Mbembli Noun Genders
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Explains assignment and alteration of noun gender
This public article was written by [Deactivated User] on 2 Oct 2014, 21:56.
[comments] mbe Mbembli has five noun genders, each assigned a thematic vowel. The thematic vowel and its related morphemes are used to link nouns and adjectives or pronouns and their antecedents. The genders are as follows:
Feminine (a): applies to living things with predominantly or exclusively feminine qualities
Masculine (u): applies to living things with predominantly or exclusively masculine qualities
Epicene / Polygender (i): applies to living things with both masculine or feminine qualities, or is grammatically inalienable; in the plural it may refer to a mixture of different genders
Unknown / Indeterminate (e): applies to any living thing whose qualities are neither feminine nor masculine or if such qualities are unknown or irrelevant
Inanimate / Neuter (o): any abstraction or nonliving thing
The concept of "living things" includes both sentient and nonsentient life. Animals are usually referred to by the gender matching their sex; plants, fungi, and microorganisms are usually given the epicene gender. If a normally-animate word has its thematic vowel switch to O, the noun becomes a corpse or a dead version of the original noun.
In accordance with this rule, calling someone by their name with the thematic vowel changed to O is considered by many speakers to be a threat. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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