Slot #3: Extensions

The extension slot is optional, and may contain a string of extensional prefixes of arbitrary length, ordered by their relative scope: each such extensional prefix has semantic scope over all the remaining chain of extensional prefixes that follows it, and each prefix is under the scope of the prefixes that occurred before it. In other words, they express semantically compositional modifications of the word stem on their right: the root plus any other prefix appearing to their right (they are left-branching, right-grouping).

To take an example using English vocabulary, considering three extensional prefixes meaning ‘not’, ‘often’, ‘want’, ordered in this way, the meaning of the whole prefix chain will be "not often wants to…"; but if the order is modified, say ‘want’ ‘often’ ‘not’, the meaning will be "wants to often not do/be…".

Extensional prefixes have compositional, transparent meanings: unlike derivational affixes in many natlangs, the combinations involving roots and extensional prefixes do not require being learnt separately from the meaning of their components; the meaning of such combinations can always be derived from the meanings of the components without any need to looking up combinations in a dictionary.

Extensional prefixes cover a wide range of uses and meanings, even including pronominal references like “me”, “you” and so on. In actuality, Nahaıwa lacks standalone pronoun words. When it is wished to use an extensional prefix (such as a pronominal) as a complete word, a dummy root such as ⟪-yá⟫ can be used.

Extensional prefixes that have fused with the root into a lexicalized combination with an opaque meaning always become part of the root/base itself, i.e. they are no longer located in the Extension slot (that is, the position of the prominent syllable in the word, which always appear on the first syllable of the lexicalized, semantically opaque part of the word, namely the word's root or base, is shifted leftwards so as to engulf any former extensional prefix that would have thusly formed an opaque combination with the root, transforming that former prefix into an element of the root itself, within the Root slot).

Extensional prefixes have shape -C?CV(yV)-: they begin with a single consonant or a consonant cluster followed by a vowel, possibly elongated with a second syllable starting with the ⟪y⟫ semivowel. If they begin with a cluster, the first consonant of the cluster may be phonetically part of the coda of the preceding syllable (the cluster then crosses the syllable boundary): for example, ⟪nta⟫ is a valid extensional prefix, with the ⟪n⟫ part belonging to the preceding syllable.

There exist several types of extensional prefixes, depending on two factors: how many slots of the stem they remove, and whether they add a new slot (bound to the ‘extensional’ noun case). For some prefixes, the vowel part is not meaningful and the whole consonant+vowel is one single monolithic morpheme. However, for some other prefixes, the vowel is meaningful and expresses an Inner Case value, indicating the argument slot of the stem that is specifically targeted by this extensional prefix. Some prefixes may even target two slots at a time, in which case they assume the shape -C?CVyV-, where each of the two vowel segments expresses a different case.

Below is a list of the different types of extensional prefixes. Ⓒ = any consonant or consonant cluster; Ⓥ = any vowel.

Types of extensional prefixes

Type 0

No change in valency, does not select/remove any slot.
Shapes: Ⓒao / Ⓒaı / Ⓒea; ⒸⓋ if Ⓒ is a palatal or labialized consonant, or if Ⓒ is ⟪l⟫ or ⟪š⟫.

In the lexicon definitions for this type, [0] stands for the information represented by the remaining of the stem following the type-0 extensional affixes. The number 0 indicates that no abstract slot is selected.

Examples

-ha- (negation): ⟪it is not the case that [0] is the case⟫;
-kʰao- (possibility): ⟪it is possible that [0] is the case⟫;
-šu- (cessative aspect): ⟪[0] ceases to be the case⟫;
-lu- (past tense): ⟪[0] was the case⟫.

┌───────────────
│ ◆ -łı̋
│ ➥ [ɴᴛʀ] is asleep.
│ 
│ ◆ -šu-łı̋
│ ➥ it ceases to be the case that [[ɴᴛʀ] is asleep].
│ 
│ ◆ -ha-[šu-łı̋]
│ ➥ [it is not the case that [
│       it ceases to be the case that [[ɴᴛʀ] is asleep]]].
│ ➥ [ɴᴛʀ] doesn't cease to sleep.
│ 
│ ◆ -kʰao-[ha-[šu-łı̋]]
│ ➥ [it is possible that [it is not the case that [
│       it ceases to be the case that [[ɴᴛʀ] is asleep]]]].
│ ➥ maybe [ɴᴛʀ] doesn't cease to sleep.
└─

Type 0+

Same as type 0, but adds an Extensional case slot, represented by ⟪[ᴇxᴛ]⟫ in definitions.
Shapes: Ⓒao / Ⓒaı / Ⓒea

Examples

-qao- (causative): ⟪[ᴇxᴛ] agentively causes, makes [0] be the case⟫.

┌───────────────
│ ◆ -cál
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] sees [ᴀᴄᴄ].
│ 
│ ◆ -qao-cál
│ ➥ [ᴇxᴛ] makes [[ᴇʀɢ] sees [ᴀᴄᴄ]] be the case.
│ 
│ ◆ -ha-[qao-cál]
│ ➥ it is not the case that [[ᴇxᴛ] makes [[ᴇʀɢ] sees [ᴀᴄᴄ]] be the case].
└─

Type +

Does not select/remove any slot, but adds an affixal slot.

Examples:
(none currently).

Type −

Removes one slot, marked by the vowel form.

Examples:
(none currently).

Type −+

Modifies one slot of the stem (sort of removes one and adds one); the vowel part of the affix, represented by the symbol ⟪◈⟫ below, is variable and represents the “Inner Case” identifying which slot is selected by the affix; the meaning of the slot is modified, but this suffix type does not bind the extensional case, it just reuses the modified cases. The resulting valency and case set of the predicate is unchanged.
With monovalent bases, the vowel is ⟪a⟫ (Intransitive Inner Case).
With bivalent bases, the vowel is either ⟪ı⟫ (Ergative) or ⟪u⟫ (Accusative).
Shapes: ⒸⓋ if Ⓒ is neither a palatal nor a labialized consonant, and is not ⟪l⟫ or ⟪š⟫.

In the lexicon definitions for this type, [1] stands for the monovalent property represented by the remaining of the stem by abstracting away the target slot selected with the inner case vowel; [X] represent the new value for the selected slot.

Examples:

-n◈-: ⟪[X] is me, who satisfies the property of [1]⟫;
-k◈-: ⟪[X] is you, who satisfies the property of [1]⟫;
-ŋ◈-: ⟪[X] wants to satisfy the property of [1]⟫;.
-ƛʼ◈-: ⟪[X] attempts to satisfy the property of [1]⟫;.
-sc◈-: ⟪[X] is all that has the property of [1]⟫;.

Thus, applying the extension ⟪ŋa⟫ (selecting the Intransitive case slot) to the stem ⟪[NTR] sleeps⟫, we obtain a new, modified stem meaning ⟪[NTR] wants to sleep⟫.

┌───────────────
│ ◆ -na-łı̋
│ ❖ -1:NTR-√is_asleep
│ ➥ [ɴᴛʀ] is me and is asleep.
└─
┌───────────────
│ ◆ -ƛʼa-łı̋
│ ❖ -try:NTR-√is_asleep
│ ➥ [ɴᴛʀ] tries to be asleep.
│ 
│ ◆ -na-ƛʼa-łı̋
│ ❖ -1:NTR-try:NTR-√is_asleep
│ ➥ [ɴᴛʀ] is me, who tries to be asleep.
│ “I try to sleep”.
└─
┌───────────────
│ ◆ -cál
│ ❖ -√see
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] sees [ᴀᴄᴄ].
│ 
│ ◆ -ku-cál
│ ❖ 2:ACC-√see
│ ➥ [ᴀᴄᴄ] is you and has the property [[ᴇʀɢ] sees ____].
│ ➥ [ᴀᴄᴄ] is you and is seen by [ᴇʀɢ].
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] sees [ᴀᴄᴄ] which is you.
│ 
│ ◆ -nı-[ku-cál]
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] is me, who has the property [___ sees [ᴀᴄᴄ] which is you].
│ ➥ me, who is [ᴇʀɢ], sees you, who is [ᴀᴄᴄ].
│ ➥ “I see you”.
└─
┌───────────────
│ ◆ -nı-[ƛʼı-[ku-cál]]
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] is me, who tries to have the property [___ sees [ᴀᴄᴄ] which is you].
│ ➥ me, who is [ᴇʀɢ], tries to see you, who is [ᴀᴄᴄ].
│ ➥ “I try to see you”.
└─
┌───────────────
│ ◆ -nı-[ku-[ƛʼu-cál]]
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] is me, who has the property [
│      [ᴀᴄᴄ] who is you, tries that ___ sees you].
│ ➥ [ᴀᴄᴄ], you, try to be seen by [ᴇʀɢ], me.
│ ➥ “You try to be seen by me”.
└─

Type −−+

Removes two slots and adds one (bound to the same case as the first of the two removed slots).
Shapes: ⒸⓋyⓋ, occasionally ⒸⓋ

With this special type, there are two inner case vowels, separated by a ⟪-y-⟫ linker, each vowel selecting a different case slot. The first of the selected cases gets its meaning modified, while the second case slot is deleted.

In the lexicon definitions, [2] represents the bivalent relation resulting from abstracting away the two slots selected with the two inner case vowels. [X] represents the new value for the first of the two selected vowels.

Examples:

-kw◈y◈-: ⟪[X] are in the reciprocal relationship of [2]⟫.

┌───────────────
│ ◆ -kwıyu-cál
│ ❖ -RCP:ERG:ACC-√see
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] are in reciprocal relationship [___ sees ___].
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] see each other.
└─

For certain type −−+ extensions, noted ⟪−−+*⟫, the ⟪-ıyu-⟫ form can be shortened to simply ⟪-ı-⟫, for example, ⟪-kwı-⟫ is synonymous to ⟪-kwıyu-⟫.

Type −−++

Same as Type −−+, but with the addition of an Extensional case slot, just like with Type 0+ extensions described earlier.

Degree extensions

In the type −−++, we mainly find extensions relating to amounts and degrees, meant to be used with objective amount measure roots such as ⟪[ᴇʀɢ] has size [ᴀᴄᴄ]⟫, ⟪[ᴇʀɢ] has temperature [ᴀᴄᴄ]⟫, and so on.

Degree extensions allow to derive stems meaning e.g. ⟪[ᴇʀɢ] is big, has great size (relatively to the median among [ᴇxᴛ])⟫, ⟪[ᴇʀɢ] is small, has small size (relatively to the median among [ᴇxᴛ])⟫, and so on, from the aforementioned objective amount roots.

For example:

-cʰó (root) = ⟪[ᴇʀɢ] has temperature [ᴀᴄᴄ]⟫
-m◈(y◈)- (extension) = ⟪[X] is in relation [2] with a great number relatively to the median among [ᴇxᴛ] (default: contextual).⟫
-č◈(y◈)- (extension) = ⟪[X] is in relation [2] with a small number relatively to the median among [ᴇxᴛ] (default: contextual).⟫
-km◈(y◈)- (extension) = ⟪[X] is, in comparison with [ᴇxᴛ] (default: contextual), in relation [2] with the greatest number.⟫

┌───────────────
│ ◆ -mı(yu)-cʰó
│ ❖ -to_great_degree:ERG:ACC-√has_temperature
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] is warm/hot, has great temperature (relatively to [ᴇxᴛ]).
└─
┌───────────────
│ ◆ -čı(yu)-cʰó
│ ❖ -to_small_degree:ERG:ACC-√has_temperature
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] is cold, has low temperature (relatively to [ᴇxᴛ]).
└─
┌───────────────
│ ◆ -kmı(yu)-cʰó
│ ❖ -to_greatest_degree:ERG:ACC-√has_temperature
│ ➥ [ᴇʀɢ] is the warmest, the one with greatest temperature
│   (relatively to [ᴇxᴛ]).
└─

Nahaıwa grammar