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Kirtumur: Difference between revisions
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As can be seen from the table above, Kirtumur uses a [[w:Senary|senary]] numeral system ('''base-6'''), which is common among the Aiwanic languages. Thus it employs separate words for powers of six: ''hō'' (6), ''mun'' (6<sup>2</sup>), ''zōr'' (6<sup>3</sup>), ''secek'' (6<sup>4</sup>), other large numerals are compounds: ''yakhōmak'' (35 or 55<sub>6</sub>, "5×6+5"), ''mun cehōška'' or ''mun-ka-cehōšek'' depending on a speech register (51 or 123<sub>6</sub> "36+2×6+3"). | As can be seen from the table above, Kirtumur uses a [[w:Senary|senary]] numeral system ('''base-6'''), which is common among the Aiwanic languages. Thus it employs separate words for powers of six: ''hō'' (6), ''mun'' (6<sup>2</sup>), ''zōr'' (6<sup>3</sup>), ''secek'' (6<sup>4</sup>), other large numerals are compounds: ''yakhōmak'' (35 or 55<sub>6</sub>, "5×6+5"), ''mun cehōška'' or ''mun-ka-cehōšek'' depending on a speech register (51 or 123<sub>6</sub> "36+2×6+3"). | ||
Cardinal numerals are used attributively or independently. When used attributively, a cardinal is part of a noun phrase and quantifies a noun and an attributive cardinal always follows its head noun: ''Nihōktir khiŋ '''hō'''ax'' "There are six days in a week"; '' | Cardinal numerals are used attributively or independently. When used attributively, a cardinal is part of a noun phrase and quantifies a noun and an attributive cardinal always follows its head noun: ''Nihōktir khiŋ '''hō'''ax'' "There are six days in a week"; ''Cuthur ninma mirimōma '''eška'''nu'' "the prophetic triplets of Cuthur (a large Umu city)". Rarely a numeral can behave like an adjective: ''yu eškax urireya'' "write down number three" (literally: "it, being three, write down"). A numeral can also be used independently from nouns: ''phak athaix'' "There were four (of them)", ''ŋeŋapnu hōškax'' "She/he has nine plates" (literally: "his/her plates are nine"). | ||
With the exception of the first six, ordinal numerals are formed from the cardinal ones by adding the suffix ''-in'': ''ra '''eše'''zur'' "for the third time". An ordinal can make up a noun phrase in its own right: ''ešne sathukkatō'' "the fourth one has been received". An ordinal can also make up an adverbial phrase. The following phrases, for instance, occur frequently: ''ŋizur'' "firstly", ''mēzur'' "secondly". | With the exception of the first six, ordinal numerals are formed from the cardinal ones by adding the suffix ''-in'': ''ra '''eše'''zur'' "for the third time". An ordinal can make up a noun phrase in its own right: ''ešne sathukkatō'' "the fourth one has been received". An ordinal can also make up an adverbial phrase. The following phrases, for instance, occur frequently: ''ŋizur'' "firstly", ''mēzur'' "secondly". | ||
Many fractions are expressed by a form of the phrase ''ik(i/e)-N-teš'', where ''ik'' is "one", N represents a cardinal and ''-teš/-theš'' is a suffix that means "part". It behaves grammatically as a noun phrase, for example: '''''ikeškatheš'''nu nirinuxa'' "one third of this is on top of it". The only exception is 1/2 (one half) which is instead expressed with ''immau''. Other fractions are compounds: ''cu k-ikeškatheš'' "two and a third". | Many fractions are expressed by a form of the phrase ''ik(i/e)-N-teš'', where ''ik'' is "one", N represents a cardinal and ''-teš/-theš'' is a suffix that means "part". It behaves grammatically as a noun phrase, for example: '''''ikeškatheš'''nu nirinuxa'' "one third of this is on top of it". The only exception is 1/2 (one half) which is instead expressed with ''immau''. Other fractions are compounds: ''cu k-ikeškatheš'' "two and a third". | ||
===Verbs=== | ===Verbs=== | ||
[[Category:Languages]] | [[Category:Languages]] | ||