Pirdänë: Demonstratives and articles:
From: | Elliott Lash <al260@...> |
Date: | Tuesday, January 23, 2001, 21:47 |
This post will introduce demonstratives and the articles of Pirdänë.
1) Definite Form: Rather than possessing a seperate definite article, the noun
itself is changed by means of a prefix. The prefix is sã-. This prefix is
followed by a number of changes in the form of the noun.
a) The /a~/ is absorbed by front vowels:
sã- + öm “river” > söm “the river”
sã- + äš “deer” > säš “the deer”
b) The following consonants “mutate”
dh > n v > m t > d
d > n f > v k > g
g > ng gy > ñ h > m
c) back vowels are absorbed and the mutation occurs inside the word
sã- + adhuk “corpse” > sãnuk “the corpse”
sã- + aut “letter” > sãud “the letter"
etc.
2) Indefinite:
Pirdänë doesn't possess an indefinite article, but occasionally, the word
ein "one" is used to highlight the noun in a similar manner. This is completely
unnecessary tho, and is used rarely.
3) Demonstratives:
this: šco
that: šîd
that (far away): šîdõš
Tell me what you think..
Elliott