The personal pronominal system in
Angami distinguishes three persons and three numbers. Gender is
not distinuished. The First person has exclusive and inclusive
categories both in the dual and plural numbers. The Third person
pronoun functions as the anaphoric pronoun.
Person is marked in emotional or
mental state verbs (cf 6.0.2) and in cantractible substantives
in inalienable possessive constructions (cf.2.1.4) by prifixing
the appropriate pronoun.
_________________
kdmik
‘kings (indef.)’ and kdmipfk
‘queens (indef.)’ are possible forms but are seldom used.
Personal Pronouns:
Number: Singular Dual Plural
(sg.) (du.) (pl.)
Person
First hini(excl.)
hi(k)(excl.)
v(incl.)
(k)
(incl.)
w
Second nni ni(k)
Third pu puni(k)
~ni
w, one of the two
First person inclusive plural pronouns is largely used in a more
generic or wider sense than
k
w
th
ku
tshu
‘We shouldn’t
indulge in
bad behaviour’
w
vkhi-li
mru
‘We should improve
(ourselves)’
2.6.2. In the case of the First person exclusive, hie the
suppletive allomorph of ,
the First person singular forms the base for the exclusive dual
and functions as the exclusive plural.v
the First person inclusive dual may be considered ad an absolute
form.
the suppletive
allomorph of the First person singular functions as the
inclusive plural.
(note the tone difference), the
suppletive allomorph of pu* the Third person singular forms the
base for the dual and functions as the Third person plural.
‘I’ becomes
and n
‘you’ becomes
in
their genitive forms and when case markers follow.
2.6.3. The plural pronouns without -k
have a more generic meaning. This follows from the fact that -k
is typically definite plural.
typically is the definite article in the plural and -nie the
definite article in the dual.
d
mi
ni
the diminutive suffix and the definite singular -
k
hi
v
(incl.)
(k
ni
ni
th
k
u
tsh
‘We
shouldn’t
indulge in
behaviour
’
m
r
d
w
‘one1 shouldn’t
d
