Sharqi

Sharqi (native: Af Sharqi) is an Ethio-Semitic language.

Introduction

Sharqi is basically a Semitic Somali.

Phonology

Morphology

Verbs

Stem 1

Stem 1 is the base form of a verb. The citation form is the 3rd person singular masculine perfect.

• FCL is used as the generic verb (with qadal "kill" as the example verb).
  • F: first root consonant
  • C: second root consonant (for geminated or quadriliteral verbs, this represents the middle two consonants)
  • L: third root consonant
  • (vowel): vowel that is usually dropped unless it violates phonotactics
  • Before a suffix beginning in a vowel, the penultimate a in the present and past affirmative is dropped (if possible).

e.g. sabar "he broke" + -ag "you (object)" → sabrag "he broke you" (not *sabarag)

BUT baddal "he changed" + -ag → baddalag "he changed you" (*baddlag violates phonotactics).

• Some verbs have aa after the first root consonant instead of a - e.g. baarag "bless". In this case, it is never dropped. Any high tones that would apply to a are applied to the second a of aa (i.e. aá).

(Note: The tones in the perfect and imperfect will most likely be removed, but I'm leaving them here for now in case I decide to keep them)

Stem 1

Infinitive					FáC(a)Li				qádli
Verbal Noun (f.)					máF(a)CaL				máqdal
	Imperfect		Subjunctive		Perfect		Past Negative		Imperative Affirmative		Imperative Negative
1S	iFáCaL	iqádal	iF(i)CíL	iqdíl	FaCáLku	qadálku	FaC(a)Lán	qadlán	íF(a)CiL	íqdil	íF(a)CiL	íqdil
2S	tiFáCaL	tiqádal	tiF(i)CíL	tiqdíl	FaCáLka	qadálka			FíCiL	qídil	tíF(i)CiL	tíqdil
3SM	yiFáCaL	yiqádal	yiF(i)CíL	yiqdíl	FáCaL	qádal			yíF(a)CiL	yíqdil	yíF(a)CiL	yíqdil
3SF	tiFáCaL	tiqádal	tiF(i)CíL	tiqdíl	FaC(a)Lád	qadlád			tíF(a)CiL	tíqdil	tíF(a)CiL	tíqdil
1P	niFáCaL	niqádal	niF(i)CíL	niqdíl	FaCáLna	qadálna			níF(a)CiL	níqdil	níF(a)CiL	níqdil
2P	tiFaC(a)Luú	tiqadluú	tiF(i)CiLuú	tiqdiluú	FaCaLkuú	qadalkuú			FíC(i)Luu	qídluu	tiF(i)CíLuu	tiqdíluu
3P	yiFaC(a)Luú	yiqadluú	yiF(i)CiLuú	yiqdiluú	FaC(a)Luú	qadluú			yíF(i)CiLuu	yíqdiluu	yiF(i)CíLuu	yiqdíluu
IMP	yiFáC(a)Las	yiqádlas	yiF(i)CíLas	yiqdílas	FáC(a)Las	qádlas			yíF(a)CiLas	yíqdilas	yíF(a)CiLas	yíqdilas

There are various modifications depending on the root consonants:

• If F is:-
  • w: i becomes u before w, with iw becoming uu - e.g. yuwadad "he loves" (from *yiwadad)
  • y: iy becomes ii - e.g. al tiibas "she/it does not dry" (from *tiybas)
  • '/Ø: i is dropped - e.g. yaaman "he believes" (from *yi(')aaman)
• If C is:-
  • w (or w + consonant):
    • aw(a) becomes oo - e.g. koon "he was/became" (from *kawan)
    • wi becomes uu (and makes preceding i into u) - e.g. ay tukuun "do not become" (from *tikwin)
  • y (or y + consonant):
    • ay(a) becomes ee - e.g. keed "he walked/went" (from *kayad)
    • yi becomes ii - e.g. ay tikiid "do not walk/go" (from *tikyid)
• If L is:-
  • y:
    • (a)ya becomes ay - e.g. sallayd "she prayed" (from *sallayad)
    • iy becomes ii - e.g. sillii "pray" (from *silliy)
  • w:
    • (a)wa becomes aw - e.g. cafawd "she forgave" (from *cafwad)
    • iw becomes uu (and makes preceding i into u) - e.g. cufuu "pray" (from *cifiw)
• Normal sandhi rules apply - e.g. sallaygu "I prayed"

Syntax