Nedinti
Natively known as: nedint /nɛˈɗint/
...and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind...pwem trant do mfenya njent awe pwem pwezol mfo do sim mratty atty
Pronunciation: /pwɛm trant ɗɔ mfɛˈɲa nʤɛnt aˈwɛ pwɛm pwɛˈzɔl mfɔ ɗɔ sim mrattj attj/
Nedinti word order: and he his hat holding stood and the wind to his wet face turned
Spelling & Phonology
Consonant inventory: b d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x z ð ŋ ɓ ɗ ɠ ɣ ɲ ʃ ʄ ʤ ʧ θ| ↓Manner/Place→ | Bilabial | Labiodental | Dental | Alveolar | Palato-alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Glottal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |||||
| Stop | p b | t d | k g | q | |||||
| Implosive | ɓ | ɗ | ʄ | ɠ | |||||
| Affricate | ʧ ʤ | ||||||||
| Fricative | f v | θ ð | s z | ʃ | x ɣ | h | |||
| Approximant | j | ||||||||
| Trill | r | ||||||||
| Lateral approximant | l |
| ↓Manner/Place→ | Labial-velar |
|---|---|
| Approximant | w |
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| High | i | u |
| Low-mid | ɛ | ɔ |
| Low | a |
Stress pattern: Ultimate — stress is on the last syllable ? Spelling rules:
| Pronunciation | Spelling |
|---|---|
| ɛ | e |
| ɔ | o |
| ɲ | ny |
| ɓ | b |
| j | y |
| ʄ | j |
| ɗ | d |
| ð | dh |
| θ | th |
| ŋg | ng |
| ŋ | ng' |
| ɠ | g |
| ʃ | sh |
| ɣ | gh |
| x | kh |
| ʧ | ch |
| nʤ | nj |
Grammar
Main word order: Subject (Prepositional phrase) Object Verb. “Mary opened the door with a key” turns into Mary with a key the door opened.Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.
Adposition: postpositions ?
Nouns
Nouns have five cases:- Nominative is the doer of a verb: dog bites man.
- Accusative is the done-to of a verb: man bites dog.
- Genitive is the possessor of something: dog’s tail hits man.
- Dative is the recipient of something: man gives ball to dog.
- Locative is the location of something: man is in town.
| Nominative | No affix
changwu /ʧaŋˈgwu/ dog (doing the verb) |
| Accusative | If starts with vowel: Prefix mʃ-
Else: Prefix mʃa- mshachangwu /mʃaʧaŋˈgwu/ (verb done to) dog |
| Genitive | Prefix mbɔ-
mbochangwu /mbɔʧaŋˈgwu/ dogʼs |
| Dative | Prefix nʤu-
njuchangwu /nʤuʧaŋˈgwu/ to (the/a) dog |
| Locative | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɣ-
Else: Prefix ɣɔ- ghochangwu /ɣɔʧaŋˈgwu/ near/at/by (the/a) dog |
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | No affix
je /ʄɛ/ man |
If starts with vowel: Prefix kw-
Else: Prefix kwi- kwije /kwiˈʄɛ/ men |
| Feminine | No affix
nyurch /ɲurʧ/ woman |
Prefix mʃa-
mshanyurch /mʃaˈɲurʧ/ women |
| Neuter | No affix
changwu /ʧaŋˈgwu/ dog |
Prefix a-
achangwu /aʧaŋˈgwu/ dogs |
Articles
Nedinti has no definite article ‘the’, or indefinite article ‘a’.Pronouns
| Nominative | Accusative | Genitive | Dative | Locative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | mlo /mlɔ/ I | ha /ha/ me | vusy /vusj/ mine | yant /jant/ to me | ta /ta/ at me |
| 2nd singular | bwa /ɓwa/ you | o /ɔ/ you | joll /ʄɔll/ yours | sall /sall/ to you | ge /ɠɛ/ at you |
| 3rd singular masc | trant /trant/ he | a /a/ him | do /ɗɔ/ his | pri /pri/ to him | nogh /nɔɣ/ at him |
| 3rd singular fem | the /θɛ/ she | zi /zi/ her | fol /fɔl/ hers | eh /ɛh/ to her | qet /qɛt/ at her |
| 3rd singular neuter | mtu /mtu/ it | cha /ʧa/ it | kwul /kwul/ its | msta /msta/ to it | nyu /ɲu/ at it |
| 1st plural | kwu /kwu/ we | i /i/ us | ndi /ndi/ ours | si /si/ to us | mchar /mʧar/ at us |
| 2nd plural | la /la/ you all | u /u/ you all | kwuw /kwuw/ yours (pl) | beh /ɓɛh/ to you all | mja /mʄa/ at you all |
| 3rd plural masc | nge /ŋgɛ/ they (masc) | mal /mal/ them (masc) | kall /kall/ theirs (masc) | sa /sa/ to them (masc) | nchor /nʧɔr/ at them (masc) |
| 3rd plural fem | mti /mti/ they (fem) | zu /zu/ them (fem) | be /ɓɛ/ theirs (fem) | ghusy /ɣusj/ to them (fem) | kra /kra/ at them (fem) |
| 3rd plural neuter | bot /ɓɔt/ they (neut) | na /na/ them (neut) | agh /aɣ/ theirs (neut) | su /su/ to them (neut) | mte /mtɛ/ at them (neut) |
Possessive determiners
| 1st singular | vusy /vusj/ my |
| 2nd singular | joll /ʄɔll/ your |
| 3rd singular masc | do /ɗɔ/ his |
| 3rd singular fem | fol /fɔl/ her |
| 3rd singular neuter | kwul /kwul/ its |
| 1st plural | ndi /ndi/ our |
| 2nd plural | kwuw /kwuw/ your (pl) |
| 3rd plural masc | kall /kall/ their (masc) |
| 3rd plural fem | be /ɓɛ/ their (fem) |
| 3rd plural neuter | agh /aɣ/ their (neut) |
Verbs
Masculine
| Present | Past | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | Prefix u-
ungant /uŋˈgant/ (I) learn |
If starts with vowel: Prefix ɛrð-
Else: Prefix ɛrðɛ- erdhengant /ɛrðɛŋˈgant/ (I) learned |
| 2nd singular | If starts with vowel: Prefix q-
Else: Prefix qi- qingant /qiŋˈgant/ (you) learn |
If starts with vowel: Prefix l-
Else: Prefix la- langant /laŋˈgant/ (you) learned |
| 3rd singular masc | If starts with vowel: Prefix inz-
Else: Prefix inzɛ- inzengant /inzɛŋˈgant/ |
Prefix mtu-
mtungant /mtuŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd singular fem | Prefix vjɛ-
vyengant /vjɛŋˈgant/ |
Prefix li-
lingant /liŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd singular neuter | If starts with vowel: Prefix kr-
Else: Prefix krɛ- krengant /krɛŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix k-
Else: Prefix ka- kangant /kaŋˈgant/ |
| 1st plural | If starts with vowel: Prefix t-
Else: Prefix ti- tingant /tiŋˈgant/ (we) learn |
If starts with vowel: Prefix t-
Else: Prefix tɔ- tongant /tɔŋˈgant/ (we) learned |
| 2nd plural | If starts with vowel: Prefix akt-
Else: Prefix akta- aktangant /aktaŋˈgant/ (you all) learn |
If starts with vowel: Prefix m-
Else: Prefix mɛ- mengant /mɛŋˈgant/ (you all) learned |
| 3rd plural masc | If starts with vowel: Prefix ŋg-
Else: Prefix ŋgu- ngungant /ŋguŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix t-
Else: Prefix tu- tungant /tuŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd plural fem | If starts with vowel: Prefix h-
Else: Prefix hɔ- hongant /hɔŋˈgant/ |
Prefix kwi-
kwingant /kwiŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd plural neuter | Prefix mwa-
mwangant /mwaŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix mz-
Else: Prefix mza- mzangant /mzaŋˈgant/ |
Feminine
| Present | Past | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | Prefix pwa-
pwangant /pwaŋˈgant/ (I) learn |
If starts with vowel: Prefix n-
Else: Prefix na- nangant /naŋˈgant/ (I) learned |
| 2nd singular | If starts with vowel: Prefix ð-
Else: Prefix ði- dhingant /ðiŋˈgant/ (you) learn |
Prefix mu-
mungant /muŋˈgant/ (you) learned |
| 3rd singular masc | If starts with vowel: Prefix h-
Else: Prefix ha- hangant /haŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix iml-
Else: Prefix imlu- imlungant /imluŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd singular fem | If starts with vowel: Prefix s-
Else: Prefix sɔ- songant /sɔŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix ʄ-
Else: Prefix ʄa- jangant /ʄaŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd singular neuter | Prefix wa-
wangant /waŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix uzw-
Else: Prefix uzwa- uzwangant /uzwaŋˈgant/ |
| 1st plural | Prefix ða-
dhangant /ðaŋˈgant/ (we) learn |
Prefix hi-
hingant /hiŋˈgant/ (we) learned |
| 2nd plural | If starts with vowel: Prefix m-
Else: Prefix mu- mungant /muŋˈgant/ (you all) learn |
If starts with vowel: Prefix k-
Else: Prefix kɔ- kongant /kɔŋˈgant/ (you all) learned |
| 3rd plural masc | Prefix mbɛ-
mbengant /mbɛŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix nd-
Else: Prefix nda- ndangant /ndaŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd plural fem | Prefix sɛ-
sengant /sɛŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix aʧ-
Else: Prefix aʧa- achangant /aʧaŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd plural neuter | If starts with vowel: Prefix ʃ-
Else: Prefix ʃɛ- shengant /ʃɛŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix mr-
Else: Prefix mra- mrangant /mraŋˈgant/ |
Neuter
| Present | Past | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | Prefix a-
angant /aŋˈgant/ |
Prefix tɔ-
tongant /tɔŋˈgant/ |
| 2nd singular | Prefix ta-
tangant /taŋˈgant/ |
Prefix mva-
mvangant /mvaŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd singular masc | Prefix i-
ingant /iŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix ɲ-
Else: Prefix ɲu- nyungant /ɲuŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd singular fem | Prefix ɔ-
ongant /ɔŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix ʃ-
Else: Prefix ʃi- shingant /ʃiŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd singular neuter | If starts with vowel: Prefix h-
Else: Prefix hi- hingant /hiŋˈgant/ |
Prefix mɲa-
mnyangant /mɲaŋˈgant/ |
| 1st plural | Prefix ju-
yungant /juŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix mb-
Else: Prefix mbu- mbungant /mbuŋˈgant/ |
| 2nd plural | Prefix ɛ-
engant /ɛŋˈgant/ |
Prefix kɔ-
kongant /kɔŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd plural masc | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓl-
Else: Prefix ɓli- blingant /ɓliŋˈgant/ |
Prefix tri-
tringant /triŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd plural fem | Prefix mzɛ-
mzengant /mzɛŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix j-
Else: Prefix ji- yingant /jiŋˈgant/ |
| 3rd plural neuter | If starts with vowel: Prefix afs-
Else: Prefix afsi- afsingant /afsiŋˈgant/ |
If starts with vowel: Prefix um-
Else: Prefix uma- umangant /umaŋˈgant/ |
| Future | Particle before the verb: vja -
vya ngant /vja ŋgant/ will learn |
Progressive aspect
The ‘progressive’ aspect refers to actions that are happening at the time of speaking, such as I am learning.Nedinti uses a standalone particle word for progressive:
| Progressive | Particle before the verb: mti -
mti ngant /mti ŋgant/ is learning |
Habitual aspect
The ‘habitual’ aspect refers to actions that happen habitually, such as I learn (something new every day), as opposed to actions that happen once (I learned something).Nedinti uses an affix for habitual:
| Habitual | Prefix ɔ-
ongant /ɔŋˈgant/ learns |
Numbers
Nedinti has a base-20 number system: 1 - ko2 - nchah
3 - msa
4 - podhat
5 - i
6 - ke
7 - he
8 - mte
9 - razum
10 - vu
11 - nyul
12 - nyot
13 - sagh
14 - keju
15 - wih
16 - inywer
17 - sut
18 - puki
19 - katty
20 - setty
(Four) hundred - mva
(Eight) thousand - lo
Derivational morphology
Adjective → adverb = Prefix i-Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix ɔn-
Else: Prefix ɔni-
Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Prefix ɓwa-
Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix mz-
Else: Prefix mza-
Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Prefix a-
Noun to verb = Prefix krɔ-
Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = Prefix kwɔ-
Tending to = Prefix i-
Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = Prefix i-
Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = If starts with vowel: Prefix ʃ-
Else: Prefix ʃa-
One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Prefix nʤu-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = Prefix a-
Diminutive = If starts with vowel: Prefix ɣ-
Else: Prefix ɣɛ-
Augmentative = Prefix ɛ-