Wamesa and Tongan/Contrastive Grammar

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ton-wad tests

Present Tense

Both Wamesa and Tongan have dual person (as well as singular and plural).
We (dual) are happy.

  • (ton) ʻoku ma fiefia → (wad) tusanevesie
    (ton) ʻoku<aux><v><present> ma<prn><prepd><p1><exl><du> fiefia<adj> → (wad) tusanevesie<adj><p1><du><excl>

Sentence structure

Tongan sentences have a VSO word order while Wamesa has a SVO structure.
She is not sick.

  • (ton) ʻoku ʻikai ke puke → (wad) pota va
    (ton) ʻoku<vaux><present> ʻikai<neg> ke<prn><prepd><p3><sg> puke<adj> → (wad) pota<adj><p3><sg> va<neg>

Human vs Nonhuman

Wamesa marks humanness on verbs and adjectives, while Tongan has no such alteration.
They (human) are happy.

  • (ton) ʻoku nau lata → (wad) setisanevesie
    (ton) ʻoku<aux><v><present> nau<prn><prepd><p3><pl> lata<adj> → (wad) setisanevesie<adj><p3><pl><hum>

Ordinary/emotional possessive pronouns

Tongan has an emotional marker for possession, while Wamesa has no such feature.
My pig. (My cherished pig).

  • (ton) siʻaku puaka → (wad) pimunapat
    (ton) siʻaku<prn><poss><ind><p1><excl><sg><emotional> puaka<n><sg> → (wad) pimunapat<n><p1><poss>

Noun Pluralization

Wamesa and Tongan alter noun forms based on number.
The dogs are sick.

  • (ton) ʻoku puke e fanga kuli → (wad) wonapasiat sipota
    (ton) ʻoku<aux><v><present> sick<adj> e<adj><def> fanga<cl><pl> kuli<n><pl> → (wad) wonapasiat<n><def><pl> sipota<adj><p3><pl><nohum>

wad-ton tests

Present Tense

Both Wamesa and Tongan have dual person (as well as singular and plural).
We (dual) are happy.

  • (wad) tusanevesie → (ton) ʻoku ma fiefia
    (wad) tusanevesie<adj><p1><du><excl> → (ton) ʻoku<aux><v><present> ma<prn><prepd><p1><exl><du> fiefia<adj>

Sentence structure

Wamesa sentences have SVO word order while Tongan sentences are VSO.
She is not sick.

  • (wad) piota va → (ton) ʻoku ʻikai ke puke
    (wad) piota<adj><p3><sg> va<neg> → (ton) ʻoku<aux><v><present> ʻikai<adj> ke<prn><prepd><p2><sg> puke<adj>

Human vs Nonhuman

Wamesa marks humanness on verbs and adjectives, while Tongan has no such alteration.
They (human) are happy.

  • (wad) setisanevesie → (ton) ʻoku nau lata kinautolu
    (wad) setisanevesie<adj><p3><pl><hum> → (ton) ʻoku<aux><v><present> nau<prn><prepd><p3><pl> lata<adj> kinautolu<prn><postd><p3><pl>

Ordinary/emotional possessive pronouns

Tongan has an emotional marker for possession, while Wamesa has no such feature.
My pig. (My cherished pig).

  • (wad) pimunapat → (ton) siʻaku puaka
    (wad) pimunapat<n><p1><poss> → (ton) siʻaku<prn><poss><emotional> puaka<n><sg>

Noun Pluralization

Wamesa and Tongan alter noun forms based on number.
The dogs are sick.

  • (wad) wonapasiat sipota → (ton) ʻoku puke e fanga kuli
    (wad) wonapasiat<n><def><pl> sipota<adj><p3><pl><nohum> → (ton) ʻoku<aux><v><present> sick<adj> e<adj><def> fanga<cl><pl> kuli<n><pl>