Difference between revisions of "Kamba and English/ContrastiveGrammar"

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== Kam-Eng Tests ==
 
== Kam-Eng Tests ==
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=== Noun Modifier --> Modifier Noun ===
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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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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.
 
* {{transferTest|kam|eng|ilinda yĩĩ ni yaasa.|This dress is long.}}
 
* {{transferTest|kam|eng|ilinda yĩĩ ni yaasa.|This dress is long.}}
 
*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|linda{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl5}} a{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl5}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}} asa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl5}}|This{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}} dress{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|sg}} long{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sg}}}}
 
*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|linda{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl5}} a{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl5}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}} asa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl5}}|This{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}} dress{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} be{{tag|vbser}}{{tag|sg}} long{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sg}}}}
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Vulana ii ni nene.| This jersey is big.}}
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Vulana{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl9}} a{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl9}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}} asa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl9}}|This{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}} jersey{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}} big{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sg}}}}
  
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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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=== Noun - Possessive Pronoun --> Possessive Pronoun - Noun ===
  
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* {{transferTest|kam|eng|Vulana ii ni nene.| This jersey is big.}}
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=== Noun - Adjective --> Adjective - Noun ===
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*: {{transferMorphTest|kam|eng|Vulana{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl9}} a{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}}{{tag|cl9}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}} asa{{tag|adj}}{{tag|cl9}}|This{{tag|dem}}{{tag|sg}} jersey{{tag|n}}{{tag|sg}} ĩ{{tag|vbser}} big{{tag|adj}}{{tag|sg}}}}
 
  
 
=== Complex Verb Tense System ===
 
=== Complex Verb Tense System ===

Revision as of 16:07, 9 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 ni yaasa. → (eng) This dress is long.
    (kam) linda<n><sg><cl5> a<dem><sg><cl5> ĩ<vbser> asa<adj><cl5> → (eng) This<dem><sg> dress<n><sg> be<vbser><sg> long<adj><sg>
  • (kam) Vulana ii ni nene. → (eng) This jersey is big.
    (kam) Vulana<n><sg><cl9> a<dem><sg><cl9> ĩ<vbser> asa<adj><cl9> → (eng) This<dem><sg> jersey<n><sg> ĩ<vbser> big<adj><sg>

Noun - Possessive Pronoun --> Possessive Pronoun - Noun

Noun - Adjective --> Adjective - Noun

Complex Verb Tense System

double check your test templates

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.

(kam) Mbũi, Ngiti na Ng'ombre mai anyanyae anene. → (eng) Goat, Dog, and Cow were great friends.

  • (kam) bũi<n><sg><cl9> giti<n><sg><cl9> na<cnjcoo> g'ombe<n><sg><cl9> ĩ<vbser><pip> nyanya<n><pl><cl9>nene<adj><sg><cl9> → (eng) Goat<n><sg> Dog<n><sg> and<cnjcoo> cow<n><sg> be<vbser> friend<n><pl> great<adj>.

In this example, the verb "to be" is conjugated to the positive remote past tense form of the verb, "were". The prefix for the third person plural (they) would be "ma-".

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 ni nguvi. → (eng) The socks are short.

  • (kam) Sokisi<n><pl><cl9> ĩ<vbser> guvi<adj><cl9> → (eng) The <null> sock<n><pl> be<vbser> short<adj>