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=== The active-stative alignment ===
===Interrogative pronouns===
The case system of Proto-Piti language is based on a morphological alignment called '''agentive-stative''' type (also called the ''agentive-passive'' alignment). This kind of alignment is essential different from the ''nominative-accusative'' alignment, which is widespread among most European languages, and from the even rarer ''ergative-absolutive'' alignment.
Basic interrogative pronouns display two different roots:


In an agentive-stative alignment the choice of the case relies on the intrinsic ability of the subject to be an active agent in the sentence or not. Unlike the ergative-absolutive alignment, subjects of an intransitive verb can also be agentive subjects, if the action is performed with a certain degree of animacy or intentionality. This usually also depends on the semantic nature of the verb itself. Let’s see two examples:
*<small>''quality'':</small> '''ṫjejm-'''
*'''''to jump''''': this verb is considered as grammatically intransitive, but the described action involves an activity and a will from the subject. Thus, the alignment selects the ''agentive'' case for such subjects.
*<small>''quantity'':</small> '''sjowp-'''
*'''''to fall''''': this verb is considered as grammatically intransitive, but the described action involves no active engagement or no active will from the subject. It is more regarded as an incidental event, even if it implies some kind of motion. Thus, the alignment selects the ''passive'' case for such subjects.
The system selects only the passive case for direct objects of transitive verbs. Potential confusion is avoided, as the agentive case and the passive case cannot be selected for two kinds of elements which may be in the same sentence.


The general usage rule for these cases is:
When taking a noun role, the root is usually expanded by the nominal suffix '''-e-'''.
*Subject of a transitive verb: '''agentive''' case
*Active subject of an intransitive verb: '''agentive''' case
*Inactive subject of an intransitive verb: '''passive''' case
*Direct object of a transitive verb: '''passive''' case


Since nouns referring to intrinsically inanimated entities cannot be selected as subjects of transitive verbs, sentences in which these elements might be transitive or active subjects are usually differently arrange are usually differently arranged, as such nouns cannot be in the agentive case:
'''ṫjejm-''' → '''ṫjejm-''' + '''-e-''' → '''ṫjejme'''
<small>the storm spoiled the harvest → '''the harvest spoiled because of the storm'''</small>
<small>''interr.'' → ''what?, who?''</small>
'''umaʈoːta ḱumeːkʰu ʔaʔosiːp(æt́)'''
 
However, some natural entities can be perceived as animate, as having their own will, like '''sæɳo''', ''light'', '''ṕiḱe''', ''water'', '''ʔaḱo''', ''wind/air'', and they may optionally be regarded as animate, as if they were endowed with their own will. In such cases these nouns can be active subjects of transitive verbs and be declined in the agentive case.
When taking an adjective role, the root is usually expanded by the adjectival suffix '''-i-'''.
 
'''ṫjejm-''' → '''ṫjejm-''' + '''-i-''' → '''ṫjejmi'''
<small>''interr.'' → ''which?''</small> 
 
As pronouns, these forms display a complete declension, in which the case forms according to the animacy of the referred noun.
 
{|-
|-
| || colspan="2" | <center>''who? / what?''</center> || colspan="2" | <center>''how much? / how many?''</center>
|-
| style="width: 100px;"| || style="width: 100px;"|<center><small>''singular''</small></center> || style="width: 100px;"|<center><small>''plural''</small></center> || style="width: 100px;"|<center><small>''singular''</small></center> || style="width: 100px;"|<center><small>''plural''</small></center>
|-
| <center><small>''ergative''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmek̇ə''' || '''ṫjejmejk̇ə''' || '''sjowpek̇ə''' || '''sjowpejk̇ə'''
|-
| <center><small>''absolutive''</small></center> || '''ṫjejme''' || '''ṫjejmej''' || '''sjowpe''' || '''sjowpej'''
|-
| <center><small>''possessive''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmeṗu''' || '''ṫjejmejṗu''' || '''sjowpeṗu''' || '''sjowpejṗu'''
|-
| <center><small>''terminative''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmeʈu''' || '''ṫjejmejʈu''' || '''sjowpeʈu''' || '''sjowpejʈu'''
|-
| <center><small>''ablative''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmeʡo''' || '''ṫjejmejʡo''' || '''sjowpeʡo''' || '''sjowpejʡo'''
|-
| <center><small>''causative''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmeno''' || '''ṫjejmejno''' || '''sjowpeno''' || '''sjowpejno'''
|-
| <center><small>''benefactive''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmepə''' || '''ṫjejmejpə''' || '''sjowpepə''' || '''sjowpejpə'''
|-
| <center><small>''instrumental''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmema''' || '''ṫjejmejma''' || '''sjowpema''' || '''sjowpejma'''
|-
| <center><small>''locative''</small></center> || '''ṫjejmewa''' || '''ṫjejmejwa''' || '''sjowpewa''' || '''sjowpejwa'''
|}
 
The quality root can refer freely to either animate or inanimate entities. A distinction of animacy can be inferred by the context or by choice of case forms. However, some declined forms can acquire new interrogative meanings depending on the selected case:
 
* '''ṫjejmewa''': where (<small>static location</small>)
* '''ṫjejmeʈu''': where (<small>motion toward</small>)
* '''ṫjejmeno ''': why (<small>cause</small>)
 
These forms, while broadly undefined in their meaning, are usually specified by using the interrogative adjective with other generic or specific nouns:
 
* '''ṫjejmewa weʡewa''': in which place (<small>static location</small>)
* '''ṫjejmeʈu weʡeʈu''': in which place (<small>motion toward</small>)

Latest revision as of 02:22, 26 September 2025

Interrogative pronouns

Basic interrogative pronouns display two different roots:

  • quality: ṫjejm-
  • quantity: sjowp-

When taking a noun role, the root is usually expanded by the nominal suffix -e-. 

ṫjejm- → ṫjejm- + -e- → ṫjejme
interr. → what?, who?

When taking an adjective role, the root is usually expanded by the adjectival suffix -i-. 

ṫjejm- → ṫjejm- + -i- → ṫjejmi
interr. → which?

As pronouns, these forms display a complete declension, in which the case forms according to the animacy of the referred noun.

who? / what?
how much? / how many?
singular
plural
singular
plural
ergative
 ṫjejmek̇ə ṫjejmejk̇ə sjowpek̇ə sjowpejk̇ə
absolutive
 ṫjejme ṫjejmej sjowpe sjowpej
possessive
 ṫjejmeṗu ṫjejmejṗu sjowpeṗu sjowpejṗu
terminative
 ṫjejmeʈu ṫjejmejʈu sjowpeʈu sjowpejʈu
ablative
 ṫjejmeʡo ṫjejmejʡo sjowpeʡo sjowpejʡo
causative
 ṫjejmeno ṫjejmejno sjowpeno sjowpejno
benefactive
 ṫjejmepə ṫjejmejpə sjowpepə sjowpejpə
instrumental
 ṫjejmema ṫjejmejma sjowpema sjowpejma
locative
 ṫjejmewa ṫjejmejwa sjowpewa sjowpejwa

The quality root can refer freely to either animate or inanimate entities. A distinction of animacy can be inferred by the context or by choice of case forms. However, some declined forms can acquire new interrogative meanings depending on the selected case:

  • ṫjejmewa: where (static location)
  • ṫjejmeʈu: where (motion toward)
  • ṫjejmeno : why (cause)

These forms, while broadly undefined in their meaning, are usually specified by using the interrogative adjective with other generic or specific nouns:

  • ṫjejmewa weʡewa: in which place (static location)
  • ṫjejmeʈu weʡeʈu: in which place (motion toward)
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