Grammar edit
The language features a singular, dual, and plural nominal system, with a curious morpheme -sh, as shown in the following data[1] :
| Jemez | English | Jemez with -sh | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| tyó | 'a girl' | tyósh | 'girls' |
| séé | 'an eagle' | séésh | 'eagles' |
| wéhų́ | 'a skeleton' | wéhų́sh | 'skeletons' |
| hhú | 'at least three cedars' | hhúsh | 'one or two cedars' |
| hwúúy'a | 'at least three weeds' | hwúúy'ash | 'one or two weeds' |
| káápœ | 'at least three tents' | káápœsh | 'one or two tents' |
| pá | 'one, or at least three flowers' | pásh | 'two flowers' |
| dééde | 'one, or at least three shirts' | déédesh | 'two shirts' |
| géésu | 'one, or at least three cheeses' | géésush | 'two cheeses' |
- ^ Mithun, M. (1999). The Languages of Native North America. Cambridge University Press. p. 81, 443. Cited in Deutscher, Guy (2005). The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention. New York: Henry Holt and Company. p. 43.