NewLang/Nouns/Noun Classes

Nouns are classified into a noun class, which dictates semantic information as well as agreement on determiners and verbs.

Types of Nouns

Nouns can be classified into two types by word shape. The first are infixed nouns, which are formed by taking a root and inserting an infix after the stressed syllable of the root. Each noun class has a 'thematic infix which is used in this process, and the infix places the noun in the corresponding category.

The other type is bare nouns. These do not have the thematic infix, but are placed into a particular class by semantic criteria. Sometimes these are unaffixed noun roots, and sometimes these are loanwords. In addition, some derivational affixes will place the word into a class. These words still require agreement like infixed nouns - the noun class just has to be memorized.

All noun classes have some of each type.

Noun Classes

Class 1 - People

Thematic infix: -an- Includes:

Class 2 - Animates

Thematic infix: -et- Includes:

• Animals
• Water features (rivers, oceans, etc)
• Meteorological Phenomena

Class 3 - Intangible Animates

Thematic infix: -ezh- Includes:

• Emotions
• Dynamic states of being
• Germs/Bacteria, other life too small to see
• Spirits/supernatural phenomena

Class 4 - Food

Thematic infix: -ul- Includes:

Class 5 - Intangible Food

Thematic infix: -us- Includes:

• Heat
• Medicine
• Sleep
• Breath
• Past times/Hobbies

Class 6 - Things

Thematic infix: -ox- Includes:

• Physical things
• Anything that doesn't fit anywhere else

Class 7 - Abstract Things

Thematic infix: -olh- Includes:

• Ideas
• Concepts

Class 8 - Locations

Thematic infix: -im- Includes:

• Places
• Buildings
• Geographical Features
• Containers

Class 9 - States of Being

Thematic infix: -iv- Includes:

• Static States of Being

Class 10 - Substances

Thematic infix: -um- Includes:

Class 11 - Intangible substances

Thematic infix: -uv- Includes:

Class 12 - Diminutives

Thematic infix: -it- Includes:

• Diminutives
• Ideophones

Loan Word Classification

When borrowing words, there are some general rules that apply to which noun class the word is assigned. Note that there may be some sound changes when a loan word is adopted, especially if it makes it more in line with the words in that class.

• Generally speaking, the attempt will be made to place the word into the closest semantic class
• If word matches the word class infix (that it, it has the same or similar sounds after the stressed syllable), it might be placed the class with that infix. It's meaning may shift some to fit the class, and a new root may be created by analogy.
• If there are existing words that are closely related to the incoming word, it may be placed in the same class as the associated word (for example, cooking utensils are often put in Class 5).
• People are always put in Class 1, regardless of form.