User:Bukkia/sandboxVIII
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.
ɬiːrora soːŋo the man’s house
oɬtuʂu/joʂu lilaː my hand
joːpaː ʔoːna 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.
The role of the noun cluster in the sentence and its number are marked by case and number endings. In the earlier period, these endings mark only the last element of the noun cluster.
joːpaː ɬiːroli soːŋoχæ ʔimeːχ(æt́) the young man is going home
Già in fase prediasporica, tuttavia, la marcatura del caso si espande alle radici di specificazione aggettivale in funzione attributiva, realizzando così l’accordo nominale, probabilmente in modo da evitare ambiguità tra i gruppi del sostantivo facenti parte di una frase. L’accordo non viene, invece, realizzato sui costituenti che esprimono possesso o appartenenza.
joːpaːli ɬiːroli soːŋoχæ ʔimeːχ(æt́) the young man is going home
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.
jṓpā́li wī́roli sṓgoɣɑ ʔimḗɣɑt the young man is going home
jonora sṓgo our house
jṓpā́no ʔṓnano the young women
ʔṓnano jṓpā́no (ʔɑñon) the women are young
The agreement among nouns and adjectives is not a universal phenomenon. Indefinite adjectives, indeed, usually do not agree with the nominal form, neither in case nor in number.
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.
sṓgoɣɑ ʔū́m ʔimḗɣow I am going inside the house
