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* while there is a specific symbol for ''pu'', other combinations of ''pV'' - which only occur as a result of devoicing by a preceding (former) sibilant - are formed with the b-syllabics preceded by either ''s'' or ''sh'' (e.g. ) | * while there is a specific symbol for ''pu'', other combinations of ''pV'' - which only occur as a result of devoicing by a preceding (former) sibilant - are formed with the b-syllabics preceded by either ''s'' or ''sh'' (e.g. ) | ||
== | ==Roots, Stems and Derivation== | ||
The majority of lexical items in Bis Burunko are based on mono- or disyllabic roots that may have verbal, nominal or adjectival meaning - or a combination of these, e.g. ''DANG'' 'drink', ''GI'' 'meat, flesh', MEI 'dark'. In this article, roots are written in capitals to denote them as such. | The majority of lexical items in Bis Burunko are based on mono- or disyllabic roots that may have verbal, nominal or adjectival meaning - or a combination of these, e.g. ''DANG'' 'drink', ''GI'' 'meat, flesh', MEI 'dark'. In this article, roots are written in capitals to denote them as such. | ||
Some roots can be used as nouns or adjectives without further modification, e.g. ''gi'' 'meat, flesh', ''uz'' 'water', ''mei'' 'dark'. Verbs require the addition of the prefix ''e-, i-, y-'' to create a basic infinitive form (e.g. ''edang'' 'drink'), or they can be compounded with other elements (e.g. ''uddang'' 'drink water' < ''UZ + DANG''). Primarily verbal roots can be nominalised with the prefix ''a-'', e.g. ''adang'' 'a drink'. | Some roots can be used as nouns or adjectives without further modification, e.g. ''gi'' 'meat, flesh', ''uz'' 'water', ''mei'' 'dark'. Verbs require the addition of the prefix ''e-, i-, y-'' to create a basic infinitive form (e.g. ''edang'' 'drink'), or they can be compounded with other elements (e.g. ''uddang'' 'drink water' < ''UZ + DANG''). Primarily verbal roots can be nominalised with the prefix ''a-'', e.g. ''adang'' 'a drink'. | ||
The most common way of deriving new words is by compounding. | |||
==Grammar== | ==Grammar== |
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