Editing Classic Maya language (section)

== Grammar ==
Like most other Mayan languages, Classic Maya is [[verb–subject–object]] and is an [[ergative–absolutive language]]. Being [[Polysynthetic language|polysynthetic]], it uses both prefixes and suffixes to show grammatical function. Nouns are not inflected for [[Grammatical case|case]] or [[Grammatical gender|gender]]. There is also an entire class of intransitives that convey the object's spatial position. In addition, the language employs [[Classifier (linguistics)|counter]] words when quantifying nouns and uses a [[vigesimal]] number system. 
Verbs are not conjugated according to tense, but rather are semantically altered by a series of [[Grammatical aspect|aspect]] particles.

=== Numerals ===
Linguists and epigraphers still debate the accurate reading of classical Maya numerals. Numbers greater than 20 are recorded in classical Mayan inscriptions, as part of the so-called "lunar series", for example, when describing the number of days that a "lunar month" specifically has (for example, "20 + 9"; "20 + 10") or the count or order of dynasties to be counted.<ref name=":0" />

List of numerals:
* {{lang|emy|mih}} (0)
* {{lang|emy|jun}} (1)
* {{lang|emy|cha’}} / {{lang|emy|ka’}} (2)
* {{lang|emy|ox}} / {{lang|emy|ux}} (3)
* {{lang|emy|chan}} / {{lang|emy|kan}} (4)
* {{lang|emy|ho’}} (5)
* {{lang|emy|wak}} (6)
* {{lang|emy|huk}} / {{lang|emy|wuk}} (7)
* {{lang|emy|waxak}} (8)
* {{lang|emy|balun}} / {{lang|emy|bolon}} (9)
* {{lang|emy|lajun}} (10)
* {{lang|emy|buluch}} / {{lang|emy|buluj}} (11)
* {{lang|emy|laj cha’}} / {{lang|emy|laj ka’}} (12)
* {{lang|emy|ox lajun}} / {{lang|emy|ux lajun}} (13)
* {{lang|emy|chan lajun}} / {{lang|emy|kan lajun}} (14)
* {{lang|emy|ho’ lajun}} (15)
* {{lang|emy|wak lajun}} (16)
* {{lang|emy|huk lajun}} / {{lang|emy|wuk lajun}} (17)
* {{lang|emy|waxak lajun}} (18)
* {{lang|emy|balun lajun}} / {{lang|emy|bolon lajun}} (19)
* {{lang|emy|winak}} / {{lang|emy|k'al}} (20).

=== Pronouns ===
Classic Maya pronouns come in two forms, ''dependent'' and ''independent''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Law |first1=Danny |last2=Stuart |first2=David |year=2017 |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781315192345/mayan-languages-judith-aissen-nora-england-roberto-zavala-maldonado |chapter=Classic Mayan: an overview of language in ancient hieroglyphic script |editor1=Judith Aissen |editor2=Nora C. England |editor3=Roberto Zavala Maldonado |title=The Mayan Languages |publisher=Routledge |location=London |pages=128-172 }}</ref><ref name=":2">[https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/2573/files/285067/download?verifier=PIUVjvVyH4aDStgyhmxAGHz3rG18jF54S0nobQp1&wrap=1 GRAMMAR OF HIEROGLYPHIC MAYA, Brussels, October 29–31 2013]</ref>

Independent pronouns stand alone in an utterance, usually to draw focus to one of the sentence's arguments; historically they were constructed from a demonstrative particle *''haʔ'' plus a dependent pronoun of the Absolutive Series, but many of the attested forms display further unpredictable phonological developments.  Dependent pronouns are affixed to their grammatical head (whether noun, adjective, or verb), and come in two separate sets. [[Ergativity|Ergative]] dependent pronouns--which mark the subject of a transitive verb, the possessor in a possessive construction, or the person of a relational noun (see below)--are prefixed to the root, with two allomorphs depending on whether the following root begins with a consonant (C) or with a vowel (V). [[Absolutive]] pronouns, on the other hand, are suffixed to the root; these mark the object of transitive verbs as well as the subject of both intransitive and stative verbs.

Because most major Classic Maya inscriptions take the form of narratives, first- and second-person pronouns are very rare, to the point that some forms - notably second-person plural pronouns - are not known at all. Such unattested forms are marked below with question marks.

{| class="wikitable" style="border: none; background: none;"
|+ Classic Maya pronouns
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="border: none; background: none;" | 
! colspan="2" | Ergative
! rowspan="2" | Absolutive
! rowspan="2" | Independent
|-
! colspan="1" | before C
! colspan="1" | before V
|-
! rowspan="2" | 1st person
! singular
| ''ni-''
| ''w-''
| ''-een''
| ''hiin'' ~ ''hin''
|-
! plural
| ''ka-''
| (?)
| ''-oʔn''
| (?)
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2nd person
! singular
| ''a-''
| ''aw-''
| ''-at''
| ''haʔat'' ~ ''hat''
|-
! plural
| (?)
| (?)
| (?)
| (?)
|-
! rowspan="2" | 3rd person
! singular
| ''u-''
| ''y-''
| -Ø
| ''haaʔ'' ~ ''haʔ''
|-
! plural
| ''u-''
| ''y-''
| -Ø ~ ''-oob’'' > ''-ob’''
| ''haʔoob’'' ~ ''haʔob’''
|}

=== Verbs ===
Many verbal roots of classical Maya have been attested. Some of these are:<ref name=":0" />
* ''ak''' – give
* ''al'' – speak
* ''cha''' – do
* ''tz'ib'' – write, paint
* ''ch'ab''- / ''kob''' – create
* ''ch'am''  – receive
* ''hul'' – arrive
* ''pok'' – wash
* ''chum'' – sit
* ''jel'' – change
* ''il'' – see
* ''k'at'' – want
* ''och'' – enter, give of eat 
* ''pitz'' – play ball 
* ''way'' – sleep, transform 
* ''k'ay'' – sing 
* ''tal'' – come 
* ''nak'' – conquer 
* ''pas'' – open 
* ''pay'' – guide 
* ''tzutz'' – finish

=== Nouns ===
Unlike verbs and positionals, most nouns do not require [[morphological derivation]]. For these words, the morpheme used to derive non-possessed forms is the suffix -''Vl'', although the vowel for these can vary from word to word, and some words take a suffix -''is'' or -''aas''. Examples: ''u-ch’ahb’'' 'his penance' > ''ch’ahb’-il'' 'penance', ''y-ohl'' 'his heart from him' > ''ohl-is'' 'heart'. On the other hand, other nouns are generally not possessed and require derivation when possessed, usually with the abstract suffix -V (V) l. This is written with the syllabic sign -''li'', but it can have two allomorphs that are mostly phonologically conditioned, -''il'' for CVC roots and -''aal'' for non-CVC roots. The exceptions to this appear to be lexically determined. Example: ''lakam-tuun'' 'wake' > u ''lakam-tuun-il'' 'his wake'.