Morphology & Syntax

Important points:

  • SOV word order
  • No noun-verb agreement
  • No passive voice

1)
marker: -thunanu
meaningaspectual (continuous)

Example:

nenu
nenu
1.SG
kabaddi
kabaddi
kabaddi
aaduthunanu
aadu-thunanu
play-ASP
‘I am playing kabaddi.’

Speaker: Loki

2)
marker: -ni
meaningaccusative
marker: -indhi
meaningpast

Example:

chinna
chinna
small
kukka
kukka
dog
pedha
pedha
big
pillini
pilli-ni
cat-ACC
tinindhi
tinu-indhi
eat-PST
‘The small dog ate the big cat.’

Speaker: Vamsi

3)
marker: chaala
meaningdegree

Example:

nadhi
nadhi
river
chaala
chaala
DEG
mellaga
mellaga
slow
paaruthundhi
paaru-thundhi
flow-ASP
‘The river is flowing very slowly.’

Speaker: Loki

4)
marker: –vochu
meaning: ‘might’

Example:

varsham
varsham
rain
padavochu
pada-vochu
fall-MOD
‘It will rain.’

Speaker: Loki

5)
marker: –vadu
meaning: imperfective aspect

Example:

athanu
athanu
3.SG
madhyam
madhyam
alcohol
thagevadu
thage-vadu
drink-ASP
‘He used to drink alcohol.’

Speaker: Loki

Language Documentation Training Center