Memniq syntax

Main article: Memniq

This page gives an extensive description of Memniq syntactical features.

Main clause and word order

Memniq is a mainly VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) language.

jaťre̥ke ʔinu̥r o̥sfem 
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. The only word order with a clear role and a frequent usage is VOS (Verb-Object-Subject), which is used to emphasize the direct object.

jaťre̥ke o̥sfem ʔinu̥r
it's the dog the man sees

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. An object in the dative case, when conveying 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 introduces the noun cluster, being followed by every other specifying form. Thus, other elements conveying possession and belonging are always placed after the noun, as well as every attributive adjective.

së̥na ćo̥nuhaš
the man’s house

ci̥rë ë̥laš
my hand

śepḁt ure̥hli
the young woman

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.

jaħše̥re ćo̥nuh ure̥hli ru̥h së̥naʔ
the young man is going home

së̥na lḁš
our house

eśpu̥t orhe̥li 
the young women

ʔe̥net eśpu̥t orhe̥li 
the women are young

The grammar role of noun clusters can be further specified by prepositions, which are placed before the cluster. Thus, it can be stated that the noun cluster can be introduced by a preposition.

jomaʔe̥tu nü̥h së̥naʔ
I am speaking 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 Memniq language are 4:

• Nominative
• Accusative
• Genitive
• Dative

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