Ffííxrru Nouns

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There is neither gender nor number in Ffííxrru. But, depending on the way you count, between 2 and 9 cases.

The main verb of a sentence governs the cases of the noun phrases. There are three kinds of verbs, describing actions, perceptions and mental states.

Contents 1 Actions 2 Perceptions 3 Mental States 4 Questions

Actions

If the main verb describes an action, the stressed vowel of the noun is long and more open.

• If the noun describes the agent (subject) of the action, the prefix a- is attached. But if the noun starts with a vowel, the prefix is a consonant that differs from word to word.
• If the noun describes the patient (object) of a transitive verb, the suffix -qh is attached.
• If the noun describes the beneficiary (indirect object) of a ditransitive verb, the suffix -qh is attached to the beneficiary noun, and the patient noun gets no affix.

James killed Mary.
Éfitthdo Mááriqh aTshaams.
(éfitth = to kill, Méri = Mary, Tshems = James)

James gave Mary the book.
Etthlárxdo booqh Mááriqh aTshaams.
(etthlárx = to give, buqh = book)

Perceptions

If the main verb describes a perception, the stressed syllable of the noun is prefixed to the noun, but with a short vowel.

• If the noun describes the agent (subject), the prefix rr- is attached to the noun with the repeated syllable.
• If the noun describes the patient (object), the suffix -as is attached to the noun with the repeated syllable.
• If the noun describes a property, the suffix -as is attached to the property noun with the repeated syllable, and the patient noun gets no affix. Adjectives are treated as property nouns.

James saw Mary.
Oltthádo meMérias rrotsheTshéms.
(oltthá = to see, Méri = Mary, Tshems = James)

James saw the big hut.
Oltthádo ngikxengíls óóthooas rrotsheTshéms.
(kxengíls = hut, óthoo = big)

Mental States

If the main verb describes a mental state, the stressed syllable is doubled, but the repetition has a short vowel. If the noun starts with a stressed vowel, that vowel becomes long.

• If the noun describes the subject, the prefix mm- is attached.
• If the noun describes the object, no affix is attached.

John loves Mary.
Éérruudo Mémeri mmTshétshems.
(éérruu = to love, Méri = Mary, Tshems = James)

Questions

Questions are expressed with a special interrogative case. Just add the suffix -xa to the noun in question.

Does John love Mary?
Éérruudo Mémerixa mmTshétshems?

Who loves Mary?
Éerruudo Mémeri mmááththshiixa?
(áththshii = dummy pronoun for persons)

1. Introduction
2. Pronunciation
3. Nouns
4. Verbs
5. Pronouns
6. Attributive Clauses and Adjuncts
7. Word Order
8. Numbers
9. Vocabulary
10. Sample Text

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