User:Bukkia/sandboxVIII
Nouns
The noun cluster is formed by a nominal root, carrying the main meaning, and by other noun-type forms, namely adjectival root, which specify this meaning or add other meanings to the main noun. Inside of a noun cluster, the nominal root can be replaced by a pronominal root.
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. 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
Still in the pre-diasporic period, however, usage of these endings spread to specifying adjectival roots, most likely in order to avoid any ambiguity among the various noun clusters inside of a sentence. This results in the process called nominal agreement. Other elements, which convey possession or belonging do not agree with the main nominal form.
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
