Lizish

Consonant inventory: g͡b h j k k͡p l m n p q s t ʦ

Click IPA symbols for audio

Co-articulated phonemes

Vowel inventory: a e i o u ɔ ɛ

 High-mid
 Low-mid
 Low

Syllable structure: (C)(C)V(C) ?

Stress pattern: Penultimate — stress is on the second last syllable ?

Spelling rules:

 ɔ
 j
 g͡b
 k͡p
 ʦ

## Grammar

Main word order: Subject Object Verb (Prepositional phrase). “Mary opened the door with a key” turns into Mary the door opened with a key.

Adjective order: Adjectives are positioned before the noun.

Adposition: postpositions ?

## Nouns

Nouns have three cases:

* Nominative is the doer of a verb: dog bites man.
* Accusative is the done-to of a verb: man bites dog.
* Genitive is the possessor of something: dog’s tail hits man.

pyep /pjep/
 Accusative
pyepaw /ˈpjepɔ/
 Genitive
Else: Suffix -ɛʦ
pyepe̊ts /ˈpjepɛʦ/
dogʼs

kmap /kmap/
boy
Else: Suffix -il
kmapil /ˈkmapil/
 Feminine
ospe̊ /ˈospɛ/
girl
ospe̊ikp /osˈpɛik͡p/
 Neuter
pyep /pjep/
dog
Else: Suffix -ati
pyepati /pjeˈpati/
dogs

## Articles

 Indefinite
a, some

Uses of definite article that differ from English:

* Definite article can be omitted: ‘I am going to supermarket’
* Used for personal names in third person: ‘The Maria has left for school’
* Used for languages: ‘The English’

Uses of indefinite article that differ from English:

* Not used for non-specific countable nouns: non-specific means ‘I am looking for a (any) girl in a red dress’, whereas specific means ‘I am looking for a (particular) girl in a red dress’

## Possessive determiners

 2nd singular
 3rd singular masc
 3rd singular fem
 3rd singular neuter
 1st plural
 2nd plural
 3rd plural masc
 3rd plural fem
 3rd plural neuter
their (neut)

## Verbs

### 1st person

upmaa /upˈmaa/
(I (masc)/we (masc)) learn
Else: Suffix -amo
upmamo /upˈmamo/
(I (fem)/we (fem)) learn
upmae̊gb /upˈmaɛg͡b/
 Past
Else: Suffix -ɛk͡p
upmakp /ˈupmak͡p/
(I (masc)/we (masc)) learned
upmaawkp /upˈmaɔk͡p/
(I (fem)/we (fem)) learned
Else: Suffix -allu
upmallu /upˈmallu/
(I (neut)/we (neut)) learned

### 2nd person

Else: Suffix -ɛq
upmaq /ˈupmaq/
(you (masc)/you all (masc)) learn
Else: Suffix -ɔl
upmal /ˈupmal/
(you (fem)/you all (fem)) learn
Else: Suffix -in
upman /ˈupman/
 Past
upmae /upˈmae/
(you (masc)/you all (masc)) learned
upmael /upˈmael/
(you (fem)/you all (fem)) learned
Else: Suffix -ap
upmap /ˈupmap/
(you (neut)/you all (neut)) learned

### 3rd person

upmaigb /upˈmaig͡b/
(he/they (masc)) learn(s)
Else: Suffix -oʦ
upmats /ˈupmaʦ/
(she/they (fem)) learn(s)
Else: Suffix -ut
upmat /ˈupmat/
 Past
Else: Suffix -ɛnhi
upmanhi /upˈmanhi/
(he/they (masc)) learned
Else: Suffix -ɛk
upmak /ˈupmak/
(she/they (fem)) learned
upmae̊l /upˈmaɛl/
(it (neut)/they (neut)) learned

Gbakian uses a standalone particle word for future tense:

o upma /o ˈupma/
will learn

## Numbers

Gbakian has a base-10 number system:

1 - mawk

2 - e̊

3 - syaw

4 - on

5 - qop

6 - syek

7 - ska

8 - spim

9 - ntois

10 - gbatsinyas

11 - nawt

12 - tse̊t

13 - me̊

14 - yaw

15 - yome̊

16 - ntawkp

17 - ki

18 - mots

19 - smu

20 - syepmepe

100 - hye̊m

1000 - negb

### Derivational morphology

Adjective → adverb = Suffix -ɔ

Adjective → noun (the quality of being [adj]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -m

Else: Suffix -om

Adjective → verb (to make something [adj]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -ʦ

Else: Suffix -iʦ

Noun → adjective (having the quality of [noun]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -l

Else: Suffix -ul

Noun → adjective relating to noun (e.g. economy → economic) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -k

Else: Suffix -ek

Noun to verb = Suffix -i

Verb → adjective (result of doing [verb]) = Suffix -o

Tending to = Suffix -oʦ

Verb → noun (the act of [verb]) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -p

Else: Suffix -up

Verb → noun that verb produces (e.g. know → knowledge) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -mpa

Else: Suffix -umpa

One who [verb]s (e.g. paint → painter) = Suffix -up

Place of (e.g. wine → winery) = If ends with vowel: Suffix -g͡b

Else: Suffix -ig͡b

Diminutive = If ends with vowel: Suffix -k

Else: Suffix -ok

Augmentative = Suffix -o

## Gbakian - English Dictionary

Key: spelling /pronunciation/ part of speech. definition(s)

* a /a/ prep. like
* an /an/ prep. for (a period of time or length of distance)
* attsalpa /atˈʦalpa/ nf. empire
* awnpa /ˈɔnpa/ nnt. band (musical group)
* awts smal /ɔʦ smal/ nf. branch (tree part)
* ek /ek/ det. no
* e̊kp /ɛk͡p/ v. catch, capture, seize, grab
* emup /ˈemup/ nm. runner
* eye /ˈeje/ nm. resource
* gbatsinyas /g͡batˈsinjas/ num. ten
* gbe /g͡be/ prep. on
* gbets /g͡beʦ/ nf. arrow (weapon), arrow (sign)
* gbipul /ˈg͡bipul/ adj. successful
* gbiyawnul /g͡biˈjɔnul/ adj. fashionable
* gbot nogb /g͡bot nog͡b/ nm. lipstick
* gbumi /ˈg͡bumi/ adj. lucky
* hyal /hjal/ adv. together
* hyawnots /ˈhjɔnoʦ/ adj. careful
* hye̊ntits /ˈhjɛntiʦ/ nf. weapon
* hyit /hjit/ nf. rate, grade
* hyotya /ˈhjotja/ nf. center, core, nucleus, hub (center of activity)
* ia /ˈia/ nm. crime, felony
* il /il/ v. argue
* is /is/ nf. bed
* ityaw /ˈitjɔ/ v. feel (sense by touch), feel (examine by touch)
* kal /kal/ nf. stem
* kamup /ˈkamup/ nnt. experience
* kat /kat/ v. achieve, accomplish, work (have desired result)
* kawgbu /ˈkɔg͡bu/ nnt. flour
* kawntenhugb /kɔnˈtenhug͡b/ nm. manner
* kehyawm /ˈkehjɔm/ adv. therefore, thus
* ke̊na /ˈkɛna/ v. reach
* ke̊t /kɛt/ nf. trouble, problem
* ke̊ytep /ˈkɛjtep/ nm. permission
* kimpanpaws /kimˈpanpɔs/ v. call (refer to by ), name
* kiqetsis /kiˈqeʦis/ adj. naked, nude
* kiyas /ˈkijas/ nm. cat
* kma /kma/ v. call (cry out)
* kmawli /ˈkmɔli/ nm. feather, pen, pencil
* kme̊nma /ˈkmɛnma/ nf. project
* kmimpa /ˈkmimpa/ nm. certificate
* kmom /kmom/ v. shift, vary
* kmus /kmus/ nnt. thing, stuff, item
* kon /kon/ nf. eyelash
* kotskol /ˈkoʦkol/ adj. warm
* kpas /k͡pas/ nnt. garden, orchard
* kpawq /k͡pɔq/ nnt. bow (weapon)
* kpe̊n /k͡pɛn/ nnt. minute
* kpe̊spats /ˈk͡pɛspaʦ/ nnt. cost
* kpihiqu /k͡piˈhiqu/ adj. excellent, fantastic, wonderful, fabulous, terrific, superb
* kpit /k͡pit/ v. touch, feel (sense by touch)
* kpoq /k͡poq/ adj. last (previous), previous
* kputs /k͡puʦ/ v. blow
* kukp /kuk͡p/ nf. offer
* kuts /kuʦ/ adj. private
* lan /lan/ adj. fine (okay)
* lawk /lɔk/ nm. stump, log
* lawq /lɔq/ adv. sometimes
* lelsin /ˈlelsin/ prep. per, for each
* le̊t /lɛt/ nnt. rumor, scandal
* likp /lik͡p/ nm. roof
* lintu /ˈlintu/ nf. day, date
* litnut /ˈlitnut/ nnt. crack
* lolyumpa /loˈljumpa/ nf. drawing
* lot /lot/ v. shop
* luk /luk/ v. help, assist, serve, cater, relieve, treat
* lukup /ˈlukup/ nm. help
* luqumul /luˈqumul/ v. sail, cruise, navigate
* lya /lja/ pron. you all
* lyawk /ljɔk/ nf. head
* lye̊p /ljɛp/ nf. comfort
* lyilup /ˈljilup/ nf. recognition
* lyitsaw muse̊ /ˈljitsɔ ˈmusɛ/ nm. footprint
* lyosom /ˈljosom/ nnt. happiness
* lyumli pyuk /ˈljumli pjuk/ v. approach
* mak /mak/ adj. other, spare
* mamot /ˈmamot/ nnt. animal
* maqillo /maˈqillo/ v. kiss
* mawhlawq /ˈmɔhlɔq/ nf. shark
* mawn /mɔn/ v. carry
* mawts /mɔʦ/ nnt. tax
* mekp /mek͡p/ v. warn, alert
* mem /mem/ nnt. eye, eyeball
* mempits /ˈmempiʦ/ v. bore
* menti /ˈmenti/ v. ban, prohibit
* me̊s /mɛs/ nnt. pillow
* me̊yolse̊ /mɛˈjolsɛ/ v. drift
* mikat /ˈmikat/ nf. doctor
* mintitom /minˈtitom/ nnt. limit
* mittsop /ˈmitʦop/ nm. repetition
* momawn /ˈmomɔn/ nf. market
* moq /moq/ prep. including
* mu /mu/ v. can
* mun /mun/ prep. during
* mutko /ˈmutko/ v. face, confront
* nam /nam/ nf. fight
* nats /naʦ/ adj. available
* ne /ne/ conj. or, either
* ne̊mi /ˈnɛmi/ v. accompany
* nikpek /ˈnik͡pek/ adj. oral
* nit /nit/ v. cause, induce, provoke
* non /non/ nm. course (direction of travel), tour
* ntannaw /ˈntannɔ/ adj. white, clear, transparent
* ntawktsi /ˈntɔkʦi/ nf. web
* nte̊k /ntɛk/ nm. way, style, route
* ntep /ntep/ nnt. series
* ntim /ntim/ nf. spell (of magic)
* ntok /ntok/ nm. trousers, pants
* ntots /ntoʦ/ nm. wrist, ankle
* ntutimaw /ntuˈtimɔ/ adv. simply
* nukp /nuk͡p/ nm. rake
* ol /ol/ pron. she,
* os /os/ nnt. climate, temperature
* oyi /ˈoji/ nm. back (of body), back (reverse side)
* plap /plap/ adj. poor
* plaws /plɔs/ nm. vision
* ples /ples/ nm. nail
* pliktsakup /plikˈʦakup/ nnt. scientist
* plo /plo/ v. remember, recognize
* plop /plop/ nf. memory
* plunup /ˈplunup/ nf. farmer
* pyats /pjaʦ/ nf. shadow
* pyawt /pjɔt/ v. float, hover
* pyep /pjep/ nnt. dog
* pyi /pji/ nnt. human
* pyogba /ˈpjog͡ba/ nnt. bit
* pyoshes /ˈpjoshes/ adv. later
* qam /qam/ prep. among
* qatso /ˈqaʦo/ nf. engine, motor
* qawkom /ˈqɔkom/ nm. subtlety
* qawt /qɔt/ nnt. cheese
* qek /qek/ adj. big, great (very large), huge
* qekpeq /ˈqek͡peq/ nnt. hair (of head), hair (of body)
* qenmaw /ˈqenmɔ/ nm. powder
* qeup /ˈqeup/ nf. driver
* qintawkpus pliktsak /qinˈtɔk͡pus ˈplikʦak/ nnt. geography
* qitsluq /ˈqiʦluq/ nf. vocabulary
* qu /qu/ adj. early
* qup /qup/ conj. although, though
* sammawm /ˈsammɔm/ nm. beauty
* sawm /sɔm/ nnt. family (related by blood)
* se̊el /ˈsɛel/ nm. power
* se̊msawp /ˈsɛmsɔp/ nm. pressure
* sigbi /ˈsig͡bi/ nf. acid
* sinnaw /ˈsinnɔ/ nm. hospital, ward
* sit /sit/ adv. actually
* skak /skak/ v. smell (sense with nose)
* skawmhu /ˈskɔmhu/ v. identify, point out
* skek /skek/ pron. nothing
* ski /ski/ nf. week
* sko /sko/ pron. what
* skotaw /ˈskotɔ/ adv. certainly
* skupsa /ˈskupsa/ nf. university
* smatul /ˈsmatul/ adj. confident
* smawtsoaw /smɔˈʦoɔ/ adv. finally
* sme̊m pliktsakup /smɛm plikˈʦakup/ nm. psychologist
* smi /smi/ nnt. room (of house)
* smiq /smiq/ v. rise
* smomup /ˈsmomup/ nm. warrior
* smuq /smuq/ nm. cabinet, drawer
* spa /spa/ v. steal, rob
* spataw /ˈspatɔ/ nnt. dish, plate, platter
* spawyi /ˈspɔji/ nnt. match (for fire)
* spe̊nse̊n /ˈspɛnsɛn/ nnt. goal (objective)
* spitya /ˈspitja/ nf. hammer
* spop /spop/ nm. skin, crust, leather
* spus /spus/ v. debate, negotiate
* sul /sul/ nf. page
* sya /sja/ v. seem, appear, manifest
* syawgb /sjɔg͡b/ pron. them (masc)
* syayse /ˈsjajse/ v. hate
* sye̊lek /ˈsjɛlek/ adj. natural
* syep /sjep/ v. chase
* sye̊tsu /ˈsjɛʦu/ v. smash, shatter
* syits /sjiʦ/ v. sneeze
* syoye /ˈsjoje/ nm. accent (of language), dialect
* syuk /sjuk/ v. like
* tmal /tmal/ nm. blade, razor
* tmanto /ˈtmanto/ v. serve, provide, cater
* tmawkp /tmɔk͡p/ nnt. saliva
* tmen /tmen/ v. hit, beat (strike), collide
* tme̊ts /tmɛʦ/ nf. advice
* tmikup /ˈtmikup/ nm. election
* tmisup /ˈtmisup/ nnt. vendor
* tmukup /ˈtmukup/ nf. hearing
* tsakpo /ˈʦak͡po/ v. turn on
* tsat /ʦat/ nf. bathroom
* tsawnha tmats /ˈʦɔnha tmaʦ/ nf. river
* tse̊gb lintu /ʦɛg͡b ˈlintu/ nf. yesterday
* tsento /ˈʦento/ nnt. cart, wagon
* tseyit /ˈʦejit/ nm. economy
* tshaq /ʦhaq/ v. record
* tshawthe̊n /ˈʦhɔthɛn/ nm. drug, medicine
* tshi /ʦhi/ adj. fat, broad
* tshimtsaup /ʦhimˈʦaup/ nm. dancer
* tshu qem /ʦhu qem/ nm. lower class
* tsi /ʦi/ det. their (neut)
* tsitup /ˈʦitup/ nf. emphasis
* tsonom /ˈʦonom/ nf. height
* tsukawt /ˈʦukɔt/ v. exist
* uke̊l /ˈukɛl/ nnt. word, phrase
* upma /ˈupma/ v. study, learn
* yak /jak/ v. drink, sip
* yamhilup /jamˈhilup/ nm. container
* yas /jas/ v. improve, enhance, refine
* yawkp /jɔk͡p/ prep. in, within
* yawtyaq /ˈjɔtjaq/ v. drag, draw
* ye̊kute /jɛˈkute/ nm. doll, puppet
* ye̊msa /ˈjɛmsa/ adj. regular
* ye̊p /jɛp/ v. spell
* yi /ji/ nm. will
* yilu /ˈjilu/ adj. stable, steady, calm
* yo /jo/ v. work (toil)
* yopmo /ˈjopmo/ v. swallow, absorb
* yugb /jug͡b/ v. fail
* yuq /juq/ nm. boyfriend