Yanga Kayang Grammar
Yanga Kayang is a language with some agglutinative features.
Nouns
Nouns are sorted into one of the five noun classes of Yanga Kayang, which are labeled with Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV and V).
Naming Conventions
Names in Yanga Kayang follow a particular form. Each name has three elements. The first is a noun class marker that agrees with the second element, which is a noun (they differ by gender, but many nouns chosen for feminine names end in i, while masculine names tend to end in a or a consonant). The third is the individual's mother's given name preceded by one of two prefixes: Ngi- for feminine names and Ha- for masculine names. When these prefixes attach to words beginning with a vowel, a glottal stop is inserted between the two vowels. For Liberata that are orphans, or who do not know their mothers for other reasons, or who do not wish to be associated with their mothers, there is a general matronymic (last name) that is used. It still differs based on gender, though, so the names are: Hagi (for men) and Ngigi (for women). The word gi is the first person pronoun, and so, in effect, the names mean something like "Son of Myself" and "Daughter of Myself", respectively.
In order to produce a correct name, one will have to know the class of the nominal element of the name. When used by aliens, the noun class marker is often not included, and aliens often only use the given name to refer to a Liberata. The noun class markers are shown in the following table:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | ingga | inya |
| Class II | gingya | |
| Class III | gyangga | zhanya |
| Class IV | ingga | inya |
| Class V |
Below are some defined nouns and names which may occur as a Liberata's given name. Note that Class I names are reserved for women, and Class II names are reserved for men (the other classes can go either way, save where specified):
- Class I: Akhaakshi (one who runs); Izhikshi (one who sings); Kalikshi (one who floats); Hinyakshi (one who dances); Gli'iishikshi (one who is kind); Gyanyikshi (one who is beautiful); Anga'i (woman's name); Likyi (woman's name); Nga'i (woman's name); Yagyi (woman's name).
- Class II: Akhaangga (one who runs); Girangga (one who walks); Qagingga (one who stands); Khigyangga (one who counts); Gyanyingga (one who is handsome); Igyarangga (one who is strong); Anga'ya (man's name); Haagyga (man's name); Nga'ya (man's name); Aganggra (man's name).
- Class III: Kanyiki (type of flower); Aliihi (type of flower); Gii'ik (type of tree); Rashihi (type of tree); Shihara (s/he of the river); Gyigaanggra (s/he of the mountain); Haagrara (s/he of the field); Izhinyara (he of the sky [masculine name]); Nyakyira (s/he of the valley); Igyishiira (she of the star [feminine name]).
- Class IV: Galingigyi (one like gold); Iranggagyi (one like cobalt); Kaagikagyi (one like copper); Ahigigyi (one like titanium); Hanygyaaligyi (one like iron); Kyaihigyi (one like silver); Ai'ingigyi (one like platinum); Shikyika (gem); Gyiiraki (feather [feminine name]); Ka'aanga (diamond [masculine name]).
- Class V: Liqiya (one like a building block/brick); Gyaagigya (one like mortar/ glue [used for industrial purposes]); Arginyaya (one like paper/parchment); Gangazha (one like a wall); Haaikanya (one like a roof); Irganggaaya (one like a shield); Kigra (spade/shovel); Gaiga (light [electric]); Angaa'a (bark [masculine name]); Ikki (sheen [feminine name]).
As the Liberata are in contact with other aliens, they also borrow names. In such case, male names become Class II and female names become Class I.
As can be understood from the examples above, there are two types of names:
- Names that are simple nouns
- Names that mean something like "one who does x" or "one who is like x".
For names falling into category (2), the suffixes as they apply to the different noun classes are given below:
- Class I: -kshi (after vowels); -gzhi (after ng or r); -ikshi (after other consonants).
- Class II: -ngga (after vowels); -angga (after consonants).
- Class III: -ra (after vowels, g, r, ngg, gy, and zh); -ara (after other consonants).
- Class IV: -gyi (after vowels, r and ny); -igyi (after other consonants).
- Class V: -ya (causes palatal mutation; see Phonotactics for more information).
Nicknames
Nicknames can be formed from any given name by taking the stressed syllable followed by the next syllable. If a long vowel is present in either syllable, that vowel is shortened. If a coda consonant is present, there are two options: (1) the coda consonant is left in place, or (2) the coda consonant is deleted. This strategy generally isn't used with names that are disyllabic. Below are some examples of full given names followed by their nicknames:
- Aliihi > Lihi
- Hinyakshi > Nyakshi, Nyashi
- Izhinyara > Nyara
- Kyaihigyi > Higyi
- Ai'ingigyi > Ngigyi
- Girangga > Rangga, Raga
- Anga'i > Nga'i
- Nyakyira > Kyira
- Gli'iishikshi > Shikshi, Shishi
- Haagrara > Grara
Another nickname strategy is to take the first syllable of a name and double it. Long vowels are included in the reduplicant, but coda consonants are not. When two vowels come next to one another, they're separated by a glottal stop. This strategy is more informal, as many nicknames formed using this strategy will sound identical. Here are some examples:
- Aliihi > A'a
- Likyi > Lili
- Izhinyara > I'i
- Kyaihigyi > Kyaikyai
- Ai'ingigyi > Ai'ai
- Girangga > Gigi
- Khigyangga > Khikhi
- Nyakyira > Nyanya
- Gli'iishikshi > Gligli
- Haagrara > Haahaa