Dʰakʰi syntax
- Main article: Dʰakʰi
This page gives an extensive description of Dʰakʰi syntactical features.
Main clause and word order
Dʰakʰi is an almost strictly SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) language.
koːbʰa gʰeʡuː kəgʰəkuːska the man sees the dog
The total lack of any case system, and of any distinction between the subject and the direct object, makes the word order firmly fixed. The only word order with a clear role and a frequent usage is OSV (Object-Subject-Verbs), which conveys a passive meaning.
gʰeʡuː koːbʰa kəgʰəkuːska the dog is seen by the man
The other elements in the sentence are usually placed in the order “place-manner-cause-time”, although they are basically freer than the main elements. An object in the dative case, when conveying the indirect object, tends to be placed before the direct object of the sentence.
koːbʰa gʰeʡuː na peːse kepoljermo the man gives bread to the dog
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.
koːbʰa dʰi xəmroː the man’s house
runiː roːbʰa the young woman
A key role inside the noun cluster is played by the process called agreement. This process create a bond between a noun and other adjectival elements. Other elements, which convey possession or belonging do not agree with the main nominal form (including the possessive adjectives).
kuniː koːbʰa xəmroː pa kəkaṅpʰaː the young man is going home
The agreement is also marked on predicative adjectives, spreading thus in the verb groups.
The agreement does distinguish also the number of the noun cluster. Number is marked only on nouns and adjectival elements, while other elements, which convey possession or belonging, do not agree with the main nominal form in number.
rjysaː rjuniː rjoːbʰa the two young women
rjoːbʰa rjuniː the women are young
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.
xəmroː bʰun ṅəkaṅpʰaː I am going inside the house
