Akalix Pronominal Clitics
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Orthographic and spoken pronominal clitics
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 3 Feb 2017, 01:59.
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This article is a work in progress! Check back later in case any changes have occurred.
This article is a work in progress! Check back later in case any changes have occurred.
These are perhaps more important than any item of grammar in order to understand Akalix. They are proclitics, attaching to the front of the phrases they apply to, and they are used for a number of things, although today we will focus on their use as pronominal subject and object markers on verbs. For the pronunciation, visit the grammar table that shows all of these.
*a side note; the same orthographic markers used for these clitics are also used to represent pronominal stems*
Number
In all persons, number is marked the same. In the center, there will be either one, two, or three dots, representing the singular, dual, and plural.
1/2nd markers
Within the first, first inclusive, and second person, they form a clear pattern. Think of the conversants (1st and 2nd) as a circle. The top half of the circle is the first person; the bottom half is the second person. If only the top appears, the symbol is in the first person exclusive; if only the bottom appears, it represents the second person; if the entire circle appears, it represents the first inclusive. Thus:
First person singular, dual, plural: ê | è | ë
First inclusive dual and plural: ù | ü
Second person singular, dual, plural: ô | ò | ö
Third person animate / inanimate markers
These markers are distinct. They have the same base, a line that travels down, goes straight to the right then curves up to meet the next letter. Each also has a downward tail. For the animate, this tail is part of the downward line; for the inanimate, this is in the middle, where it first begins to curve upward. In addition, the inanimate takes the same marker used for long vowels (a line above). This is difficult to visualize, and so they are below:
Animate singular, dual, plural: â | à | ä
Inanimate singular, dual, plural: î | ì | ï
These are attached to the front of a verb, with the direct object preceding the subject (assuming there is a direct object). Indirect objects must be marked by an independent pronoun. Note that using these pronominal clitics is standard, but not mandatory; they may be omitted if there is an independent pronoun present. Below, four sentences intended to read "I speak Akalix", all grammatical except for the fourth.
êè tsèAlix | 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-speak LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc-yaga-people-language
êè ê tsèAlix | 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-speak 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.INTRIntransitive (valency)
has one argument LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc-yaga-people-language
è ê tsèAlix | speak 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.INTRIntransitive (valency)
has one argument LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc-yaga-people-language
*è tsèAlix | speak LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc-yaga-people-language
With transitive verbs, double marking is common for full noun phrases, particularly in formal speech. It is acceptable for nominal phrases in most dialects- and prescriptively, is highly approved of- but often sounds stilted and awkward. What this can and cannot look like is outlined below, illustrated using the verb llansa, "to challenge to a duel."
Two pronominals: "I challenge you to a duel!"
ôêllansa! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge (most common variation)
ôêllansa koê! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
ôêllansa maô! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
ôêllansa maô koê! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
*êllansa! | 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge
*êllansa koê! | 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
êllansa maô! | 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity (grammatical but uncommon)
êllansa maô koê! | 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
(the following set is all ungrammatical for the necessary meaning as if the accusative object is marked on the verb, the ergative object must also be marked on the verb)
*ôllansa! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge
*ôllansa koê! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
*ôllansa maô! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
*ôllansa maô koê! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
*llansa! | challenge
*llansa koê! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
*llansa maô! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
llansa maô koê! | 2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-2Second person (person)
addressee (you).SGSingular (number)
one countable entity ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity
Two nominals: "My father challenges the women to a duel."
äâllansa Yimaposàn Yêkokaigal. | 3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.ANAnimate (gender/class)
alive, moving.PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.ANAnimate (gender/class)
alive, moving.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge DEFDefinite
"the"-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-FFeminine gender (gender)
feminine or female-person 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has-ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-MMasculine gender (gender)
masculine or male-parent
âllansa Yimaposàn Yêkokaigal. | 3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.ANAnimate (gender/class)
alive, moving.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity-challenge DEFDefinite
"the"-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-FFeminine gender (gender)
feminine or female-person 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has-ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-MMasculine gender (gender)
masculine or male-parent
*ällansa Yimaposàn Yêkokaigal. | 3Third person (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.ANAnimate (gender/class)
alive, moving.PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-challenge DEFDefinite
"the"-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-FFeminine gender (gender)
feminine or female-person 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has-ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-MMasculine gender (gender)
masculine or male-parent (if ACC is marked, ERG must also be marked)
llansa Yimaposàn Yêkokaigal. | challenge DEFDefinite
"the"-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient-FFeminine gender (gender)
feminine or female-person 1First person (person)
speaker, signer, etc; I.SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has-ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent-MMasculine gender (gender)
masculine or male-parent
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