Kī́rtako morphology
- Main article: Kī́rtako
This page gives an extensive description of Kī́rtako morphological features.
Nouns
Nouns in Kī́rtako language end almost exclusively in a vowel. A certain number of nouns, mostly loanwords, may unusually end in a consonant; in this case a euphonic vowel, -ɑ-, is added at the end of noun before the normal declension endings.
Nouns are grouped into two declension classes: animate nouns or first class and inanimate nouns or second class. The first class generally includes nouns indicating animate beings, namely capable of intentional motion or action, while the second class includes inanimate objects or entities. As a rule, we can sketch out the following scheme:
- 1st class: human beings, animals, deities
- 2nd class: plants, objects, ideas, feelings, senses, perceptions
A noun is not irreversibly included in one of the two classes, as nouns lack clear morphological marks for each class.
For example, the word sɑño, light, shifts from a class to the other during the history of the language, as the noun ñowe, love, depending on the overall cultural perception of the noun’s animateness degree.
Despite the general lack of morphological markers in the basic forms, being thus unable to distinguish the two classes, the declension patterns depend on which class a noun belongs to.
There are two morphological numbers for almost all nouns, singular and plural.
Cases
Kī́rtako nouns do decline, according to an active-stative system with 9 cases:
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| Agentive | This case marks primarily the subject of a transitive verb. It is also used to mark the subject of an intransitive verb, which displays a certain degree of activity, will or intention in performing the said action or in being in a certain state. It can be used only with nouns belonging to the 1st class. |
| Passive | This case marks primarily the direct object of a transitive verb. It is also used to mark the subject of an intransitive verb, which displays no degree of activity, will or intention in performing the said action or in being in a certain state. It is regarded as the base form of the noun, and it is used as the vocative form. |
| Ablative | This case marks primarily a natural and unintentional belonging (for example, body parts), without any sign of will of possession, or an inverse belonging. It also marks the point of origin of a movement (motion from a place). It is also used to mark the direct object of an infinitival form of a verb, marking thus the direct object of the negated form of a transitive verb. |
| Genitive | This case marks an intentional possession, from subjects with a clear and active will. It can be used only with nouns belonging to the 1st class. |
| Dative | This case marks primarily the indirect object. It can also mark the final point of a movement (motion toward a place), and, in a broad sense, the final purpose of an action or a state. |
| Causative | This case marks the reason or the cause, which are the source of an action or a state. |
| Instrumental | This case marks the tool or the instrument which are used to perform an action or to be in a certain state. It can be used only with nouns belonging to the 2nd class. |
| Abessive | This case marks the tool or the instrument which are absent while performing an action or being in a certain state. It can be used only with nouns belonging to the 2nd class. |
| Locative | This case marks the place where an action is performed, or a certain state exist (stative location). It can also have a temporal value. It can be used only with nouns belonging to the 2nd class. |
The cases are usually classified in 4 groups:
- Primary main cases: agentive, genitive
- Secondary main cases: passive, ablative
- Primary oblique cases: dative, causative
- Secondary oblique cases: instrumental, abessive, locative
Other types of clause complements are conveyed using various postpositions, which can select one or more cases.
Noun declension
Nouns are declined for case and number by adding the following endings to the base form of the noun:
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-li | -noli | ||
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- | -no | - | -no |
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-šu | -nošu | -šu | -nošu |
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-ra | -nora | ||
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-ɣɑ | -noɣɑ | -ɣɑ | -noɣɑ |
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-khu | -nokhu | -khu | -nokhu |
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-khɑ | -nokhɑ | ||
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-gil | -nogil | ||
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-tsar | -notsar | ||
Some examples are shown below: a 1st class noun, papu, father, and a 2nd class noun, sṓgo, house.
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papuli | papunoli | ||
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papu | papuno | sṓgo | sṓgono |
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papušu | papunošu | sṓgošu | sṓgonošu |
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papura | papunora | ||
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papuɣɑ | papunoɣɑ | sṓgoɣɑ | sṓgonoɣɑ |
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papukhu | papunokhu | sṓgokhu | sṓgonokhu |
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sṓgokhɑ | sṓgonokhɑ | ||
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sṓgogil | sṓgonogil | ||
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sṓgotsar | sṓgonotsar | ||
As for the rules, the endings for the secondary oblique cases cannot be added to a 1st class noun, while the endings for the primary main cases cannot be added to a 2nd class noun.
Adjectives and pronouns
Adjectives closely resemble the noun form, mostly ending in a vowel and showing the same exceptions of nouns. Pronouns, instead, may exhibit different forms in the root form.
Adjectives
Attributive adjectives are always placed before the nouns they specify, while predicative adjectives are always placed after them.
jṓpā́ wī́ro (the) young man
wī́ro jṓpā́ (ʔɑñ) (the) man is young
As the verbal copula, ʔɑñɑme, to be, can be omitted when the subject is expressed in the clause, the attributive or predicative role of an adjective can be inferred only by its own position.
All adjectives agree in case and number with the noun they specify, being declined with the nominal endings. They thus display a complete declension set, not belonging inherently to one of the two classes.
jṓpā́ra wī́rora rḗʔo sṓgo pinkotsar wɑkitsar mḗʔis the young man’s new house is located in the nearby village
Declension of qualifying adjectives
Example: rḗʔo, new
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rḗʔoli | rḗʔonoli |
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rḗʔo | rḗʔono |
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rḗʔošu | rḗʔonošu |
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rḗʔora | rḗʔonora |
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rḗʔoɣɑ | rḗʔonoɣɑ |
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rḗʔokhu | rḗʔonokhu |
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rḗʔokhɑ | rḗʔonokhɑ |
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rḗʔogil | rḗʔonogil |
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rḗʔotsar | rḗʔonotsar |
Comparison of qualifying adjectives
Adjectives have two comparison forms, comparative and superlative. They are formed by adding the following endings:
| -rṓ | |
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-rṓtu |
These endings are always placed before the case endings. The second comparative term is in the ablative case and is followed by the postposition phɑw.
wī́ro ʔṓnašu phɑw jṓpā́rṓ (ʔɑñ) the man is younger than the woman
ʔṓna owtunošu phɑw jṓpā́rṓtu (ʔɑñ) the woman is the youngest of/among us
Personal pronouns
Personal pronouns display a marked dichotomy between the first two persons (1st and 2nd) and the 3rd person.
Both the first and the second person have indeed two different roots, exhibiting thus a mixed declension; more than one form for each case is created on both roots. On the other hand, the third person has only one root.
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owtu | ertu | ɑktuli | owtuno | ertuno | ɑktunoli |
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jo | nɑ | ɑktu | jono | nɑno | ɑktuno |
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owtušu | ertušu | ɑktušu | owtunošu | ertunošu | ɑktunošu |
| jošu | nɑšu | jonošu | nɑnošu | |||
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owtura | ertura | ɑktura | owtunora | ertunora | ɑktunora |
| jora | nɑra | jonora | nɑnora | |||
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joɣɑ | nɑɣɑ | ɑktuɣɑ | jonoɣɑ | nɑnoɣɑ | ɑktunoɣɑ |
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jokhu | nɑkhu | ɑktukhu | jonokhu | nɑnokhu | ɑktunokhu |
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ɑktukhɑ | ɑktunokhɑ | ||||
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ɑktugil | ɑktunogil | ||||
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ɑktutsar | ɑktunotsar |
First and second person forms are meant as referents for 1st class entities; the endings for the secondary oblique cases are thus not used with them. Conversely, the third person forms display a complete declension, in which the case forms are used whether the referred name belongs to the 1st or the 2nd class.
In the pre-classical period another form for the third person, nigtu, is also used. This form is used in an obviative relationship with the form ɑktu, but it has already disappeared in the classical period.
1st and 2nd person pronouns have two forms in the ablative and in the genitive case. These forms are distinguished between broad forms (owtušu, ertušu,...) and narrow forms (jošu, nɑšu,...), which have a different use:
- In the ablative case:
- Broad form: it is used as the ablative form of the pronoun, in the main meanings of the case and with postpositions. It is also used to mark belonging (according to the role of the ablative case), playing the role of an indeclinable possessive adjective or pronoun.
ertunošu papu ʔalolī́ponow we saw your father
- Narrow form: it is mostly used as a direct object form for verbal infinitives and in negative sentences.
nɑšu hṓthī́niñɑme ʔaʔī́sow I wasn't looking for you
- In the genitive case:
- Broad form: it is used to mark strictly possession, playing the role of an indeclinable possessive adjective or pronoun..
ertunora sṓgo ʔalolī́ponow we saw your house
- Narrow form: it is mostly used with postpositions.
nɑra ʔḕ kogiwow I'm going to come with you
Especially in the genitive case these roles are not unchangeably fixed, but they can shift meaning during the entire history of the language: is it indeed not impossibile to find the narrow forms with a possessive role in the later period.
Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
The forms of the possessive adjectives are the following:
- that: ɑktuko
- this: niktuko
Demonstrative pronouns exhibit, instead, different forms:
- that one: ɑwo
- this one: niwo
Interrogative pronouns
Basic interrogative pronouns display two different forms: one for animate entities (who?) and one for inanimate entities (what?).
- what: šɑ
- who: šā́
Both pronouns can be declined, with the nominal declension endings, according to their animacy class.
šā́ɣɑ om pike ʔakowɑker whom did you give water to?
However, while the animate class pronoun keeps its original meaning when declined, the inanimate class pronouns usually acquire new meanings, depending on the selected case:
- šɑtsar: where (static location)
- šɑɣɑ: where (motion toward)
- šɑšu: where... from (motion form)
- šɑkhu: why (cause)
All forms can, nevertheless, keep their original meaning of “what”:
šɑšu lolī́piñame om ʔaʔī́ser what didn’t you see?
The various meanings of the declined forms can be usually inferred by the context of the sentence.
There are also other interrogative adjectives and pronouns (and adverbs):
- šā́ko: which (animate)
- šɑko: which (inanimate)
- šɑjuʔṓ: when
- šā́mine: how much (animate)
- šā́mineko: how much / many (animate)
- šɑmine: how much (inanimate)
- šɑmineko: how much / many (inanimate)
- šɑmɑgi: how
Example:
šā́minekono gū́ʔetino totirer how many horses do you own?
Inside of an interrogative clause, pronouns usually stay in their syntactical position, according to their role, but in the later period they tend to be moved at the beginning of the sentence. In addition, like other parts of the sentences, can be followed by postpositions:
šā́ɣɑ gū́ om tsɑgewuger whom are you talking about?
Relative pronoun
There is only one form of relative pronoun:
- hī́
This form displays a complete declension, in which the case forms are used whether the referred name belongs to the 1st or the 2nd class.
Indefinite adjectives and pronouns
There are three basic forms of indefinite adjectives:
- jḗʔo: every
- mṓwū́: some, any
- hḗsu: no
The form of the adjective mṓwū́ is diachronically irregular; in the pre-classical period is indeed regularly mowū́. In the same period these adjectives do not agree with the nouns they specify, and they are usually found in an undeclined form.
This kind of adjectives can usually mark both an undefined quality and a quantity regarding the nouns they specify. When marking quantity, they always agree with their name in singular number. When marking quality, however, they can also agree with nouns in the plural.
jḗʔo wɑki every village (all the villages)
There are, also, two basic forms of indefinite pronouns:
- pā́mo: much, many, a lot
- sī́pā́: few, a little, a few
These pronouns usually mark an undefined quantity of the entities, indicated by the nouns they specify. They exhibit a particular construction: these indefinite pronouns stay always in the singular number, while the nouns they specify are declined always in the ablative case. In this construction a greater role is played by the distinction between countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns are usually required in the plural number, while uncountable nouns are required in the singular number by this kind of pronouns.
pā́mo mā́sonošu many mice, a lot of mice
sī́pā́ pikešu a little water
The syntactic role of the noun cluster is conveyed by the indefinite pronouns, which are thus properly declined. The number of the cluster, however, is not expressed by them and stays in the singular. The verb of the sentence, if needed, agrees with the indefinite subject noun cluster in the singular number.
pā́moli wī́ronošu rā́no mṓtsatɑt a lot of men are collecting milk
The declension class of the two pronouns, nevertheless, depends on the class of the nouns they specify.
There are, also, several other forms of indefinite pronouns (and adverbs), mostly derived by merging the indefinite adjectives with other nouns or pronouns:
- jḗšɑ: everything, all, all things (inanimate - 2nd class)
- jḗšā́: everyone, everybody (animate - 1st class)
- jḗphū́ka: everyone, each one (animate - 1st class)
- jḗrā́ʔi: everything, each thing (inanimate - 2nd class)
- jḗjuʔṓ: every moment, always (invariable)
- jḗjuʔṓɣɑ: forever (invariable)
- mṓwū́šɑ: something (inanimate - 2nd class)
- mṓwū́šā́: someone, somebody (animate - 1st class)
- mṓwū́phū́ka: someone, somebody (animate - 1st class)
- mṓwū́rā́ʔi: something (inanimate - 2nd class)
- mṓwū́pošɑ: something (inanimate - 2nd class)
- mṓwū́pošā́: someone, somebody (animate - 1st class)
- mṓwū́juʔṓ: sometimes (invariable)
- mṓwū́pojuʔṓ: sometimes (invariable)
- hḗšɑ: nothing (inanimate - 2nd class)
- hḗšā́: no one, nobody (animate - 1st class)
- hḗphū́ka: no one, nobody (animate - 1st class)
- hḗrā́ʔi: nothing (inanimate - 2nd class)
- hḗjuʔṓ: in no moment, never (invariable)
These pronouns, except the invariable ones, can be declined according to their animacy class.
Adverbs
There is a limited number of pure adverbial forms, like ʔū́mtu, inside, or ʔḗhlo, together, mostly akin to postpositions, both for their origin and their meaning.
Generally, adjectives can be used as adverbs by simply putting them before the verb in their undeclined form (which works well also with temporal indefinite adjectives).
Another way to derive an adverbial form from an adjectives is the construction ADJ-tsar mɑgitsar, which means in a ADJ way, AGG-ly. This construction has, however, a strongly marked meaning and usage.
The adverbial use of the adjectives can involve the comparison forms.
Numerals
The numeral system relies on a decimal base.
The first ten cardinal numbers are noun-like forms on their own:
- 1: šā́ʔo
- 2: ʔaki
- 3: mikṓ
- 4: gṓwe
- 5: pā́ge
- 6: thū́wa
- 7: hašɑ
- 8: kuʔe
- 9: tsṓju
- 10: phḗʔo
Numerals from 11 to 19 are built with the construction NUM + phḗʔo + nā́. Examples:
- 11: šā́ʔophḗʔonā́
- 15: pā́gephḗʔonā́
The numerals for (one) hundred and (one) thousand are noun-like forms on their own:
- 100: ñā́tu
- 1000: wiʔā́
The nouns of the multiples of tens, hundreds and thousands are built with the construction NUM + re + phḗʔo/ ñā́tu/wiʔā́:
- 30: mikṓrephḗʔo
- 600: thū́wareñā́tu
- 9000: tsṓjurewiʔā́
Numbers above the multiples of thousands have no own name and are specified by the lesser numerals.
Composite numbers are built by just putting them aside, without any conjunction, in descending order:
- 1985: wiʔā́ tsṓjureñā́tu kuʔerephḗʔo pā́ge
All cardinal numerals are meant as invariable forms.
Ordinal numerals are formed by adding the adjectival ending -ko to the cardinal numeral form:
- 1st: šā́ʔoko
- 5th: pā́geko
If the numeral form is composite, the ending is added only to the last numeral form:
- 25th: ʔakirephḗʔo pā́geko
Postpositions
In the Kī́rtako language a noun cluster can be followed by a postposition, which gives a new meaning to the case of the selected noun cluster. Thus, every possible clause complement can be effectively expressed.
All postpositions are always placed after the noun they specify. Most postposition share a similar origin with the adverbial forms, while some postposition originated from fixed case forms of nouns.
General list of postpositions
Each postposition tends to follow a noun cluster, which is declined in one grammatical case. Thus, it is said that each postposition governs a specific case.
Most postpositions govern only one case, while some other postpositions govern more than one, while slightly altering their meaning depending on the selected case (like kī́g).
| case | meaning | |
| ʔḕ | + genitive | with, together with (marking company) |
| hā́k | + ablative | from, native to (marking origin) |
| jɑl | + ablative | from, coming from (marking a departure point) |
| sū̀ | + dative | for, aiming to (marking purpose) |
| kī́g | + instrumental | by, with, by means of (marking instrument) |
| + ablative | by way of, using (marking exploiting) | |
| phes | + ablative | without, in the absence of (marking absence) |
| kṓw | + dative | towards, in the direction of (marking direction) |
| phɑw | + ablative | in relation to (marking relation) |
| mɑg | + passive | in comparison to, like, as (marking comparison) |
| gū́ | + dative | about, regarding, concerning (marking topic, theme) |
| pḗr | + dative | through, throughout, across (marking from a side to the other) |
| phun | + locative/genitive | after (temporal value) |
| roš | + locative/genitive | before (temporal value) |
| wū́g | + ablative | away, away from (marking distancing) |
| pṓtu | + dative | against, in opposition to (marking opposition) |
Some postpositions conveying location or motion make use of different case to specify a static location (locative or passive case), a motion towards a place (dative case) or a motion from a place (ablative case). Such postpositions are called locative postpositions:
| case | meaning | |
| ʔū́m | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | inside of |
| sā̀ | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | outside of |
| wim | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | under |
| git | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | over, on |
| pig | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | near |
| phṓr | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | in front of, opposite |
| šom | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | behind |
| tī́n | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | between, among |
| ʔī́r | + locative/passive/dative/ablative | around |
A clear explanation of each postposition is presented in the following section.
ʔḕ
The postposition ʔḕ conveys the meaning of the complement of company. It specifies an entity, together with which a certain action is performed or a certain state exists.
sṓgoɣɑ owtušu kogā́tinora ʔḕ ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went home with my friends
This postposition always governs the genitive case.
It never conveys the instrument, by which the action is performed; this function is expressed by the instrumental case or by the postposition kī́g. Thus, this postposition is never used with a 2nd class noun.
hā́k
The postposition hā́k conveys the meaning of the complement of origin. It specifies the original point of an action or a state.
jo Kī́rtašu hā́k (ʔɑñow) I am from Kī́rta. (It is my birthplace)
This postposition always governs the ablative case.
It can however convey, especially in later texts, the general meaning of motion from a place, in other words, the beginning point of a motion of any kind. Such use is often confused with the postposition jɑl.
sṓgošu hā́k ʔawɑpū́kow I departed from the house. (my motion began from that place)
In the classical period, this last role is played directly by the ablative case alone.
sṓgošu ʔawɑpū́kow I departed from the house. (my motion began from that place)
jɑl
The postposition jɑl conveys the meaning of the complement of provenience. It specifies the beginning point of an action or a state which can have more than one direction.
Kī́rtašu jɑl kigowow I came from Kī́rta. (my travel began in that city)
This postposition always governs the ablative case.
It can however convey, especially in later texts, the general meaning of motion from a place, in other words, the beginning point of a motion of any kind. Such use is often confused with the postposition hā́k.
sṓgošu jɑl ʔawɑpū́kow I departed from the house. (my motion began from that place)
In the classical period, this last role is played directly by the ablative case alone.
sṓgošu ʔawɑpū́kow I departed from the house. (my motion began from that place)
sū̀
The postposition sū̀ conveys the meaning of the complement of purpose. It specifies an entity, which is the final goal why a certain action is performed or a certain state exists.
hḗmɑ ɑktušu kogā́tiɣɑ sū̀ ʔatitorugow I bought some bread for my friend
Generally the purpose is implicitly meant to be positive, being thus of benefit to the subject or to someone else. It is however possible that the meaning of the purpose is neutral or even negative for someone.
This postposition always governs the dative case.
The use of this postposition is very limited in pre-classical texts, where the purpose is conveyed directly by the dative case alone. This use of the case alone falls into a severe decline in the classical texts, while it disappears entirely in the later period, when the purpose is expressed only by the postposition sū̀.
owtušu mamuɣɑ kinusow → owtušu mamuɣɑ sū̀ kinusow I sing for my mother
It never conveys the cause, because of which the action is performed; this function is expressed by the causative case alone.
kī́g
The postposition kī́g conveys more meanings by governing more than one case. It conveys, firstly, the meaning of the complement of mean. It specifies an entity, through which a certain action is performed or a certain state exists. In this role it governs the ablative case.
ɑktu owtušu kogā́tišu kī́g pogikow I will send it through my friend
It never conveys the entity, together which the action is performed; this function is expressed by the postposition ʔḕ.
It may additionally convey the meaning of the complement of instrument. It specifies an object by which a certain action is performed, or a certain state exists. In this role it governs the instrumental case.
mā́so jū́wakhɑ kī́g ʔaʔilukokon the mouse was killed with a stone.
In this meaning it is never used with 1st class nouns.
The meaning of the complement of instrument is basically conveyed by the instrumental case alone.
mā́so jū́wakhɑ ʔaʔilukokon the mouse was killed with a stone.
Therefore, this postposition is almost never used in the pre-classical and in the classical period in this meaning. The only use in this sense is limited to stressing the role of the complement or to avoiding ambiguities. In the texts of the later period the use of this postposition with the meaning of instrument takes a firm hold and spreads significantly.
phes
The postposition phes conveys the meaning of the complement of absence or exclusion. It specifies an entity, without which a certain action is performed or a certain state exists.
sṓgoɣɑ owtušu kogā́tinošu phes ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went home without my friends
This postposition always governs the ablative case.
It can convey both the idea that the exclusion of the said entity is required to the action to be performed and the idea of the simple absence without any benefit for the final goal.
It never conveys the absence of the entity, by the means of which the action is performed; this function is expressed by the abessive case alone.
In this meaning it is scarcely used with 2nd class nouns, except in a broad sense.
kṓw
The postposition kṓw conveys the meaning of the complement of direction. It specifies a location or an entity, towards which a movement is aimed or a certain action is performed.
ɑktušu kogā́tinoli šupā́tɑkoɣɑ tirṓsiɣɑ kṓw ʔimḗɣonɑt his friends are going towards the royal palace
This postposition always governs the dative case.
It can however convey, especially in later texts, the general meaning of motion to a place, in other words, the ending point of a motion of any kind.
sṓgoɣɑ kṓw ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went home. (my motion ended in that place)
In the classical period, this last role is played directly by the dative case alone.
sṓgoɣɑ ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went home. (my motion ended in that place)
phɑw
The postposition phɑw conveys the meaning of the complement of relation. It specifies an entity, which is the other term in any kind of relations.
ɑktušu tatḗwili ɑktukošu tsetsešu phɑw hā́lo kojā́hɑme phɑgesɑt her child can write well compared to that child
It is therefore used to mark the second term in adjective comparisons. Comparison is indeed meant as a relation between two or more parties.
ertušu kogā́ti owtušu papušu phɑw ʔokḗrṓ (ʔɑñ) your friend is older than my father
This postposition always governs the ablative case.
It never conveys an entity, which is the second term in an equivalence comparison; this function is expressed by the postposition mɑg.
mɑg
The postposition mɑg conveys the meaning of the complement of equivalence. It specifies an entity, which is the second term in an equivalence comparison.
ɑktušu kogā́ti mɑg ʔoptsaʔɑt he works like his friend
This postposition always governs the passive case.
It never conveys an entity, which is the other term in any kind of non-equivalence comparison; this function is expressed by the postposition phɑw.
gū́
The postposition gū́ conveys the meaning of the complement of theme. It specifies an entity, which is the topic to which the conversation or the sentence refers.
owtušu kogā́tinoli ɑktunošu wɑkiɣɑ gū́ ʔatsɑgewugonɑt my friends were talking about their village
This postposition always governs the dative case.
pḗr
The postposition pḗr conveys the meaning of the complement of crossing. It specifies a location or an entity, through which a movement or a certain action is performed.
ponunoɣɑ pḗr ʔapetṓkow I walked through the fields
This postposition always governs the dative case.
phun
The postposition phun conveys a temporal relation of posteriority. It specifies the temporal location, after which a certain action is performed or a certain state exists.
ertušu kogā́tinora phun ʔakogiwekow I came after your friends
The temporal location does not distinguish among real entities, actions, ideas, feeling or cognitions, except by their case usage.
This postposition governs the genitive case, when used with a 1st class noun, and it governs the locative case, when used with a 2nd class noun.
roš
The postposition roš conveys a temporal relation of anteriority. It specifies the temporal location, before which a certain action is performed or a certain state exists.
ertušu kogā́tinora roš ʔakogiwekow I came before your friends
The temporal location does not distinguish among real entities, actions, ideas, feeling or cognitions, except by their case usage.
This postposition governs the genitive case, when used with a 1st class noun, and it governs the locative case, when used with a 2nd class noun.
wū́g
The postposition wū́g conveys the meaning of the complement of distancing or estrangement. It specifies a location or an entity, away from a certain action is performed or a certain state exists, or the idea of estrangement from such a location or entity.
ɑktušu kogā́tino sṓgošu wū́g siɣakɑt he will send his friend away from his house
This postposition always governs the ablative case.
pṓtu
The postposition pṓtu conveys more meanings. It conveys, firstly, the meaning of the complement of detriment. It specifies an entity, to the detriment of which a certain action is performed, or a certain state exists.
ɑktu ertušu kogā́tinoɣɑ pṓtu ʔakakigekow I did it against your friends
It may additionally convey the meaning of the complement of opposition or objection. It specifies an entity, against which a certain action is performed, or a certain state exists.
šupā́tɑɣɑ pṓtu tsegɑwugow I am going to speak against the king
It may moreover convey the meaning of motion against a place, in other words, the location against which a certain action is performed, or a certain state exists.
mā́soli ʔḗpsɑɣɑ pṓtu ʔakarṓʔɑt the mouse ran against the door
This postposition always governs the dative case.
Locative postpositions
Locative postpositions convey a spatial location, which can be either static or in motion. Such postpositions are characterised by a peculiar usage of the nominal cases. They can govern four different cases, while keeping the same meaning. The different cases express the relation between the main meaning of the postposition and the type of staticity or motion the subject of the said location may have. The meaning of the different cases are:
- Locative or passive case: static location
- Dative case: motion towards a place
- Genitive case: motion from a place
These postpositions tend to convey locations and spatial positions, being thus used mostly with 2nd class nouns. They can however convey an unreal location, imaginary or ideal. In such a case, they may be used with nouns of both classes, selecting different case to express the static location. They govern the locative case for 2nd class nouns and the passive case with 1st class nouns.
ʔū́m
The postposition ʔū́m conveys the meaning of internal location. It specifies a location inside of an enclosed place.
owtušu kogā́ti šupā́tɑkotsar tirṓsitsar ʔū́m ʔamḗʔis my friend was inside the royal palace
šupā́tɑkoɣɑ tirṓsiɣɑ ʔū́m ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went inside the royal palace
šupā́tɑkošu tirṓsišu ʔū́m kogiweker you will come from inside the royal palace
It never conveys generic location; this function is expressed by the locative case alone.
sā̀
The postposition sā̀ conveys the meaning of external location. It specifies a location outside of an enclosed place.
owtušu kogā́ti šupā́tɑkotsar tirṓsitsar sā̀ ʔamḗʔis my friend was outside the royal palace
šupā́tɑkoɣɑ tirṓsiɣɑ sā̀ ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went outside the royal palace
šupā́tɑkošu tirṓsišu sā̀ kogiweker you will come from outside the royal palace
wim
The postposition wim conveys the meaning of lower location. It specifies a location below another place.
mā́so phṓwutsar mektū́tsar wim ʔaʔɑñ the mouse was under the black table
mā́soli phṓwuɣɑ mektū́ɣɑ wim kṓraʔɑt the mouse is running under the black table
mā́soli phṓwušu mektū́šu wim ʔaʔḗmiɣekɑt the mouse ran away from under the black table
git
The postposition git conveys the meaning of upper location. It specifies a location above another place.
kojā́hukha rḗʔotsar mektū́tsar git ʔaʔɑñ the stylus is on the new table
kojā́hukha rḗʔoɣɑ mektū́ɣɑ git ʔathowḗsow I put the stylus on the new table
kojā́hukha rḗʔošu mektū́šu git rā́wuger you will take the stylus from (over) the new table
No distinction is made between the upper location with contact (“on the tabe”) or without contact (“over the house, above the house”).
pig
The postposition pig conveys the meaning of close location. It specifies a location near another place.
owtušu kogā́ti šupā́tɑkotsar tirṓsitsar pig ʔamḗʔis my friend was near the royal palace
šupā́tɑkoɣɑ tirṓsiɣɑ pig ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went close to the royal palace
šupā́tɑkošu tirṓsišu pig kogiweker you will come from nearby the royal palace
phṓr
The postposition phṓr conveys the meaning of frontal location. It specifies a location in front of another place.
owtušu kogā́ti šupā́tɑkotsar tirṓsitsar phṓr ʔamḗʔis my friend was in front of the royal palace
šupā́tɑkoɣɑ tirṓsiɣɑ phṓr ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went in front of the royal palace
šupā́tɑkošu tirṓsišu phṓr kogiweker you will come from opposite the royal palace
šom
The postposition šom conveys the meaning of back location. It specifies a location behind another place.
owtušu kogā́ti šupā́tɑkotsar tirṓsitsar šom ʔamḗʔis my friend was behind the royal palace
šupā́tɑkoɣɑ tirṓsiɣɑ šom ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went behind the royal palace
šupā́tɑkošu tirṓsišu šom kogiweker you will come from behind the royal palace
tī́n
The postposition tī́n conveys the meaning of middle location. It specifies a location between two or more places or entities.
owtušu kogā́ti šupā́tɑkotsar tirṓsitsar gitirṓsicarna tī́n ʔamḗʔis my friend was between the royal palace and the tower
šupā́tɑkoɣɑ tirṓsiɣɑ gitirṓsiɣɑna tī́n ʔaʔḗmiɣow I went between the royal palace and the tower
šupā́tɑkošu tirṓsišu gitirṓsišurna tī́n kogiweker you will come from between the royal palace and the tower
No distinction is made between the position between two places or entities (“between the eyes”) or among more places or entities (“among the candidates”).
It may additionally convey the meaning of an unreal middle position. In such a case, they may be used with nouns of both classes with no distinction, and it governs only the ablative case. In such role it may occasionally be used to express the second comparison term in the superlative adjectival construction.
ɑktu ertušu kogā́tinošu tī́n gitikorṓtu (ʔɑñ) he is the tallest of my friends
It never conveys the meaning of crossing; this function is expressed by the postposition pḗr.
ʔī́r
The postposition ʔī́r conveys the meaning of circular location. It specifies a location around another place.
tsetseno ʔokḗtsar ā́kritsar ʔī́r ʔahowī́kon the children sat around the old tree
tsetsenoli ʔokḗɣɑ ā́kriɣɑ ʔī́r kṓraʔonɑt the children are running around the old tree
tsetsenoli ʔokḗšu ā́krišu ʔī́r ʔawū́ʔḗmiɣonɑt the children came from (around) the old tree
Verbs
The verbal system of Kī́rtako language is based on the fundamental dichotomy between imperfective aspect and perfective aspect. This distinction is conveyed by two different verbal roots for every verbal meaning, the imperfective root (Rimp) and the perfective root (Rprf). The perfective root is usually derived from the imperfective one through an introflexive process of vowel switching:
CV1CV2C → CV2CV1C
Example:
Rimp = gagok- → Rprf = gogak-
Although considerably rare, there are some irregular perfective roots.
Another distinction is made, on a temporal level, between a non-past tense, generally called “present”, and a past tense, by means of the prefix ʔa-, known as augment, which conveys the past tense, while non-past actions are marked by its absence.
Rimp = gagok- → Rimp-past = ʔagagok-
There are three verbal moods and three non-finite forms:
- Moods: indicative, subjunctive, conditional
- Non-finite: infinitive, agentive participle, passive participle
The citation form of verbs is the present imperfective infinitive, marked by the ending -ɑme, added to the imperfective root in its present form. From such form the imperfective root can be inferred and can be changed in its perfective equivalent.
The following personal endings are then added to the various aspectual and temporal forms. In this way, verbs show their agreement with the clause subject in person and number:
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The different moods are formed by adding the following infixes to the verbal root, before the personal endings:
- indicative: Ø
- subjunctive: -iñ-
- conditional: -ɑts-
The non-finite verbal forms are meant as nominal/adjectival forms of the same verbs. They do not use the personal endings, but they declined as nouns or adjectives with the nominal declension endings.
As verbal forms can, however, be formed on both roots and add the past prefix. They can also add the modal infixes before their typical endings.
The non-finite endings are:
- infinitive: -ɑme
- agentive participle: -ī́to
- passive participle: -uki
The infinitival form is meant as a 2nd class noun.
Conjugation of a regular verb
Example: lī́lopɑme, to see
Indicative mood
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The indicative mood conveys mainly true and certain actions or state, or at least regarded as such. It is the most used verbal mood in main clauses.
Subjunctive mood
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The subjunctive is mainly used as a dependent mood, with or without any subordinative conjunctions. In main clauses it may convey wish or exhortation, being thus used also as an imperative form.
Conditional mood
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The conditional mood conveys mainly the intrinsic potentiality of an action or a state, both in main and in dependent clauses. It may also convey wish or hope.
For this reason the present tense usually refer to future actions, while the past tenses are used to refer to future actions in the past (the past perfective is routinely used as future in the past tense).
Non-finite forms
Infinitive
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The infinitive is a nominal form of a verb. It is used as a verbal noun in sentences, and it can be declined. It is regarded as 2nd class noun.
In its subjunctive form it is often used as object or subject of other subordinative verbs, like the negative verbs, the modal verbs or in dependent clauses in their infinitival type.
Direct objects of the infinitival forms are declined in the ablative case.
Agentive participle
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The agentive participle is an adjectival form of a verb. It is used as a verbal adjective in sentences, and it can be declined. It is linked to nouns which actively perform an action.
It is usually used to build relative clauses, in which the subject is the linked noun, and the direct object is declined in the ablative case:
ʔṓnašu ʔalolī́pɑtsī́toli wī́roli the man which might have seen the woman
As an adjectival form, it displays a complete declension, to agree with the class of the referred noun.
Passive participle
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The passive participle is an adjectival form of a verb. It is used as a verbal adjective in sentences, and it can be declined. It is linked to nouns which undergo an action, or inactively are in a certain state.
Despite the lack of a verbal passive form, this participle is the closest form to such role. It can, however, be used only as an adjective and it is often used to build relative clauses, in which the object is the linked noun, and the subject is declined in the agentive case. In the earlier period it is not used in this role.
wī́roli ʔalolī́puki ʔṓna the woman seen by the man
As an adjectival form, it displays a complete declension, to agree with the class of the referred noun.
The third person
The are two forms for the third person verbal ending:
- -ɑt, called long form
- -Ø, called short form
These two forms have different uses:
- The long form, -ɑt, is generally used when the subject has an active or animate role, even if the expressed action may also be totally independent from its will. Examples:
sopali wī́ro ñamī́kɑt the dog is biting the man (agentive active role)
sopa hī́šakɑt the dog is falling (this role in not dependent from the subject’s will, but it is still animated)
- The short form, -Ø, is generally used when the subject has an inanimate role, and, preferably, with inherently inanimate subjects. Example:
sopa kḗwon the dog is sleeping (non-active and non-animated role)
It is also used in passive constructions:
wī́ro sopali ñamī́k the man is bitten by the dog
Such usage of both endings is not permanently fixed during the history of the language and some confusion can be found in the earlier period and, most of all, in the later period.
The long forms may also be found with intrinsically inanimate nouns, if they are subjects of an action which is regarded as semantically animate.
pike rḗtɑnɑt the water is flowing
When using the short forms, some verbs, especially those whose infinitival forms end in -ɣɑme or in -ʔɑme, may drop the final consonant of the verbal root, and undergo a shift in the vowel tone.
ʔimḗɣɑme → ʔimḕ andare → va
This phenomenon is not, however, a mandatory feature of every verb with these endings.
Negation
The verbal negation is conveyed by the negative verb ʔī́sɑme. As it has a monosyllabic root, it does not display a perfective root.
Within the sentence this verb is conjugated according to the person and the number of its subject and according to the required tense. It has the subjunctive infinitival form of the negated verb as direct object. The aspectual information is conveyed by the infinitival form. The object of the infinitive, is, as a rule, declined in the ablative case.
sopali wī́ro ʔañī́makɑt → sopali wī́rošu ñī́makiñɑme ʔaʔī́sɑt the dog bit the man → the dog didn’t bite the man
sopa kḗwon → sopa kḗwoniñɑme ʔī́s the dog is sleeping → the dog isn’t sleeping
As can be seen, the negative verbs can use both the third person endings, according to the rules and the animacy degrees conveyed by the negated verb.
Double negatives are generally not allowed; the presence of another negative element in the sentence inhibits the negative verb.
