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Nouns Verbs Verb Book Expressions Pedagogical Grammar of Nuer Translation of Genesis in Nuer Others

Lesson 34

This lesson is a continuation of Lesson 33 explaining in more detail the antics of [la] and related words.

SYNTAX

Contractions:

There are 2 types of contractions occurring in a [la] environment. One type occurs with [a] and the personal pronoun and the other occurs with [a] and the assimilated verb particles as follows:

  1. 3rd singular and plural personal pronouns in the objective case contract with [a] as follows:
    1. Laa jɛ a nhɔakä̲ becomes Laa jaa nhɔakä̲.
      I agree to it. (habitually)
      Laa kɛ a nhɔakä̲. becomes Laa kɔa nhɔakä̲.
      I agree to them. (habitually)
    2. Bi̲ jï̲n ɛ a nhɔk becomes Bi̲ jï̲n aa nhɔk.
      You will agree to it. (habitually)
  2. The assimilated 2nd Aspect verb particles contract with [a] resulting in the following contracted verb particles in the 2nd Aspect Habitual. This contraction occurs only with intransitive verbs.
    Note: The verb [bɛ̲n] has been used for the following verb charts because of the similarities in forms. This is to acquaint the student with these sounds. Other verbs do not create such a "hearing" problem.
    e.g. Ba̲a̲ miɛ̲thä̲. -- I will begin and continue always to eat.

    2nd Aspect Habitual
    Contracted Forms

      Cä̲́ à ba̲a̲. becomes Cá̲a̲ bà̲a̲.
      Cí̲ à bi̲i̲. becomes Cîa bì̲i̲.
      Cɛ́ à bëë̅. becomes Cáa bë̀ë.

    (in) Cánɛ̀ à bánɛ̀ becomes Cánaà bánɛ̀
    (ex) Cá̲kɔ̀ à bákɔ̀ becomes Cá̲kɔ̂a bákɔ̀
      Cíà à bíɛɛ̀ b́íaà becomes Cíaà biɛ̈̀ɛ̈ biàa
      Cíkɛ̀ à bä̲́kɛ̀ becomes Cikàa bä̲́kɛ̀
  3. The assimilated 3rd Aspect verb particle contracts with [a] resulting in the following verb praticles in 3rd Aspect Habitual. This contraction occurs only with intransitive verbs.

    3rd Aspect Habitual
    Contracted Forms

      Bä̲́ à bà̲a̲. becomes Bá̲a̲ bà̲a̲.
      Bí̲ à bī̲i̲. becomes Bíà̲ bì̲i̲.
      Bɛ́ à bë̄ë. becomes Báa bë̀ë

    (in) Bánɛ̄ à bánɛ̀ becomes Bánāā bánɛ̀.
    (ex) Bákɔ̀ à bákɔ̀ becomes Bákɔ̂a bákɔ̀
      Bíà à bië̂ë biaà. becomes Bîaa biɛ̈ɛ̈ bîaa
      Bíkɛ̀ à bä̲́kɛ̀ becomes Bíkà bä̲́kɛ̀.
Nuer Field Project Nouns Verbs Verb Book Expressions Grammar Genesis Others