Phonology
Vowels
|
Front |
Back
|
Unrounded |
Rounded |
Unrounded |
Rounded
|
Closed
|
i |
y |
ɯ |
u
|
Open
|
æ |
ø |
ɑ |
o
|
Grammar
Nouns
Noun declension
Case |
Suffix
|
Nominative |
-Ø
|
Accusative |
-mA, -ya
|
Genitive |
-ni
|
Ablative |
-ti (> -či)
|
Dative-Locative |
-dA, -dU
|
Comitative-Loc |
-lA
|
Translative-Prolative |
-ri, -li
|
Oblique |
-KA (-ga)
|
The oblique can combine with other forms. For example:
- -nKA > -nggA (an elaborate and over-the-top sounding genitive that might be a little old-fashioned)
This case stacking can occur in many other cases.
Not mentioned here is -s-, which is sometimes used for genitive constructions. It is a reduced genitive marker of ambiguous origins.
Plural affixes
- -t(V) - cf. ablative
- -s - cf. ablative
- -ni - cf. ablative
- -la - cf. comitative
(combinations are possible too: -tara for example)
Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
|
Singular |
Plural
|
1st Person
|
mi, min- |
ma-?, man-?
|
2nd Person
|
ti (či?), tin- |
ta, tan-?
|
3rd Person
|
V, te-? |
V.pl
|
Personal suffixes
|
Singular |
Plural
|
1st Person
|
-mi |
-ma-
|
2nd Person
|
-ti/či/si |
-Ca-
|
3rd Person
|
-(n) |
-tV-
|
Verbs
Verb affixes
Role |
Affix |
Examples and Notes
|
Verbal nouns |
-mA |
Cf. Finnic -mA, Turkic -mA, Tungusic -mA, Korean -(eu)m
|
Continuative |
-mA bi, -m'bi |
Cf. Manchu -me bi > -mbi
|
Translative |
-ri |
(Also a noun declension suffix)
|
Past 1 (also passive?) |
-TA |
Cf. Japanese, Turkic
|
(also passive?) |
-nV? |
|
Past 2 |
-ha |
cf. Mongolian -x, Manchu -ha
|
Copula
- bi, bVi (cf. Manchu, Mongolian; semantically similar to Japanese iru)