Conversion affixes:

Like in Thai, these affixes have a varied and important job. There are three main categories here. For the main categories, there are twelve styles, generally four for each. The main categories deal with adjectives, nouns and verbs and how they correlate to each other, and also form adverbs from nouns and adjectives. The biggest of the main categories are definitely verbs and the many ways words can form thru derivation in Proto-Drem, and so many words come out from just several main roots, which is of high interest to scholars who study this ancient language.

ADJECTIVES:

The adjective in Proto-Drem in conversion affixes is fairly active. There are four small areas where these affixes are used. The first, turns adjectives into nouns, and is fairly rare in that it takes properties and turns them into a base noun ... such as (to be/is wise) -> wisdom. The second area is a bit more common, where an adjective is turned into the base action. Thus female -> to give birth. The next two areas aare more commonly seen. The third turns adjectives to their opposite property, and also uses the comparative/superlative affixes to change adjectives into another adjective. So an adjective such as cold turns to hot, while cold becomes colder. The last area looked is the (-ly) affix seen in English, thus and adjective changes into an adverb. A change looks like wise -> wisely.

Adjective -> Noun:

The property described. -sà-

knowledgeable -> knowledge

XXX

wise -> wisdom

ŋgba -> ŋgbasà

Adjective -> Verb:

Defining action for property. -zâ-

sentient -> to think

XXX

female -> to give-birth

Ŋkenta -> Ŋkentazâ

literate -> to read

XXX

Adjective -> Adjective:

Opposite property. -úmbâ- [a contraction, used from the root ‘humbala’ which means stubborn, defiant]

cold -> hot

B’ò -> B’úmbâ

tall -> short

nad -> nadúmbâ

Comparative of an absolute. -bá- [used just like the Proto-Drem, comparative]

cold -> colder

B’ò -> B’òbá

Superlative of an absolute. -ba- [used just like the Proto-Drem Superlative]

cold -> coldest

B’ò -> B’òba

Adjective -> Adverb:

In a manner characteristic of the property. -zá-

careless -> carelessly

lo -> lozá

wise -> wisely

ŋgba -> ŋgbazá

VERBS:

The verbs for Proto-Drem conversion affixes are very active and can be complex in its uses and varieties. So care will have to be taken compared to the adjectives seen above. The Verbs only have three main area, Verb > verb, verb > noun and verb > adjective; yet, each area is quite active and robust for affixes. One thing that people notice is that the affixes for verbs here uses a lot of ‘roots’ especially those with a same meaning as the affix usage. For example, the affix to distort an action uses the same root for ‘wrong/inaccurate’ and so the literal translation would be X+inaccurate and give a fairly accurate idea that the ‘X’ wasn’t done properly, and for the idea of the affix, the idea is that the action was done wrongly on purpose. Also another interesting affix is the diminutive ‘əl’ which here as an affix is used to diminish an action and thereby make it smaller, which the diminutive does to nouns normally. Also, a useful affix is the ‘DOER’ affix which normally is used for describing an action, and then becoming the job or person who does that action, such as ‘to hunt’ > hunter. The affix also is strangely used to describe tools and objects which do a job, thus the root ‘to eat’ becomes the noun ‘mouth’.

One distinctly unusual part of the verbs is the ones dealing with the very rare concept of Patient & Agent. The first area seen are the verb > adjectives. Here, we have 2 groups, 1 w/ progressive aspect, and the other deals in a past tense mode. What makes these unusual are the way they are grouped into Patient and Agent, which makes it highly unusual in that so very little of the language even deals with these two concepts. Scholars are still trying to figure out if these are fossilized affixes when Patient/Agent were more of a part of Drem, or if these are loans from a nearby language. Also in the Verb > Noun area, Agent uses are shown, but these are much more commonly used. These are known as DOER verbs, which commonly ascribes a “job’ to a verb, such as ‘to hunt’ > hunter.

Verb -> Verb:

Opposite action or undo action of verb. -ndà- [uses the same affix as ‘opposite’ above in the adjective section]

to open -> to close

mbù -> mbùndâ

to tangle, complicate -> to unwind, simplify

Ŋ’um -> Ŋ’undâ

to find, discover -> to loose

dom -> dondâ

to release -> to capture

Nàmôl -> Nàmòndà

to assist/help -> to impede

ŋkàs -> ŋkàndà

Pervert or distort the intent of the action. -nagò- [uses same root for ‘wrong, inaccurate’]

to lead -> to mislead

Gbóge -> Gbógénagò (often used in fast speed as Gbógéŋgò)

Increase the intensity of action. -jà- [uses standard intensifier]

to speak -> to shout

B’àna -> B’ànajà (often used in fast speech as (B’ànjà)

to look at -> to examine closely

ndó -> ndójà

Same action with focus. -ntèmalà- [uses same verb root as ‘to focus, concentrate’]

to hear -> to listen intently to

b’әsh -> b’әntèmalà (slightly different from the regular root ‘to listen to’ which is b’әsisa)

to see -> to look at intently/ to stare at

Ndó -> ndontèmalà (slightly different from the regular root ‘to look’ which is also Ndó)

Diminish the intensity of action. –(ə)là- [uses standard diminutive, which is same root for ‘small’]

to speak -> to whisper

b’àna -> b’ànəlà

to look at -> to glance at

Ndó -> Ndəlà

Reciprocal action from unilateral action. -nisà- [uses the same root as ‘cause to give’]

to give -> to trade

Gbàrè -> Gbàrènisà (Often used in fast speech as Gbànìsà)

Consequent action of an action. -gà-

to study -> to learn

Ntèmantarè -> Ntèmantarègà (often uses in fast speech as Ntènarègà; This version is used in conversion affixes seen here)

to travel -> to arrive

XXX

Prerequisite action for an action. -nò-

to learn -> to study

Ntènarègà -> Ntènarègànò

to succeed, victory -> to attempt

njàh -> njànò

Repeat or reiterate the action. -bánú- [uses the same root as ‘to repeat’]

to learn -> to relearn

Ntènarègà -> Ntènarègàbánú

to attempt -> to re-attempt (similar to ‘to try again’)

njànò -> njànòbánú

Verb -> Noun:

Category name of agent. -bò- [uses the same DOER affix]

to teach -> teacher

Gbarentema -> Gbarentemabò (often used in fast speech as Gbantemabò)

to hunt -> hunter

Ntu -> Ntubò

An instance of the result of an action. -ŋkò-

to destroy -> destruction

g’òga -> g’ògàŋkò

to draw -> drawing; picture

XXX

to kill -> death

bóndèmu -> bóndèmuŋkò

Name of object, part, tool or implement employed for an action. -bò- [uses the same DOER affix]

to hammer -> hammer

j’une -> j’unebò

to saw -> saw

XXX

to cut, slice, carve -> knife

Ŋkow -> Ŋkobò

to cook, burn, bake -> oven

bini -> binibò

to hold, contain -> container

g’abu -> g’abubò (used in fast speech as g’abò, and as an affix seen below)

to eat -> mouth

wé -> wébò

to bite, chew, gnaw -> teeth

wè -> wèbò

to run -> legs

làn -> làmbò

Name of emitted substance -hò- [uses same root for ‘to go’ since the substance is emitted, and so uses the connotation of ‘going out’]

to perspire -> sweat

XXX -> XXXhò

to urinate -> urine

XXX -> XXXhò

to erupt -> lava

XXX -> XXXhò

Name of container object of an inserting action -g’abò- [uses a variant of the root’ g’abubò ‘pot, container]

to holster -> holster

XXX -> XXX g’abò

to pocket -> pocket

XXX -> XXX g’abò

to sheath -> sheath

XXX -> XXX g’abò

to insert -> container

XXX -> XXX g’abò

Verb -> Adjective:

Descriptive of ongoing action on patient. -ázâ- [uses the progressive aspect]

to break -> breaking

ncil -> ncilázâ

to merge, converge -> converging

g’edà -> g’edázâ

Descriptive of ongoing action on agent. -ázâ- [uses the progressive aspect]

to learn -> learning

Ntènarègà -> Ntènarègázâ

Descriptive of completed action on patient. -dáŋú- [uses the past tense form]

to break -> broken

ncil -> ncidáŋú

Descriptive of completed action on agent. -dáŋú- [uses the past tense form]

to learn -> educated

Ntènarègà -> Ntènarègàdáŋú

to merge, converge -> convergent

g’edà -> g’edàdáŋú (often used in fast speech as the contraction g’edàŋú)

NOUNS:

Nouns are like Verbs an active Category. But, unlike verbs, there are many small areas, each area doing a specific job, while verbs carried on abroad general role. Noun affixes here do have distinct similarities within certain areas though. Areas such as Noun > adverbs specifically are there to create the (-ly) affix we see in English. The Noun > Verb and Noun > Adjective are both fairly unusual in that they both are almost exclusive to customs and if the person adheres to or breaks taboo. The one other thing seen in the Noun > Adjective is the very common ordinal numbers. The vast majority of areas and variation within the Nouns category are found in the Noun > Noun areas.

In the Nouns > Nouns area, there are seen three main sections. The first deals with Mass and Aggregates, therefore, plurals generally. So one can go tree > forest, or water > body-of-water (such as a pond, lake or bay). The second easily seen groupings of areas within are the perception areas. These deal with perception and Organs that do these perceptions. Thus, an Odor > Smell > Nose, while Light > Vision > Eye. And so all five major senses are dealt with in these perception areas and due to their use and commonly used. The Last main group seen is a miscellaneous group, almost mirror images of other areas. The first is very similar to the Verb > Noun area dealing with tools, while here we have a Noun > Noun dealing with where the tools are kept. So that To Shoot > Arrow > Quiver is commonly seen. The second area seen here is the one dealing with defining properties, and is nearly an opposite of the Adjective > Noun area seen above.

Noun -> Adverb:

In manner characteristic of a property. -zá-

knowledge -> knowledgeably

ntarè -> ntarèzá

wisdom -> wisely

ŋgbasà -> ŋgbasàzá (not often used as ŋgbazá is used much more commonly for ‘wisely’)

Noun-> Adverb:

In a manner characteristic of a category. -zá-

scholar -> scholarly

XXX -> XXX zá

wiseman -> wisely

ŋgbajà -> ŋgbajàzá (not often used as ŋgbazá is used much more commonly for ‘wisely’)

Noun-> Noun:

Aggregate of a mass noun. -ŋes- [uses the root for ‘a lot, much, at most’]

water -> body-of-water.

Mbu -> Mbuŋes

Aggregate of a discrete noun. -ŋes- [uses the root for ‘a lot, much, at most’]

tree -> forest

Ŋ’ab -> Ŋ’aŋes

person -> tribe

ja -> jaŋes (often used to describe a “people” rather than just a tribe per say. A more common grouping used is the clan, family)

Category to the defining property. -sé-

wiseman -> wisdom

ŋgbajà -> ŋgbajàsé (not often used as ŋgbasà is used much more commonly for ‘wisdom’)

scholar -> knowledge

XXX -> XXX sé

Characteristic container. -g’abò- [uses the root ‘container, box’ to form the affix; similar to the verb > noun affix seen above]

tool -> toolbox

XXX -> XXX g’abò>

arrow -> quiver

Gbàŋa -> Gbàŋag’abò (used often in fast speech as Gbàŋg’abò)

knife -> sheath

Ŋkobò -> Ŋkobòg’abò

Sense for perceiving. -ntâ-

light -> vision

Ndag -> Ndantâ

sound -> hearing

ndobi -> ndobintâ

odor -> smell

roma -> romantâ

Organ of sense. -mù-

vision -> eye

Ndantâ -> Ndantâmù

hearing -> ear

ndobintâ -> ndobintâmù

smell -> nose

romantâ -> romantâmù

Noun-> Adjective:

Ordinal of a cardinal. –wé- [uses the exact same affix to create ordinal numbers seen in the chapter on numbers]

one -> first

XXX -> XXX wé

three -> third

XXX -> XXX wé

Adherence to custom or precept. –ncídè- [used from the root meaning ‘morally good’]

law -> law-abiding

XXX -> XXX ncídè

morale-precept -> moral

XXX -> XXX ncídè

Violating custom or precept. -nd’ôgù- [used from the root meaning ‘taboo, poison’]

law -> criminal

XXX -> XXX nd’ôgù

moral precept -> immoral

XXX -> XXX nd’ôgù

religious law -> sin

XXX -> XXX nd’ôgù

Noun-> Verb:

Adherence to custom or precept. –ncídè- [used from the root meaning ‘morally good’]

law -> to obey the law

XXX -> XXX ncídè

morale-precept -> to be moral

XXX -> XXX ncídè

religious law -> to be righteous

XXX -> XXX ncídè

Violate custom or precept. -nd’ôgù- [used from the root meaning ‘taboo, poison’]

law -> to commit crime

XXX -> XXX nd’ôgù

moral-precept -> to be immoral

XXX -> XXX nd’ôgù

religious law -> to sin

XXX -> XXX nd’ôgù

Colors/Design terms

The colors of the Dremish landscape are all a part of their thinking as to what makes a color. The chart below makes up the “basic” colors. Since there are plenty of combined colors that are usually parts of animals or certain fruit that make up “special” colors that are specific to the region. The section below the color charts will bring out the spiritual side of the Drem as the colors show their spiritual significance and one can then see why some colors are “good”, others are not do good. From the chart below, one can see a number of natural objects and animals of land, sky and water. So with the Drem, the animals and ‘elements’ are all special as all have their own spirits and so the Drem respect the animals & nature due to the power of the spirits. And due to this respect, the Drem have used the names of familiar sights as the base names for their colors.

The main issue with colors and their creation is a use of an affix that turns the noun into an adjective, which for Proto-Drem actually is an attributive verb. What happens is that the affix is on the right of the noun, so in this case a suffix. So the noun+suffix = color. Yet in the chart below, note that there are several roots for some of the colors, while some have only one root. The colors with one root are common thru the whole language as that root for that ‘basic color’ and the shades that generally are close to it. But a dialect might have one root, while a mountain clan might have another, while an islander clan might have a third, so in Proto-Drem, the color scheme chart below will use the one most commonly used and use that to show the name of the color.

Proto-Drem Color Chart

Base Animal Name	Base object	Adjective	Color name
Blacks
Nd’agə	Night, bear, mussels	Nd’agəba	Black
Browns
gumbù	mud	gumbùba	Brown
	wolverine		Dark brown
	badger		Brown-grey
sèmà	Sea otter, seal	sèmàba	Tawny brown
gbàbá	Caribou, deer	gbàbába	Tan
	Cod, N Pike, Sparrow		Speckled brown
Blues (includes purples)
gen	Sky	gemba	Light Blue
	Jay, swallow		Dark Blue
	Lotus, Iris (flowers)		Purple
Yellows
	Rockfish		Speckled Yellow
	Iris, mushroom, warbler		Yellow
Green
Dábo	Leaves in spring	Dáboba	Light Green
	Pine needles		Dark Green
Pink
nj’ilè	Water lily, Salmon	nj’ilèba	Pink
Reds (includes oranges)
ntəncə	Mushroom, starfish	ntəncaba	Orange
J’agu	Red fox, seal	J’aguba	Red-brown
G’agù	Blood, red ochre	G’agùba	Red
Whites (includes grey and silver)
mbum	Cloud, mountain goat, snow	mbumba	white
	squid		“silvery”
	Storm cloud, wolf		Grey
	Eel, trout, whitefish		Speckled grey
Oddballs
	Skunk, Killer whale		Striped (blk/Wht)