In
the section on number (3.2.4.5) it was mentioned that the
plurality is the property of the NP and that the plural marker
is usually not taken, if the plurality can be assumed from
the context. Therefore, the illustrative examples given above
do not have the plural marker in the phrases which have the
indefinite pronoun kömsö `all’. |
It may be pertinent to note here that both the plural morpheme qó
and the specific particle hu (abbreviated P2) occur at the end of
the NP. When a NP has both the plural morpheme and P2, the plural
marker is pre-posed to the P2. The indefinite pronouns like each,
all etc. are treated in English grammar as pre-determiners. In Sema,
k ms
`all’ lakhìkhì `each’ etc. are post-determiners
as no item can intervene the determiner hu (P2) and an indefinite
pronoun. The indefinite pronoun (i.e. the post-determiners) in Sema
function as the closure of the NP. The only modifier that can follow
a post-modifier in Sema is the particle Fi, `also’ (abbreviated
P3). The illustrative phrases given above is presented schematically
as : |
NP—>
N ± Adj ± Dem ± Plural ± P2
± indef. Pro ± P3 |
|
The only restriction in its use is that : if a NP consists
of an indefinite pronoun as one of its constituents, the plural
morpheme is not taken. Normally the plural morpheme goes with
the noun and is post-posed to the noun, as in : |
| totimì
|
`woman’ |
| totimìqó |
`women’ |
| kaku
|
`book’ |
| kakuqó |
`books’
etc. |
|
Since the plurality is the property of the NP, when the NP
has any modifier other than a numeral or a quantitative adjective,
the modifier rather than the noun takes the plural morpheme,
as in : |
| totimì
kiwiqó
|
`good
women’ |
asbo
kiwiqó |
`good
trees’ |
asbo
kize kùsuoqó |
`big
tall trees’ |
totimì
tipawqó |
`those
women’ etc. |
|
|
The adjective, however, will not take the plural morpheme,
if it is pre-posed to the noun head. In such instances, the
noun will continue to take the plural morpheme, as in : |
akiwi
asboqó |
`good
trees’ |
ideu
cöqó |
`tall
dogs’ etc. |
|
And the NP would not have the plural morpheme if it has either
a numeral or a quantitative adjective as its constituents,
as in : |
| totimì
kutomo |
`many
women’ |
totimì
kini |
`two
women’ etc. |
|
NP
would therefore have only one of the three, viz., plural morpheme,
quantitative adjective or a numeral, as its constituent. |
When a NP consists of a qualitative adjective and a numeral
the numeral usually occurs as the last unit in the NP, as
in : |
| totimì
akukize no ihònye kini |
`two
fat and short women’ |
|
It
is, however, possible for the numeral to be pre-posed to an
adjective. In such a situation, the empty morph kew (abbreviated
P4) is placed at the end of the phrase, as in : |
| totimì
kini akukize no ikhònheykew |
`two
fat and short women’ |
|
The noun phrases of these nature can be schematically represented
as : |
| |
{
N + adj1 + { plural } } |
| |
{
{
numeral } } |
NP
—> |
{ {
adj2 } } |
| |
{
N + numeral + adj1 + P4 } |
|
In the previous section on the adjective phrases, it was seen
that certain class of adjective, viz. colour adjectives, is
invariably pre-posed to the noun-head, as in : |
| akuhu
axamnu |
`red
flower’ |
|
| and
that the qualitative adjectives that are usually post-posed
to the noun head could also under certain conditions be pre-posed
to the noun-head, as in : |
qhem aikew
ilimì ~ } |
`tall
dame’ |
} |
|
ilimìqhemai
} |
|
|
In
addition to these, it would be seen presently that the qualitative
adjectives could be freely pre-posed to the noun head, provided
the noun head is one belonging to the non-human being class,
as in : |
| asbo
kiwi |
or |
akiwi
asbo |
`good
tree’ |
| ros
kiwi |
or |
akiwi
ros |
`good
rose’ |
| aphkz
kiwi |
or |
akiwi
aphikz |
`good
shirt’ |
| amé
kmla |
or |
akmla
mè |
`troublesome
job’ |
| acideu |
or |
ideu
ac |
`tall
dog’ etc. |
|
