Munsee grammar facts for kids

The Munsee language (also known as Munsee Delaware) is a special language that is endangered. This means very few people still speak it. It belongs to a group of languages called Eastern Algonquian, which is part of the larger Algonquian family. This family is even part of an even bigger group called Algic.

Munsee grammar is quite complex. Words change their form a lot by adding small parts to the beginning or end. These changes help show things like if a word is singular or plural, who owns something, or if something is being denied.

Nouns, which are words for people, places, or things, change to show who owns them. They also change to show if they are singular or plural, if they are small or cute, or if they refer to someone who has passed away.

Verbs, which are action words, also change a lot. They add parts to show who is doing the action and who the action is being done to.

Word Types

In Munsee Delaware, there are three main types of words: Nouns, Verbs, and Particles.

Nouns can be divided into two groups: Animate (living things) and Inanimate (non-living things). Pronouns (like "he" or "she") are a type of noun.

Verbs also have different groups. They are sorted by whether they describe an action done by a living thing or a non-living thing, and whether the action is done to something else. The four main types are:

• Animate Intransitive: Actions done by a living thing, not to another thing (like "s/he runs").
• Inanimate Intransitive: Actions done by a non-living thing, not to another thing (like "it shines").
• Transitive Animate: Actions done by someone to a living thing (like "I see him").
• Transitive Inanimate: Actions done by someone to a non-living thing (like "I see it").

Particles are words that never change their form. They don't add any prefixes or suffixes.

Noun Categories

Gender

All nouns in Munsee are either animate (living) or inanimate (non-living). Animate nouns include all living beings, but also some things we might not think of as alive, like snow or a ball.

You can tell the gender of a noun by how it forms its plural. Inanimate nouns add /-al/ to become plural, while animate nouns add /-ak/.

The gender of a noun is a fixed part of it. It also affects how verbs change and which pronouns are used. Experts have different ideas about why certain nouns are animate or inanimate. Some think it's random, while others believe it's based on meaning or culture.

Noun Changes

Number

Nouns change to show if there is one (singular) or more than one (plural).

• ăsə́n means 'stone' (inanimate). To make it plural, you add /-al/, so ăsə́nal means 'stones'.
• mwá·kane·w means 'dog' (animate). To make it plural, you add /-ak/, so mwa·kané·wak means 'dogs'.

There is no special ending for singular nouns.

Proximate and Obviative

When you have two third-person nouns (like "he," "she," "it," "they") in a sentence, Munsee uses a special system called proximate and obviative. This helps you know which noun is the main focus.

The noun that is more important or "in focus" is called proximate. The noun that is less important or "in the background" is called obviative. The obviative noun gets a special ending, usually /-al/. The proximate noun does not get an ending.

For example, in the sentence oxkwé·wal wə̆ne·wá·wal lénəw which means 'the man sees the woman':

• oxkwé·wal ('woman') has the /-al/ ending, so she is the obviative (less in focus).
• lénəw ('man') has no ending, so he is the proximate (more in focus).

This means the man is the main subject, and the woman is the object.

Possession

Nouns can show who owns them by adding special prefixes (at the beginning) and suffixes (at the end).

• /nə-/ means 'my': nə̆máhksən means 'my shoe'.
• /kə-/ means 'your': kə̆máhksən means 'your shoe'.
• /wə-/ means 'his/her': wə̆náxk means 'his hand'.

Location

You can show where something is by adding the suffix /-ənk/ to a noun.

• wí·kwahm means 'house'.
• wi·kwáhmənk means 'in the house'.

Diminutive

The noun suffix /-əš/ adds the meaning 'small' or 'cute' to a word.

• máxkw means 'bear'.
• máxkwəš means 'little bear'.

Sometimes, this suffix changes the meaning of the word.

• wí·kwahm means 'house'.
• wí·kwáhməš means 'toilet' or 'outhouse'.

An older diminutive suffix /-əs/ can also be found, but it has lost its 'small' meaning in some words.

• áxko·k means 'snake'.
• axkó·kəs means 'insect'.

Absentative

Nouns can also show if a person is no longer alive. This is done with suffixes like /-aya/ (for a third person) or /-ənkala/ (for an obviative person). This is mostly used for people who have passed away or for family terms referring to someone deceased. For example, ši·fšáya means 'the late Cephas'.

Verb Types

Munsee verbs come in pairs, depending on the gender of the subject or object.

• Animate Intransitive verbs have a living subject: wá·psəw means 's/he is white'.
• Inanimate Intransitive verbs have a non-living subject: wá·pe·w means 'it is white'.

Verbs that have an object (something the action is done to) are called Transitive verbs.

• Transitive Animate verbs have a living object: ntánha·w means 'I lose him'.
• Transitive Inanimate verbs have a non-living object: ntaníhto·n means 'I lose it'.

Intransitive verbs change to match their subject (who is doing the action). Transitive verbs change to match both their subject and their object. Transitive Animate verbs also use the proximate/obviative system.

Some verbs can be a bit more complex. For example, some Animate Intransitive verbs can also take a secondary object, like náh ntəlá·he·n 'I threw it over there'.

Verb Changes

Verbs change in different ways, called "Orders." These Orders are like different ways to use verbs in sentences:

• Independent Order: Used for main statements and questions.
• Conjunct Order: Used for dependent clauses (parts of a sentence that can't stand alone).
• Imperative Order: Used for commands.

Verb Orders and Modes

Each Order has different "Modes" which are specific ways the verb is used.

• The Independent Order uses prefixes and suffixes.
• The Conjunct and Imperative Orders only use suffixes.

Verbs in the Independent Order Indicative Mode are used for statements and questions:

• mpə́ntawa·w means 'I heard him'.
• kpə́ntawa·w há? means 'Did you hear him?' (há is a word used for yes-no questions).

The Independent Order Subordinative Mode is used when a verb is part of another verb's meaning or with certain particles.

• áhwat mpó·si·n means 'It's hard for me to get in'.

The Conjunct Order is used for many types of dependent clauses. One interesting mode is the Changed Conjunct Mode. It describes events that actually happened and often involves a vowel change in the first part of the verb.

• ne·ltó·nhe·t means 'as he was talking'.

The Conjunct Order Subjunctive Mode is used for things that are not real or are hypothetical.

• moxkánke means 'if he finds it'.

The Conjunct Order Participial Mode makes verbs act like nouns, often in phrases similar to "who" or "that" clauses in English.

• e·kwə̆yá·ni·l means 'my clothes' (literally 'those things that I wear').

Verbs in the Imperative Order Ordinary Mode give commands:

• áhl means 'put him down'.
• áto·kw means 'let's go'.

The Prohibitive Mode of the Imperative Order tells someone *not* to do something. It uses a special "don't" word and a negative ending on the verb.

• čí·le păkamá·wi means 'don't hit him/them (you singular)'.

Saying "No"

Verbs can be made negative (to say "no" or "not"). This is done by using a separate negative word and a negative ending on the verb.

• nə̆móxkawa·w means 'I found it'.
• máhta nə̆moxkawá·wi means 'I didn't find it'.

Verb Aspect

Munsee verbs also show aspect, which describes how an action happens in time (like if it's ongoing, completed, or just generally true). The main types are Unspecified, Preterite (past), and Present. The "Unspecified" is the regular form of the verb. The "Preterite" is very rare now, mostly found in older writings.

• nĕmi·lá·ne·p means 'I gave it to him'.

The "Present" aspect is mostly used for things that are not true or are imagined, similar to the subjunctive.

• yóh á· má pá·tsa means 'if he had come here'.

Other Word Types

Demonstrative Pronouns

These words point to things, like "this" or "that." Munsee has two sets:

• Proximal (for things close by):

* wá 'this one (animate)' * yó·k 'these ones (animate)' * yə́ 'this one (inanimate)' * yó·l 'these ones (inanimate)'

• Distal (for things farther away):

* ná 'that one (animate)' * né·k 'those ones (animate)' * nə́ 'that one (inanimate)' * ní·l 'those ones (inanimate)' These words change to match the gender, number, and obviative status of the noun they refer to.

Personal Pronouns

These words are used for emphasis, like "I myself" or "you yourself."

• ní· 'I'
• kí· 'you (singular)'
• né·ka 'he, she'
• ki·ló·na 'we (inclusive, meaning you and I)'
• ni·ló·na 'we (exclusive, meaning me and others, but not you)'
• ki·ló·wa 'you (plural)'
• ne·ká·wa 'they'

Reflexive Pronouns

These pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence, like "myself" or "himself."

• nhákay 'myself'
• khákay 'yourself'
• hwákayal 'his/herself'

For example, kwəšə̆ná·wal hwákayal means 'he injures himself'.

Question Words and Indefinite Pronouns

These words can be used to ask questions or to refer to something unknown.

• awé·n 'who, someone' (for living things)
• kwé·kw 'what, something' (for non-living things)

Particles

Particles are words that never change their form. They can have many different meanings. Many particles are like adverbs in English, telling you how, when, or where something happens.

• á·pwi 'early'
• á·wi·s 'late'
• lá·wate 'long ago'

Some particles tell you about a location:

• alá·mi 'inside'
• awási· 'the other side of'
• é·kwi· 'under'

Some numbers are also particles:

• nkwə́ti 'one'
• ní·ša 'two'
• nxáh 'three'

Examples:

• Kóhpi· éew. 'He went to the forest.'
• Lá·wate kóhpi· éew. 'Long ago he went to the forest.'

Preverbs

Preverbs are words that come before verbs and change their meaning. They are connected to the verb with a hyphen.

• áhwi-šə̆wahá·səw means 'it has a lot of salt on it'.

If a verb has a personal prefix (like "I" or "you"), that prefix attaches to the preverb, not the main verb.

• ntá·pwi-á·mwi. means 'I got up early.' (Here, nt- for "I" is on á·pwi- 'early').

Sometimes, other words can come between a preverb and the verb.

• á·lə- kwé·k –lə́num. means 'He can't do anything.' (kwé·k is between the preverb and verb).

You can even have more than one preverb together:

• ní· á · nkí·š-kši-kə́ntka means 'I can dance fast.' (kí·š- 'be able' and kši- 'quickly').

Prenouns

Prenouns are words that come before nouns and change their meaning. They are less common than preverbs. They are connected to the noun with a hyphen. A prenoun doesn't have a gender itself, but it can connect to nouns of either animate or inanimate gender. When a prenoun and noun combine, they act like one word. Any prefixes for possession attach to the beginning of the prenoun.

• wə́ski·-pambí·l means 'new book'.
• mpambí·lə́m means 'my book'.
• no·ski·-pambí·lə́m means 'my new book'.

See also

• Delaware languages