A GRAMMAR OF WAMBAYA - Cryptm.org

Class IV counterparts that refer to the tree on which the fruit is found. Where such
related pairs exist, comparison of the two forms allows for the isolation of the root and
the identification of the gender suffix.
correspondences are:
Some examples of Class I and Class II
Class I
Class II
ngajimiji woman's SS ngajiminya woman's SD
bungmaji old man bungmanya old woman
alaji boy alanga girl
marndaji white man marndanga white woman
abajabaji-Ø crazy person (male) abajabajirna crazy person (female)
marunki-Ø male countryman marunkirna female countryman
ngarrinybi-Ø male friend ngarrinybirna female friend
The two examples given above of the Class III and Class IV counterparts are repeated
here.
Class III
Class IV
burnaringma wild orange (fruit) burnariga 62 wild orange (tree)
marnugujama conkerberry (fruit) marnuguja-Ø conkerberry (tree)
(ii)
The comparison of absolutive and non-absolutive forms of the noun
A non-absolutive suffix replaces the absolutive suffix on the noun 63 .
Thus, a
comparison of the absolutive and non-absolutive forms of a noun can help to identify
the gender suffixes:
Non-Absolutive Form
Absolutive Form
indilyawunga- < indilyawurna curlew (II)
gulangunya- < gulangunya blue tongue lizard (II)
yangadi- < yangaji meat (I)
gaguwini- < gaguwi-Ø fish (I)
(iii)
The comparison of the singular and dual forms of a noun
The dual suffix (morphophonemically -bulu) is usually added to the root of a noun (minus
the gender suffix). Thus the dual form of a noun can provide evidence as to the root of the
62 The alternation in the final consonant of this root can be explained by normal morphophonemic
processes whereby a stop becomes a nasal when followed by a suffix with initial /m/ (see 2.3.4.2).
63 Note that this is usually the case for all nominals, the one exception being the Class I non-absolutive
suffix -ni when it occurs with Class I modifiers. In just this case the non-absolutive suffix is added to the
absolutive form of the noun, therefore it does not replace the absolutive suffix:
guny-i other-I:Abs > gunyi-ni other-I:nAbs