Ancient-Mawic grammar II.: view article

The basic word order of AWM is SOV, but because of the case system it can be switched up to put emphasis on different words.

SOV: Basic
meqzü ááşak ŋgẽ
Meqzü ááşak ŋgẽ.
cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument bird-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient eat.PREPresent.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'
The cat eats the bird.

VSO: emphasis on the verb
ŋgẽmeqzü ááşak
ŋgẽ meqzü ááşak .
eat.PREPresent.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete' cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument bird-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
The cat eats the bird.

OSV: emphasis on the object
ááşak meqzü ŋgẽ
Ááşak meqzü ŋgẽ.
bird-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument eat.PREPresent.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'
The cat eats the bird.

Determiners, numerals, Interrogative pronouns always come before the noun.

ké qũ
Ké qũ.
This man.

yú sed-ü
Yú sed-ü.
Two knifes.

ses du
Ses du?
Who are you?

Relative pronouns, adjectives, adpositions come after the noun.

qũ kízes fát
Qũ, kízes fát.
The man who talks.

gwübün töhtáh-ad
Gwübün töhtáhad.
Under the water.

[edit] [top]gwánindágü - Gwánindágü - Nouns

[edit] [top]gwánindágin kinü qhewedrgwárá - Gwánindágin kinü qhewedrgwárá - Noun affixation order

Posessor	Noun	Number	Case suffix(es)
-1	0	1	2
úb-	áç	-g	-f
1SFirst person singular (person) speaker, signer, etc.; I.POSSPossessive (case) owns, has	king	PLPlural (number) more than one/few	DATDative (case) indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location

ün-áç-agif
ünáçagif
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I.POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has-king-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location
/yna:t͡ʃagif/
to my kings

[edit] [top]áçgü - Áçgü - Possession

In AWM possession of a noun can be expressed by using genitive case or by using possessive prefixes.

person/number	SGSingular (number) one countable entity	DUDual (number) two	PLPlural (number) more than one/few
1First person (person) speaker, signer, etc; I	u/ü(n)-	ubyun/übyün-	ubgun/übgün-
2Second person (person) addressee (you)	dun/dün-	düyün/duyun-	dügün/dugun-
3Third person (person) neither speaker nor addressee	tün/tun-	tüyün/tuyun-	tügün/tugun-

[edit] [top]gimgwá - Gimgwá - Number

AWM has three number distinctions; singular (unmarked), dual (-y), and plural (-g). As you could see at the previous example, the number affix comes right after the noun. If the noun ends with a consonant, we must put the last vowel of the word right before the number suffix to make the pronanciation easier (epenthetic vowel), like at: áç - áç (king) becomes áçag - áçag kings. This is called in AWM üsönḑgáw eyádí - üsönḑgáw eyádí, "auxiliary vowel".

[edit] [top]kütüáq - Kütüáq - Noun cases

AWM has 9 noun cases that are expressed through affixation. The nine cases are:

Nominative (-u/ü if the noun ends with a vowel, it's unmarked) Marks the subject of the sentence.

kú meqz-ü.
Kú meqz-ü.
that cat.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument
That (is a) cat.

Accusative (-k) - marks the direct object, patient.

u-dú meqz-ek.
U-dú meqz-ek.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-have.ALAlienable (possession)
thing that can be gained or lost cat-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
I have (a) cat.

Genitive (-on/ön/n) - marks posession, the NOUN's often marks origin and helps express spatial relationships.

meqz-ön füf-ü.
Meqz-ön füf-ü.
cat-GENGenitive (case)
possessive mouse-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument
The cat's mouse.

bardű-n qũ.
Bardű-n qũ.
town-GENGenitive (case)
possessive man.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument
Man from/of the town.

kájü-n fa(-d).
Kájü-n fa(-d).
house-GENGenitive (case)
possessive top-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
(On) the top of the house.

Dative (-f) - (give/go) to the NOUN

meqz-ef gwís-ik üb-éd.
Meqz-ef gwís-ik üb-éd.
cat-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location fish-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-give.NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'
I give a fish to the cat.

qũ bardű-f gwí.
Qũ bardű-f gwí.
man.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument town-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location go.NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'
The man goes to the town.

Locative (-d) - at, in, on the NOUN

meqz-ü sẽgwá-d sẽ.
Meqz-ü sẽgwá-d sẽ.
cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument couch-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc lie.NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'
The cat lies on/at the couch.

meqz-ü bökü-d.
Meqz-ü bökü-d.
cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument here-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
The cat is here.

Ablative (-sin/son) - from/out of/by/through the NOUN

meqz-ü gwís-ik qwú-zon mẽt-üt.
Meqz-ü gwís-ik qwú-zon mẽt-üt.
cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument fish-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient girl-ABLAblative (case)
away from get-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
The cat got a fish from the girl.

qwú bardű-zin çégü.
Qwú bardű-zin çégü.
girl.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument town-ABLAblative (case)
away from come_from
The girl is from the city

kájü sek-sin íhtü-wöt.
Kájü sek-sin íhtü-wöt.
house.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument stone-ABLAblative (case)
away from build-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
The house was made of stone.

Istrumental-comitative (-s) - with the NOUN

qwú-s bardű-f übyi-gwí-wöt.
Qwú-s bardű-f übyi-gwí-wöt.
girl-INSTCInstrumental-comitative (case)
'with' (instrument and/or company) town-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location 1DFirst person dual (person)
we two (inclusive or exclusive)-go-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
We went to the town with the girl.

sãwgwá-k çwëysã-s ü-sã-wöt.
Sãwgwá-k çwëysã-s ü-sã-wöt.
sculpture-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient chisel-INSTCInstrumental-comitative (case)
'with' (instrument and/or company) 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-carve-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
I carved a sculpture with a chisel.

AWM uses ergative-absolutive construction for unintentional acts. (?)

Absolutive (unmarked) - the core argument of the intransative verb

Ergative (-gwó/gwő) - the agent of the transative verbby the NOUN

Let's look at these sentences:

Intransative:
meqzü fësgü
Meqzü fësgü.
cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument sleep.PREPresent-PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing
The cat is sleeping.

Transative:
meqzü zduk fút töhöf
Meqzü zduk fút töhöf.
cat-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument pot-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient push-PASPast
action occurred before moment of speech down-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location
The cat pushed off the pot. (Because he's an asshole.)

In this case we used the Nominative-Accusative system, to show the cat pushed off the pot intentionally. We marked the agent with the nominative: -ü in both cases.

meqz höfüt
Meqz höfüt.
cat.ABSAbsolutive (case)
TRANS object, INTR argument fall-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
The cat fell.

You can see here, the core argument (the cat) is unmarked.

meqzgwő zdu fút töhöf
Meqzgwő zdu fút töhöf.
cat-ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent pot-ABSAbsolutive (case)
TRANS object, INTR argument push-PASPast
action occurred before moment of speech down-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location
The cat pushed off the pot. (But he did it accidently.)
Because of the case marking, we can play with the word order, to put more emphasis on the object (the pot) of the sentence.
zdu meqzgwő fút töhöf
Zdu meqzgwő fút töhöf.
pot-ABSAbsolutive (case)
TRANS object, INTR argument cat-ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent push-PASPast
action occurred before moment of speech down-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location
The pot was pushed off by the cat. (The meaning is the same.)

A quick overview to the case system: conjugations of the word "meqz" (cat)

	SGSingular (number) one countable entity	DUDual (number) two	PLPlural (number) more than one/few
NOMNominative (case) TRANS subject, INTR argument	meqz-ü meqz-ü	meqz-eyü meqz-eyü	meqz-egü meqz-egü
ACCAccusative (case) TRANS direct object; patient	meqz-ek meqz-ek	meqz-eyik meqz-eyik	meqz-egik meqz-egik
ABSAbsolutive (case) TRANS object, INTR argument	meqz meqz	meqz-ey meqz-ey	meqz-eg meqz-eg
ERGErgative (case) TRANS subject; agent	meqz-egwő meqz-egwő	meqz-eyigwő meqz-eyigwő	meqz-egigwő meqz-egigwő
GENGenitive (case) possessive	meqz-ön meqz-ön	meqz-eyön meqz-eyön	meqz-egön meqz-egön
DATDative (case) indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location	meqz-ef meqz-ef	meqz-eyif meqz-eyif	meqz-egif meqz-egif
LOCLocative (case) 'in, on, at' etc	meqz-ed meqz-ed	meqz-eyid meqz-eyid	meqz-egid meqz-egid
ABLAblative (case) away from	meqz-ezin meqz-ezin	meqz-eyizin meqz-eyizin	meqz-egizin meqz-egizin
INSTCInstrumental-comitative (case) 'with' (instrument and/or company)	meqz-es meqz-es	meqz-eyis meqz-eyis	meqz-egis meqz-egis

[edit] [top]Adpositions

To express more accurate spatial and temporal relationships, AWM uses adpositions, like under, above, next to, in, out, ect... combined with noun cases. Adpositions come after the noun.

ümégü thíyön töhtáhad
Ümégü thíyön töhtáhad.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-sit-PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing.PRESPresent tense (tense)
current tree-GENGenitive (case)
possessive under-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
I'm sitting under the tree

ümégü thíyön fé-d
Ümégü thíyön féd.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-sit-PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing.PRESPresent tense (tense)
current tree-GENGenitive (case)
possessive on-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
I'm sitting on the tree

bardű-f nákü-n fé-d ü-gwí-wöt.
Bardű-f nákü-n fé-d ü-gwí-wöt.
town-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location horse-GENGenitive (case)
possessive on-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-go-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
I went to the city on a horse.

ááşagü thíyön bethád fá
Ááşagü thíyön bethád fá
bird-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument tree-GENGenitive (case)
possessive above-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc fly.PREPresent.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'
The birds fly above the tree

ügwí faebön töhtáhaf
Ügwí faebön töhtáhaf.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-go roof-GENGenitive (case)
possessive under-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location
I go (to)under the roof.

ükeçü faebön töhtáhazin
Ükeçü faebön töhtáhazin.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-come roof-GENGenitive (case)
possessive under-ABLAblative (case)
away from
I come from under the roof.

[edit] [top]rinkekáq - Rinkekáq - Alienablity

AWM distingueshes alienable and inalienable nouns. Inalienable nouns can not be used "on their own". We must include the posessor of the noun in the sentence. If we talk about something in genereal, the posessors are the following:

qũ - man in general, like:
qũn şĩĩ - The man's/one's luck

kwúq - child for parents, like:
kwúqon mád - The child's mother

áĩgü - something for non living things' components
áĩgün çĩgü - Something's door

There are two different verbs for owning inalienable and alienable nouns. dú (bear/wear/ect...) is used for posessing alienable nouns. Thã (be part of sth/member/ect...) is used for inalienable nouns. For example:

udú nákük
Udú nákük.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-have.ALAlienable (possession)
thing that can be gained or lost horse-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
I have a horse.

üthã şúk küsk
Üthã şúk küsk.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-have.INALInalienable (possesson)
thing that can't be gained or lost hair-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient long-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
I have long hair.

But both uses the same genitive case suffixes.

ünnákü
Ünnákü
my horse

unşú
Unşú
my hair

Inalienable nouns are usually words for bodyparts, social relationships, ranks, names, feelings, states, components of bigger things, things, that can not be given to others.
There are words, that are both alienable, and inalienable. These words have multiple meanings, like sũ - sũ (woman/wife). If it's used as woman it's alienable, but if it's used as wife, it's inalienable.

[edit] [top]keşüéhindá - Keşüéhindá - Pronouns

Ancient-Mawic pronouns behave ~~in a similar~~ the same way as nouns. They can have case and number suffixes.

utut áĩ-lekü-n drgówuguk
Utut áĩlekün drgówuguk.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-find-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech somebody-GENGenitive (case)
possessive clothes-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
I found somebody's clothes.

sesk düdetüt
Sesk düdetüt?
what.INTIntelligent (gender/class)
Sentient beings-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-see-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
What did you see?

detüt úbuk
Detüt úbuk.
3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.see-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
He saw me.

kízesgik detüt, aleküf fát-üt
Kízesgik detüt, aleküf fátüt.
what.RELRelative-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.see-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech | nobody-DATDative (case)
indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location say-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action.PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech
What he saw, he never told anyone.

[edit] [top]Personal pronouns

Person,Number/case	NOMNominative (case) TRANS subject, INTR argument/ABSAbsolutive (case) TRANS object, INTR argument	ACCAccusative (case) TRANS direct object; patient	GENGenitive (case) possessive	DATDative (case) indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location	LOCLocative (case) 'in, on, at' etc	ABLAblative (case) away from	ERGErgative (case) TRANS subject; agent
1SFirst person singular (person) speaker, signer, etc.; I	úb	úbk	úbon	búfl	úbtoh	úbsõ	úbgów
1DFirst person dual (person) we two (inclusive or exclusive)	úby	úbyúg	úbyũ	úbyúfl	úbyútho	úbyúzõ	úbyúgwó
1PFirst person plural (person) we (inclusive or exclusive)	úbg	búgg	úbgon	búgfl	búgtoh	úbgõz	búggów

Person,Number/case	NOMNominative (case) TRANS subject, INTR argument/ABSAbsolutive (case) TRANS object, INTR argument	ACCAccusative (case) TRANS direct object; patient	GENGenitive (case) possessive	DATDative (case) indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location	LOCLocative (case) 'in, on, at' etc	ABLAblative (case) away from	ERGErgative (case) TRANS subject; agent
2SSecond person singular (person) addressee (you)	du	dük	duon	düfl	düthe	düsẽ	dügwő
2DSecond person dual (person) addressee (you two)	düy	düyűg	düyön	düyűfl	düyűthö	düyűzã	düyűgwő
2PSecond person plural (person) addressee (plural)	düg	dügg	dügön	dügfl	dügteh	dügzẽ	düggőw

Person,Number/case	NOMNominative (case) TRANS subject, INTR argument/ABSAbsolutive (case) TRANS object, INTR argument	ACCAccusative (case) TRANS direct object; patient	GENGenitive (case) possessive	DATDative (case) indirect object; recipient, beneficiary, location	LOCLocative (case) 'in, on, at' etc	ABLAblative (case) away from	ERGErgative (case) TRANS subject; agent
3SThird person singular (person) neither speaker nor addressee	tüq	tüqk	tükẽ	tüqfl	tüqtáh	tüqsin	tüqgéw
3DThird person dual (person) neither speaker nor addressee (they two)	tüqy	tüqyíg	tüqyíẽ	tüqyífl	tüqyíthá	tüqyízin	tüqyígwé
3PThird person plural (person) neither speaker nor addressee, they/them	tüg	tügg	tügẽ	tügfl	tügtáh	tügzin	tüggéw

[edit] [top]Reflexive pronouns

There are similar reflexive pronouns in

Ancient-Mawic, as they are in english like myself, yourself, himself... Úboŋk comes from

Proto-Mawo-Caláic 'úbonúbkó (1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-GENGenitive (case)
possessive-1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I.ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient).

detü úboŋk detüötöd
Detü úboŋk detüötöd.
see 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-GENGenitive (case)
possessive.ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient mirror-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
Lit.: (I) see my me in the mirror. / I see myself in the mirror.

When you use this format, it is not necessary to mark the subject in the verb, because it is already there in úboŋk.

duŋk - duŋk - yourself
tüqüŋk - tüqüŋk - him/herself
kéŋk/kúŋk - kéŋk/kúŋk - itself

An other way to express the same thing is to use this formula:

üdetü úbok detüötöd
Üdetü úbok detüötöd.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-see 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient mirror-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
Lit.: I see me in the mirror. / I see myself in the mirror.

[edit] [top]Reciprocal construction

tuygú üksük.
Tuygú üksük.
3DThird person dual (person)
neither speaker nor addressee (they two)-hate.NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete' each_other-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
They (dual) hate each other.

[edit] [top]sezkindág - Sezkindág - Adjectives

Adjectives are always come after the marked noun. They also agree in number and case.

gjötrü öndősü
Gjötrü öndősü.
fruit-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument sweet-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument
Sweet fruit.

gjötrögü öndősögü
Gjötrögü öndősögü.
fruit-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument sweet-PLPlural (number)
more than one/few-NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument
Sweet fruits.

[edit] [top]Comparative and superlative forms

We create comparative adjectives by adding f suffix.

nle - nle - good

nlef - nlef - better

ekwãg - ekwãg - high/tall

ekwãgãf - ekwãgãf - higher/taller

ñút - ñút - narrow

ñútuf - ñútuf - narrower

Superlative forms are trickier. If the last vowel is a front vowel, you add fẽeh. If it's a back vowel, you add fomoh.

nlefẽeh - nlefẽeh - best

ekwãgãfẽeh - ekwãgãfẽeh - highest/tallest

ñútfomoh - ñútfomoh - narrowest

Just like in English, there are some irregular adjectives:

güs - güs - bad

~~güsüf - güsüf - bader~~

~~güsfẽeh - güsfẽeh - badest~~

These are incorrect examples. The right words are:

guzof - worse

guzõfoh - worst

[edit] [top]gimgwág - Gimgwágü - Numerals

AWM uses base 6 numeral system. The numbers from one to six are.

1-6
Rule	Just simple numbers (A)
Decimal value	English	AWM	AWM numerals
1	one	üs	1
2	two	yú	2
3	three	tüŋg	3
4	four	gwũ	4
5	five	sĩ	5
6	six	şwĩ	6
7-11
Rule	A "and" 6
Decimal value	English	AWM	AWM numerals
7	seven	üs ú şwĩ	1ú6
8	eight	yú ú şwĩ	2ú6
9	nine	tüŋg ú şwĩ	3ú6
10	ten	gwũ ú şwĩ	4ú6
11	eleven	sĩ ú şwĩ	5ú6
12-35
Rule	A "and" B "times" 6
12	twelve	yú şwĩ-zin	26-zin
13	thirteen	üs ú yú şwĩ-zin	1ú26-zin
14	thirteen	yú ú yú şwĩ-zin	2ú26-zin
...
18	eightteen	tüŋg şwĩ-zin	36-zin
24	twenty four	gwũ şwĩ-zin	46-zin
30	thirty	sĩ şwĩ-zin	56-zin
36-42
Rule	A "and" 36
36	thirty six	şedg	7
37	thirty seven	üs ú şedg	1ú7
38	thirty eight	yú ú şedg	2ú7
43-216
Rule	A "and" B "times" 6 "and" 36
43	fourty three	üs ú şwĩ ú şedg	1ú6ú7
69	sixty nine	tüŋg ú sĩ şwĩ-zin ú şedg	3ú56-zin-ú-7
72	seventy two	yú şedg-zin	27zin
215	twohundred and fiveteen	sĩ ú sĩ şwĩ-zin ú sĩ şedg-zin	5ú56zin-ú57zin
216	twohundred and sixteen	şwĩ şedg-zin	67zin
217-1295
Rule	A "and" B "times" 6 "times" 36
217	twohundred and seventeen	üs ú şwĩ şedg-zin	1ú67zin
1295		sĩ ú sĩ şwĩ-zin ú sĩ şwĩ şedg-zin	5ú567sin-ú567-zin
1296-46655
Rule
1296		kügü	8
46656-1679615
Rule
46656		mihndeq	9
1679616-
Rule
1679616		thónçuw	0

[edit] [top]eyiŋgügü- Eyiŋgügü - Verbs

[edit] [top]eyiŋgügin kinü qhewedrgwárá - Eyiŋgügin kinü qhewedrgwárá - Verb affixation order

Ancient-Mawic is mostly an agglutinative language. This can be seen in the verbs. Verbs are modifyed by adding affixes. Affixes can be combined, to express more complex things. They have a very stict order. Confusing them might change the meaning.

Subject	Verb	Evidential	Aspect	Sub-aspect	Tense	Mood
-1	0	1	2	3	4	5
tüy	detü	rim	gin	_	t	s
3DThird person dual (person) neither speaker nor addressee (they two)	see	IDREIndirect evidential (evidentiality) speaker has indirect knowledge	HABHabitual (aspect) done often or out of habit	_	PASPast action occurred before moment of speech	INTERRInterrogative mood (mood) asks questions

tüydetürimgintis
Tüydetürimgintis?
/tujdɛtuɾimgintis/
(Maybe) they (both) used to see it?

Anicient-Mawic language has a vowel harmony system, which might change the vowels of the affixes. The vowel harmony will be explained in an other article.

[edit] [top]ḑejgwá - ḑejgwá - Evidentiality

There are two classes of evidentiality. Direct evidential is unmarked. It's used when the speaker has direct knowledge about the event, believes as a truth. Indirect evidentiality is expressed with the word rim/rom (take). It's also possible to express doubt with it.

keçüthã
(Tüq) keçüthã
3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.come-PERFPerfect (aspect/tense)
have verb-ed
He have come.

keçürimthã
keçürimthã
3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.come-IDREIndirect evidential (evidentiality)
speaker has indirect knowledge-PERFPerfect (aspect/tense)
have verb-ed
He must have come.

Or:

ü-gwírim twüsédĩd
Ügwírim twüsédĩd.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-got-IDREIndirect evidential (evidentiality)
speaker has indirect knowledge market-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
I might go to the market./Maybe I'll go to the market.

[edit] [top]ebgü - Ebgü - Aspect

There are 6 aspects in AWM.

Imperfective/Continous (unmarked) - the action is incomplete, the end point doesn't matter

üdetü
Üdetü
I see

Perfective (w/u/ü in present tense wot/ut/wöt/üt in past tense) - the action is/was/will be completed

üdetüwöt tükük
Üdetüwöt tükük.
I saw him.

Progressive (gu/gü) - incomplete action, has a definite end point VERB-ing

üyeptehgü
Üyeptehgü
I'm peeling it.

Habitual (gin/gon) - the action happens regularly

übedgin böküd
Übedgin böküd.
I stay here often.

Perfect (thã/thõ) - focusing to the changed state, that the action causedhave VERB-ed

mẽtthã ŋgẽgük úbguf
Mẽtthã ŋgẽgük úbguf.
He have got us food.

There are two subaspects, they can be combined with any other aspects.

Infinitive (fá/fó) - to VERB

ügwígü yedfá
Ügwígü yedfá.
I'm going to fight.

Semelfactive ((ñ)ág/(ñ)og) - the action is repeated within the event.

üsãötöñág sãçáwak
Üsãötöñág sãçáwak.
I read the book again and again.

[edit] [top]twó - Twó - Tenses

AWM distinguishes only two tenses: past and non-past. Only past tense is marked with the t affix. Future events can be expressed by using indirect evidential, or time specifying words, like later, tomorrow, ect.

Past:
üsãt qwedgük dáütüd
Üsãt qwedgük dáütüd
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-write-PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete' letter-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient yesterday-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
I was writing a letter yesterday.

Present:
üsã(rim) qwedgük kédáwad
Üsã(rim) qwedgük kédáwad
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-write.PREPresent.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'-(IDREIndirect evidential (evidentiality)
speaker has indirect knowledge) letter-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient today-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
I (will) write a letter today.

Future:
üsãrim qwedgük dáübüd
Üsãrim qwedgük dáübüd
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-write-IDREIndirect evidential (evidentiality)
speaker has indirect knowledge letter-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient tomorrow-LOCLocative (case)
'in, on, at' etc
I will write a letter tomorrow

Future sentences always use indirect evidential, unless if it's a promise or a threat.

[edit] [top]úgu - Úgu - Mood

Moods work in a similar way as tense, aspect, evidential suffixes. There are 6 mood in PRMC:

Indicative (unmarked) - The basic form of a verb.

gwu gwüzẽg (dá)
Gwu gwüzẽg (dá).
sky.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument blue COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate
Sky is blue.

Imperative (-r) - Marks command.

düfdeçer tükük!
Düfdeçer tükük!
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-beat-IMPImperative (mood)
command 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee.ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
Beat him!

Interrogative (-s) - Marks question.

düfdeçwötös tükük
Düfdeçwötös tükük?
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-beat-INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions-PFVPerfective (aspect)
completed action.PASTPast tense (tense)
action occurred before moment of speech 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
Did you beat him?

Necessative (-q) - must/need to...

düfdeçeq tükük
Düfdeçeq tükük!
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-beat-NECNecessitative mood (mood)
must, have to 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
You must/need to beat him!

Abilitative (-keq/koq) - can...

düfdeçkeq tükük
Düfdeçkeq tükük!
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-beat-ABILAbilitative (mood)
expresses ability 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
You can beat him.

Causative (-düş/duş) - Make someone to do something

üfdeçdüş tükük dus
Üfdeçdüş tükük dus.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-beat-CAUSCausative (valency/mood)
cause an action to occur, force another argument to act 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-INSTCInstrumental-comitative (case)
'with' (instrument and/or company)
I make you to beat him.

Optative (-kĩ/kũ) - Wish, want to...

üfdeçkĩ tükük
Üfdeçkĩ tükük.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-beat-OPTOptative (mood)
'wish, hope' 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
I want to/would like to beat him.

[edit] [top]táwgü - Táwgü - Negation

There is a negative prefix (a/u) in AWM.
For example:
kék detü
Kék detü.
He/she sees it.

kék adetü
Kék adetü.
He/she doesn't see it.

But this is an old/archaic method of negation. It can not be used if the subject is marked in the verb. In this case the we use the word adá wich means "is not". Just put "adá" after the negated pharse.

üdetü kék adá
Üdetü kék adá.
I don't see it.

dügwíkeq gwó adá
Dügwíkeq gwó adá
You shall not pass!

[edit] [top]Interrogative phrases

[edit] [top]Yes/no questions

Yes/no questions are simple. The word order stays the same. We must mark the verb with the interrogative suffix -s.

da-kwá úb-uk.
Da-kwá úb-uk.
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-like 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
You like me.

da-kwá-s úb-uk?
Da-kwá-s úb-uk?
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-like-INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
Do you like me?

If we except a "yes" answer:

da-kwá-s úb-uk dá?
Da-kwá-s úb-uk dá?
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-like-INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate
You like me, don't you?

If we except a "no" answer:

da-kwá-s a-dá úb-uk?
Da-kwá-s a-dá úb-uk?
2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-like-INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions NEGNegative (polarity)
not-COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient
You don't like me, do you?

The answer might be:

dá/adá
Dá/Adá
COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate/NEGNegative (polarity)
not-COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate
Yes/no

,or:

ü-kwá./ü-kwá a-dá.
Ü-kwá./Ü-kwá a-dá.
1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-like.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'.NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future/1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I-like.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete' NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future NEGNegative (polarity)
not-COPCopula
used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate
I like you./I don't like you.

[edit] [top]Complicated questions

The phrase begins with the interrogiative pronoun (what/who/where/why/how/ect). Do not forget, the pronouns are marked for case too. Except for the nominative. Nominative is unmarked.

ses-k dã-sãöt-gü?
Ses-k dã-sãöt-gü?
whar.INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions-ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-read-NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future.PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing
What are you reading?

ses dün-indá?
Ses dün-indá?
what.INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions.NOMNominative (case)
TRANS subject, INTR argument 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you).POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has-name
What (is) your name?

seşteüs-sin de-çégü?
Seşteüs-sin de-çégü?
where.INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions-ELAElative (case)
'out of, from' 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-origin
Where are you from?

seziŋg du-lu-gu?
Seziŋg du-lu-gu?
why.INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-run.NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future-PROGProgressive (aspect)
be verb-ing
Why are you running?

sezeb da-dá?
Sezeb da-dá?
how.INTERRInterrogative mood (mood)
asks questions 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you)-be.NPSTNon-past (tense)
present, continuous and future.IPFVImperfective (aspect)
'interrupted or incomplete'
How are you?

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