Βaβar syntax

Main article: Βaβar

This page gives an extensive description of Βaβar syntactical features.

Main clause and word order

Βaβar is an almost strictly SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) language.

tɬʼīx xūɸɴ ɸaqurā sūɣ 
the man sees the dog

The case system, which clearly distinguishes between the subject and the direct object, allows every other possible word order to some extent, but most of them prove to be very marked and infrequently used. However, the direct object can be emphasized by placing it at the beginning of the sentence.

xūɸɴ tɬʼīx ɸaqurā sūɣ
it's the dog the man sees

Most pronouns, however, have enclitical suffixal alternative unstressed forms. By using these forms, the direct object can be optionally moved in a post-verbal position. Since the subject is always implied in verbal conjugation, it can be assumed that enclitical pronominal forms may display a VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) order.

si mam ɸāquš (SOV)
As for myself, I saw you (and no one else)

six ɸāquš (SOV)
As for myself, I saw you

ɸāqušəx (VSO)
I saw you

The other elements in the sentence are usually placed in the order “time-cause-manner-place”, although they are basically freer than the main elements, as they are conveyed by the case system or by the prepositions. These elements can be emphasized by placing them at the beginning of the sentence. The indirect object tends to be placed after the direct object of the sentence.

Nouns

The noun cluster is formed by a noun, carrying the main meaning, and by other noun-type forms, namely adjectives, which specify this meaning or add other meanings to the main noun. Inside of a noun cluster, the noun can be replaced by a pronoun.

The noun usually closes the noun cluster, being preceded by every other specifying form. Thus, other elements conveying possession and belonging are always placed before the noun, as well as every attributive adjective.

tɬʼīxuɟ tɬʼūβ
the man’s house

muk tɬʼāβ
the young woman

Possessive determiners, conversely, are conveyed in the form of possessive enclitic suffixes, and they are thus firmly placed at the end of their adjoining noun.

truʂəs
my hand

The role of the noun cluster in the sentence and its number are marked by case and number endings. These endings mark also other adjectival elements inside the noun cluster, resulting this in the process called nominal agreement.

Both attributive and predicative adjectives agree in case and number with the noun they specify. Other elements, which convey possession or belonging do not agree with the main nominal form.

muk tɬʼīx tɬʼūβaʈ ɟn ʈʂʼīrā sūɣ
the young man is going home

muku tɬʼāβa 
the young women

tɬʼāβa muku sūç
the women are young

The grammar role of noun clusters can be further specified by postpositions, which are placed after the cluster. Thus, it can be stated that the noun cluster can be closed by a postposition.

tɬʼūβɴ kr jnɸirā sūš
I am talking about the house

The cases

The grammatical role of the noun cluster in a sentence is conveyed by some endings. These endings are bound to grammatical cases, with usually well-defined roles.

The cases in Βaβar language are 5:

• Nominative
• Accusative
• Genitive-Dative
• Instrumental
• Locative

The grammatical roles and all possible differences in usage among similar cases are enlisted below: