Proto-Taspin

Proto-Taspin is the language of the south east lands in Bidunia. This is the most ancient classical language of the people who first migrated into the area.

Classification and Dialects
This language diverged into several dialects that became their own languages.

Active
There is no marking on verbs for the active voice. Transitive verbs and intransitive ones stay intransitive.

E.g.

Thet'epintan      so          t'orii

PRES-IPFV-live 1.sg-ABS house-LOC

I live in a house

E.g.

P'iphip'annu            se             phuŋau           tho

REC-PFV-ask-NEG 1.sg-ERG question-ACC 2.sg-DAT

I didn't just ask you a question

Passive
The passive construction is marked by the suffix "wi" on the verb. Like many passives, it takes the ACC and makes it the ABS. The original ERG argument can be left off or placed back in as an ABL. Intransitive verbs cannot be passivised.

E.g.

Aŋphak'ane se pik'u

PAST-PFV-see 1.SG-ERG tree-ACC

I saw a tree

Transformation:

Aŋphak'anewi pik'o sa

PAST-PFV-see-PASS tree-ABS 1.SG-ABL

A tree was seen by me

Causative
The causative is the only valency increasing construction in Proto-Taspin. It is the suffix "(i)k" attached to the verb. With an intransitive verb, the ABS becomes the ACC and the causer becomes the ERG. With a transitive verb, the ACC stays the ACC, but the ERG gets demoted to DAT and the causer becomes the ERG. With a ditransitive verb,***************

E.g. 1 argument

Ert'et'isi tho

PRES-IPFV-run 2.SG-ABS

you are running

Transformation:

Ert'et'isik' sopoe thu

PRES-IPFV-run-CAUS 1.PL-ERG 2.SG-ACC

I made you run

E.g. 2 arguments

Thesek'ane se nurarumu

PRES-INCEP-see 1.SG-ERG light-PROX-ACC

I'm starting to see the light

Transformation:

Thesek'anek' se nurarumu tho

PRES-INCEP-see-CAUS 2.SG-ERG light-PROX-ACC 2.SG-DAT

I'm making you start to see the light