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Minhast: Difference between revisions

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A lot of reformatting and rewording, but substance is same. Main major change: complex derivations using verbal affixes - the resulting derivation aren't syntactically noun-like at all!
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== Derivation ==
== Derivation ==


With the morphological complexity of the Minhast verb, capable of encoding various grammatical categories like gender, number, transitivity, tense, aspect, valence, mood, and many other functions, it is striking that derivational morphology is sparse.  The reason for this is simple.  Minhast uses noun incorporation extensively, and one category of NI, namely Type I Noun Incorporation, is exploited to create verb-noun compounds to derive new vocabulary.  The prevalence of compounding extends to the noun phrase as well, so noun-noun compounds like ''akkikrupumak'' ("Westerner" from ''akkik min
With the morphological complexity of the Minhast verb, capable of encoding various grammatical categories like gender, number, transitivity, tense, aspect, valence, mood, and many other functions, it is striking that derivational morphology is sparse.  A few verbal derivational affixes do exist; these occur as prefixes attached directly to the verb root.  The most common ones are two Telicity affixes, the Durative ''-ħtaš'' and the Semelfective ''-minn-''.  Technically telicity is a type of aspect, but unlike other aspect markers, which can be spontaneously employed in a single utterance, these affixes serve a more derivational purpose; their function is chiefly semantic as opposed to syntactic.  For example, the verb root ''-dāwap-'' (to drip), when prefixed with the Durative, creates the derived verb ''-ħtaštāwap-'', which means "to trickle", and the verb root ''-sar-'' (to see) becomes ''-ħtassar-'' (to watch).
''ruppumak'', lit. "Hairy-Face") abound.  Many compounds, whether derived from Type I Noun Incorporation, or via noun-noun compounding, tend to have irregular NI forms, or no NI form at all, as in the previously mentioned ''akkikrupumak''.  The first noun in a noun-noun compound tends to be shortened, as in ''gubbakkūni'' (war chieftain, admiral, general, from ''gubbāt min ikkūne'' lit. war leader).
 
Nevertheless, the primary mechanism for deriving new vocabulary is through exploiting the language's extensive use of noun incorporation.  A subtype of NI, called  "Type I Noun Incorporation", is exploited to create verb-noun compounds to derive new vocabulary.  Through this process, new verbs ''and'' nouns may be formed.


A few common Type I Noun Incorporation formations are used to derive instrumental, locative, and manner nouns:
A few common Type I Noun Incorporation formations are used to derive instrumental, locative, and manner nouns:
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*Manner: Verb root + ''-tak'' (from "style; way of doing something), e.g. ''kirimtak'' (lit. "speak-way", i.e. "presentation", as in a business presentation/proposal; "delivery, oratory style")
*Manner: Verb root + ''-tak'' (from "style; way of doing something), e.g. ''kirimtak'' (lit. "speak-way", i.e. "presentation", as in a business presentation/proposal; "delivery, oratory style")


Other compound derivations:
Other Type I Noun Incorporation compound derivations:


*''ittahipna'' - computer, derived from ''yittahi'' (to think) + ''tihipna'' (storage chest).  This noun has an irregular NI form: ''-tahipn-''
*''ittahipna'' - computer, derived from ''yittahi'' (to think) + ''tihipna'' (storage chest).  This noun has an irregular NI form: ''-tahipn-''
The prevalence of compounding extends to the noun phrase as well, mainly by noun-noun compounding:
*''akkikrupumak'' - "Westerner", from ''akkik min ruppumak'' (lit. "Hairy-Face")
* ''gubbakkūni'' - war chieftain, admiral, general, from ''gubbāt min ikkūne'' (lit. war leader)
*''apirtammus'' - grenade, derived from ''āpir'' (fire) + ''tammus'' (egg). Irregular NI form: ''-aptammus-''
*''apirtammus'' - grenade, derived from ''āpir'' (fire) + ''tammus'' (egg). Irregular NI form: ''-aptammus-''
* ''teymekšumbat'' - missile,  derived from ''tayyamak'' (thunder) + ''šumbat'' (arrow).  Irreg. NI form: ''-teššumbat-''
* ''teymekšumbat'' - missile,  derived from ''tayyamak'' (thunder) + ''šumbat'' (arrow).  Irreg. NI form: ''-teššumbat-''


Note that either one or both of the members of words derived from compounding may experience some syllabic trimming, and often have irregular NI forms, or even no NI form, as in the case of ''akkikrupumak'' and ''gubbakkūni''.
<!-- //Commented these out because they still don't act like nouns - they can't take Case Marking, for instance or serve as Agents or Patients
Sometimes derivations may be created by affixing verbal affixes to a verb or noun root, excluding the Post-TA and succeeding verbal slots:
Sometimes derivations may be created by affixing verbal affixes to a verb or noun root, excluding the Post-TA and succeeding verbal slots:


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Derivations resulting from a verb root plus one or more verbal affixes, be it a nominalization or otherwise, cannot undergo NI.
Derivations resulting from a verb root plus one or more verbal affixes, be it a nominalization or otherwise, cannot undergo NI.
   
-->
The Augmentive is also used to coin new terms from nouns:
Other mechanisms besides noun-noun compounding exist for nominal derivation. The Augmentive is one way of deriving a new noun from a previously existing noun:


*''arrarar'' telescope (lit. "big eye", from '' ar'' => "eye"
*''arrarar'' telescope (lit. "big eye", from '' ar'' "eye")
*''iptartaras'' bulldozer, backhoe (from  ''iptas'' "hoe")
*''iptartaras'' bulldozer, backhoe (from  ''iptas'' "hoe")


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*''iptis'' forceps (also from  ''iptas'' "hoe")
*''iptis'' forceps (also from  ''iptas'' "hoe")
A few derivational affixes occur as prefixes attaching directly to a verb root.  The most common ones are the Telicity affixes.  Technically telicity is a type of aspect, but unlike other aspect markers, which can be spontaneously employed in a single utterance, these affixes serve a more derivational purpose; their function is chiefly semantic as opposed to syntactic.  For example, the verb root ''-dāwap-'' (to drip), when prefixed with the Durative, creates the derived verb ''-ħtaštāwap-'', which means "to trickle", and the verb root ''-sar-'' (to see) becomes ''-ħtassar-'' (to watch).
{| class="bluetable lightbluebg"
|-
! Telicity
! Affix
|-
! Durative
| -ħtaš-
|-
! Semelfective
| -minn-
|}


One suffix originating from the Gull Speaker dialect, ''-ru'', derives locative nouns from verbs.  This suffix is the hallmark of the dialect, although the suffix has appeared in the City Speaker dialect, and its use appears to be increasing.
One suffix originating from the Gull Speaker dialect, ''-ru'', derives locative nouns from verbs.  This suffix is the hallmark of the dialect, although the suffix has appeared in the City Speaker dialect, and its use appears to be increasing.


One major derivational affix that is associated with nouns is the suffix ''-ast'', which forms denonyms.  Ironically, the word ''Minhast'' was not derived from this affix; it was derived from Proto-Minhast ''Nēn u θiyatsə'' or ''Nēn u θiyats'', which means "The True People Who Use the Spear" (c.f. Nankôre ''nan'' "human", Nahónda ''non, nahón'' "the People").
One major derivational affix that is associated with nouns is the suffix ''-ast'', which forms demonyms.  Ironically, the word ''Minhast'' was not derived from this affix; it was derived from Proto-Minhast ''Nēn u θiyatsə'' or ''Nēn u θiyats'', which means "The True People Who Use the Spear" (c.f. Nankôre ''nan'' "human", Nahónda ''non, nahón'' "the People").
   
   


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