Kogi language


Kogi, or Kagaba , is a Chibchan language of Colombia. It forms a separate Arwako branch along with the Iku and Damana languages. The Kogi people are almost entirely monolingual, and hold the virtually unique distinction of being a truly unconquered Amerindian civilization.

Phonology

  • /e, ẽ/ can also be heard as when in unstressed syllables.
  • Affricate sounds are heard when sibilant sounds /s, z, ʃ, ʒ/ precede /n/. If /t, d/ precede /i/ then they are realized as affricates .
  • /n/ before /i/ may be realized as a palatal .

    Grammar

The language is mostly verb-final, with the dominant word order subject–object–verb. Adjectives follow the nouns they modify. Verbs are inflected for subject and for object. Non-subject personal reference can also express a beneficiary, as illustrated in the following example:
Nouns and nominals can receive case markers; however, the nominative or subject suffix -hã is not obligatory and cannot be attached to personal pronouns. Other four cases are: dative – alative, accusative, genitive, locative. Possession can be expressed either through a genitive construction or by using possessive prefixes. Possessive pronouns distinguish between inclusive and exclusive plural.