Learn Fengati

Part 4 : Prepositions, numbers and definition

In Fengati, there are several ways to place prepositions. First, there's definite and indefinite. Let's see what degrees of definition one can use :

Dre / de = equivalent for the, singular.

Dra / da = equivalent for the, but for something unique and purely singular.

Drü / dü = equivalent for the, plural.

When the word is indefinite, it is left alone.

Then, let's use numbers to enrich indefinite and definite. In some languages, you can find trial, dual (or further) word forms ; in Fengati, these forms are infinite. To understand how it works, let's first see how numbers work.

There are two parts in a figure/number : the root and the head of the number. For example, hêx is 8 ; hê- is the root and -x is the head. In every other number, -x is the head, except in 1, where the head is -n.

1 is hen, 2 is dex, 3 is trex, 4 is farax, 5 is kenx, 6 is sêx, 7 is zêx, 8 is hêx, 9 is nêx and 0 is sfax.

When making a number higher than 9, think just as in English, but it's simpler : for example, 10 is 1+0 ; behead the 1 and stick it behind the 0 : 10 is hesfax. Example :

378 -> 3+7+8 -> tre+zê-hêx -> trezêhêx

9384 -> 9+3+8+4 -> nê+tre+hê+farax -> nêtrehêfarax

72 -> 7+2 -> zê+dex -> zêdex

Now, translate these sentences to see if you got it all right :

A moth | Moths | 67 moths

Alright, now let's say you want to agglutinate a number to a noun. See how this example works :

48 moths = farahêx falenü / farahêfalenü

Which means you can behead the last number and agglutinate the whole. Other examples :

5 people = kenumü / kenx umü

1 moth = hen falena / hefalena

This doesn't change most of the pronounciation, but it can shorten a sentence. And make longer words, for whatever reason. Note that only for 1, "he falena" wouldn't be a mistake because 1 doesn't always need its head. Also note that you can make a numeral adjective (first, twelth, twentieth...) by adding -ert on a number with its head on ; first is henert, second is dexert.

Let's get to prepositions ! In English, prepositions are words like "behind", "instead of", "according to", "towards", "after", "before" and so on. In Fengati, if the word after the preposition is defined (the), the preposition needs a particle that also takes the role of the determinant (the = dre/de). This partical is "al". Without a preposition sticked to it, "al" means "to the" or "towards the". The only exception is "kan" (with) because you can either say "kan-al" or "kan dre". Example :

Towards the bus = Al buz

If you translate litterally "Sto dya-al buz" to English, it means "Am behind-to-the bus". Get it ?

Behind the = dya-al, because dya = behind. Behind a moth = dya falena.

If you don't want to use "al", simply keep the determinant (the = dre/de) if the word is definite, and stick the preposition at the end of the word. Example :

Behind the bus = Dya-al buz / Dre buzdya

Behind a moth = Dya falena / Falenadya

If you got it all, let's translate these sentences in Fengati :

I am a moth | I am behind the moth | I am under (bê) a moth | I look (advedar) towards the moths

These are a bit less easy than before, but it's still kinda easy if you understood everything.

Now, translate these (hopefully) simple sentences in English :

Dre falena sta dya-al buz | Dre buz sta Jondya

The following chapter will explain the concept of "naked words" (NW), which is essential to understand why "falena", "falen", "faleni", "faleno" and "falenu" all mean the same.