Haughòf Grammar
Haughòf is a highly isolating language. It is mostly head-initial, and the word order is verb-subject-object (VSO). There are prepositions, as opposed to postpositions. Relative clauses follow the nouns they modify. Possessors are marked with prepositions, and follow possessees. It features consonant mutation.
Nouns
Nouns in Haughòf do not inflect.
Noun function
Haughòf is a nominative-accusative language. The subject is generally unmarked. In a regular transitive sentence, the preposition wà/w/v precedes the object. The form of the preposition used depends on the phonological environment. It sometimes causes vocalic consonant mutation of the following segment.
Number
There are six noun numbers: singular, dual, paucal, gregal, plural, and collective. The gregal number is used for a pack, herd or flock. The singular is the unmarked form. The rest are marked with a preposed particle, which generally causes consonant mutation of the following segment:
| Cluster | Vowel | Fricative | Plosive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bram "dog" | alo "floppy ear" | kwav "bird" | dogho "name" | |
| Singular | bram | alo | kwav | dogho |
| Dual | ka vram | kai alo | ka khwav | ka zhogho |
| Paucal | mema vram | mema alo | mema khwav | mema zhogho |
| Gregal | mema vram | memai alo | mema khwav | mema zhogho |
| Plural | lakhwa vram | lakhwai alo | lakhwa khwav | lakhwa zhogho |
| Collective | he mram | hem alo | he gwav | he nogho |
Determiners
Demonstratives come at the very end of a noun phrase. Haughòf distinguishes animate and inanimate demonstratives, as well as proximal and distal locations. This means there are four distinct demonstratives:
| Animate | Inanimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Proximal | dyàk | mòl |
| Distal | kwèm | raṭ |