481 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
481 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
---
|
||
title: Lántas nouns
|
||
backname: Lántas
|
||
backlink: .
|
||
conlang: lántas
|
||
...
|
||
|
||
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}` `{!šaksḿam}` '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',
|
||
`{!ustaiƶłm}` '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 ƶasim
|
||
- Sami-ma-t ƶasi-m
|
||
- Sam-DEF-GEN dog-DEF
|
||
- Sam's dog
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
- Sámimat ƶasi
|
||
- Sami-ma-t ƶasi
|
||
- 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:
|
||
|
||
:::examples
|
||
|
||
- 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.
|
||
- `{!Ƶuƶ 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 aƶal ai.}`\
|
||
Humans have two eyes.
|
||
|
||
- __TODO: ?__
|
||
|
||
:::
|
||
|
||
The definite suffix is _not_ used (in contrast to English):
|
||
|
||
:::examples
|
||
|
||
- 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 ƶasit bairusina.
|
||
- kalń-kas ƶasi-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', 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 basic meaning of the _essive_ case is a state. It is used:
|
||
|
||
- when a noun modifies another, but with a descriptive meaning\
|
||
`{!wasalgu fadau}` "animal friend" (i.e. a friend who is an animal);
|
||
- as the object of certain verbs like __TODO what?__;
|
||
- with [comparatives](#adjectivals).
|
||
|
||
The _translative_ and _exessive_ cases indicate a change of state:
|
||
|
||
- with state-change verbs, the translative marks the new state, and the
|
||
exessive the old;
|
||
- the exessive is also used with [comparatives](#adjectivals);
|
||
- __TODO what else is the translative used with otherwise why does it exist__
|
||
|
||
__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·ƶu}` `{!nú·ƶu·s}` `{!nú·ƶu·n}` `{!nú·ƶu·ri}`
|
||
`!PL!` `{!nú·ƶu·l}` `{!nú·ƶu·s·ł}` `{!nú·ƶu·n·ł}` `{!nú·ƶu·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 káƶuri 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 had a dream about you.
|
||
|
||
|
||
## Position words
|
||
|
||
The position suffixes give rise to the following words based on some roots
|
||
`{!fan}`, `{!gis}`, and `{!pul}`, which no longer exist as separate words:
|
||
|
||
:::figure
|
||
- `{!fanaƶ}`: surface
|
||
- `{!falliƶ}`: interior
|
||
- `{!gissuƶ}`: front
|
||
- `{!giksiƶ}`: back
|
||
- `{!pulluaƶ}`: company
|
||
- `{!gisbaƶ}`: top
|
||
- `{!giskuƶ}`: bottom
|
||
- `{!pummiƶ}`: 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 `{-t}` is used. In the case of multiple adjectives,
|
||
all other than the last have a modified form of the comitative suffix,
|
||
`{–kat}`. Adjectives, like other noun modifiers, precede the head noun.
|
||
|
||
Genitive forms can be used as adverbs with the suffix `{-tta}`; the conjunctive
|
||
variant is `{-ttás}`. Adverbs appear immediately before the verb if they are
|
||
short. Long adverbial phrases, as well as context-setting adverbs such as time
|
||
words, are usually placed before the rest of the sentence. Longer adverb
|
||
phrases at the start of a sentence are often separated from the rest by
|
||
a comma.
|
||
|
||
:::glosses
|
||
- sabut ƶasi
|
||
- sabu-t ƶasi
|
||
- black-GEN dog
|
||
- a black dog
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
- líbit ƶasi
|
||
- líbi(s)-t ƶasi
|
||
- happy-GEN dog
|
||
- a happy dog
|
||
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
- sabut líbiskat ƶasi
|
||
- sabu-kat líbi(s)-t ƶasi
|
||
- black-ADJCOM happy-GEN 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.
|
||
|
||
:::figure
|
||
----------------------- ---------------- ------------
|
||
Adjective `{!ausu·t}` big
|
||
Equative `!(EQU)!` `{!ausu·t·sat}` as big as
|
||
Comparative `!(CMP)!` `{!ausu·t·pat}` bigger than
|
||
Superlative `!(SUPL)!` `{!ausu·t·lit}` the biggest
|
||
----------------------- ---------------- ------------
|
||
:::
|
||
|
||
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
|
||
:::
|