Class 1 Nouns

Rational Animates

Class 1 nouns cannot be possessed, but they can participate in an associative construction. The associative construction pairs a noun with a rational animate associate as [N N.raa]. Any classifier in the construction would reference the first noun. For example:

meli-lewa yisi 'son 1SG.A CLAS:child' or "my son".

bese

mother’s brother, uncle

Plural: besena

besedi

mother’s mother’s brother, great uncle

Plural: besedena

cisena

The plural of cisi ‘child’

cisi

child, non-adult

Plural: cisena

cumu

man, adult male

Plural: cumona

laca

woman’s daughter, man’s sister’s daughter

Plural: lacana

luwu

star

Plural: luwona

Stars are considered to be rational animates as they are spirits, deities, ancestors.

madedi

mother’s mother, grandmother, female ancestor

Plural: madedena

meli

man’s son, woman’s brother’s son or nephew, man’s daughter’s husband, woman’s brother’s son’s wife or nephew’s wife.

Plural: melena

nikiyele

neighbor, member of one’s tribe or locality

Plural: nikiyenna

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