Reworked the grammar a little
Posted: 10 Apr 2015 08:24
First of all, I humbly ask you to read through it carefully before you throw stones at me
Maybe it will make sense to you. I didn’t change that much, just clarified a few things and made a few distinguishes in forming sentences.
And of course comments and discussion is very welcome.
WORD ORDER
The word order of Mando’a is in AVOL format the same as with English.
A - Actor
V - Verb
O - Object
L - Location
VERBS
Mando’a verbs can be made from nouns by adding the appropriate conjugation. In formal Mando’a there is only one verb conjugation. This is for the infinitive and command forms. The infinitive and formal command forms end in two ways. With a word that ends in a consonant a vowel and the "r" must be added to produce the verb. With words that end in a vowel only the "r" must be added. In informal Mando’a there are additional words that allow distinction between other verb forms. The command verb form is formed by using the word "ke" before the verb or the prefix "k’ " when the verb starts with a vowel. The informal future tense is formed by adding the word "ven" in front of the verb. The informal present tense is formed simply by using the root verb without additional words, prefixes, or suffixes. The past tense of a verb is formed by adding the word "ru" in front of the verb. To create the negative form of a verb add the prefix "n’ ", "nu", "nu’ ", or "ne" before either the whole sentence or the negative phrase. In sentence the infinitive "r" in the acting verb is dropped. The subject verbs are used in the infinitive form.
Example:
We plan to destroy the city.
Mhi dajuna naastar oriya.
OTHER VERB NOTES
The verb "cuyir" (to be) is frequently dropped and indicated by word order. When saying something to give a description the word "bik" (it) is dropped and the correct Mando’a form is to just say the word "jate" (good) or the full form with the verb "bic cuyi jate" (it is good).
FORMING QUESTIONS
The addition of the prefix word "tion" turns a statement into a question. To form a question the word in question is put at the beginning of the sentence and the 'tion' prefix is added to it.
Examples:
We are learning mando'a fast.
Mhi hibira mando'a iviin'yc.
Are we learning mando'a FAST?
Tion'iviin'yc mhi hibira mando'a?
Are we learning MANDO'A fast?
Tion'mando'a mhi hibira iviin'yc?
Are WE learning mando'a fast?
Tion'mhi hibira mando'a iviin'yc?
There are also specific question words that can be used when making a question.
They are:
tion’ad? - who?
tion'megin? - which? what? (before a vowel)
tion'meg? - which? what? (before a consonant)
tion’tuur? - when?
tion'vaii? - where?
tion’jor? - why?
tion’solet? - how many? how much?
tion'bor? - how?
FORMING COMMANDS
The addition of the prefix "ke-" or "k’ " turns a statement into command.
To form a command the commanding verb is placed in the beginning of the sentence and the prefix "ke-" is added.
Examples:
I carry a sword to battlefield
Ni juri beskad bah kyrbej.
Carry a sword to battlefield!
Ke'juri beskad bah kyrbej!
or
Carry your sword to battlefield!
Ke'juri gar beskad bah kyrbej!
The performer of the task can also be distinguished by the prefix "ke-".
Example:
You carry a sword to battlefield!
Ke'gar juri beskad bah kyrbej!
NOUNS
Gender nouns are the same for masculine, feminine and neuter. Gender is implied contextually, if relevant. Where gender clarity is necessary, the adjectives "jagyc" (male) or "dalyc" (female) are added.
PLURALS
Plurals are formed by adding "e" (after consonant) or "se" (after vowel) to the end of the noun.
PRONOUNS
Pronouns have no gender. Most pronouns are also possessives.
Below is a list of Mando’a pronouns:
ni - I/me
ner - my/mine
gar - you/your
kaysh - he/him/she/her
bic - it (rare)
mhi - we/us
cuun - our/ours
gar – you/yours (plural)
val - they/them/their
ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS
Adjectives and adverbs are formed by the addition of one of two suffixes.
The suffix "-la" should be added when the root word ends a vowel.
The suffix "-yc" should be used when the root word ends in a consonant.
Mostly suffixes are used in a way it would be easier to pronounce or in their traditional form so there are quite a number of exceptions from the rule above.
Examples:
di'kutla, kad'la, kyorla etc.
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Comparatives and superlatives are constructed from adjectives with a specific suffix for each.
The suffix "-shya" for the comparative.
The suffix "-ne" for the superlative.
Examples:
Dush [doosh] - bad
Dushne [DOOSH-nay] - worse
dush'shya [doo-SHEESH-ya] - worst
ciryc [seer-EESH] - cold
ciryc'ne [seer-EESH-nay] - colder
ciryc'shya [seer-ee-SHEESH-ya] - coldest
di'kutla [dee-KOOT-lah] - stupid
di'kutlane [dee-KOOT-lah-nay] - more stupid
di'kutla'shya [dee-KOOT-lah-SHYA] - most stupid
The following rules are non-canon, be advised
PASSIVE VOICE
Passive voice in Mando'a is extremely rarely used, for mando'a is mostly a commanding language. To create a passive voice from verb a prefix "cu' " (before consonant) or "cuy' " (before vowel) was used. When using the passive voice the object is placed in the beginning of the sentence and the subject is placed at the end with a prefix "de' ", "d' " or "de".
Examples:
Alor'ad cu'kyr'amu ru'tuur de aru'hutuun.
The captain was killed yesterday by a spy.
Akaarud cu'ru'shuku or solus tuur.
The blockade was broken in a single day.
The more modern form of creating passive voice is contextual with using verb "cuyir" and prefix "de" for the subject and putting the object in the beginning of the sentence. But it's still very rarely used.
Examples:
Ni susulu kaysh. - I hear him.
Ni ru'susulu kaysh. - I heard him.
Ni cuyi ru'susulu de'kaysh. - I was heard (overheard) by him.
Oriya hetti. - The city burns.
Oriya cuyi hettir. - The city is being burned.
PROGRESSIVE AND GERUND
Progressive and gerund (progressive verb used as a noun) forms of the verb was also very rarely used being an archaic word forms and were almost totally abandoned by the time mandalorians conquered Mandalor and established their homeworld.
To create progressive form the verb ending "ir" or "r" is dropped and replaced with "an" or " 'an".
In sentence the progressive verb is always used with verb "cuyir".
Examples:
Cuyanan cuyi sur'jaon'yc be cuy'an.
Surviving is essential part of living.
Epa'an cuyi jatisan o'r ast.
Eating is delight in itself.
Maybe it will make sense to you. I didn’t change that much, just clarified a few things and made a few distinguishes in forming sentences.
And of course comments and discussion is very welcome.
WORD ORDER
The word order of Mando’a is in AVOL format the same as with English.
A - Actor
V - Verb
O - Object
L - Location
VERBS
Mando’a verbs can be made from nouns by adding the appropriate conjugation. In formal Mando’a there is only one verb conjugation. This is for the infinitive and command forms. The infinitive and formal command forms end in two ways. With a word that ends in a consonant a vowel and the "r" must be added to produce the verb. With words that end in a vowel only the "r" must be added. In informal Mando’a there are additional words that allow distinction between other verb forms. The command verb form is formed by using the word "ke" before the verb or the prefix "k’ " when the verb starts with a vowel. The informal future tense is formed by adding the word "ven" in front of the verb. The informal present tense is formed simply by using the root verb without additional words, prefixes, or suffixes. The past tense of a verb is formed by adding the word "ru" in front of the verb. To create the negative form of a verb add the prefix "n’ ", "nu", "nu’ ", or "ne" before either the whole sentence or the negative phrase. In sentence the infinitive "r" in the acting verb is dropped. The subject verbs are used in the infinitive form.
Example:
We plan to destroy the city.
Mhi dajuna naastar oriya.
OTHER VERB NOTES
The verb "cuyir" (to be) is frequently dropped and indicated by word order. When saying something to give a description the word "bik" (it) is dropped and the correct Mando’a form is to just say the word "jate" (good) or the full form with the verb "bic cuyi jate" (it is good).
FORMING QUESTIONS
The addition of the prefix word "tion" turns a statement into a question. To form a question the word in question is put at the beginning of the sentence and the 'tion' prefix is added to it.
Examples:
We are learning mando'a fast.
Mhi hibira mando'a iviin'yc.
Are we learning mando'a FAST?
Tion'iviin'yc mhi hibira mando'a?
Are we learning MANDO'A fast?
Tion'mando'a mhi hibira iviin'yc?
Are WE learning mando'a fast?
Tion'mhi hibira mando'a iviin'yc?
There are also specific question words that can be used when making a question.
They are:
tion’ad? - who?
tion'megin? - which? what? (before a vowel)
tion'meg? - which? what? (before a consonant)
tion’tuur? - when?
tion'vaii? - where?
tion’jor? - why?
tion’solet? - how many? how much?
tion'bor? - how?
FORMING COMMANDS
The addition of the prefix "ke-" or "k’ " turns a statement into command.
To form a command the commanding verb is placed in the beginning of the sentence and the prefix "ke-" is added.
Examples:
I carry a sword to battlefield
Ni juri beskad bah kyrbej.
Carry a sword to battlefield!
Ke'juri beskad bah kyrbej!
or
Carry your sword to battlefield!
Ke'juri gar beskad bah kyrbej!
The performer of the task can also be distinguished by the prefix "ke-".
Example:
You carry a sword to battlefield!
Ke'gar juri beskad bah kyrbej!
NOUNS
Gender nouns are the same for masculine, feminine and neuter. Gender is implied contextually, if relevant. Where gender clarity is necessary, the adjectives "jagyc" (male) or "dalyc" (female) are added.
PLURALS
Plurals are formed by adding "e" (after consonant) or "se" (after vowel) to the end of the noun.
PRONOUNS
Pronouns have no gender. Most pronouns are also possessives.
Below is a list of Mando’a pronouns:
ni - I/me
ner - my/mine
gar - you/your
kaysh - he/him/she/her
bic - it (rare)
mhi - we/us
cuun - our/ours
gar – you/yours (plural)
val - they/them/their
ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS
Adjectives and adverbs are formed by the addition of one of two suffixes.
The suffix "-la" should be added when the root word ends a vowel.
The suffix "-yc" should be used when the root word ends in a consonant.
Mostly suffixes are used in a way it would be easier to pronounce or in their traditional form so there are quite a number of exceptions from the rule above.
Examples:
di'kutla, kad'la, kyorla etc.
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
Comparatives and superlatives are constructed from adjectives with a specific suffix for each.
The suffix "-shya" for the comparative.
The suffix "-ne" for the superlative.
Examples:
Dush [doosh] - bad
Dushne [DOOSH-nay] - worse
dush'shya [doo-SHEESH-ya] - worst
ciryc [seer-EESH] - cold
ciryc'ne [seer-EESH-nay] - colder
ciryc'shya [seer-ee-SHEESH-ya] - coldest
di'kutla [dee-KOOT-lah] - stupid
di'kutlane [dee-KOOT-lah-nay] - more stupid
di'kutla'shya [dee-KOOT-lah-SHYA] - most stupid
The following rules are non-canon, be advised
PASSIVE VOICE
Passive voice in Mando'a is extremely rarely used, for mando'a is mostly a commanding language. To create a passive voice from verb a prefix "cu' " (before consonant) or "cuy' " (before vowel) was used. When using the passive voice the object is placed in the beginning of the sentence and the subject is placed at the end with a prefix "de' ", "d' " or "de".
Examples:
Alor'ad cu'kyr'amu ru'tuur de aru'hutuun.
The captain was killed yesterday by a spy.
Akaarud cu'ru'shuku or solus tuur.
The blockade was broken in a single day.
The more modern form of creating passive voice is contextual with using verb "cuyir" and prefix "de" for the subject and putting the object in the beginning of the sentence. But it's still very rarely used.
Examples:
Ni susulu kaysh. - I hear him.
Ni ru'susulu kaysh. - I heard him.
Ni cuyi ru'susulu de'kaysh. - I was heard (overheard) by him.
Oriya hetti. - The city burns.
Oriya cuyi hettir. - The city is being burned.
PROGRESSIVE AND GERUND
Progressive and gerund (progressive verb used as a noun) forms of the verb was also very rarely used being an archaic word forms and were almost totally abandoned by the time mandalorians conquered Mandalor and established their homeworld.
To create progressive form the verb ending "ir" or "r" is dropped and replaced with "an" or " 'an".
In sentence the progressive verb is always used with verb "cuyir".
Examples:
Cuyanan cuyi sur'jaon'yc be cuy'an.
Surviving is essential part of living.
Epa'an cuyi jatisan o'r ast.
Eating is delight in itself.