(no subject)

[moonflower77]

includes nouns that refer to any entities (animate or inanimate) other than humans. only the nominative case has a number distinction, the others do not.

nominative (absolutive, direct) case

used to:

i) name a separate entity: kuprɛn "net", chimgjun "thought", qoraŋɨ "reindeer";
ii) to indicate or specify an entity: ŋotqɛn "this (one)", ɨnqɛn "that (one)"
iii) to formulate a question about an entity: rjɛnut? "who? what? (sg.)"

* within the nominative construction, used for the entity that is the subject (agent):

ilgɛtgji ŋɛgnɨ the mountain started to glow white (in the distance), the white outline of the mountain started to show (in the distance)
quputɛt rinɛmjetɨrkɨt the petrels are flying
rɛqokalgɨn inɛpirigji pipiqɨlgɨk the polar fox seized the mouse
ɨttjɨt pɛnrɨtkogjat omqagtɨ the dogs fell upon the polar bear
rjɛnut ɛ'jnɛrkɨn? who/what (sg.) is hooting, making loud noises?
ŋotqɛn ɛ'jnɛrkɨn this one (it, he) is hooting, making loud noises
rjɛnutɛt vɨtrɛtɨrkɨt? who/what (pl.) can be seen (out there)?
gaanqɛnat vɨtrɛtɨrkɨt those ones can be seen (out there, over a large distance)

* within the ergative construction, used for the entity that is the direct object (patient):

kukɛŋɨ gapɛlälen (they) abandoned the cauldron 
ganmɨlenat kitɛpat (they) killed the rams
rjɛnut gɛļulin who/what did (they) see?

ŋotqɛn geļulin (they) saw this one (him, it)

rjɛnutɛt gɛrɛtlinet? whom/what did (they) deliver? 
ŋotqɛnat gɛrɛtlinet (they) delivered these ones (them) 
 

instrumental case

* within the ergative construction, used for the entity that is the subject (agent):

riqukɛtɛ nɛljunɛt rɛvɨmrɛvɨt "the polar foxes saw the ptarmigans [lit. by the foxes (they)-saw-(them) the ptarmigans]"

though there is no number distinction, the information about the number of the subject is usually encoded in the verb form:

rɛqɛ jonɛn rjɛv? who (sg.) caught up with the whale? ---> i'ŋɨpchiqɛtɛ jonɛn the killer whale caught up (with him, it)
rɛqɛ najogjan rjɛv? who (pl.) caught up with the whale? ---> i'ŋɨpchiqɛtɛ najogjan the killer whales caught up (with him, it)

certain verb forms are not marked for subject, in which case the number of the subject is not specified (has to be disambiguated by the context):

riqukɛtɛ gɛnulin tɨkɛchjɨn the bait was eaten by the polar fox / foxes
rɛqɛ gɛtuļɛtlin qoratjol? by whom (non-human) was the reindeer meat stolen?

qɛpɛrɛ gɛtuļɛtlin (it was) stolen by the wolverine / wolverines

the subject is usually an animate being, but an inanimate object is also possible (when it is understood to perform an action of a transitive nature independently):

paroxoda ninɛnchimɛvqin gilgil the ship is breaking the ice
ŋɨlenŋɨletɛ rɨchɨmkɛnnin ɨmɨljɛtɨ jaraŋɨ the flames engulfed (or: enveloped) the entire dwelling
kɨtɨjga rɨlɨplännɛn nɛlgɨn the wind carried off the skin
rɛqjɨttjɛ juunin ŋinkɛj? what (which) dog bit the boy?
vaj ɨnqɛnɨna that one over there
rjaparoxoda gɛnchimɛvlin gilgil? which ship broke the ice?
vaj ŋotqɛnɨna this one over here

* within the nominative construction, used for the entity that is the direct object (patient):

tinɛnļɛtɛtɨrkɨn kimitje (i) am transporting the goods (i.e. i am delivering them to a specific destination)

tinɛgjipɨrkɨn qɛjɨ'ttjɛ (i) am taking care of the puppies 
tɛnagtatɨrkɨn qaata (i) am driving the reindeer 
tɨrkurɨtkurkɨn milgɛrɛ (i) am buying a rifle 
mɨttiŋutkurkɨn kɨtɛpata (we are) dragging the ram 
a'achekɨt rɛqɛ rɛnagtanŋɨt? whom will the young men drive?
vajɨnqɛnata those (ones) over there 
rɛqɛ inɛnļɛtɛtɨrkɨnitɨk? what are you (2nd p. pl.) taking away?

ŋotqɛnata mɨtinɛnļɛtɛtɨrkɨn (we are) taking away this one (him, it) 

* used to refer to an instrument or tool used to perform an action (instrumental usage). usually with nouns that denote inanimate objects:

tɨvaŋɛrkɨn tititɛ (i am) sewing using a needle
qɛple mɨtuvichvɛtɨrkɨn (we are) playing with a ball
uttɛ tɨrkɨplɨrkɨn (i am) hitting (sth./sb.) with a stick
pojga mɨttɨnpɨrkɨn (we are) stabbing (it) (to death) with a spear

nouns that denote non-human animate beings are also possible (then the meaning is broader or more figurative):

chavchɨv qaata tɨlerkɨn the nomad is travelling by reindeer
ɨ'ttjɛ tɛkvɛtɨrkɨn (i am) setting out by dog-sleigh (lit. by dog)
ɨtri konɛta pɨkirgjɛt they arrived on horseback (lit. by horse)
rɛqɛ ɛkvɛtgji a'achek? how, using which means of transport (lit. by, with, using what) did the young man set out?
ŋotqɛnata on this one (him, it) (lit. by, with, using this one)

NB: the same sentence may contain two nouns in the instrumental case, which illustrate the agentive usage and the instrumental usage (this is the norm for chukchi):

umqɛtɛ jegɛ nɛnanmɨqɛn mɛmɨl "the polar bear is killing the ring seal with its paw (lit. by the polar bear ... with its paw)"

there is a clear distinction between these two usages -

agentive: linked to the verb, which encodes the information on the number
instrumental: no link to the verb, thus no information about the number is available

i) qaata rɨnna tɨnpɨnɛn i'nɨ the reindeer stabbed the wolf with (its) horns (lit. by the reindeer ... with its horns)
ii) qaata rɨnna natɨnpɨgjan i'nɨ the reindeer stabbed the wolf with (their) horns (lit. by the reindeer ... with their horns)
i) qɛpɛrɛ vɛgɛ atɨnvannɛn ɨ'ttjɨn the wolverine wounded the dog with (its) claws (lit. by the wolverine ... with its claws)
ii) qɛpɛrɛ vɛgɛ natɨnvatgjan ɨ'ttjɨn the wolverines wounded the dog with (their) claws (lit. by the wolverines ... with their claws)
i) konɛta kɛplɨnɛn jatjol gɨtkata the horse kicked the fox with (its) legs (lit. by the horse ... with its legs)
ii) konɛta narkɨplɨgjan jatjol gɨtkata the horses kicked the fox with (their) legs (lit. by the horses ... with their legs)

-tɛ (weak vowels) / -ta (strong vowels): if the stem ends in a vowel

tititɛ with, using, by a needle, needles 
vɨlpata with, using, by a spade, spades 

imchjɛchukɛtɛ by an ermine, ermines 

rɨrkata by a walrus, walruses 

nikɛtɛ with, using, by the (exact) same one, whats-its-name

-ɛ (weak vowels) / -a (strong vowels): if the stem ends in a consonant or consonant cluster

ɨ'lqɛpɛ with, using, by a nail, nails

jarara with, using, by a shaman's drum, drums

rjɛvɛ by a whale, whales

ravɨļɛŋa by a squirrel, squirrels

rɛqɛ with, using, by whom/what? 

milgɛ with, using, by a match, matches 

pojga with, using, by a spear, spears 

pipiqɨlgɛ by a mouse, mice 
alpɨnŋa by a plaice, plaices 
ɛvirjɛ with, using, by a garment, garments 

ɨ'ttjɨjotļa by an excellent worker, workers

with demonstrative nouns, this suffix is used only when they refer to a tool, weapon or instrument:

ŋotqɛnata tɨnpɨnɛn! (i) stabbed (it) (to death) with this (weapon or tool)!

the agentive usage would require the suffix -na (typical of the II declension):

ŋotqɛnɨna tɨnpɨnɛn this one stabbed (it) (to death)

determinative case

* used to refer to a physical entity that serves as a reference point (of any nature) for another entity while the latter is performing an action.

i) + verbs of motion (qɨtɨk "to walk, to go", riŋɛmjetɨk "to fly” etc.) and some state verbs (vak "to be, to stay, to be situated/located", vakjotvak "to sit" etc.): one entity used by another entity as a reference point to guide or determine its motion in physical space (may also be more figurative)

ŋinqɛgti nɨlqɨtqinɛt nɨlgɨljɨgjet the children walked toward/in the direction of the smoke
iviniļɨt nɨpɛlqɨntɛtqinɛt aŋqajpɨ ŋɛjɨgjit the hunters are returning from the sea calculating/judging the direction by the mountain

lüur rjɛvɨgjit pivrɛgjɛt i'ŋɨpchiqɛt suddenly (some) killer whales surfaced close to the whale
ŋɛlvɨl nɨtvaqɛn gɨtgɨgjet the herd of reindeer can be found by/in the vicinity of the lake
tɨqɨl nɨvakjotvaqɛn tɨmkɨtkɨnɨk vɨkvɨgjet the owl sat on a tussock by the stone
ɨ'ttjɨt vɛtchagjat umqɛgjit the dogs stopped next to the polar bear
gachgamkɨn kamɛjgatɨrkɨn kɨnmaŋqagjet the flock of ducks is circling over/in the vicinity of the lagoon
igɨr murgin rɛmkɨn sovetvagɨrgɨgjet nɨnɨmɨtvaqɛn now our people live by/in accordance with soviet laws
rɛqɨgjit qɨtɨļɨlqɨlmuri ŋalvɨļɛtɨ which landmarks can we use to find out way to the herd? (lit. by which landmarks...)

vaj ŋotqɛnagjet use this (one) over here (lit. by this one over here)

ii) + verbs of creation (tɛjkɨk "to make", otlɨk "to cut cloth, leather, skins etc. in order to sew clothes", rɨnnɛvɨk "to grow, to cultivate" etc.): one object (concept) used as a model used while creating another object (concept) (with regard to its shape, structure, physical or other characteristics)

ɛpɛnin valägjet qɨtɛjkɨgɨn make (it) using the grandfather's knife as a model (lit. by the grandfather's knife)
chakɛttɛn irjɨgjit gotlɨlen (they) cut it using the sister's parka as a model (lit. by the sister's parka)
valömjok lɨmŋɨlɨgjet gantomgavlenat chinitkinɛt lɨmŋɨltɛ (they) composed their own tales using the tale that had been heard before as a source of inspiration (lit. by the tale ...)
ɛnmɛch mɛjŋɛtɨļɨk tɨŋɛchjɨgjit gɛntɨŋɛvlinɛt qutti tɨŋɛchjɨt (they) grew other plants in the same manner as the plant that had been grown already (lit. by the plant ...)

-gjit (for weak vowels) / -gjet (for strong vowels)

joined directly to the stem if the latter ends in a vowel:

 

kuprɛgjit by the net, nets
quligjit by the voice, voices
jaragjet by the yaranga, yarangas 
ɨ'lögjet by the day, days
milütɛgjit by the hare, hares
rɨrkagjet by the walrus, walruses

connective vowel "ɨ" inserted between the stem and the case suffix if the stem ends in a consonant or consonant cluster:

milgɛrɨgjit by the rifle, rifles
vɛtgavɨgjet by the speech, speeches
unjɛlɨgjit by the seal, seals
ravɨļɛŋɨgjet by the squirrel, squirrels
qɛplɨgjit by the ball, balls
tilmɨgjit by the eagle, eagles
pɛkɨchjɨgjet by the snipe (sg. or pl.)

locative case

* within the nominative construction, may be used to mark the direct object (patient) (much less frequently than instr.):

tinɛnɨlqutɛtgjɛk ɨ'ttjɨk ɨnkjam tɛkvɛtgjɛk rɨmagtɛtɨ (i) roused (i.e, awakened) the dogs and resumed my journey
mɨtinɛgɨnritɨrkɨn qaak (we are) guarding the herd 
tɨpiritkurkɨn ŋilgɨk (i am) grabbing the belt 

* used to refer to the location where an action is being performed, in the broadest possible sense (may mean "inside", "on top of", "near", "by" or "at). may have a possessive meaning. 

mɛmɨltɛ kuprɛk gakvalenat the ring seals have been caught in the net
tɛkichgɨn orvɨk gapɛlälen the meat has been left on the sleigh
pɨchiqɛt qaak nɨvakjotvaqɛnat the little birds are perched on the reindeer (i.e. on the reindeer's back)
vɛɛmɨk nɨmkɨqin ɨnɛɛn varkɨn fish abound in the river, fish are found in the river in great numbers
tilmɨt ɛnmɨk vakjogjat the eagles are perched on the top of the cliff
rɛkvɨtɨk ŋirɛq qɛjuut the doe has two calves (lit. at the doe there are two calves)
rɛqɨk nɨvakjotvaqɛnat rɛvɨmrɛevɨt? what are the ptarmigan perched on?
ɨnqɛnak on that (one) (it, him)
rɛqɨk varkɨt qɛjɨtt'ɨqɛgti? who (non-human) has puppies? (lit. at whom are there puppies?)
ŋotqɛnak this one (it, she) / these ones (they)

* noun in loc. + adv. of quality (comparative degree): used to refer to an entity that is being compared to another entity in terms of its own characteristics, or those of an action it performs

ŋɛgnɨ tɨnupɨk ɛkvɨŋ vaļɨn the mountain is taller than the hill

riŋɛnɛŋ tilmɨk jɨqɨŋ nɨriŋɛmjetqin the plane flies faster than the eagle

* noun in loc. + adv. of time or place: used to refer to a physical entity that serves as a landmark and is used to determine where another entity is located or performs a particular action

ŋɛlvɨl nɨmnɨmɨk ɨjaaŋ nɨtvaqɛn the herd is located (can be found) further than the village
ɨtri ɛnmɛch nɨtvaqɛnat ŋɛjɨk ivtɨl they already were at the foot of the mountain (they had already reached the foot of the mountain)
rjɛvɨk jaal pivrɛgjɛt i'ŋɨpchiqɛt the killer whales surfaced after the whale did
qaat gɨtgɨk chɨmche nɛviiqinɛt the reindeer are grazing in the vicinity of the lake
gɨrgol qɛjuuk nɨkamɛjgatqɛn tilmɨtil above, over the calf, an eagle is circling
ŋɛjɨk ɨ'ttɨjol mɨtļugjɛn gɨtgɨn we saw the lake before (earlier than) we saw the mountain

ɛnmɨk rɨjagnavkɨ qɛnjev nɨtvaqen the ravine is situated opposite the rock
rɛqɨk chɨmche nɨvilgjɛt? where (lit. by what, next to what) did they stop?
vajɨŋqɛnak nɨmche by, next to that (thing) over there

* noun in loc. + postposition or adv. that functions as a postposition: used to form phraseological units that indicate where a physical entity is situated or performs a particular action:

jarak qacha "by, near the dwelling", ŋɛjɨk gɨrgocha "over the mountain", ɨ'tvɨk ɛvɨcha "under the boat", milütɛk ɨ‘ttɨjocha "in front of the hare", gɨtgɨk rɨmagtɨ "behind the lake", ɛnmɨk ranjav "opposite the hill"

-k:

joined directly to the stem if the stem ends in a vowel:

kuprɛk in, on, next to the net, nets
kukɛk in, on, next to the cauldron, cauldrons
imchjɛchukɛk on, next to the ermine, ermines, at the ermine's (ermines')
rɨrkak on, next to the walrus, walruses, at the walrus' (walruses')

ɨnqɛnak in, on, next to this one (it, him), these ones (them), at this one's (these ones')

connective vowel "ɨ" is added after the case suffix (-kɨ) if the stem ends in the consonant -ŋ:

ɛmnuŋkɨ in the tundra; in different varieties or stretches of tundra 
chjɛcheŋkɨ at the frost's; at the many frosts' (used in fairy tales)

connective vowel "ɨ" is added before the case suffix (-ɨk) if the stem ends in a consonant other than -ŋ, or in a consonant cluster:

milgɛrɨk in, on, next to the rifle, rifles
uttɨk in, on, next to the tree, trees
kɛjŋɨk on, next to the brown bear, brown bears, at the brown bear's (brown bears')
qɛpɛrɨk on, next to the wolverine, wolverines, at the brown wolverine's (wolverines')
rɛqɨk? in, on, next to whom/what? at whose place? in whose possession?