Re: Nouns from Verbs

In Rihana-ye, nouns can be formed from verbs in two ways. What is
considered the standard way is to take the participle form of the verb
(root+mi) and add the suffix ha, which by itself means "thing"--
thus wobo to fight, wobo-mi, fighting, wobomiha, a fight (noun)
The other way is to add the -ha directly to the verb root, thus
fo to live foha life. If both the forms exist for the same verb, the form
without -mi is usually more general and the -mi form more specific.  Thus
foha is life but fomiha is a particular living body. Incidentally, though
I now think of the -miha form as standard, I believe the simple -ha is
older.
In Natece-atechana, verbs end either in -a or in -n; verbs ending in
a form nouns by adding -na; verbs ending in -n form nouns by adding -a;
thus both form result in the apparent ending -na. techa to make techana
creation; celten to kill, celtena a killing.
John Leland

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