A Grammar of Vabungula. Part 2.4: Parts of Speech: Prepositions.

Vabungula

A Grammar of Vabungula

Part 2.4 - Parts of Speech - Prepositions

General Characteristics

Prepositions are basically straightforward in meaning. Two prepositions deserving special mention are la and su.

La means both "to", "towards", and "at". Therefore, la tê solam can mean both "to(wards) that place", or "at that place". The difference is determined by context.

Su means both "of" (genetive) and "from" (direction, origin).

     frankal su ke        its importance
     De su laga êndwado.  He is from a far country.
     Masa aga su pla!     Go away from here!

Common Prepositions

The most common prepositions are:

     su      of, from
     onudž   by means of
     la      at, to(wards)
     fla     in
     va      on
     ci      between 
     lal     next to, beside 
     pro     for
     le      with
     fre     through
     olka    around
     ne      compared with, in relation to; than
     da      about, concerning
     vo      in front of
     ta      behind
     dotnêl  above, over
     natnêl  below, under

Prepositions are sometimes used together:

     Džula ke la va džulakamo.
        Put it on the table (onto the table).
     Samela mala mafu la fla zûmba.
        The mouse ran into the hole.

Unusual for English speakers is the preposition ne, which is used in the following contexts:

     De dosa ne ka.
        He is better than you.
     Sukalam su so galamê upoja ne madžuselam.
        My house is north of the library.

Note also the following usage:

     So fwil dal nekarle karala su ke ne šaze.
        I can't tell the difference between them.

Page last modified on May 27, 2006

Vabungula is an artificial language invented by Bill Price in 1965.

Vabungula co nûsk mugola famêlêtke onudž Bill Price larla alara idekuzorekol.