Word Order

The neutral word order of the language is AVP. This form is rather strict, and exceptions are rare. The tense of the Verb is determined by the noun case markings to either side. The aspect marker of the verb is placed after the P argument, or as close as possible to the P. This word order is preserved in complement, relative, and coordinating clauses. Oblique object phrases that do not constitute a formal A or P argument are placed after the aspect marker and any complement clauses.

SERIAL VERB CONSTRUCTION

To create a serial verb, the V position is filled with multiple verbs, placed in order of sequence. For all but the last serial verb, the aspect markers are placed directly after their verb. The last serial verb, however, has its aspect marker located per normal rules: after the P argument, or as close to the last serial verb as possible.

COMPLEMENT CLAUSE CONSTRUCTION

FINITE COMPLEMENT CLAUSE

Finite complement clauses are allowed to have A, V, and P arguments. To form a finite complement clause, a “dummy” reference pronoun is placed in the position the complement clause would take. After the aspect marker, a complementizer with the case marking of the reference pronoun is placed, and the rest of the complement clause occurs after that complementizer.

I.:         Agent - Verb - Reference Pronoun - Aspect Marker -  Complementizer (P) - Complement Phrase

                                    Or

II.:        Reference Pronoun  - Verb - Patient - Aspect Marker - Complementizer (A) - Complement Phrase

                                    Or

III.:       Reference Pronoun - Verb -Reference Pronoun - Aspect MarkeràComplementizer(A) - Complement Phrase - Complementizer(P) - Complement Phrase

In the cases of I and II, where a definite argument is left in one of the main noun positions, the reference pronoun may be omitted.

NON-FINITE COMPLEMENT CLAUSE

ADVERBIAL CLAUSE CONSTRUCTION

Adverbial clauses, which act as delineators for verbs, use conjunctions to “latch-on” to the sentence. Adverbial clauses are morphologically the same as coordinating clauses, but use a different set of conjunctions that do not have Left-Right logic parameters.

RELATIVE CLAUSE CONSTRUCTION

Relative clauses are nearly identical to finite complement clauses, except the complementizer and complement phrase are placed directly after the corresponding A or P argument, before the aspect marker.

COORDINATING CLAUSE CONSTRUCTION

The pairing of two finite clauses is done using conjunctions similar to English “and”, “or”, “but”, etc. The two clauses are situated next to each other to fulfill the logical parameters of the conjunctions. The left-hand side is the X argument of the conjunction, and the right-hand side is the Y argument of the conjunction. This allows logic tests, conditionals, etc.

Number

The number of a noun is shown using prefixes. Number is split into three groups: Single, Dual, and Plural.

Case & Tense

Case and tense in the language are intertwined. Because of this, where most descriptive grammars would detail them separately, here they will both be summarized.

The reason the two concepts are integral to each other is the fact that tense in the language is derived from the case markings used. Depending upon the nominativity/ergativity of the sentence, one finds the tense of the verb. To find this tense, the addressee has to analyze the endings of the participant nouns. These participant nouns are always the nouns denoted in the Nominative, Ergative, and Issuative cases.

The cases used differ according to whether the verb is transitive or intransitive. The “S” (subject noun) column is used when looking at an intransitive verb, and the “A” (agent noun) and “P” (patient noun) columns are used when the verb is transitive.

Aspect

When hearing and speaking the language, the aspect is determined by an aspect marker. This marker explicitly states the aspect of the verb (the last verb in a serial construction). The aspect marker is placed after the “P” argument of the clause, or as close to the verb as possible

Voice

The language shows the voice of a clause in a variety of ways, dependent upon situation.

INTRANSITIVE VERB

Passive: The Subject takes no case marking.

Transitivization: A “dummy” third person pronoun is placed in the Patient position, and the Subject becomes the Agent.

TRANSITIVE VERB

A transitive verb will have two arguments: the Agent and the Patient. The processes for transitive verb voice centers around the changing of the participant noun’s case.

Passive: The Agent is placed in the Instrumental case, and the Patient is given the Subject case for the desired tense.

Antipassive: The Patient is placed in the Dative case, and the Agent is given the Subject case for the desired tense.

Middle/Reflexive: Patient position is filled with a pronoun that agrees in person and number with the Agent.

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