Rttirri: Difference between revisions

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==Syntax==
==Syntax==
===Word order===
Standard word order is:
Standard word order is:
:Verb Phrase + Causative Noun Phrase + Ergative Noun Phrase + Absolutive Noun Phrase
:Verb Phrase + Causative Noun Phrase + Ergative Noun Phrase + Absolutive Noun Phrase
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The all-purpose negator is ''nu'', which can grammatically be placed anywhere in a sentence, although the standard position is immediately after the verb phrase and any adverbs modifying the verb.
The all-purpose negator is ''nu'', which can grammatically be placed anywhere in a sentence, although the standard position is immediately after the verb phrase and any adverbs modifying the verb.
The following conjunctions are used, and can be applied both to noun phrases and to clauses:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Postposition
! English Translation
|-
| ''hu''
| and
|-
| ''rsi''
| or (inclusive)
|-
| ''rsima''
| or (exclusive)
|-
| ''wa''
| but
|-
| ''rtti''
| because
|-
| ''kinya''
| after
|-
| ''kkawu''
| before
|-
| ''mamu''
| until
|-
| ''rraku''
| although
|-
| ''rnaku''
| when (for events in the past)
|-
| ''chaki''
| when (for events in the future, or in a general sense)
|}


Frontal adjectives are a closed class of 16 adjectives that precede the noun. They tend to relate to unchangeable, essential traits of an object, animal, or person, but they are placed in front of the adjective regardless of context. They are:
Frontal adjectives are a closed class of 16 adjectives that precede the noun. They tend to relate to unchangeable, essential traits of an object, animal, or person, but they are placed in front of the adjective regardless of context. They are:
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:1SG.ERG-3SG.ABS-can-see-face-DRPAC red 2SG.GEN-face
:1SG.ERG-3SG.ABS-can-see-face-DRPAC red 2SG.GEN-face
:I can see your red face (even if it is only blushing in the moment).
:I can see your red face (even if it is only blushing in the moment).
===Conjunctions===
The following conjunctions are used, and can be applied both to noun phrases and to clauses:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="bluetable lightbluebg" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Postposition
! English Translation
|-
| ''hu''
| and
|-
| ''rsi''
| or (inclusive)
|-
| ''rsima''
| or (exclusive)
|-
| ''wa''
| but
|-
| ''rtti''
| because
|-
| ''kinya''
| after
|-
| ''kkawu''
| before
|-
| ''mamu''
| until
|-
| ''rraku''
| although
|-
| ''rnaku''
| when (for events in the past)
|-
| ''chaki''
| when (for events in the future, or in a general sense)
|}
===Relative and independent clauses===
Relative clauses, which are demarcated with the particle ''kku'', are [[w:Internally-headed relative clause|internally headed]] - grammatically capable of standing on their own.
:''Hhi-symi-hhifai-rtima-na rtima-ma '''kku''' na-hhi-pu-hihu-nu?''
:3PL.ABS-exist-where-dumpling-DRPAC dumpling-PL that 1SG.ERG-3PL.ABS-PST-bake-DRPAC
:Where are the dumplings that I baked? (lit. "Where are the dumplings such that I baked them?")
Independent clauses are technically not possible in Rttirri; instead, the verb complex in the clause is made into a gerund using the suffix ''-pu''. This eliminates the need for evidentiality particles on the clause, since nouns cannot have evidentiality. In the following example, a gerund is made the direct object of the verb "to say":
:''Wa-∅-pu-rtiu-nu ∅-ppa-kau-'''pu''' rasi-kka.''
:3SG.ERG-3SG.ABS-PST-say-DRPAC 3SG.ABS-go-want-GER house-DAT
:She said that she wanted to go home. (lit. "She spoke her desire to go home.")
Quoted speech, however, requires no such nominalization.
:''Wa-∅-pu-rtiu-nu, "Ni-ppa-kau-nu rasi-kka!"''
:3SG.ERG-3SG.ABS-PST-say-DRPAC 1SG.ABS-go-want-DRPAC house-DAT
:She said, "I want to go home!"


==External links==
==External links==
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