Editing Niellim language (section)

==Grammar==

===Syntax===
The typical word order is [[subject–verb–object]] (though this can be affected by topic [[English clause syntax#Fronting and zeroing|fronting]]); [[preposition]] - prepositional object (- [[postposition]]); [[noun]] - [[adjective]]; possessed - possessor.  However, possessive pronouns precede the noun.

===Pronouns===
The basic personal pronouns include: {{lang|nie|n}} {{gloss|I}}, {{lang|nie|m}} {{gloss|you}}, {{lang|nie|r}} {{gloss|he, she, it}} (with low tone as subjects, high tone as objects), {{lang|nie|í}} {{gloss|you (pl.)}}, and {{lang|nie|á}} {{gloss|they}}. ("We" does not appear in sources so far examined by the editors.{{who?|date=July 2024}})

===Nouns===
Noun plural formation is quite complex, and includes some apparent relics of a now-absent [[noun class]] system; the commonest ways include combinations of internal vowel [[ablaut]], the suffix ''-gɨ'', a change ''l/n'' > ''r'', and/or replacing final ''-a'' with ''-i''.

===Verbs===
Each verb has two forms: [[indicative mood|indicative]] and [[optative mood|optative]] ("[[injunctive mood|injunctive]]" in Boyeldieu's terminology.)  They are distinguished by tonal pattern.

Verbs may be preceded by various particles to indicate [[Grammatical tense|tense]], [[Grammatical aspect|aspect]], and [[Grammatical mood|mood]]: for instance {{lang|nie|wò}} continuous, {{lang|nie|ɓə}} future, {{lang|nie|ká}} obligation.  Indirect quoted speech is preceded with the particle {{lang|nie|ɓə}} {{gloss|that}}.

Verbal nouns may be formed by changing the tone pattern and/or suffixing {{lang|nie|-li}} or {{lang|nie|-la}} (in which the ''l'' becomes ''n'' following a nasal) together with internal vowel ablaut.

Verb derivational suffixes include {{lang|nie|-n}} intensive (realized as {{lang|nie|-nì}} or {{lang|nie|-ɨ̀n}}, e.g., {{lang|nie|nun}} {{gloss|bite}} > {{lang|nie|nùnɨ̀n}} {{gloss|gnaw}}, and sometimes causing internal ablaut), and {{lang|nie|-gɨ̀}} [[mediopassive]] (sometimes {{lang|nie|-gi}} or {{lang|nie|-gu}}, rarely causes internal ablaut).

===Prepositions===

Common prepositions include {{lang|nie|gɨ̀}} {{gloss|to ([[dative]])}}, {{lang|nie|naà}} {{gloss|with}}, and {{lang|nie|ti}} {{gloss|to}}.