* The "topic of conversation" pronoun is only used once a subject has been introduced and is the topic of conversation. A specific pronoun is usually only used once, but can be repeated for emphasis.
**
sath is also used to refer to an abstract topic, though other pronouns may be used if the speaker wishes.
- Pronouns must also be used in conjunction with a case prefix.
- The final vowel of a case prefix may be dropped if the pronoun begins with a vowel.
AFFIX
|
CASE
|
si- |
nominative (subject) |
ti- |
accusative (direct object) |
mi- |
dative (indirect object) |
kos- |
ablative (movement or cause) |
thi- |
genitive ("of" or possessive) |
na- |
vocative (addressee) |
ki- |
locative (location) |
nu- |
instrumental (object used to perform action) |
- The speaker is often put in last place to show deference.
- nakiini tihone salwe, "I saw you"
- BUT: nakiini sihone talwe, "you saw me"
Verbs
- Infinitive indicated by -n suffix (eg. xalthan, "to be") which is replaced by tense when conjugating.
- Don't conjugate according to person (eg. xalthasu salwin, "I am"; xalthasu sidurn, "they are").
- A negative is indicated by a ko- prefix.
AFFIX
|
TENSE
|
EXAMPLE
|
-su
|
present
|
xalthasu salwin, "I am"
|
-xe
|
near future
|
xalthaxe salwin, "I will be soon"
|
-thu
|
distant future
|
xalthathu salwin, "I will be one day"
|
-ni
|
near past
|
xalthani salwin, "I was recently"
|
-tu
|
distant past
|
xalthatu salwin, "I was long ago"
|
-pe
|
present conditional
|
xalthape salwin, "I would be"
|
-nape
|
past conditional
|
xalthanape salwin, "I would have been"
|
-ma
|
present progressive
|
xalthama salwin, "I am being"
|
-thima
|
future progressive
|
xalthathima salwin, "I will be being"
|
-nama
|
past progressive
|
xalthanama, "I was being"
|
none
|
imperative
|
xalthan, "be!"
|
Example sentences
-
English: Did they (in the distance) see us (close by)?
Xema: kane nakiini siduninta timininthe
Transliteration: question see.past nominative.they(DISTANCE) accusative.us(CLOSE)
-
English: We (younger) made it (topic of conversation) for you (older).
Xema: kunani tisath mihalinan simiinine
Transliteration: make.past accusative.it(TOPIC) dative.you(OLDER) nominative.we(YOUNGER)
-
English: I (casual) will see you (casual) in the distant future (uncertain).
Xema: nakiithu tihone kun salwe
Transliteration: see.far-future accusative.you(CASUAL) uncertain nominative.I(CASUAL)
-
English: If you (inferior) were there, I (superior) would have seen you (topic of conversation).
Xema: xu xanathani kamam sihon xe, xiim nakiinape salwinanth tihal xe
Transliteration: if1 locate.recent-past there nominative.you(INFERIOR) if2, then1 see.past-conditional nominative.I(SUPERIOR) accusative.you(TOPIC) then2
Numbers
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
0 |
ale |
rile |
diirle |
hale |
hiine |
mole |
xana |
dine |
kupe |
nur |
For numbers with multiple digits, you read out the numbers from smallest to largest. The final vowel is dropped when reading out numbers except for the final digit.
- 47: xanhale
- 3629: kuprylmoldiirle
Like every aspect of Xema, the number system is unnecessarily complicated. Numbers must also be appended to a counter to indicate what is being counted, and there are a bonkers number of counters. This system does mean that a speaker does not have to follow the number with the noun of what is being counted; they can just say "six" and the counter will give the listener context.