Postpositional Suffixes

Unlike English, no prepositions are used in the Bodzika Language. Instead, the roles of prepositions are filled using a series of suffixes, which are attached to noun stems following case suffixes in order to clarify any ambiguity regarding the spatial or temporal role of a noun within a sentence.

There are three phonetic rules that must be applied when affixing postpositional suffixes to a noun:


 * Firstly, all postpositional suffixes are monosyllabic, and consist of a consonant/ consonant cluster plus a vowel.


 * Secondly, the vowel sound used in the postpositional suffix matches the vowel used in the preceding case suffix. When the preceding vowel is a dipthong, only the initial vowel sound of the dipthong is used in the suffix.


 * Finally, the order in which the vowel and consonant occur in a postposition depends upon the animacy of the noun stem. If the noun stem is animate, then the vowel will precede the consonant in the postposition. If the noun stem is inanimate, then the vowel sound follows the consonant.

For example, take the noun Mušak, which means "cat" in Bodzika.

In ablative case, this noun takes on an -aq ending.

E.G. Mušaq - From the cat

If one wanted to be more specific, then they would affix a second suffix after the case suffix. This suffix performs the role of a preposition in English.

E.g. -t- = within, inside

Mušaq at  - From within the cat

Since the noun Mušak is animate, the vowel sound (a) is placed before the consonant (t). When this postposition is affixed to an inanimate noun, the order is reversed.

E.g. Moršake - house (inanimate noun)

Moršahe - from the house

Moršahe te  - from within the house

One can use the same postpositional suffix with different case suffixes as well. The posposition -t- can be used with the ablative, lative, and locative cases, for example.

Mušac - at/by/in the cat (Locative case)

Mušac at  - within the cat

Mušatþ - to/towards the cat (Lative case)

Mušatþ at  - into the cat

Moršace - at/by/in the house (Locative case)

Moršace te  - within the house

Moršaþe - to/towards the house (Lative case)

Moršaþe te  - into the house

Some of the more common postpositional suffixes are listed below.

-m-

Mušac am - on top of/upon the cat (Locative case)

Mušatþ am - onto the cat (Lative case)

Mušaq am  - from/ off the top of the cat (Ablative case)

-ft-

ajsþăce fte - under/below the bridge (Locative case)

ajsþăþe fte - to the bottom/underside of the bridge (Lative case)

ajsþăhe fte - from beneath the bridge (Ablative case)

-l-

Mušaq al - because of the cat (Ablative case)

-sk-

Jastaþă sk  - before the carnival (Lative case)

Jastacă sk - during the carnival (Locative case)

Jastahă sk - after the carnival (Ablative case)