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| '''ei osa''' - some amount (lit. 'one part') | | '''ei osa''' - some amount (lit. 'one part') |
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| ==Simple clauses== | | ==Simple clauses== |
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| The basic 'neutral' word-order is usually VS or VSO.
| | One basic - though not the only - word-order is S.V.O. - Subject - Verb - Object. |
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| '''Ti sewa katu.''' The cat is sleeping
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| NPST sleep cat
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| '''Ta sewa katu.''' - The cat slept
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| PST sleep cat
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| '''Ti kopa a mi kat''' I'm buying the cat
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| NPST buy ERG 1 cat
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| '''Ta kopa a mi katu.''' - I bought a cat.
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| PST buy ERG 1 cat
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| Adjectives can serve as predicates together with the copula '''nea''':
| | '''Katu e sewa.''' - The cat is sleeping. The cat will sleep. |
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| | cat NPST sleep |
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| '''Ti nea rei katu.''' - The cat is grey. | | '''Katu ta sewa.''' - The cat was sleeping. |
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| NPST be grey cat
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| '''Ta nea runo huno.''' - The dog was brown. | | '''Katu ta itu muso.''' - The cat ate the mouse. |
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| PST be brown dog | | cat PST eat mouse |
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| | ==Embedded clauses== |
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| The copula can also introduce a prepositional predicate:
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| | Relative clauses are introduced by '''ae''': |
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| '''Ti nea i tebo katu.''' - The cat is on the table.
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| be LOC table cat
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| | '''Katu ae mi kopa.''' - The cat that I bought. |
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| ===Non verb-initial sentences===
| | cat that 1s buy |
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| | '''Katu ae bita kia.''' - The cat that bit her. |
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| Something other than a verb or predicate may begin the sentence:
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| | Complement clauses are introduced by '''ge''': |
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| '''Deikee ti kopa a mi katu.''' - Tomorrow I'll buy a cat.
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| tomorrow NPST buy ERG 1s cat
| | '''Mi ta siu ge kia kopa katu.''' - I saw that he bought the cat. |
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| '''Katu ti kopa a mi. ''' - I'll buy the cat.
| | 1s PST see that 3s buy cat |
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| cat NPST buy ERG 1s | | '''Mi wae ge kia kopa katu.''' - I want him to buy the cat. |
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| '''Mi ti kopa katu.''' - I'll buy a cat.
| | 1s want that 3s buy cat |
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| 1s NPST buy cat
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| ==Prepositions== | | ==Prepositions== |
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| There are two main prepositions in Waa: the dative/locative '''i''', and the ablative/instrumental '''a'''. They can have a variety of meanings, depending on the context. | | There are two basic, simple prepositions: '''a''' 'of', 'by', 'from', and '''i''' 'in', 'on', 'at', 'to'. |
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| ===The dative/locative===
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| '''I''' can be used to indicate various form of (spatial) location, as well as goal, destination or recipient. | |
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| '''katu i tebo''' - the cat on the table
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| cat LOC table
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| '''mane i huso''' - the man in the house
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| man LOC house
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| '''tebo i rumoitu''' - the table in the dining room
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| table LOC room:eat
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| '''Tebo nea i rumoitu.''' - The table is in the dining room.
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| table be LOC room:eat
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| '''Tuko mele i kapikuro.''' - Put the milk in the fridge.
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| put milk DAT box:cool
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| '''Kiwe buko i mi.''' - Give me the book.
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| give book DAT 1s
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| '''Teera ta kou i paiboa.''' - They went to the village
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| 1:PL go DAT place:live
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| '''Huno e sewa i roo.''' - The dog is sleeping on the floor.
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| ===The genitive/instrumental/ablative===
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| '''A''' indicates the genitive, indicating ownership, part-whole relationships, etc. | |
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| '''katu a teera''' - their cat
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| cat GEN 3:PL
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| '''kemaka a huno''' - the size of the dog | |
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| size GEN dog
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| '''muro a huso''' - the walls of the house
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| wall GEN house
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| '''osa a dei''' - a part of the day
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| part GEN day
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| '''A''' can also be used to indicate source, means, etc.
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| '''Te ta kee a paiboa.''' - He came from the village.
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| 3s PST come ABL place:live
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| '''Te ta padedu katu a korokuto.''' - He killed the cat with a knife.
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| 3 PST cause:dead cat INSTR tool:cut
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| ===Compound prepositions===
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| The simple prepositions '''i''' and '''a''' can be combined with other words to indicate more precise relationships, with '''i''' usually indicating location or destination, and '''a''' departing point or path.
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| '''i apo''' - 'on', 'above' | |
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| '''i roka''' - 'inside', 'into'
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| '''i puri''' - 'under', 'beneath'
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| '''a apo''' - 'from above', 'through above'
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| '''a roka''' - 'from inside', 'through the inside of'
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| '''a puri''' - 'from beneath', 'passing under'
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| ==Negations and questions==
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| A clause is negated by '''ku''', which is placed right before the verb:
| | '''katu a kia''' - his cat |
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| | cat GEN 3s |
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| '''Ti ku sewa katu.''' - The cat is not sleeping | | '''Katu ta kee a huso.''' - The cat came from the house. |
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| | cat PST come ABL hous |
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| NPST NEG sleep cat
| | '''Kia ta padedu katu a hama.''' - He killed the cat with the hammer. |
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| | 3s PST kill cat INSTR hammer |
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| | '''Katu ta kou i rumohaya.''' - The cat went to the kitchen. |
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| | cat PST go DAT kitchen |
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| A yes/no-question may be formed by rising intonation. To respond to a question, you use '''ai''' for agreement, and '''ku''' or '''kuai''' for disagreement.
| | '''Kia ta ruko i yu.''' - She looked at you. |
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| | 3s PST look DAT 2s |
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| '''E sewa katu?''' - Is the cat sleeping? | | '''Katu e nea i tebo.''' - The cat is on the table. |
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| sleep cat
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| '''Ai. Ti sewa katu.''' - Yes. The cat is sleeping.
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| agree NPST sleep cat
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| '''Kuai. Ti ku sewa katu.''' - No. The cat isn't sleeping.
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| NEG:agree NPST NEG sleep cat
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| | These can be combined with locational and other nouns to indicate more precise relations. |
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| '''Ti lu sewa katu?''' - Isn't the cat sleeping?
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| NPST NEG sleep cat
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| '''Ai. Ti ku sewa katu.''' - No. The cat isn't sleeping.
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| agree NPST NEG sleep cat
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| '''Kuai. Ti sewa katu.''' - Yes. The cat is sleeping.
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| NEG.agree NPST sleep cat
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| '''Ku''' can also be used with adjectives or nouns:
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| '''ku bono''' - no good, not good
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| NEG good
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| '''ku katu''' - no cat(s)
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| NEG cat
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| '''ku mene''' - no one, nobody (lit. 'no person')
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| NEG person
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| '''Ta siu a ku mene mi.''' - Nobody saw me.
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| PST see ERG NEG person 1s
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| '''Ta siu a mi ku mene.''' - I haven't seen anybody.
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| PST see ERG 1s NEG person
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| '''Ku+ene''' or '''kuene''' is 'never':
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| '''Ko ta kopa ene a mi katu.''' - I've never bought a cat.
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| PST NEG buy ever ERG 1s cat
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| '''Ta kopa kuene a mi katu.''' - I've never bought a cat.
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| PST buy NEG:ever ERG 1s cat
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| ==Adjectives==
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| Adjectives go after the words they modify:
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| '''Kat miti''' - a/the small cat
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| cat small
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| '''Hun maka''' - a/the large dog
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| dog large
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| Adjectives as predicates are optionally introduced by the copula ''nea'':
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| '''Kat (nea) miti''' - The cat is small.
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| cat (be) small
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| Note that katu miti may be ambiguous, it can mean either 'the small cat' or 'the cat is small'. Without the copula, one must often rely on context to determine the intended meaning.
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| Comparisons are formed with the preposition '''i meso a''':
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| '''Kat nea miti i meso a hun.''' - The cat is smaller than the dog.
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| cat be small DAT measure GEN dog
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| ==Possession==
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| The possessor is placed after the possessum:
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| '''katu a mi''' - my cat
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| cat GEN 1s
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| '''huno a ota''' - (the) father's dog
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| dog GEN father
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| '''katu a ota a mi''' my father's cat
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| cat GEN father GEN 1s
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| ===Predicative possession===
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| '''Ti nea a mi katu naa.''' That cat is mine
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| NPST be GEN 1s cat DIST
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| '''Ti nea katu a mi.''' I have a cat. ('There is a cat of mine')
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| NPST be cat GEN 1s
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| ==Conjunctions==
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| '''e''' - and
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| '''eo''' - or
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| '''teya''' - but
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| ==Relative clauses==
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| Relative clauses are introduced with the particle '''ae''':
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| '''Mane ae kopa katu.''' - The man that bought the cat.
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| man REL buy cat
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| '''Katu ae te kopa.''' - The cat that he bought.
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| cat REL 3s buy
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| The past tense particle '''ta''' need not be used in the relative clause.
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| If the relativized noun is introduced by a preposition - '''i''' or '''a''' - it must be represented by a pronoun in the relative clause:
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| '''Korokuto ae kia padedu katu a kia. - The knife that he killed the cat with.
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| tool:cut REL 3s cause:dead cat INSTR 3s
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| '''Mane ae mi kiwe katu i te.''' - The man that I gave the cat to.
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| man REL 1s give cat DAT 3s
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| Prepositional stranding is not allowed:
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| '''*Mane ae mi kiwe katu i.'''
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| man REL 1s give cat DAT
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| ==Complement clauses==
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| Complement clauses are introduced by the conjunction '''ge''' 'that':
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| '''Ta siu mi ge kia kopa katu.''' - I saw that he bought the cat.
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| PST see 1s CONJ 3s buy cat
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| '''Ta ku wita mi ge te redi selu katu.''' - I didn't know he had (already) sold the cat.
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| PST NEG know 1s CONJ 2s PRF sell cat
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| Note that you don't need the ergatve marker when the subject is followed by a complement clause.
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| ==Adverbial clauses==
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| Temporal adverbial clauses can bi introduced by '''beo''' 'before', '''ata''' 'after' and '''sima''' while', 'when', 'at the same time as':
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| '''Ta kee te beo mi kou.''' - 'He arrived before I left.
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| PST come 3s before 1s go
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| '''Ta kee te ata mi kou.''' - 'He arrived after I had left.'
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| PST come 3s after 1s leave
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| '''Ta kee te sima mi itu.''' - 'He arrived when I was eating'
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| PST come 3s while 1s eat
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| ==Auxiliary verbs==
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| '''Wae mi kopa katu.''' - I want to by a cat.
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| want 1s buy cat
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| '''Kae mi kopa katu.''' - I can buy a cat
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| can 1s buy cat
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| '''Nae mi kopa katu.''' - I must/have to buy a cat
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| must 1s buy cat
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| '''Mae mi kopa katu.''' - I may (am permitted to) buy a cat.
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| may 1s buy cat
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| '''Sae mi kopa katu.''' - I must (am morally obligted to) buy a cat.
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| must 1s buy cat
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| ==Adverbs of frequemcy==
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| '''oha''' often
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| '''orutima''' always
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| Adverbs of frequency are usually placed after the verb:
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| '''Mi e kopa oha katu niu.'''
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| 1s NPST buy often cat new
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| '''Katu e sewa orutima i roo.''' The cat always sleeps on the floor.
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| cat NPST sleep alwas LOC floor
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| ==The prefix pa-==
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| The prefix '''pa-''' can be attached to certain verbs to render a causative meaning. It can turn an intransitive verb into a transitive one:
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| '''pa''' + '''kou''' ('to go') -> '''pakou''' - to lead
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| '''pa''' + '''rera''' ('to learn') -> '''parera''' - to teach
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| It can be attached to adjectives:
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| '''pa''' + '''witu''' ('white') -> '''pawitu''' to make white, to bleach
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| ==The prefix ke-==
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| The prefix '''ke-''' has a couple of functions. It can be added to verbs, to form nouns indicating what would typically be the result of the event described by the verb:
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| '''ke''' + '''rita''' ('to write') -> '''kerita''' - letter, (piece of) writing.
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| '''ke''' + '''rima''' ('to dream') -> '''kerima''' - dream
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| '''ke''' + '''tiga''' ('to think') -> '''ketiga''' 'thought'
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| It can form passive participles:
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| '''tiki kerai''' - fried chicken
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| chicken PASS.fry
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| '''tiki nea kerai''' - the chicken is/was fried
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| chicken be PASS.fry
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| '''Tiki nea kerai a mane''' - The chicken is being fried by the man.
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| chicken be PASS.fry man
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| It can be attached to adjectives to form abstract nouns:
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| '''ke''' + '''biu''' (beautiful, good-looking) -> '''kebiu''' - beauty (in the sense of an abstract quality, rather than 'a beautiful person', which would be '''tiabiu''' or '''tiaoka biu''')
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| ==Reflexive clauses==
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| The reflexive pronoun is '''se''':
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| '''Te ta ruko i se''' - He looked at himself.
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| 3s PST look DAT REFL
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| '''Teera ta ruko i se''' - They looked at themselves.
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| 3:PL PST look DAT REFL
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| '''Se''' need not refer to a third person subject. It can just as well refer back to a first or second person subject, corresponding to 'myself', 'ourselves', 'yourself', or 'yourselves' in English:
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| '''Mi ta ruko i se.''' - I looked at myself.
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| 1s PST look DAT REFL
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| The reciprocal pronoun is '''seoa''':
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| '''Teera ta ruko i seoa.''' - They looked at each other.
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| 3.PL PST look DAT RECP
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| ==Lexicon== | | ==Lexicon== |
| Line 719: |
Line 291: |
| '''apa tegaei''' - forty-one (four ten one) | | '''apa tegaei''' - forty-one (four ten one) |
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| '''apa tegarao''' - forty-two (four ten two) | | '''apa tegaoa''' - forty-two (four ten two) |
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| etc. | | etc. |
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Line 357: |
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| '''siso''' - sister, female cousin | | '''siso''' - sister, female cousin |
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| ==See also== | | ==See also== |
Waa is a constructed language. A large part of its vocabulary is derived from English, or a selection of other languages.
Phonology
Consonants
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Labial
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Alveolar
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Palatal
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Velar or glottal
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| Voiceless stops
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p
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t
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k
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| Voiced stops
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b
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d
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| Voiceless fricatives
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s
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h
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| Nasals
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m
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n
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ŋ
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| Trills
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r
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| Glides
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w
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j
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/j/ is written y, and /ŋ/ g. Otherwise, the phonemes follow their 'expected' spelling according to the IPA.
Vowels
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Front
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Back
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| Close
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i
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u
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| Mid
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e
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o
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| Open
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a~ɑ
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Basic Phrases
There is no distinction between singular and plural, or between definite and indefinite forms, nor are there any other inflections of the noun.
katu - a cat, the cat, (some) cats, the cat,s etc.
huno - a dog, the dog, (some) dogs, the dogs, etc.
Adjectives and other modifying expressions follow the noun:
katu witu - a/the white cat(s)
cat white
huno maka - a/the large dog(s)
dog large
Pronouns
mi I
yu you (singular)
te he, she, it
tenaa that one
tenei thisone
miera we
yuera you (plural)
teera they
teeranaa those ones
teeranei these ones
ei tiaoka - somebody (lit. 'one person')
ei mea - something (lit. 'one thing')
ei osa - some amount (lit. 'one part')
Simple clauses
One basic - though not the only - word-order is S.V.O. - Subject - Verb - Object.
Katu e sewa. - The cat is sleeping. The cat will sleep.
cat NPST sleep
Katu ta sewa. - The cat was sleeping.
cat PST sleep
Katu ta itu muso. - The cat ate the mouse.
cat PST eat mouse
Embedded clauses
Relative clauses are introduced by ae:
Katu ae mi kopa. - The cat that I bought.
cat that 1s buy
Katu ae bita kia. - The cat that bit her.
Complement clauses are introduced by ge:
Mi ta siu ge kia kopa katu. - I saw that he bought the cat.
1s PST see that 3s buy cat
Mi wae ge kia kopa katu. - I want him to buy the cat.
1s want that 3s buy cat
Prepositions
There are two basic, simple prepositions: a 'of', 'by', 'from', and i 'in', 'on', 'at', 'to'.
katu a kia - his cat
cat GEN 3s
Katu ta kee a huso. - The cat came from the house.
cat PST come ABL hous
Kia ta padedu katu a hama. - He killed the cat with the hammer.
3s PST kill cat INSTR hammer
Katu ta kou i rumohaya. - The cat went to the kitchen.
cat PST go DAT kitchen
Kia ta ruko i yu. - She looked at you.
3s PST look DAT 2s
Katu e nea i tebo. - The cat is on the table.
cat NPST be LOC table
These can be combined with locational and other nouns to indicate more precise relations.
Lexicon
Colours
kara - colour
raku - black
witu - white
rei - grey
beu - blue
rinu - green
redu - red
yero - yellow
runo - brown
beuraku - dark blue, black-blue
beuwitu - light blue
Numerals
ei - one
oa - two
kore - three
apa - four
lima - five
sesu - six
sewe - seven
eto - eight
niu - nine
tega - ten
tegaei - eleven (ten one)
tegaoa - twelve (ten two)
etc.
oa tega - twenty (two ten)
kore tega - thirty (three ten)
etc.
apa tegaei - forty-one (four ten one)
apa tegaoa - forty-two (four ten two)
etc.
(ei) huna - (one) hundred
(ei) tusa - (one) thousand
(ei) mirione - (one) million
(ei) birione (one) billion (short scale, like English)
(ei) tirione (one) trillion
Cardinal numerals are placed before the noun:
lima tiaoka - five people
sesu katu - six cats
Ordinal numerals are placed after the noun:
katu kore - the third cat
tiaoka oa - the second person
For 'first', You can use either the numeral ei, or the special word mua:
kat ei - the first cat
kat mua - the first cat
Fractionals are formed with osa 'part' + numeral:
osakore - (a) third
ei osakore - one third
oa osakore - two thirds
ei osatega - one tenth
Family
hami - family
hamiaka - extended family, kin
aba - father, uncle
ama - mother, aunt
bote - brother, male cousin
siso - sister, female cousin
See also
Waa-English dictionary
