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Azkali grammar: Difference between revisions

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|-
|-
!Possessive
!Possessive
| -k
| '''-k'''
| -ek
| '''-ek'''
|-
|-
!Privative
!Privative
| -z
| '''-z'''
| -az
| '''-az'''
|-
|-
!Dative
!Dative
| -ti
| '''-ti'''
| -eti
| '''-eti'''
|-
|-
!Instrumental
!Instrumental
| -gez
| '''-gez'''
| -ez
| '''-ez'''
|}
|}
Shown below are several examples of these cases in use for various words, and their respective meanings. Note the usage of (-∅) for nouns rendered in the ergative and absolutive case.
Shown below are several examples of these cases in use for various words, and their respective meanings. Note the usage of (-∅) for nouns rendered in the ergative and absolutive case.
Line 143: Line 143:
|-
|-
!Paucal
!Paucal
| -tz
| '''-tz'''
| -etz
| '''-etz'''
| -et
| '''-et'''
|-
|-
!Plural
!Plural
| -rek
| '''-rek'''
| colspan="2" | -erek
| colspan="2" | '''-erek'''
|}
|}
For nouns that end with "tz", a special affix for the paucal number exists. For example, the paucal version of the word ''leizitz'', meaning lizard, is ''leizitzet'', not the expected ''leizitzetz''.  
For nouns that end with "tz", a special affix for the paucal number exists. For example, the paucal version of the word ''leizitz'', meaning lizard, is ''leizitzet'', not the expected ''leizitzetz''.  
Line 162: Line 162:
|-
|-
!Singular
!Singular
| -l
| '''-l'''
| -al
| '''-al'''
| -li
| '''-li'''
|-
|-
!Paucal
!Paucal
| -tsi
| '''-tsi'''
| -atsi
| '''-atsi'''
| -tsi
| '''-tsi'''
|-
|-
!Plural
!Plural
| -rezk
| '''-rezk'''
| -arezk
| '''-arezk'''
| -tsezk
| '''-tsezk'''
|}
|}
To complete a phrase using inverse number markers, the numeral denoting the ''actual'' number in the form of a numeral is placed after the noun.
To complete a phrase using inverse number markers, the numeral denoting the ''actual'' number in the form of a numeral is placed after the noun.
Line 312: Line 312:


=== Verbs ===
=== Verbs ===
Like most agglutinative languages, Azkali features very few irregular verbs: between four and five in most dialects (though some, particularly Southern Azkali dialects, have as many as twenty irregular verbs). Verbs conjugate for 3 tenses, ''far past, past'', and ''nonpast'', and 4 moods, ''indicative, conditional, hypothetical,'' and ''imperative'', though in two verbs, ''to be'' and ''to have'', marking for person exists. The auxiliary verb ''itu,'' conveying a future tense, also changes depending on person.
The verb in Azkali is considered the most complex area of grammar to learn. It remains remarkably distinct from how verbs in other languages in it's vicinity such as Baphian, Oikan, or Loremese are treated. Despite this fact the Azkali verb is extremely regular and in most dialects, there is infact only one fully irregular verb - ''to be''. Conjugation is somewhat complicated but very straightfoward.


A majority of verbs in Azkali are derived from Proto-Azkali, or have been taken from [[Oikan language|Oikan]], [[Loremese language|Loremese]], or Hngatil.
Azkali verbs are polypersonal, and they can mark the subject and direct object of a clause, and in situations in which it applies, the indirect object. They also mark for tense, mood, and voice and in certain common verbs can be optionally marked with adpositional information (denoted as the "postverb"). The Azkali verb can be described in the following template:
 
==== Conjugation ====
''See also: [[Contemporary Azkali conjugation]]''
 
Compared to older forms of Azkali, especially Contemporay Azkali conjugation, modern Azkali conjugation is extremely simple. There is only one conjugation pattern and it is shown below:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Azkali conjugation
! colspan="2" |
!Vowel ending
!Consonant ending
|-
! rowspan="3" |Indicative
!Far past
| -z
| -iz
|-
!Past
| colspan="2" | -u
|-
!Non past
! colspan="2" | ∅
|-
! rowspan="3" |Conditional
!Far past
| -n
| -in
|-
!Past
| colspan="2" | -(n)i
|-
!Non past
| -n
| -o
|-
! rowspan="3" |Hypothetical
!Far past
| -ta
| -(a)ka
|-
!Past
| rowspan="2" | -r
| -au
|-
!Non past
| -aur
|-
! rowspan="2" |Imperative
!Soft
| -mai
| -ai
|-
!Hard
| -k
| -aik
|}
For the far past hypothetical form of consonant ending verbs, -''ka'' is used for when the verb ends with ''s'' or ''z''; elsewhere, -''aka'' is used. The soft imperative causes any fricatives to turn into ''h;'' affricates are not affected by this rule. Here are two examples of these forms with the verbs ''narila'', to play, ''heitiz'', to stand, and ''nain'', to recite (from memory):
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
!''narila''
to play
!''heitiz''
to stand
!''nain''
to recite
|-
! rowspan="3" |Indicative
!Far past
|narilaz
|heitiziz
|nainiz
|-
!Past
|narilau
|heitizu
|nainu
|-
!Non past
|narila
|heitiz
|nain
|-
! rowspan="3" |Conditional
!Far past
|narilan
|heitizin
|nainin
|-
!Past
|narilai
|heitizi
|naini
|-
!Non past
|narilan
|heitizo
|naino
|-
! rowspan="3" |Hypothetical
!Far past
|narilata
|heitizka
|nainaka
|-
!Past
| rowspan="2" |nariltar
|heitizau
|nainau
|-
!Non past
|heitizaur
|nainaur
|-
! rowspan="2" |Imperative
!Soft
|narilamai
|heitihai
|nainai
|-
!Hard
|narilak
|heitizaik
|nainaik
|}And these are the non-finite forms of all verbs:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Azkali non-finite conjugation
!Infinitive, gerund
|''te'' (verb)
|-
!Past, far past participle
|(past form of verb) ''nehiz''
|-
!Non past participle
|(non past form of verb) ''naiz''
|-
!Agentive
| -(n)a
|}
 
===== ''Itu'' =====
''Itu'', as stated previously, is an auxiliary verb that conveys a future tense. Itu, unlike any other regular verb, conjugates for the full range of persons (i.e the first, second, and third person, plus singular, paucal, and plural grammatical numbers). It is also used in the conjugation of periphrastic, and especially compound tenses. In Contemporary Azkali, itu was a very irregular verb meaning ''to go'', but it's meaning shifted to a standard future marker, losing it's original meaning.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Forms of ''itu''
|+Azkali verb template
! colspan="3" |Singular
!Dative argument affix
! colspan="3" |Paucal
!Absolutive person affix
! colspan="3" |Plural
!Negative affix
|-
!VERB STEM
!<small>1p</small>
!Tense/mood/voice affix
!<small>2p</small>
!Ergative argument affix
!<small>3p</small>
!Postverb affix
!<small>1p</small>
!<small>2p</small>
!<small>3p</small>
!<small>1p</small>
!<small>2p</small>
!<small>3p</small>
|-
|itu
|iru
|izku
|igo
|iko
|iro
|riga
|ritu
|rizku
|}
|}


===== ''Isan'' =====
==== Person indices ====
''tIsan'' is the Azkali verb meaning to be. It is the most commonly used verb in the language. Along with ''huka'', to do, it is one of the only verbs that conjugate in regards to person. In addition, isan can also be used in the form of an auxiliary verb in the context of periphrastic conjugation, and particularly with compound tenses. Isan is one of the four or five irregular verbs in Azkali that are in use in most dialects.
All verbs can take the following sets of person-indexing affixes. There are three sets of person indices: the absolutive set, the ergative set, and dative set. The absolutive set indexes the subject of an intransitive verb and direct object of a transitive verb. The ergative set indexes the subject of a transitive verb. The dative set indexes the person of a dative argument in a clause.
 
These are the specific forms of isan:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
|+Absolutive person indices
!1p, 2p, 3p singular
! rowspan="5" |Singular
!1p, 2p, 3p plural
! colspan="2" |1p
|-
|'''-en(a)-'''
! rowspan="3" |Indicative
!Far past
| colspan="2" | ezatz
|-
|-
!Past
! colspan="2" |2p
| etz
|'''-t(u)'''
| itez
|-
|-
!Non past
! rowspan="3" |3p
| isan
!masculine
| izatz
|'''-m(a)-'''
|-
|-
! rowspan="3" |Conditional
!feminine
!Far past
|'''-ez(e)-'''
| colspan="2" | naiz
|-
|-
!Past
!neutral
| colspan="2" | etzain
|'''-k(e)-'''
|-
|-
!Non past
! rowspan="3" |Paucal
| colspan="2" | irasan
! colspan="2" |1p
|'''-tz(a)-'''
|-
|-
! rowspan="3" |Hypothetical
! colspan="2" |2p
!Far past
|'''-u(n)-'''
| colspan="2" | amaiz
|-
|-
!Past
! colspan="2" |3p
| colspan="2" | atain
|'''-ru(z)-'''
|-
|-
!Non past
! rowspan="3" |Plural
| colspan="2" | arai
! colspan="2" |1p
|'''-g(e)-'''
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" |Imperative
! colspan="2" |2p
!Hard
|'''-ro(t)-'''
| colspan="2" |isan
|-
|-
!Soft
! colspan="2" |3p
| colspan="2" |itho
|'''-in(e)-'''
|}
|}
 
The negative marker is -ke, or when proceeded by an absolutive person affix that ends with a consonant, -eke, or with a verb stem that starts with /o/ or /u/, -ken-, or both scenarios, -eken-. However some scenarios permit a cluster: for example, the combination of the singular third person feminine absolutive prefix and negative affix is ''ezke'', and the combination of the paucal third person absolutive prefix and negative affix is ''ruzke'' (however, in some dialects it is ''ruke'').
===== ''Huka'' =====
''Huka'' is the verb ''to do''. It is irregular, and marks for person, unlike any other verb besides ''isan''.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |
|+Ergative person indices
!1p, 2p, 3p singular
! colspan="3" |
!1p, 2p, 3p plural
!non word final
!word final
|-
|-
! rowspan="3" |Indicative
! rowspan="5" |Singular
!Far past
! colspan="2" |1p
| colspan="2" | hesak
|'''-(e)g-'''
|'''-(e)gi'''
|-
|-
!Past
! colspan="2" |2p
| rotz
|'''-(e)t-'''
| rezi
|'''-(e)ti'''
|-
|-
!Non past
! rowspan="3" |3p
| huka
!masculine
| hezi
|'''-(a)te-'''
|'''-(a)tei'''
|-
|-
! rowspan="3" |Conditional
!feminine
!Far past
|'''-(a)k-'''
| colspan="2" | hez
|'''-(a)ki'''
|-
|-
!Past
!neutral
| colspan="2" | heintz
|'''-(a)h-'''
|'''-(a)sai'''
|-
|-
!Non past
! rowspan="3" |Paucal
| colspan="2" | irahintz
! colspan="2" |1p
|'''-(s)o-'''
|'''-(s)ol'''
|-
|-
! rowspan="3" |Hypothetical
! colspan="2" |2p
!Far past
|'''-(s)u-'''
| colspan="2" | usak
|'''-(s)ul'''
|-
|-
!Past
! colspan="2" |3p
| colspan="2" | utz
|'''-(s)ar-'''
|'''-(s)ari'''
|-
|-
!Non past
! rowspan="3" |Plural
| colspan="2" | una
! colspan="2" |1p
|'''-(t)ou-'''
|'''-(t)ouk'''
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" |Imperative
! colspan="2" |2p
!Hard
|'''-(t)e-'''
| colspan="2" |huka
|'''-(t)eisi'''
|-
|-
!Soft
! colspan="2" |3p
| colspan="2" |uha
|'''-(t)i-'''
|'''-(t)ik'''
|}
|}
==== Periphrastic conjugation ====
The following table shows a large amount of common periphrastic tenses in Azkali.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Some examples of periphrastic conjugation
|+Dative person indices
!Tense
! rowspan="5" |Singular
!Form
! colspan="2" |1p
!Examples
|'''et(a)-'''
!Observations
|-
|-
!Present perfect
! colspan="2" |2p
|nonpast + ''huka''
|'''ti(z)-'''
|
* ''huka huka (have done)''
* ''hataiz huka (have lost)''
* ''patzegi huka (have worked)''
|Particularly in Southern Azkali dialects, this form has been reanalyzed as a sort of near past tense. Consequently, The already existing near past form is used as a general past tense alongside the already conjugated past tense.
|-
|-
!Present habitual
! rowspan="3" |3p
|nonpast + gerund of ''huka''
!masculine
|
|'''im(a)-'''
* ''hataiz hukanoiz (usually lose)''
* ''nakuz hunakoiz (usually see)''
* ''nakusa hunakoiz (usually think)''
|Particularly in Southern Azkali dialects, the present habitual tense is being reinterpreted as a perfective aspect; consequentially, the ordinary present tense is becoming an imperfective aspect. This phenomenon is being noticed particularly surrounding Atzoguiriki.
|-
|-
!Past habitual
!feminine
|past + gerund of ''huka''
|'''iz(a)-'''
|
* ''hataizu hukanoiz (usually lost)''
* ''nakuzu hunakoiz (usually saw)''
* ''nakusau hunakoiz (usually thought)''
|
|-
|-
!Future
!neutral
|nonpast + ''itu''
|'''ik(e)-'''
|
* ''hataiz itu (will lose)''
* ''nakuz itu (will see)''
* ''nakusa itu (will think)''
|
|-
|-
!Near past
! rowspan="3" |Paucal
|past + synthetic past of ''huka''
! colspan="2" |1p
|
|'''itz(a)-'''
* ''hataizu rotz (just lost)''
* ''nakuzu rotz (just saw)''
* ''nakusau rotz (just thought)''
|
|-
|-
!Future in the past
! colspan="2" |2p
|past + ''itu''
|'''i(z)-'''
|
* ''hukau itu (would do)''
* ''hataizu itu (would lose)''
* ''patzegiu itu (would work)''
|
|-
|-
!Future perfect in the past
! colspan="2" |3p
|past + ''huka'' + ''itu''
|'''iru(z)-'''
|
* ''hukau huka itu (would have done)''
* ''hataizu huka itu (would have lost)''
* ''patzegiu huka itu (would have worked)''
|
|-
|-
!Past potential
! rowspan="3" |Plural
|past, conditional mood + ''huka''
! colspan="2" |1p
|
|'''ig(ei)-'''
* ''hataizi huka (if lost)''
* ''nakuzi huka (if saw)''
* ''nakusai huka (if thought)''
|
|-
|-
!Present potential
! colspan="2" |2p
|present, conditional mood + ''huka''
|'''iro(k)-'''
|
* ''hataizo huka (if lose)''
* ''nakuzo huka (if see)''
* ''nakusan huka (if think)''
|
|-
|-
!Positive volition
! colspan="2" |3p
|present participle + ''nasa (to complete)''
|'''in(e)-'''
|
* ''huka te nasa (want to do)''
* ''hataiz te nasa (want to lose )''
* ''patzegi te nasa (want to work)''
|
|-
!Negative volition
|present participle + ''ketz'' + infinitive of ''nasa (to complete)''
|
* ''huka ketz te nasa (don't want to do)''
* ''hataiz ketz te nasa (don't want to lose )''
* ''patzegi ketz te nasa (don't want to work)''
|
|-
!Obligation in the present
|verb + ''nasa''
|
* ''huka nasa (must do)''
* ''hataiz nasa (must lose)''
* ''patzegi nasa (must work)''
|
|-
!Obligation in the future
|verb + ''nasa'' + ''itu''
|
* ''huka nasa itu (must do)''
* ''hataiz nasa itu (must lose)''
* ''patzegi nasa itu (must work)''
|
|-
!Ability
|verb + ''nasa'' + ''isan''
|
* ''huka nasa isan (can do)''
* ''hataiz nasa isan (can lose)''
* ''patzegi nasa isan (can work)''
|
|}
|}
==== Additional morphology ====
==== Serial verb construction ====
Serial verbs are two or more verbs that are strung together in a single clause. In Azkali, each verb shares a single marker ''-(a)ko'', which every verb in the construction must be marked with. They are only conjugated for this marker, and do not take any marking for tense or mood.
==== Peculiarities ====
Azkali verbs have several peculiarities that seperate them from how other languages treat verbs. Here are several examples:
===== Impersonal verbs =====
Impersonal verbs are verbs that have no definite subject, for example the verb "to rain". Most, but not all impersonal verbs are atmospheric verbs, i.e "to rain". etc. Azkali treats these types of verbs strangely, changing the strategies it uses for the three tenses it conjugates for.
In clauses with impersonal verbs, in the non-past tense, the clause is structured as '''Verb'''''-(a)ko isanieko''. In the past tense, the clause is structured as '''Verb''-'''''(n)i etz. In the far-past tense, the clause is structured as '''Verb-'''''(i)z etzatako'', where -ko is the serial verb construction marker utilized in other verbal constructions in Azkali.
The sentence "it is raining" translates in Azkali to ''Marikiko isanieko etz''. The structure of this sentence is demonstrated below:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Structure of the Azkali sentence "''Marikiko isanieko''"
|Mariki-
| -ko
|isan
| -ie-
| -ko
|-
!to rain (non-past)
!serial verb construction
marker
!to be (non-past,
1p, 2p, 3p form)
!irregular epenthetic
of serial marker used solely for ''isan''
!serial verb construction
marker
|}
The sentence "it was raining" translates in Azkali to ''Marikini etz''. The structure of this sentence is demonstrated below:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Structure of the Azkali sentence "''Marikini etz''"
|Mariki-
| -ni
|etz
|-
!to rain (non-past)
!indicative mood
past tense marker
!to be (past,
1p, 2p, 3p form)
|}
The sentence "it was raining (long ago)" translates in Azkali to ''Marikiz etzatako''. The structure of this sentence is demonstrated below:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Structure of the Azkali sentence "''Marikiz etzatako''"
|Mariki-
| -z
|etzat
| -a-
| -ko
|-
!to rain (non-past)
!indicative mood
far-past tense marker
!to be (far-past,
1p, 2p, 3p form)
!epenthetic of
serial marker
!serial verb construction
marker
|}
=== Adjectives ===
Adjectives in Azkali are work quite simply, and act like nouns in most ways. In Azkali, no distinction is made between adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives are declined for the plurality of the noun which they modify, based on these rules:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Azkali adjective declination
!
!Singular
!Paucal
!Plural
|-
!Singular vowel, or
consonant
! rowspan="2" |∅
| -[e]tze
| -[e]s
|-
!Multiple vowels
| -[ai]tzi
| -[ai]s
|}
The [e]'s are bracketed instead of parenthesized to note that they change the final vowel, if there is one, of the adjective. For example, if an adjective is modifying a paucal noun, and said adjective ends in one vowel, that vowel is changed to /e/. If the adjective ends in multiple vowels, however, those vowels are changed to /ai/. If the adjective ends in a consonant, then the regular suffix is applied, so for example the plural form of the adjective ''naichaz'', meaning fast, is ''naichazes.'' These three rules are demonstrated in the following sentences:
* Tzo huka gatingatz am'''etze''' (They (paucal) have a large ball)
* Thou hezi gatingerek ame'''s''' (They (plural) have a large ball)
* Tzo huka gatingatz naichiz'''es''' (They (paucal) have a fast ball)
* Thou hezi gatingerek nachiz'''es''' (They (plural) have a fast ball)
* Tzo huka hetianetz ret'''aitzi''' (They (paucal) have a small box)
* Thou hezi hetianerek ret'''ais''' (They (plural) have a small box)
In informal speech, however, a new phenomena of not declining adjectives for the number of the nouns that they modify is being observed.


=== Adpositions ===
=== Adpositions ===
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