Re: Nouns from Verbs

In Orêlynna, nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs can all share the
same root. The difference between nouns and verbs comes in the
endings.[1] Verbs behave inflectionally, nouns behave more
agglutinatively (is that a word? :)) ). That is, the nouns have
morphemes for noun class, number (sing., pl.), and case, as well as an
optional diminutive morpheme in order to be a noun. For example:

Verb        Noun        Common Root   Gloss Verb; Noun
dyneyr      dyneþ       dyn           to have/possess; thing
dalaneyr    dalaneþ[2]  dalan         to give; gift
êlynneyr    êlynna      êlyn          to sing; song
lonayr      lonna       lon           to name; name

So far, this system is entirely regular. For a root to become a verb, a
basic verb suffix is added |-ayr| or |-eyr| (I assign these purely on
aesthetic grounds :) ). The same root can become a noun by adding any
one of the five possible noun-class endings: |-do|=human male;
|-ka|=human female; |-te|=other living; |-eþ|=inanimate objects;
|-na|=abstract concepts.

There are some restrictions. I suppose if you wanted to insult someone
and call them a slave you could say |dyndo| if male, |dynka| if female,
|dynhydo| if boy, |dynhyka| if girl... Common sense indicates which
forms are possible, and which are marginal/impossible. However, since
Orêlynna[3] is (will be) a poetic language, many marginal mots may
materialize (sorry, couldn't resist :P ).

[1] Adjectives and adverbs have their own systems of derivation that
make the root less recognizable than in the noun and verb formations.
[2] dalanna (the abstract form) is also possible, perhaps to refer to
talents, ESP, etc.
[3] So you now know what the root of this word means...
--
=============
James Worlton
          "Time flies like an arrow.
           Fruit flies like a banana."
                           --Unknown