NewLang/Nouns

Noun Phrase

Form

(DETERMINER) (QUANTIFIER) NOUN (ADJECTIVE)* (RELATIVE_CLAUSE)

Noun

Classes

See Noun Classes for more information.

Nouns are all categorized into various noun classes based on semantic meaning. Some nouns are simply in one class or the other (and requires memorization), while others contain a noun classifier infix. These marked nouns are usually the result of derivation from the unmarked verbs - the infix is added, putting the new lexeme into a new class with a different meaning.

Number

Nouns can either be singular or plural. In most cases, this is not marked on the noun itself, however. Rather it is marked on the determiner, or in the case of a noun in the direct case, on the verb itself.

Determiners

The determiner is obligatory unless the noun is in the direct case or the noun is a topic.

The determiner is based on case. Determiners are made plural through reduplication of the stressed syllable. If a quantifier is present, the determiner is unmarked for number (i.e. uses the singular form) no matter the actual number.

Case	Singular	Plural
Direct	-Ø-	-Ø-
Ergative	ea	eae
Accusative	shu	shuzhu
Instrumental	ka	kaga
Benefactive	niu	niuni
Locative	tere	terede
Commititive	itu	itudu

Adjectives

Adjective come in two forms: a closed class of simple adjectives, and participles. If both types occur, then the simple occur first then the participles.

Relative clauses

TBD