Afata Grammar: Difference between revisions

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{{LangBar|Afata||Thala}}
{{LangBar|Afata|Arena of Valor Dialogue|Thala}}


'''Afata''' is a {{wl|fusional}} language. Nouns are declined for case, pronouns for case and number, and verbs are conjugated for aspect and agree with their arguments.  
'''Afata''' is a {{wl|fusional}} language. Nouns are declined for case, pronouns for case and number, and verbs are conjugated for aspect and agree with their arguments.  
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===Consonant mutation===
===Consonant mutation===


Consonant mutation in Afata encompasses two distinct types: ''V-mutation'', occurring between vowels or vowel-like elements, and ''N-mutation'', affecting consonants following nasals. V-mutation leads to specific transformations in various consonant groups, with voiceless stops and fricatives becoming voiced. Additionally, Afata-specific changes, such as the change of /ɣ/ to /j/, /ts/ to /θ/, and /dz/ to /ð/, affect how agreement surfaces.
Consonant mutation in Afata encompasses two distinct types: ''V-mutation'', occurring between vowels or vowel-like elements, and ''N-mutation'', affecting consonants following nasals.  


N-mutations present a different set of alterations, involving changes in voiceless stops, voiced stops, voiceless fricatives, voiced fricatives, and approximants. The impact of Afata-specific sound changes is evident, exemplified by the merging of clusters and shifts like /f/ evolving into /p/.
V-mutation involves voiceless stops and fricatives becoming voiced, and voiced stops becoming fricatives, and /v/ becoming /w/. The changes are summarized below:
 
* Voiceless Stops: p t ts k q ʔ > b d dz g g {j/ɾ}
* Voiced Stops: b d dz g > v ð z ɣ
* Voiceless Fricatives: f s h > v z j
* Voiced Fricatives: v z > w z
 
Additionally, Afata sound changes, such as the change of /ɣ/ to /j/, /ts/ to /θ/, and /dz/ to /ð/, applied after these changes.
 
N-mutations present a different set of alterations, involving changes to approximants as well:
 
* Voiceless Stops: mp nt nts ŋk ɴq nʔ > b d dz g g n
* Voiced Stops: mb nd ndz ŋg > m n n ŋ
* Voiceless Fricatives: mf ns nh > p ts k
* Voiced Fricatives: mv nz > b dz
* Approximants: nɾ nl ŋw nj > d n ŋw ɲ
 
The Afata sound changes applied after these changes as well.


===Agreement===
===Agreement===


Agreement in Afata verbs occurs with both the subject and the object, when present. This is accomplished through prefixes, with variations dependent on whether the verb begins with a consonant or vowel. Verbs begin with an agreement prefix based on the involved arguments, following an accusative alignment.
Agreement in Afata verbs occurs with both the subject and the object, when present. This is accomplished through prefixes, based on the involved arguments and following an accusative alignment, which are attached to the beginning of the verb. The shape of the prefix depends on if the verb begins with a consonant or vowel. For vowel-initial verbs, a consonant-final prefix is used, and remains largely unchanged. For consonant-initial verbs, mutation may occur when the prefix is applied, depending on the history of the prefix.
 
====Intransitive verbs====
 
Intransitive verbs have rather straightforward agreement prefixes, which differ in their application to vowel-initial and consonant-initial verbs, respectively. Notably, there is no plural distinction in the third person prefixes. The prefixes for intransitive verbs are summarized as follows:
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Intransitive
! colspan=2 | Vowel-Initial
! colspan=2 | Consonant-Initial
|-
! Singular
! Plural
! Singular
! Plural
|-
! colspan=2 | First Person
| kün-
| min-
| kü- (+ N-mutation)
| mi- (+ N-mutation)
|-
! colspan=2 | Second Person
| d-
| s-
| da- (+ V-mutation)
| sa- (+ V-mutation)
|-
! rowspan=3 | Third Person
! Sentient
| colspan=2 | zuh-
| colspan=2 | zuu-
|-
! Inanimate
| colspan=2 | ran-
| colspan=2 | ra- (+ N-mutation)
|-
! Animate
| colspan=2 | vw-
| colspan=2 | vu- (+ V-mutation)
|}


Intransitive verbs have straightforward agreement prefixes, which differ in their application to V-initial or C-initial verbs. For instance, the first person singular takes the prefixes ''kün-'' or ''kü-'' with N-mutation, while the second person singular features ''d-'' or ''da-'' with V-mutation.
====Transitive verbs====


Transitive verbs involve more complexity, necessitating tables to represent the combinations of subject and object agreement prefixes. These tables illustrate the forms before vowels, without mutations. The variability in the third inanimate subject/object prefix hinges on the following vowel's frontness, resulting in forms like ''ren-'' for front vowels and ''ron-'' otherwise.
Transitive verb prefixes are more complex, necessitating tables to represent the many combinations of subject and object. This table illustrates the forms occuring before vowel-initial verbs (these forms do not cause mutations):


The third animate subject/object prefix introduces some uncertainty. Reflexive forms, indicated in pink, entail V-mutation or N-mutation, while the bottom right box requires additional clarification. The ''b/o'' form is potentially reflexive for first/second person.
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Transitive<br>Vowel-Initial !! colspan="7" | Object
|-
! 1SG !! 2SG !! 1PL !! 2PL !! 3SN !! 3IN !! 3AN
|-
! rowspan="7" | Subject
!  1SG
| kün- || küth- || küm- || küth- || küthw- || kün- || küw-
|-
! 2SG
| dün- || dün- || dem- || des- || dezw- || dün- || dew-
|-
! 1PL
| mün- || mith- || mün- || mith- || mithw- || mün- || miw-
|-
! 2PL
| shun- || sedh- || sem- || shun- || sezw- || shun- || sew-
|-
! 3SN
| zhun- || zudh- || zum- || zus- || zhun- || zwon- || zuw-
|-
! 3IN
|  rün- || rath- || ram- || rath- || rathw- || r(e/o)n-<ref group=a>The form ''ren-'' is used before front vowels and ''ron-'' otherwise.</ref> || rew-
|-
! 3AN
| vün- || vüdh- || vüm- || vüs- || vüzw- || vün- || vü(n/b)-<ref group=a name=vükabo>The form ''vüb-'' is probably used for reflexives, while ''vün-'' is probably used when there are two different animate third person arguments, although Peterson has stated that he is not sure what the forms were intended for.</ref>
|}
'''Notes''':<br><references group=a/>
 
A table of the prefix forms occuring before consonant-initial verbs is seen below:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Transitive<br>Consonant-Initial !! colspan="7" | Object
|-
! 1SG !! 2SG !! 1PL !! 2PL !! 3SN !! 3IN !! 3AN
|-
! rowspan="7" | Subject
! 1SG
| küko-<ref group=b name=N>Causes N-mutation.</ref> || kütha-<ref group=b name=V>Causes V-mutation.</ref> || kümi-<ref group=b name=N/> || kütha-<ref group=b name=V/> || küthu- || küro-<ref group=b name=N/> || kügu-<ref group=b name=V/>
|-
! 2SG
| degü-<ref group=b name=N/> || dego-<ref group=b name=N/> || demi-<ref group=b name=N/> || desa-<ref group=b name=V/> || dezu- || dero-<ref group=b name=N/> || düü-<ref group=b name=V/>
|-
! 1PL
| mikü-<ref group=b name=N/> || mitha-<ref group=b name=V/> || miko-<ref group=b name=N/> || mitha-<ref group=b name=V/> || mithu- || miro-<ref group=b name=N/> || migu-<ref group=b name=V/>
|-
! 2PL
| segü-<ref group=b name=N/> || sedha-<ref group=b name=V/> || semi-<ref group=b name=N/> || sego-<ref group=b name=N/> || sezu- || sero-<ref group=b name=N/> || süü-<ref group=b name=V/>
|-
! 3SN
| zugü-<ref group=b name=N/> || zudha-<ref group=b name=V/> || zumi-<ref group=b name=N/> || zusa-<ref group=b name=V/> || zug(a/o)-<ref group=b name=N/><ref group=b>The reason for the variability is uncertain. The form ''zugo-'' is probably reflexive, while ''zuga-'' is likely used when there are two different third person arguments.</ref> || zuro-<ref group=b name=N/> || zuu-<ref group=b name=V/>
|-
! 3IN
| rakü-<ref group=b name=N/> || ratha-<ref group=b name=V/> || rami-<ref group=b name=N/> || ratha-<ref group=b name=V/> || rathu- || ra(ka/tho)-<ref group=b name=N/><ref group=b>The reason for the variability is uncertain. The form ''ratho-''  
is probably reflexive, while ''raka-'' is likely used when there are two different third person arguments.</ref> || ragu-<ref group=b name=V/>
|-
! rowspan="5" | 3AN
| vügü-<ref group=b name=N/> || vüdha-<ref group=b name=V/> || vümi-<ref group=b name=N/> || vüsa-<ref group=b name=V/> || vüzu- || vüro-<ref group=b name=N/> || vü(ka/bo)-<ref group=b>The "first form" (probably ''vüka-'') causes N-mutation. The reflexive form (probably ''vübo-'') causes no mutation. As above, Peterson is unsure of which form he intended to be the reflexive.</ref>
|}
'''Notes''':<br><references group=b/>


===Conjugation===
===Conjugation===


The verb conjugation in Afata includes imperfective, perfective, imperative, and infinitive forms, along with active and passive voices. Of note are the verbal augments, which supplement the conjugation system with additional forms.  
The verb conjugation in Afata includes imperfective, perfective, imperative, and infinitive forms, along with active and passive voices. Of note are the verbal augments, which supplement the conjugation system.  


====Active voice====
====Active voice====

Latest revision as of 12:01, 24 August 2024

Afata Language Navigation: Home, Phonology, Grammar, Vocabulary, Orthography, Dialogue

Afata is a fusional language. Nouns are declined for case, pronouns for case and number, and verbs are conjugated for aspect and agree with their arguments.

Pronouns

In Afata, nouns and pronouns are categorized into three distinct types: sentient, inanimate, and animate, the latter mainly comprising animals that lack the capacity of speech and complex thought. This applied to the following personal pronouns:

Singular Plural
First Person künu mini
Second Person daa saa
Third Person Sentient zulin zume
Inanimate ranin rame
Animate vün vüme

Note that these pronouns, like nouns, undergo declension for case.

Nouns

Afata nouns decline for 18 distinct cases, namely nominative, accusative, dative, instrumental, benefactive, malefactive, apudessive, allative, ablative, inessive, illative, elative, superessive, superlative, delative, initiative, perlative, and aversive.

This extensive case system arose from the incorporation of five prepositions from Veda—ag, kho, yu, shun, and ghor—into nouns. The pronouns combined with nouns associated with parts of the structure or body of a typical sentient, inanimate, or animate noun to form the different cases. For instance, the preposition ag (meaning "come" in Veda) combined with a word in the sentient class and a word for a part of the body formed one case. Similar processes occurred for inanimate and animate nouns.

The cases are summarized in the table below:

Sentient Inanimate Animate
zuu "sentient being" anga "shield" maga "eagle"
Nominative zuu anga maga
Accusative hozuumen howangidhen homaazhu
Dative shudhuumen shunangidhen shumaasi
Instrumental ezuumen ayangidhen emaasi
Benefactive shudhuuzhe shunangun shumaale
Malefactive hozuukon ürangung homaamas
Apudessive hozuulu howangung homaapa
Allative üzuulu üyangung ümaapa
Ablative ezuukon ayaashudhon emaamas
Inessive hozuuzhe howangun homaale
Illative üzuuzhe üyangun ümaale
Elative ezuuzhe ayangun emaale
Superessive hozuudho howaadho homaazhu
Superlative üzuudho üyaadho ümaazhu
Delative ezuudho ayaadho emaazhu
Initiative ezuulu ayangung emaapa
Perlative üzuumen ürangidhen ümaasi
Aversive üzuukon üraashudhon ümaamas

Adjectives

Adjectives in Afata follow a relatively straightforward pattern. They have plain, comparative, and superlative forms, and the specific form depends on the final sound of the adjective. Notably, this is a significant reduction of complexity compared to the Veda forms. Examples of adjectives of different endings are displayed in the following table:

Vowel-Final Stop-Final Nasal-Final Fricative-Final
zho "large" thibi "quick" shongo "strong" shuvu "quiet"
Plain zho thibi shongo shuvu
Comparative zhoyu thiiyu shoogu shuuyu
Superlative zhoyume thiiyume shoogume shuuyume

Verbs

Verbs in Afata involve two key elements: argument agreement and conjugation. To understand how these work, the system of consonant mutation must first be considered.

Consonant mutation

Consonant mutation in Afata encompasses two distinct types: V-mutation, occurring between vowels or vowel-like elements, and N-mutation, affecting consonants following nasals.

V-mutation involves voiceless stops and fricatives becoming voiced, and voiced stops becoming fricatives, and /v/ becoming /w/. The changes are summarized below:

  • Voiceless Stops: p t ts k q ʔ > b d dz g g {j/ɾ}
  • Voiced Stops: b d dz g > v ð z ɣ
  • Voiceless Fricatives: f s h > v z j
  • Voiced Fricatives: v z > w z

Additionally, Afata sound changes, such as the change of /ɣ/ to /j/, /ts/ to /θ/, and /dz/ to /ð/, applied after these changes.

N-mutations present a different set of alterations, involving changes to approximants as well:

  • Voiceless Stops: mp nt nts ŋk ɴq nʔ > b d dz g g n
  • Voiced Stops: mb nd ndz ŋg > m n n ŋ
  • Voiceless Fricatives: mf ns nh > p ts k
  • Voiced Fricatives: mv nz > b dz
  • Approximants: nɾ nl ŋw nj > d n ŋw ɲ

The Afata sound changes applied after these changes as well.

Agreement

Agreement in Afata verbs occurs with both the subject and the object, when present. This is accomplished through prefixes, based on the involved arguments and following an accusative alignment, which are attached to the beginning of the verb. The shape of the prefix depends on if the verb begins with a consonant or vowel. For vowel-initial verbs, a consonant-final prefix is used, and remains largely unchanged. For consonant-initial verbs, mutation may occur when the prefix is applied, depending on the history of the prefix.

Intransitive verbs

Intransitive verbs have rather straightforward agreement prefixes, which differ in their application to vowel-initial and consonant-initial verbs, respectively. Notably, there is no plural distinction in the third person prefixes. The prefixes for intransitive verbs are summarized as follows:

Intransitive Vowel-Initial Consonant-Initial
Singular Plural Singular Plural
First Person kün- min- kü- (+ N-mutation) mi- (+ N-mutation)
Second Person d- s- da- (+ V-mutation) sa- (+ V-mutation)
Third Person Sentient zuh- zuu-
Inanimate ran- ra- (+ N-mutation)
Animate vw- vu- (+ V-mutation)

Transitive verbs

Transitive verb prefixes are more complex, necessitating tables to represent the many combinations of subject and object. This table illustrates the forms occuring before vowel-initial verbs (these forms do not cause mutations):

Transitive
Vowel-Initial
Object
1SG 2SG 1PL 2PL 3SN 3IN 3AN
Subject 1SG kün- küth- küm- küth- küthw- kün- küw-
2SG dün- dün- dem- des- dezw- dün- dew-
1PL mün- mith- mün- mith- mithw- mün- miw-
2PL shun- sedh- sem- shun- sezw- shun- sew-
3SN zhun- zudh- zum- zus- zhun- zwon- zuw-
3IN rün- rath- ram- rath- rathw- r(e/o)n-[a 1] rew-
3AN vün- vüdh- vüm- vüs- vüzw- vün- vü(n/b)-[a 2]

Notes:

  1. The form ren- is used before front vowels and ron- otherwise.
  2. The form vüb- is probably used for reflexives, while vün- is probably used when there are two different animate third person arguments, although Peterson has stated that he is not sure what the forms were intended for.

A table of the prefix forms occuring before consonant-initial verbs is seen below:

Transitive
Consonant-Initial
Object
1SG 2SG 1PL 2PL 3SN 3IN 3AN
Subject 1SG küko-[b 1] kütha-[b 2] kümi-[b 1] kütha-[b 2] küthu- küro-[b 1] kügu-[b 2]
2SG degü-[b 1] dego-[b 1] demi-[b 1] desa-[b 2] dezu- dero-[b 1] düü-[b 2]
1PL mikü-[b 1] mitha-[b 2] miko-[b 1] mitha-[b 2] mithu- miro-[b 1] migu-[b 2]
2PL segü-[b 1] sedha-[b 2] semi-[b 1] sego-[b 1] sezu- sero-[b 1] süü-[b 2]
3SN zugü-[b 1] zudha-[b 2] zumi-[b 1] zusa-[b 2] zug(a/o)-[b 1][b 3] zuro-[b 1] zuu-[b 2]
3IN rakü-[b 1] ratha-[b 2] rami-[b 1] ratha-[b 2] rathu- ra(ka/tho)-[b 1][b 4] ragu-[b 2]
3AN vügü-[b 1] vüdha-[b 2] vümi-[b 1] vüsa-[b 2] vüzu- vüro-[b 1] vü(ka/bo)-[b 5]

Notes:

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 Causes N-mutation.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Causes V-mutation.
  3. The reason for the variability is uncertain. The form zugo- is probably reflexive, while zuga- is likely used when there are two different third person arguments.
  4. The reason for the variability is uncertain. The form ratho- is probably reflexive, while raka- is likely used when there are two different third person arguments.
  5. The "first form" (probably vüka-) causes N-mutation. The reflexive form (probably vübo-) causes no mutation. As above, Peterson is unsure of which form he intended to be the reflexive.

Conjugation

The verb conjugation in Afata includes imperfective, perfective, imperative, and infinitive forms, along with active and passive voices. Of note are the verbal augments, which supplement the conjugation system.

Active voice

The active voice conjugation of verbs is exemplified as follows:

"to drink" bana "to live" adha "to hope"
Imperfective bana adha
Perfective püno bana aana
Imperative püdhí baní athí
Infinitive pübe bame aape

Passive voice

For the passive voice, the conjugation is described below:

übü "to be drunk" üvana "to be lived" üyadha "to be hoped"
Imperfective übü üvana üyadha
Perfective übüno üvana üyaana
Imperative übüdhí üvaní üyathí
Infinitive übübe üvame üyaape