Kamassian language
Alphabet for Kamassian:
Cyrillic letter - UPA
и - i
е - е or ɛ (some books do not distinguish between e and ɛ using e for both sounds)
ǝ - ǝ IPA [e̽]
ӱ - ü
ӧ/ё -ӧ (you can use either ö or ё)
ы - i̮ (IPA ɨ)
э - e̮
ө - ə̂ (ə̂ makes the schwa sound)
а - a and å (some books do not distinguish a and å using a for both sounds)
у - u
о - o
ӄ = k͔ or k͔', it is basically K but made further back in the mouth, like the IPA Q
ў = w / u with inverted breve below, or even β (IPA w)
й = j/i with inverted breve below
т = t
д = d
с = s
б = b
з = z
н = n
л =l or л
р = r
ь = ', marks platalization,
х = h
ӽ = x
ф = f, according to K.Donner there was also a very rare sound ϑ, which would also be typed as ф.
ғ = γ
ӈ or ҥ = ŋ, in English and Finnish t is typed "ng". (you can use either one)
ш = š (SH in English)
ж = ž
´ stop in speech, aka a glottal stop ( ʔ )
ҷ = dž (though this letter is not mandatory to use)
ԥ = aspirated P,
ҭ = aspirated T, t͑ (note t͑ means aspiration and ť platalization, do not confuse the two!)
қ = aspirated K , k͑, do not confuse with platalized ḱ.
я = ja, jå, 'a, 'å
ю =ju, 'u
в = v (only in some loanwords, usually only used by the last speakers)
If you type in a "Latin alphabet" use the UPA symbols, which are very similar to the latin alphabet.
if typing on a "Latin alphabet", use ' to mark aspirated consonants, the UPA also uses it to mean aspiration
ле = bone (related to Finnish "luu")
саамӱй = most (Russsian loan)
сӱй = heart (related to Finnish "sydän", and Hungarian szív)
бӱ(ӱ)= water (distantly related to Finnish "Vesi" and Hungarian víz)
иине = horse
ӄалөп = form
штооб = so that, that, in order to (Russian loan)
пака = while (Russian loan)
шеерǝ = to feel ashamed, to feel bad, to feel sorry, to be ashamed
сабǝн = soap
каамөнда = ever
каамөнда ей = never
малйи = little, allone
да = and, yes Russian loan)
али = or (Russian loan)
кийен/гийен = where
наадо = need, have to, necessary (Russian loan)
ԥе = year
кӱрб- = take picture
коӈ = chief
пьеери = around
ушоо = yet, still, nor (Russian loan)
бать= armpit
бǝр/бөр = smoke
бǝрзǝби = smoky
бөруйдьаабǝ = break, crack
бит = drink
бӱф = drink
кур = mere
биеелǝн = ready, done, finished
машина = machine, car (Russian loan) (KV)
бооби´ = wild pepper
меении = high, great, tall
йииле = smaller, lesser, worse, reduced
йильгǝн = below, downstairs, underneath
нǝгенде = above, up
нум = sky, weather
ала´- = build, make, manufacture
маньǝк = near, close by, close to
дөргит = similar, same, like (adjective)
тьеньее- = think
яӄшө = good (Turkic loan)
aрө = bigness, size
пяӈдǝнна саазөн = Book, letter, printed matter, paper that has text
ǝм- = eat
амǝш = food
ӄу = ear (related to Finnish "korva")
сеги = yellow
оой = white blue
тору = brown¨
улу = head
яда = village
урғо = big, large
базо´ = again
қооза = next, in a row
ерте = morning, early, tomorrow
ҭаалдьен = yesterday
ҭай = earlier, recently, before, long time ago.
уя = meat (distantly related to Finnish "liha")
сӱт = milk
икко/иӄӄоо = many
меӈгəй = fox
мен = dog
көй = animal
мал = cattle, animal
ҭера = item, thing
нӱке = wife
оньи´ = single (KV)
всйотаки = anyway (KV)
пушай = shall be (Russian loan) (KV)
и = also (Russian loan)
давай = come on (Russian loan) (KV)
бӱзье = husband
ԥи = stone (related to Finnish “piikivi”)
нага = doesn't exists, doesn't have, not, negative, isn't, don't have (maybe related to Hungarian "nincs")
шамнак = spoon
пу´ма = sharpen
бы = if (Russian loan) (KV)
нулдə = place
панар = kiss
шер = dress
ма´ = house, hut (maybe related to Finnish "maja")
шиндə = who
шиндин = whose
дьала = day
и´гö = many
штобы = that, so that (Russian loan)
куриза = hen
кере´ = need, one needs (maybe related with Hungarian kér and Finnish kerjätä)
тоспак = cat
ну = well (Russian loan)
пьеш = stove
сире´п = sugar (Appears to be formed from the word "сире" meaning snow)
тоже = also (Russian loan)
дьок = no, not, no!
ӱге = always
даре = so
нагоби = was not, did not, did not exists, did not have.
тустьар = salt
намǝн = for (postposition)
дьӱр = disappear
куўас = beautiful
бержə = wind
шö´ = sew
но = tatar (sometimes also used for Kamasins)
бийе = steppe Tatar
аба = father
аяӈ = steppe
аа´дǝжǝт = pathless, without a path
адөр = soon, yet
аами = another
амну = horn
арба = grain, wheat
аарда = right
аарǝ = clean, pure
баа = price
бай = rich
бал- = fall apart, break (1ps,sg: балльам)
-бе = either, or. (иинебе ҭӱжоибе = either a horse or a cow), -be is an ending.
ӱжӱ = hat
ӱйӱ = foot
ургаўааўа = moon
узӱ = pray
усьтань = big rat
унь = flour
улу = head
уда = arm/hand
чиньде = sheet
чима = tail
чи = sky
ча = pus
ҭе = war
ҭимье = tooth
шал = strength
тӱй = now
нӱнöр = wet
нӱй = sing
шапку = scythe
ато = otherwise
ши = hole
унньа / уньǝ = alone
сурдо = milk
дьабактəр = speak
толька = only (Russian loan)
дьӱр = disappear
айə = door
ҭенӱ = word
ха = make
хьама = boot
маӈзəр = hurry
мьаӈ = flow
балдə = soften
бьалдəр = chat
кама´ = forehead
кьама = marrow
шǝн еерген = fence post
шǝкǝ/шекǝ/шǝккǝ/шиккǝ = language, tongue
балту = axe
намǝн = for (postposition: ди намǝн = for it)
камǝн = when (postposition)
коот = rib
сай = off
ҭуксу = against
боос = pregnant
тажə = downstream
каан = khan
ми = give
шӱ = fire
шӱимǝ = mare
казǝр = wild
аскǝр = stallion
мая = mountain (related to Finnish "maa")
қоола = fish (related to Finnish "kala" and Hungarian "hal")
ҭу = lake (related to Hungarian tó, maybe related to Finnish “suo”, however controversial)
ԥа = tree, forest, wood (related to Finnish "puu" and Hungarian "fa")
ешши = child (irregular plural: ессеҥ)
булан = moose (irregular plural: булаан)
қӱ = to die (related to Finnish "kuolla" and Hungarian (meg)hal)
падьи = probably
улар = sheep
ман = say (мамбиян = i said)
ӱзə = descend
дьу = earth, ground
мунəй/мунуй = egg (related to Finnish "muna")
кере´ = one needs/need (related to Finnish "kerjätä" and Hungarian kér)
дак = so (Russian loan)
шошка = pig
мултук = gun
ку´ = kill
пар = return
ку = see
айир = love, pity (айирби = he/she/it loved)
сӱйö = bird
гиргит = what kind
диргит = such
голос = voice (Russian loan)
ньешпəк = thick
дибəр = there
Нулдə = set up
барин = nobleman
ну = stand
куйорок = angry
тоспак = cat
ха = do, make
аспа´= cauldron
таҥ = strongly, hard
кабарлəй = enough
Мазəро = smoke hole
дьелам = Sayan mountains
қӱ = to die
сьа = climb
ньемсə = German
нӱдьи = evening
батинка = shoe
база = wash (probably related to Finnish "pestä", compare "базальам" and pesen)
ним = name (related to Finnish "nimi)
шээ = that there (probably related to Finnish "se")
сим = eye (related to Finnish "silmä" and Hungarian szem)
ей = not (related to Finnish "ei")
пасиба = thanks
ну = well
лучше = better (KV)
кипарис = Cupressus
ӄазан тура/ ӄазан ҭура = Aginskoye
тиби = man
дьзьалбак улузəби қуза = idiot
соло = Karagas
кодо = Kott
джирык = Siberian Russian
койбол = Koibal
кааш = Khakas
иил = people
уражə = ancient Siberian people
сояан = Soyot
дьес = copper
шӱргет = elbow
коошка = cat
каан = khan
бать = shoulder
ши = hole
шишши = cold
шултаӄ = short
шееме/шööме = calm, quiet
ҭарзеўиҭӱ´ = moth, cockroach
на´б = duck
сурар = ask
нӱн = hear
ҭе´бне = rotten, decaying
пьел/ пьеел = half (related to Finnish “puoli” and Hungarian fél)
деф / дет = bring (ф = ϑ)
мин = go (related to Finnish “mennä” and Hungarian “menni”)
миӈгем = I go
бержи = hunt in the steppe
самəй = hunt in the mountain forest
шили = sable
ньага = Burunduk
тажəьб = squirrel
сöйе = capercaillie
уӈа = partridge
мöö = arrow
ньа = bullet (related to Finnish “nuoli” and Hungarian nyíl)
инə = bow
мöö = arrow
мийе = soup
санə = nut
кöберген = onion
тамгу = tobacco
тейме = ski/snowshoe
шор = sledge
баппə = bed
парга = furcoat
пальто = coat
кӱйнек = shirt, blouse
аа = summit in the Sayan
аяӈ = steppe
сире = snow
öр = family, clan, tribe
балту = axe
балдə = soften
сай = off
вот = look!
а = but
дö = that
кабар = grap
Улар = sheep
Чай = tea
Ӄазак = Russian
тура = house
шидеегу´ = two together
наағурғо = three together
сумнаҥго = four together
ньи´ньен = outside
(д)жағазǝгей = two rivers
ҭейнен = today (appears similar to Finnish “tänään”)
каажьук = ankle
жеедӱ = Batula nana
ǝмби = what?
кайет = which, what kind?
кӱмен = how much, how many
иидǝ = this there, the one (there)
дǝм = this here
шǝнди = who
көдө = how
ги´и´ = which? who?
шиндиде = someone
ǝмбиде = sometime
гиибǝрдǝ = to somewhere
гǝ´идǝ = someone
нерее = be afraid
пааргǝ = cut
ну = stand
нульам = I stand
не = woman (related to Finnish “nainen” and Hungarian “nő”)
арарби = thin, lean
арту´ = superfluous, unnecessary
арө = handle
аарөж = rye
арчǝ = rope, to hold reindeer and dogs
арчǝмаӄ = suitcase
аазө- = to step, climb, rise
баа = price
алтǝней = golden
но´ = grass
аспалла´ = kettle
чи = belt
ко´птǝ = girl
сьукут = trough
көс = coal
чеерге = middle
ургааба = bear
Numbers from K.Donner
о´м/о´ў = o
шиде = two
наағур = three
ҭее´да = four
сумна = five
мукту´ = six
сей´бӱ = seven
шөнтее´д = eight
аамитун = nine
бьийǝ´н/ бье´ = ten
бьееноб/бьееноў = eleven
шидееби´ = twenty
наағурбиǝ´ = thirty
ӄөроӄ = forty
йениӽ = fifty
алҭоон = sixty
дьӱс = hundred
маагурдьӱс = three hundred
мөҥ = thousand
(Numbers from Klavdya Plotnikova)
бье´ оньи´ = eleven
бье´ шиде = twelve
бье´ ҭее´да = fourteen
бье´ сумна = fiveteen
бье´ сей´бӱ = seventeen
бье´ шөнтее´д = eighteen
бье´ аамитун = nineteen
шиде бье´ = twenty
сто = hundred
наағур бье´ = thirty
ара = alcohol
грам = gram (KV)
джабактəр = speak (also spelled дьабактəр)
ўаштар = first
шидеегит = second
наагургит/наағургит = third
сумнаӈгит = fifth
ообуӈ қатьей = once
шидǝӈ қатьей = twice
наағуруӈ қатьей = thrice
шидǝ ӄат баат = two times the price
наағурғат баат = three times the price
наағургет ӱльӱш = a third part
ӱльӱш = part, piece
нашто = whatfor
дьабаро = fight (дьабролиал/лиял = you fight)
яблока = apple (KV)
Нулдə = set up
дö´ə = hence
крупа = groats
ньилгö = listen
лес = forest (“ԥа” can mean forest or tree, “лес” can only mean a forest) (KV)
крават = bed
дöн = here
журавль = crane (bird)
сузǝй = bladder
садар = sell
дагай = knife
ӄи/ қи = month, moon (related to Finnish “kuu” and Hungarian “hold”)
иинǝ/йиинǝ = bow (related to Finnish “jousi”)
ӄада = nail (possibly related to Finnish “kynsi” and Hungarian köröm)
йиль = under (probably related to Finnish “alla” and Khanty “il”)
йилдə = down (same root as йил)
йильгəн = under (locative case)
е´бте = hair (related to Finnish “hapsi”)
ԥөрзе = high (probably related to Proto-Samoyedic “*pirə” and thus to Finnish “pitkä”)
ҭар = feather (maybe a cognate with Nenets to ‘wing’)
ӄообөр = empty
ӄообөр саанǝ = empty nut
қоолан ӄадардǝ = fish fin
қоолан ԥӱйе = fish mouth
қоолан ҭаар = fish gill
комдǝ = harden
база комдǝ = harden iron
ӄоомөс = balalaika
ӄоомөс сеерǝ = play the balalaika
ӄоорум = mountain
куӽлаўа = kill
ӄульа´ = see, look
ӄульа´льом = I see
дьағам ӄульа´бийом = I saw a/the river
қу´ = cough
қу´л = sow
қӱӱрӱпь = pit
қӱсь = edge, corner
қӱқ = green
қӱӱли = possession, belonging
қӱсьӱби = square, edgy, angular
лада = menstruation
леей = swan
лей´мьǝ = nutshell
икко ԥе = many years
улар иӄӄоо = many sheep
яӄшазǝби = good like, nice
аяӈзǝби = steppe like
-а question ending
малала = can you?
тьабоонзǝ = want to hold
ҭумьо = mouse
бар о´б тьогǝн = all together, all in one place
пааролди = surrounding
сӱнне қуза = entering person
нуузан шəкəт = tatar language
ертараӄ = earlier
урӽоораӄ = taller
крос = cross
нöре = fish trap
аш = rye
каба = tree juice
араа = brandy
аш то´бдəна машина = threshing machine
сьу´ = move to another place
то = reindeer
альма = sleep
альмажет = sleepless
альбөрǝ = to fill
аӈ = mouth (probably related to Finnish “avata” and Proto-Uralic *aŋa)
аӈгол = rejoice, be glad
аарий = little, very little, small
ба´ф/ ба´д = throw, throw off, throw away
баф/ баах = to cut, to slice
-бе = either
for example: иинебе ҭӱжоибе = either a horse or a cow.
беержǝ = wind
ўөзөй = particularly, especially
биле = bad, poor, obsolete, unfit
билемньем = I get weak
билəтəр = deal with some mistake
бора = grey
букле = all
Main Grammar
In Kamassian there are seven cases, they are the nominative, genitive, accusative, lative, locative, ablative and the instrumental. These endings can slightly vary depending on the ending of the word which the case is being applied to. For example, the lative case can have an ending of нǝ/нө or дǝ/тǝ.
When the word ends in a vowel the lative ending is нǝ/нө and when in a consonant it is дǝ/тǝ.
шооми ‘larch tree’ in the cases:
No: шооми = larch tree
Ge: шоомин = larch tree’s
Ac: шоомим larch tree (direct object)
La: шоомиинө = to a larch tree
Lo: шоомииғөн = on a larch tree
Ab: шоомииғө´ = from larch tree
In: шоомиизе´ = with a larch tree
The plural is formed by заӈ ~ -зеӈ ~ -саӈ ~ -сеӈ
The plural comes before the case ending. There are some irregular plurals, like the plural of “ешши” is “ессеӈ”. However, these are rare. Sometimes an ending - лар is also used.
Note: if the word ends in a “k” the letter usually disappears when put into cases. As an example: иппек ‘bread’ and ипен ‘bread’s’.
Some other changes that can be seen are that the letter “T” in the middle became a “D” when conjugated. However, this change can only be observed in the genitive, and accusative cases.
ӄоот = rib
ӄоодөн = rib’s
ӄоодөм = rib (direct object)
ӄоттө = to a rib
ӄоткун = on a rib
ӄотсье´ = with a rib
Other similar changes are:
s into z or ž (аабөс ‘priest’, аабөзөн ‘priest’s’
pp into p (иппек ‘bread’, ипен ‘bread’s’
š into ž (ҭарбош ‘rake’ ҭарбожөн ‘rake’s’)
Plural cases
джағазаӈ
rivers
джағазаӈǝн
rivers'
джағазаӈǝм
rivers (direct object)
джағазаӈдǝ
to the rivers
джағазаӈғөн
at the rivers
джағазаӈғө´
from the rivers
джағазаӈзе´
with the rivers
загǝй is the dual ending, meaning two.
джағазагǝй
two rivers
(note: джаға can also be spelled as дьаға or жаға)
Verbs
In Kamassian there are 2 groups of verb conjugations, the subjective and objective. However, these are two similar.
Subjective
1sg нереельем
2sg нереельел
3sg нереелье
1du нереелбӱй
2du нерееллӱй
3du нереелгӱй
1pl нереелбе´
2pl нереелле´
3pl нереельеейе
шо
come
шолиям
I go
шолиял
you go
шолия
he/she goes
шолиябǝй
we two go
шолиялǝй
you two go
шолиягǝй
they two go
шолияба´
we go
шолияла´
you (plural) go
шолияйǝ´
they go
Objective
1sg пааргǝльам
2sg пааргǝльал
3sg пааргǝльат
1du пааргǝлбӱй
2du пааргǝллий
3du пааргǝлдий
1pl пааргǝлба´
2pl пааргǝлла
3pl пааргǝдǝн
Past tense
Subjective
1sg нереебьем
2sg нереебьел
3sg нерееби
1du нереебиибӱй
2du нереебиилӱй
3du нереебиигий
1pl нереебиибе´
2pl нереебииле´
3pl нереебии´и´
The word ‘to be’ conjugated in the subjective:
игем
I am
игел
you are
иге
he/she is
игеебӱй
we two are
игǝлӱй
you two are
игǝгӱ
they two are
игǝбе
we are
игǝле
you (plural) are
и ́геейe ́
they are
ибийем
I was
ибийел
you were
иби
he/she was
ибиибӱй
we two were
игилӱй
you two were
и´бигӱ
they two were
иибиибе´
we were
иибииле´
you (plural) were
ииби
they were
Intransitive verbs belong to the subjective and transitive verbs to objective.
Conditional
шонамзе
I would come
шоналзе
you would come
шоназе
he/she would come
шонабǝйзе
we two would come
шоналǝйзе
you two would come
шонагǝйзе
they two would come
шонаба´зе
we would come
шонала´зе
you (plural) would come
шонайǝ´зе
they would come
Future tense
шолам
I will come
шолал
you will come
шолǝй
he/she will come
шолǝбǝй
we two will come
шолǝлǝй
you two will come
шолǝгǝй
they two will come
шолǝба´
we will come
шолǝла ́
you (plural) will come
шолǝйǝ ́
they will come
Deverbal nouns
Instrumental nouns have the ending (п)зан/зен/зǝн
на´ ‘scrape’ на´зан ‘scraper’
Deberbal nouns end in (ǝ)ш
ǝм- = eat
амǝш = food
The endings: на, нна, не or нǝ (after a vowel) and да, де, ди or дǝ after a consonant, make a meaning that roughly can be compared to the English ending "-ing".
пааролди = surrounding
сӱнне қуза = entering person
Possessives
тура
house
турам
my house
туразаӈба
my houses
турааньи
to my house
туразаӈганьи
to my houses
турааўий
our house (2 people)
турааўа
our house
туразаӈба´
our houses
турат
his/her house
турал
your house
тураала
your (plural) house
Syntax:
Kamassian is an SOV language, while English is a SVO language. So Kamassian word order is subject-object-verb. However, in the imperative forms, the verb comes first, having VO word order.
дизеӈ шидегəн ма´гəн амнаи´
They live in two tents
Kamassian example text from Klavdya.
дигǝттǝ мана ӄумбииь ӄазаан тураанǝ
“then they took me to Aginskoe”
дин мана крос ембии´,
“there they put a cross to me”
дигǝттǝ ма´ньи шобииь, биппииь араа
“then they came to my home, drank liquor”
сьарбии´, сӱ´мǝ´пии´
“played, danced”
урғаям ӄамби
“my grandmother went”
ман иям дизьə´
”my mother with her”
иям иби боскунду
“my mother took (me) with her”
дигǝттǝ мимби ке´бди
“then she went (to) berry”
дигǝттǝ едǝби дим ԥанǝ,
“then she hung it to a tree”
а босту ӄамби ке´бди ниӈгǝсьтə
“and she herself went picking berries”
дигǝттǝ дьӱрдöби дин
“then she went astray there”
мандǝрбиал, мандǝрбиал
” you looked, looked”
дигǝттǝ ман дим куби
” then I found her”