Khengguian Language

The Language of Khengguian

Natively known as: khenggu /ˈxeŋgu/

Spelling & Phonology

Consonant inventory: b d g h j k l m n p r s t w x ç ŋ ɬ ɾ ʧ

Manner/Place

Bilabial:

Nasal = m

Stop = p b

Alveolar:

Nasal = n

Stop = t d

Fricative: s

Tap: = ɾ

Trill = r

Lateral Fricative = ɬ

Lateral Approximant = l

Palato-alveolar:

Affricate = ʧ

Palatal:

Fricative = ç

Approximant = j

Velar:

Nasal = ŋ

Stop = k g

Fricative = x

Glottal

Fricative = h

Co-articulated phonemes

Manner/Place: Labial-velar

Approximant = w

Vowel inventory: a e i o u ɨ

Front Central Back

High:

Front = i

Central: ɨ

Back: u

High-mid:

Front = e

Back = o

Low :

Front = a

Syllable structure: (C)(C)V(C) ?

Stress pattern: Initial — stress is on the first syllable ?

Pronunciation:

ɨ

j

x

ç

ŋ

ʧ

ɾ

ɬ

Spelling

ì

y

kh

sh

ng

ch

r̂

sĥ

Grammar

Main word order: Subject Verb Object (Prepositional phrase). "Mary opened the door with a key" turns into Mary opened the door with a key.

Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.

Adposition: postpositions ?

Nouns

Singular:

No affix

r̂ìk /ɾɨk/

dog

Plural:

Suffix -i

r̂ìki /ˈɾɨki/

dogs

Articles

Khengguian has no definite article 'the', or indefinite article 'a'.

Pronouns:

1st singular:

sliw /sliw/

I, me, mine

2nd singular:

tri /tri/

you, yours

3rd singular:

masc cha /ʧa/

he, him, his, it, its

3rd singular:

fem klo /klo/

she, her, hers, it, its

1st plural :

dìm /dɨm/

we, us, ours

2nd plural:

gli /gli/

you all, yours (pl)

3rd plural:

wo /wo/

they, them, theirs

Possessive determiners

1st singular:

sliw /sliw/

my

2nd singular:

tri /tri/

your

3rd singular:

masc cha /ʧa/

his

3rd singular:

fem klo /klo/

her

1st plural:

dìm /dɨm/

our

2nd plural:

gli /gli/

your (pl)

3rd plural:

wo /wo/

their

Verbs

Present If ends with vowel: Suffix -p

Else: Suffix -ap

tr̂unip /ˈtɾunip/

learn

Past No affix

tr̂uni /ˈtɾuni/

learned

Future Suffix -ɨ

tr̂uniì /ˈtɾuniɨ/

will learn

Numbers

Khengguian has a base-10 number system:

1 - mesĥ

2 - prì

3 - chìsĥ

4 - nruw

5 - bli

6 - chop

7 - che

8 - chir̂

9 - chowkì

10 - swe

11 - swe hoy mesĥ "ten and one"

100 - nyiy "hundred"

101 - nyiy hoy mesĥ "hundred and one"

200 - prì nyiy

1000 - hyam "thousand"

Derivational morphology

Adjective → adverb = If ends with vowel: Suffix -p

Else: Suffix -ip

Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = Suffix -ɨn

Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = Suffix -is

Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = Suffix -ut

Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = Suffix -o

Noun to verb = If ends with vowel: Suffix -ɬ

Else: Suffix -ɨɬ

Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -t

Else: Suffix -at

Tending to = Suffix -ɨŋ

Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -g

Else: Suffix -ug

Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = Suffix -ɨl

One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -ŋ

Else: Suffix -uŋ

Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -g

Else: Suffix -ig

Diminutive = If ends with vowel: Suffix -n

Else: Suffix -an

Augmentative = Suffix -oj

Khengguian - English Dictionary

Key: spelling /pronunciation/ part of speech. definition(s)

adj. adjective | adv. adverb | art. article | conj. conjunction | det. determiner | interj. interjection | n. noun | num. numeral | prep. preposition | pron. pronoun | v. verb

• a /a/ n. food, cuisine

• ba /ba/ v. fall, tumble, stumble

• batwutr̂iìn /ˈbatwuˌtɾiɨn/ n.characteristic

• bengug /ˈbeŋug/ n.response

• bim /bim/ n. guess

• blakhrekla /ˈblaxrekla/ n. friend

• bled /bled/ adj. deep

• bli /bli/ num. five

• blìul /ˈblɨul/ adj.private

• blorkil /ˈblorkil/ adj.buxom

• boy /boj/ n.merchandise

• brapriston /ˈbrapriston/ n. crack

• bre /bre/ n. clock

• br̂ì /bɾɨ/ n. drink

• br̂ingpìnì /ˈbɾiŋpɨnɨ/n. bee

• br̂osh /bɾoç/ n. birth

• brur /brur/ v. trade

• bwan /bwan/ pron.anybody

• bwiki /ˈbwiki/ n.present, gift, souvenir

• bwul /bwul/ v. define

• byit /bjit/ v. embrace

• byus /bjus/ n. trap

• chakhduki /ˈʧaxduki/n. area, region

• chech /ʧeʧ/ adj. cold

• ches /ʧes/ n. religion

• chhi /ʧhi/ adv. only, merely

• chhuchi /ˈʧhuʧi/ v.manage

• chidlu /ˈʧidlu/ n. leg, foot, lap

• chim /ʧim/ n.forehead, brow

• chis /ʧis/ n. witch

• chob /ʧob/ n. leader

• chop /ʧop/ num. six

• chtes lwoniw /ʧtes ˈlwoniw/ n. lens

• chtip /ʧtip/ adj. steep

• chtos /ʧtos/ n. list, catalog

• chun /ʧun/ n. moon, month

• chushuìn /ˈʧuçuɨn/ n.happiness

• de /de/ conj. or, either

• dilla /ˈdilla/ v. sew

• dom /dom/ n. chain, bracelet

• dr̂ak /dɾak/ v. pray

• drenug /ˈdrenug/ n.emphasis

• dr̂i /dɾi/ n. soup, broth

• dr̂ingdor /ˈdɾiŋdor/ n.gold

• dr̂ok /dɾok/ n.instrument, tool

• drub /drub/ n. race, ethnicity

• dr̂ut /dɾut/ n. orgasm

• dyab /djab/ v. repeat

• dyìm /djɨm/ adj. fair, just

• dyod /djod/ v. wave (salutation)

• egiw /ˈegiw/ v. place

• enkew /ˈenkew/ n.fruit, seed

• etchur̂ mìb /ˈetʧuɾ mɨb/ n. wire

• gam /gam/ v. relate, correlate, refer

• gengpum /ˈgeŋpum/n. shore

• glag /glag/ n. ash, coal, charcoal

• gli /gli/ n. hour, time

• gling /gliŋ/ v.remember

• glom /glom/ adj.heavy

• gr̂adbeg /ˈgɾadbeg/ n.pipe, valve

• gr̂ing /gɾiŋ/ n. player

• gr̂o /gɾo/ adj.beautiful, attractive, cute

• ha /ha/ prep. for (a period of time or length of distance)

• her /her/ v. confess

• hilgi /ˈhilgi/ v. date, go out

• hiy /hij/ conj. while

• hu /hu/ v. be (exist), be (permanent state)

• hwe /hwe/ n. baby

• hwìd /hwɨd/ v.achieve, accomplish, work (have desired result)

• hwor /hwor/ v.exercise, practice

• hyap /hjap/ n. humor

• hyig /hjig/ n.development

• hyoch /hjoʧ/ n. cloth, material

• i /i/ v. ask (invite), call (request the attendance of)

• iksìlgi /ˈiksɨlgi/ v.graduate

• ìp /ɨp/ v. smell (sense with nose)

• iw /iw/ prep. like

• ìw /ɨw/ n. rib

• khagr̂uw /ˈxagɾuw/ v.feel (perceive, sense), seem

• khe /khe/ adj.available

• khihmis /ˈxihmis/ n.wife

• khir /xir/ n. harmony, melody

• khlanbì /ˈxlanbɨ/ n.diet

• khligr̂ikhlub /ˈxligɾixlub/ n. elbow

• kho /kho/ n. bit

• khung /xuŋ/ adj.middle

• khutmeyna /ˈxutmejna/ conj. even

• khwit /xwit/ adv.sometimes

• khwug /xwug/ adj.general

• kley /klej/ n. period, season

• klìm /klɨm/ n. pillow, cushion

• kloìl /ˈkloɨl/ n.building

• kmanka /ˈkmanka/ n.order

• kme /kme/ adj. fat, big, broad

• kmeìn /ˈkmeɨn/ n. fat (bodily substance)

• kmish /kmiç/ v. test, analyze, examine, scrutinize

• kmu /kmu/ prep. by (using the means of), by (using a route)

• knikh /knix/ n.skeleton, hull

• knìnu /ˈknɨnu/ n. cat, vagina (slang)

• knol /knol/ conj. until

• lwebung /ˈlwebuŋ/ n.dancer

• lwiknin /ˈlwiknin/ n.idea, theme

• lwob /lwob/ n.resource

• lwu /lwu/ n. accent (of language), dialect

• lyib /ljib/ adj. current

• lyisge /ˈljisge/ n.transport

• lyulhokhi /ˈljulhoxi/n. liver

• mak /mak/ n. impulse

• mehkel /ˈmehkel/ n.candy

• mesh /meç/ n. rail

• mich /miʧ/ n. mud

• mille /ˈmille/ n. screw

• miw /miw/ det. each

• mnachì /ˈmnaʧɨ/ adv.anymore

• mnim /mnim/ n.dinner

• mnu /mnu/ n.process, procedure

• mr̂a /mɾa/ v. mention

• mr̂ì /mɾɨ/ n. sense

• mudne /ˈmudne/ n.science

• mus /mus/ adj. dry

• nalshug /ˈnalçug/ n.decision

• nay /naj/ n. wind

• neska /ˈneska/ v. grow up, sprout

• ngwey /ŋwej/ n. soil, dust, clay, brick

• ngwo /ŋwo/ adv.down

• ni /ni/ v. lose

• nig /nig/ n. use

• nìw /nɨw/ n. weapon

• nom /nom/ adj.complicated, complex

• nrew /nrew/ n.danger, hazard, risk, threat

• nrìs /nrɨs/ n. thorn

• nru /nru/ n. stick

• nush /nuç/ n. mother

• nyik /njik/ adj.technical

• nyowìl /ˈnjowɨl/ n.elevation

• ok /ok/ n. state (province, country)

• pasĥi ta /ˈpaɬi ta/ n.brothel

• pippikhì /ˈpippixɨ/ n.wax

• poyìngkha /ˈpojɨŋxa/adj. cool (slightly cold)

• preb /preb/ n. battle, clash

• prim /prim/ v.perform

• prìtr̂u /ˈprɨtɾu/ v.balance

• psakìng /ˈpsakɨŋ/ adj.critical

• psemug /ˈpsemug/ n.reflection

• psiud /ˈpsiud/ n. cow

• psuchok /ˈpsuʧok/ v.excite

• pyak /pjak/ n. section, segment, compartment, piece

• pyekh /pjex/ v. grab, clutch

• pyinìp /ˈpjinɨp/ adv.ever

• pyum /pjum/ n.wealth

• ra /ra/ adj. big, large, massive, immense, enormous, huge

• r̂ad /ɾad/ n. brother

• rap /rap/ n. prostitute

• r̂en /ɾen/ v. focus

• r̂ig /ɾig/ n. existence

• r̂ìk /ɾɨk/ n. dog

• rir̂pu /ˈriɾpu/ n.honor

• r̂iy /ɾij/ v. roll, revolve, rotate

• r̂okung /ˈɾokuŋ/ n.criminal

• ruw /ruw/ v. seek

• rwìkhhel /ˈrwɨxhel/ v.crush, grind, crumble, cram

• rwur̂u /ˈrwuɾu/ n.brass

• ryad /rjad/ v. chase

• ryep /rjep/ n.tradition, ritual

• sha /ça/ n. jewel, gem

• sheg /çeg/ n. winery

• shetmu /ˈçetmu/ v.act, behave

• sĥidìsĥ /ˈɬidɨɬ/ v.weigh

• shikhli /ˈçixli/ n.sponge

• shiw /çiw/ adj.favorite

• shor̂ /çoɾ/ prep. for (in favor of)

• sĥugri /ˈɬugri/ n.copper, bronze

• sla /sla/ v. shop

• slek /slek/ adj. small, little, short, low

• sli /sli/ v. hunt, stalk

• slìwi /ˈslɨwi/ v. flirt

• slubbing /ˈslubbiŋ/ n.drain

• srenarki nìs /ˈsrenarki nɨs/ n.rainbow

• sror̂ /sroɾ/ n. shell

• swak /swak/ v.provide, cater

• swar̂ /swaɾ/ v. miss (not hit), miss (not take advantage of)

• swi /swi/ n. right, entitlement, privilege

• swosĥìng /ˈswoɬɨŋ/adj. offensive

• tasĥ /taɬ/ n. berry, bean

• tesĥ /teɬ/ n. noise

• tik /tik/ n. belly

• tiy /tij/ n. society

• tow /tow/ v. clear

• tr̂al /tɾal/ det. enough

• tresh /treç/ n. storm, turmoil

• trìch /trɨʧ/ n.husband

• trindo /ˈtrindo/ v.intend

• trok /trok/ v. elect

• tr̂uk /tɾuk/ n. side

• tr̂uy /tɾuj/ n. eye

• tsa /tsa/ v. have, take, arrest, capture, collect, grab, catch, steal, earn, must, have to, own, get, possess, deprive, include, capture, seize, grasp, grip, accumulate

• tse /tse/ n. chin, jaw

• tsingdid /ˈtsiŋdid/ n.progress

• tsowmeng kla /ˈtsowmeŋ kla/ n.notebook

• tuk /tuk/ n. milk

• twatis /ˈtwatis/ v.finish

• twì /twɨ/ n. sadness, sorrow

• twikhoshut /ˈtwixoçut/ adj. sexual

• twotmi /ˈtwotmi/ n.guy

• tyakhol /ˈtjaxol/ n.ditch

• tyit /tjit/ adj. flat, smooth

• tyosh /tjoç/ n. soap

• ugsiìl /ˈugsiɨl/ n.spelling

• ukh /ux/ v. like, admire

• wak /wak/ adj.common, generic

• we /we/ interj. okay

• wir /wir/ adv. apart

• wod /wod/ v.continue, keep, remain

• wostu /ˈwostu/ adj.fun

• yakh /jax/ adv. ahead

• yem /jem/ n. boat, ship, raft

• yìk /jɨk/ v. throw, hurl, fling, shoot, propel, fire (detonate weapon), blast

• yìw /jɨw/ v. do

• yoy /joj/ n. reward, award, prize, medal, profit

• yuyne /ˈjujne/ n.reservation