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Lámeyi languages: Difference between revisions
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The simplest root was thus C<sub>i</sub>V<sub>R</sub>C<sub>f</sub>. This resembles most Mtari stems, which is one of the features inherited from their common ancestor. The ''-s'' suffix most likely was an [[w:Animacy|animacy]] marker, the same suffix was present in most Core Aiwanic languages, where it usually developed into [[w:Ergative case|ergative]] or [[w:Locative case|locative]] cases. In Common Lámeyi it likely became a singulative marker instead, while the plural remained unmarked. Unlike many Core Aiwanic languages Proto-Lámeyi nouns likely did not decline for [[w:Grammatical number|number]], or the number was marked by final vowels, which were later lost. Nouns did not decline for case either, whatever case system its Klesuic ancestor had possessed, Proto-Lámeyi lost it during its early stage of development. | The simplest root was thus C<sub>i</sub>V<sub>R</sub>C<sub>f</sub>. This resembles most Mtari stems, which is one of the features inherited from their common ancestor. The ''-s'' suffix most likely was an [[w:Animacy|animacy]] marker, the same suffix was present in most Core Aiwanic languages, where it usually developed into [[w:Ergative case|ergative]] or [[w:Locative case|locative]] cases. In Common Lámeyi it likely became a singulative marker instead, while the plural remained unmarked. Unlike many Core Aiwanic languages Proto-Lámeyi nouns likely did not decline for [[w:Grammatical number|number]], or the number was marked by final vowels, which were later lost. Nouns did not decline for case either, whatever case system its Klesuic ancestor had possessed, Proto-Lámeyi lost it during its early stage of development. | ||
Nouns declined for possession, the possessed form of three-syllable nouns causes syncope (the word ''* | Nouns declined for possession, the possessed form of three-syllable nouns causes syncope (the word ''*milʲate'' – “cloud” – isused as an example: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! rowspan=2| √<sub>MILʲ-T</sub> | ! rowspan=2| √<sub>MILʲ-T</sub> | ||
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|- | |- | ||
! Marked | ! Marked | ||
| * | | *milʲates | ||
| * | | *umiltʲes | ||
| * | | *samiltʲes | ||
| * | | *amiltʲes | ||
| rowspan=2| * | | rowspan=2| *jamiltʲe | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Unmarked | ! Unmarked | ||
| * | | *milʲate | ||
| * | | *umiltʲe | ||
| * | | *samiltʲe | ||
| * | | *amiltʲe | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
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A system of verbal agreement is reconstructed for Proto-Lámeyi. Verbal agreement has disappeared in most Khad branches, as they innovated a different system, but was preserved in the Las language in particular. This is a topic of scholarly debate, however, and the existence of a complex verbal agreement system is disputed. | A system of verbal agreement is reconstructed for Proto-Lámeyi. Verbal agreement has disappeared in most Khad branches, as they innovated a different system, but was preserved in the Las language in particular. This is a topic of scholarly debate, however, and the existence of a complex verbal agreement system is disputed. | ||
The dental infixes, ''*-n-'', ''*-tʰ-'', and ''*-lʲ-'', are widespread, but their semantics are difficult to reconstruct. These infixes were often incorporated into the roots they had once modified and later became non-productive. | |||
-- | *'''''*-n-''''' – This infix has a variety of functions, such as nominalising, detransitivising, and being a durative marker. The detransitivising form is rare, and has only been attested in Las. | ||
*'''''*-tʰ-''''' – This suffix is used as a perfect marker in verbs. Other functions include verbalising noun roots and turning stative verbs into causative ones (the function it later lost completely in the Khad branch). In some cases, ''*-tʰ-'' appears to have no obvious function, such as in ''*lʷʰi-t-na'' “gemstone” (where the infix becomes “weak” because of the presence of a “strong” /lʷʰ/. | |||
*'''''*-s-''''' – Sometimes this infix can be used with verbs as a marker of middle voice – a feature, preserved in Las. It can also appear in nouns, usually being a part of the ''*-ns-'' cluster. | |||
*'''''*-k(ʰ)-''''' – The semantic function of the velar infix is unknown. It most likely had a distributive sense. It became incorporated into several pronominal forms in the Thad branch. | |||
*'''''ʔajV''''' – This proto-morpheme indicates motion or duration and can be attached to various roots to signify this meaning. This morpheme likely had the meaning “to go”, it became reduced to palatal late Lámeyi languages. | |||
*'''''*kʲV/ *sV''''' – Its purpose is mainly diminutive. | |||
*'''''wajV''''' – It likely was a copula or an auxiliary verb, but later it was reduced to a suffix that occurs in roots carrying abstract grammatical meanings, such as pronouns. | |||
==Later development== | ==Later development== | ||