Chapter 3: The Plural Form of the Noun

The Plural Form of a Simple Noun in Mingo is composed of 5 parts:

   Noun Prefix + Noun Base + Linker Vowel + Noun Suffix + Plural Suffix

The Plural Suffix takes the form -shö'ö.  Here are some examples of
Plural Forms of Simple Nouns, broken down into their 5 parts.

   ka-   -'seht-   -a-   -'-   -shö'ö   ka'sehta'shö'ö   cars
   ka-   -'ash-    -æ-   -'-   -shö'ö   ka'ashæ'shö'ö    baskets
   u-    -shaist-  -a-   -'-   -shö'ö   ushaista'shö'ö   snakes
   u-    -nö'ka-   -æ-   -'-   -shö'ö   unö'kææ'shö'ö    horns
   u-    -skë'-    -ë-   -'-   -shö'ö   uskë'ë'shö'ö     seeds

For most nouns, like the ones above, the Plural form is the same as the
Basic Form, plus -shö'ö.  For some nouns, though, the addition of -shö'ö
triggers a change in vowel lengthening, following the rules discussed in
Chapter 2.  For example, «kaháta'» "forest" and «kahata'shö'ö»
"forests", «kanôskwa'» "domesticated animal" and «kanöskwa'shö'ö»
"domesticated animals", «ëníshæ'» "shelf" and «ënishæ'shö'ö» "shelves".

If the Basic Form of the Noun ends in -áá', the Plural Form will end in
-ææ'shö'ö.  For example, «ukwáá'» "orange" and «ukwææ'shö'ö» "oranges",
«uhsöwöhkáá'» "piece of wood" and «uhsöwöhkææ'shö'ö» "pieces of wood".



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