A word is a chain of morphemes: es + o + lu + zu is esoluzu, I
am being loved. This page lists what stands between two morphemes when
they join. Most of the time it is nothing. The rules below say when it is a
sound, and which.
Three sounds do the joining. A prefix that meets a vowel takes x. A
suffix that meets a vowel takes l. Two consonants that cannot stand
together take the last vowel of the first morpheme.
Five pairs of consonants do not join: l before r, l before q, t before th, k before q, and x before p, b, k or g. The last vowel of the first morpheme is repeated between them.
→ oqaxaguverbo-qa-x-agu1-SINGULAR-EP-listenEvery one of us listens.
engine: oqalagu
Gender and doer before a vowelJoining
The gender prefixes nu, to and the doer prefix fu join a vowel with nothing between them.
nunounF
+ agunoun: ear · verb: to listenear
→ nuagunounnu-aguF-eara girl's ear
tonounM
+ agunoun: ear · verb: to listenear
→ toagunounto-aguM-eara boy's ear
fudefERG
+ agunoun: ear · verb: to listenear
→ fuagunounfu-aguERG-earby the ear
nu + onoun, then verbF-1
+ zunoun: heart · verb: to love · adj: lovely · adv: lovinglylove
→ nuozuverbnu-o-zuF-1-loveI, a girl, love.
phrase 129
The infinite subject before a voweldiffers from legacy
The infinite subject u merges with the vowel that follows it: they join with nothing between them, at the start of a word or after another prefix. Before another u, it takes x.
uverb, then verbINF
+ agunoun: ear · verb: to listenear
→ uaguverbu-aguINF-listento listen
es + uverb, then verbPASS-INF
+ agunoun: ear · verb: to listenear
→ esuaguverbes-u-aguPASS-INF-listenThere is listening.
engine: esuxagu
uverb, then verbINF
+ ukiadj: longlong
→ uxukiverbu-x-ukiINF-EP-longto be long
A suffix after a vowelJoining
A suffix that starts with a vowel joins a morpheme that ends with a vowel with l. A y at the end of a morpheme counts as a vowel.
o + faverb, then verb1-see
+ emdef: pastPST
→ ofalemverbo-fa-l-em1-see-EP-PSTI saw.
o + faverb, then verb1-see
+ irdef: futureFUT
→ ofalirverbo-fa-l-ir1-see-EP-FUTI will see.
o + faverb, then verb1-see
+ irinoun: tomorrowCRAS
→ ofaliriverbo-fa-l-iri1-see-EP-CRASI will see, tomorrow.
fanouneyes
+ ukiadj: longlong
→ falukinounfa-l-ukieyes-EP-longlong eyes
menynoundance
+ emdef: pastPST
→ menylemnounmeny-l-emdance-EP-PSTa dance, in the past
y next to ydiffers from legacy
A y joins another y with n.
menynoundance
+ yverb: to danceDANCE
→ menynynounmeny-n-ydance-EP-DANCEa dancing dance
mynountrace
+ yverb: to danceDANCE
→ mynynounmy-n-ytrace-EP-DANCEa dancing trace
engine: fails
The passiveJoining
As a prefix, es joins a vowel with nothing between them, and takes e before sh. As a suffix, it joins a vowel with n.
es + onoun, then verbPASS-1
+ zunoun: heart · verb: to love · adj: lovely · adv: lovinglylove
→ esozuverbes-o-zuPASS-1-loveI am loved.
es + i + lu + miverb, then verbPASS-2SG-CONT-caress
+ emdef: pastPST
→ esilumilemverbes-i-lu-mi-l-emPASS-2SG-CONT-caress-EP-PSTYou were being caressed.
phrase 338
esverbPASS
+ shanoun: they (plural)3PL
→ eseshaverbes-e-shaPASS-EP-3PLseveral of them, in the passive
the Passive card
fanouneyes
+ esnoun: is-nessPASS
→ fanesnounfa-n-eseyes-EP-NMLZthe state of the eyes
tannounsign
+ esnoun: is-nessPASS
→ tanesnountan-essign-NMLZthe state of a sign
The accusativeJoining
The accusative m joins with nothing before it, after a vowel or a consonant.
fanouneyes
+ mdef: accusativeACC
→ famnounfa-meyes-ACCthe eyes, as an object
tannounsign
+ mdef: accusativeACC
→ tanmnountan-msign-ACCthe sign, as an object
phrase 54
yinnounvulva
+ mdef: accusativeACC
→ yinmnounyin-mvulva-ACCthe vulva, as an object
phrase 20
The subordinate after a consonantJoining
The subordinate n after a consonant repeats the last vowel of the morpheme before it.
fanouneyes
+ ndef: subordinateSUB
→ fanverbfa-nsee-SUBthat one sees
tannounsign
+ ndef: subordinateSUB
→ tananverbtan-a-nsign-EP-SUBthat it is a sign
u + laverb, then verbINF-kiss
+ ndef: subordinateSUB
→ ulanverbu-la-nINF-kiss-SUBkissing, as what is desired