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
- Determiners are the first element of the noun phrase (if present)
- The determiner is obligatory unless the noun is in the direct case or the noun is a topic.
- If a quantifier is present, the determiner is unmarked for number (i.e. uses the singular form) no matter the actual number.
The determiner is templatic.
Front Gender
| Case | Base form | Proximal | Medial | Distal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accusative | si /sisi | sil /sisil | sios / sisos | siud / sisiud |
| Ergative | shi / shishi | shil / shisil | shios/ shishos | shiud / shishiud |
| Instrumental | aki / akiki | akil / akikil | akios / akikos | akiud / akikiud |
| Benefactive | miu /miumi | miul /miumil | mios / miumos | miud / miumiud |
| Locative | tire / tireti | tirel / tiretil | tireos / tiretos | tireud / tiretiud |
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
