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start adding lántas pages
2020-11-04 13:06:38 -05:00
---
title: Lántas nouns
backname: Lántas
backlink: .
...
Lántas is unusual (as far as I know) in that words which are often considered
to form a separate "adjective" class, or, a subset of verbs, are in fact (the
genitive case of) nouns.
# Number
The basic form of a noun is its singular, in all cases. The plural is formed by adding:
- `{-al}` to a word ending in `{l}` or `{ł}`,
- `{-l}` to a word ending in a vowel, or
- `{-ł}` to a word ending in a consonant, syllabic or not, other than `{l}`.
This plural form can also be applied to names of people. In this case it forms
what is called an _associative plural_, and refers to a person plus a group
associated with them, usually their family or friend group.
:::glosses
- ǧunail
- ǧunai-l
- stick-PL
- sticks
------------
- Jánimł
- Jáni-m-ł
- John-DEF-PL
- John and his friends
:::
# Definiteness
The definite suffix for nouns `!(DEF)!` is usually `{-m}`, and is used more
frequently than 'the' in English. For example, in the first sentence below Sam
has one dog, but in the second he is implied to have several. The names of
people and places are also definite.
The suffix has a few different forms depending on how the word ends:
Ending Suffix Examples
------------------------- --------- --------------------------------
`{m}` or `{ḿ}` `{-am}` `{šaksḿ}` 'the ash',
**TODO word ending in m**
other consonant or `{ń}` `{-ḿ}` `{lántasḿ}` 'the language',
`{kášńḿ}` 'the lizard'
vowel, `{ŕ}`, or `{ł}` `{-m}` `{luwam}` 'the truth',
`{laksŕm}` 'the fish',
`{ustaiþłm}` 'the singer'
------------------------- --------- --------------------------------
A sequence `{ńḿ}` formed in this way is pronounced as `/nm̩/`. In other words,
`{kášńḿ}` has *two* syllables, not three like it is written. An extra `{-a}` is
inserted after the `{-m}` form of the suffix if it is needed due to another
suffix following it.
:::glosses
- Sámimat þasim
- Sami-ma-t þasi-m
- Sam-DEF-GEN dog-DEF
- Sam's dog
---
- Sámimat þasi
- Sami-ma-t þasi
- Sam-DEF-GEN dog
- one of Sam's dogs
:::
:::glosses
- guwanḿt samńḿ
- ˈɡu.wa.nm̩t ˈsam.nm̩
- guwan-ḿ-t samń-ḿ
- sun-DEF-GEN colour-DEF
- the colour of the sun
:::
## Using the definite suffix
The definite suffix is used:
- When the referent is old information already mentioned.
- `{Pas nú bairusina. Nai rala núm manifnut gašnat ippausi.}`\
I saw two people. One of them was wearing a nice shirt.
- For people, places, countries, and other proper names.
- `{Þuð pas kášńł ǧiššimamba nuabia.}`\
Those two lizards live above the bakery.
- In time phrases with `{gimi}`. However, `{naigimi}` 'sometime' is indefinite.
- `{Gimimli lána.}`\
I'm doing it now.
- `{Naigimimli lámána.}`\
I'll do it at some point.
- In statements of general fact.
- `{Númsal pasla aðal ai.}`\
Humans have two eyes.
- __TODO: ?__
The definite suffix is _not_ used (in contrast to English):
- In superlatives.
- `{Milnutlit aifa.}`\
It's the smallest.
- __TODO: ?__
# Core cases {#corecases}
Declension for the core cases of `{nú}` 'man' and `{lun}` 'road' are shown
below. Some of the endings are slightly different in the case of a stem ending
in a consonant or vowel, and if the ending starts with multiple consonants the
final one of the stem is dropped.
:::figure
  `!SG!` `!PL!`
----------------------- ----------- -------------
Nominative `!(NOM)!` `{nú}` `{nú·l}`
Genitive `!(GEN)!` `{nú·t}` `{nú·t·ł}`
Comitative `!(COM)!` `{nú·kas}` `{nú·kas·ł}`
Caritive `!(CAR)!` `{nú·ssa}` `{nú·ssa·l}`
Instrumental `!(INS)!` `{nú·la}` `{nú·la·l}`
Essive `!(ESS)!` `{nú·gu}` `{nú·gu·l}`
Translative `!(TRA)!` `{nú·sti}` `{nú·sti·l}`
Exessive `!(EXE)!` `{nú·ču}` `{nú·ču·l}`
  `!SG!` `!PL!`
-------- ----------- --------------
`!NOM!` `{lun}` `{lun·ł}`
`!GEN!` `{lu·t}` `{lun·t·ł}`
`!COM!` `{lun·kas}` `{lun·kas·ł}`
`!CAR!` `{lu·ssa}` `{lu·ssa·l}`
`!INS!` `{lun·la}` `{lun·la·l}`
`!ESS!` `{lun·gu}` `{lun·gu·l}`
`!TRA!` `{lu·sti}` `{lu·sti·l}`
`!EXE!` `{lun·ču}` `{lun·ču·l}`
:::
The _nominative_ is the subject of sentences, and the unmarked form. The
_genitive_ is used for the object of sentences, the possessive, and for
modifying other nouns (see [below](#adjectivals)).
:::glosses
- Jánim línait bairusi.
- Jáni-m línai-t bairu-si
- John-DEF mouse-GEN see-RPST
- John saw a mouse.
---
- Jánimat línai
- Jáni-ma-t línai
- John-DEF-GEN mouse
- John's mouse
---
- ausut línai
- ausu-t línai
- large-GEN mouse
- a large mouse
:::
For _inalienable_ possession (body parts, family members, etc), the [definite](#definiteness) is usually used instead of an explicit genitive construction.
:::glosses
- Nattumatł bairusina.
- nattu-ma-t-ł bairu-si-na
- parent-DEF-GEN-PL see-PST-1SG
- I saw my [the] parents.
:::
The _comitative_ case is used for 'and' between two nouns, as well as 'with' in
the sense of 'accompanied by'. It is used on all but the _last_ noun being
conjoined, with the last one taking the semantic case for the whole sequence.
The opposite case, the _caritive_, means 'without', and is also used for
_negative_ possessive statements. (See the adessive, described below, for
affirmative statements.)
:::glosses
- suksł ká
- suksł ká
- they;COM I
- they and I
---
- Kalńkas þasit bairusina.
- kalń-kas þasi-t bairu-si-na
- cat-COM dog-GEN see-RPST-1SG
- I saw a cat and a dog.
---
- Sairiassa aina.
- sairia-ssa ai-na
- money-CAR be-1SG
- I don't have any money.
---
- Kat fadaukas ká rut ǧimamlis šikkúsi.
- kat fadau-kas ká rut ǧima-m-li-s šikkú-si
- my friend-COM I his house-DEF-IN-LAT go-RPST
- I went with my friend to his house.
:::
The most common use of the _instrumental_ case is the "[theme]" of ditransitive
sentences (while the recipient is in the genitive). It is also used for 'with'
as in 'using', in distributive phrases such as `{kallila}` 'in threes, in sets
of three, three each', for quantity expressions such as units, and quantifiers
like 'every'.
[theme]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secundative_language
:::glosses
- Sanǧula paraina.
- sanǧu-la parai-na
- pen-INS write-1SG
- I write with a pen.
---
- kalli litrala tippi
- kalli litra-la tippi
- three litre-INS water
- three litres of water
---
- nakasnala hámal
- nakasnala háma-l
- every;INS country-PL
- every country
---
- nala núl
- nala nú-l
- any;INS person-PL
- some people
---
- nai rala númł
- nai ra(n)-la nú-m-ł
- one thing-INS person-DEF-PL
- one of the people
---
- nala númł
- nala nú-m-ł
- any;INS person-DEF-PL
- some of the people
:::
The _essive_ case indicates a state, while the _translative_ and _exessive_
cases indicate a change of state. The translative marks the new state, and the
exessive the old. The essive and exessive are most commonly used with
comparatives (see [below](#adjectivals)).
__TODO: examples__
# Locational cases
The locational cases are formed by pairs of suffixes, one for the type of
motion and one for the orientation or part of the target object.[^tsez] These
cases have formulaic names, e.g., 'adessive' (at), 'superablative' (from
above), and so on. The prefixes describe the type of motion, and the main words
indicate the relative position:
[^tsez]: You might think that this sounds too artificial, but I actually stole
it from [Tsez]. That's also where I got the pseudolatin names.
[Tsez]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsez_language "Tsez on Wikipedia"
:::figure
-------- ----------- -------------------------
ad-- `!AD!` at, on
in-- `!IN!` in
pre-- `!PRE!` in front of
post-- `!POST!` behind
inter-- `!INTER!` between, among
super-- `!SUPER!` on top of, above
sub-- `!SUB!` below, under
apud-- `!APUD!` near, next to
-------- ----------- -------------------------
---------- --------- -------------------------
essive `!ESS!` at, on
lative `!LAT!` towards
ablative `!ABL!` away from
perlative `!PRL!` through, along
---------- --------- -------------------------
:::
Unlike for the core cases, the endings are the same regardless of whether the
stem ends in a consonant or vowel, so they are only listed for `{nú}`.
:::figure
    `!ESS!` `!LAT!` `!ABL!` `!PRL!`
---------- ------- ------------- --------------- --------------- ----------------
`!AD!` `!SG!` `{nú·sa}` `{nú·sa·s}` `{nú·sa·n}` `{nú·sa·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·sa·l}` `{nú·sa·s·ł}` `{nú·sa·n·ł}` `{nú·sa·ri·l}`
`!IN!` `!SG!` `{nú·li}` `{nú·li·s}` `{nú·li·n}` `{nú·li·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·li·l}` `{nú·li·s·ł}` `{nú·li·n·ł}` `{nú·li·ri·l}`
`!PRE!` `!SG!` `{nú·ðu}` `{nú·ðu·s}` `{nú·ðu·n}` `{nú·ðu·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·ðu·l}` `{nú·ðu·s·ł}` `{nú·ðu·n·ł}` `{nú·ðu·ri·l}`
`!POST!` `!SG!` `{nú·gi}` `{nú·gi·s}` `{nú·gi·n}` `{nú·gi·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·gi·l}` `{nú·gi·s·ł}` `{nú·gi·n·ł}` `{nú·gi·ri·l}`
`!INTER!` `!SG!` `{nú·nua}` `{nú·nua·s}` `{nú·nua·n}` `{nú·nua·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·nua·l}` `{nú·nua·s·ł}` `{nú·nua·n·ł}` `{nú·nua·ri·l}`
`!SUPER!` `!SG!` `{nú·ba}` `{nú·ba·s}` `{nú·ba·n}` `{nú·ba·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·ba·l}` `{nú·ba·s·ł}` `{nú·ba·n·ł}` `{nú·ba·ri·l}`
`!SUB!` `!SG!` `{nú·ku}` `{nú·ku·s}` `{nú·ku·n}` `{nú·ku·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·ku·l}` `{nú·ku·s·ł}` `{nú·ku·n·ł}` `{nú·ku·ri·l}`
`!APUD!` `!SG!` `{nú·mi}` `{nú·mi·s}` `{nú·mi·n}` `{nú·mi·ri}`
`!PL!` `{nú·mi·l}` `{nú·mi·s·ł}` `{nú·mi·n·ł}` `{nú·mi·ri·l}`
:::
:::figure
- `{Dufnamsas júlisina.}`\
`!(AD-LAT)!` I stuck it onto the wall.
- `{Ǧimamsa aihapa?}`\
`!(AD-ESS)!` Are you at home?
- `{Sihamgit ǧimamlis šikkúmána.}`\
`!(IN-LAT)!` I'll be going home soon.
- `{Sabut kalń káðuri narasi.}`\
`!(PRE-PRL)!` A black cat passed in front of me.
- `{Ǧimamgi waibifás.}`\
`!(POST-ESS)!` They're playing round the back of the house.
- `{Lunsari šikkúsina.}`\
`!(AD-PRL)!` I went down the road.
- `{Lunliri šikkúsina.}`\
`!(IN-PRL)!` I went across the road.
- `{Lunmiri šikkúsina.}`\
`!(APUD-PRL)!` I followed (alongside) the river.
:::
## Non-locative uses
- Subessive is used for:
* 'in the opinion of': `{Kaku manifnut ai.}` That's pleasant to me/I like that.
- Superessive is used for:
- 'about': `{Suba jaisi fína.}` I dreamt about you.
## Position words
The position suffixes give rise to the following words based on a root `{fan}`:
:::figure
- `{fansað}`: surface
- `{fanlið}`: interior
- `{fanduð}`: front
- `{fangið}`: back
- `{fannuað}`: company
- `{fambað}`: top
- `{fankuð}`: bottom
- `{fammið}`: vicinity
:::
# Adjectivals
Most words considered as adjectives in other languages are in fact
grammatically nouns in Lántas; words such as `{sabu}` can be translated as 'the
colour black'. When one noun modifies another attributively, the [genitive
case](#corecases) suffix `{-(a)t}` is used. Additional adjectives after the
first additionally take a special conjunctive suffix `{-as}`, similar to the
comitative case. Adjectives, like other noun modifiers, precede the head noun
in most cases. However, they can follow it if they indicate a property
considered inherent to the objects in question.
Genitive forms can be used as adverbs with the suffix `{-tta}`; the conjunctive
variant is `{-ttás}`.
:::glosses
- sabut þasi
- sabu-t þasi
- black-GEN dog
- a black dog
---
- líbisat þasi
- líbis-at þasi
- happy-GEN dog
- a happy dog
---
- sabut líbistas þasi
- sabu-t líbis-t-as þasi
- black-GEN happy-GEN-CONJ dog
- a happy black dog
---
- Línaim sihatta irhi.
- línai-m siha-tta irhi
- mouse-GEN small-ADV squeak
- The mouse is squeaking quietly.
:::
From adjectivals, several further derivations can be made: the _equative_, which expresses that two objects have an equal measure of some property; the _comparative_, which says that one object has more of a property than another object; and the _superlative_, which claims that an object has the most of a property. Derivation from `{gaisi}` 'white':
:::figure
----------------------- ---------------
Equative `!(EQU)!` `{gaisi·t·sat}`
Comparative `!(CMP)!` `{gaisi·t·pat}`
Superlative `!(SUPL)!` `{gaisi·t·lit}`
----------------------- ---------------
:::
The noun being compared with is in the [essive case](#corecases) for the equative, and the exessive for the comparative.
:::glosses
- ǧimagu ausutsat
- ǧima-gu ausu-t-sat
- house-ESS big-GEN-EQU
- as big as a house
---
- fíraču panísatpat
- fíra-ču panísa-t-pat
- sky-EXE blue-GEN-CMP
- bluer than the sky
:::
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