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===Particles=== | ===Particles=== | ||
==== ni: Time particle ==== | |||
The time particle ''ni'' is used in Tulvan as a locative for notions of time. Technically it has no equivalent in English, but can generally be translated by "''in, at''" referring to time periods. However, the particle is very idiosyncratic. For example, in an expression such as "it's night-time" you'd use the particle introducing the word for "night": | |||
:'''Ëv ni nari.''' | |||
or | |||
:'''Ëv ni wen ikem.''' | |||
:''It's my day.'' | |||
These two show situations where the particle ''ni'' has no translation but must to be used before introducing a period of time, just like in the common greeing "itrum ni nari" or "goodnight". Notice that here the particle has no particular meaning other than being required to talk about time. In the following example, however, the particle can be roughly translated by the English "in": | |||
:'''Kalev vu kwam mem ''ni'' oren yulen.''' | |||
:''I haven't seen you in a thousand years.'' | |||
Notice that the particle ''ni'' has no strict meaning, thus for actual specifications of beginning or end, postpositions will be necessary: | |||
E.g.: | |||
:'''ni wen ''gim'' ni nari ''cum''.''' | |||
:''from night to day.'' | |||
===Derivational morphology=== | ===Derivational morphology=== | ||