Learn how to specify 'one' of something in Sairupanese!
In Sairupanese, there are two ways to indicate that there is 'one' of something: adding a [pœr-] or [pœ-] to the beginning of a word! This is a prefix since it is an addition at the beginning of a word. There are specific scenarios where we use one option over the other.
[pœr-] is used to indicate 'one' for words beginning in [m], [l], [r] and [ŋ]. For example, [mõr] which means 'dog' becomes [pœrmõr] ‘one dog’ when [pœr-] is added.
[pœ-] is used to indicate 'one' in all other situations! For example, [cœɾ] ‘man’ becomes [pœcœɾ] ‘one man’ when [pœ-] is added.
Here is a table that puts all of this information together:
Now try it out!
Make the following words mean 'one' of something:
1. [ŋõεj] 'stone'
2. [tœs] 'tree'
3. [zɛt] 'tooth'
Answers:
1. [pœrŋõεj] 'one stone'
2. [pœtœs] 'one tree'
3. [pœzɛt] 'one tooth'