Kataputi

Kataputi [ˌka.tɐˈpu.tʲɪ]
Period	c. 0 YP
Spoken in	Hazāka
Total speakers	c. 120,000
Writing system	unknown
Classification	Dumic languages   Kataputi
Typology
Basic word order	SOV
Morphology	fusional/agglutinating
Alignment	ERG-ABS
Credits
Created by	Thedukeofnuke

Kataputi was spoken at the beginning of the first millennium in the Hazāka, the coastal plains south of the Great Bay of eastern Tuysáfa. The name is derived from a compound meaning "town language" and refers prototypically to the language spoken in the small city-states that clustered around the southern end of the Bay; more broadly it refers to the closely related group of dialects spoken in the wider Hazāka region and the nearby foothills. The speakers of Kataputi referred to themselves as the Katapaki.

The Great Bay region was one of the most advanced regions of mainland Tuysáfa at the time. The area had been agricultural for millennia, and had developed intensive rice cultivation and animal husbandry along with the beginnings of urban culture. The time of this sketch coincides with the start of the Tuysáfan Iron Age; the Anatolionesian peoples of Kyosshin and Ōshin had been exploiting iron since the middle of the first millennium BP, and by -200 YP the technology had begun to spread on the continent.

Phonology

Consonants

	Labial	Coronal	Velar	Glottal
Nasal	m	n
Stop	p · b	t · d	k · ɡ
Fricative		s · z		h
Tap		ɾ
Approximant	w

/ɾ/ is transcribed r (and often written /r/ in phonemic analysis). All other consonants are transcribed as in IPA or the Latin-text equivalent.

[b] does not contrast with /p/ in native words (it only appears in the cluster /zb/), but is distinguished in transcription.

Vowels

	front	back
high	i · iː	u · uː
mid	eː	oː
low	a · aː

Long vowels are transcribed with a macron.

Phonotactics

Syllable structure is C(C)V. Allowable onset clusters are /ps ts ks dz gz pr tr kr dr gr pw tw kw dw gw sp st sk zb zd zg sw zw/. The onset clusters /sr zr/ may also occur underlyingly, but surface as /sw zw/.

Prosody

Kataputi has a predictable dynamic stress based on morae. Syllables with short vowels are monomoraic, while those with long vowels are bimoraic; a strong dynamic stress falls on the penultimate mora, with the effect that the final syllable is stressed if it contains a long vowel, and the penultimate syllable is stressed otherwise. Secondary stress is applied to alternating morae before the primary stress, so long vowels always carry either primary or secondary stress. (If a long vowel is stressed, it is pronounced the same whether the stress is underlyingly on the first or second mora.)

Inflectional affixes usually change the location of stress, although there are some exceptions, which are noted in the grammar. Function words and particles are usually unstressed.

Dialects and phonetic detail

The Kataputi dialect continuum consists of four main groups: Core (Kataputi proper), Western, Inland, and Eastern. All of these are quite similar and mutually intelligible. Nonetheless there are some significant variations in phonetic detail between dialects; the Eastern dialects in particular are somewhat divergent.

Changes common to most dialects

• Mid vowels become short when adjacent to a (primary) stressed syllable. However, this generally does not affect secondary stress distribution.
• Mid vowels also tend to become lax [ɛ(ː) ɔ(ː)] before consonant clusters.
• Short /a i u/, when carrying neither primary nor secondary stress, become lax [ɐ ɪ ʊ].

Core dialects

• Coronals are slightly palatalised before front vowels: /n t d s z ɾ/ become [nʲ tʲ dʲ sʲ zʲ ɾʲ]. Some speakers palatalise all obstruents in this environment.
• /ɾ/ is pronounced as a trilled [r] initially.

Western dialects

• /n t d/ are dental [n̪ t̪ d̪].
• /s z/ are commonly in free variation with [θ ð]. This pronunciation is particularly prevalent adjacent to front vowels.
• /w/ is pronounced as a purely bilabial [β̞].
• Many speakers shorten all long vowels adjacent to a (primary) stressed syllable, thus making vowel tenseness phonemic.
• Short vowels often become nasalised before a nasal consonant. Some speakers also nasalise long vowels in this environment.

Inland dialects

• /n t d/ are dental [n̪ t̪ d̪].
• /h/ is a breathy-voiced [ɦ].
• /w/ is pronounced as a fricative [β]; some speakers also pronounce it as [b] initially. It also tends to undergo voicing assimilation in clusters.
• The pronunciation of short /u/ is relatively unstable; it is often lowered or centralised, and some speakers pronounce it as [o], especially when unstressed.

Eastern dialects

• Underlying /sr zr/ are realised as such, rather than surfacing as /sw zw/.
• /b d g/ are pronounced as fricatives [v ð ʝ~ɣ].
• /w/ is pronounced as [v].
• /ɾ/ is pronounced as an approximant [ɹ] in clusters, and sometimes in other environments.
• Vowels become nasalised before a nasal consonant.
• The mid vowels /eː oː/ do not undergo laxing or shortening, but are pronounced as diphthongs [eɪ oʊ].
• Some speakers elide final short vowels after a single consonant.

Example words

Word	Gloss	Core	Western	Inland	Eastern
rū	'omen' (abs. sg.)	[ruː]	[ɾuː]	[ɾuː]	[ɾuː]
tragi	'quiet' (ipfv. ind.)	[ˈtɾa.ɡɪ]	[ˈt̪ɾa.ɡɪ]	[ˈt̪ɾa.ɡɪ]	[ˈtɹa.ʝɪ]
hira	'bird' (abs. sg.)	[ˈhi.ɾɐ]	[ˈhi.ɾɐ]	[ˈɦi.ɾɐ]	[ˈhi.ɾɐ]
hirāmuga	'birds' (erg. pl.)	[hɪˌɾaːˈmu.ɡɐ]	[hɪˌɾãˈmu.ɡɐ]	[ɦɪˌɾaːˈmu.ɡɐ]	[hɪˌɾãːˈmu.ɣɐ]
tukōzu	'kiln' (abs. sg.)	[ˌtuˈkoː.zʊ]	[ˌt̪uˈkoː.zʊ]	[ˌt̪ʊˈkoː.zo]	[ˌtuˈkoʊ.zʊ]
tukōzūni	'kiln' (obl. sg.)	[ˌtuˌko.ˈzuː.nʲɪ]	[ˌt̪uˌko.ˈzuː.n̪ɪ]	[ˌt̪ʊˌko.ˈzuː.n̪ɪ]	[ˌtuˌkoʊ.ˈzũː.nɪ]
kwinu	'snail' (abs. sg.)	[ˈkwi.nʊ]	[ˈkβ̞ĩ.n̪ʊ]	[ˈkɸi.n̪o]	[ˈkvĩ.nʊ]
susinari	'cows' (abs. pa.)	[ˌsu.sʲɪˈna.ɾʲɪ]	[ˌsu.θɪ̃ˈn̪a.ɾɪ]	[ˌsʊ.sɪˈn̪a.ɾɪ]	[ˌsu.sɪ̃ˈna.ɾɪ]
kūgā	'eighty'	[ˌkuːˈɡaː]	[ˌkuˈɡaː]	[ˌkuːˈɡaː]	[ˌkuːˈɣaː]

Morphology

Kataputi morphology is fusional and mostly suffixing. A common feature is stem gradation – different forms of a root word used with different inflections.

Morphophonology

Three morphophonological processes are important in Kataputi: stem gradation, assimilation, and mutation. Stem gradation of nouns and verbs is a common process linked to declension and conjugation, and is dealt with in the appropriate sections; assimilation and mutation occur less frequently, and are both due to a number of unrelated causes.

Assimilation

Kataputi permits only a limited number of consonant cluster forms, and only in syllable onsets, but clusters can occur due to elision in morphological processes such as in noun declension.

Clusters in Kataputi can all be grouped into the following types:

• A stop followed by a sibilant.
• A stop followed by /r/ or /w/.
• A sibilant followed by a stop.
• A sibilant followed by /w/ or underlying /r/.

The following assimilation rules are then applied:

• If the cluster comprises two obstruents, the second assimilates in voicing to the first.
• /r/ following a sibilant surfaces as /w/ (except in Eastern dialects).

Mutation

Prefixes and compounding can trigger one of three types of consonant mutation. This is a process that involves the lenition (for Mutation I) or fortition (Mutations II and III) of the initial consonant of a word.

The changes that occur are listed in the following table. If a consonant is unchanged by a given mutation, the space is left blank. The triangular colon ː signifies the lengthening of the final vowel of the prefix or preceding root.

Radical	Mutation I	Mutation II	Mutation III
m		ːm	ːm
n		ːn	ːn
t	d
k	g
s	z	t	p
z		t	t
h		k	k
r		t	p
w		ːn	ːm

Mutation I affects consonants even if they are the first element of a cluster; the second element then assimilates in voicing if it is a stop or sibilant. However, neither Mutation II nor III affects consonants in an initial cluster.

Nominal morphology

Declension

Nouns are inflected for three cases (absolutive, ergative, and oblique) and three numbers (singular, paucal, and plural).

Many commonly used nouns have two distinct stem “grades”, and a few have three (known as strong, intermediate, and weak grades). These are indicated in the tables below by the letters S, I, and W. A noun with no intermediate grade uses the strong grade instead, and a noun with only one grade uses this for all forms.

There are three declension classes, conventionally numbered I, II, and III (sometimes R, T, and P are used instead, based on the form of the paucal suffix). Declension I is the most common, accounting for about two thirds of nouns. The triangular colon ː signifies the lengthening of a final vowel when a suffix is added.

Declension I

	Absolutive	Ergative	Oblique
Singular	S-Ø	W-ga	W-ni
Paucal	W-ri	I-riga	I-rini
Plural	W-mu	I-muga	I-muni

• Any final short vowel in a strong or intermediate grade is deleted when a suffix is added, unless this would create an illegal cluster. This only applies to Declension I.

Declension II

	Absolutive	Ergative	Oblique
Singular	S-Ø	W-ka	W-ːni
Paucal	W-ti	I-tiga	I-tini
Plural	W-ːmu	S-ːmuga	S-ːmuni

Declension III

	Absolutive	Ergative	Oblique
Singular	S-Ø	W-ka	W-ːni
Paucal	W-pi	I-piga	I-pini
Plural	W-ːmu	S-ːmuga	S-ːmuni

Example declensions

hazi 'finger' (Declension I) Absolutive Ergative Oblique Singular hazi haziga hazini Paucal haziri hazwiga hazwini Plural hazimu hazimuga hazimuni		zwaha, zwā, zūwa 'beetle' (Declension I) Absolutive Ergative Oblique Singular zwaha zūwaga zūwani Paucal zūwari zwāriga zwārini Plural zūwamu zwāmuga zwāmuni
nadi 'flower' (Declension II) Absolutive Ergative Oblique Singular nadi nadika nadīni Paucal naditi naditiga naditini Plural nadīmu nadīmuga nadīmuni		tuzu, tsu 'mosquito' (Declension II) Absolutive Ergative Oblique Singular tuzu tsuka tsūni Paucal tsuti tuzutiga tuzutini Plural tsūmu tuzūmuga tuzūmuni
tinaza 'spider' (Declension III) Absolutive Ergative Oblique Singular tinaza tinazaka tinazāmi Paucal tinazapi tinazapiga tinazapini Plural tinazāmu tinazāmuga tinazāmuni		waha, wā, wa 'net' (Declension III) Absolutive Ergative Oblique Singular waha waka wāmi Paucal wapi wāpiga wāpini Plural wāmu wahāmuga wahāmuni

Possession

Possession in Kataputi is indicated by prefixes. Many nouns are inalienably possessed; these may not occur without a possessive prefix. A few nouns have more than one meaning, distinguished by whether they are inalienably possessed.

All possessive prefixes trigger consonant mutation. The third person masculine singular triggers Mutation II, the third person feminine singular triggers Mutation III, and all other possessive prefixes trigger Mutation I.

The distinctions made in possessive prefixes are the same as those made in pronouns. The prefixes are as follows:

			Mutation
1st person exclusive	Singular	ti-	I
	Paucal	tri-	I
	Plural	timu-	I
1st person inclusive	Dual	kuda-	I
	Paucal	kri-	I
	Plural	kumu-	I
2nd person	Singular	ma-	I
	Paucal	mari-	I
	Plural	mamu-	I
3rd person masculine	Singular	ka-	II
	Paucal	kati-	I
	Plural	kāmu-	I
3rd person feminine	Singular	tu-	III
	Paucal	tupi-	I
	Plural	tūmu-	I

Pronouns

Personal pronouns

Kataputi has personal pronouns for the first, second, and third person, and also distinguishes inclusivity in the first person and gender in the third. All of these have a full set of pronouns distinguishing the three cases (absolutive, ergative, oblique) and three numbers (singular, paucal, plural - except for the 1^st person inclusive, which has a dual rather than a singular).

		Absolutive	Ergative	Oblique
1st person exclusive	Singular	ti	tiga	tini
	Paucal	tiri	triga	trini
	Plural	timu	timuga	timuni
1st person inclusive	Dual	kuda	kudaga	kudani
	Paucal	kuri	kriga	krini
	Plural	kumu	kumuga	kumuni
2nd person	Singular	ma	maga	mani
	Paucal	mari	mariga	marini
	Plural	mamu	mamuga	mamuni
3rd person masculine	Singular	ka	kaka	kāni
	Paucal	kati	katiga	katini
	Plural	kānu	kānuga	kānuni
3rd person feminine	Singular	tu	tuka	tūmi
	Paucal	tupi	tupiga	tupini
	Plural	tūnu	tūnuga	tūnuni

Correlatives

Kataputi has a small number of correlatives; most of these are not actually pronouns, but they are included here for completeness.

	Morphology	Gloss
ra	III	'what?' (pronoun or attributive)
wi	II	'who?' (pronoun)
rāmi		'how?' (pro-adverb)
rāzigi		'which? what kind of?' (attributive)
kizigi		'no, none (of)' (attributive)
si		'this, this one' (pronoun)
mu		'that, that one' (pronoun)
mumi		'thus, like that' (pro-adverb)
muzigi		'such, like that, that kind of' (attributive)

Verbal morphology

Conjugation

Verbs are inflected for five moods (indicative, subjunctive, optative, imperative, and conditional) and distinguish imperfective from perfective aspect. There is also an attributive: a subordinated form used as an adjective.

Like some nouns, many common verbs have two or three stem grades, indicated as S, I, W in the tables below. A verb with no intermediate grade uses the strong grade instead, and a verb with only one grade uses this for all forms.

The citation form for a verb is the imperfective indicative (which is always the same as the strong stem).

There are three conjugations, numbered I, II, and III; most verbs belong to Conjugation I, and only these can have an intermediate stem grade. The triangular colon ː signifies the lengthening of a final vowel when a suffix is added.

Conjugation I

	Imperfective	Perfective
Indicative	S-Ø	W-wa
Subjunctive	W-za	I-waza
Optative	W-zi	I-wazi
Imperative	W-gi	I-wagi
Conditional	W-mu	I-wamu
Attributive	W-gi

• Any final short vowel in a strong or intermediate grade is deleted when a suffix is added, unless this would create an illegal cluster. This only applies to Conjugation I.

Conjugation II

	Imperfective	Perfective
Indicative	S-Ø	W-ːna
Subjunctive	W-ta	S-ːnaza
Optative	W-ti	S-ːnazi
Imperative	W-ki	S-ːnagi
Conditional	W-ːmu	S-ːnamu
Attributive	W-ki

Conjugation III

	Imperfective	Perfective
Indicative	S-Ø	W-ːma
Subjunctive	W-pa	S-ːmaza
Optative	W-ti	S-ːmazi
Imperative	W-ki	S-ːmagi
Conditional	W-ːmu	S-ːmamu
Attributive	W-ki

Other verbal forms

Kataputi has three inflectional affixes that can be attached to any verb form.

One is a prefix:

• The reflexive prefix ha-. This prefix triggers Mutation III.

The other two are suffixes. (The allomorphs after the slashes are used after the imperative, or after the imperfective indicative of a Declension II or III verb. These affixes do not affect the stress position.)

• The antipassive suffix -zda/-tata
• The relativiser -gi/-ki

Both of the antipassive and relativising suffixes may occur on the same verb, but the relativiser, where present, must always be the last affix.

Example conjugations

katu 'to be black' (Conjugation I) Imperfective Perfective Indicative katu katuwa Subjunctive katuza katwaza Optative katuzi katwazi Imperative katugi katwagi Conditional katumu katwamu Attributive katugi		hihi, hī, hi 'to boil' (Conjugation I) Imperfective Perfective Indicative hihi hiwa Subjunctive hiza hīwaza Optative hizi hīwazi Imperative higi hīwagi Conditional himu hīwamu Attributive higi
hiku 'to jump' (Conjugation II) Imperfective Perfective Indicative hiku hikūna Subjunctive hikuta hikūnaza Optative hikuti hikūnazi Imperative hikuki hikūnagi Conditional hikūmu hikūnamu Attributive hikuki		suzi, si 'to give' (Conjugation II) Imperfective Perfective Indicative suzi sīna Subjunctive sita suzīnaza Optative siti suzīnazi Imperative siki suzīnagi Conditional sīmu suzīnamu Attributive siki
muzō 'to be sacred' (Conjugation III) Imperfective Perfective Indicative muzō muzōma Subjunctive muzōpa muzōmaza Optative muzōti muzōmazi Imperative muzōki muzōmagi Conditional muzōmu muzōmamu Attributive muzōki		taha, ta 'to walk' (Conjugation III) Imperfective Perfective Indicative taha tāma Subjunctive tapa tahāmaza Optative tati tahāmazi Imperative taki tahāmagi Conditional tāmu tahāmamu Attributive taki

Numbers

Kataputi has a base-10 number system:

1	kaza	11	kākaza
2	migi	12	kāmigi	20	mīgā
3	hira	13	kānira	30	hiragā
4	zada	14	kātada	40	zadagā
5	hī	15	kānī	50	hīgā
6	sima	16	kātima	60	simagā
7	tadu	17	kātadu	70	tadugā
8	kuhu	18	kākuhu	80	kūgā
9	nuti	19	kānuti	90	nutigā
10	kā			100	tigi
				1000	tigiwu

Larger numbers are formed analytically:

mīgā

mīgā

20

hira

hira

3

23

simagā

simagā

60

zada

zada

4

64

tigi

tigi

100

kākuhu

kākuhu

18

118

hī

hī

5

tigi

tigi

100

mīgā

mīgā

20

hira

hira

3

523

The word ru 'on' comes between digits in the hundreds and higher:

tigiwu

tigiwu

1000

ru

ru

on

hira

hira

3

tigi

tigi

100

hiragā

hiragā

30

tadu

tadu

7

1337

Numerals are indeclinable, but ordinals can be formed by adding the genitive postposition zi.

Derivational morphology

Derivational affixes

A range of suffixes are used to derive new words in Kataputi. These are sensitive to the stem alternations of noun and verb roots, with each affix taking a particular grade; however, newly derived nouns themselves tend not to undergo alternations as this would be likely to create ambiguity.

In the following tables, each suffix is listed with its allomorphs for different declensions/conjugations and the stem grade that it takes, its own declension/conjugation class, and its meaning. As with inflectional suffixes, any final short vowel in the strong or intermediate grade of an Declension I noun or Conjugation I verb is deleted when a derivational suffix is added, unless this would create an illegal cluster.

Noun to noun

Affix forms			Declension	Gloss	Example
I	II	III
W-gi	W-ki	W-ki	II	general diminutive	mī "sea" > mīgi "lagoon, bay"
W-da	W-ta	W-ta	III	diminutive, with connotations of youth or daintiness	tū "dog" > tūda "puppy"
I-dagu	S-tagu	S-tagu	I	augmentative	hu "spirit" > hutagu "god"
I-niri	S-ːniri	S-ːniri	I	a distinguishing feature or quality of X	titu "citizen" > tituniri "rank, social class"

Syntax

Basic word order

The default word order in Kataputi is SOV, although case marking allows some flexibility.

Tuzutiga

tuzu-tiga

mosquito-ERG.PA

ru

ru-Ø

man-ABS.SG

kāma.

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

Some mosquitoes have bitten the man.

Indirect objects usually come immediately before the direct object.

Tuka

tuka

3F.ERG.SG

timudūni

ti-mudu-ːni

1EX.SG-son-OBL.SG

ra

ra

DAT

wigimu

wigi-mu

apple-ABS.PL

siti.

si-ti

give-IPFV.OPT

I hope she gives apples to my son.

Adverbs and adverbial phrases, however, immediately precede the verb.

Miwa

miwa-Ø

boat-ABS.SG

kamini

kami-ni

axe-OBL.SG

ki

ki

INS

nagadawa.

nagada-wa

damage-PFV.IND

The boat was damaged (by someone) with an axe.

Nouns and noun phrases

Noun phrases comprise a head noun and any number of modifiers; all modifiers precede the head noun. Verbs used as adjectives take the attributive suffix.

mazigi

mazi-gi

white-ATTR

tsari

tsa-ri

cloud-ABS.PA

some white clouds

Quantifiers tend to precede other modifiers with the exception of genitive constructions.

kā

kā

10

zgugi

zgu-gi

healthy-ATTR

zimigi

zimi-gi

young-ATTR

rūmu

ru-ːmu

man-ABS.PL

ten healthy young men

Case usage

The absolutive case is the most unmarked, and is used for the subject of an intransitive sentence or the object of a transitive one.

The ergative case is used for the subject of a transitive sentence.

The oblique case is used for the indirect object of a sentence, governs postpositions, and forms appositives.

Genitives and possession

Possession can be expressed in two ways: using the possessive prefixes, or the genitive postposition zi. A genitive construction precedes all other modifiers in a noun phrase.

kudawāmu

kuda-wāmu-Ø

1IN.DU-house-ABS.SG

our house (belonging to the two of us)

rūmi

ru-ːmi

man-OBL.SG

zi

zi

GEN

kāzugi

kāzugi-Ø

trousers-ABS.SG

a man's trousers

However, for inalienably possessed nouns, the prefix must be used even where there is also a genitive.

rūmi

ru-ːmi

man-OBL.SG

zi

zi

GEN

kaksida

ka-ksida-Ø

3M.SG-legs-ABS.SG

a man's legs

When the possessor is a pronoun, a genitive expression can be used (with a possessive prefix where required) to emphasise it:

kāni

kāni

3M.OBL.SG

zi

zi

GEN

kāzugi

kāzugi-Ø

trousers-ABS.SG

his own trousers

kāni

kāni

3M.OBL.SG

zi

zi

GEN

kaksida

ka-ksida-Ø

3M.SG-legs-ABS.SG

his own legs

Appositives

Appositive expressions use the oblique case, and precede their head noun:

kumuhigadani

kumu-higada-ni

1IN.PL-city-OBL.SG

Skōkana

Skōkana-Ø

Skōkana-ABS.SG

our city, Skōkana

Verbs

Aspect and mood

These are the two main categories of inflection for Kataputi verbs.

Aspect marks whether an action is ongoing (imperfective) or completed (perfective), but says nothing about tense:

Kiki

ki-ki

come-ATTR

riwini

riwi-ni

year-OBL.SG

hi,

hi

with

mamuga

mamuga

2.ERG.PL

katatagu

kata-tagu-Ø

hall-AUG-ABS.SG

hizi.

hizi-Ø

build-IPFV.IND

Next year you all will be building a grand hall.

Kiki

ki-ki

come-ATTR

riwini

riwi-ni

year-OBL.SG

hi,

hi

with

mamuga

mamuga

2.ERG.PL

katatagu

kata-tagu-Ø

hall-AUG-ABS.SG

hīziwa.

hīzi-wa

build-PFV.IND

Next year you will have built a grand hall.

The use of the moods is less straightforward. There are five main moods plus the attributive; this section gives an overview of how they work.

The indicative is the least marked form, and is used in main clauses where the action is well-established to have occurred.

Tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

hīmu.

hīmu-Ø

own-IPFV.IND

I have a cloak.

The subjunctive is also common, but does not occur in main clauses; it occurs in nominalised verb phrases and a number of other environments.

Maga

Maga

2.ERG.SG

tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

hīmuza

hīmu-za

own-IPFV.SJV

hukawa.

huka-wa

find-PFV.IND

You've found out that I have a cloak.

The optative expresses a wish or desire.

Tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

hīmuzi.

hīmu-zi

own-IPFV.OPT

I wish I had a cloak.

The imperative is used to give orders or, more generally, to say to the listener that they should bring about the action. As such, the subject is always in the second person and can be safely omitted where the number distinction is not important. The imperative is polite enough that it can be safely used with social peers, though not superiors.
To some degree the choice of aspect used with the imperative depends on the verb: general states are mostly used with the imperfective, whereas specific actions are more usually used with the perfective.

Saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

hīmugi.

hīmu-gi

own-IPFV.IMP

You should have a cloak.

Saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

niriwagi.

niri-wagi

get-PFV.IMP

You should get a cloak.

The conditional is used to express possibility; unsusprisingly, though, it is mainly used for the consequent of conditional expressions, which are discussed in the Transformations section.

Tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

hīmumu.

hīmu-mu

own-IPFV.COND

I could have a cloak.

Hi

hi

if

tēputani

tēputa-ni

noble-OBL.SG

ti

ti

1EX.SG.ABS

ziza,

zi-za

be-IPFV.SJV

hi

hi

then

tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

hīmumu.

hīmu-mu

own-IPFV.COND

If I were noble, I would have a cloak.

Negation

There are two negatives in Kataputi: the ordinary negative ta and the emphatic negative kimi. These are particles that can be used with any form of verb, and which immediately precede it:

Tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

ta

ta

NEG

hīmu.

hīmu-Ø

own-IPFV.IND

I don't have a cloak.

Tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

saduki

saduki-Ø

cloak-ABS.SG

kimi

kimi

NEG.EMPH

hīmumu.

hīmu-mu

own-IPFV.COND

It's impossible that I could have a cloak.

Though it does not strictly negate a sentence, the determiner or attributive kizigi 'none (of)' is used to indicate the negation or absence of a nominal (which is always declined in the singular):

Kizigi

kizigi

none

nāgika

nāgi-ka

law-ERG.SG

tipanaha

tipanaha-Ø

govern-IPFV.IND

Gōki.

Gōki-Ø

Jouki-ABS.SG

Jouki is not governed by the law.

Similarly, kūma means both 'neither' and 'nor':

Kūma

kūma

neither

nāgika

nāgi-ka

law-ERG.SG

kūma

kūma

nor

nagruka

nagru-ka

lord-ERG.SG

tipanaha

tipanaha-Ø

govern-IPFV.IND

Tētu.

Tētu-Ø

Tɛnto-ABS.SG

The Tɛnto are governed by neither law nor lord.

Derived verb forms

The antipassive, in -zda/-tata, promotes the single absolutive argument of a verb to become an ergative "subject", and also serves in coordinating sentences; the relativiser -gi/-ki is used solely for relative clauses. Both are discussed in the Transformations section.

Postpositional phrases

Kataputi postpositions govern the oblique case. The postposition comes last, immediately preceded by the noun, itself preceded by any modifiers.

sadukīni

saduki-ːni

cloak-OBL.SG

ki

ki

INS

using a cloak

mazigi

mazi-gi

white-ATTR

tīwumuni

tīwu-muni

star-OBL.PL

hama

hama

towards

towards the white stars

There are no postpositions that apply specifically to time, and spatial equivalents are used instead. The guiding metaphor is that events move forward through time, through their circumstances; the most common examples are given below:

Postp.	Gloss
	Space	Time
tama	to	before
mima	into	at the start of, just before
hi	with	in, during
mirima	through	for, throughout, during
zu	beside	while, at the same time as
miri	out of	at the end of, just after
tari	from	after

Transformations

In this section, following the style of Zompist, transformations are described in a simplified notation with examples.

A → B means "whenever A is a legal structure, so is B".

Symbols used:
S = subject
V = verb
O = direct object
I = indirect object
N = noun
Vi = intransitive verb
Vt = transitive verb
VP = verb phrase
NP = noun phrase
Pr = pronoun
PP = postpositional phrase
Adv = adverbial information
Adj = adjectival information
SEN = sentence
- = morpheme boundary

Passive sentences

S O Vt → O Vt

The passive in Kataputi works somewhat differently to that of accusative languages. A transitive sentence can be turned into a passive simply by deleting the subject:

Rīmuka

rīmu-ka

lion-ERG.SG

tiha

tiha-Ø

horse-ABS.SG

nūna.

nūna-Ø

eat-IPFV.IND

A lion is eating a horse.

→

Tiha

tiha-Ø

horse-ABS.SG

nūna.

nūna-Ø

eat-IPFV.IND

A horse is eaten.

Antipassive sentences

S O Vt → S-ABS Vt-AP

Deleting the object of a verb while retaining the role of the agent is slightly more complicated - the subject is retained in the absolutive case, and the verb takes the antipassive suffix -zda/-tata (see the verbal morphology section for more on this suffix). This transformation is important for coordinating sentences, which is discussed below.

Tihaka

tiha-ka

horse-ERG.SG

wigi

wigi-Ø

apple-ABS.SG

nūna.

nūna-Ø

eat-IPFV.IND

A horse is eating an apple.

→

Tiha

tiha-Ø

horse-ABS.SG

nūnatata.

nūna-Ø-tata

eat-IPFV.IND-AP

A horse is eating.

The conditional

SEN₁, SEN₂ → hi SEN₁-SJV hi SEN₂-COND

The condition of a conditional expression is put in the subjunctive mood, and the consequent in the conditional mood; either of these can be negated with either ta or kimi. The conjunction hi precedes each of these (it essentially does the work of both English "if" and "then").

Hi

hi

if

ma

ma

2.SG.ABS

rādirīnaza,

rādiri-ːnaza

return-PFV.SJV

hi

hi

then

triga

triga

1EX.PA.ERG

ma

ma

2.SG.ABS

kūwamu.

kū-wamu

kill-PFV.COND

If you come back, we'll kill you.

Relative clauses

Relative clauses follow SOV word order in the same way as main clauses, although one argument of the verb is always deleted. A relative clause immediately precedes its head noun, which is itself declined as appropriate for its syntactic role:

Suki

suki-Ø

fish-ABS.SG

niriwagi

niri-wa-gi

catch-PFV.IND-REL

ruguga

rugu-ga

hook-ERG.SG

himaru

himaru-Ø

turtle-ABS.SG

mūma

mūma

also

niriwa.

niri-wa

catch-PFV.IND

The hook that caught a fish also caught a turtle.

Absolutive as referent

(S₁ O V₁) S₂ O V₂ → S₂ S₁ V₁-REL O V₂

Relative clauses where the absolutive is the referent are formed by deleting the absolutive argument and adding the relativising suffix -gi/-ki to the verb (see the verbal morphology section for more on this suffix).

kīmikumīmuga

kīmikumi-ːmuga

peasant-ERG.PL

hizwazigi

hizi-wazi-gi

build-PFV.OPT-REL

zwūmamu

zwūma-mu

road-ABS.PL

the roads that the peasants should have built

(S Vi) S O V₂ → Vi-ATTR S O V₂

If the relative clause is intransitive, the attributive may be used instead of a full relativised form. In many cases, attributives are better translated into English as adjectives, but not always:

naraki

nara-ki

burn-ATTR

kati

ka-ti

tree-ABS.PA

some burning trees

Ergative as referent

(S O₁ V₁) S O₂ V₂ → O₁ V₁-REL S O₂ V₂

Relative clauses where the ergative subject is the referent are equally simple - they are formed by deleting the subject and adding -gi/-ki to the verb.

suki

suki-Ø

fish-ABS.SG

niriwagi

niri-wa-gi

catch-PFV.IND-REL

rugu

rugu-Ø

hook-ABS.SG

the hook that caught a fish

Nominal subordination

(S₁ O₁ V₁) O₂ V₂ → S₁ O₁ V₁-SJV O₂ V₂
S₂ (S₁ O₁ V₁) V₂ → S₂ S₁ O₁ V₁-SJV V₂

Nominal subordination makes use of the subjunctive mood. A full sentence can be made to behave as a noun phrase, including as subject or object of another verb.

Manāgiru

ma-nāgiru-Ø

2.SG-lord-ABS.SG

tūmaza

tu-ːmaza

dead-PFV.SJV

hata.

hata-Ø

true-IPFV.IND

It's true that your lord has died.

Kriga

kriga

1IN.ERG.PA

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

rīniza

rīni-za

laugh-IPFV.SJV

nāmawa.

nāma-wa

hear-PFV.IND

We've all heard him laughing.

Quotation

While indirect quotations use the subjunctive, directly quoted speech uses a special quotative particle simi. In this type of construction the quotation generally comes first in the sentence, and is always followed directly by simi; it is considered an intransitive sentence and so the speaker takes the absolutive case.

Tuka

tuka

3F.ERG.SG

tu

tu

3F.ABS.SG

staza

sta-za

happy-IPFV.SJV

tini

tini

1EX.OBL.SG

stiwa.

sti-wa

say-PFV.IND

She said to me that she was happy.

“Ti

ti

1EX.ABS.SG

sita”

sita-Ø

happy-IPFV.IND

simi,

simi

QUOT

tu

tu

3F.ABS.SG

tini

tini

1EX.OBL.SG

stiwa.

sti-wa

say-PFV.IND

“I'm happy,” she said to me.

Questions

Yes/no questions

The simplest way of asking a question in Katapaki is with the particle ga, which is placed after the verb. Formations with ga generally presuppose a positive answer.

Tiga

tiga

1.ERG.SG

mariwāmu

mari-wāmu-Ø

2.PA-house-ABS.SG

kataguwa

katagu-wa

save-PFV.IND

ga?

ga

Q

Didn't I save your house?

To form a question that presupposes a negative, the same construction is used but with the negating particle ta preceding the verb. (The emphatic negative kimi can be used instead to express a mere trace of doubt, or to ask for support.)

Ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

ta

ta

NEG

tudu

tudu-Ø

ill-IPFV.IND

ga?

ga

Q

He's not ill, is he?

Pinuka

Pinuka-Ø

Pinuka-ABS.SG

Gōkini

Gōki-ni

Jouki-OBL.SG

ki

ki

INS

kimi

kimi

NEG.EMPH

zgawa

zga-wa

lose-PFV.IND

ga?

ga

Q

Surely Pinuka wasn't defeated by Jouki?

It is possible to ask a yes/no question without a presumed answer. This works in the same way as the first construction but with the addition of the phrase wō ta ('or not') immediately after the verb.

Hā

hā-Ø

sky-ABS.SG

kupi

kupi-Ø

blue-IPFV.IND

wō

wō

or

ta

ta

NEG

ga?

ga

Q

Is the sky blue or not?

To answer a yes/no question in the affirmative, it is usual to reply with the main verb from the question, or tugū '(it) is correct'; to answer in the negative, the negative ta may be used, analogously to English 'no' (but kimi may be used instead for emphasis, especially when the question expects an affirmative). Where the answer is uncertain, it is possible to reply using the subjunctive mood of the verb from the question.

Kupi.

kupi-Ø

blue-IPFV.IND

Ta.

ta

NEG

Kimi.

kimi

NEG.EMPH

Kupimu.

kupi-mu

blue-IPFV.COND

Yes, it's blue. No, it isn't. Of course it isn't. It could be blue.

Question forming with pronouns

Kataputi has two key interrogative pronouns, ra 'what' (declension III) and wi 'who' (declension II), along with the pro-adverb rāmi 'how' and the attributive rāzigi 'which, what kind'. These do not move around in the sentence; they simply take the place of the referent, declining as appropriate.

Sika

si-ka

shark-ERG.SG

tidē

ti-tē-Ø

1.SG-face-ABS.SG

kāma.

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

A shark bit my face.

Raka

ra-ka

what-ERG.SG

tidē

ti-tē-Ø

1.SG-face-ABS.SG

kāma?

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

What bit my face?

Sika

si-ka

shark-ERG.SG

wi

wi-Ø

who-ABS.SG

kāma?

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

Whom did the shark bite? - The shark bit who?

Sika

si-ka

shark-ERG.SG

wīni

wi-ːni

who-OBL.SG

zi

zi

GEN

katē

ka-tē-Ø

3M.SG-face-ABS.SG

kāma?

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

Whose face did the shark bite? - The shark bit whose face?

Sika

si-ka

shark-ERG.SG

tira

ti-ra-Ø

1.SG-what-ABS.SG

kāma?

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

What thing of mine did the shark bite? - The shark bit my what?

Sika

si-ka

shark-ERG.SG

tidē

ti-tē-Ø

1.SG-face-ABS.SG

rāni

ra-ːni

what-OBL.SG

ta

ta

LOC

kāma.

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

Where did the shark bite my face? - The shark bit my face where?

Sika

si-ka

shark-ERG.SG

tidē

ti-tē-Ø

1.SG-face-ABS.SG

rāmi

rāmi

how

kāma?

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

How did the shark bite my face? - The shark bit my face how?

Rāzigi

rāzigi

what_kind

sika

si-ka

shark-ERG.SG

tidē

ti-tē-Ø

1.SG-face-ABS.SG

kāma?

ka-ːma

bite-PFV.IND

What sort of shark bit my face?

(These examples also serve to illustrate two points on the use of possession in Kataputi. Firstly, possessive prefixes can attach to the interrogative pronouns. Secondly, the third person masculine singular prefix is the default for an inalienably possessed noun where the possessor is uncertain or indefinite - the exceptions are female body parts, where the feminine equivalent is used.)

Sample texts

The chief and the mouse

Nāgiru wu tihi
Waziki tamuni hi, timirigi nāgiru kānatsiramuga wazani wu tizumīmani kīmi wāmugīni mi zdaguwa, ka hizwaza ra.
Ka kihāni ru hiwāmi mōza hi, kaka zēgi tihi wāmugīni mirima kakita sīni. Kaka kataga miniwa, wu stiwa “Ti kimi hizwagi, hi tiga tihi nūnazi!” simi. Ha hiriza tari, kaka kataga kīmuwa, wu stiwa “Tiga tihi rāni ra kūwamu? Ti zidagi suruni hi mūma hizwamu” simi.
Tika nāgiru tēkuwa, kāni satwaza “Nēgi nāgiru! Maga ti kuraza kataguwa, wu tiga ma kuraza mūma katagwazi” simi ki.
Tihi kihāni mi mīmani mima kakīna, wu sururini tari, ka mīgā wō hiragā tihīmuni hi kiprīna. Mumuga magāmu hi mugugīmu zūma.
Mumuga ka mumi hī kigamuni mirima nūnadaga, hi sima zi kigani ta, nagrūni zdagziramuga wāmugi razīma. Kānuga kuragi zgugi ka hukaza kānu tēku.
“Siga nagruka ksagi midi kitami mini!” simi, kānuga stiwa. “Ka ta nūnagi ta ziki kuraza hukawa!”
Mumi kānuga ka minūmiwa, wu ka kānazini rinumi rādirīnaza siwa.

A famous chief was once imprisoned by his enemies in a hut without any door or roof-opening, and left to die of starvation.
As he sat gloomily on the ground, the chief saw a little mouse running across the hut. He seized his knife, exclaiming: “Rather than die of hunger, I will eat this mouse!” But on second thoughts he put away his knife, saying: “Why should I kill the mouse? I shall starve later on, just the same.”
To his surprise the mouse said to him: “Noble Chief! You have spared my life, and in return I will spare yours.”
The mouse then disappeared into a hole in the ground, and returned some time afterwards followed by twenty or thirty other mice, all bearing grains and small fruits.
For five days they fed him in this manner, and on the sixth day the hut was opened by the chief’s captors, who were astonished to find him still alive and in good health.
“This chief must have a powerful charm!” they declared. “It appears that he can live without eating or drinking!”
So they released him and let him return in freedom to his own country.

Gloss

Waziki

wazi-ki

old-ATTR

tamuni

tamu-ni

past-OBL.SG

hi,

hi

with

timirigi

timiri-gi

famous-ATTR

nāgiru

nāgiru-Ø

lord-ABS.SG

kānatsiramuga

ka-natsira-muga

3M.SG-enemy-ERG.PL

wazani

waza-ni

door-OBL.SG

wu

wu

and

tizumīmani

tizu-mīma-ni

roof-hole-OBL.SG

kīmi

kīmi

without

wāmugīni

wāmu-gi-ːni

house-DIM-OBL.SG

mi

mi

inside

zdaguwa,

zdagu-wa

imprison-PFV.IND

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

hizwaza

hizi-waza

starve-PFV.SJV

ra.

ra

DAT

In the old days, a famous lord had been imprisoned by his enemies in a hut without door and roof-opening, so he would starve.

Ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

kihāni

kiha-ːni

earth-OBL.SG

ru

ru

on

hiwāmi

hiwa-ːmi

gloomy-ADV

mōza

mō-za

sit-IPFV.SJV

hi,

hi

with

kaka

kaka

3M.ERG.SG

zēgi

zē-gi

little-ATTR

tihi

tihi-Ø

mouse-ABS.SG

wāmugīni

wāmu-gi-ːni

house-DIM-OBL.SG

mirima

mirima

through

kakita

kaki-ta

run-IPFV.SJV

sīni.

sīni-Ø

see-IPFV.IND

While sitting gloomily on the ground, he saw a little mouse running through the hut.

Kaka

kaka

3M.ERG.SG

kataga

ka-taga

3M.SG-knife-ABS.SG

miniwa,

mini-wa

hold-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

stiwa

sti-wa

say-PFV.IND

“Ti

ti

1EX.SG.ABS

kimi

kimi

NEG.EMPH

hizwagi,

hizi-wagi

starve-PFV.OPT

ha

ha

however

tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

tihi

tihi-Ø

mouse-ABS.SG

nūnazi!”

nūna-zi

eat-IPFV.OPT

simi.

simi

QUOT

He took hold of his knife, and said “I certainly don’t want to starve – I will eat this mouse instead!”

Ha

ha

but

hiriza

hiri-za

think-IPFV.SJV

tari,

tari

from

kaka

kaka

3M.ERG.SG

kataga

ka-taga

3M.SG-knife-ABS.SG

kīmuwa,

kīmu-wa

keep-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

stiwa

sti-wa

say-PFV.IND

“Tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

tihi

tihi-Ø

mouse.ABS.SG

rāni

ra-ːni

what-OBL.SG

ra

ra

DAT

kūwamu?

kū-wamu

kill-PFV.COND

Ti

ti

1EX.SG.ABS

zidagi

zida-gi

late-ATTR

suruni

suru-ni

time-OBL.SG

hi

hi

with

mūma

mūma

also

hizwamu”

hizi-wamu

starve-PFV.COND

simi.

simi

QUOT

But after thinking he put away his knife, and said “Why would I kill the mouse? I would starve later anyway.”

Tika

ti-ka

mouse-ERG.SG

nāgiru

nāgiru-Ø

lord-ABS.SG

tēkuwa,

tēku-wa

surprise-PFV.IND

kāni

kāni

3M.OBL.SG

satwaza

sati-waza

say-PFV.SJV

“Nēgi

nē-gi

radiant-ATTR

nāgiru!

nāgiru-Ø

lord-ABS.SG

Maga

maga

2.SG.ERG

ti

ti

1EX.SG.ABS

kuraza

kura-za

live-IPFV.SJV

kataguwa,

katagu-wa

save-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

tiga

tiga

1EX.SG.ERG

ma

ma

2.SG.ABS

kuraza

kura-za

live-IPFV.SJV

mūma

mūma

also

katagwazi”

katagu-wazi

save-PFV.OPT

simi

simi

QUOT

ki.

ki

INS

The mouse surprised the chief by saying to him: “Radiant Chief! You have saved my life, and I will also spare yours.”

Tihi

tihi-Ø

mouse-ABS.SG

kihāni

kiha-ːni

earth-OBL.SG

mi

mi

in

mīmani

mīma-ni

hole-OBL.SG

mima

mima

into

kakīna,

kaki-ːna

run-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

sururini

suru-rini

time-OBL.PAU

tari,

tari

from

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

mīgā

mīgā

20

wō

wō

or

hiragā

hiragā

30

tihīmuni

tihi-ːmuni

mouse-OBL.PL

hi

hi

with

kiprīna.

kipri-ːna

return-PFV.IND

The mouse ran into a hole in the ground, and returned after a short while with twenty or thirty other mice.

Mumuga

mu-muga

that-ERG.PL

magāmu

maga-ːmu

grain-ABS.PL

hi

hi

with

mugugīmu

mugu-gi-ːmu

fruit-DIM-ABS.PL

zūma.

zūma-Ø

carry-IPFV.IND

They were carrying grains and small fruits.

Mumuga

mu-muga

that-ERG.PL

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

mumi

mumi

thus

hī

hī

5

kigamuni

kiga-muni

day-OBL.PL

mirima

mirima

through

nūnadaga,

nūnadaga-Ø

feed-IPFV.IND

wu

wu

and

sima

sima

6

zi

zi

GEN

kigani

kiga-ni

day-OBL.SG

ta,

ta

at

nagrūni

nagru-ːni

lord-OBL.SG

zdagziramuga

zdagu-zira-muga

imprison-AG-ERG.PL

wāmugi

wāmu-gi-Ø

house-DIM-ABS.SG

razīma.

razi-ːma

open-PFV.IND

For five days they fed him in this manner, and on the sixth day the chief’s captors opened the hut.

Kānuga

kānuga

3M.ERG.PL

kuragi

kura-gi

live-ATTR

zgugi

zgu-gi

healthy-ATTR

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

hukaza

huka-za

find-IPFV.SJV

kānu

kānu

3M.ABS.PL

tēku.

tēku-Ø

shock-IPFV.IND

Finding him alive and healthy shocked them.

“Siga

si-ga

this-ERG.SG

nagruka

nagru-ka

lord-ERG.SG

ksagi

ksa-gi

big-ATTR

midi

midi-Ø

favour-ABS.SG

kitami

kita-mi

sure-ADV

mini!”

mini-Ø

have-IPFV.IND

simi,

simi

QUOT

kānuga

kānuga

3M.ERG.PL

stiwa.

sti-wa

say-PFV.IND

“This chief surely holds much favour!” they said.

“Ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

ta

ta

NEG

nūnagi

nūna-gi

eat-ATTR

ta

ta

NEG

ziki

zi-ki

drink-ATTR

kuraza

kura-za

live-IPFV.SJV

hukawa!”

huka-wa

discover-PFV.IND

“We see he lives without eating or drinking!”

Mumi

mumi

thus

kānuga

kānuga

3M.ERG.PL

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

minūmiwa,

minūmi-wa

release-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

kānazini

ka-nazi-ni

3M.SG-land-OBL.SG

rinumi

rinu-mi

free-ADV

rādirīnaza

rādiri-ːnaza

return-PFV.SJV

siwa.

si-wa

give-PFV.IND

So they released him and let him return freely to his country.

The north wind and the sun

Hatini Miwu wu Mira
Hatini Miwu wu Mira kāmūmi, rāzigi kati kapimi hatita ta. Sini hi, nawizuki sadukīni ki hugzuzigi tuhi katini ha taha. Katiga hakitatiwa, tiga kataduki minūmiwaza mizānagi mu kapimi hatīnaza ta.
Hatini Miwu hatīmi huzuwa, ha ka huzuwaza zu, tiga kataduki kāni ha katami miniwa, wu Hatini Miwu raganiwaza sururini taru mizāna.
Mira sini taru mimagīma. Kaka tatami nēwa, wu tiga kataduki minūmiwa wu rīni ta hāniwāna. Mumi Hatini Miwu kaka Mira kapimi hatīnaza satiwaza mizāna.

The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger, when a traveller came along wrapped in a warm cloak. They agreed that the one who first succeeded in making the traveller take off his cloak should be considered stronger than the other.
The North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more he blew, the more closely did the traveler fold his cloak around him; and at last the North Wind had to give up.
Then, the Sun tried his luck. It shone out warmly, and the traveler took off his cloak to bathe in the river. And so the North Wind was obliged to confess that the Sun was the stronger of the two.

Gloss

Hatini

hati-ni

north-OBL.SG

Miwu

miwu-Ø

wind-ABS.SG

wu

wu

and

Mira

mira-Ø

sun-ABS.SG

kāmūmi,

kāmūmi-Ø

argue-IPFV.IND

rāzigi

rāzigi

which

kati

kati

3M.ABS.PA

kapimi

kapimi

more

hatita

hati-ta

strong-IPFV.SJV

ta.

ta

at

The North Wind and the Sun were arguing over which of them was stronger.

Sini

si-ni

this_one-OBL.SG

hi,

hi

with

nawizuki

nawizu-ki

heavy-ATTR

sadukīni

saduki-ːni

cloak-OBL.SG

ki

ki

INS

hugzuzigi

hugzuzi-Ø-gi

dress-IPFV.IND-REL

tuhi

tuhi-Ø

person-ABS.SG

katini

katini

3M.OBL.PA

ha

ha

near

taha.

taha-Ø

walk-IPFV.IND

While this was happening, a person wearing a heavy cloak walked by.

Katiga

katiga

3M.ERG.PA

hakitatiwa,

ha-hitati-wa

REFL-agree_with-PFV.IND

tiga

ti-ga

person-ERG.SG

kataduki

ka-saduki-Ø

3M.SG-cloak-ABS.SG

minūmiwaza

minūmi-waza

release-PFV.SJV

mizānagi

miza-ːna-gi

compel-PFV.IND-REL

mu

mu-Ø

that_one-ABS.SG

kapimi

kapimi

more

hatīnaza

hati-ːnaza

strong-PFV.SJV

ta.

ta

at

They agreed that the one who made the person remove his cloak would be the stronger.

Hatini

hati-ni

north-OBL.SG

Miwu

miwu-Ø

wind-ABS.SG

hatīmi

hati-ːmi

strong-ADV

huzuwa,

huzu-wa

blow-PFV.IND

ha

ha

but

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

huzuwaza

huzu-waza

blow-PFV.SJV

zu,

zu

beside

tiga

ti-ga

person-ERG.SG

kataduki

ka-saduki-Ø

3M.SG-cloak-ABS.SG

kāni

kāni

3M.OBL.SG

ha

ha

near

katami

kata-mi

firm-ADV

miniwa,

mini-wa

hold-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

Hatini

hati-ni

north-OBL.SG

Miwu

miwu-Ø

wind-ABS.SG

raganiwaza

ragani-waza

finish-PFV.SJV

sururini

suru-rini

time-OBL.PAU

taru

taru

from

mizāna.

miza-ːna

compel-PFV.IND

The North Wind blew strongly, but when he blew, the person firmly held his cloak close to himself, and the North Wind was compelled after a while to stop.

Mira

mira-Ø

sun-ABS.SG

sini

si-ni

this_one-OBL.SG

taru

taru

from

mimagīma.

mimagi-ːma

join-PFV.IND

Then the Sun had a go.

Kaka

kaka

3M.ERG.SG

tatami

tata-mi

warm-ADV

nēwa,

nē-wa

bright-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

tiga

ti-ga

person-ERG.SG

kataduki

ka-saduki-Ø

3M.SG-cloak-ABS.SG

minūmiwa

minūmi-wa

release-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

rīni

rī-ni

river-OBL.SG

ta

ta

at

hāniwāna.

ha-niwa-ːna

REFL-wash-PFV.IND

He shone warmly, and the traveller let go of his cloak and bathed in the river.

Mumi

mumi

thus

Hatini

hati-ni

north-OBL.SG

Miwu

miwu-Ø

wind-ABS.SG

kaka

kaka

3M.ERG.SG

Mira

mira-Ø

sun-ABS.SG

kapimi

kapimi

more

hatīnaza

hati-ːnaza

strong-PFV.SJV

satiwaza

sati-waza

say-PFV.SJV

mizāna.

miza-ːna

compel-PFV.IND

After that, the North Wind had to say that the Sun was stronger.

The legend of Lake Hazaza

Mīgini Hazazani zi Hizānu
Kudi mazimi nēza zu, miruki rapa Mīgīni Hazazani zu kuhāmuni mira kīma. Tu mīgīni tama tāma wu hāniwa. Tipsagi rapamuni ksagi mita tūmi hi radāna mīgīni mima.
Tūnu satini, ha tūnu wizwini mi humuza nāmamu. Sururini tari, tūnu mīgīni miri kīma wu kuhāmuni mima rādirīna, hi tūnu saduki nakagi mazigi hugimuga.
Hi ruka tūnu sīniwaza hi ka mīgīni mima tiriwamu, wu ka wizwini ki hawāmaza miri katiha himiwamu wu ka sāriniwamu.

When the moon shines white, a beautiful woman comes out of the trees next to Lake Hazaza. She walks to the lake and bathes herself. A large number of servant women enter the lake with her.
Then they disappear, but they can still be heard playing in the water. After a while they come out of the lake and return to the woods, covered by long white veils.
If a man sees them he will be pulled into the lake, and as soon as he touches the water his strength will fail and he will be killed.

Gloss

Kudi

kudi-Ø

moon-ABS.SG

mazimi

mazi-mi

white-ADV

nēza

nē-za

radiant-IPFV.SJV

zu,

zu

beside

miruki

miru-ki

beautiful-ATTR

rapa

rapa-Ø

woman-ABS.SG

Mīgīni

mīgi-ːni

lagoon-OBL.SG

Hazazani

Hazaza-ni

Hazaza-OBL.SG

zu

zu

beside

kuhāmuni

kuha-ːmuni

tree-OBL.PL

miri

miri

out_of

kīma.

ki-ːma

come-PFV.IND

When the moon shines white, a beautiful woman comes out of the trees next to Lake Hazaza.

Tu

tu

3F.ABS.SG

mīgīni

mīgi-ːni

lagoon-OBL.SG

tama

tama

to

tāma

ta-ːma

walk-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

hāniwa.

ha-niwa-Ø

REFL-wash-IPFV.IND

She walks to the lake and washes herself.

Tipsagi

tipsa-gi

serve-ATTR

rapamuni

rapa-muni

woman-OBL.PL

ksagi

ksa-gi

big-ATTR

mita

mita-Ø

group-ABS.SG

tūmi

tūmi

3F.OBL.SG

hi

hi

with

radāna

rada-ːna

go-PFV.IND

mīgīni

mīgi-ːni

lagoon-OBL.SG

mima.

mima

into

A large group of servant women enter the lake with her.

Tūnu

tūnu

3F.ABS.PL

satini,

satini-Ø

hide-IPFV.IND

ha

ha

but

tūnu

tūnu

3F.ABS.PL

wizwini

wizi-rini

water-OBL.PA

mi

mi

in

humuza

humu-za

play-IPFV.SJV

nāmamu.

nāma-mu

hear-IPFV.COND

They hide, but they can still be heard playing in the waters.

Sururini

suru-rini

time-OBL.PAU

tari,

tari

from

tūnu

tūnu

3F.ABS.PL

mīgīni

mīgi-ːni

lagoon-OBL.SG

miri

miri

out_of

kīma

ki-ːma

come-PFV.IND

wu

wu

and

kuhāmuni

kuha-ːmuni

tree-OBL.PL

mima

mima

into

rādirīna,

rādiri-ːna

return-PFV.IND

hi

hi

with

tūnu

tūnu

3F.ABS.PL

saduki

sadu-Ø-ki

cover-IPFV.IND-REL

nakagi

naka-gi

long-ATTR

mazigi

mazi-gi

white-ATTR

hugimuga.

hugi-muga

cloth-ERG.PL

After a while they come out of the lake and return to the woods, with long white veils that cover them.

Hi

hi

if

ruka

ru-ka

man-ERG.SG

tūnu

tūnu

3F.ABS.PL

sīniwaza

sīni-waza

see-PFV.SJV

hi

hi

then

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

mīgīni

mīgi-ːni

lagoon-OBL.SG

mima

mima

into

tiriwamu,

tiri-wamu

pull-PFV.COND

wu

wu

and

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

wizwini

wizi-rini

water-OBL.PA

ki

ki

INS

hawāmaza

hawa-ːmaza

wet-PFV.SJV

miri

miri

out_of

katiha

ka-riha-Ø

3M.SG-strength-ABS.SG

himiwamu

himi-wamu

fail-PFV.COND

wu

wu

and

ka

ka

3M.ABS.SG

sāriniwamu.

sārini-wamu

perish-PFV.COND

If a man sees them then he will be pulled into the lake, and right after he is wet by the waters his strength will fail and he will be killed.

---

Adapted from the legend of Hertha Lake.

Lexicon

Kataputi/Lexicon