PRONOMINAL ROOTS

There is a class of Roots that behave similar to pronouns. These are called Pronominal Roots and are person-referrent. These Roots also appear as unbound particles. These unbound forms are used to express a variety of meanings and relationships.

draqa generally divides the world into 2 categories: ego and other.

Other is further divided into animate, inanimate and abstract genders.

ego

wiax

1^st person exclusive, i.e. I or we, but not you

miks

1^st person inclusive, i.e. I or we, and you

other

mehi / moi

Animate other, i.e. First mentioned you, he, she, they or it

dehi

Animate other obviate 1, i.e. Second mentioned you, he, she, they or it

wahi

Animate other obviate 2, i.e. Third mentioned you, he, she, they or it

wik

Narrative animate plural, i.e. First mentioned group of people when relating a narrative account

mak

Narrative animate plural obviate, i.e. Next mentioned group of people when relating a narrative account

fiehwa

Inanimate other, i.e. First mentioned inanimate it

faho

Inanimate other obviate, i.e. Next mentioned inanimate it

coi

Abstract other, i.e. First mentioned abstract it

cal

Abstract other obviate, i.e. Next mentioned abstract it

The most frequently used bound particle forms of all of the above sound the same as the root forms, with the addition of '-xan' as an alternative form of '-wiax' My, Pertaining to me, Associated with me. All of the bound pronominals indicate that sort of genitival relationship. There are other forms for the bound pronominal suffixes, since the bound forms vary with the root's ending.

More Pronominal Roots

fehi

The Universal, * This is an untranslateable concept respresenting the aggregate of existence at its most abstract. For the draqa worldview, this form figures centrally in their understanding of the universe. Everything within this xemba is necessarily interconnected, but also ultimately identical. Thus xemba is most sacred to the draqa, although they have no concept of worhip.

As all of existence is contained in xemba, anything at all can be referred to with the pronominal fehi when used in the proper context. When appearing without context, however, fehi generally means xemba

kwai

General, i.e. one, thing. * Note: This Root has no corresponding unbound form. The bound particle '-kwai' plays a different role than the one played by similar forms (e.g. '-mehi').

wan

Interrogative, i.e. what?, which?

The bound forms of these are more frequent than the root forms. Here are a few examples that may show why:

koa xan

[book + my] My book

skae xan

[run + my] I run

jaka wiax

[violence + my] I am violenced

sufa moi

[contentment + her] She feels contented

koa wan

[book + what?] Which book? Whose book?

skae wan

[run + what?] Which run? Whose run? (Who runs?)

Notes:

1. -wiax and -xan are usually interchangeable, choice is a matter of style

2. In daily speech, the x in 'wiax' is often left unpronounced

3. mehi and moi are likewise usually interchangeable. This interchangeability will be reflected throughout

4. mehi and moi can mean You, He, She, It or They depending on context. To learn about how draqa makes such distinctions, see Talking to and about 'You' and Others.

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