3. Closed-Class Lexical Inventories
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3. CLOSED-CLASS LEXICAL INVENTORIES
To ensure complete functional closure, this section exhaustively details every singular grammatical particle and pronoun within Somi. There are no other closed-class morphemes.
3.1 Pronominal System
Pronouns are completely invariant. They do not possess distinct forms for subject, object, or possessive cases. Case role is determined entirely by syntactic positioning.
Singular | Plural (formed with particle mu) |
|---|---|
mi (I/me) | mi mu (we/us) |
tu (you) | tu mu (you all) |
li (he/she/they-singular) | li mu (they-plural animate) |
ki (it) | ki mu (they-plural inanimate) |
si (self) | si mu (themselves/each other) |
3.2 Tense, Aspect, and Mood (TAM) Particles
Temporal, aspectual, and modal parameters are designated by independent particles positioned directly preceding the main verbal predicate. In the absence of a TAM particle, the sentence defaults to a simple, non-past declarative state.
Category | Particle | Semantic Definition/Function |
|---|---|---|
Past Tense | te | Event occurred prior to the speech act. |
Future Tense | po | Event will occur subsequent to the speech act. |
Imperfective Aspect | nu | Continuous, habitual, or progressive action. |
Perfective Aspect | le | Completed, fully realized action state. |
Potential Mood | sa | Ability or possibility ("can", "may"). |
Deontic Mood | to | Obligation, command, or imperative necessity ("must", "should"). |
3.3 Logical Connectives and Subordinators
Clauses and phrases are linked exclusively via six invariant particles.
Particle | Function | Syntactic Behavior |
|---|---|---|
pe | Conjunction (and) | Coordinates noun phrases, verb phrases, or independent clauses. |
lo | Disjunction (or) | Coordinates structures tracking alternative values. |
me | Adversative (but) | Coordinates clauses presenting contrasting propositions. |
su | Causal Subordinator (because) | Introduces a subordinate causal clause. |
ti | Conditional Subordinator (if) | Introduces a protasis clause. |
ka | Relative Complementizer (that/which) | Introduces relative clauses and noun complement structures. |
3.4 Spatial and Oblique Prepositions
Case markings and spatial relationships are governed by structural prepositions situated immediately preceding the target noun phrase.
ni (Locative/Allative/Ablative): Indicates general space, movement toward, or movement from. Interpretation relies completely on the accompanying verb (e.g., moko ni... = move toward...; se ni... = exist at...).
ku (Instrumental/Comitative): Indicates use of an instrument or accompaniment ("with").
ma (Benefactive/Dative): Indicates an intended recipient or beneficiary ("for", "to").
na (Genitive/Possessive): Links a structural head with its processor. Placed directly between the possessed head and the possessor.