Azkali language: Difference between revisions
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''See main article: [[Azkali grammar]]'' | ''See main article: [[Azkali grammar]]'' | ||
Azkali is one of the prime examples of an ergative language. In Azkali, the subject of an intransitive verb and the object of a transitive verb are rendered in the ''absolutive'' case - the subject of a transitive verb is rendered in the ''ergative'' case. This is in opposition to all extant Mallo-Brausian languages, which are what are known as accusative languages, whereby the subject of both transitive and intransitive verbs are in the nominative case, with the object of a transitive verb being in the accusative case. Ergativity in Azkali evolved from [[Proto-Azkali language|Proto Azkali]], which had a split-ergative system based on tense. | Azkali is one of the prime examples of an [[w:Ergative–absolutive_alignment|ergative language]]. In Azkali, the subject of an intransitive verb and the object of a transitive verb are rendered in the ''absolutive'' case - the subject of a transitive verb is rendered in the ''ergative'' case. This is in opposition to all extant Mallo-Brausian languages, which are what are known as accusative languages, whereby the subject of both transitive and intransitive verbs are in the nominative case, with the object of a transitive verb being in the accusative case. Ergativity in Azkali evolved from [[Proto-Azkali language|Proto Azkali]], which had a split-ergative system based on tense. | ||
Azkali nouns are overtly declined for six grammatical cases (the '''ergative, absolutive, possessive, privative, dative,''' and '''instrumental''') and three numbers (the '''singular, paucal,''' and '''plural'''), with any type of grammatical gender being completely absent in all attested dialects. Azkali verbs conjugate for four moods (the '''indicative, conditional, hypothetical''', and '''imperative'''), three tenses (the '''far past, past,''' and '''non past'''), and person. Azkali verbs also have past and future participle, gerundive, and agentive forms. Within the context of languages in Azkali, Azkali is notable for wholey lacking grammatical aspect. Save irregular verbs, Azkali verbs have some fifteen unique verbal forms. | Azkali nouns are overtly declined for six grammatical cases (the '''ergative, absolutive, possessive, privative, dative,''' and '''instrumental''') and three numbers (the '''singular, paucal,''' and '''plural'''), with any type of grammatical gender being completely absent in all attested dialects. Azkali verbs conjugate for four moods (the '''indicative, conditional, hypothetical''', and '''imperative'''), three tenses (the '''far past, past,''' and '''non past'''), and person. Azkali verbs also have past and future participle, gerundive, and agentive forms. Within the context of languages in Azkali, Azkali is notable for wholey lacking grammatical aspect. Save irregular verbs, Azkali verbs have some fifteen unique verbal forms. | ||
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Verbs are much simpler structurally speaking than nouns. For example, the verb ''ezingira'', meaning ''to have needed long ago'', can simply be broken down as ''ezi-'', the far past indicative prefix, and ''ngira'', the verbal root meaning to need. Azkali verbs are very regular, only having two different sets of conjugations (usually called ''declension classes'' when discussing Azkali). The primary declension class contains all verbs with an ending of -en; the secondary declension class contains all other verbs. The names for these declension classes are misleading, as the secondary declension class contains far more verbs than the primary declension class. There are only four or five irregular verbs in most Azkali dialects (some, especially Southern Azkali dialects, have as many as twenty). | Verbs are much simpler structurally speaking than nouns. For example, the verb ''ezingira'', meaning ''to have needed long ago'', can simply be broken down as ''ezi-'', the far past indicative prefix, and ''ngira'', the verbal root meaning to need. Azkali verbs are very regular, only having two different sets of conjugations (usually called ''declension classes'' when discussing Azkali). The primary declension class contains all verbs with an ending of -en; the secondary declension class contains all other verbs. The names for these declension classes are misleading, as the secondary declension class contains far more verbs than the primary declension class. There are only four or five irregular verbs in most Azkali dialects (some, especially Southern Azkali dialects, have as many as twenty). | ||
Azkali is a ''strictly'' subject-verb-object language, contrasting with its neighboring Mallo-Brausian and Paleo-Azkali languages. Pronouns are never deleted, even when they are clear by context; as such, Azkali is classified as an anti pro-drop language. The lack of deleting pronouns when they are clear by context is a relatively new phenomena, caused by the drastic simplification of Azkali conjugation between the 1900s and 2000s. Azkali frequently employs [[w:Serial_verb_construction|serial verb constructions]], especially in cases in which the verbs occur as a part of the same larger action, or if they occur simultaneously. | Azkali is a ''strictly'' subject-verb-object language, contrasting with its neighboring Mallo-Brausian and Paleo-Azkali languages. Pronouns are never deleted, even when they are clear by context; as such, Azkali is classified as an anti [[w:Pro-drop_language|pro-drop language]]. The lack of deleting pronouns when they are clear by context is a relatively new phenomena, caused by the drastic simplification of Azkali conjugation between the 1900s and 2000s. Azkali frequently employs [[w:Serial_verb_construction|serial verb constructions]], especially in cases in which the verbs occur as a part of the same larger action, or if they occur simultaneously. | ||
Azkali is primarily a head-initial language. Azkali nouns go before adjectives, auxiliary verbs go before main verbs, and possesses go before possessors. Notably, Azkali uses a combination of postpositions and prepositions, with prepositions predominating. Further still, a number of prepositions fuse with the noun they modify. | Azkali is primarily a head-initial language. Azkali nouns go before adjectives, auxiliary verbs go before main verbs, and possesses go before possessors. Notably, Azkali uses a combination of postpositions and prepositions, with prepositions predominating. Further still, a number of prepositions fuse with the noun they modify. | ||