Kunwok

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One of the early challenges in learning Kunwok is the [[Pronominal Prefixes|pronominal prefixes]].
We'll break it down to make it easier to learn.
 
Pronominal prefixes are a bit like pronouns, (e.g.such as I, you, she) except they attach to the verb.
However, they are attached to verbs. For example:
Thus, we can say ''ngare'' (I go), with the ''nga-'' prefix (I) attached to the ''re'' verb (go).▼
Use the ''yi-'' (you) prefix to say ''yire'' (you go).
 
▲Thus, we can say* ''ngare'' (I go), withis themade up of ''nga-'' prefix (I) attached to theand ''re'' verb (go).
{| class=wikitable align=center
* ''yire'' is made up of ''yi-'' (you) and ''re'' (go)
|Two kinds of verbs:▼
: Before getting started, it helps to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.▼
: Transitive verbs ''transfer'' their action from the do-er to something/someone, from the agent to the patient (e.g. ''find'', ''follow'', ''deceive'', ''look after'').▼
: Intransitive verbs lack any object to receive the action (e.g. ''sleep'', ''run'', ''sit'', ''return'').▼
: Read more about [https://www.grammarly.com/blog/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs/ transitive and intransitive verbs].▼
|}
 
Can you form expressions with ''bidbun'' (climb), ''mankan'' (fall), ''keyo'' (sleep), ''bebme'' (arrive), and ''nalkbun'' (cry)? When you're ready, click on "expand" to see the answers.
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_I1|Intransitive Verbs 1]]▼
 
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable"▼
== Step 2: Plural intransitive ==
! I climb || you climb || I fall || you fall || I sleep || you sleep || I arrive || you arrive || I cry || you cry
 
Next, we replace the singular with the plural prefixes (we, you (pl), they).
 
▲{| class="wikitable"
!Nonpast!!Meaning!!Past!!Meaning!!Comment
|-
| ngabidbun || yibidbun || ngamankan || yimankan || ngakeyo || yikeyo || ngabebme || yibebme || nganalkbun || yinalkbun
| '''karri'''re || we go || '''karri'''wam || we went || ''karri-'' means we (including the hearer), i.e. first-person plural inclusive
|-
| '''ngurri'''re || you (pl) go || '''ngurri'''wam || you (pl) went || ''ngurri-'' means you (pl), i.e. second-person plural
|-
| ka'''birri'''re || they go || '''birri'''wam || they went || ''birri-'' means they, i.e. the third-person plural
|-
|}
 
NB ''ngabidbun'' can mean any of: I climb (present simple), I am climbing (present progressive), I will climb (future simple), I will be climbing (future progressive).
Note that when we translate ''karrire'' as 'we go', it also means 'we're going', 'let's go', and 'we will go'.
Context will usually make it clear which sense is intended.
(If you find it strange that a verb can indicate present or future tense, just think about these English phrases:
''we go today'', ''we go next week'').
Let's see these prefixes again with ''bidbun'' and ''mankan''.
 
{| class="wikitable" align=center
▲|Two kinds of verbs:
!Nonpast!!Meaning!!Past!!Meaning
▲: Before getting started, it helps to understand the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
|-
▲: Transitive verbs ''transfer'' their action from the do-er to something/someone, from the agent to the patient (e.g. ''find'', ''follow'', ''deceive'', ''look after'').
| '''karri'''bidbun || we (incl) climb || '''karri'''bidbom || we (incl) climbed
▲: Intransitive verbs lack any object to receive the action (e.g. ''sleep'', ''run'', ''sit'', ''return'').
|-
: Sometimes a given verb has a transitive sense and a related intransitive sense (e.g. ''play'', ''grow'', ''read'', ''win'').
| '''ngurri'''bidbun || you (pl) climb || '''ngurri'''bidbom || you (pl) climbed
▲: Read more about [https://www.grammarly.com/blog/transitive-and-intransitive-verbs/ transitive and intransitive verbs].
|-
| ka'''birri'''bidbun || they climb || '''birri'''bidbom || they climbed
|-
| '''karri'''mankan || we (incl) fall || '''karri'''mankang || we (incl) fell
|-
| '''ngurri'''mankan || you (pl) fall || '''ngurri'''mankang || you (pl) fell
|-
| ka'''birri'''mankan || they fall || '''birri'''mankang || they fell
|-
|}
 
== Pronominal Prefixes with Intransitive Verbs ==
Note that Kunwok has a special form of the plural which just concerns the case of two people or things. We will cover this case later.
For now we'll make the simplifying assumption that any more than one is plural.
 
You might like to review what we have covered so far and make up a table for a verb in nonpast or past, for example:
 
{| class="wikitable"
!Singular!!Plural
|-
| '''nga'''re, ''I go'' || '''karri'''re, ''we (incl) go''
|-
| '''yi'''re, ''you (sg) go'' || '''ngurri'''re, ''you (pl) go''
|-
| kare, ''he/she/it goes'' || ka'''birri'''re, ''they go''
|-
|}
 
It's a good idea to master these 6 prefixes before going further.
You could make flashcards, or find a bininj to practice with.
You can also put these into sentences including nouns:
 
* bininj kare wolehwole, ''the man's going this afternoon''
* karrire ngudda dja ngaye dja wurdurd, ''Let's all go, you, me, and the kids''
* yimankang wanjh yidolkkang, ''You fell then you got up''
 
== Step 3: Singular transitive with third person object or subject ==
 
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T1|Transitive Verbs 1]]▼
 
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T2Pronominal_Prefixes_I1|TransitiveIntransitive Verbs 21]] (singular)
▲* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_I1Pronominal_Prefixes_I2|Intransitive Verbs 12]] (plural)
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_I3|Intransitive Verbs 3]] (plural)
 
*== [[Pronominal Prefixes T3|with Transitive Verbs 3]]==
 
▲* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T1|Transitive Verbs 1]] (singular, third person singular objects)
== Step 6: more... to be continued ==
* [[Pronominal_Prefixes_T2|Transitive Verbs 2]] (first person subject, second person object)
* [[Pronominal Prefixes T3|Transitive Verbs 3]] (singular, third person plural objects)
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