zu
Keywords: core, determiners, articles, nouns, pronouns
| Pronunciation (IPA): | θu |
|---|---|
| Part of Speech: | determiner |
| Class: | article pronoun |
| Forms: | zu, ju, iju, zun, zur, jur, ijur, zunar, zus, juz, ijuz, zunas |
| Glosses: | you, y'all, you guys |
Description:
The article 'zu' is the second person article and pronoun in Common. It acts like any other Common determiner in that it can take a head term, and if the head term is ommitted by modifiers, modifying terms or modifying expressions are used, a dummy head term 'yn' is mandatory. Head terms used with 'zu' are most often personal names, titles or honourifics.
It is actually very common to use a head term with 'zu'. The nominative is often used with a personal name or honourific as a sort of vocative case. Formal or polite forms of address use an honourific head term. Turned around, it is also often used with impolite words to form invective.
| Case/Number: | Singular | Pron. | Paucal | Pron. | Plural | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolutive | zu | θu | zur | θur | zus | θus |
| Ergative | ju | ju | jur | jur | juz | juθ |
| Dative | iju | 'i.ju | ijur | 'i.jur | ijuz | 'i.juθ |
| Nominative | zun | θun | zunar | 'θu.nar | zunas | 'θu.nas |
The irregularity of the plural ending is part of the language's original design and was explained by the language's creator, Peter K. Davidson, to have resulted from dissilimation.