Proto-Mkxwereh language

Spelling
p t k kʷ ʔ /p t k kw '/

b d g gʷ /b d g gw/

p̪͡f t͡ʃ k͡x k͡xʷ /pf tš kx kxw/

b̪͡v d͡ʒ g͡ɣ g͡ɣʷ /bv dž gḫ gḫw/

f θ̱ ʃ x xʷ /f θ š x xw/

v ð̱ ʒ ɣ ɣʷ ɦ /v ð ž ḫ ḫw h/

m n /m n/

l ʟ /l ł/

ɾ /r/

j /y/

Spelling
ɨ ɨː /i í/

e̞ e̞ː ə əː o̞ o̞ː /e é ə ə́ o ó/

ä äː /a á/

Phonotactics
C(R)V(ː)(n-P)(C)

n-P = non-plosive consonant V = any vowel or syllabic nasal/lateral

Geminates are not allowed in syllabic onset.

Accent
Acute accent on second syllable of word, grave on first.

Nouns

 * split-active alignment
 * three-way object
 * two noun class (preffixal): Animate, Inaminate
 * six cases: Absolutive (Inactive), Ergative (Active), Genetive, Dative, Instrumental, Locative
 * number combined with noun class: singular, paucal, plural
 * relational nouns for locational contexts, and postpositions for others (mixed system)

(Noun class + Number) + Root + Root extension + Case

Relational nouns
[Relational noun + Locative] + [Noun + Genetive case ending]

 

"The dog is sleeping on top of the mat."

Verbs

 * affirmativity (suffixal)
 * four tenses (suffixal): Remote past, Prehodiernal past, Hodiernal past, Non-past
 * two aspects (preffixal): Completive, Incompletive
 * four moods (suffixal): Declarative, Energetic, Conditional, Subjunctive
 * Active, Passive vs Causative (constructional passive vs infixal causative)
 * three subjective persons (preffixal), active and inactive forms, no clusivity
 * evidentiality (cliticized): from first hand, from second hand, from other hands

Subject + Aspect + (Root + Causativity) + Root extension + Tense + Mood + Evidentiality

Pronouns

 * active and inactive forms
 * no clusivity

Syntax

 * SOV
 * head-initial