Difference between revisions of "Kamba and English/ContrastiveGrammar"

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== Kam-Eng Tests ==
 
== Kam-Eng Tests ==
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=== Sentence Structure / Word Order ===
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=== Noun - Determiner --> Determiner - Noun ===
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When translating from Kamba to English, you would need to re-order the words in the sentence to match English word order, and also translate the demonstrative adjective and predicate adjective correctly. Similarly, when translating from English to Kamba, you would need to re-order the words in the sentence to match Kamba word order and ensure that you use the correct demonstrative adjective and predicate adjective.
 
  
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Ilinda yĩĩ ni yaasa.|This dress is long.}}
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Because Kamba is a noun-modifier language, its nouns precede the determiner, in these cases, the demonstrative that modifies it, whereas in English, a modifier-noun language, the demonstrative precedes the noun it modifies.
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Ilinda{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl5}}{{tag|sg}} yĩĩ{{tag|dem}} ni{{tag|v}} yaasa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl5}}|This{{tag|dem}} dress{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} is{{tag|v}} long{{tag|adj}}}}
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|ilinda yĩĩ nĩ yaasa.|This dress is long.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|linda{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl5}}{{tag|sg}} a{{tag|dem}}{{tag|det}}{{tag|cl5}}{{tag|sg}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|prc}} asa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl5}}{{tag|sg}}|This{{tag|det}}{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}} dress{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}}{{tag|p3}}{{tag|sg}} long{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sint}}}}
  
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In kamba the sentence directly/literally translates to “dress this is long” in english the determiner precedes the noun.
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Vulana ĩĩ nĩ nene.| This jersey is big.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Vulana{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl9}} a{{tag|dem}}{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|prc}} asa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}}|This{{tag|det}}{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}} jersey{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}}{{tag|p3}}{{tag|sg}} big{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sint}}}}
  
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Vulana ii ni nene.| This jersey is big.}}
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=== Noun - Possessive Pronoun --> Possessive Pronoun - Noun ===
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Vulana{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}} ii{{tag|dem}} ni{{tag|v}} yaasa{{tag|adg}}{{tag|cl9}}|This{{tag|dem}} jersey{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} is{{tag|v}} big{{tag|adj}}}}
 
  
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=== Noun Classes ===
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For similar reasons as described above, nouns precede possessive pronouns in Kamba. In English, possessive pronouns precede nouns because it is a modifier-noun language.
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The noun class system in Kamba is another significant contrastive grammar difference between Kamba and English. In Kamba, nouns are classified into different categories or classes based on their characteristics, such as their gender, shape, size, and other features. Noun prefixes can change depending on various factors such as the tense, aspect, and mood of the verb in the sentence.  
 
  
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{{transferTest|kam|eng|Ilinda yĩĩ ni yaasa.|This dress is long.}}
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Ng’ombe aĩva tikiti wake. | Cow paid her fare.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Ilinda{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl5}}{{tag|sg}} yĩĩ{{tag|dem}} ni{{tag|v}} yaasa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl5}}|This{{tag|dem}} dress{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} is{{tag|v}} long{{tag|adj}}.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|g’ombe{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}} iv{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|perf}}{{tag|p3}}{{tag|sg}} tikiti{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}} ake{{tag|prn}}{{tag|pos}}|Cow{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} pay{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|past}} her{{tag|det}}{{tag|pos}}{{tag|sp}} fare{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}}}}
  
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In Kamba, the noun class 5 prefix "i-" is added to the noun "ilinda" to indicate that it belongs to that class.
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng| Mutui wakwa nunuukama ng’ombe siaku | My neighbor is milking your cows}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Mutui{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl}}{{tag|}} akwa{{tag|prn}}{{tag|pos}} kama{{tag|v}}{{tag|prc}}{{tag|p3}}{{tag|sg}} g’ombe{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl10}}{{tag|pl}} siaku{{tag|prn}}{{tag|pos}}|My{{tag|det}}{{tag|pos}}{{tag|sp}} neighbor{{tag|n}}{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}}{{tag|p3}}{{tag|sg}} milk{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|pprs}} your{{tag|det}}{{tag|pos}}{{tag|sp}} cows{{tag|n}}{{tag|pl}}}}
  
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{{transferTest|kam|eng|Ngovia ii ni nini.|This hat is small.}}
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=== Noun - Adjective --> Adjective - Noun ===
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Ngovia{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl9}} ii{{tag|dem}} ni{{tag|v}} nini{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl9}}|This{{tag|dem}} hat{{tag|n}} is{{tag|v}} small{{tag|adj}}.}}
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Again, because modifiers generally follow their nouns in Kamba, whereas the opposite is true in English, this is also true for adjectives, and we will have to have some structural transfer rules for this case as well.  
  
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The noun class 9 prefix "n-" is added to the noun "ngovia" to indicate that it belongs to that class.
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Mbũi Ngiti na Ng’ombe nĩ anyanyae anene.|Goat, Dog, and Cow are great friends.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|bũi{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}}giti{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}} na{{tag|cnjcoo}} g’ombe{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl9}}{{tag|sg}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|prc}} nyanya{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl2}}{{tag|pl}} anene{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl2}}{{tag|pl}}|Goat{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} dog{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} and{{tag|cnjcoo}} cow{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}} great{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sint}} friends{{tag|n}}{{tag|pl}}}}
  
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=== Adjective Classes ===
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Nĩtũũtandĩthya mĩkonzo myeũ.|We are trading new poles.}}
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In Kamba, adjectives are classified into different classes based on the noun they modify. In Kamba, each adjective corresponds to a specific noun class. The adjective must agree with the noun it modifies in terms of gender and number, as well as class. Conversely, when translating from English to Kamba, the adjective must be placed after the noun and its form must be adjusted to match the noun class.
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|tandĩthy{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|prc}}{{tag|p1}}{{tag|pl}} konzo{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl4}}{{tag|pl}} eũ{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl4}}{{tag|pl}}|prpers{{tag|prn}}{{tag|subj}}{{tag|p1}}{{tag|mf}}{{tag|pl}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}} trade{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|pprs}} new{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sint}} poles{{tag|n}}{{tag|pl}}}}
  
 
=== Complex Verb Tense System ===
 
=== Complex Verb Tense System ===
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Kamba has a complex verb system that includes tense, aspect, mood, and negation markers.  In English, tense, aspect, mood, and negation are often expressed using separate words or constructions, while in Kamba, these features are marked using specific affixes attached to the verb stem.
 
  
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=== No Definite articles ===
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Kamba has a complex verb system that includes tense, aspect, mood, and negation markers.  In English, tense, aspect, mood, and negation are often expressed using separate words or constructions, while in Kamba, these features are marked using specific affixes attached to the verb stem. The subject is also optional if it can be determined from the person and number of the verb in Kamba, so pronoun insertion also needs to happen. (Also good to mention that there's no distinction between the present and future, which is a more disambiguation-ish thing, but also is more about the larger context than that can handle probably).  
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In English, we use the definite article "the" to refer to specific or previously mentioned nouns. For example, "the dog" refers to a particular dog that has already been mentioned or is known to both the speaker and listener. However, in Kamba, there is no equivalent definite article. Instead, the noun classes and contextual information are used to indicate specificity.
 
  
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{{transferTest|kam|eng|Ndeleva amea maive tikiti.|The driver asked them to pay their fares.}}
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Atui nĩmeũvinga mĩomo.| The blacksmiths are closing the doors.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Ndeleva{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl1}} amea{{tag|v}}{{tag|pst}} maive{{tag|v}}{{tag|inf}} tikiti{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl5}}|The{{tag|null}} driver{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} asked{{tag|v}}{{tag|pst}} them{{tag|null}} to{{tag|null}} pay{{tag|v}}{{tag|inf}} their{{tag|null}} fares{{tag|n}}{{tag|pl}}.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|tui{{tag|cl2}}{{tag|pl}} nĩmeũvinga{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|prc}}{{tag|p3}}{{tag|pl}} mĩomo{{tag|cl4}}{{tag|pl}}|The{{tag|det}}{{tag|def}}{{tag|sp}} blacksmith{{tag|n}}{{tag|pl}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}} close{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|pprs}} the{{tag|det}}{{tag|def}}{{tag|sp}} door{{tag|n}}{{tag|pl}}}}
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{{transferTest|kam|eng|Sokisi ni nguvi.|The socks are short.}}
 
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*:{{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Sokisi{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl9}} ni{{tag|v}} nguvi{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl9}}|The {{tag|null}} socks{{tag|n}} are{{tag|v}} short{{tag|adj}}}}
 
  
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Nĩtwavinga mũomo oyu.| We have closed the door now.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Nĩtwavinga{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|perf}}{{tag|p1}}{{tag|pl}} mũomo{{tag|cl3}}{{tag|sg}} oyu{{tag|adv}}|prpers{{tag|prn}}{{tag|subj}}{{tag|p1}}{{tag|mf}}{{tag|pl}} have{{tag|vbhaver}}{{tag|pres}} close{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|pp}} the{{tag|det}}{{tag|def}}{{tag|sp}} door{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} now{{tag|adv}}}}
  
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=== No Definite articles ===
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In English, we use the definite article "the" to refer to specific or previously mentioned nouns. For example, "the dog" refers to a particular dog that has already been mentioned or is known to both the speaker and listener. However, in Kamba, there is no equivalent definite article. Instead, the noun classes and contextual information are used to indicate specificity.
  
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{{transferTest|kam|eng|Sokisi nĩ nguvi.|The socks are short.}}
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*:{{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Sokisi{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl10}}{{tag|pl}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|prc}} guvi{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl10}}{{tag|pl}}|The{{tag|det}}{{tag|def}}{{tag|sp}} sock{{tag|n}}{{tag|pl}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}} short{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sint}}}}
  
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{{transferTest|kam|eng|Mwasũvya nũnũũkũna mũtui.|The carver is hitting the blacksmith.}}
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*:{{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|asũvya{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl1}}{{tag|sg}} kũn{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|prc}}{{tag|p3}}{{tag|sg}} tui{{tag|n}}{{tag|cl1}}{{tag|sg}}|The{{tag|det}}{{tag|def}}{{tag|sp}} carver{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|pres}} hit{{tag|vblex}}{{tag|pprs}} the{{tag|det}}{{tag|def}}{{tag|sp}} blacksmith{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}}}}
  
 
[[Category:Sp23_ContrastiveGrammars]][[Category:Kamba]][[Category:English]]
 
[[Category:Sp23_ContrastiveGrammars]][[Category:Kamba]][[Category:English]]

Latest revision as of 02:28, 10 May 2023

Kam-Eng Tests

Noun - Determiner --> Determiner - Noun

Because Kamba is a noun-modifier language, its nouns precede the determiner, in these cases, the demonstrative that modifies it, whereas in English, a modifier-noun language, the demonstrative precedes the noun it modifies.

  • (kam) ilinda yĩĩ nĩ yaasa. → (eng) This dress is long.
    (kam) linda<n><cl5><sg> a<dem><det><cl5><sg> ĩ<vbser><prc> asa<adj><cl5><sg> → (eng) This<det><dem><sg> dress<n><sg> be<vbser><pres><p3><sg> long<adj><sint>
  • (kam) Vulana ĩĩ nĩ nene. → (eng) This jersey is big.
    (kam) Vulana<n><sg><cl9> a<dem><cl9><sg> ĩ<vbser><prc> asa<adj><cl9><sg> → (eng) This<det><dem><sg> jersey<n><sg> be<vbser><pres><p3><sg> big<adj><sint>

Noun - Possessive Pronoun --> Possessive Pronoun - Noun

For similar reasons as described above, nouns precede possessive pronouns in Kamba. In English, possessive pronouns precede nouns because it is a modifier-noun language.

  • (kam) Ng’ombe aĩva tikiti wake. → (eng) Cow paid her fare.
    (kam) g’ombe<n><cl9><sg> iv<vblex><perf><p3><sg> tikiti<n><cl9><sg> ake<prn><pos> → (eng) Cow<n><sg> pay<vblex><past> her<det><pos><sp> fare<n><sg>
  • (kam) Mutui wakwa nunuukama ng’ombe siaku → (eng) My neighbor is milking your cows
    (kam) Mutui<n><cl><> akwa<prn><pos> kama<v><prc><p3><sg> g’ombe<n><cl10><pl> siaku<prn><pos> → (eng) My<det><pos><sp> neighbor<n><n><sg> be<vbser><pres><p3><sg> milk<vblex><pprs> your<det><pos><sp> cows<n><pl>

Noun - Adjective --> Adjective - Noun

Again, because modifiers generally follow their nouns in Kamba, whereas the opposite is true in English, this is also true for adjectives, and we will have to have some structural transfer rules for this case as well.

  • (kam) Mbũi Ngiti na Ng’ombe nĩ anyanyae anene. → (eng) Goat, Dog, and Cow are great friends.
    (kam) bũi<cl9><sg>giti<n><cl9><sg> na<cnjcoo> g’ombe<n><cl9><sg> ĩ<vbser><prc> nyanya<n><cl2><pl> anene<adj><cl2><pl> → (eng) Goat<n><sg> dog<n><sg> and<cnjcoo> cow<n><sg> be<vbser><pres> great<adj><sint> friends<n><pl>
  • (kam) Nĩtũũtandĩthya mĩkonzo myeũ. → (eng) We are trading new poles.
    (kam) tandĩthy<vblex><prc><p1><pl> konzo<n><cl4><pl> eũ<adj><cl4><pl> → (eng) prpers<prn><subj><p1><mf><pl> be<vbser><pres> trade<vblex><pprs> new<adj><sint> poles<n><pl>

Complex Verb Tense System

Kamba has a complex verb system that includes tense, aspect, mood, and negation markers. In English, tense, aspect, mood, and negation are often expressed using separate words or constructions, while in Kamba, these features are marked using specific affixes attached to the verb stem. The subject is also optional if it can be determined from the person and number of the verb in Kamba, so pronoun insertion also needs to happen. (Also good to mention that there's no distinction between the present and future, which is a more disambiguation-ish thing, but also is more about the larger context than that can handle probably).

  • (kam) Atui nĩmeũvinga mĩomo. → (eng) The blacksmiths are closing the doors.
    (kam) tui<cl2><pl> nĩmeũvinga<vblex><prc><p3><pl> mĩomo<cl4><pl> → (eng) The<det><def><sp> blacksmith<n><pl> be<vbser><pres> close<vblex><pprs> the<det><def><sp> door<n><pl>
  • (kam) Nĩtwavinga mũomo oyu. → (eng) We have closed the door now.
    (kam) Nĩtwavinga<vblex><perf><p1><pl> mũomo<cl3><sg> oyu<adv> → (eng) prpers<prn><subj><p1><mf><pl> have<vbhaver><pres> close<vblex><pp> the<det><def><sp> door<n><sg> now<adv>

No Definite articles

In English, we use the definite article "the" to refer to specific or previously mentioned nouns. For example, "the dog" refers to a particular dog that has already been mentioned or is known to both the speaker and listener. However, in Kamba, there is no equivalent definite article. Instead, the noun classes and contextual information are used to indicate specificity.

(kam) Sokisi nĩ nguvi. → (eng) The socks are short.

  • (kam) Sokisi<n><cl10><pl> ĩ<vbser><prc> guvi<adj><cl10><pl> → (eng) The<det><def><sp> sock<n><pl> be<vbser><pres> short<adj><sint>

(kam) Mwasũvya nũnũũkũna mũtui. → (eng) The carver is hitting the blacksmith.

  • (kam) asũvya<n><cl1><sg> kũn<vblex><prc><p3><sg> tui<n><cl1><sg> → (eng) The<det><def><sp> carver<n><sg> be<vbser><pres> hit<vblex><pprs> the<det><def><sp> blacksmith<n><sg>
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