Function Words
Some function words are given below:
- ni - "and" (conjunction)
- deni - "and then" (conjunction)
- 'u, du'u, ga, dega - all meaning "in case that" (conjunction)
- nasi - "if"
- 'ana - "even"
- ka - subordinating conjunction, case marker, linker
- 'ini - negator
- 'adi - negates noun phrase predicates, future/perfect verb forms
- wada - past
- na'a - "had better, could have done..."
- dima - "already"
- hana - "just"
- ya'asa - "because"
- niqan - existential predicate (like Tagalog "may")
- 'ungat - negative existential predicate (like Tagalog "wala")
Deictics include (Tsukida 2005:303):
- niyi - this, this one
- ga/gaga - that, that one
- hini - here
- hi/hiya - there
- ga/gaga hiya - over there
There are a total of six prepositions (Tsukida 2005:303):
- quri - toward, about, in the direction of
- pa'ah - from
- bitaq - until, up to
- saw - like
- 'asaw - because of
- mawxay - for the sake of
Stative locatives (e.g., "on the mountain") do not take on any prepositions, but are rather placed directly after the verb without any additional marking.
Read more about this topic: Seediq Language, Syntax
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