Wonsullish
Natively known as: wonsull /ˈwɔnsull/
...and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind...mlass ku rem fetty a bigh mlass qi a shagh mjell ra foll
Pronunciation: /mlass ku rɛm fɛttj a ɓiɣ mlass qi a ʃaɣ mʄɛll ra fɔll/
Wonsullish word order: and he stood holding his hat and turned his wet face to the wind
Spelling & Phonology
Consonant inventory: b d f g h j k l m n p q r s t v w x z ð ŋ ɓ ɗ ɠ ɣ ɲ ʃ ʄ ʤ ʧ θ| ↓Manner/Place→ | Bilabial | Labiodental | Dental | Alveolar | Palato-alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Glottal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |||||
| Stop | p b | t d | k g | q | |||||
| Implosive | ɓ | ɗ | ʄ | ɠ | |||||
| Affricate | ʧ ʤ | ||||||||
| Fricative | f v | ð θ | s z | ʃ | ɣ x | h | |||
| Approximant | j | ||||||||
| Trill | r | ||||||||
| Lateral approximant | l |
| ↓Manner/Place→ | Labial-velar |
|---|---|
| Approximant | w |
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| High | i | u |
| Low-mid | ɛ | ɔ |
| Low | a |
Stress pattern: Initial — stress is on the first syllable ? Spelling rules:
| Pronunciation | Spelling |
|---|---|
| ɛ | e |
| ɔ | o |
| ɲ | ny |
| ɓ | b |
| j | y |
| ʄ | j |
| ɗ | d |
| ð | dh |
| θ | th |
| ŋg | ng |
| ŋ | ng' |
| ɠ | g |
| ʃ | sh |
| ɣ | gh |
| x | kh |
| ʧ | ch |
| nʤ | nj |
Grammar
Main word order: Subject Verb Object (Prepositional phrase). “Mary opened the door with a key” turns into Mary opened the door with a key.Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.
Adposition: prepositions ?
Nouns
| Definite | Indefinite | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | No affix mun /mun/ the boy | Prefix a- amun /ˈamun/ a/some boy |
| Feminine | No affix zakh /zax/ the girl | Prefix ʄa- jazakh /ˈʄazax/ a/some girl |
| Neuter | No affix nywunt /ɲwunt/ the dog | If starts with vowel: Prefix arn- Else: Prefix arna- arnanywunt /ˈarnaɲwunt/ a/some dog |
Articles
Wonsullish encodes definite article ‘the’, and indefinite article ‘a’ in noun affixes. See Noun section.Pronouns
| Nominative | Accusative | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | mret /mrɛt/ I | li /li/ me |
| 2nd singular | kokh /kɔx/ you | ndu /ndu/ you |
| 3rd singular masc | ku /ku/ he, | an /an/ his, |
| 3rd singular fem | ba /ɓa/ she, | pri /pri/ her, |
| 3rd singular neuter | mka /mka/ it (neut) | zu /zu/ it (neut) |
| 1st plural | u /u/ we | prel /prɛl/ us |
| 2nd plural | yo /jɔ/ you all | i /i/ you all |
| 3rd plural masc | kwu /kwu/ they (masc) | nywa /ɲwa/ them (masc) |
| 3rd plural fem | ent /ɛnt/ they (fem) | tha /θa/ them (fem) |
| 3rd plural neuter | we /wɛ/ they (neut) | mlukh /mlux/ them (neut) |
Possessive determiners
| Possessive | |
|---|---|
| 1st singular | kwep /kwɛp/ my |
| 2nd singular | nna /nna/ your |
| 3rd singular masc | a /a/ his |
| 3rd singular fem | deh /ɗɛh/ her |
| 3rd singular neuter | mwu /mwu/ his, her, its (neut) |
| 1st plural | mer /mɛr/ our |
| 2nd plural | yow /jɔw/ your (pl) |
| 3rd plural masc | cho /ʧɔ/ their (masc) |
| 3rd plural fem | fa /fa/ their (fem) |
| 3rd plural neuter | sa /sa/ their (neut) |
Verbs
Present
| 1st singular | 2nd singular | 3rd singular masc | 3rd singular fem | 3rd singular neuter | 1st plural | 2nd plural | 3rd plural masc | 3rd plural fem | 3rd plural neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | If starts with vowel: Prefix pr- Else: Prefix pru- pruprit /ˈpruprit/ (I (masc)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ʧ- Else: Prefix ʧa- chaprit /ˈʧaprit/ (you (masc)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓ- Else: Prefix ɓa- baprit /ˈɓaprit/ (he) learns | Prefix nɔ- noprit /ˈnɔprit/ learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix h- Else: Prefix hɔ- hoprit /ˈhɔprit/ learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix nd- Else: Prefix nda- ndaprit /ˈndaprit/ (we (masc)) learn | Prefix mta- mtaprit /ˈmtaprit/ (you (masc) all) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mɲ- Else: Prefix mɲi- mnyiprit /ˈmɲiprit/ (they (masc)) learn | Prefix ɓwɛ- bweprit /ˈɓwɛprit/ (they (masc)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ml- Else: Prefix mlɔ- mloprit /ˈmlɔprit/ (they (masc)) learn |
| Feminine | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɛst- Else: Prefix ɛsta- estaprit /ˈɛstaprit/ (I (fem)) learn | Prefix ma- maprit /ˈmaprit/ (you (fem)) learn | Prefix nɔ- noprit /ˈnɔprit/ learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɲw- Else: Prefix ɲwɔ- nywoprit /ˈɲwɔprit/ (she) learns | If starts with vowel: Prefix kw- Else: Prefix kwu- kwuprit /ˈkwuprit/ learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɛɓw- Else: Prefix ɛɓwu- ebwuprit /ˈɛɓwuprit/ (we (fem)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix n- Else: Prefix na- naprit /ˈnaprit/ (you (fem) all) learn | Prefix ɓwɛ- bweprit /ˈɓwɛprit/ (they (masc)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix w- Else: Prefix wa- waprit /ˈwaprit/ (they (fem)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mbw- Else: Prefix mbwɔ- mbwoprit /ˈmbwɔprit/ (they (fem)) learn |
| Neuter | Prefix hu- huprit /ˈhuprit/ (I (neut)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɔð- Else: Prefix ɔðɛ- odheprit /ˈɔðɛprit/ (you (neut)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix h- Else: Prefix hɔ- hoprit /ˈhɔprit/ learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix kw- Else: Prefix kwu- kwuprit /ˈkwuprit/ learn | Prefix kɔ- koprit /ˈkɔprit/ (it (neut)) learns | If starts with vowel: Prefix f- Else: Prefix fi- fiprit /ˈfiprit/ (we (neut)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mw- Else: Prefix mwa- mwaprit /ˈmwaprit/ (you (neut) all) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ml- Else: Prefix mlɔ- mloprit /ˈmlɔprit/ (they (masc)) learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mbw- Else: Prefix mbwɔ- mbwoprit /ˈmbwɔprit/ (they (fem)) learn | Prefix mli- mliprit /ˈmliprit/ (they (neut)) learn |
Past
| 1st singular | 2nd singular | 3rd singular masc | 3rd singular fem | 3rd singular neuter | 1st plural | 2nd plural | 3rd plural masc | 3rd plural fem | 3rd plural neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | If starts with vowel: Prefix s- Else: Prefix su- suprit /ˈsuprit/ (I (masc)) learned | Prefix ɛ- eprit /ˈɛprit/ (you (masc)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix aθ- Else: Prefix aθi- athiprit /ˈaθiprit/ (he) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓ- Else: Prefix ɓu- buprit /ˈɓuprit/ learned | Prefix fu- fuprit /ˈfuprit/ learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix ms- Else: Prefix msa- msaprit /ˈmsaprit/ (we (masc)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix anz- Else: Prefix anzɛ- anzeprit /ˈanzɛprit/ (you (masc) all) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɛmb- Else: Prefix ɛmbɔ- emboprit /ˈɛmbɔprit/ (they (masc)) learned | Prefix pwa- pwaprit /ˈpwaprit/ (they (masc)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓ- Else: Prefix ɓi- biprit /ˈɓiprit/ (they (masc)) learned |
| Feminine | Prefix tra- traprit /ˈtraprit/ (I (fem)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix mʄ- Else: Prefix mʄa- mjaprit /ˈmʄaprit/ (you (fem)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓ- Else: Prefix ɓu- buprit /ˈɓuprit/ learned | Prefix ŋgɛ- ngeprit /ˈŋgɛprit/ (she) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix mt- Else: Prefix mta- mtaprit /ˈmtaprit/ learned | Prefix zɔ- zoprit /ˈzɔprit/ (we (fem)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix nn- Else: Prefix nna- nnaprit /ˈnnaprit/ (you (fem) all) learned | Prefix pwa- pwaprit /ˈpwaprit/ (they (masc)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix k- Else: Prefix ka- kaprit /ˈkaprit/ (they (fem)) learned | Prefix mbu- mbuprit /ˈmbuprit/ (they (fem)) learned |
| Neuter | Prefix ju- yuprit /ˈjuprit/ (I (neut)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix mp- Else: Prefix mpɔ- mpoprit /ˈmpɔprit/ (you (neut)) learned | Prefix fu- fuprit /ˈfuprit/ learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix mt- Else: Prefix mta- mtaprit /ˈmtaprit/ learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix mv- Else: Prefix mvu- mvuprit /ˈmvuprit/ (it (neut)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix mf- Else: Prefix mfa- mfaprit /ˈmfaprit/ (we (neut)) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix it- Else: Prefix itɔ- itoprit /ˈitɔprit/ (you (neut) all) learned | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓ- Else: Prefix ɓi- biprit /ˈɓiprit/ (they (masc)) learned | Prefix mbu- mbuprit /ˈmbuprit/ (they (fem)) learned | Prefix ʧɛ- cheprit /ˈʧɛprit/ (they (neut)) learned |
Remote past
| 1st singular | 2nd singular | 3rd singular masc | 3rd singular fem | 3rd singular neuter | 1st plural | 2nd plural | 3rd plural masc | 3rd plural fem | 3rd plural neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Prefix a- aprit /ˈaprit/ (I (masc)) learn (long ago) | Prefix ɓwa- bwaprit /ˈɓwaprit/ (you (masc)) learn (long ago) | Prefix ɔ- oprit /ˈɔprit/ (he) learns (long ago) | Prefix i- iprit /ˈiprit/ learn (long ago) | Prefix ri- riprit /ˈriprit/ learn (long ago) | Prefix u- uprit /ˈuprit/ (we (masc)) learn (long ago) | Prefix ka- kaprit /ˈkaprit/ (you (masc) all) learn (long ago) | Prefix nʤa- njaprit /ˈnʤaprit/ (they (masc)) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix l- Else: Prefix lɔ- loprit /ˈlɔprit/ (they (masc)) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓl- Else: Prefix ɓla- blaprit /ˈɓlaprit/ (they (masc)) learn (long ago) |
| Feminine | If starts with vowel: Prefix mɲ- Else: Prefix mɲa- mnyaprit /ˈmɲaprit/ (I (fem)) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix p- Else: Prefix pu- puprit /ˈpuprit/ (you (fem)) learn (long ago) | Prefix i- iprit /ˈiprit/ learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix mk- Else: Prefix mkɛ- mkeprit /ˈmkɛprit/ (she) learns (long ago) | Prefix vi- viprit /ˈviprit/ learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix mz- Else: Prefix mzɛ- mzeprit /ˈmzɛprit/ (we (fem)) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix p- Else: Prefix pɛ- peprit /ˈpɛprit/ (you (fem) all) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix l- Else: Prefix lɔ- loprit /ˈlɔprit/ (they (masc)) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix sw- Else: Prefix swu- swuprit /ˈswuprit/ (they (fem)) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix z- Else: Prefix zi- ziprit /ˈziprit/ (they (fem)) learn (long ago) |
| Neuter | If starts with vowel: Prefix mf- Else: Prefix mfɔ- mfoprit /ˈmfɔprit/ (I (neut)) learn (long ago) | Prefix mɛ- meprit /ˈmɛprit/ (you (neut)) learn (long ago) | Prefix ri- riprit /ˈriprit/ learn (long ago) | Prefix vi- viprit /ˈviprit/ learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix mst- Else: Prefix mstɔ- mstoprit /ˈmstɔprit/ (it (neut)) learns (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix mr- Else: Prefix mrɔ- mroprit /ˈmrɔprit/ (we (neut)) learn (long ago) | Prefix ndɛ- ndeprit /ˈndɛprit/ (you (neut) all) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓl- Else: Prefix ɓla- blaprit /ˈɓlaprit/ (they (masc)) learn (long ago) | If starts with vowel: Prefix z- Else: Prefix zi- ziprit /ˈziprit/ (they (fem)) learn (long ago) | Prefix nʧa- nchaprit /ˈnʧaprit/ (they (neut)) learn (long ago) |
Future
| 1st singular | 2nd singular | 3rd singular masc | 3rd singular fem | 3rd singular neuter | 1st plural | 2nd plural | 3rd plural masc | 3rd plural fem | 3rd plural neuter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | If starts with vowel: Prefix j- Else: Prefix ji- yiprit /ˈjiprit/ (I (masc)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix s- Else: Prefix sa- saprit /ˈsaprit/ (you (masc)) will learn | Prefix ndu- nduprit /ˈnduprit/ (he) will learn | Prefix nʤi- njiprit /ˈnʤiprit/ will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix k- Else: Prefix kɔ- koprit /ˈkɔprit/ will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mʃ- Else: Prefix mʃu- mshuprit /ˈmʃuprit/ (we (masc)) will learn | Prefix prɛ- preprit /ˈprɛprit/ (you (masc) all) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ʧ- Else: Prefix ʧu- chuprit /ˈʧuprit/ (they (masc)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix z- Else: Prefix zu- zuprit /ˈzuprit/ (they (masc)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mɠ- Else: Prefix mɠa- mgaprit /ˈmɠaprit/ (they (masc)) will learn |
| Feminine | Prefix mɲi- mnyiprit /ˈmɲiprit/ (I (fem)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ʄ- Else: Prefix ʄɔ- joprit /ˈʄɔprit/ (you (fem)) will learn | Prefix nʤi- njiprit /ˈnʤiprit/ will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɲw- Else: Prefix ɲwu- nywuprit /ˈɲwuprit/ (she) will learn | Prefix msa- msaprit /ˈmsaprit/ will learn | Prefix si- siprit /ˈsiprit/ (we (fem)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mz- Else: Prefix mza- mzaprit /ˈmzaprit/ (you (fem) all) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix z- Else: Prefix zu- zuprit /ˈzuprit/ (they (masc)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix aŋg- Else: Prefix aŋgɛ- angeprit /ˈaŋgɛprit/ (they (fem)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ð- Else: Prefix ða- dhaprit /ˈðaprit/ (they (fem)) will learn |
| Neuter | If starts with vowel: Prefix kw- Else: Prefix kwi- kwiprit /ˈkwiprit/ (I (neut)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix iʄ- Else: Prefix iʄa- ijaprit /ˈiʄaprit/ (you (neut)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix k- Else: Prefix kɔ- koprit /ˈkɔprit/ will learn | Prefix msa- msaprit /ˈmsaprit/ will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix θ- Else: Prefix θɔ- thoprit /ˈθɔprit/ (it (neut)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ɓl- Else: Prefix ɓlɔ- bloprit /ˈɓlɔprit/ (we (neut)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix p- Else: Prefix pi- piprit /ˈpiprit/ (you (neut) all) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mɠ- Else: Prefix mɠa- mgaprit /ˈmɠaprit/ (they (masc)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix ð- Else: Prefix ða- dhaprit /ˈðaprit/ (they (fem)) will learn | If starts with vowel: Prefix mʃ- Else: Prefix mʃi- mshiprit /ˈmʃiprit/ (they (neut)) will learn |
Imperfective aspect
The ‘imperfective’ aspect refers to ongoing actions, such as I am learning and habitual actions, such as I learn (something new every day).Wonsullish uses an affix for imperfective:
| Imperfective | Prefix mpi- mpiprit /ˈmpiprit/ learns/is learning |
Numbers
Wonsullish has a base-10 number system: 1 - i2 - mka
3 - mgo
4 - le
5 - ut
6 - yo
7 - saw
8 - mstu
9 - ncho
10 - bloss
100 - bumyi
1000 - nu
Derivational morphology
Adjective → adverb = Prefix ɛ-Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix ʧ-
Else: Prefix ʧa-
Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix kw-
Else: Prefix kwi-
Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = Prefix ni-
Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Prefix mkɔ-
Noun to verb = Prefix kwa-
Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = If starts with vowel: Prefix mb-
Else: Prefix mbɛ-
Tending to = If starts with vowel: Prefix nʤ-
Else: Prefix nʤu-
Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = Prefix msta-
Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = Prefix mɠi-
One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = If starts with vowel: Prefix n-
Else: Prefix ni-
Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = If starts with vowel: Prefix mw-
Else: Prefix mwɔ-
Diminutive = If starts with vowel: Prefix mp-
Else: Prefix mpɛ-
Augmentative = Prefix ɓlu-
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