Lesson 4 – Word Endings
A word ending is a little word that gets added on the end of another word, that gives in a bit more information. In English, -s is a word ending that means more than one, for example dog (one dog), dog-s (more than one dog). We write word endings starting with a dash because you can’t say a word ending just by itself, it needs to be attached to another word. Lower Arrernte has lots of word endings compared to English.
Where?
in, on, at
Instead of using small location words like English in, on, and at, Lower Arrernte has the word ending -nge
muteke means car, urtamerte means mud, the word ending -nge means in and ayekaw means got stuck.
arrkwetye means woman, aketyeye means child, artepe means back, the word ending -nge means on and unthelhileme means carrying.
arlpenge means on a sandhill, ilerne means we two, the word ending -nge means at and anetyampernenhe means used to live.
To, towards
The word ending -karle means moving to or towards somewhere or something.
unarre means we, pmere means camp, the word ending -karle means to/towards and lhelarreweme means going
Mernanke is a placename, anemele means to be and ntarrengenhe means chased.
From
The word ending -ketyele means moving away from somewhere or something.
ure means fire, the word ending -ketyele means from and petyay means come!
inteye means cave, the word ending -ketyele means from and intyelantyeme come out.
Whose?
The word ending -kenhe shows that something belongs to someone or something, just like English ’s (for example Fred’s book).
arntekerte means coolamon, akemarle means big, aketyey means child and the word ending -kenhe means ‘s
Having and lacking
With, having
The word ending -akerte on a word means having or with that person or thing.
kamerne means uncle, the word ending -inpe means and, awenhe means auntie (father’s sister), lekere means dog, mape means many and the word ending -akerte means have.
Lacking, without
The word ending -kwenye on a word means lacking, not having or without that person or thing. Kind of like the ending -less in English, for example shameless, nameless, toothless.
pmere means place, itne means name, the word ending -kwenye means -less, aperte means hill and nhenhay means this.
ayitye means nothing, merne means food and the word ending -kwenye means not having.