa	tuu	tuk	tus	tul	tud
3SM	us	kee	keesh	keeshoo	keeshak	keeshas	keeshal	keeshad
3SF	ish	tee	teet	teetoo	teetak	teetas	teetal	teetad
1Ex	un	nu	keen	noo	nak	nas	nal	nad
1Inc	anan	yin	kiin	yinoo	yinak	yinas	yinal	yinad
2P	atan	sin	siin	sinoo	sinak	sinas	sinal	sinad
3P	isan	koo	koot	kootoo	kootak	kootas	kootal	kootad
REF	–	is	–	isoo	isak	isas	isal	isad
REC	–	ol	–	oloo	olak	olas	olal	olad

Notes:

• When there is one accusative object pronoun, either the "accusative 1" or "accusative 2" forms can be used. When there are multiple clitic objects, the final one takes the "accusative 2" form and the rest the "accusative 1" form.
• Third person clitic pronouns are often omitted. When the this occurs in oblique cases, the corresponding free postposition forms are used (oo, ak, as, al, and ad respectively).

Syntax

Constituent order

SOV

Noun phrase

• Modifiers come before the noun being modified.
• Case endings and postpositions come at the end of a noun phrase, which often ends in a noun but may not. If it does not end in a noun, independent forms are used.