'-1 prefix
[NOUN FORMATIVE]
Forms a noun out of a monosyllabic stem (drops when compounded)
• ''íi wood
[ '- 'NOUN FORMATIVE' 'ii 'WOOD']
• 'há water
[ '- 'NOUN FORMATIVE' ha 'WATER']
• 'nyá me
[ '- 'NOUN FORMATIVE' nya '1ST PERSON']
'-2 prefix
1 [1st person subject - 3rd person object]
I VERB him/her/it; we VERB.PLURAL him/her/it
• Allen suuchácha ''úuma. I saw Allen's shadow.
[ Allen 'Allen' + shuuchách 'shadow' + '- '1st person subject - 3rd person object' 'úu 'to see' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• Kwéeny páya spóchk wal'yíichk. We want to know everything.
[ 'kwée 'something' -ny 'DEMONSTRATIVE' + páya 'all' + spó 'to know' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + wal 'STEM.want' '- '1st person subject - 3rd person object' yíi 'STEM.want' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER']
2 [1st person intransitive]
I VERB…; we VERB.PLURAL
• ''Ónvi. I am trapped.
[ '- '1st person intransitive' 'ónvi 'to be trapped']
• Ich'rávk 'uukwáma. I feel sick.
[ Ich 'STEM.sick' '- '1st person intransitive' ráv 'STEM.sick' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person intransitive' uukwá 'to feel' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
3 [1st person possession (inalienable nouns)]
my; our
• 'Mlqí nyskwíink walyíima. He wants to wring my neck.
[ '- '1st person possession (inalienable nouns)' mlqí 'neck' + skwíini 'to lock' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' ny- '3rd person subject - 1st person object' + walyíi 'to want to' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
-a1 suffix
[NOUN ABSOLUTIVE]
Indicates that word, not ending in a vowel or case, is a noun
• 'ichmáva food
[ 'ícha 'noun form of 'í' máavi 'to be edible (of any food)' -a 'NOUN ABSOLUTIVE']
• sháwa baby
[ shaw 'YOUNG' -a 'NOUN ABSOLUTIVE']
• théqa leaf
[ theq 'LEAF' -a 'NOUN ABSOLUTIVE']
-a2 suffix
[VOCALIC INCREMENT]
Lends the suffix it is attached to more assertive illocutionary force
• 'Ínohm ny'úuyk wárha I will see you later (later, I will see you again)
[ 'ínohm 'later' + ny- '1st person subject - 2nd person object' 'úu 'to see' -y 'epenthetic [j]' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + wári 'again' -h 'IRREALIS' -a 'VOCALIC INCREMENT']
-ch1 suffix
[PLURALIZER]
Indicates that the subject of a sentence or predicate is plural when suffixed to a verb; also indicates plurality of a noun when suffixed to one
• 'Wávk yáamchkny. They came out of the house.
[ 'wá 'house' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -k 'DIRECTIONAL' + yáami 'to go' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' -kny 'COMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• Halá yákm 'yáamchma. We went one month ago. / It has been one month since we went.
[ halá yáki 'to be one month' + '- '1st person intransitive' yáami 'to go' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• Hamánych smáachk kmólchma. The poor babies are sleeping.
[ hamány 'child' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + smáa 'to sleep' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + kmóli 'to do (of a dear thing, a poor thing)' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
-ch2 , -che suffix
[SUBJECT CASE]
Marks a noun as the subject of a sentence
• 'nyách I
[ '- 'NOUN FORMATIVE' nya '1ST PERSON' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE']
• Jackche kweeswáare ny'wíwa ya'háanma. Jack fixed my record player.
[ Jack 'Jack' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + 'kwée 'something' swáari 'to sing' -e 'ARTIFACT NOMINALIZER' + ny- 'POSSESSIVE' '- '1st person possession (inalienable nouns)' wí 'belonging' -wa 'DEMONSTRATIVE' + yaháani 'to fix' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• Wávche tqápma. The house is crowded.
[ 'wá 'house' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + tqápi 'to be crowded' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
-ch3 suffix
[NOMINALIZER]
Creates nouns out of verbs that do not end in -i (often followed by absolutive -a or other nominal morphology)
• 'ícha noun form of 'í
[ 'í 'to say' -ch 'NOMINALIZER' -a 'NOUN ABSOLUTIVE']
• klkyócho jail
[ klkyó 'to arrest' -ch 'NOMINALIZER' -oo 'LOCATIONAL SUFFIX']
• múu vwék yúcha shepherd
[ mú 'name of a constellation' + vwé 'to watch' + yúcha 'noun form of yú']
-ch4 suffix
[ITERATIVE; HABITUAL ASPECT]
Indicates that the action is, or was, repeated. Frequently translates to "always," "frequently," or "generally." (attached directly to verb stem but must be followed by 'absolutive' marker -i or aspect marker)
• 'íchi always
[ 'í 'to say' -ch 'iterative, habitual aspect' -i 'absolutive verb, denominalizer, recursive']
• yúchi always
[ yú 'to be' -ch 'ITERATIVE; HABITUAL ASPECT' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
• Tú 'mánk 'mánm 'yúchkm. I'm always falling down.
[ tú 'just' + '- '1st person intransitive' máni 'to fall ' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person intransitive' máni 'to fall ' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person intransitive' yú 'to be' -ch 'ITERATIVE; HABITUAL ASPECT' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
ch-1 prefix
1 [CAUSATIVE]
Indicates that a person or thing is causing the action to take place and reduces the number of objects a verb takes
• chvskwíi to stand (something) up
[ ch- 'CAUSATIVE' vskwíi 'to stand']
• chyáami to let go
[ ch- 'CAUSATIVE' yáami 'to go']
2 [ITERATIVE]
Indicates that the action is, or was, repeated
• chwérwéri to wag (one's tail)
[ch+riw+|+riw+i]
-e , -ye , -'e , -he suffix
1 [SPATIOTEMPORAL LOCATIVE]
Indicates a location in either time or space (often appears with a preceeding -'- or -h-)
• 'há kvyáaye across the river
[ 'há 'water' + kvyáay '?' -e 'SPATIOTEMPORAL LOCATIVE']
• nyyéktho 'síta smáame the day after tomorrow
[ nyéektho 'tomorrow' + 'síta 'once' + smáa 'to sleep' -m 'TIME ADVERBIAL' -e 'SPATIOTEMPORAL LOCATIVE']
• vké'e where
2 [ARTIFACT NOMINALIZER]
Creates an object noun from a verb (appears as -ye when following a vowel)
• 'ichmáye table
[ 'ichmáa 'to eat' -e 'ARTIFACT NOMINALIZER']
• 'iichkyáte axe
[ ''íi 'wood' + chkyáti 'to chop' -e 'ARTIFACT NOMINALIZER']
• 'o'úule light
[ 'o'úuli 'to light (a lamp), put on (a light)' -e 'ARTIFACT NOMINALIZER']
3 [VOCATIVE]
Used to invoke or address a person or thing
• hwáke partner
[ hwáki 'to be with as a pair (with someone, or with a discrete group)' -e 'VOCATIVE']
1 a place marker; verb absolutive; vocative; spatiotemporal locative
2 artifact nominalizer
-ee , -'e' suffix
[INTERROGATIVE]
Indicates that a word or phrase has question force
• Kav''ík 'swáaree? How did I sing it?
[ kav 'STEM.how' '- '1st person intransitive' 'í 'STEM.how' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person intransitive' swáari 'to sing' -ee 'INTERROGATIVE']
• Kavlím mwíi'e'? How many do you have?
[ kavlwí 'to be how much' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + m- '2nd person subject - 3rd person object' wíi 'belonging' -ee 'INTERROGATIVE']
• Kwéthch pílee? What's burning?
[ 'kwétha 'what' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + píli 'to burn' -ee 'INTERROGATIVE']
-h1 , -ha suffix
1 [INTERROGATIVE]
Marks a verb or phrase with question force (Especially type B stems, though its use has broadened)
• Kéla qéchi h-wákva 'í: " 'kwétha kav'wíchha?" 'íma. Little brother says to big brother, "What shall we do?"
[ kéla 'younger sibling' + qéchi 'to be little' + hwákva 'older sibling' + 'í 'to say' + 'kwétha 'what' + kav 'STEM.do' '- '1st person subject - 3rd person object' wí 'STEM.do' -h 'INTERROGATIVE' + 'í 'to say' -ma 'ASSERTIVE' +]
• Kwésha mshíiha? What are you going to drink?
[ 'kwésha 'what ' + m- '2nd person subject - 3rd person object' shíi 'to drink' -h 'INTERROGATIVE']
2 [IRREALIS]
Marks indefinitness and futurity
• 'Ínohm ny'úuyk wárha I will see you later (later, I will see you again)
[ 'ínohm 'later' + ny- '1st person subject - 2nd person object' 'úu 'to see' -y 'epenthetic [j]' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + wári 'again' -h 'IRREALIS' -a 'VOCALIC INCREMENT']
• Mátch v'úuvnyktho 'váamha. I'll come at dawn, when the earth becomes visible.
[ 'mátch v'úuvi 'for the earth to become visible' nyéektho 'tomorrow' + '- '1st person intransitive' váami 'to arrive (over there)' -h 'IRREALIS' -a 'VOCALIC INCREMENT']
Note: Very often appears with vocalic incrementing suffix -a.
-i , -yi suffix
[VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE]
Marks a word as a verb (-i following a consonant, -yi following a vowel)
• 'láayi to be angry
[ '- 'NOUN FORMATIVE' laay 'ANGER' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
• chkmíiyi to be concave
[ chkmíi 'wash, creek' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
• swári to like to do
[s+war+i]
• wakváari to love
[+wa+*k+var+i]
-k1 suffix
1 [DIRECTIONAL]
Indicates direction towards speaker or point of reference
• nálki to come down (this way)
[ nal 'DOWN' -k 'DIRECTIONAL' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
• trópki to throw, toss (this way, mainly overhand)
[ trópi 'to throw' -k 'DIRECTIONAL' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
• 'Wávk yáamchkny. They came out of the house. (towards the speaker)
[ 'wá 'house' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -k 'DIRECTIONAL' + yáami 'to go' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' -kny 'COMPLETIVE ASPECT']
2 [LOCATIVE]
Indicates location on or at a point of reference
• 'hátk wá to ride horseback
[ 'hát 'horse' -k 'LOCATIVE' + wá 'to sit']
• Myávk vchíth ''íma. I kissed you (on the mouth).
[ m- '2nd person possessive (inalienable nouns)' yá 'mouth' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -k 'LOCATIVE' + '- '1st person subject - 3rd person object' vchíth 'í 'to kiss (someone's) body part' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
-k2 suffix
[SAME-SUBJECT MARKER]
Indicates that the subject of a verb is the same as the subject of the next verb; Shows causal or sequential events and loose subordination
• 'Úutk kwáawkm. While he looked at me, he spoke.
[ 'úu 'to look on (and not do anything)' -t- 'temporal' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + kwáawi 'to talk' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• 'Hmánytk 'míik qyátkm. When I was a child, I cried a lot.
[ '- '1st person intransitive' hamányi 'to be young' -t- 'TEMPORAL' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person intransitive' míi 'to cry' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + qyáti 'to do a lot' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• Myúwk mmáchi! Come and eat!
[ m- '2nd person intransitive' yúuwi 'to come' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + m- '2nd person intransitive' máa 'to eat (something)' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
-l suffix
[INNER LOCATIVE]
Indicates motion into or within a point of reference
• Hál yéem ''úuvma. I saw myself in the water.
[ 'há 'water' -l 'INNER LOCATIVE' + yéem 'oneself' + '- '1st person intransitive' 'úuvi 'to be visible' -ma 'ASSERTIVE' +]
• Nythé mátl mcháayvkm. There is hunger in that land.
[ nythé 'over there' + 'mát 'place' -l 'INNER LOCATIVE' + mcháayi 'to be hungry' -v 'PASSIVE; REFLEXIVE; RECIPROCAL' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
'm- prefix
[2nd person subject - 1st person object]
you VERB me
• Myáala 'mkkáavo. Buy me some bread. / Buy bread for me.
[ myála 'bread: especially, Indian bread' + 'm- '2nd person subject - 1st person object' kkáavo 'to buy for']
• Nyáchvch kav'lwím paa'm'úu? How many of us did you see? / How many of us were there that you saw?
[ 'nyáchvch 'we' + kav 'STEM.how.many' '- '1st person intransitive' lwí 'STEM.how.many' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + paa- 'PLURAL OBJECT MARKER' 'm- '2nd person subject - 1st person object' 'úu 'to see']
-m1 suffix
1 [DIRECTIONAL]
Indicates motion away from speaker or point of reference or along a point of reference
• 'Nywám vóochkny. They went out of my house.
[ '- '1st person possession (inalienable nouns)' ny- 'POSSESSIVE' 'wá 'house' -m 'DIRECTIONAL' + vóo 'to walk' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -kny 'COMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• Hmáanych stóora kchíkamm chtúrchkny. The children rolled a marble down along the crack (in the sidewalk).
[ hamány 'child' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + stúura 'marbles' + kchikám 'crack' -m 'DIRECTIONAL' + chtúri 'to roll' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -kny 'COMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• Iiwáyem 'skékvma. I bumped against the chair.
[ 'iiwáye 'chair' -m 'DIRECTIONAL' + '- '1st person subject - 3rd person object' skékvi 'to bump oneself against something' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
2 [LOCATIVE]
Indicates location at a distance from speaker or point of reference
• 'Smáami. I stay overnight (lit: I sleep away).
[ '- '1st person intransitive' smáa 'to sleep' -m 'LOCATIVE' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
3 [ASSOCIATIONAL]
Indicates association of an object or event with another, often translated to english as "with"
• ''Ii páya 'hkwávm 'chkyátma. I cut all the wood with the knife.
[ ''íi 'wood' + páya 'all' + 'hkwá 'metal' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -m 'ASSOCIATIONAL' + '- '1st person subject - 3rd person object' chkyáti 'to chop' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• 'Nyáche Lynnm hwákk s'árhe 'péemk yúm. Lynn and I went to the store.
[ 'nyách 'I' + Lynn 'Lynn' -m 'ASSOCIATIONAL' + hwáki 'to be with as a pair (with someone, or with a discrete group)' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + s'áara 'store' -h 'DEMONSTRATIVE SUFFIX' -e 'SPATIOTEMPORAL LOCATIVE' + 'péemi 'dual of yáami "to go"' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + yú 'to be' -m 'IMPERFECTIVE']
-m2 suffix
1 [DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER]
Indicates that the subject of a verb is a different subject from that of the next verb. Shows causal or sequential events of 2+ subjects. Also appears on a habitual or distributed activity followed by an auxiliary agreeing with it in person and number and carrying the habitual-distrubutive suffix -ch.
• 'Úutm kwáawkm. While he looked, he (someone else) spoke.
[ 'úu 'to look on (and not do anything)' -t- 'TEMPORAL' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + kwáawi 'to talk' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• Hmáanych láawk 'iichíi sháwa láawm yók nyhátcha. Many of the children caught little fish for pets.
[ hamány 'child' -ch 'PLURALIZER' + láawi 'to be many' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + 'iichíi 'fish' + sháwa 'young (of the species)' + láawi 'to be many' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + yó 'to take' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + nyháta 'pet' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -a 'TNS']
• Mchráavk kweqalyém mtsmáachk 'sál mkwíthkny. When you were sick and dreaming of bad things, you held my hands.
[ m- '2nd person intransitive' chrávi 'sick' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + kwee 'SOMETHING' qlyépi 'to be bad' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + m- '2nd person subject - 3rd person object' tsmáachi 'to dream about' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person possession (inalienable nouns)' sál 'hand' + m- '2nd person subject - 3rd person object' kwíthi 'to hold' -kny 'COMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• Swáarm 'íchk 'ím. He always sings.
[ swáari 'to sing' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + 'íchi 'always' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + 'í 'to say' -m 'IMPERFECTIVE']
2 [TIME ADVERBIAL]
Suffixes to temporal words to indicate relation to the predicate.
• 'Ínohm ny'úuyk wárha I will see you later (later, I will see you again)
[ 'ínohm 'later' + ny- '1st person subject - 2nd person object' 'úu 'to see' -y 'epenthetic [j]' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + wári 'again' -h 'IRREALIS' -a 'VOCALIC INCREMENT']
• Váam nyáam hiipáam. Today is becoming night.
[ váam 'now' + 'nyáa 'day' -m 'TIME ADVERBIAL' + hiipáa 'to be night' -m 'TIME ADVERBIAL']
m-2 prefix
1 [2nd person subject - 3rd person object]
you VERB him/her/it
• Mya'háanee? Did you fix it? / Did you tame it?
[ m- '2nd person subject - 3rd person object' yaháani 'to fix']
2 [2nd person intransitive]
you VERB
• Mách mvyámi. You run.
[ mách 'you' + m- '2nd person intransitive' vyámi 'to run']
• Vwáavk m'sítee? Are there eleven of you? / Are you eleven in number?
[ vwáavi 'ten' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + m- '2nd person intransitive' 'síti 'one' -ee 'INTERROGATIVE']
3 [3rd person subject - 2nd person object]
he/she/it VERBS you
• Twíim paam'úuk yúny. He saw some of you.
[ twíim 'some' + paa- 'PLURAL OBJECT MARKER' m- '3rd person subject - 2nd person object' 'úu 'to see' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + yú 'to be' -ny 'PERFECTIVE']
4 [2nd person possessive (inalienable nouns)]
your
• Mmlqínych ráve? Does your throat hurt?
[ m- '2nd person possessive (inalienable nouns)' mlqí 'neck' -ny 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + rávi 'to hurt' -ee 'INTERROGATIVE']
-ma
[ASSERTIVE]
Marks a proposition explicitly as an assertion of the speaker (often used when drawing conclusions or offering an opinion)
• Kwinyvóm 'e'yíima. I like it when it rains.
[ Kwi 'STEM.rain' ny- 'TEMPORAL SUBORDINATOR' vó 'STEM.rain' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + 'e 'STEM.like' '- '1st person intransitive' yíi 'STEM.like' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• M'évk m'yíima! Serves you right!
-ny1 suffix
1 [DEMONSTRATIVE]
that specific NOUN
• Mchtány káv 'í? What did your father say?
[ m- '2nd person possessive (inalienable nouns)' chtá 'father (referential)' -ny 'DEMONSTRATIVE' + kav'í 'to say what']
2 [CONJUNCTION]
"too"/"also"
• Myáamnyk walmyíi? Do you want to go also?
[ m- '2nd person intransitive' yáami 'to go' -ny 'CONJUNCTION' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + wal 'STEM.want' m- '2nd person intransitive' yíi 'STEM.want']
• 'Nyách 'yáamnyk wal'yíima. I want to go too. / I'm planning to go too.
ny- prefix
1 [POSSESSIVE]
Marks a noun as being possessed (ny + person marker)
• 'Nymólch Jordan. My name is Jordan.
[ '- '1st person possession (inalienable nouns)' ny- 'POSSESSIVE' móla 'name' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + Jordan 'Jordan']
2 [1st person subject - 2nd person object]
I VERB you
• 'Enyyíikm. I love you.
[ 'E 'STEM.love' ny- '1st person subject - 2nd person object' yíi 'STEM.love' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
3 [3rd person subject - 1st person object]
he/she/it VERBS me
• Sál nyyóma. He shook hands with me.
[ sál 'hand' + ny- '3rd person subject - 1st person object' yó 'to take' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• Nyswálma. He really likes me.
[ ny- '3rd person subject - 1st person object' swáli 'to love' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
4 [TEMPORAL SUBORDINATOR]
"when"
• Kwinyvóm 'e'yíima. I like it when it rains.
[ Kwi 'STEM.rain' ny- 'TEMPORAL SUBORDINATOR' vó 'STEM.rain' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + 'e 'STEM.like' '- '1st person intransitive' yíi 'STEM.like' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
-o , -wo suffix
[APPLICATIVE-BENEFACTIVE; CAUSATIVE]
Licenses the verb to take on an additional object. Often translated as "for" as in "I VERB for you" (-o following a consonant, -wo following a vowel)
• kkísko to slip because of (someone)
[ kkíski 'to slip and fall' -o 'APPLICATIVE-BENEFACTIVE; CAUSATIVE']
• knáavo to tell to
[ knáavi 'to tell ' -o 'APPLICATIVE-BENEFACTIVE; CAUSATIVE']
• vpí 'íwo to make (someone) faint
[ v- 'INCHOATIVE; PUNCTUAL' pí 'to die' + 'í 'to say' -o 'APPLICATIVE-BENEFACTIVE; CAUSATIVE']
• wasmyéwo to make (someone) worry about (something)
[ wasmyé 'to worry about' -o 'APPLICATIVE-BENEFACTIVE; CAUSATIVE']
-oo , -o suffix
[LOCATIONAL SUFFIX]
"place where…" Used to derive locational, agentive, and object nominals
• hathpúycho bathroom, shower
[ 'há thpúyi 'to bathe' -ch 'ITERATIVE; HABITUAL ASPECT' -oo 'Locational suffix']
• klkyócho jail
[ klkyó 'to arrest' -ch 'NOMINALIZER' -oo 'LOCATIONAL SUFFIX']
• sál 'hánoo right side
[ sál 'hand' + 'háni 'to be good' -oo 'LOCATIONAL SUFFIX']
• tarháaroo workplace
[ tarháari 'to work' -oo 'Locational suffix']
paa- prefix
[PLURAL OBJECT MARKER]
Indicates that the object of a sentence or predicate is plural (required with human plural objects, but not for other objects)
• Hamukmspém paany'úuma. I saw eight of you.
[ Hamuk 'STEM.eight' m- '2nd person intransitive' spé 'STEM.eight' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + paa- 'PLURAL OBJECT MARKER' ny- '1st person subject - 2nd person object' 'úu 'to see' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• Hwíi nwáaha páya paam'úu! Hmmm… look at all my friends.
[ hwí 'what! (exclamation of surprise)' + nwáaha 'friend' + páya 'all' + paa- 'PLURAL OBJECT MARKER' m- '2nd person subject - 3rd person object' 'úu 'to see']
• Paanypíwoma. He died for us.
[ paa- 'PLURAL OBJECT MARKER' ny- '3rd person subject - 1st person object' píwo 'to die for' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
s- prefix
[CAUSATIVE (laterally move together or apart)]
Indicates that a person or thing is causing the lateral action to take place
• s'ámi to close
[ s- 'CAUSATIVE (laterally move together or apart)' 'am 'MOVE (around or about)' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
-t-
[TEMPORAL]
Temporal subordinator, typically translated as "when" or "while"
• 'Úutk kwáawkm. While he looked at me, he spoke.
[ 'úu 'to look on (and not do anything)' -t- 'temporal' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + kwáawi 'to talk' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
• 'Hmánytk 'míik qyátkm. When I was a child, I cried a lot.
[ '- '1st person intransitive' hamányi 'to be young' -t- 'TEMPORAL' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person intransitive' míi 'to cry' -k 'SAME-SUBJECT MARKER' + qyáti 'to do a lot' -km 'INCOMPLETIVE ASPECT']
t- prefix
1 [CAUSATIVE]
Indicates that a person or thing is causing the action to take place and reduces the number of objects a verb takes
• t'rúuyi to heat
[ t- 'CAUSATIVE' 'rúuyi 'to be hot']
• tmyúuli to sweeten
[ t- 'CAUSATIVE' myúuli 'to be sweet']
2 [ITERATIVE]
Indicates that the action is, or was, repeated. Frequently translates to "always," "frequently," or "generally."
• ttmóo to scratch repetitively
[ t- 'ITERATIVE' tmóo 'to scratch (someone's back, for example)']
3 [PLURAL]
Indicates plurality (no longer productive)
-v1 suffix
[PASSIVE; REFLEXIVE; RECIPROCAL]
Reduces the number of objects a verb can take by one
• chkyátvi to be cut
[ chkyáti 'to chop' -v 'PASSIVE; REFLEXIVE; RECIPROCAL' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
• schóqvi to be mashed
[ schóqi 'to mash' -v 'PASSIVE; REFLEXIVE; RECIPROCAL' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
• wasmyévi to worry
[ wasmyé 'to worry about' -v 'PASSIVE; REFLEXIVE; RECIPROCAL' -i 'VERB ABSOLUTIVE; DENOMINALIZER; RECURSIVE']
-v2 suffix
[DEMONSTRATIVE]
the specific NOUN / a specific NOUN (usually followed by a case marker)
• 'Hávch vlóo 'íma. The water is flowing slowly.
[ 'há 'water' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + vlóo 'í 'to flow slowly' -ma 'ASSERTIVE' + +]
• 'Iismáava valnyscháachm 'yóma. They gave me the medicine on credit, and I took it.
[ 'iismáa 'medicine' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -a 'NOUN ABSOLUTIVE' + val 'STEM.give.on.credit' ny- '3rd person subject - 1st person object' scháa 'STEM.give.on.credit' -ch 'PLURALIZER' -m 'DIFFERENT-SUBJECT MARKER' + '- '1st person subject - 3rd person object' yó 'to take' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
• Kthár hévche ríwríwma. The dog's tail is wagging.
[ kthár 'dog' + hé 'tail' -v 'DEMONSTRATIVE' -ch 'SUBJECT CASE' + ríwríwi 'to wag (of a tail)' -ma 'ASSERTIVE']
Note: Occasionally translated as "that" instead of "the" or "a"
v- prefix
[INCHOATIVE; PUNCTUAL]
Expresses the beginning of an action, typically of its own accord, and is often translated as "becomes…"
• vráav 'í to have a sudden pain
[ v- 'inchoative/punctual' rávi 'to hurt' + 'í 'to say']
• v'úuvi to become visible
[ v- 'INCHOATIVE; PUNCTUAL' 'úuvi 'to be visible']
• Mátch v'úuvnyktho 'váamha. I'll come at dawn, when the earth becomes visible.
[ 'mátch v'úuvi 'for the earth to become visible' nyéektho 'tomorrow' + '- '1st person intransitive' váami 'to arrive (over there)' -h 'IRREALIS' -a 'VOCALIC INCREMENT']