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In terms of grammatical behaviour, the pronouns can be divided into three main classes: interrogative, demonstrative and indefinite. Their behaviour is mostly noun-like, meaning that they can receive case markers and form new pronouns by means of word composition. | In terms of grammatical behaviour, the pronouns can be divided into three main classes: interrogative, demonstrative and indefinite. Their behaviour is mostly noun-like, meaning that they can receive case markers and form new pronouns by means of word composition. | ||
====Demonstrative==== | ====Demonstrative==== | ||
Kirtumur has many demonstratives, which are usually formed from nouns. For instance, for expressing the meanings "here" and "hither", it uses the venitive prefix ''ni-'' with ''yum'' "the place", forming ''niyum'' "here" and | Kirtumur has many demonstratives, which are usually formed from nouns. For instance, for expressing the meanings "here" and "hither", it uses the venitive prefix ''ni-'' with ''yum'' "the place", forming ''niyum'' "here" and ''neiyum'' "hither". Usually, however, the information that would be represented with these pronouns is marked on verbs instead: ''neithalapeyan'' "put it over there", where the andative prefix ''tha-'' indicates motion further away. Similarly, the noun ''thautra'' "during that time" is used to denote "then" and | ||
the like. There is special word for "now", though: ''yer'', which originated from ''yira'' "this time" (also used as word for "now" by the nobility). Old words, like ''yi'' "this" or ''ta'' "that" became pronominal clitics and are the source of new words: ''yiŋiri'' "this person", which is treated as a separate word. A demonstrative clitic ''-ea'' ("this thing") can be used with both nouns and verbs, it can also be used with endophoric reference, referring back to something mentioned earlier: ''ōttōm nathaktēa'' "he/she has provided these supplies". | the like. There is special word for "now", though: ''yer'', which originated from ''yira'' "this time" (also used as word for "now" by the nobility). Old words, like ''yi'' "this" or ''ta'' "that" became pronominal clitics and are the source of new words: ''yiŋiri'' "this person", which is treated as a separate word. A demonstrative clitic ''-ea'' ("this thing") can be used with both nouns and verbs, it can also be used with endophoric reference, referring back to something mentioned earlier: ''ōttōm nathaktēa'' "he/she has provided these supplies". | ||
====Interrogative==== | ====Interrogative==== | ||
[[Category:Languages]] | [[Category:Languages]] |
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