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