Mák’ai language/Lexicon

 

Today's word of the day: tai /t̠ɐ̀ɪ/ core meaning: sky As adjective: tai - heavenly, divine Classifiers: tai-pa - moon tai-yu - alternative name for the goddess T̗íyá tai-a - alternative name for the goddess T̗íyá tai-kí - bird tai-gu - sun tai-wa - wind tai-wá - rain tai-d̗a - the sky as a place tai-ngu - divinity, holiness (more...)

This page contains a lexicon for the Mák’ai language. It is broken into five sections. The first is a dictionary containing both root words and derivational morphemes, the second is a list of common phrases and expressions, the third is a guide to personal names in Mák’ai, the fourth a guide to kinship terms, and the fifth a collection of verbal paradigms, demonstratives, and noun classifiers. For more information about the Mák’ai language, please see its corresponding main article.

Lexicon

Aa

• á - 'ear'
• ábá - 'mum', 'mom', 'mother'
• ái - 'spirit', 'ghost'
• áigu - 'warm', 'hot'
• ága - 'day'
• ál̗a - 'child' (ie, son or daughter)
• ángu - 'wind'
• ámá - no direct English translation, refers to the third parental role provided by someone of the t̗'úkai gender.
• amak - 'blackness', 'darkness' (archaic)
• arána - 'quiet', 'still'
• átá - 'stickf, branch'
• át̗á - 'dad', 'father'
• áwu - 'right', 'correct', 'good', 'just', 'nice'
• aya - 'to cook', 'to prepare (food)'
• áyága - 'today'

Bb

• bá-[x]-gí - circumfix meaning 'to provide X', 'to do X', 'to create X'.
• bálagai - 'to blow'
• bali - 'riverbank'
• balún̗al̗ - 'harvest'
• bal̗i - 'tree stump'
• bát'urlágí - 'nourishing', 'supportive', 'providing'
• bar̗í - 'arm'
• bawaí - 'shin'
• báwu - 'dog'
• bít'a - 'nose'
• bit̗'a - 'to injure', 'to hurt', 'to inflict pain'
• bíwar̗ú - 'to keep safe', 'to preserve', 'to maintain', 'to protect'
• bu-[]-k - inchoative circumfix.
• bukáiyak - 'to redden', 'to become red'
• bula - 'to take', 'to bring'
• buk - sole (of foot)
• búr - 'evil', 'wrongdoing'
• buwu - 'crown' (of head), 'top', 'above'

Dd

• dan̗ - 'egg'
• dar̗a - 'table'
• dar̗ugai - 'expensive', 'pricey', 'luxurious'
• dínaí - 'wide', 'width'
• du - 'cold', 'icy'
• du - 'hand' (archaic, used primarily in numbers).
• dudu - 'digit' (finger or toe)
• dút̗'á - 'deathly cold', 'cold' (archaic)
• duwai - 'true', 'correct', 'right'

D̗d̗

• d̗ai - 'to do', 'to complete', 'to achieve'
• d̗agái - 'state' (administrative division), 'province'
• d̗ak'úr - 'sin', 'crime', 'wrongdoing'
• d̗aru - 'earth', 'soil', 'ground'
• d̗íyak - 'of course', 'naturally'
• d̗u - 'to move', 'movement'
• d̗uk - 'stone', 'rock'
• d̗ur̗ - 'penis'
• d̗úwak - 'to find', 'to discover'

Gg

• ganái - 'time', 'when'
• gará - 'region', 'area'
• garú - 'skin', bark'
• gar̗na - 'neck'
• gíd̗uba - 'fish' (to eat), 'dead fish'
• gín - 'domain', 'realm', used as a suffix akin to '-dom' in English.
• gíyar - 'to sing', 'song'
• gíyar̗áwu - 'anthem', 'hymn' (lit. 'glory song')
• gu- - passifying prefix, 'be-' in English roughly.
• gú- - negative prefix, 'un-', 'de-', 'anti-'
• gúl̗ang - 'ash', 'remains'
• gúlu - 'ground', 'earth', 'basis', 'floor'
• gúngá - 'groin'
• gun̗jí - 'meat', 'flesh'
• gút̗ar - 'immortal'
• gút̗arak - 'undying'
• gut̗íwu - 'known', 'understood' (adj.)
• guwáigu - 'to warm', 'to heat up'
• guwáiguk - 'warming', 'heating', 'providing heat'
• guyá - 'holy', 'hallowed', 'blessed'

Ii

• íka - 'to stop', 'to cease', 'to halt'
• ikáya - 'story', 'history', 'legend'
• ínga - 'family'
• ín̗agáimáru - 'liberation', 'freeing', 'breaking'
• ít̗'ak - 'to cut', 'to slice'
• ít̗ák - 'journey', 'voyage', 'service' (of transport, ie, a train service)
• ít̗'ár̗ - 'shoulder blade'
• ítárk'u - 'birth', 'to be born', 'to emerge', 'to come into existence'

Jj

• jak - 'towards', 'to', 'unto', 'into'
• jákang - 'to tie', 'to bound', 'to imprison', 'to capture'
• jakang - 'armpit'
• jál̗áwa - 'interesting', 'fascinating'
• ján - 'to stand'
• ján̗ - 'black', 'dark'
• ján̗kái - 'fine', 'alright', 'good' (from 'ján̗-káiya', lit. 'black-red', which referred to good soil in ancient Mák’ai - fertile (black) and watered by the blood of their enemies (red)).
• ja-[]-ra - circumfix diminutive, 'little'
• jak'ígara - 'magazine', 'booklet'
• jar̗u - 'chest' (of body)
• jígá - 'fox'
• jín̗í - 'night'
• jíyí - 'meet', 'see'
• juŗ - 'name', 'title'
• jurák - 'state', 'country', 'nation'; (as adjective) 'national', 'state'
• jurágái - 'state institution', 'government department' (shortening of 'juráklígái')

Kk

• -k - gerundising suffix, '-ing'.
• kábá - 'bed'
• k'ai - 'person', 'human'
• Kaitur̗í - 'Kaishuri'.
• káiya - 'red'
• kángá - 'to eat', 'to consume'
• k'ángú - 'protect', 'prevent'; 'to protect from X' = k'ángú X-GEN tjai
• k'alu - 'head' (of body), 'leader'
• kar - 'dry', 'brittle'
• k'ar̗u - 'blood'
• kat'í - 'bone'
• kíd̗í - 'soft', 'warm', 'nice', 'pleasant'
• kíd̗ímak - 'comfortable', 'pleasant'
• k'igá - 'book'
• kiki - 'small', 'tiny'
• k'ú - 'to write', 'to describe', 'document'
• k'u - 'to kill', 'killing'
• k'úk'ul - 'calendar'
• kuk - 'pickle', 'gherkin'
• kukpángú - 'friend' (in a social, not romantic or sexual, sense. Typically refers to a friend that is relatively close, not an acquaintance).
• k'ul - 'year'
• k'ung - 'throw', 'toss'

Ll

• lá - 'island', 'isle'
• lák - 'summer'
• lal̗inád̗u - 'crescent' (shape)
• laru - 'forest', 'wood'
• li - 'to learn', 'to study'
• lít'a - 'face'
• lítú - 'to read'
• lúk'i - 'back'
• luk'í - 'hand'
• lúrba - 'grumpy', 'angry', 'irritable'
• lurba - 'to sneak', 'to evade'
• lúrága - 'yesterday'
• luwu - 'dark green', 'tree green', 'verdant green'

L̗l̗

• l̗a - 'light', white'
• l̗al̗a - 'tasty', 'delicious', 'yummy'
• lak'ú - 'to hear'
• l̗ámúgai - 'wish', 'want', 'will', 'request'
• l̗an - 'blue', 'light blue'
• l̗árugái - 'pure', 'clean'
• l̗ár̗ - 'wrist'
• l̗áwu - 'leaf'
• l̗áwur̗ - 'spider'
• l̗ígái - 'institute', 'organisation'
• l̗ín̗á - 'ankle'
• l̗ínakú - 'gender'
• l̗ít̗ak - 'to fly'

Mm

• -mak - suffix meaning 'full', 'full of', etc.
• mak - 'end', 'top'
• maká - 'place', 'location'
• má-[X]-k'ai - circumfix, 'person who does X', '-er' in English.
• máik'ai - 'lover'
• málik'ai - 'student', 'pupil'
• mát̗'íník'ai - 'artist', 'painter'
• mar - 'long', 'lengthy'
• mara - 'tragic, 'terrible', 'awe-inspiring', 'incredible'
• már̗úgak'ai - 'person of non-conforming gender or sexuality', 'queer person'
• máwulungk'ai - 'shopkeeper', 'shop worker', 'shop assistant'
• mbá - 'east', 'eastern'
• mbát̗á - 'parent'
• míka - 'to be called', 'to call', 'to name'
• mílai - 'star', 'celestial body', 'constellation'
• mílu - 'nipple'
• mlá - 'power', 'authority', 'command'
• mpalá - 'child' (in general)
• mra - 'sow' (seed), 'plant'
• mrúk - 'wolf'
• mru - 'to lie' (flat, on one's side)
• mruk'í - 'say', 'speak', 'talk'
• ḿt̗a - 'house', 'home'
• ḿt̗atáng - 'post office'
• ḿt̗aya - 'restaurant' (lit. 'cooking house')
• ḿt̗ayikáyar - 'museum' (lit. 'house of history')
• ḿt̗í - 'to happen', 'to occur'
• ḿt̗ít̗í - 'happenings', 'occurences', 'affairs'
• mú- - prefix meaning 'more', 'many'
• mu - 'tree', 'plant'
• múk'ulu - 'old', 'aged'
• múmuk'u - 'old person', 'senior'
• mur - 'very', 'really' (intensifier)
• muwái - 'bank' (financial institution)
• mwala - 'wine'

Nn

• námátí - 'town square', 'place'
• narla - 'quiet', 'calm'
• nbá - 'benefit', 'wealth', 'good'
• nbátalak - 'commonwealth' (Mák’ai system of government, not the same as commonwealth in the British sense).
• níra - 'hair'
• ngbá - 'leg'
• ngbála - 'station', 'stop'
• ngbar̗í - 'forearm'
• ngbawaí - 'calf' (of body)
• nggáwa - 'below', 'beneath', 'underneath', 'under', 'testicles'
• nguk'u - 'mouth', 'opening'
• ngúmaya - 'wash', 'clean'
• nk'á - 'god', 'deity'
• nk'a - 'bird'
• nlá - 'heart', 'center'
• nláwai - 'central', 'cardiac'
• nuwa - 'lower back', 'small of back'
• nwába - 'school'

N̗n̗

• n̗- - prefix meaning 'without' (alternative to 'r̗a-', less productive).
• ń̗- - prefix meaning 'extremely', 'very', etc.\
• n̗a- - prefix that turns adjectives into nouns, '-tion' in English approximately.
• n̗a - 'all'
• n̗á - 'apple'
• n̗ápángú - 'romantic partner', 'boyfriend/girlfriend'
• n̗ad̗ága - 'building'
• n̗awula - 'temptation', 'desire'
• n̗gut̗íwu - 'ignorant' (archaic)
• ń̗gut̗íwu - 'renown', 'well known', 'famous'
• n̗íka - 'thigh'
• n̗ígu - 'buy', 'purchase'
• n̗íra - 'shadow'
• n̗t̗í - 'voiceless', 'silent', 'quiet'

Pp

• pá- - prefix for verbs of motion, 'to arrive', 'to reach'
• pak - 'flat', 'low', 'straight'
• pákuyí - 'to come', 'to arrive', 'to be realised', 'to eventuate'
• palá - 'to swim'
• palí - 'to see', 'sight'
• pámur - 'man', 'male'
• pangi - 'breast'
• pángú - 'companion', 'friend' (not typically used in isolation to mean 'friend', see kukpángú).
• parák - 'early'
• párla - 'to call for', 'to ask for', 'to request (sb)'
• patjí - 'to travel', 'travel', 'journey', 'voyage'
• patjírálang - 'souvenir'
• pawúwa - 'belly button'
• páyí - 'to arrive', 'to reach'
• páyi - 'cloth'
• payí - 'prayer'
• payi - 'oak tree'
• pí - 'to drink'
• pígú - 'buttock', 'bottom' (of body)
• píla - 'spring'
• púdu - 'toe'
• púk - 'step', 'to step', 'to walk'
• púkú - 'to give'
• púpúk - 'foot'

Rr

• rálang - 'trinket', 'toy', 'device'
• ráwú - 'fire', 'burn'
• riwak - 'seed', 'kernel', 'centre', 'essential aspect'
• rul̗a - 'because', 'as', 'for'
• rutung - 'big', 'large'
• rúwak - 'valley', 'glen', dale'

R̗r̗

• r̗a- - prefix meaning 'without'
• r̗á - 'emperor'
• r̗ad̗u - 'unmoving', 'motionless', 'still'
• r̗akí - 'swamp', 'fen', 'marsh'
• r̗ákí - 'soon', 'quickly'
• r̗ak'ul - 'young'
• r̗al̗ínakú - 'genderless' (social state of children before the onset of puberty, see Gender and sexuality in Mák’ai.
• r̗áwu - 'glory', 'brilliance', 'success'
• r̗í - 'peak', 'height', 'tall'
• r̗íyúr̗ - 'mountain'
• r̗u - 'but', 'rather', 'instead'
• r̗úga - 'different', 'other'
• r̗úk - 'to do', 'to undertake', 'to participate in'
• r̗úgu - 'bread'
• r̗úwák - 'great', 'amazing', 'superior', 'perfect'
• r̗uwú - 'chin', 'point'

Tt

• tai - 'sky', 'heaven'
  • tai-gu - 'sun' (with fire classifier)
  • tai-pa - 'moon' (with Ngárduk classifier)
  • tai-wá - 'rain' (with water classifier)
• ták - 'river'
• talak - 'common', 'general', 'combined', 'shared'
• táng - 'letter', 'mail', 'post'
• t'ang - prefix meaning 'inter-', 'between', 'among', etc.
• t'angjúrak - 'international', 'foreign', 'abroad'
• t'iwár - 'cunning', 'intelligence', 'slyness'
• tjai - 'from', 'out of', 'against'; generally causes the noun complement to take genitive, except for describing being 'from' a country.
• tjak'á - 'to sit'
• tját̗'á - 'dirty', 'unclean', 'impure', 'messy'
• tjatju - 'quick', 'fast'
• tji - 'new', 'novel'
• tjí - 'peach'
• tjíbar̗ - 'upper arm'
• tjípángú - 'sexual partner' (someone whom you have sex with, regardless of in a romantic relationship or otherwise).
• tjún̗ák - 'teacher', 'instructor', 'master'
• tjúngai - 'forgive', 'allow'; 'to forgive X of Y' - X in dative, Y in accusative.
• tjunúk - 'root'
• tjurák - 'special', 'unique', 'individual'
• t'úng - 'forehead'
• turla - 'frost'
• t'urlá - 'food', 'nourishment'
• t'ur̗k'ung - 'throat'
• tuwu - 'elbow'

T̗t̗

• t̗ak - 'like', 'as', 'in the same way'
• t̗áng - 'torso', 'upper body'
• t̗ar - 'death', 'to die'
• t̗ar̗ - 'city', 'village', 'town'
• t̗í - 'voice'
• t̗'íngá - 'waist'
• t̗'íník - 'art', 'painting'
• t̗'it̗'i - 'knee'
• t̗íwu - 'know'
• t̗ur̗ - 'tooth'
• t̗'ur̗ - 'monarch', 'king', 'queen'
• t̗'ur̗gín - 'kingdom', 'realm'

Uu

• ubalái - 'visit', 'stay' (overnight)
• ukála - 'cold'
• úgu - 'also', 'too', 'as well'
• ungú - 'non-Mák’ai person'
• úwa - 'heel'
• úwái - 'painting', 'picture', 'drawing'

Ww

• wá - 'water'
• wái - 'to know how to', 'to be able to', 'can'
• -wai - adjectivising affix, '-al' in English.
• wáija - 'to sleep'
• wándi - 'lip' (body part)
• wanga - 'cheek'
• wat̗í - 'language', 'tongue'
• wayí - 'shoulder'
• wula - 'attractive', 'desirable'; 'to tempt', 'to seduce'
• wulái - 'road', 'street', 'direction'
• wulung - 'shop', 'store'
• wupatjí - 'hotel'
• wúr - 'winter'
• wurang - 'run'
• -wurung - suffix that turns a noun into an adjective.
• wuwái - 'gold', 'golden'
• wuyú - 'silver', 'white'

Yy

• yá - 'eye'
• yába - 'apple'
• yak - 'single', 'sole', 'only'
• yakmaláwurung - 'autonomous', 'self-sufficient'
• yán̗á - 'beauty', 'beautiful'
• yánai - 'doctor'
• yará - 'almost', 'nearly'
• yátjí - 'eyebrow'
• yáwai - 'coast'
• yí - 'to go'
• yín̗á - 'autumn', 'fall'
• yuk - 'south', 'southern'
• yuk'á - 'woman', 'female'
• yugí - 'lonely', 'alone'
• yún̗a - 'vagina'
• yun̗á - 'silver', 'precious', 'rare'

Greetings and other common phrases

Informal greetings and expressions:

• ít̗ák - 'hello'
• í - 'hi', 'hey'
• t̗ákí - 'bye'
• kayí - 'thanks'
• míka [name]-pak - 'my name is [name]', for a Ngárduk speaker.
• míka laí? - 'what is your name?' (lit. 'called who?')
• jíyí áwu - 'nice to meet you' (lit. 'meet good')
• ganái yuru? - 'how are you?', 'how are things?' (lit. 'time how').
• ján̗kái, ganái ján̗kái - 'I'm well', 'I'm good'

Formal greetings and expressions:

• kayít̗ar̗á - 'thank you'
• tákangakun míka [name]-pak - 'my name is [name]', for a Ngárduk speaker.
• tákak'an míka laí? - 'what is your name?', for a Ngárduk addressee (lit. 'who do they call you?').
• palíyán̗á - formal greeting during the day, 'good morning' or 'good day' (from 'beautiful sight').
• t̗ákáiur̗ngayí - formal greeting at night time, 'good night' or 'good evening' (from t̗ákáiur̗ngayí bukáiyak tai-gu, lit. 'may the sun be red')
• báwuk ngíngan - 'good bye', 'have a good day' (from 't̗ákáiur̗ngayí báwuk ngíngan, lit. 'may you be well')

Other:

• r̗u - 'no'
• t̗a - 'yes'

Personal names

Personal names in Mák’ai vary regionally, although traditionally consist of four to five components. These are as follows:

Father Name

The Father Name (Íla, sometimes called a First Name) is the name that individuals typically go by among friends. The Father Name is, as the name suggests, the name given to a child by their Ngárduk parent. The Father Name is always affixed with a gender noun classifier (see Mák’ai language/Lexicon#Noun classifiers below): -pa for a Ngárduk, -yu for a Márduk, or -ja for a T̗’úkai. Most names in Mák’ai are gender-neutral, with gender indicated by the classifier, although some names are more traditionally attributed to particular sexes (male or female) as opposed to genders. This is particularly common in certain regions of Mák’ai, particularly Nungái-la and western Makaigan. The twenty most common Father Names in 475.tk are as follows:

1. Yán̗á 2. Mar̗uk 3. Káiya 4. Liwu 5. T̗ála 6. K'úwai 7. Dugár 8. Míl̗í 9. Ak'ání 10. Wúrá

11. R̗ít̗an̗ 12. N̗íku 13. It'áru 14. Tjitjá 15. Járú 16. Áitji 17. Ngilár 18. Bátan̗ 19. Ítjár 20. Mwáni

In some regions of Mák’ai (particularly the southern islands), it is common for individuals to receive more than one Father Name, with the second typically being chosen by the T̗’úkai parent. Names themselves typically come either from historic or religious sources - such as Mar̗uk, K'úwai, or Liwu, all of which are the names of legendary ancient Mák’ai heroes - or are (typically archaic) adjectives describing some attribute of the child - such as Yán̗á (meaning 'beautiful') or Káiya (meaning 'red', itself being a colour associated with good luck). Some names also have hypocoristic (shortened) forms - such as Kái for Káiya or Du for Dugár - although these tend to be rare overall. Nicknames are common in Mák’ai society, but are often derived from an individual's actions or looks, rather than from their given Father Name.

Star Name

The Star Name (Aíwai) is the second name given to a Mák’ai person. It is chosen by the T̗’úkai parent and has an important role in traditional Mák’ai spirituality and religion. The Star Name is derived from traditional Mák’ai astrology and is based on the arrangement of stars at the time of birth of a child. The name consists of three parts, each of which corresponds to one element of the astrological condition of their birth:

• The star-spirit (mílai-a) they were born under.
• The division (ít̗'akuk-ngu) they were born under.
• The form (jar̗úmawai-ngu) that their appearance takes.

The star-spirit and division are based purely on the time of the year that the person is born under. The form is chosen by the T̗’úkai parent, often in conjunction with a shaman or spiritual leader, who use traditional magic/sight-seeing to determine the person's form.

The specific linguistic forms associated with each of these three elements are largely the same across Mák’ai and are given below:

• Mílai-ar Mánju (the twelve star-spirits):
  • Ták-a - The River (00.01-03.02)
  • Luk'ur-a - The Snake (04.02-06.03)
  • Ít̗'á-a - The Jumping-Mouse (07.03-09.04)
  • Mwák-a - The Hawk (10.04-25.05)
  • R̗úwúng-a - The Lightning-Tree (6.05-27.06)
  • L̗áwur̗-a - The Spider (28.06-01.08)
  • Bit'áwi-a - The Honeybee (01.08-02.09)
  • Rung-a - The Bear (03.09-04.10)
  • Mk'ár̗-a - The Tiger (05.10-06.11)
  • Mán̗áluk'ai-a - The Archer (07.11-22.12)
  • Juwái-a - The Elk (23.12-25.13)
  • Wál̗ír̗u-a - The Water-Horse (26.13-28.14)
• Ít̗'akuk-ngur Yúju (the three divisions):
  • Tjí - before, in front of (first third)
  • Nggáwa - below, under (second third)
  • Guk - 'behind, in the shadow of (final third)

While these two aspects given above depend entirely on the time of year an individual is born in, the Jar̗úmawak-ar T̗abá, or 'Five Planes', is chosen by the T̗’úkai parent. In traditional Mák'ai spirituality, at a person's time of birth, the spirit who they are born under will imbue the child with particular ability in one of five areas. The T̗’úkai parent, typically in combination with a local spiritual expert or priest, determines which of these five planes they feel the child to be gifted in. While this naming convention was important traditionally in determining one's future occupation, this remains mostly a tradition in contemporary Mák'ai with little practical relevance.

There are a suite of different verbs which can be chosen to represent the particular plane a person is associated with, each of which varies in its spiritual and personal connotations. Some of the most common verbs used associated with each plane are given below:

• Jar̗úmawai-ngur T̗abá (the five planes):
  • Ítárk'u - 'born' (gifted in the physical plane)
  • T̗íwu - 'know' (gifted in the intellectual plane)
  • Mruk'í - 'speak' (gifted in the social plane)
  • Lak'ú - 'hear' (gifted in the wisdom plane)
  • Palí - 'see' (gifted in the emotional plane)

Finally, Star Names themselves are constructed in a particular order. First, the spirit is given, followed by the plane, and finally the division. This particular construction is quite marked in Mák'ai-wa grammatically and is restricted almost entirely to these names. An an example, the Star Name Tákítárk'unggáwa can be analysed as consisting of three components - Ták, referring to 'The River' spirit; Ítárk'u, referring to the plane of 'birth'; and Nggáwa, referring to the division of 'under'. This Star Name, literally translating to 'born under the River', therefore means the individual is born sometime between the 11.01 and 21.01, and is associated with physiological prowess.

Earth Name

The Earth Name (Mún̗á) is the third name given to a Mák'ai individual and is determined by the place of birth. Parents may decide to give their child a Mún̗á identifying them with the broader city or state of their birth, or even, in particularly patriotic cases, with their country (Mák'aid̗ar was a particularly common Earth Name in the years following the end of the Mák'ai civil war). Where the parents have no particular desire for their child to be associated with a certain place, the location of the hospital of their birth is used.

Earth Names are formed simply by taking the name of the place where the person was born, removing any existing noun classifiers, and adding the suffix d̗ar, or occasionally t̗ir̗ú for some specific cities. Common Earth Names include the following:

• Mk'áit̗ir̗ú (from Mk'ái-t̗ir̗ú).
• T̗al̗áid̗ar (from T̗al̗ái).
• Kut̗úd̗ar (from a Ktoic state).
• It̗ard̗ar (from the state of Kut̗ú It̗ar).
• Mrúkd̗ar (from Lá Mrúk-kír).
• T'uláki (from T'ulá, note that the exceptional suffix here is unusual).
• Wuk'áid̗ar (from Wuk'ái-la).

Foreigners who take an Earth Name can do so using a Mak'aisation of their place of birth, or by taking the Earth Name T'angjúrakd̗ar, meaning 'foreign place of brith'.

Clan Names

The Clan Name, sometimes also called the Márduk Name (Márdukuk), is the final part of a Mák'ai personal name. It is inherited from the Márduk parent and is prototypically derived from a profession or place name. Clan names historically had a high degree of correlation with place, although the high degree of movement in modern Mák'ai means that this is no longer the case. The actual number of clan names is not very large (estimated to be less than 1,000), although there are many different variants of these names that exist. Typically, clan names are written using a traditional logograph, this being one of the remaining uses of logographs in Mák'ai society. These logographs have much more variation in them than their pronunciation, and hence this is the most regular way of distinguishing between common last names. The ten most common Clan Names in Mák'ai as of 475.tk are as follows. Variants are given in brackets:

1. R̗akí
2. Ráwú (Máráwúk'ai; Ráwúk'ai)
3. T'agán
4. Mak'í (Mák'aik'í)
5. K’úr̗ai
6. Júwu (Májúwuk'ai)
7. L̗itángu
8. Ílár̗ (Ílár̗k'ai)
9. N̗wak'í
10. Yárwa (Máyárwak'ai)

After marriage, it is traditional that the Ngárduk and T̗’úkai partners take the Clan name of the Márduk partner after their own Clan name. As a result, non-Márduk married individuals have two Clan names - their Márduk parent's followed by their Márduk spouse's.

Forms of address

In all forms of official governmental address, an individuals full Mák'ai name must be given, which will consist of a First Name, Star Name, Earth Name, Birth Clan Name, and Marriage Clan Name (if married). Among close friends or family, it is normal to be addressed purely by one's first name. In formal circumstances, individuals are typically addressed by their First Name and Star Name, usually with an accompanying honorific where applicable. Where a First or Star name is not known, people are usually addressed by their Clan name with the appropriate classifier. This is also typically the case for foreigners. These are illustrated in the following examples:

Full name: Dugár-pa Tákítárk'unggáwa Mk'áit̗ir̗ú Májúwuk'ai N̗wak'í

Birth name (before marriage): Dugár-pa Tákítárk'unggáwa Mk'áit̗ir̗ú Májúwuk'ai

Short official name: Dugár-pa Tákítárk'unggáwa N̗wak'í

Formal address: Dugár-pa Tákítárk'unggáwa

Formal address (unknown Star Name, more official): N̗wak'í-par̗u

Formal address (unknown Star Name, less official): Dugár-par̗u

Name among friends: Dugár-pa

Name among close friends: Du-pa

Titles

Alternative classifiers:

-par̗u = ngarduk

Kinship terms

Main article: Kinship in Mák’ai society.

Note that for the majority of the following kinship terms, gender is specified by using the relevant noun classifier, unless otherwise specified.

• Ámá - T̗’úkai parent (TP)
• Ábá - Márduk parent (MP)
• Át̗á - Ngárduk parent (NP)
• Jírak - older sibling (OS)
• Malumaluk - younger sibling (YS)
• Máma - T̗’úkai parent's T̗’úkai parent (TPTP)
• Bába - T̗’úkai parent's Márduk parent (TPMP)
• T̗áma - T̗’úkai parent's Ngárduk parent (TPNP)
• Bawái - Márduk parent's T̗’úkai parent (MPTP)
• Jíjí - Márduk parent's Márduk parent (MPMP)
• Balak - Márduk parent's Ngárduk parent (MPNP)
• Mími - Ngárduk parent's T̗’úkai parent (NPTP)
• Awá - Ngárduk parent's Márduk parent (NPMP)
• D̗ád̗a - Ngárduk parent's Ngárduk parent (NPNP)
• Yáwá - T̗’úkai parent's older sibling (TPOS)
• Gayáwá - T̗’úkai parent's older sibling's spouse (TPOSSp)
• Yámuluk - T̗’úkai parent's younger sibling (TPYS)
• Yáwulá - T̗’úkai parent's younger sibling's spouse (TPYSSp)
• Wáwá - Márduk parent's older sibling (MPOS)
• Gawáwá - Márduk parent's older sibling's spouse (MPOSSp)
• Wábi - Márduk parent's younger sibling (MPYS)
• Wábiwábi - Márduk parent's younger sibling's spouse (MPYSSp)
• Nalú - Ngárduk parent's older sibling (NPOS)
• Galú - Ngárduk parent's older sibling's spouse (nPOSSp)
• Nákínákí - Ngárduk parent's younger sibling (NPYS)
• Dala - Ngárduk parent's younger sibling's spouse (NPYSSp)

Paradigms

Verbal pronouns

Pronoun Declension Chart (Nominative):

Singular:
Person:		Inanimate/Non-Mák’ai:	Animate:
			Ngárduk	Márduk	T̗’úkai
1st:		ba	nga	ngá	nu
2nd:		ru	ngí		lai
3rd:	Proximate:	ra	ngu		ngái
	Distal:	táru	tángu		tjái
Dual:
1st:	Inclusive:	mba	ngaí		mlai
	Exclusive		ngaír		mnur
2nd:		ran	nngaí	ńngaí	mlan
3rd:	Proximate:	mra	kúngnu	kúngnú	ngálai
	Distal:	támra	tángnu	tángnú	jánu
Plural:
1st:	Inclusive:	mba	mk'a	mk'á	k'u
	Exclusive		mk'ar	mk'ár	k'ur
2nd:		lamwa	mk'awa	mk'áwá	k'uwa
3rd:	Proximate:	mrawa	kúngwa	kúngwá	ngálaiwa
	Distal:	táwa	táka	táká	já

Pronoun Declension Chart (Accusative):

Singular:
Person:		Inanimate/Non-Mák’ai:	Animate:
			Ngárduk	Márduk	T̗’úkai
1st:		bak	ngaku	ngáku	ku
2nd:		ruk	k'a		lu
3rd:	Proximate:	ru	k'u		k'ulu
	Distal:	tú	t'ú		t'úlu
Dual:
1st:	Inclusive:	bar	k'í		yi
	Exclusive		k'ír		yir
2nd:		bu	ba		mí
3rd:	Proximate:	lí	kúngku	kúngkú	ma
	Distal:	lír	tangka	tangká	maka
Plural:
1st:	Inclusive:	bar	mgu	mgú	n̗u
	Exclusive		mgur	mgúr	n̗ur
2nd:		n̗t'ar	t'ai	t'ái	n̗t'a
3rd:	Proximate:	lam	gai	gái	t'awa
	Distal:	tala	tágai	tágái	t'awar

Pronoun Declension Chart (Ergative):

Singular:
Person:		Inanimate/Non-Mák’ai:	Animate:
			Ngárduk	Márduk	T̗’úkai
1st:		mí	mu	mú	n̗í
2nd:		mír	d̗a		n̗ír
3rd:	Proximate:	lá	ma	má	tja
	Distal:	lár	mar	már	tjawu
Dual:
1st:	Inclusive:	mír	r̗u		pa
	Exclusive		r̗ur		pawu
2nd:		bi	wuli	wulí	palí
3rd:	Proximate:	ga	ngr̗u	ngr̗ú	mpa
	Distal:	gang	tagang	tagáng	mpar
Plural:
1st:	Inclusive:	mír	li	lí	gar
	Exclusive		lir	lír	garwu
2nd:		nda	da	dang	dagar
3rd:	Proximate:	na	wuda	wudá	wugar
	Distal:	nawa	bawa	báwa	garwa

Pronoun Declension Chart (Absolutive):

Singular:
Person:		Inanimate/Non-Mák’ai:	Animate:
			Ngárduk	Márduk	T̗’úkai
1st:		wu	t̗'u	t̗'ú	ya
2nd:		t̗'á	t̗'í		t̗'alai
3rd:	Proximate:	kái	t̗'a		t̗'ái
	Distal:	t̗ákái	t̗at̗'a		t̗at̗'ái
Dual:
1st:	Inclusive:	mwa	waí		mlá
	Exclusive		wayír		mláwu
2nd:		t̗'ár	n̗t̗'i	n̗t̗'í	n̗lá
3rd:	Proximate:	tayí	tu		tái
	Distal:	táyí	tátu		tátjái
Plural:
1st:	Inclusive:	mwa	t̗'ak'a	t̗'ak'á	t̗'ak'u
	Exclusive		t̗'ak'ar	t̗'ak'ár	t̗'ak'ur
2nd:		lat̗'u	t̗'awa	t̗'áwá	t̗'áwa
3rd:	Proximate:	ramwa	k'uwa	k'uwá	lat̗'uwa
	Distal:	tamwa	k'uta	k'utá	lat̗'utu

Pronoun Declension Chart (Dative):

Singular:
Person:		Inanimate/Non-Mák’ai:	Animate:
			Ngárduk	Márduk	T̗’úkai
1st:		ban̗	n̗u	n̗ú	n̗uja
2nd:		n̗ga	nggan̗		n̗gai
3rd:	Proximate:	n̗u	n̗ulu		n̗uja
	Distal:	wan̗	n̗uwa		n̗ujar
Dual:
1st:	Inclusive:	n̗ba	n̗bai		n̗jai
	Exclusive		n̗bayir		n̗jayir
2nd:		n̗bu	n̗uk	n̗úk	n̗ujuk
3rd:	Proximate:	ya	yan̗	yán̗	ján̗
	Distal:	yawa	yan̗wa	yán̗wa	ján̗wa
Plural:
1st:	Inclusive:	n̗ba	n̗k'a	n̗k'á	n̗tu
	Exclusive		n̗k'ar	n̗k'ár	n̗tur
2nd:		tu	tubu	tubur	tuk
3rd:	Proximate:	yi	wayi	wáyi	n̗wai
	Distal:	yí	tayi	táyi	n̗tai

Non-personal pronouns

Declinable non-personal pronouns in Mák’ai-wa

Function	Type	Nominative/Absolutive	Accusative	Ergative	Dative	Genitive	Instrumental	Locative
'This'	Thing	á 'this'	ák 'this'	ál̗á 'this'	án̗á 'to this'	ár 'of this'	áwá 'with this'	ár 'in this'
	Person	lá 'this one'	lák 'this one'	lál̗á 'this one'	lán̗á 'to this one'	lár 'of this one'	láwá 'with this one'	láyú 'at this one'
'That'	Thing	át̗a 'that'	át̗ak 'that'	át̗al̗á 'that'	át̗an̗á 'to that'	át̗ar 'of that'	át̗awá 'with that'	át̗ar 'in that'
	Person	lát̗á 'that one'	lát̗ák 'that one'	lát̗ál̗á 'that one'	lát̗án̗á 'to that one'	lát̗ár 'of that one'	lát̗áwá 'with that one'	lát̗ár 'at that one'
'Some'	Thing	muk 'something'	mukuk 'something'	ml̗á 'something'	mn̗á 'to something'	mur 'of something'	mwá 'with something'	mru 'in something, at something'
	Person	múk'ai 'someone'	múk'ait̗ák 'someone'	múk'ail̗á 'someone'	múk'ain̗á 'to someone'	múk'ayir 'of someone'	múk'aiwá 'with someone'	múk'ayir 'at someone'
'None'	Thing	r̗ukuk 'nothing'	kur̗uk 'nothing'	r̗ukl̗á 'nothing'	r̗un̗ák 'to nothing'	r̗urák 'of nothing'	r̗uwák 'with nothing'	-
	Person	r̗úk'ai 'no one'	r̗úk'ait̗ák 'no one'	r̗úk'ail̗á 'no one'	r̗úk'ain̗á 'to no one'	r̗úk'ayir 'of no one'	r̗úk'aiwá 'with no one'	r̗úk'ayir 'at no one'
'Every'	Thing	ír̗uk 'everything'	kír̗uk 'everything'	ír̗l̗á 'everything'	ír̗n̗á 'to everything'	ír̗á 'of everything'	ír̗wá 'with everything'	ír̗á 'in everything'
	Person	mír̗ 'everyone'	mír̗ak 'everyone'	mír̗l̗á 'everyone'	n̗mír̗ 'to everyone'	mír̗ur 'of everyone'	mír̗wá 'with everyone'	n̗mír̗ 'at everyone'
'Many'	Thing	mbá 'everything'	mbák 'everything'	mbál̗á 'everything'	mbán̗á 'to everything'	mbár 'of everything'	mbáwá 'with everything'	mbár 'in everything'
	Person	mbák'ai 'everyone'	mbák'ayak 'everyone'	mbál̗ák'ai 'everyone'	mbán̗ák'ai 'to everyone'	mbárk'ai 'of everyone'	mbáwák'ai 'with everyone'	mbárk'ai 'at everyone'
'Most'	Thing	mn̗ábá 'everything'	mn̗ábák 'everything'	mn̗ábál̗á 'everything'	mn̗ábán̗á 'to everything'	mn̗ábár 'of everything'	mn̗ábáwá 'with everything'	mn̗ábár 'in everything'
	Person	mn̗ábák'ai 'everyone'	mn̗ábák'ayak 'everyone'	mn̗ábál̗ák'ai 'everyone'	mn̗ábán̗ák'ai 'to everyone'	mn̗ábárk'ai 'of everyone'	mn̗ábáwák'ai 'with everyone'	mn̗ábárk'ai 'at everyone'
'Any'	Thing	párá 'anything'	párák 'anything'	párál̗á 'anything'	pán̗á 'to anything'	pár 'of anything'	páwá 'with anything'	pár 'in anything'
	Person	lipárá 'anyone'	lipák 'anyone'	lipál̗á 'anyone'	lin̗ápá 'to anyone'	lipár 'of anyone'	liwápá 'with anyone'	lipár 'at anyone'

Indeclinable non-personal pronouns in Mák’ai-wa

	Query	'This'	'That'	'Some'	'None'	'Every'	'Many'	'Most'	'Any'
Adjective	kí 'which'	á 'this'	át̗a 'that'	mni 'some'	r̗uk 'no'	ír̗u 'every'	mbá 'many'	mn̗ábá 'most'	pá 'any'
Place	t̗ayíd̗a 'where'	d̗ad̗a 'here'	t̗ad̗a 'there'	d̗am 'somewhere'	r̗ud̗a 'nowhere'	ír̗d̗a 'everywhere'	mbád̗a 'many places'	mn̗ábád̗a 'most places'	pád̗a 'anywhere'
Time	t̗atjú 'when'	tjúdai 'now'	t̗atjú 'then'	mtjú 'sometime'	r̗alá 'never'	ír̗lá 'always'	mbár̗lá 'often'	mn̗ábár̗lá 'very often'	pátjú 'any time'
Way	yuru 'how'	yurá 'in this way'	yurát̗a 'thus'	myur 'somehow'	-	ír̗bagan 'in every way'	mbágan 'in many ways'	n̗ábágan 'in most ways'	páyur 'in any way'
Reason	jád̗u 'why'	jáyád̗u 'for this reason'	jáyád̗u át̗a 'for that reason'	mjád̗u 'for some reason'	jár̗u 'for no reason'	-	-	-	jápá 'for any reason'

Classifiers

Singular

Case	pa (ngárduk)	yu (márduk)	ja (t̗'úkai)	kí (non-Mák’ai person, children, animals)	a (spirit, deity)	mú (plant matter)	n̗i (food, edible substances)	na (tool, weapon)	gu (fire, heat)	wa (language, sounds)	wá (water, aquatic animals)	d̗a (time and space)	ngu (generic)	t̗ir̗ (archaic)
Nominative	pa	yu	ja	kí	a	mú	n̗i	na	gu	wa	wá	d̗a	ngu	t̗ir̗
Absolutive	pa	yu	ja	kí	a	mú	n̗i	na	gu	wa	wá	d̗a	ngu	t̗ir̗
Accusative	pak	yuk	jak	kíyak	á	múk	n̗ik	nak	guk	wak	wák	d̗ak	ngut̗ak	t̗ir̗ak
Ergative	pal̗a	yul̗a	jal̗a	kíl̗a	ar	múl̗a	n̗il̗a	nal̗a	gul̗a	wal̗a	wál̗a	d̗al̗a	ngul̗a	t̗ir̗a
Dative	pan̗u	yun̗u	jan̗u	kín̗u	án̗	mún̗u	n̗in̗u	nan̗u	gun̗u	wan̗u	wán̗u	d̗an̗u	ngun̗	t̗ir̗un̗
Genitive	par	yur	jur	kír	áyú	múr	n̗ir	nar	gur	war	wár	d̗ar	ngur	t̗ir̗ur
Instrumental	pawá	yuwá	jawá	kíwá	áwá	múwá	n̗iwá	na	guwá	wawá	wáwá	d̗awá	nguwá	t̗ir̗wá
Locative	par	yuú	jur	kír	áyú	múr	n̗ir	nar	guú	war	wár	d̗ar	nguú	t̗ir̗ú

Dual

Case	pa (ngárduk)	yu (márduk)	ja (t̗'úkai)	kí (non-Mák’ai person, children, animals)	a (spirit, deity)	mú (plant matter)	n̗i (food, edible substances)	na (tool, weapon)	gu (fire, heat)	wa (language, sounds)	wá (water, aquatic animals)	d̗a (time and space)	ngu (generic)
Nominative	pan̗	yun̗	jan̗	kín̗	an̗	mún̗	n̗in̗	nan̗	gun̗	wan̗	wán̗	d̗an̗	ngun̗
Absolutive	pan̗	yun̗	jan̗	kín̗	an̗	mún̗	n̗in̗	nan̗	gun̗	wan̗	wán̗	d̗an̗	ngun̗
Accusative	pan̗ak	yun̗ak	jan̗ak	kín̗ak	án̗	mún̗ak	n̗in̗ak	nan̗ak	gun̗ak	wan̗ak	wán̗ak	d̗an̗ak	ngun̗ak
Ergative	pan̗l̗a	yun̗l̗a	jan̗l̗a	kín̗l̗a	aran̗	mún̗l̗a	n̗in̗l̗a	nan̗l̗a	gun̗l̗a	wan̗l̗a	wán̗l̗a	d̗an̗l̗a	ngun̗l̗a
Dative	pan̗un̗	yun̗un̗	jan̗un̗	kín̗un̗	n̗án̗	mún̗un̗	n̗in̗un̗	nan̗un̗	gun̗un̗	wan̗un̗	wán̗un̗	d̗an̗un̗	ngun̗u
Genitive	pan̗ar	yun̗ur	jun̗ur	kín̗ir	áyún̗	mún̗ur	n̗in̗ir	nan̗ar	gun̗ur	wan̗ar	wán̗ar	d̗an̗ar	ngun̗ur
Instrumental	pan̗wá	yun̗wá	jan̗wá	kín̗wá	án̗wá	mún̗wá	n̗in̗wá	nan̗	gun̗wá	wan̗wá	wán̗wá	d̗an̗wá	ngun̗wá
Locative	pan̗ar	yun̗ú	jun̗ur	kín̗ir	áyún̗	mún̗ur	n̗in̗ir	nan̗ar	gun̗ú	wan̗ar	wán̗ar	d̗an̗ar	ngun̗ú

Plural

Case	pa (ngárduk)	yu (márduk)	ja (t̗'úkai)	kí (non-Mák’ai person, children, animals)	a (spirit, deity)	mú (plant matter)	n̗i (food, edible substances)	na (tool, weapon)	gu (fire, heat)	wa (language, sounds)	wá (water, aquatic animals)	d̗a (time and space)	ngu (generic)
Nominative	par	yur	jar	kír	ar	múr	n̗ir	nar	gur	war	wár	d̗ar	ngur
Absolutive	par	yur	jar	kkír	ar	múr	n̗ir	nar	gur	war	wár	d̗ar	ngur
Accusative	parak	yurak	jarak	kírak	ár	múrak	n̗irak	narak	gurak	warak	wárak	d̗arak	ngurak
Ergative	parl̗a	yurl̗a	jarl̗a	kírla	l̗ur	múrl̗a	n̗irl̗a	narl̗a	gurl̗a	warl̗a	wárl̗a	d̗arl̗a	ngurl̗a
Dative	pan̗ur	yun̗ur	jan̗ur	kín̗ur	n̗ur	mún̗ur	n̗in̗ur	nan̗ur	gun̗ur	wan̗ur	wán̗ur	d̗an̗ur	ngun̗ur
Genitive	n̗par	n̗yur	n̗jur	n̗kír	áyúr	n̗múr	n̗iru	n̗aru	n̗gur	n̗war	n̗wár	n̗d̗ar	nguru
Instrumental	parwá	yurwá	jarwá	kírwá	árwá	múrwá	n̗irwá	nar	gurwá	warwá	wárwá	d̗arwá	ngurwá
Locative	n̗par	yurú	n̗jur	n̗kír	áyúr	n̗múr	n̗iru	n̗aru	gurú	n̗war	n̗wár	n̗d̗ar	ngurú

See also

• Mák’ai
• Mák’ai language