Hahntau inflectional grammar and word formation
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This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 5 Nov 2018, 20:53.
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2. Hahntau Syntax
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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.
Nominal grammar
1. Plural
Hahntau possesses a plural that is formed by affixing -ë. If the word ends in a vowel, a <n> is affixed instead.
2. Diminutive
Nouns can be inflected for the diminutive either by adding the suffix -chë, or by reduplication of the noun.
3. Articles
Hahntau has an invariant definite article: dë. There is no indefinite article.
4. Classifiers
Classifiers are needed for every noun when it's preceded by a numeral or determiner. In case that the noun phrase contains the definite article, the numeral isn't needed: Dat dë
List of classifiers:
stëk - general classifier, can be used for any noun
boek - for books
zhuh - for places, locations
rën - for people, humans
lang - for long, thin objects
hraan - for many "grain-like" objects, e.g. rice
wiel - for vehicles
plat - for objects with big, flat surfaces
feeng - for pieces of paper, letters, documents
plak - for objects cut/divided into small, flat pieces, e.g. bread, cards
soor - for objects that have lots of different categories, e.g. flowers, animals
5. Possession
Possession is expressed through the addition of the suffix dë after the head.
Adjectival grammar
The adjective precedes its head noun.
1. Comparative
The comparative is formed analytically through the construction N dahn N Adj..
2. Superlative
The superlative is formed through the addition of adverb tseih before the adjective.
Verbal grammar
1. Conjugation
There are two moods: the indicative and the conditional. The conditional is formed with the particle zouh. The verbs inflects for the present plural (-(e)n) and past tense singular (-t/dë) and past plural -t/dën only. The future tense is formed with the auxiliary verb zouh.
The infinitive of the verb is the stem with the he- prefix. This prefix is also used to form deverbal nouns. Some verbs of Dutch origin retain some of their irregular conjugations.
2. deverbal adjectives
Verbs can be turned into attributive adjective with the -(e)nde suffix.
3. aspect
Aspect markers are placed before or after the verb:
X lë (perfective, completed state) (also used to express change of state)
tsaih X (imperfect, animate subjects only)
X chë (durative state)
X kwoh (experiential)
Word formation
Most 'basic' words are monosyllabic, these are sourced from both languages.
There are two main main classes of words:
1. The Chinese bi-morphemic method, this is where two meaningful syllables combine to form one word. The morphemes in these words can either occupy a syntactic slot on their own (free roots), or they're bound roots which cannot stand on their own and need another word.
2. The Dutch method where a single morpheme can be composed of multiple meaningless syllables
Oftentimes the same concept is conceptualized in the language using both ways, meaning there can be two words of different origins for each concept. Morphemes from Dutch origins CAN be used in making bi-morphemic words, but they have to consist of one syllable in the Chinese tradition. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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