Problem:IOL/2018/i3/en

IOL 2018 Problem #3 Terêna
Here are some words in Terêna in two grammatical forms (1st person sg, my … or I … ; 2nd person sg, yoursg … or yousg …) and their English translations. Some forms are missing.

(a) Fill in the gaps.

(b) Some Terena words are borrowed from Portuguese, the national language of Brazil. One example is the word ‘shoe’ above (← Portuguese sapato). Sometimes Portuguese borrowings behave in an unusual way in Terena.


 * 1. In what way are these words different from native Terena words?
 * 2. Translate into Terêna: my tin can, my cloak.

⚠ Terêna belongs to the Bolivia-Paraná branch of the Arawakan family. It is spoken by approx. 15 000 people in Brazil. ’ is a consonant (known as the glottal stop). x = sh in sheesh. y = y in yum. nj = n + si in vision. Word-final m indicates the nasal pronunciation of the whole word. The mark ˆ indicates that the vowel is lengthened and pronounced with a falling pitch. The mark  ́  indicates that the following consonant is lengthened.

—André Nikulin