Falamu (native: [fælǽˑmʉ]) is a creole language based on Somali and Portuguese.
Introduction
Etymology
From early Falamu (nu) falâmu "we (incl.) speak" (= modern Falamu é nu fâla) < Portuguese (nós) falamos "we speak".
Phonology
Orthography
Phonetic script
Note that in this article, accents are used for clarity. They are normally omitted in writing.
Consonants
| Letter |
IPA |
Remarks
|
| b |
b |
|
| d |
d ~ ð |
/ð/ between vowels or after /h/
|
| f |
f |
|
| g |
ɡ |
|
| h |
h |
|
| j |
dʒ ~ tʃ |
Free variation
|
| k |
k |
|
| l |
l |
|
| m |
m |
|
| n |
n ~ ŋ |
/ŋ/ syllable finally, /n/ otherwise.
|
| ny |
ɲ ~ j̃ |
Free variation
|
| r |
r |
|
| s |
s |
|
| t |
t |
|
| w |
w |
|
| x |
ʃ |
|
| y |
j |
|
Monophthong vowels
| Letter |
IPA |
Remarks
|
| "Front" |
"Back"
|
| a |
æ |
ɑ |
|
| e |
e |
ɛ |
|
| i |
i |
ɪ |
|
| o |
ɞ |
ɔ |
|
| u |
ʉ |
ʊ |
|
Diphthong vowels
| Letter |
IPA |
Remarks
|
| "Front" |
"Back"
|
| ay |
æi |
ɑɪ |
|
| aw |
æʉ |
ɑʊ |
|
| ey |
ei |
ɛɪ |
|
| oy |
ɞi |
— |
|
| ow |
ɞʉ |
ɔʊ
|
Consonants
Vowels
- A word cannot begin in a vowel. Instead, a glottal stop is inserted.
- Each vowel has a "front" and "back" variety. This is the basis of vowel harmony.
Prosody
Accent
Intonation
Phonotactics
- Syllable structure: CV(C) - where V is a vowel or diphthong
- No consonant clusters except at syllable boundaries.
Morphophonology
Phonological history
Phonological correspondences between Portuguese and Falamu
| Portuguese |
Falamu |
Remarks
|
| Grapheme |
Environment |
Grapheme |
IPA
|
| lh |
all |
j |
|
|
| ch |
|
|
| j |
initial |
|
|
| g |
initial before e/i |
|
|
| x |
all as /ʃ/ |
x |
|
|
| j |
non-initial |
|
|
| g |
non-initial before e/i |
|
|
| v |
all |
b |
|
|
| p |
|
| b |
|
| s(s) |
all |
s |
|
| z |
|
| ç |
|
| c |
before e/i |
|
Morphology
Pronouns
Nouns
Plural
Formation
The plural is regularly formed in the following ways:
- Nouns ending in a vowel add -s - e.g. óju "eye" -> ójus "eyes"
- Nouns ending in a consonant add -is - e.g. dêd "finger, toe" -> dêdis "fingers, toes"
- Nouns ending in -n change it to -ny- before adding -is - e.g. mán "hand" -> mányis "hands"
Usage
Nouns are generally used in the singular when used with numerals.
Verbs
Verb stems
Verb stems
| Form |
Formation |
Examples |
Remarks
|
| Infinitive |
Base stem with final accent |
falâ "(to) speak" |
|
| Present |
Base stem with penultimate accent |
fâla "speak(s)" |
The accent is final in monosyllabic verbs.
|
| Past |
Infinitive + -ba |
falâba "spoke" |
|
| Passive participle |
Infinitive + -d |
falâd "spoken" |
|
Irregular verbs:
Irregular verbs
| Infinitive |
Present stem |
Past stem |
Meaning
|
| sê |
é |
éra |
"to be"
|
| tê |
tên |
têba |
"to have"
|
| bî |
bên |
bîba |
"to come"
|
| bô |
bôn |
bôba |
"to put"
|
Verb tenses
Tenses
| Form |
Formation |
Examples |
Remarks
|
| Simple present |
Present stem |
é li fâla "he speaks" |
|
| Present prospective/subjunctive |
Infinitive |
é mi falâ "I'll speak"; ki mi falâ "that I speak" |
|
| Present progressive |
tá + infinitive |
é bu tá falâ "you (sg.) are speaking" |
|
| Simple past |
Past stem |
é nus falâba "we (excl.) spoke" |
|
| Past progressive |
tá + past |
é nu tá falâba "we (incl.) were speaking" |
|
| Past remote |
já + past |
é mi já falâba "I spoke (a long time ago)" |
|
| Future |
kére + infinitive |
é bu kére falâ "you will speak" |
kére is the present tense of keré "to want"
|
| Future subjunctive |
keré + infinitive |
ki bu keré falâ "that you will speak" |
|
Notes:
- As the table shows, keré "to want" + infinitive is used to form the future. In order to express a desire, a subjunctive phrase is used. For example:
- é mi kére falâ "I will speak" (lit. "I want speak") , versus
- é mi kére ki mi falâ "I want to speak" (lit. "I want that I speak")
Voice
Pseudopassive is formed with the impersonal subject pronoun si.
Particles
Focus particles
- é: used to form main clauses
Postpositions
Syntax
Constituent order
Noun phrase
Verb phrase
Sentence phrase
Dependent clauses
Sample Texts
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 1)
Regular:
Adamis ses tod e lis nase kan lis se hor i nibrad na orra i deretus. E si daba rason i damir, ma e ki biso otu biso kuli li axi komu irmon.
Phonetic:
Âdamis ses tôd é lis náse kán lis sê hór i nibrád na órra i derêtus. É si dába rasón i damír, ma é ki bisó ôtu bisó kûli li âxi kómu irmón.
Portuguese-based:
Âdamis ses tôd é lis násce cã lis sê hór i nibrád na órra i derêtus. É si dába razõ i damír, ma é qui pissó ôtu pissó cûli li âji cómu irmõ.
IPA:
/ǽðæmis ses tɞ́d ɛ́ lɪs nɑ́sɛ kɑ́ŋ lis sé hɔ́r i nɪbrɑ́d nɑ ʔɔ́rːɑ i derétʉs || ɛ́ si dɑ́bɑ rɑsɔ́ŋ ɪ dɑmɪ́r | mɑ ʔɛ́ kɪ bɪsɔ́ ɞ́tʉ bɪsɔ́ kʉ́li li ʔǽʃi kɔ́mu ʔɪrmɔ́ŋ/
Gloss:
human-PL 3P.POSS all FOC 3P be_born while 3P be free and level in dignity and rights. FOC IMPRS give-PST reason and conscience, and FOC that person other person with 3S act like brother.
Translation:
All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are given reason and conscience, and a person must behave towards other people like a brother.
Other resources
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