Animate vs Inanimate
Animacy refers to the quality of mobility. It denotes whether the entity defined by the noun moves or is in a static state throughout its existence. A desk for instance, is stationary unless moved by an applied force, hence inanimate. Now you may be wondering, how is this relevant?
Well, it is important to note that in Nuuko-Torontonian, objects are distinguished by their degree of animacy (and also their biotic vs abiotic status, more on that later). The class of each noun will determine which article is used with it, and also how adjectives are used!
Biotic vs abiotic
In biology, the word "biotic" refers to an entity which is living and productive within an ecosystemic framework. For instance, any animal or plant exhibits the qualities of a living organism and interacts with environmental factors (O2 concentrations, the food chain). Meanwhile, a rock on which a plant can grow is not biotic as it does not exhibit qualities of life in itself.
Within language, the lines between biotic and abiotic tend to get a little blurry, since what speakers are really trying to determine is whether an object is alive. This can get especially complex with technology - does artificial intelligence count as life? However, for the most part, as long as you use the correct class for basic words, you will be able to communicate just fine. After all, there is some subjectivity to it! Not all native speakers of NTC agree on what exactly counts as "living".
Definite Articles:
Noun Type
Animate + Biotic (Person)
Animate + Abiotic (Car)
Inanimate + Biotic (Grass)
Inanimate + Abiotic (Gold)
Singular
[əˈnɪ]
[əˈtɪ]
[ən]
[ət]
Paucal
[cəˈnɪ]
[cəˈtɪ]
[cən]
[cət]
Plural
[ɻəˈnɪ]
[ɻəˈtɪ]
[ɻən]
[ɻət]
In NTC, the absence of an article implies that the object is indefinite!
Adjective Endings:
Noun Type
Animate + Biotic (Person)
Animate + Abiotic (Car)
Inanimate + Biotic (Grass)
Inanimate + Abiotic (Gold)
Singular
[-ˈɪjə]
[-ˈʌjə]
[-ˈæjə]
[-ˈɪj]
Paucal
[-ˈcɪjə]
[-ˈcʌjə]
[-ˈcæjə]
[-ˈcɪj]
Plural
[-ˈɻɪjə]
[-ˈɻʌjə]
[-ˈɻæjə]
[-ˈɻɪj]
The good dog.
[əˈnɪ] [hæwˈɪjə] [sʌˈbæcə].