Vijiš

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Vijiš
[vijiʃ]
Period c. 0 YP
Spoken in southwestern Tuysáfa
Total speakers unknown
Writing system none
Classification Leic
 Vijiš
Typology
Basic word order SVO
Morphology mostly fusional
Alignment NOM-ACC
Credits
Created by Zju

Phonology

Vijiš has a moderate consonant inventory and 4 contrastive heights in its vowel inventory.

Consonants

labial dental palatal velar
nasal /m/ /n/ /ɲ/ ‹ň /ŋ/
stop /p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/
fricative /v/ /s/ /ʃ/ ‹š› /ʒ/ ‹ž
sonorant /w/ /l/ /j/

Vowels

front back
close /i/ /u/
close-mid /e/ /o/
open-mid /ɛ/ ‹ê /ɔ/ ‹ô
open /a/
  • For morphological and morphophonological purposes a counts as a back vowel.
  • /e o/ are often realised as [ɪ ʊ]

Phonotactics

Syllable structure is C(C)V(C), but there is quite big preference for CV syllables. In a cluster of two consonants, the second one is typically a sonorant and both belong to the onset of the latter syllable(V.CLV). Two stops and two nasals never appear next to each other. Consonant clusters of three or more consonants do not exist. Clusters of any kind are forbidden word finally. Vowels never stand next to each other. Any consonant can stand in coda position word finally. Word internally closed syllables are rare and only /j/ and /w/ can serve as codas.
Consonant clusters do not occur that often, but form on a regular basis when nouns are declined. Some more common are:

  • bw
  • dw dj
  • gw gj gl
  • wp wb

Prosody

Vijiš is syllable timed. Stress is not phonemic and the prosody is rather monotonous, though the first syllable of each constituent wears a slightly higher pitch.

Allophony

  • [w] and [j] are pronounced with more constriction when next to another consonant. Therefore the less constricted variants are better transcribed as [u̯] and [i̯]. Specifically, [w] is pronounced with lips fully closed, whereas for [u̯] lips constrict only as much as when pronouncing [u].
  • /v/ is [u̯] next to other consonants and word-finally.
  • [w] and [j] are pronounced with some frication(that is, weak [β] and [ʝ]) before [u] and [i] respectively. This also applies for [u̯] as allophone of /v/.
  • /i u/ tend to be realised as [ɪ ʊ] before /j w/ respectively.
  • /nj/ can be freely realised as [nj], [ɲj] or [ɲ].

Alternative orthography

  • /e/ /o/ ‹í ú› or ‹é ó
  • /ɛ/ /ɔ/ ‹e o
  • /s/ ‹ś ›
  • /ʃ ʒ/ ‹s z

Everything else is the same. The new one uses much less diacritics.

Pronouns

Personal pronouns

1sg 1pl 2sg 2pl 3sg an 3sg inan 3pl an 3pl inan
N. ji jêjta ma mawta bi ša bawta na
G. jêta jêjta mata mawta ba ša bawta na
D. jiwa jêwawa môŋa mawawa biwa šama bawawa nawa
L. jêvo jêgwo mavo magwo bêvo šavo bagwo navo
V. - - mojeňa mawaňa - - - -

Correlatives

demonstrative jêža
this
jêňu
here
jêšav
now
(ji)jêwa
in this way
kaňu
that
kaňu
there
vije
then
vêwa
in that way
interrogative gwi
who
giža
what
gi
which
ňaňu
where
sa
when
ga
how
relative bêv
who
šawav
what
môv
which
kajêv
where
vijêv
when
vêwôwav
how
indefinite biji
someone
šavi
something
giji
some
ňaňuji
somewhere
saji
somewhen
gavi
somehow
alternative dwi
somebody else
daža
something else
daža
other
dawaňu
somewhere else
data
another time
dawa
in another way
universal jawawta
everybody
jawôna
everything
ja
all
jami
everywhere

always
java
in every way
negative mobiji
nobody
môna
nothing
mo
no, none
mowami
nowhere
mogê
never
mowava
in no way

Some correlatives inflect for case:

N G D L
who gwi gwa gwiwa gwêvo
who (R) bêv bewêv biwav bêvav
someone biji bêžu bijiwa bijêvo
smb. else dwi dwa dwiwa dwêvo
everybody jawawta jawawta jawawa jawagwo
nobody mobiji mobêžu mobijiwa mobijêvo
N G D
what giža giža gižama
what (R) šawav šawêv šamav
something šavi šažu šaviwa
smth. else daža daža dažama
everything jawôna jawôn jawônawa
nothing môna môn mônawa
N G D
which gi ga giwa
which (R) môv môv giwav
some giji gêžu gijiwa
other daža daža dama
all ja ja jama
no mo mo môma
this jêža jêža jêžama
that kaňu kaňu kaňuma

Locative case is often substituted with prepositions for the correlatives.
Correlatives agree in case with their head noun. When used with nouns in singular ja means every, each.
Correlatives do not distinguish number, except for the demonstrative substantivised pronouns. Their plural forms are respectively jena, jena, jenawa and kaňuna, kaňuna, kaňunawa.

Prepositions

These preposition govern genitive:

  • sa near
  • soša around
  • against
  • vôbê through
  • vôpo along

There is a set of prepositions which have two forms - one for stative, lative and one for ablative:

at ~ to from
in, inside peŋa
on, surface pa powa
above šav šawa
below wêba, wêta wêlawa
front jiwa
back watê watiwa
left jem jenawa
right žem ženawa

vôbê can be combined with the stative prepositions to give them perlative meanings, e.g. vôbê šav through the space above.

These prepositions govern nominative:

  • dwi with, coactor
  • ža, žaža with, instrument - The long form of this preposition is frequently used only with monosyllabic nouns and less so with disyllabic.
  • žamo without
  • dwimo without (coactor) is fairly rarely used. Žamo is used instead.

Nouns

Nouns have two numbers and three cases - nominative, genitive and dative. Plural nominative and genitive have the same form.

Articles

Vijiš has a definite article, which inflects for case. Both the article and the word have to be marked for case, so plural definite nouns do distinguish between nominative and genitive. The article is:

  • wi nom
  • wa gen
  • wêvo dat

The dative definite article is sometimes shortened to .

Declension

Regular vowel stems

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
- -va -bo -na
  • Some -i stems change i to u in gen sing.
  • Some -ni stems change final n to ň in gen sing and plural caseforms.
  • Gen sing is given when either of these changes occur.
  • In nominative plural word-final -o, -u, -i change to -ô, -e, -e.

Irregular vowel stems I

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
-a -ôn -avo -ôwôna
-a -an -avo -ajena
  • They always end in -a in nom sg.
  • The last consonant sometimes changes in all oblique caseforms, in an upredictable manner.
  • Gen sing is also given.

Irregular vowel stems II

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
- -n -bo -jena
  • A few irregular nouns change their last vowel in gen sing, which is in such cases given.

Irregular vowel stems III

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
- -n -vo -wôna
-jena
  • -wôna after back vowels, -jena after front vowels and u.
  • Last vowels change in various wordforms in a predictable pattern.
  • Nom pl is also given, according to which the rest of the vowels in the paradigm can be determined.

Vowel gradation pattern

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
-a -an -avo -awôna
-a -ôn -avo -ôwôna
-a -ôn -avo -owôna
-en -êvo -ujena
-en -êvo -ejena
-en -êvo -ijena

o stems

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
-o -wa -obo -ôna
  • Some of the words ending in -o belong to this paradigm.
  • Stem final single -s -t are -t -d everywhere except for nom sg.

Nasal stems

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
-m -wôn -wavo -wôwôna
-n -wan -wavo -wajena
  • The final vowel sometimes changes for all wordforms except nom sg - gen sg is also given in such case.

v stems

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
-v -va -wbo -wôna
  • -vôna is sometimes used instead of -wôna.


Other consonantal stems

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
- -wa -wo -ena
  • p t k š become b d g ž in gen and dat sg.
  • p t k š become b ž ž ž in plural caseforms.
  • Other consonants do not undergo changes.
  • maš 'water' has an irregular gen sg maja.

Summary

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl
rvs - -va -bo -na
ivs 1a -a -ôn -avo -ôwôna
ivs 1b -a -an -avo -ajena
ivs 2 - -n -bo -jena
ivs 3 - -n -vo -wôna
-jena
-o -o -wa -obo -ôna
-m -m -wôn -wavo -wôwôna
-n -n -wan -wavo -wajena
-v -v -va -wbo -wôna
cs - -wa -wo -ena

Dative plural

Dative plural for every single noun is formed by replacing nom pl -ôna -ena -na with -avo -êvo -vo.

Examples

There are three nouns that do not fit into any of the paradigms and form a pattern of their own.

Nom Gn Dt Nom Pl Gn Pl Dt Pl meaning
rvs mêna mênava mênabo mênana mênana mênavo town, village
rvs -i → -u jaluji jalujuva jalujibo jalujena jalujena jalujêvo glass
rvs -n → -ň pôni pôňuva pônibo pôňena pôňena pôňêvo land
ivs 1a mêpa mêtôn mêtavo mêtôwôna mêtôwôna mêtôwavo butterfly
ivs 1b masa maban mabavo mabajena mabajena mabajêvo limb
ivs 2 niwa niwan niwabo niwajena niwajena niwajêvo sunrise
ivs 3 ka kôn kavo kowôna kowôna kowavo rabbit
ivs 3 ken kêvo kijena kijena kijêvo stone, pebble
-o jato jatwa jatobo jatôna jatôna jatavo mirror
-m gôm gawôn gawavo gawôwôna gawôwôna gawôwavo bull
-n ben bewan bewavo bewajena bewajena bewajêvo eyelid
-v miv miva miwbo miwôna miwôna miwavo candidate, contestant
cs sak sagwa sagwo sažena sažena sažêvo neck
cs katad katadwa katadwo katadena katadena katadêvo teacher, master
friend ni niwa nibo ňujena ňujena ňujêvo friend
fish vôni vôniwa vônibo vôňujena vôňujena vôňujêvo fish
orphan bi biwa bibo bujena bujena bujêvo orphan

Changes in noun declension

Noun declension is in the process of getting simplified, with various declensions leveling out their markers and occasionally words from the unproductive vowel stems shifting to one of the two productive vowel stems - regular vowels stems and o stems.

Some of the more noticeable changes are:

  • Regular vowel stems and o stems are in the process of being merged:
    • RVS's ending in -o shift to o stem.
    • Gen sg ending for RVS changing to -wa accompanied with vowel deletion, eg. wa mênwa of the town
  • -v stems slowly shift to CS with -vw- being realised as -w-, eg. mivena candidates
  • -d and -g of regular consonant stems shift to ž in the plural under the influence of -t and -k stems: katažena masters
  • IVS 1. changing their nominative stem with their oblique stem and changing the dative singular ending to -bo, merging with IVS 2: mêtô, mêtôbo butterfly, to a butterfly
  • -m- and -n- replacing medial suffixal -w- in -m and -n stems respectively: benajena eyelids
  • In general -vo is being slowly replaced by -bo, the latter becoming the general dative singular ending, except for the consonant stems, which have -wo.

Usage of cases

Nominative

It is the basic, underived form of the noun. It is used for:

  • Denoting the subject of the verb.

    Wi
    Wi
    DEF.NOM
    ve
    ve
    cat
    mave
    mave-∅
    chase-ANIM.PRS
    wi
    wi
    DEF.NOM
    wažu.
    wažu.
    mouse
    The cat is chasing the mouse.
  • Denoting the object of the verb.

    Wi
    Wi
    DEF.NOM
    ve
    ve
    cat
    mave
    mave-∅
    chase-ANIM.PRS
    wi
    wi
    DEF.NOM
    wažu.
    wažu.
    mouse
    The cat is chasing the mouse.
  • Used after a few prepositions.

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    žažemô
    žažemô-∅
    eat-ANIM.PRS
    žaža
    žaža
    with
    šemo.
    šemo.
    fork.NOM
    I eat with a fork.

Genitive

  • Denotes the possessor or quality. Genitive phrases follow the noun they specify.

    Wi
    Wi
    DEF.NOM
    šena
    šena
    heart
    wa
    wa
    DEF.GEN
    wavôva.
    wavô-va
    man-GEN
    The man's heart.
    Vegôv
    Vegôv
    house
    bêžu.
    bêžu.
    somebody.GEN
    Somebody's house.
    Meti
    Meti
    place
    jeji
    big
    big
    ŋêva.
    ŋêv-a
    beauty-GEN
    A place of big beauty.
  • Governs most prepositions.
    • Pa wôŋova. - On the roof.
    • Žem wataviva. - To the right of the window.

Dative

  • Used for the indirect object (recipient) of the verb.

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    jeŋôji
    jeŋ-ô-ji
    say-PAST-ANIM
    bawawa.
    bawawa.
    3.PL.DAT
    I told them.
  • Used to denote the beneficent of the action.

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    žaje
    žaje-∅
    do-PRS.ANIM
    jêža
    jêža
    this.NOM
    môŋa.
    môŋa.
    2.SG.DAT
    I'm doing this for you.

Locative

It is substituted in nouns with sa, and pa.

  • Denotes the space near the referent. Prepositions are preferred to convey this meaning even for the pronouns.

    Ma
    Ma
    2.SG.NOM
    jeni
    jen-i
    live-ANIM.PRS
    šavo.
    šavo.
    3.SG.INAN.LOC
    /sa
    /sa
    /near
    ša.
    ša.
    3.SG.INAN.GEN
    You live next to it.
  • Used to convey the meaning 'at one's place'.

    Ma
    Ma
    2.SG.NOM
    wôgi
    wô-gi
    FUT.ANIM-Q
    palo
    pal-o
    come-INF
    jêvo?
    jêvo?
    1.SG.LOC
    Will you come to my place?
  • Used to state somebody's oppinion.

    Bêvo
    Bêvo
    3.SG.ANIM.LOC
    jêjta
    jêjta
    1.PL.NOM
    mo
    mo
    NEG
    dôvet.
    dôve-t.
    be_happy-PL.PRS
    According to him we're not happy.

Vocative

Technically, only two words exist in this case, so they can be considered interjections and the case nonexistent. They are used when calling somebody or attracting one's attention:

  • Mojeňa! - Hey, you!
  • Pa mawaňa! - You three!

Needless to say, regular nouns are used in nominative in such positions. Every now and then they are supplemented with the corresponding vocative pronoun:

  • Vowa mojeňa. - You, stranger. ~ Stranger.
  • Vôjêdena mawaňa. - You, sailors. ~ Sailors.

The vocative pronouns can also go with numerals (as in the above example) and adjectives:

  • Gwi mojeňa. - You, righteous( one).

It can even be combined with the definite article. This usage is very common when using nicknames and obligatory for some:

  • Wi jiga naji mojeňa, ... - You, the fast-legged one, ...

Vocative pronouns are contracted differently in different varieties: mojňa mawňa, moňa maňa, mjeňa mwaňa, mjeňa maňa, jeňa waňa, mojňa mowňa, majňa mawňa, moja maňa - the list goes on. The uncontracted pronouns are still used, though.

Adjectives

Adjectives are placed before the noun they modify and are not inflected in any way. Some adjectives have a corresponding verb, which has the same or similar root and a similar meaning. Such adjectives are not normally used with the copula in predicative position; their corresponding verb is used instead.

For example:

Ba
ba
wet
bebena
beb-ena
wheel-PL
bemat.
bem-at
rotate-PL
Wet wheels roll.

but

Wi
wi
DEF.NOM
bebena
beb-ena
wheel-PL
bat.
ba-t
be_wet-PL
The wheels are wet.

Verbs

Verbs in Vijiš have a number of synthetic as well as analytic forms. They inflect for number, voice, mood, aspect and animacy, but not person.

Synthetic forms

Each verb has at most present and past forms of the following:

  • singular animate active (A)
  • singular inanimate active (iA)
  • plural active (Pl)
  • passive (Ps)

as well an infinitive (In). Only transitive verbs have a passive form.

Verbs have 3 main conjugations and two secondary, which have less verbs.

1. conjugation

  • In: -o
  • A: -u after ň, š, ž, -i elsewhere
  • iA: -u after ň, š, ž, -o after labials, -i elsewhere
  • Pl: -at, with j or w inserted before single stem final p b k g*
  • Ps: -a (occasionally extended to -am)
  • Pt: -ô-
* j after front vowels and w after back

2. conjugation

  • In: -vo
  • A: -∅
  • iA: -ji after front vowels, -wo after back vowels; before -wo final a changes to ô
  • Pl: -t
  • Ps: -m
  • Pt: -wô-, final a changes to ô

-uvo verbs

Some of the verbs the infinitive of which ends in -uvo, change their last vowel from -u to -i in some of the forms. And out of those, some change it to -o in inanimate and past form. There are four main subconjugations:

I II III IV
In -uvo -uvo -uvo -uvo
A -u -i -i -u
iA. -uwo -iji -owo -owo
Pl. -ut -it -it -ut
Ps. -um -um -um -um
Pt. -uwô- -iwô- -owô- -owô-

Still, some verbs are just irregular. In such cases the animate and inanimate forms are shown. As a general rule of thumb, the plural stem is the same as the animate stem, the past stem is the same as the inanimate stem and the passive stem as the infinitive stem. Because of this, the passive forms always end in -um. Very few verbs can be conjugated in two patterns in free distribution.

2nd column I II III IV neni,
neňowo
Infinitive vôbawabuvo pôjiwuvo poguvo mêžuvo neňuvo
Animate vôbawabu pôjiwi pogi mêžu neni
Inanimate vôbawabuwo pôjiwiji pogowo mêžowo neňowo
Plural vôbawabut pôjiwit pogit mêžut nenit
Passive vôbawabum - - mêžum -
Past vôbawabuwô- pôjiwiwô- pogowô- mêžowô- neňowô-
Meaning be satisfied go to the south sleep, dream wear swim

2. b conjugation

It has the same endings as 2. conjugation, but verbs have two stems - one for plural and passive forms and one for everything else. Both are listed in the dictionary entry.

3. conjugation

  • In: -w
  • A: -ji
  • iA: -ji
  • Pl: -t
  • Ps: -m
  • Pt: -wô-

3. b conjugation

Verbs from this conjugation also have two stems.

  • In: -w
  • A: second stem + -i
  • iA: second stem + -o after labials, -i elsewhere
  • Pl: -t
  • Ps: -m
  • Pt: second stem + -ô-*
* stem final m n ŋ change to v l w

In the dictionary the infinitive and animate present are given.

Summary

1. 2. 2. b 3. 3. b
In -o -vo -vo -w -w
A -u, -i - - -ji -i
iA. -u, -o, -i -ji, -wo -ji, -wo -ji -o, -i
Pl. -at -t -t -t -t
Ps. -a -m -m -m -m
Pt. -ô- -wô- -wô- -wô- -ô-
  • 1. conjugation verbs sometimes use -am as passive ending.

Past tense

The past tense forms by adding the following endings to the past stem:

  • A: -ji
  • iA: -wo
  • Pl: -wta
  • Ps: -va

Imperative

Imperative is the bare stem.

Examples

1. 2. 2. b 3. 3. b
Meaning feel, sense carry do be awake span, cover
Infinitive môgo bawavo žajevo bew bejêw
Animate môgi bawa žaje beji bejemi
Inanimate môgi bawôwo žajeji beji bejemo
Plural môwgat bawat žat bet bejêt
Passive môga(m) bawam žam - bejêm
Past môgô- bawôwô- žajewô- bewô- bejevô-
Imperative môg! bawa! žaje! be! bejem!

Analytical forms

Future tense

Future tense is formed by an auxiliary verb + infinitive.

  • A: wô
  • iA: wôwo
  • Pl: wat
  • Ps: wôm

Future in the past tense

It denotes an action that was intended to be done, but was not.

  • A: wômôji
  • iA: wômôwo
  • Pl: wômôwta
  • Ps: wômôva

Conditional mood

The conditional is formed by an auxiliary verb followed by the infinitive.

Present

  • A: žaji
  • iA: žajwo
  • Pl: žajuta
  • Ps: žajwa

Past

  • A: žajwôji
  • iA: žajwôwo
  • Pl: žajwôwta
  • Ps: žajwôva

Dubtative mood

Again, all auxiliaries are followed by an infinitive.

Present

  • A: žajivo
  • iA: žajwovo
  • Pl: žajutavo
  • Ps: žajwavo

Past

  • A: žajwôjivo
  • iA: žajwôwovo
  • Pl: žajwôwtavo
  • Ps: žajwôvavo

Future

  • A: žajivo wôvo
  • iA: žajwovo wôvo
  • Pl: žajutavo wôvo
  • Ps: žajwavo wôvo

Future in the past

It's quite rarely used.

  • A: žajwôjivo wôvo
  • iA: žajwôwovo wôvo
  • Pl: žajwôwtavo wôvo
  • Ps: žajwôvavo wôvo

Copula

The stem is suppletive for past tense

Present Past
Infinitive sapo
Animate sagi pôji
Inanimate sagi pôwo
Plural sawta pôwta
Imperative sak!

After auxiliary verbs the infinitive is often contracted and cliticised to po, which can be spelled as a clitic or an affix:

Ji
ji
1.SG.NOM
wôpo
wô-po
FUT.ANIM-be.INF
kaňu.
kaňu
there
I'll be there.

Overview of verbal paradigm

  • SA = singular animate active form
  • SI = singular inanimate active form
  • Pl = plural active form
  • Ps = passive form
  • Inf = Infinitive
Mood / Tense Indicative Dubtative Conditional Imperative
Form Future Future Present
SA
SI
Pl
Ps
wô + Inf
wôwo + Inf
wat + Inf
wôm + Inf
žajivo wôvo + Inf
žajwovo wôvo + Inf
žajutavo wôvo + Inf
žajwavo wôvo + Inf
žaji + Inf
žajwo + Inf
žajuta + Inf
žajwa + Inf
bare stem
----- Present Present
SA
SI
Pl
Ps
-i, -u, -ji, -∅
-i, -u, -o, -ji, -wo
-at, -t
-a(m), -m
žajivo + Inf
žajwovo + Inf
žajutavo + Inf
žajwavo + Inf
----- Future in the past Future in the past Past
SA
SI
Pl
Ps
wômôji + Inf
wômôwo + Inf
wômôwta + Inf
wômôva + Inf
žajwôjivo wôvo + Inf
žajwôwovo wôvo + Inf
žajwôwtavo wôvo + Inf
žajwôvavo wôvo + Inf
žajwôji + Inf
žajwôwo + Inf
žajwôwta + Inf
žajwôva + Inf
----- Past Past
SA
SI
Pl
Ps
-ôji, -wôji
-ôwo, -wôwo
-ôwta, -wôwta
-ôva, -wôva
žajwôjivo + Inf
žajwôwovo + Inf
žajwôwtavo + Inf
žajwôvavo + Inf

Variations and tendencies in the verbal system

Suffixes simplification and alternation

All suffixes -ji tend to shorten to -j and this is becoming increasingly common: žajej does(inanimate), môgôj felt, bej be awake instead of žajeji, môgôji, beji. Suffixes of the form -wo are also sporadically shortened to -w, but this is still much less common.

The plural suffix for past tense -wta is sometimes shortened to -ta, especially after -: bawôwôta carried, bejewôta covered instead of bawôwôwta, bejewôwta.

Loss of animacy marking

Verbs are marked for animacy only in active voice singular. There are processes that eliminate the animacy marking in this environment as well, thus completely getting rid of it. They are different for the different conjugations. The motivation is primarily analogical leveling(no animacy marking in plural number, no animacy marking whatsoever in 3. conjugation present), but phonetic erosion plays a minor role as well. Past tense markings are interesting because they act differently according to the conjugation. The conjugation tables given above are only a general rule of thumb covering a minority of the varieties. The bigger picture is as follows:

3. conjugation

It has undergone the process of losing animacy to completion in present tense. -ji is in the process of becoming the universal singular marker in past tense as well. -ji and -wo for past tense inanimate are currently mostly in free variation:

  • Ša kjawôwo., Ša kjawôji. It bounced.
  • Jêža šaniwôwo., Jêža šaniwôj. This was known.

1. conjugation

The rule for marking animate and inanimate singular is: -u after ň, š, ž and -i elsewhere. Inanimate singular has one addition to that rule: add -o if the stem ends in a labial consonant. However, it is in the process of getting lost for the following reasons:

  • It shares the ending with the infinitive and because of that is getting confused with it.
  • Similarity with the marking of animate singular, which lacks this ending - for all verbs, which don't end in labial, singular animate and inanimate are already the same.
  • Influence from 3. conjugation(and the other 1. conjugation verbs) to use the same endings for animate and inanimate.

Past tense preserves its animacy markers relatively intact.

3. b conjugation

The situation is essentially the same as in 1. conjugation, however with the process of getting -o lost less advanced.

It is worth mentioning that a few southeastern varieties instead of getting rid of the -o rule, have generalised it for present singular 1. and 3. b conjugation, again removing the animacy distinction.

2. and 2. b conjugation

The animacy distinction is most stable here, however animate present sporadically begins to use the inanimate present endings, probably to differentiate from the imperative and because all other present and past forms have some ending. It is also interesting to note that past tense singular begins to use -ji, -wo in the same distribution as present inanimate.

The copula

The copula has already eliminated animacy distinction in present tense. Loss of animacy in the past occurs as follows:

  • 1. stage: pôji, pôwo.
  • 2. stage: phonetic erosion leads to pôj, pôw.
  • 3. stage: pôw is further simplified to .
  • 4. stage: becomes the general past singular copula, either by taking the place of pôj, or by pôj > .

Most varieties are in the second stage, having pôj, pôw(o).

Past plural copula tends to become pôta or pawta, by analogy of present plural.

Present tense copula tends to become sag in rapid speech.

Auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs so far are the most conservative in retaining the animacy marking. , wômôji, žajwôji follow the development of past copula, but are always lagging behind by one or two stages. Žaji / žaj and žajivo so far do not show any signs of losing the animacy distinction, but with it disappearing everywhere else, it is sure to be lost here as well. Žajwôwovo tends to be either haplologized to žajwôvo or replaced by žajwôjivo.

Innovation in passive marking

1. conjugation passive ending -a is increasingly often expanded to -am to match the passive endings of the other conjugations. Past passive ending -va does not show this tendency.

Sporadically phrases such as Na jitažumat. They are being attached., Bawta kawôjemat. They are being healed. are used instead of Na jitažum., Bawta kawôjem. indicating that passive voice is developing distinction between singular and plural number.

Numerals

Cardinal Ordinal Fractional
1. môji kižav, môjiňu
2. je jeňu ňuš
3. pa peňu žuba
4. paji pejiňu, peňuji šudaji
5. dômô dômôje, dôjemô šudômô
6. daje, daňu daňuje, dajeňu
7. daka dakaje, dakaňu, daňuka
8. wala walaje
9. walômô walôjemô, walômôje
10. kêve kêveje
11. bemô bemôje
12. beje bejeňu
13. beka bekaje
14. bala balaje
15. balômô balôjemô, balômôje
16. balaje, balaňu balaňuje, balajeňu
17. balaka balajeka, balakaje
18. beta betaje
19. betômô betôjemô, betômôje
20. jegê jegêje
30. bjê bjêňu
40. dagê dagêje
50. dômôgê dômôgêje
60. dajegê, daňugê dajegêje, daňugêje
70. dakagê, dôbjê dakagêje, dôbjêňu
80. walagê walagêje
90. walômôgê walômôgêje
100. jin jineje
  • When more than one form is listed, forms are ordered in decreasing frequency of occurance.
  • Fractional numbers other than those listed are rare and are formed by prefixing šu-.
  • Môji is sometimes shortened to môj.
  • Numerals different than these are formed by simple juxtaposition, eg.: bjê daka thirty seven

Syntax

Although Vijiš is pro-drop and subject-drop, it usually does not allow that. The verb is left without subject only if it can be unambiguously inferred from the context, e.g. in the second clause of a coordinated sentence. There is an exception - if there's no logical subject, none is placed at all - dummy pronouns are not used.

Noun phrases

The word order in noun phrases is the following:

determiner - quantifier - adjective - noun - genitive phrase - prepositional phrase - relative clause

Although the genitive phrase is usually placed after the noun, there is a tendency pronouns in genitive case to be placed between the quantifier and the adjective.

Headless noun phrases are usually not allowed. The only exception to the rule is when determiner correlatives are used on their own.

Word order

The default word order is SVO. One adverb for time, place or manner can be put before the verb or the subject.

Negation

Negation is formed by placing mo before the verb.

  • Ji mo daňa ša. - I don't see it.

Questions

Polar questions are formed with a suffix on the verb:

  • -gi after vowels and semivowels.
    • Ma daňa ša. You see it. → Ma daňagi ša? - Do you see it?
  • -t and -m change to -di and -ŋgi respectively.
    • Bawta dat ša. Theys see it. → Bawta dadi ša? - Do they see it?
    • Ša dam. It is seen. → Ša daŋgi? - Is it seen?

Questions are marked only once - on the auxiliary if present and on the main one otherwise.

  • Ma wôgi daňavo ša? - Will you see it?
  • Ji daňagi ša, mažu žajigi daňavo? - If I see it, would you also see it?

The positive reply is vi, the negative is mo. The positive reply to a negative question is da.

  • Ša mo pobijgi? - Is it not good?
  • Da, ša jajuwo! - Yes, it is beautiful!

Content questions exhibit wh-fronting.

  • Giža ma daňa? - What do you see?

Existential clauses

Existential clauses are formed with the verb ŋeňavo, ŋêt. It is defective in that it has no past tense forms - the copula is used to supplement it. Word order in existential clauses is:

(locative phrase) - verb - noun phrase

in
wa
wa
DEF.GEN
vegôva
vegôv-a
house-GEN
ŋeňa
ŋeňa-∅
EXIST-PRS.ANIM
ŋeni.
ŋeni.
girl
There is a girl in the house.
in
wa
wa
DEF.GEN
vegôva
vegôv-a
house-GEN
pôwo
pô-wo
be.PST-ANIM
žažev.
žažev.
food
There was food in the house.

The locative phrase may come after the noun phrase, but this is not common. Pê wa and pa wa may shorten to pêw, paw. Other prepositions + wa may also shorten, but much more rarely.

Ŋeňavo agrees with the following noun phrase in animacy and number.

  • Ŋeňôwo môgo. - There is a mountain.
  • Ŋeňa veje. - There is a wise man.
  • Ŋêt dojena. - There are bees.

The verb and the noun phrase can switch their places, in which case ŋeňavo means to exist.

  • Wi wajena ŋêt. - The frogs exist.

In negative existential clauses a negative form of the verb is used, again supplemented in past tense: mojeňavo, mojêt.

  • Mojêt dojena. - There are no bees.
  • Pê wa vegôva mo pôw žažêv. - There was no food in the house.

Conditions

Conditions are expressed with a clause containing the condition, with the verb always having the interrogative suffix, followed by a clause containing the result, with its verb always in conditional mood.

Ma
ma
2.SG.NOM
šamegigi
šameg-i-gi
pour-SG.ANIM.PRS-Q
jiwa,
jiwa
1.SG.DAT
žaji
žaj-i
COND-SG.ANIM.PRS
žamego.
žameg-o
drink-INF
I'd drink if you pour (some) to me.

Possibility and necessity

Possibility and necessity are expressed with the particles wamwo/wamo can, be able to and niji must, have to placed directly before an inflected verb; even mo is placed before them.

Jêjta
Jêjta
1.PL.NOM
niji
niji
must
mijeŋat.
mijeŋa-t.
go_down-PRS.PL
We must go down.
Jêjta
Jêjta
1.PL.NOM
wamo
wamo
can
jiwat.
jiwa-t.
go_up-PRS.PL
We can go up.
Mawta
Mawta
2.PL.NOM
mo
mo
NEG
wamo
wamo
can
vumuwut!
vumuwu-t!
go_away-PRS.PL
You can't go away!

When used in conditional mood, they mean could and should respectively.

The longer forms wanowo and nijiji are sometimes used.

Comparison

It is done with dedicated verbs: šukavo be more and vowojenavo be less. Comparative is formed with powa + NOUN, superlative with poja.

  • Jêža bwuwôna šukat kigigavi. - These ideas are greener.
  • Kaňu bwuwôna vowojenat ŋijêve poja. - Those ideas are the least angry.

Šukavo can be replaced with the copula if there is a standard, which the noun is compared to.

  • Jêža bwuwôna sawta kigigavi powa kaňuna. - These ideas are greener than those.

In attributive positions šukavo is dropped and vowojenavo is replaced with the indeclinable particle vowo. For comparative degree powa must always be present, even if there is no standard which is compared to. In such case comparisons come between genitive and prepositional phrases.

  • Bwuv kigigavi powa. - A greener idea.
  • Vowo ŋijêve poja bwuv. - The least angry idea.

ADJ + podwata conveys the meaning of as ADJ as possible.

  • Ša sagi ŋijêpa podwata. - It is as blue as possible.

Coordinating NPs

  • wa — or (inclusive)
  • vôga ... vôga ... — either ... or ...
  • waj/wêj/wê — and
  • -žu/-ažu — (and) also X; X as well — the former is after vowels and the latter after consonants.
    • Some changes occur when adding this suffix:
    • Final -p -t -k -š -b- -d- -g- -ž-
    • Final -b -d -g -v- -l- -w-
    • Final -v -w-
    • Final -o changes to -w- and takes -ažu if it is not preceeded by v, w, or consonant cluster.
    • Final stops do not always change. -t voicing to -d- is infact the exception rather than the rule. -d changing to -l- is also somewhat rare, but not as much as -t to -d-. -b, -g may or may not change to -v-, -w-, but changing is somewhat more common. -p and -k always undergo voicing.

Coordinating clauses

  • wa — or (inclusive)

    Jêjta
    Jêjta
    1.PL.NOM
    wat
    wa-t
    FUT-PL
    neňuvo
    neňu-vo
    swim-INF
    wa
    wa
    or_INC
    wat
    wa-t
    FUT-PL
    vôžaw.
    vôža-w.
    ride-INF
    We will swim and/or ride.
  • vôga ... vôga ... — either ... or ...

    Vôga
    Vôga
    or_EXC
    jêjta
    jêjta
    1.PL.NOM
    wat
    wa-t
    FUT-PL
    mugivo
    mugi-vo
    take-INF
    jawôna,
    jawôna,
    everything
    vôga
    vôga
    or_EXC
    wat
    wa-t
    FUT-PL
    mêlo
    mêl-o
    lose-INF
    môna.
    môna.
    nothing
    We will either take everything or lose nothing.
  • — and, but — introduces a clause that has information contrasting with the previous one.

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    sagi
    sag-i
    be.PRS-SG
    jêňu,
    jêňu,
    here
    and
    bi
    bi
    3.SG.NOM.ANIM
    sagi
    sag-i
    be.PRS-SG
    kaňu.
    kaňu.
    there
    I'm here and he is there.
  • waj/wêj/wê — and — introduces a clause that expresses same thought of the previous one and/or completes it.

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    wô-∅
    FUT-ANIM
    vijemôvo
    vijemô-vo
    go_back-INF
    wêj
    wêj
    and
    wô-∅
    FUT-ANIM
    žajevo
    žaje-vo
    do-INF
    ša.
    ša.
    3.SG.NOM.INAN
    I'll go back and do it.
  • žê — but — introduces a clause that contradicts or opposes the previous one.

    Jêjta
    Jêjta
    1.PL.NOM
    sawta
    sa-wta
    be.PRS-PL
    jêňu,
    jêňu,
    here
    žê
    žê
    but
    mawta
    mawta
    2.PL.NOM
    mo
    mo
    NEG
    sawta.
    sa-wta.
    be.PRS-PL
    We are here, but you are not.
  • šê — and so, so; and (then) — introduces a clause that logically and/or temporally follows the previous one.

    Bawta
    Bawta
    3.PL.ANIM.NOM
    kowôwôta
    kowô-wô-ta
    go_west-PST-PL
    šê
    šê
    and
    daňôwôwta
    daňô-wô-wta
    see-PST-PL
    dwi.
    dwi.
    somebody else
    They went to the west and saw others.

Not all conjunctions are mutually exclusive. Some pairs (/žê, waj/šê) can be used in the same context to give different shades of meaning.

Subordinating clauses

The relative conjunctions, pronominal in origin, are:

  • bêv - who

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    kôgôme
    kôgôme-∅
    know-PRS.ANIM
    wavô,
    wavô,
    man
    bêv
    bêv
    who.REL
    wô-∅
    FUT-ANIM
    kajinavo
    kajina-vo
    help-INF
    môŋa.
    môŋa.
    2.SG.DAT
    I know a man, who will help you.
  • šawav - what

    Šawav
    Šawav
    what.REL
    ji
    ji
    1.SG.NOM
    daňa,
    daňa-∅,
    see-PRS.ANIM
    glôjewôji
    glôjewô-ji
    please-PRS.INAN
    jiwa.
    jiwa.
    1.SG.DAT
    I like what I see.
  • môv - which

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    wô-∅
    FUT-ANIM
    mugivo
    mugi-vo
    take-INF
    kaňu
    kaňu
    that
    miji,
    miji,
    bowl
    in
    môv
    môv
    which
    ŋeňôwo
    ŋeňô-wo
    EXIST-ANIM
    žažêv.
    žažêv.
    food
    I'll take the bowl, which has food.
  • kajêv - where

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    daňa
    daňa-∅
    see-PRS.ANIM
    wi
    wi
    DEF.NOM
    jêwu,
    jêwu,
    place
    kajêv
    kajêv
    where.REL
    ma
    ma
    2.SG.NOM
    sagi.
    sag-i.
    be.PRS-ANIM
    I see the place where you are.
  • vijêv - when

    Ji
    Ji
    1.SG.NOM
    wôpo
    wô-∅-po
    FUT-ANIM-be.INF
    dwi
    dwi
    with
    ma,
    ma,
    2.SG.GEN
    vijêv
    vijêv
    when.REL
    jêža
    jêža
    this
    šômo.
    šôm-o.
    happen-ANIM.PRS
    I'll be with you when this happens.
  • vêwôwav - how

    Žaje
    Žaje
    do.IMP
    ša,
    ša,
    3.SG.NOM.INAN
    vêwôwav
    vêwôwav
    how.REL
    jiwôŋi.
    jiwôŋ-i.
    want-PRS.ANIM
    Do it however you want.

Ŋup is the complementiser:

Ji
Ji
1.SG.NOM
daňa,
daňa-∅,
see-PRS.ANIM
ŋup
ŋup
C
ma
ma
2.SG.NOM
dôve.
dôve-∅.
be_happy-PRS.ANIM
I see that you are happy.

It can be used to create causative sentences. Mavo is the preferred verb in such constructions.

Ma
Ma
2.SG.NOM
mavi,
mav-i,
make-PRS.ANIM
ŋup
ŋup
C
mata
mata
2.SG.GEN
waŋa
waŋa
father
gju.
gju-∅.
think-PRS.ANIM
You make your father think.

Semantics

This section deals with the usages of some specific lexical items.

Verbs of motion

Vijiš has several sets of verbs of motion. Which one is used depends on what needs to be emphasized.

Sample text

Wi Sopawa mê waj wi Wiwa


Wi
Wi
DEF.NOM
Sopawa
Sopawa
north
wind
waj
waj
and
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
Wiwa
Wiwa
sun
vajašôwôta
vajašô-wô-ta
argue-PST-PL
gwi
gwi
who.NOM
šukôwôji
šukô-wô-ji
be_more-PST-SG.ANIM
tažu,
tažu,
strong
vijêv
vijêv
when.REL
wažuša
wažuša
traveler
salôj,
sal-ô-j,
come_by-PST-SG.ANIM
žawaŋi
žawaŋi
dressed
in
pibiwo
pibiwo
fat
piwdôn.
piwdô-n.
coat.GEN-GEN
The North wind and the Sun were arguing who was stronger, when a traveler came by dressed in a thick coat.
Bawta
Bawta
3.PL.ANIM.NOM
vônôpowôwta,
vônôpo-wô-wta,
agree-PST-PL
ŋup
ŋup
COMP
bi,
bi,
3.SG.ANIM.NOM
bêv
bêv
who.REL
kižav
kižav
first
mavi,
mav-i,
make-SG.ANIM
ŋup
ŋup
COMP
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
wažuša
wažuša
traveler
dažajipu
dažajipu-∅
take_off-SG.ANIM
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
piwpa
piwpa
coat.NOM
ba,
ba,
3.SG.ANIM.GEN
niji
niji
have_to
žajwa
žaj-wa
COND-PASS
šajêlavo
šajêla-vo
consider-INF
tažu
tažu
strong
powa
powa
than
wa
wa
DEF.GEN
dwa.
dwa.
other.ANIM.GEN
They agreed that the one who first makes the traveler take his coat off should be considered stronger than the other.
Jiwôwo
Jiwôwo
next
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
Sopawa
Sopawa
north
wind
mijêlôj
mijêl-ô-j
blow-PST-SG.ANIM
tažu
tažu
strong
podwata,
podwata,
as_much_as_possible
žê
žê
but
bi
bi
3.SG.ANIM.NOM
mijêlôjgi
mijêl-ô-j-gi
blow-PST-SG.ANIM-Q
tažu
tažu
strong
powa,
powa,
than
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
wažuša
wažuša
traveler
mavôji,
mav-ô-ji,
make-PST-SG.ANIM
ŋup
ŋup
COMP
ba
ba
3.SG.ANIM.GEN
piwpa
piwpa
coat.NOM
šukôwo
šukô-wo
be_more-SG.INAN
pibê
pibê
tight
soša
soša
around
ba,
ba,
3.SG.ANIM.GEN
Then the North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more he blew the more closely did the traveler fold his coat around him,
šê
šê
and
pa
pa
on
vêviva
vêvi-va
end-GEN
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
Sopawa
Sopawa
north
wind
vijemôwôji
vijemô-wô-ji
go_back-PST-SG.ANIM
DEF.DAT
Wiwabo.
Wiwa-bo.
sun-DAT
and at last the North Wind gave up, making way for the Sun.
Bi
Bi
3.SG.ANIM.NOM
mowaviwôj
mowavi-wô-j
shine-PST-SG.ANIM
ŋêwa
ŋêwa
warm
šê
šê
and
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
wažuša
wažuša
traveler
jêžawbo
jêžawbo
immediately
dažajipuwôj
dažajipu-wô-j
take_off-PST-SG.ANIM
ba
ba
3.SG.ANIM.GEN
piwpa.
piwpa.
coat.NOM
It shone out warmly, and immediately the traveler took off his coat.
Vêwa
Vêwa
in_that_way
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
Sopawa
Sopawa
north
wind
mavôva,
mav-ô-va,
make-PST-PASS
ŋup
ŋup
COMP
vônôpo,
vônôpo-∅,
agree-SG.ANIM
ŋup
ŋup
COMP
wi
wi
DEF.NOM
Wiwa
Wiwa
sun
pôji
pô-ji
be-PST.SG.ANIM
tažu
tažu
strong
powa
powa
from
je
je
two
bawta.
bawta.
3.PL.ANIM.GEN
This is how the North Wind was made to agree that the Sun was the stronger of the two.

Glossless text

Wi Sopawa mê waj wi Wiwa vajašôwôta gwi šukôwôji tažu, vijêv wažuša salôj, žawaŋi pê pibiwo piwdôn. Bawta vônôpowôwta, ŋup bi, bêv kižav mavi, ŋup wi wažuša dažajipu wi piwpa ba, niji žajwa šajêlavo tažu powa wa dwa. Jiwôwo wi Sopawa mê mijêlôj tažu podwata, žê bi mijêlôjgi tažu powa, wi wažuša mavôji, ŋup ba piwpa šukôwo pibê soša ba, šê pa věviva wi Sopawa mê vijemôwôji wê Wiwabo. Bi mowaviwôj ŋêwa šê wi wažuša jêžawbo dažajipuwôj ba piwpa. Vêwa wi Sopawa mê mavôva, ŋup vônôpo, ŋup wi Wiwa pôji tažu powa je bawta.

The North wind and the Sun were arguing who was stronger, when a traveler came by dressed in a thick coat. They agreed that the one who first makes the traveler take his coat off should be considered stronger than the other. Then the North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more he blew the more closely did the traveler fold his coat around him, and at last the North Wind gave up, making way for the Sun. It shone out warmly, and immediately the traveler took off his coat. This is how the North Wind was made to agree that the Sun was the stronger of the two.

Lexicon

It is located here.