Sangi/Verbs

Slot 1 – Negative Marker

There are two negative markers in slot 1; a', m'. These govern the nouns associated with the modality markers in slot 2.

a' – This form is used before all consonants other than w.

m' – This form is used before w.

Apart from their usage, there is no difference between the two prefixes

[edit] Slot 2 – Modality

This slot's prefixes are used to represent the mode of the verb in relation to the subject of Slot 8 holding verbs.

There are six prefixes which can be placed in this slot but only one can be used in the verb complex. To build up their true meanings they must be followed by the dynamic conjugation suffixes and then an optional -j which differs the meaning of each prefix. This -j would cause the final r of the 3rd person singular dynamic suffix -ar to become ś.

h' – This is used to show that there is no modality involved.

t' – This means “can” and when followed by -j it means “could”.

ś' – This means “shall” and “should” when followed by -j.

m' – This means “must” and “might” preceding -j.

w' – This means “want to” and when followed by -j it means “may”.

l' – This means “like to” and “would like to” when followed by -j.

[edit] Slot 3 – Negative Marker II

In this slot the prefixes used are the same as the first slot but they instead govern the noun associated with the modality II marker. A' is used before all consonants other than w, n' is used before all vowels and m' is used before w.

[edit] Slot 4 – Modality II

These have a similar form to the Modality markers of slot 2 but they govern the noun associated with the main verb.

ti' – This means “can”.

śi' – This means “shall”.

mi' – This means “must”.

wi' – This means “want to”.

li' – This means “like to”.

[edit] Slot 5 – Stem

The stem has the possibility of undergoing stem gradation and vowel mutation in order to show the different tenses and aspects.

I-mutation - This shows the future tense.

A-mutation – This shows the past tense.

Stem gradation – The weak stem (formed by one step in the weak direction) shows that the action is progressive.

[edit] Slot 6 – Conditional Suffix for Modality II

This is invariable -je and changes the meaning of the slot 4 prefixes in the same way as the -j in the slot 2 prefixes. It can cause I-mutation if followed by and i, a or u.

[edit] Slot 7 – Aspect

This slot is the only one which accommodates multiple affixes with each suffix adding further meaning to the verb. There are twenty-two suffixes which can accommodate this slot but the usual number used in any single verb complex never exceeds around five, although more extreme complexes are used as examples of the flexibility of this slot.

-sta – This suffix translates roughly as “going to” or “about to”. It shows that the subject intends/intended to perform the action in the immediate future.

-sa – This suffix means “begin (to)”.

-ta – This means “continue (to)”.

-da – This means “for a while”.

-ja – This means “finish”.

-cca – This also means “finish” but carries the implication of “quit” as it is more long term or even permanent.

-ca – This is the third “finish” suffix but carries the implication that you have only stopped for a while and will perform the action again or continue to perform the previous action which is incomplete.

-ga – This means “resume” or continue a previously incomplete action.

-ra – Translates as “on and on” and shows that the action was continued for a long period of time which may be undetermined.

-rda – Shares a similar meaning with -ra but translates as “again an again” showing that the action was not continuous but made up of small segments.

-na – Shows that the performance was intentional.

-ma – Shows that the performance was unintentional or accidental.

-nsa – Shows that the action was performed only once.

-nta – shows that the action was performed many times.

-lt – This means “try to”.

-ia – This means “for a time” and relates to time period longer than that associated with the suffix -da.

-i – This translates as “simply”, “just” or “only” and shows that it was the only only action performed by the speaker.

-ea – This means “again”.

-lla – This means “always” or “forever” and shows that the action is continued uninterrupted for unimaginable amounts of time or even indefinitely, e.g. pillár – he will exist forever.

Three additional suffixes, attached before the others of this slot define the intensity of the action;

-d – This shows that the verb is intensive, performed with force, speed, etc.

-s – This suffix lowers the intensity of an intensive action but it cannot be used with a “moderate” verb.

-t – This suffix marks the lowest of intensities and shows that there was very little force or effort behind the verb.

[edit] Slot 8 – Voice

These voice markers of this slot relate to a second actor who has enforced there will upon the actor of the verb or can relate to the actor of the verb itself. The distinction is shown by the use of the modality markers of slot 2, which represent the second actor. When no second actor is mentioned, the verb takes on a somewhat passive or stative meaning, even though dynamic suffixes may be used.

-cs – This suffix marks the causative voice. This shows that the actor caused something or someone to perform the verb.

-nj – This marks the permissive voice. This shows that the actor was allowed to perform the verb in the sense that it was given permission.

-ps – This marks the secondary causative voice. It shows that the main actor was made to perform the verb or that they were caused to become something, this does share a similar meaning with the first causative voice but it implies more force was involved when used with dynamic verbs.

-pi – This suffix is the only one in this slot which cannot represent an actor in slot 2. It means “become” and shows that the subject's state of being or characteristics changed. It is also the only one of the four suffixes to take the stative conjugation suffixes only.

[edit] Slot 9 – Voice II

The suffixes of slot 9 show the main, “true” voice of the verb.

-Ø – The lack of a suffix in this slot shows that it is in the indicative voice. This shows that the verb was performed by a subject who, although not necessarily, performed the action on or to some other object or thing.

-ć – This suffix represents the reflexive voice. This means that the actor performed the verb on itself.

-g – This suffix represents the reciprocal voice. This suffix means that the two actors of the verb performed it on each other. This means that it cannot be used with singular conjugation suffixes.

The suffix which shows the passive voice has four forms depending on the number of the subject and the aspect of the verb. The singular forms are -li and -vi in the imperfect and perfect aspect respectively and the plural forms are -lli in the imperfect and -pi in the perfect.

[edit] Slot 10 – Mood

The slot 10 suffixes show that the verb has not been performed by the time of speech but that it may be afterwards or what would happen if it was to be performed.

-s – This suffix is translated as “if” and is the first part of “if-then” statements.

-n – This suffix is translated as “then” and is the second part of “if-then” statements.

-m – This suffix marks hypothetical situations.

-tu – This is the imperative suffix. It shows that the speaker is ordering the actor the perform the action. Unlike in English, the imperative can be directed at all persons.

-si – This is the optative suffix and it indicates hope that the action will take place on the part of the speaker. It is, though, usually found in interrogative sentences and is translates as “might ...?” or “please...”.

[edit] Slot 11 – Conjugation

This slot contains the largest number of available suffixes but, unlike slot 7, only one suffix can occupy this space. The suffixes of this slot are used to separate stative and dynamic verbs as well as perfect and imperfect aspects. The verb conjugates for four persons; 1st, 2nd, 3rd and a 4th person known as the indefinite, representing an unspecified subject. These suffixes can be divided into four groups; dynamic imperfect, dynamic perfect, stative imperfect and stative perfect. Dynamic 		Stative Imperfect 	Perfect 	Imperfect 	Perfect Infinitive 	-[i]n 	-[i]ni 	-[i]l 	-[i]w 1st person singular 	-a, -m 	-aj, -mję 	-[i]mę 	-[i]mi 2nd person singular 	-u, -p 	-uj[ę], -f 	-[i]tę 	-[i]ćę 3rd person singular 	-ar, -n 	-aś, -nję 	-[i]cę 	-[i]þę 1st person plural 	-e, -t 	-ej, -ć 	-[i]mbę 	-[i]mbi 2nd person plural 	-o, -ŋ 	-oj, -nǵ 	-[i]ðę 	-[i]ǵę 3rd person plural 	-er, -c 	-eś, -þ 	-[i]śę 	-[i]dę Indefinite 	-smo/a/i 	-smjo/a/i 	-[i]two/a/i 	-[i]ćwo/a/i

NOTES:

* The -[i]- occurs between final consonants and the suffix but cannot cause I-affection or I-mutation.

* In the Dynamic conjugation, the first suffix is attached to consonantal stems, while the second is attached to vocalic stems.

* The o/a/i after the indefinite suffixes represent the gender of the subject -o being male, -a being female and -i being the general gender

* The ę after the suffixes is used if the next sound does not begin with a vowel. If the suffix is followed by an object suffix, an epenthetic vowel is inserted instead of the ę.

Although the infinitive suffixes are of slot 11, they must always come at the end of the verb complex, e.g. spijetaren – to speak to someone, where the -tar suffix means to someone and the -n suffix is at the end.

[edit] Slot 12 – Object Suffixes

The object suffixes represent the objects of a verb in the accusative case. They also allow for the representation of tense. The suffixes will be shown in this order; present tense – past tense – future tense;

-m, -mwa, -mi – 1st person

-s, -sa, -ś – 2nd person

-c, -ć, -þ – 3rd person/indefinite

[edit] Slot 13 – Secondary Objects

Like slot 2 prefixes, the suffixes of slot 13 must be followed by the dynamic conjugation suffixes to make full sense. They differ from those of slot 13 in that they represent cases that are not the accusative.

-t – The dative case.

-cs – The causal case.

-j – The Vocative case. This is actually the accusative case of highly respected things.

-l – the instrumental case.

-v – The comitative case.

-ct – The sociative case.

-d – The anti-instrumental case.

-s – The anti-comitative case.

-lc – The anti-sociative case.

-g – The search terminative case.

-w – The benefactive case.

[edit] Fourteen Slots?

The locative and movement suffixes can be suffixed directly onto the stem, this raises the debate of whether this should be considered an extra slot or a subsection of the stem slot. This debate is as yet unresolved but it does not affect any part of this model.

[edit] Examples

This example draws upon affixes from most slots and a mutation of the stem:

a'śu'm'wi'zîltacstuarćętar.

This can mean either "You shouldn't have continued to caused him/her/it to not want to give him'her/it to him/her/it!" or "You shouldn't have caused him/her/it to continued to not want to give him/her/it to him/her/it!". The ambiguity lies in the used of the suffix -ta- (continue). It is attached to the stem but makes no distinction about whether it realtes to Slot 2 or Slot 4 actors.

An analysis of the word would be this:

a-śu-m-wi-zîl-ta-cs-tu-ar-ćę-t-ar

neg1-should-neg2-want-give.past.-continue-caus.-imper.-3rd.sing.subj-3rd.sing.obj.past-dative-3rd.sing.subj.

Examples such as this generally only occur when the nouns are referenced by pronouns. If the nouns were mentioned as nouns then the verb would be much shorter...

a'śu'm'wi'zîltacstu tálso púnon tocot - You shouldn't have continued to cause the boy to not want to give the bone to the dog.