Download maotatsaliGr

**Last Updated: Nov/2/05**
Fixed my stupid mistakes, added numerals, expanded derivation.
Máotatšàlì
Máotatšàlì is the language spoken by the Tymúlaslì people of the northerly island of Tymytỳs in the
West Seas. The large island iss dominated by a single kingdom, but several small groups not directly
connected to the kingdom also exist in the far north of the island and on several neighboring islands.
Some of these groups speak dialects of Máotatšàlì or closely related languages, while others speak the
languages of the Núalís family.
Phonology
Consonants
Máotatšàlì has 13 consonants:
Labial Dental Postalveolar Velar
Stop
/p/
/t/
/k/
Affricate
/ts/
/tS/
Fricative
/s z/
/S/
/* G/
Nasal
/m/
/n/
Approximant /w/
/l/
The following transcriptions will be used:
•
•
•
•
tš for /tS/
š for /S/
g for /G/
All others are the same as X-SAMPA
*/x/ appears in lower class dialects, usually attached to the beginning of words that would otherwise
begin with a vowel.
Vowels
Máotatšàlì has 5 vowels and 2 diphthongs
Front Middle Back
High /i iw/ /1/
/u/
Mid
Low /{/ /a aw/
The following transcriptions will be used:
•
y for /1/
•
•
•
•
æ for /{/
io for /iw/
ao for /aw/
All others are the same as X-SAMPA
In addition these vowels snow also has three tones. All are level tones.
•
•
•
High tone is indicated with an acute accent on the vowel, eg. á, í, ǽ, etc
Mid tone is indicated with a regular vowel, eg. a, i, æ, etc
Low tone is indicated with a grave accent on the vowel, eg. à, ì, æ`, etc
Phonotactics
Máotatšàlì allows four types of syllables
•
•
•
•
vowel only, eg. ỳ>
consonant + vowel, eg. zu
vowel + s/š, eg. uš
consonant + vowel + s/š, eg. kǽs
The š does appear at the end of syllables, but many speakers are realizing this as [s] and syllable final
[S] is becoming rarer and rarer.
Syllabification
The only situations where recognizing syllable separations may be a problem is when there is an s or š
between two vowels.
ísàmìo
In a case like this, the s or š always acts as a final consonant for the preceding vowel.
ís-à-mìo
Another point to indicate here is that when ao or io precede w the diphthong reduces to a or i. The
orthography will, however be maintained in this document.
tiokàowùs > /tiwkawus/
Morphology
Nominal Morphology
Máotatšàlì nouns decline for number and case. There are 3 cases, as well as three different declension
paradigms
Nominative Accusative Dative
A Singular
-s
-sỳs
-nìo
A Plural
-tsìos
-tsỳs
-tsìnìo
B Singular
-/-ì*
-ỳs
-nìo
B Plural
-tsìos
-tsỳs
-tsìnìo
C Singular
C Plural
-lì
-tsìos
-wùs
-tsùs
-nìo
-tsìnìo
* Add no suffix when the root ends in s. Add -ì when the root ends in š.
Nouns ending in y and æ will always be A nouns. Nouns ending in s and š will always be B nouns.
Nouns ending in ao or io will always be C nouns. Nouns ending a, i, or u in high tone will always be A
nouns. Others ending in a, i, or u will almost always be C nouns, but some are A nouns.
While it is not necessary to use the plural form when the number is known from other sources (eg.
numerals), it is often used anyway. Both forms are in common usage. Using the plural in these cases,
however, is more common among the lower class citizens, particularly in urban areas.
Here are full paradigms for a few nouns.
A Noun: root is ta-tší
"boy"
SINGULA
R
PLURAL
NOMINATIV ACCUSATIV
E
TA-TŠÍS
E
DATIVE
TA-TŠÍS-ỲS TA-TŠÍ-NÌO
TA-TŠÍTSÌOS
TA-TŠÍTSỲS
TA-TŠÍTSÌNÌO
B NOUN: ROOT IS Ù-ZÙS
"lemming" Nominative Accusative
Dative
Singular
ù-zùs
ù-zùs-ỳs ù-zùs-nìo
Plural
ù-zùs-tsìos ù-zùs-tsỳs ù-zùs-tsìnìo
C Noun: root is à-ma
"sun"
SINGULA
R
PLURAL
NOMINATIV ACCUSATIV
E
E
À-MA-LÌ
À-MA-WÙS
À-MA-TSÌOS À-MA-TSÙS
DATIVE
À-MA-NÌO
À-MATSÌNÌO
Case Usage
Nominative
THE NOMINATIVE IS USED FOR THE SUBJECT (AGENT FOR TRANSITIVE, EXPERIENCER FOR INTRANSITIVE):
GÌTIOSỲNYŠ Æ`S.
COME-SPR-CS SPEAKER-NOM.
"I ARRIVE HERE."
xúmuštsìpaš tašmylì pumỳsỳs.
find-NPr-IF tašmy-NOM fish-ACC.
"Tašmy* can't find the fish."
*Tašmy is a male name
Accusative
THE ACCUSATIVE IS USED FOR THE OBJECT OF AN ACTION:
GÌGITŠÆ`PAO TIOKÀOWÙS TATŠÍS.
LOVE-NPA-CF GIRL-ACC BOY-NOM.
"THE GIRL WAS LOVED BY THE BOY, BUT SHE DIDN’T LOVE HIM BACK."
gìlionýš miokísỳs.
drink-SF water-ACC.
"Someone will drink the water."
Dative
THE DATIVE IS USED TO INDICATE AN INDIRECT OBJECT, THE INTENDED RECIPIENT OF AN ACTION.
GÌNIOTÁ Æ`TSÌNÌO WYŠỲS TAŠMYLÌ.
GIVE-SPA-CS SPEAKER-DAT-PL DOG-ACC TAŠMY-NOM.
"TAŠMY GAVE US A DOG."
Verbal Morphology
VERBS ARE CONJUGATED AT BOTH THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE WORD. ASPECT IS MARKED AT THE
BEGINNING, WHILE MOOD AND TENSE ARE MARKED AT THE END.
MÁOTATŠÀLÌ HAS THREE TENSES: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. THE TWO MOODS ARE SENSORY AND NONSENSORY. BOTH MOODS EXIST FOR ALL THREE TENSES, BUT ARE USED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY IN EACH.
Past
SENSORY
NONSENSORY
PRESEN FUTUR
T
E
-NYŠ
-NÝŠ
-PAO -PAŠ
-PÁŠ
-*
*SENSORY PAST IS UNMARKED
THE ASPECTS MARKED AT THE BEGINNING OF VERBS ARE COMBINATIONS.
•
•
•
•
FIRST: COMPLETE + SUCCESS
SECOND: COMPLETE + FAILURE
THIRD: INCOMPLETE + SUCCESS
FOURTH: INCOMPLETE + FAILURE
ASPECT IS NOT ALWAYS MARKED, IT IS SOMETIMES LEFT OFF WHEN IT IS CONSIDERED IRRELEVANT TO THE
SITUATION.
Complete
SUCCESS
FAILURE
*
INCOMPLET
E
G(V)`-
G(V)΄-
(V)`-
(V)΄-
(V) INDICATES THE VOWEL IN THE FIRST SYLLABLE IN THE WORD. IF THAT VOWEL IS A DIPHTHONG, ONLY
THE FIRST HALF OF THE DIPHTHONG IS USED.
* IN THE LOWER CLASSES THE VOWEL IS PRECEDED BY /X/
Verb Usage
Past and Present
IN THE PAST AND PRESENT, SENSORY IS USED FOR EVENTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE
BECAUSE THEY WERE WITNESSED.
GÌTIOSỲ Æ`S.
COME-SPA-CS SPEAKER-NOM.
"I ARRIVED HERE."
Non-sensory is used for for events that are known to have taken place, despite not having been
witnessed.
GÀTAOSÀOPAO TÚS.
GO-NPA-CS LISTENER-NOM.
"YOU ARRIVED THERE."
Future
IN THE FUTURE TENSE, SENSORY IS USED FOR EVENTS THAT ARE EXPECTED OR INTENDED TO HAPPEN. IT
CAN BE CALLED INTENTIVE.
LIONÝŠ MIOKÍSỲS.
DRINK-SF WATER-ACC.
"SOMEONE WILL DRINK THE WATER."
gùtšuškỳnýš tašmylì tsaonàosỳs.
cut-SF-CS tašmy-NOM tree-ACC.
"Tašmy plans to chop down the tree."
Non-sensory is used for events that are hypothetical. Those events that could happen.
gíliopáš æ`s miokísỳs.
drink-FN-IS Speaker-NOM water-ACC.
"I might sip the water."
Aspect
WHEN AN EVENT IS COMPLETE AND SUCCESSFUL THE FIRST ASPECT IS USED.
GÙMUŠTSÌPAO TAŠMYLÌ PUMỲSỲS.
FIND-NPA-CS TAŠMY-NOM FISH-ACC.
"TAŠMY FOUND THE FISH."
When and event is complete but failed the Second aspect is used.
xùmuštsìpao tašmylì pumỳsỳs.
find-NPa-CF tašmy-NOM fish-ACC.
"Tašmy couldn't find the fish."
Third is used when it is not complete but expected to succeed.
GÚMUŠTSÌPAŠ TAŠMYLÌ PUMỲSỲS.
FIND-NPR-CF TAŠMY-NOM FISH-ACC.
"TAŠMY IS FINDING THE FISH."
Fourth is used when the event is incomplete and expected to fail.
xúmuštsìpaš tašmylì pumỳsỳs.
find-NPr-CF tašmy-NOM fish-ACC.
"Tašmy is searching for the fish."
Unspecified is used when the completion and success of the event are not known or do not apply to the
situation. This can be used to talk about things that happen regularly, especially when they have
varying degrees of success.
PUMỲPAŠ TAŠMYLÌ.
FISH-NPR-U TAŠMY-NOM.
"TAŠMY FISHES."
To Be
The verb "to be" (root form "ni") is a special case; it does not function in the same way as other verbs.
"To be" has only three forms: past, present, and future.
Past Present Future
ni niỳs
niš
niỳs àolaošỳs æ`s.
be-Pr goat-ACC Speaker-NOM.
"I am a goat."
Pronouns
PRONOUNS FUNCTION AS NOUNS, TAKING THE REGULAR CASE ENDINGS FOR THE APPROPRIATE SITUATION.
Æ`
TÚ
sá
sa
I, WE (1ST PERSON)
you (2nd person)
he, she, they (3rd person)
WHICH
ZU
who
paomý
MANY
ÀZÀWÁ
O
ALL
PIMÚ
FEW
GIOSÙŠ
SOME
YMÁOS
none
Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjectives and adverbs work the same way, and most can be used as either. Adjectives do not agree
with the noun or verb in any way. They can, however, be modified to alter their intensity.
least less base more most
g(V)΄- g(V)- - z(V)- z(V)΄Like the aspect markers, the adjective modifiers use a repetition of the first vowel in the root. When
there is no initial consonant the prefix for "less" and "more" will simply be an initial z or g. When an
initial consonant is present the vowel will be duplicated.
gisàmìo
smooth-LES
"less smooth"
zúkutšùlù
cold-MOR
"very cold"
For the "least" and "most" forms the prefix alters initial vowels. When the prefix attaches it gives the
initial vowel high tone.* When there is an initial consonant the prefix duplicates the first vowel, but
changes the duplicate to high tone.
gísàmìo
smooth-LES
"least smooth"
zukutšùlù
cold-MOR
"coldest"
*Please note that the first vowel in adjectives is always low or mid tone.
There are also "more" and "most", "less" and "least" adjectives to modify others adjectives that are
acting as nouns. These four adjectives only every appear in the base form.
Numbers
The number system in Máotatšàlì is base-12. The third column contains the number in base-12 while
the first and second are the numbers in English and Máotatšàlì.
zero uš 0
one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
sí
ìšỳs
tǽ
kazà
azàš
zàšỳs
katǽ
ìka
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
nine àgazàš 9
ten gašỳs A
eleven zàtǽ B
TWELV
TǼGA
E
10
THIRTEE
TǼGA SÍ
N
11
FOURTEE
N
12
TǼGA
ÌŠỲS
TWENTY-FOUR
ITŠǼGA
20
THIRTY-SIX
TǼZǼG
A
30
FORTY-EIGHT
KATǼG
A
40
SIXTY
ÀTŠǼGA
SEVENTY-TWO
TSǼGA
50
60
EIGHTY-FOUR
KATǼZ
Ǽ
70
NINETY-SIX
ÌKATǼ
80
ONE HUNDRED EIGHT
GAZÀTŠ
Ǽ
90
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY
GAŠỲTS
Ǽ
A0
ONE HUNDRED THIRTY- ZÀTǼZ
TWO
Ǽ
B0
ONE HUNDRED FORTYFOUR
100
TǼGAT
Ǽ
TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-EIGHT
ÌŠỲS TǼGATǼ
200
ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTYFOUR
ZÀTǼ TǼGATǼ
B00
ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTYTǼGA TǼGATǼ
EIGHT
1000
THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FIFTYSIX
TǼZǼGA
TǼGATǼ
3000
TWENTY THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED
THIRTY-SIX
GATǼGA
10000
FOLLOWING THIS PATTERN, THE LARGEST BASE-12 NUMBER ONE COULD CREATE WOULD BE BBBBBB:
ZÀTǼZǼ ZÀTǼ GATǼGA ZÀTǼZǼ ZÀTǼ TǼGATǼ ZÀTǼZǼ ZÀTǼ
NINETY NINE TEN-THOUSAND NINETY NINE HUNDRED NINETY NINE
"TWO MILLION NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE"
Derivation
Nouns
VERBS IN ALL ASPECTS CAN BE TURNED INTO NOUNS. THIS IS DONE BY SIMPLY APPLYING THE REGULAR
CASE ENDINGS. IF THE VERB ROOT ENDS IN S OR Š IT IS A B NOUN; THOSE ENDING IN Y AND Æ WILL BE A
NOUNS, THOSE ENDING IN OTHER VOWELS WILL DECLINE AS C NOUNS. THESE WILL CARRY A MEANING
BASICALLY ANALOGOUS TO THE MEANING OF THE VERB IN THE GIVEN ASPECT.
A VERB CAN ALSO BE TURNED INTO AN AGENTIVE NOUN. AN AGENTIVE NOUN IS "ONE WHO DOES" A VERB.
THE AGENTIVE IS FORMED BY ADDING THE NAO SUFFIX TO THE VERB, THE VERB MAY OR MAY NOT BE
MARKED FOR ASPECT.
taozàonao
go-AGT
"Traveller"
Adjectives can also be used as nouns. This often used in cases of comparison.
NI ÀTǼ TAWÙS TSAONÀOLÌ TÚNÌO
BE-PR MORE BIG-ACC TREE-NOM LISTENER-DAT
"THE TREE WAS BIGGER THAT YOU"
Adjectives
NOUNS CAN BE USED AS ADJECTIVES AS WELL. THIS IS USED TO INDICATE POSSESSION.
GÌSIPAO TASMY PUMỲTSỲS KYLÁOZULÌ
EAT-PN-CS TAŠMY FISH-ACC-PLU KYLÁOZU-NOM
"APPARENTLY KYLÁOZU* ATE TAŠMY'S FISHES"
*Kyláozu is a female name
VERBS, WHEN USED AS ADJECTIVES, ARE USUALLY USED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT AN OBJECT IT USED FOR
A SPECIFIC ACTIVITY. FOR THIS MEANING THE ROOT FORM, UNMARKED FOR ASPECT, IS USED.
NIŠ ÙMÙ WYTÝSỲS
BE-F SLEEP PLACE-ACC
"THIS WILL BE A BEDROOM"