Behru cesik
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Setting
Behru Cesik (a combination of Behru, an ethnonym, cet, to speak, and the suffix -hik, indicating a manner of doing something) is a language spoken in the southern half of the lower Sedonese basin, the Hedri plains, and in the northern portions of Kakinsake. Its speakers form a distinct ethnicity in the south of Sedone, independent from the dominant Idili. The Behru people originated from the distant and now extinct Behru empire, which attempted to settle the Hedri area 1500 years prior. The empire has collapsed since then, and the Behru people are now isolated, their nations being increasingly encroached upon by the native peoples they had once tried to conquer.
Phonology
Consonants
Bilabial | Dental | Alveolar | Post-alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Pharyngeal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nasal | m hm | n hn | ñ hñ | ng hng | ||||
Plosive | p b | t d | c j | k g | ||||
Fricative | f v | s z | sh zh | x gh | ||||
Affricate | ||||||||
Approximant | w hw | hy | h | |||||
Trill | ||||||||
Flap or tap | ||||||||
Lateral fric. | ||||||||
Lateral app. | l lh | r hr | ||||||
Lateral flap |
Vowels
Front | Near-front | Central | Near-back | Back | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Close | i | u | |||
Near-close | e | î | ü | ||
Close-mid | |||||
Mid | ë | o | |||
Open-mid | |||||
Near-open | |||||
Open | a |
Phonotactics
All Behru free morphemes of native origin consist of a 2 syllable root with a maximum structure stop-fricative-approximant-vowel/syllabic l or r-consonant-vowel. Bound morphemes are permitted to have a reduced structure, so long as they start witha consonant should they be allowed to occur word initially. All syllables must start with a consonant. Alll free roots except particles and nouns in the agent case singular have a suffix of some sort indicating their grammatical role in the sentence.
Vowels
All roots that can exist unbound, along with several bound roots, hold a tone. This tone may be either a high ´tone like in lé, or a low tone le (low tone is unmarked). A high tone is only found in noun, verb, and particle roots, it is never found on the suffixes with the exception of several toneshift sandhi rules. In addition, a vowel may be of one of 3 "strengths". A weak vowel is reduced and centralized, and may carry have a high tone. A medium vowel is clearly pronounced but clipped in length. A strong vowel is held out in length. Some roots contain the sequence CV l/r C(V). The combination of a vowel and and l and r usually fuse in an unusual way.
Weak | ë | ë | i | ü | l | r |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strong | a | o | e | u | ol, el* | ar, er* |
Prolonged | aa | oo | ii | uu | ul, il* | or, ir* |
- roots containing l or r may strengthen according to two different series.
Sandhi
Sandhi in behru can be divided into two categories, tone sandhi and consonant sandhi. Vowel sandhi only occurs word internally, as all morphemes that can occur at the front of a word start with consonants.
Consonant sandhi
k,x,c,sh,t,s,p,f | when followed by g,gh,j,zh,d,z,b,v | become g,gh,j,zh,d,z,b,v |
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n assimilates in the point of articulation of the following consonants
n | when followed by k,g,x,gh ng | becomes ng |
---|---|---|
n | when followed by c,j,sh,zh,ñ | becomes ñ |
n | when followed by p,b,f,v,m | becomes m |
t,d,s,z | when followed by y | combine with y to become c,j,sh,zh |
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y | when followed by i | becomes zh |
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w | when followed by u | becomes v |
s,sh,t | when followed by sh | combines with sh to become c |
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z,zh,d | when followed by zh | combines with zh to become j |
k,c,t,p | when followed by h (only if h is in isolation) | combine with h to become x,sh,s,f |
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y,r,l,w,ng,ñ,n,m | when followed by h | become hy,hr,hl,hw,hng,hñ,hn,hm |
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g,gh,j,zh,d,z,b,v | when followed by h (only if h is in isolation) |
become p,x,c,sh,t,s,p,f, and the h disappears |
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w and y |
when followed by another consonant and preceded by a consonant |
become u and i |
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k, p, t, c, s, sh, f, x | When in contact with any liquid nasal | Devoice said liquid or nasal, eg; k+n = khn, m+t=hmt |
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- note: The effects of rule 10 are never written, as they can always be determined, samt will always be pronounced as |sahmt|, no rules can reverse this.
g, b, d | When followed by an aspirant liquid or nasal directly, or if followed seperated from the aspirant by a short vowel | become k, p, t, eg; g+hy=ky, bu+hm+ puhm, but daa+ hn doesn't equal taahn, because of the long vowel |
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k, t, p, even if preceded by a nasal or fricative | Voice between two vowels. If a second consonant lies before, this consonant is also voiced. However, if a consonant lies after, this rule does not aplly | aka becomes aga, efto becomes evdo, ampi becomes ambi, but akya deos not become agya |
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Notes: the only rules which can change the voicing of c and j are rules 2 and 7.
Only the rules 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 occur across word boundaries. Final consonants affected by rules 6 and 7 across word boundaries double. The h doesn't dissapear of rule 8 occurs across word boundaries.
Vowel Sandhi
o,u | when followed by e,i,î,a,o | become ow,w |
---|---|---|
o,u | when followed by u,ü | become ov,v |
e,i | when followed by a,o,u,ü,e | become ey,y |
e,i | when followed by i.î | become ezh,zh |
a | when followed by any vowel | dissapears |
Tone Sandhi
If a vowel with a tone is weakened múk to mügii |
The tone is shifted to the following syllable mügíi |
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If a vowel with a tone is converted into a consonant like hí+e hye |
The tone is shifted to the following syllable hyé |
Orthography
Behru romanized orthography matches the symbols given in the phonology section. Sandhi is indicated always in both written systems. The Behru native writing system is an alphabet, with symbols for vowels, consonants, vowel strength and tone arranged into syllabic blocks, written up to down, left to right. Pictures of these will be uploaded later.
Basic Grammar
Gender | Cases | Numbers | Tenses | Persons | Moods | Voices | Aspects | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Verb | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Nouns | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Adjectives | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Numbers | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Participles | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Adverb | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Pronouns | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Adpositions | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Article | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Particle | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Behru in the modern day is highly fusional, although the language of old, in the days of empire, was far more agglutinative. This older stage of the language is popular in literature, but this article primarily focuses on the Hedri colloquial. All root morphemes of the language can be split into 4 groups. All free morphemes are part of onne of 3 parts of speech, verb, noun, or particle. Adjectives and adverbs do not exist as a part of speech, they can exist as either prefixes or derived from verbs. The language is most commonly uses a subject object verb word order, but there are no strict rules on word order in most sentences. The language is exclusively head final, with all modifiers placed before the head. The verb always comes a finally when it is the head of a clause, and is the only portion of the sentence that may not be omitted under any circumstances.
Morphemes
Free |
Bound | |
---|---|---|
Semantemes | Verbs, Nouns | adjectival prefixes, adverbial prefixes, derivational sufixes |
Grammemes | Grammatical particles | grammatical sufixes, positional sufixes, grammatical infixes |
Noun Morphology
Principle parts of a Behru noun.
Simple consonant variation nouns
A behru noun has 3 principle parts, the default, weak, and plural forms. The plural form is used in the plural (obviously), and the weak form is used in the patient, genitive, possesive, comparative, and compound cases.
Default | Weak | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Type 1 | múk, let, ksac, lóp | mügáa, lidaa, ksëcaa, lëbáa | múuge, liide, ksaaje, lóobe |
Type 2 | lart, kélc, náp, cwenk | lrdii, klcíi, nëbíi, cwin'gii | lorje, kíljie, náabye, cwiin'gye |
Type 3 | xámp, zholt, ghúc, juk | xëmbúu, zhlduu, ghücúu, jüguu | xáambwe, zhuldwe, ghúujwe, juugwe |
Default |
Weak | Plural |
---|---|---|
lube, nago, mwaco, xéde, sráje | lübii, nëgoo, mwëcoo, xidíi, srëjíi | luubeye, naagowe, mwaacowe, xíideye, sráajeye |
Complex variation nouns
Default | Weak | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Voiced stop base Type 1 | perji, ñélji, yúgi, tóbi | prjiaa, ñljiáa, yügyáa, tëbyáa | piirjrye, ñíljlye, yúugïngye, tóobüvye |
2 | náji, húji, tségi, tólbi | nëjjíi, hüjjíi, tsïgzhíi, tlbzhíi | náajrye, húujlye, tsíigïngye, túlbüvye |
3 | hloji, xworji, ryagi, vyúbi | hlëjiuu, xwrjiuu, ryëgyuu, vyübyúu | hloojrye, xwurdlye, ryaagïngye, vyúubüvye |
Voiceless base type 1 | gzhéci, dloci, numgi, sólbi | ghiciáa, dlëcaa, nümkyaa, slpyáa | ghzíicrhye, dlootlhye, nuumkïhngye, súupüfye |
2 | móbi | mëpshíi | móopüfye |
3 | pláci | plëcáa | pláatlhye |
Default | Weak | PLural | |
---|---|---|---|
Voiced 1 | ráju | rëjwáa | ráajrwe |
2 | hwogu | hwëgwii | hwoogüngwe |
3 | sandu | sëndvuu | saandlwe |
Voicless 1 | zlecu | zlicwaa | zliicrhwe |
2 | hméldu | hmltwíi | hmíltlwe |
3 | shúbu | shüpfúu | shúupüfwe |
Default | Weak | Plural |
---|---|---|
frábe, lyóndi, shriju, tógo | frëbíi, lyëndíi, shrijuu, tëgóo | fráabüveye, lyóondlye, shriijrwe, tóogëngowe |
Default | Weak | Plural |
---|---|---|
tádo, kluge
ñárce, sábo |
tëdóo, klügii
ñërcíi, sëbóo |
táadowe, kluugeye
ñórjeye, sáabowe |
Default | Weak | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Simple voiceless | dvasa, tómfa, rwéshu, zumxe | dvësaa, tëmfáa, rwïsháa, zümxaa | dvaatse, tóompfe, rwíiccwe, zuumkkeye |
Complex voiceless | clúso, kólfe, bváfi, hyaxe | clüsóo, klfíi, bvëfii, hyëxii | clúutlhowe, kúlpüfeye, bváa |
Voiced | tevo, ñúzo, lazhe | tivoo, ñüzóo, lëzhii |
tiivüvowe, ñúuzlowe, laazhreye |
Default consonant | Default Vowel | Weak | Plural |
---|---|---|---|
shúun, ryaam, pshiing | shúnz, ryamv, pshen'g | shüné, ryëmé, pshingé | shúunde, ryaambe, pshiin'ge |
jáal, kóor | jáls, kórsh | jëlé, këré | jáahle, kóohre |
Basic endings
Endings using the first principle part
Singular | Paucal | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stop Consonant/schwa | Vowel | Stop Consonant/schwa | Vowel | |
Agent | - | - | ii, uu | zh, v |
Causative | ëye | ye | iizhe, uuve | zhazh, vazh |
Ablative | ehn | kihn | iiñi, uum | ñzh, ma |
Comitative | ent | kint | iiñzhu, uumzhu | ñzhu, mt |
Benefactive | empi | kimpi | iiñibi, uumpi | ñip, map |
Vialis | or | vr | iiren, uuren | zhrn, vrn |
Instrumental | l | l | iyan, uwan | zhën, vën |
Adessive | mazh | mazh | iimi, uumi | zhmi, vmi |
Locative | hi | hi | iishi, uushi | zhi, vi |
Dative | ci | ci | iic, uuc | shc, fc |
Patientive | *see 2 | yan, wan | *see 2 | zhan, van |
Posessive | *see 2 | ino, uno | *see 2 | zhño, vno |
Comparative | *see 2 | ihno, uhno | *see 2 | shno, fno |
Genitive/ Combining stem | *see 2 | in, un | *see 2 | zhñi, vnë |
These endings can be added to the 1st prinicple part of the noun using sandhi. One thing must be noted for consonant nouns, nouns ending in a simple voiceless stop will often have a semivowel inserted between the consonant and the ending. Which semivowel is inserted requires knowledge of the second principle part, nouns ending in an ii, like mügíi, will have a y inserted, nouns ending in an uu will hae a w inserted. Nouns ending in aa have nothing inserted. Therefore, the noun múk, mügíi, múugye, will have a y inserted in the ablative (múkyehn), as that ending starts with the vowel e, and múk's second principle part ends in ii.
Patientive | ha |
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Possessive | ng |
Comparative | ho |
Genitive/combining stem | - |
Consonant | Vowel | |
---|---|---|
Agent | e | e |
Causative | ëye | zhe |
Ablative | aman | aman |
Comitative | amant | amant |
Benefactive | amampi | amampi |
Vialis | ren | ren |
Instrumental | l | hl |
Addessive | mazh | mazh |
Locative | ëzh | zh |
Dative | ëc | c |
Patientive | VhVVm* | VhVVm* |
Posessive | mo | mo |
Comparative | ëhmo | hmo |
Genitive/Combing stem | ëm | m |
- V means vowel of the second syllable, which is reduplicated. Schwa endings do not reveal the final consonant in vowel ending nouns.
Consonant declension
Voiceless consonant ending
Single | Paucal | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
Agent | múk | múgii | Template:Hpc |
Causative | múgëye | múgiizhe | Template:Hpc |
Ablative | Template:HpcTemplate:Hpc | múgiiTemplate:Hpc | Template:HpcTemplate:Hpc |
Comitative | Template:HpcTemplate:Hpc | múgiiTemplate:Hpc | Template:HpcTemplate:Hpc |
Benefactive | Template:HpcTemplate:Hpc | múgiiTemplate:Hpc | Template:HpcTemplate:Hpc |
Vialis | Template:Hpc | múgiiren | Template:Hpc |
Instrumental | múkl | múgiyan | Template:Hpc |
Adessive | múkmazh | múgiimi | Template:Hpc |
Locative | múxi | múgiishi | Template:Hpc |
Dative | múkci | múgiic | Template:Hpc |
Patient | Template:Hpc | múgiyan | Template:Hpc |
Posessive | Template:Hpc | múgino | Template:Hpc |
Comparative | Template:Hpc | múkihno | Template:Hpc |
Genitive/Combining form | Template:Hpc | múgin | Template:Hpc |
1: stems marked in Bold require knowledge of the invisible vowel, always marked in the second principle part
2: stems marked in Template:Hpc are formed off of the second principle part
3: stems marked in Template:Hpc are formed off of the third principle part
4: endings marked in Template:Hpc use the ablative stem, and are similar across all nouns. Forming the ablative stem require knolwedge of both the first and second principle parts.
Endings added to the combining stem
These endings are added to the combining stem, and must themselves be declined before the noun is used. These nouns may only be declined in the dative, locative, vialis, and ablative. They are effectively "prepositional nouns".
Locative | Dative | Vialis | Ablative | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Location in time | jep | sañci | jut | min |
Within | ne | neci | nut | nehn |
Outside | re | reci | rut | rehn |
Showing that a noun is posessed.
If a noun is owned by another noun (marked in the posessive case), an infix is inserted before the second consonant that agrees with the possessor. The genitive case is only used when one noun owns another noun, or with relations (my mother, your father). If one noun is part of the other noun, then a compound word using the combining stem is used instead. Inanimate objects always use the combining stem, never the posessive.
Singular | Paucal | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
1st person | në, múnëk | bi, múbik | më, múmëk |
2nd person | xë, múxëk | xi, múxik | gë, múgëk |
3rd person | lü, múlük | zi, múzik | lnë, múlnëk |
4th person | pl, múplk |
The possessed nouns may be further declined, múbik (our dog), múbigii (our dogs), múbigiiñipi (for our dogs).
Verb Morphology
Behru verbs are conjugated by factors, person, number, transitivity, tense aspect, and mood. Many Behru sentences consist of only a verb, as both the subject and object may be dropped if they can be determined by context.
Irrealis stem formation
Command stem formation
Lengthen core vowel weaken second vowel (if applicable) devoice final consonant if ending in n, m, ng, l, or r cet to ciit! speak! yul to yuuhl! walk! mála to máalë! move (it)! add no if intransitive (don't add it if the verb is inherently intransitive) máalëno! move (yourself)! add ji if referring to a group of people yuuhlji walk, all of you! máalënoji! move, all of you! |
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The command stem is used for the imperative. Also, the command stem can be used to make a "future certain" or a self command with the first person basic subject suffixes.. Cìtu means "I will speak" and shows strong intention, and zínuv means "we will go".
Tense and aspect
To form the past tense of a verb like cet |
add li before the final syllable of the stem cet to celit |
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To form the future tense of a verb like mála |
add ni before the final syllable of the stem. mála to mánila |
To form the progressive tense of a verb starting or containing a consonant cluster ending in a consonant, fricative, y, hy, w, or hw like cet, féde, tádo, yul |
Insert an infix after the first consonant consisting of the weakened first vowel and a voiced fricative of the same point of articulation as said consonant cizhet, fivéde, tëzádo, yüzhul (notice, verbs starting in c, j, sh, zh, and ñ can use z or zh depending on whether they sonorize with an l [use z] or and r [uze zh] |
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To form the progressive of a verb starting in a nasal like ñen, muk, hnédo, ngyoba |
do the same as above, but add a nasal consonant before the consonant infix (ñ is treated like n, ng uses n'g ñinzen, mümvuk, hninzédo, ngyën'goba |
To form the progressive of a verb starting in or having a consonant cluster ending in r or l like rop, zhlún |
reduplicate lV or rV, and weaken first syllable rërop, zhlülún |
Passive and causative formation
The passive is formed by palatilizing the last consonant in the first consonant cluster (adding a y). The causative is formed by labialization of that same consonant. The first vowel is lengthened in both forms. Some initial consonants/ consonant clusters must be sonorized before being palatalized or labialized. The passive stem is included in the principle parts to show whether or not this happens.
Initial consonant/ final consonant in cluster. | |
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x | add ëhng |
g, gh | add ëng |
ky, xy, hngy | add ihng |
kw, xw, hngw | add ühng |
gy | add ing |
gw | add ung |
c, j, sh, zh, ñ, nw, hñ, hnw | add r or l |
ly, lw | add r |
d, s, z, tw, dw, sw, rw, ry, hry, hrw | add l |
b, v, bw, mw | add üv |
by, vy, my | add iv |
pw, fw, hmw | add üf |
py, fy,hmy | add if |
y | change to ghi |
w | change to ghü |
hy | change to hi |
hw | change to hü |
Note- a cluster ending in a y or w loses that y or w in sonorization
The sonorant then takes the place of the original consonant for palatalization or labialization.
Polypersonal agreement
The Behru verb agrees with its preformer, or subject, in person and number. A transitive verb also agrees with its object in person, subject, and number. Verb endings are added to the stem in the same manner noun endings are.
Singular | Paucal | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
1st person | u | bu | ji |
2nd person | xa | xu | xe |
3rd person | hlo | zu | hlon |
4th person | ril |
Singular | Paucal | Plural | |
---|---|---|---|
1st person | emi | ebi | eji |
2nd person | ejri | enang | ejre |
3rd person | olasha | angude | olesha |
4th person | ehwe |
Singular | Paucal | Plural |
---|---|---|
lyu | lav | lyon |
Object> subject |
1 single |
1 paucal | 1 plural | 2 single | 2 paucal | 2 plural | 3 animate single | 3 animate paucal | 3 animate plural | 3 inanimate single | 3 inanimate paucal | 3 inanimate plural | 4th p |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1p one | - | - | - | utto | emru | emir | wan | azhbu | une | i | idu | idan | iga |
1p few | - | - | - | eco | dav | de | izha | linu | izhe | bi | bidu | bidan | igav |
1p many | - | - | - | uttwe | emeru | emezhr | wen | ezhbu | wene | jie | jiedu | jiedan | ige |
2p one | nim | odasa | iwa | - | - | - | lit | kendu | afnan | xi | xidu | xidan | koga |
2p few | nimu | odasu | ivu | - | - | - | lic | kshindu | ifnan | xizh | xizhdu | xizhdan | kogav |
2p many | nime | odase | iwe | - | - | - | lesht | kyendu | efnan | xe | xedu | xedan | koge |
3 single | ova | ufingu | lam | ocik | ocikyu | ociigye | raya | kabu | uzhgan | ri | ridu | ridan | yavba |
3 paucal | izo | zidu | izom | ohan | ohanu | ohaane | iben | nimu | angizh | zi | zidu | zidan | sinav |
3 plural | eva | ufengu | lem | ocek | ocekyu | ociigye | rezh | kebu | wezhgan | ehli | ehlidu | ehlidan | yavbe |
4th person | ogañi | ogamu | ogañe | ozhdo | ozhdov | ozhdwe | otsa | odzu | otsan | oci | ocidu | ocidan | - |
1 single | 1 paucal | 1 plural | 2 single | 2 paucal | 2 plural | 3 animate single | 3 animate paucal | 3 animate plural | 3 inanimate single | 3 inanimate paucal | 3 inanimate plural | 4 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st single | - | - | - | amo | emark | amar | upor | uzhbuk | upran | er | irap | irant | usuk |
1 paucal | - | - | - | yazok | dafk | yezok | ushk | ulnuk | ushken | ber | birap | birant | ufuk |
1 plural | - | - | - | emo | emerk | emar | wepor | wezhbuk | wepran | jier | jierap | jeirant | wesuk |
2 single | oxon | odak | onok | - | - | - | ucohya | ahmase | fok | ujri | ujrip | ujrint | akashk |
2 paucal | ixan | idak | inak | - | - | - | ucac | ahmac | fac | inang | inangap | nangant | ikashk |
2 plural | oxen | odek | onek | - | - | - | ucehye | ahmese | fek | wejri | wejrip | wjerint | akeshk |
3 single | osar | lert | ason | uvlak | uvlagu | uvlaage | osep | aksap | osek | ulasha | ulashap | ulashant | azehl |
3 paucal | azhar | efek | azhek | usunk | usungvu | usuungwe | wanar | nik | waner | ingut | ingudep | ingudent | idun |
3 plural | esar | ledi | asen | uvlek | uvlegu | uvliige | esep | aksep | esek | ulesha | uleshap | uleshant | azehna |
4 | yagun | yagbin | yagman | yagak | yagin | yagek | yaksha | yakshun | yakshe | yahwe | yahwep | yahwent |
Other preformer | 1st person singular | 1 paucal | 1 plural | 2 singular | 2 paucal | 2 plural | 3 animate singular | 3a paucal | 3a plural | 3 inanimate singular | 3in paucal | 3in plural | 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Described subject | sop | udbi | somt | sok | sogu | soge | mav | olvu | mev | tek | tekyup | tekyunt | fazh |
Described object | bak | bik | omsa | igazh | igizh | igezh | wor | ihru | wer | pash | pabi | pañci | dwo |
Deriving verbs to nouns
ka (irregularily declined) | gerund, cètka would mean speaking. Often used to form abstract nouns, málaka means "movement" |
---|---|
zo | inanimate object associated with the verb (often imparts an irregular meaning which must be learned independantly) cèdzo would mean "words, speech) |
hen | means -er in english, also used to indicate the inhabitant of a location, cèsen would mean speaker, kìdilihen would mean an idili person. |
hik | means "a way of doing something, method". cèsik would mean "language"(way of speaking) |
ya | indicates an instance or cycle, can be used for both nouns and verbs. Typically paired with a number prefix, ñecèca would mean "third speech" |
co | indicates an event, such as in màcco "the event of peace" |
láng | means the same thing as -ness in english, added to the descriptive stem of a verb, as in xùweláng "livelyness, health" |
Behru syntax
Verbs that incorporate nouns
Behru has no independant copula. Instead -lòn is suffixed to a noun to change it into a to be verb, for example
sùmúk mejwòjalóhnro This dog isn't a cat. Other verbs are changed into suffixes like this as well, for example, -lór (to become, as in yùmúk jwòjakóllehrro that dog became a cat. The third major incorporating verb is -lû´r (to make) as in
mebóloniyéyejuv? can't we make bolo?
Because adjectives are ensentially altered forms of verbs, they can be considered to have the copula "built in" and do not need any
Numbers
Behru has a base 12 numbering system. Simple numbers are simply suffixed after the nouns they count. The result is then declined like a noun.
1 mu | 12 gu | 144 sran | 1728 ghwe | 20736 sha | 248832 gusha |
429981616 sisha |
8916100448256 sifosha |
12^16 siñesha |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 fo |
24 fu |
288 fowan | 3456 fowe |
41472 fosha |
497664 fusha |
859963232 fosisha |
etc | etc |
3 ñe |
36 ñu |
432 ñeyan |
5184 ñewe |
62208 ñesha |
746496 ñusha |
etc | ||
4 ber |
48 bru |
576 beran | 6912 berwe | etc | etc | |||
5 dat | 60 datu | etc | etc | |||||
6 hmye | 72 hmyu | |||||||
7 vel | 84 vlu | |||||||
8 fer | 96 fru | |||||||
9 niñe | 108 niñu | |||||||
10 suk | 120 suku | |||||||
11 ruse | 121 rusu |
Compound numbers.
To make complex numbers, like 25, or 156, one strings together the simple numbers in a sequence of addition from the biggest to the smallest number.
25: fumu fu(24) and mu(1)
156: srangu sran(144( and gu(12)
157: srangumu
305: fowanggudat
when a number is affixed to a noun, it is declined like a noun. Typically, the penultimate vowel takes a ` accent and is subject to vowel strengthening or weakening. For example, 25 beds would be mùkfùmu, but if declined in the owner case, it would be mùkfümungò, and in the direction case, it would be mùkfùmuhi. 10 beds would be mùksùk. towards the (12^12)*11 people would be shúnrusesifòshashi
Ordinal numbers
Behru ordinal numbers are formed simply by prefixing a number to a noun. They are usually prefixed to a noun like -tsék(place) or -ya (time, as in a cycle)
Fractional numbers
Fractions in Behru are formed by the suffix -t for numbers which end in a vowel and -ta for ones ending in a consonant. The fractions for half, third, fourth, and twelfth are formed irregularily. They are -kir, nisa, besa, and gusa. they are used the same way normal numbers are, mùkrusèt would be 1 eleventh of a bed. If one wishes to count the fractions, those numbers are suffixed past the fraction. mùksransùktaruse would mean "eleven 154ths of a bed"
Usage of numbers, and approximate quantities
A specific number is always declined in the "few" number, as the few number is considered to encompass all small or specific quantities. A general number, like -not, which means some, is considered a mass noun, and all mass nouns use the "many" case.
General quantity suffixes -hok: every,all -mok: none -hot: some -huk: most -muk: few
Number modifying suffixes: -sát: around, aprroximately -kère: only, just