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Fur language
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==Morphology== ===Plurals=== Noun, and optionally adjective, plurals can be formed with ''-a'' (''-ŋa'' after vowels): {{interlinear|indent=2|aldí → aldíŋá|"story" {} "stories"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|tóŋ → pira|{"(a certain species of) antelope"} {} "antelopes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|piraŋa → tooy'báiná|"old" {} {"old (PL)"}|}} This suffix also gives the inanimate 3rd person plural of the verb: {{interlinear|indent=2|liíŋ → liíŋá, káliŋa|{"he bathes"} {} {"they (inanimate) bathe"} {"they (animate) bathe"}|}} Vowel-final adjectives can take a plural in ''-lá'', as well as ''-ŋa'': {{interlinear|indent=2|lúllá → {lúllála {{noitalics|or}} lúlláŋa}|"cold" {} {"cold (PL)"}|}} A similar suffix (metathesized and assimilated to become ''-ól/-úl/-ál'') is used for the plural of the verb in some tenses. A few CVV nouns take the plural suffix H''-ta''; {{interlinear|indent=2|roo → {roota'wala gal rooŋa}|"river" {} "rivers"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|{ra̱yi' wala gal ra̱y} → {rǎ̱ytó'wala gal rǎ̱ytá}|"field" {} "fields"|}} At least two nouns take the suffix -i: {{interlinear|indent=2|kóór → kóórí|"spear" {} "spears"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|dʉ́tʉ → kʉ́ʉ́tɨ́|"mouse" {} "mice"|}} Nouns with the singular prefix ''d-'' (> ''n-'' before a nasal) take the plural ''k-''; these are about 20% of all nouns. In some cases (mostly body parts) it is accompanied by L; e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|dɨ́ló → kɨ́ló|"ear" {} "ears"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|nʉ́ŋɨ́ → kʉ́ŋɨ́|"eye" {} "eyes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|dági → kagi|"tooth" {} "teeth"|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|dormí → kormi|"nose" {} "noses"|}} *In some cases, the singular also has a suffix ''-ŋ'', not found in the plural: {{interlinear|indent=3|daulaŋ → kaula|"shoe" {} "shoes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|dɨróŋ → kɨro|"egg" {} "eggs"|}} *Sometimes, a further plural suffix from those listed above is added: {{interlinear|indent=3|nʉ́nʉm → kʉ́nʉ́ma|"granary" {} "granaries"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|nʉ́ʉ́m → kʉ́ʉ́mɨ́|"snake" {} "snakes"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|dɨwwô → {kɨwwóla'wala gal 'kɨwwóŋa}|"new" {} {"new (PL)"}|}} *Sometimes the suffix ''-(n)ta'', is added: {{interlinear|indent=3|dewer → kewértá|"porcupine" {} "porcupines"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|da̱wi → {ka̱wíntó'wala gal ka̱wíntá}|"tail" {} "tails"|}} *One noun, as well as the demonstratives and the interrogative "which", take a plural by simply prefixing ''k-''L: {{interlinear|indent=3|úú → kuu|"cow" {} "cows"|}} {{interlinear|indent=3|á̱yɨ → ká̱yɨ|{"which (one)?"} {} {"which (ones)?"}|}} *Several syntactic plurals with no singulars, mostly denoting liquids, have ''k-''L-''a''; ''kewa'' "blood", ''koro'' "water", ''kona'' "name, song" ''koonà''. ===Nouns=== The [[locative case]] can be expressed by the suffix ''-le'' or by reversing the noun's final tone, e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|tòŋ → toŋ|"house" {} {"at the house"}|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|loo + kàrrà → {loo kàrrà-le}|"place" {} "far" {} {"at a far place"}|}} The [[Genitive case|genitive]] (English [[possessive s]]) is expressed by the suffix ''-iŋ'' (the ''i'' is deleted after a vowel.) If the relationship is possessive, the possessor comes first; otherwise, it comes last; e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|nuum → {nuumiŋ tàbù}|"snake" {} {"snake's head"}|}} {{interlinear|indent=2|jùtà → {kàrabà jùtăŋ}|"forest" {} {"animals of the forest"}|}} ===Pronouns=== Independent subject: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Singular !! Fur !! Plural !! Fur |- | I || ''ká'' || we || ''kɨ́'' |- | you (sg.) || ''jɨ́'' || you (pl.) || ''bɨ́'' |- | he, she, it || ''yé'' || they || ''yɨeŋ + yeeŋ'' |} The object pronouns are identical, apart from being low tone and having -ŋó added to the plural forms. Prefixed subject pronouns: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Singular !! Fur !! Plural !! Fur |- | I || – (triggers metathesis) || we || ''k-'' |- | you (sg.) || ''j-'' || you (pl.) || ''b-'' |- | he, she, it || – (causes raising; ''*y''-) || they (animate) || ''y-'' (+pl. suffix) |- | || || they (inanimate) || ''(*y-)'' (+pl. suffix) |} Thus, for example, on the verb ''bʉo-'' "tire": {| class="wikitable" |- ! English !! Fur !! English !! Fur |- | I'm tired || ''ká ʉmo'' || we tired || ''kɨ́ kʉmo'' |- | you (sg.) tired || ''jɨ́ jʉmo'' || you (pl.) tired || '' bɨ́ bʉmo'' |- | he/it/she tired || ''yé bʉo'' || they tired || ''yɨeŋ kʉme + yeeŋ bʉe'' |} ''gi'', described as the "participant object pronoun", represents first or second person objects in a dialogue, depending on context. Possessives (singular; take k- with plural nouns): {| class="wikitable" |- ! Singular !! Fur !! Plural !! Fur |- | my || ''dúíŋ'' || our || ''dáíŋ'' |- | your (sg.) || ''dɨ́ɨ́ŋ'' || your (pl.) || ''dɨ́eŋ'' |- | his, hers, its || ''dééŋ'' || their || ''dɨ́eŋ'' |} ===Verbs=== The Fur verbal system is quite complicated; verbs fall into a variety of conjugations. There are three tenses: present, perfect, and future. Subjunctive is also marked. [[Grammatical aspect|Aspect]] is distinguished in the past tense. Derivational suffixes include ''-iŋ'' (intransitive/reflexive; e.g. {{interlinear|indent=2|lii → liiŋ|{"he washes"} {} {"he washes himself"}|}} and [[gemination]] of the middle consonant plus ''-à/ò'' (intensive; e.g. {{interlinear|indent=2|jabi → jappiò/jabbiò|"drop" {} {"throw down"}|}} [[Negation]] is done with the marker ''a-...-bà'' surrounding the verb; ''a-bai-bà'' "he does not drink". ===Adjectives=== Most adjectives have two syllables, and a geminate middle consonant: e.g. ''àppa'' "big", ''fùkka'' "red", ''lecka'' "sweet". Some have three syllables: ''dàkkure'' "solid". Adverbs can be derived from adjectives by addition of the suffix ''-ndì'' or L''-n'', e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|kùlle → {kùllendì {{noitalics|or}} kùllèn}|"fast" {} "quickly"|}} Abstract nouns can be derived from adjectives by adding ''-iŋ'' and lowering all tones, deleting any final vowel of the adjective, e.g.: {{interlinear|indent=2|dìrro → dìrrìŋ|"heavy" {} "heaviness"|}}
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