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{{PAGENAME}} nouns are notable for generalizing the diptotic (two-case) system, with nominative singular ''-''Ø < {{recon|''-ъ''}} < PNSem {{recon|''-u''}} and genitive/accusative singular ''-o'' < PNSem {{recon|''-a''}}, though it is uncertain whether diptotes or triptotes dominated the original Proto-Semitic paradigm. Feminine singular nominative {{recon|''-atu''}} was changed to {{recon|''-ā''}} (modern ''-a''), presumably under Indo-European influence. The feminine plural genitive also has an unexpected form of ''-aci'' instead of the syncretic {{recon|''-ác''}} < {{recon|''-āti''}} - probably a result of analogy to the masculine genitive plural. | {{PAGENAME}} nouns are notable for generalizing the diptotic (two-case) system, with nominative singular ''-''Ø < {{recon|''-ъ''}} < PNSem {{recon|''-u''}} and genitive/accusative singular ''-o'' < PNSem {{recon|''-a''}}, though it is uncertain whether diptotes or triptotes dominated the original Proto-Semitic paradigm. Feminine singular nominative {{recon|''-atu''}} was changed to {{recon|''-ā''}} (modern ''-a''), presumably under Indo-European influence. The feminine plural genitive also has an unexpected form of ''-aci'' instead of the syncretic {{recon|''-ác''}} < {{recon|''-āti''}} - probably a result of analogy to the masculine genitive plural. | ||
The definiteness suffixes arose from cliticized demonstratives: e.g. ''vódov'' 'the child' (nom.) < {{recon|''voldъ-vy''}} < PNSem {{recon|''waldu ðū''}}; ''porosili'' 'the horses' (acc./gen.) < {{recon|''porosi-ъli''}} < PNSem {{recon|''parašī ʔulī''}}. Proper names, already being definite, are unmarked for definiteness: (e.g. ''Ḫrist'' or ''Ḫristos'' 'Christ', with a unique vocative form ''Ḫriste''). | The definiteness suffixes arose from cliticized demonstratives: e.g. ''vódov'' 'the child' (nom.) < {{recon|''voldъ-vy''}} < PNSem {{recon|''waldu ðū''}}; ''porosili'' 'the horses' (acc./gen.) < {{recon|''porosi-ъli''}} < PNSem {{recon|''parašī ʔulī''}}. Proper names, already being definite, are unmarked for definiteness: (e.g. ''Ivan'' 'John', ''Ḫrist'' or ''Ḫristos'' 'Christ', with a unique vocative form ''Ḫriste''). | ||
Nouns fall into one of several declension paradigms. Diachronically, the declension paradigm a noun belongs to is a function of the declension class it was analyzed as, as well as the noun's gender. | Nouns fall into one of several declension paradigms. Diachronically, the declension paradigm a noun belongs to is a function of the declension class it was analyzed as, as well as the noun's gender. |
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