Basic morphophonology reference: view article

Thuun undergo a number of morphophonological processes, which I've organised into 3 broad categories:

1. Vowel harmony (progressive assimilation)
2. Syllable balance (progressive dissimilation)
3. Gradation (regressive assimilation/dissimilation)

This reference covers the main patterns for Thuun's system of progressive dissimilation, syllable balance. Someday I might make a list of gradation patterns too, but today is not that day.

[edit] [top]Syllable balance

Thuun has systems of syllable weight and length balancing, which here are conflated under the general label "syllable balance". This feature is present to some extent in all Kuoggvi languages, and can probably be considered one of the family's defining phonological features.

How it works

Thuun stems can be (with a few exceptions) divided into just 5 forms:

1. Light (C)V:-
2. Long (C)V:C-
3. Neutral (C)V(:)C(C)V-
4. Short (C)VC-
5. Heavy (C)V(:)CC-

Suffixes will wherever possible take a form that contrasts with the preceding stem or segment. For example, a long stem will take a short or heavy suffix, to which the next suffix attached will be long or light.

Naturally, suffixes will need to have multiple forms in order to attach to each of the different types of stems. Unfortunately, and unlike vowel harmony, the rules governing syllable balance are per suffix, so they have to be memorised. Most suffixes fall into a few predictable patterns, which I've put into my reference table in the next section.

Clusters

In many dialects, the Heavy stem form may be divided further based on the final cluster, classified as either Hard or Soft.

Hard endings behave like normal Heavy forms.
Soft endings behave as though they were Long forms, but only if the suffix begins in a vowel.

[edit] [top]Reference table for suffix forms

Here's my table. It's far from comprehensive, but it should show the most commonly used suffix patterns:

* = inconsistent
** = dialectical
V = copies the preceding vowel

Suffix form → Suffix pattern ↓		Heavy	Short	Default	Long	Light
Stem form →		Light	Long	Neutral	Short	Heavy
i-type	eg. inen	nen	inen		ainen
u-type**	eg. ulla	ulla			aulla / ulla
e-type**	eg. empe	empe			aempe / empe
e→ie	eg. eksi	eksi		eksi / ieksi	ieksi
o→uo	eg. ot	ot		ot / uot	uot
stretch 1	eg. aala	ala		Vla	aala
stretch 2	eg. mun	mun		muun		imuun / amuun
flip 1	eg. mie	mie				iem
flip 2	eg. as	sa / as*	as		sa / as*	as
flip 3	eg. mim	mim				iim
single/double consonant	eg. m	m	im / am	m	im / am
short consonant	eg. min	min				imin / amin
long consonant	eg. maan	maan			imaan / maan*	imaan
ACCAccusative (case) TRANS direct object; patient	at	t* (pronouns only)	at / it*			ie / iit / at
PLPlural (number) more than one/few.GENGenitive (case) possessive	lun	lun	unna	lun / unna*	unna / aunna**
PTVPartitive (number) 'some of' or for mass nouns	aa	ta	a / ia**	V	aa	aa / ia**
SRLSerial second verb has same arg(s) as first / CNJVConjunctive (mood) subordinates or serialises verb	aa	∅ / a	a / aa / ia	V	aa	aa
GNOGnomic (aspect/mood) common, timeless truths	ala	ala		i	ai

[edit] [top]Examples

Here's just a couple of examples that have (almost) all the same inflections, but different stems. The sentences don't really make a whole lot of sense.

joatta maajalimmas syökötmym opat
joa-ittA maa-Al-m-As syök-Ot-mUm op-At
joa-tta maa-(j)al-(i)m(m)-as syök-öt-mym op-at
river-SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.SUPESuperessive (case)
'on top of' make-GNOGnomic (aspect/mood)
common, timeless truths-1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing shoot-SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.INSTRInstrumental (case)
'with' 'using'-2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you).POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has house-SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
I'm always making a house on top of the river using your beach

opaitta joumuimmunsa lëmmyötmym suoksie
op-ittA joumu-Al-m-Ut-As lëmm-Ot-mUm suoks-At
op-aitta joumu-i-m(m)-u(t>n)-sa lëmm-yöt-mym suoks-ie
home-SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.SUPESuperessive (case)
'on top of' milk-GNOGnomic (aspect/mood)
common, timeless truths-1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-NEGNegative (polarity)
not-PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing cousin-SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.INSTRInstrumental (case)
'with' 'using'-2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you).POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has reindeer-SGSingular (number)
one countable entity.ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
I'm never milking a reindeer on top of the house using your cousin

✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article

Comments