∅-

See also: ∅ and -∅

Translingual

Prefix

∅-

(linguistic morphology) A representation of the zero prefix.

Ahtna

Etymology 1

Cognate with the ∅-classifier in Navajo.

Prefix

∅-

A classifier suffix with no obvious function

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 63

Etymology 2

Prefix

∅-

Marks a third person singular subject; he/she/it
tsagh (∅-tsagh)
He/she/it is crying

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 54

Etymology 3

Prefix

∅-

Represents an unmarked or null gender on all nouns that do not fall into the d-gender, ko-gender, or n-gender. These nouns include a wide variety of animate and inanimate nouns.

References

Kari, James (1990), Ahtna Athabaskan Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 54

Alutor

Prefix

∅-

A zero prefix that is the third person singular, and second person singular, dual and plural agent marker.
пыӈлулатки (Ø-пӈылулатки)
we asked him

туткынин туюн (Ø-туткынин туюн)
she is eating the food

References

Verbal affix: Grammatical sketches from the field with Yukari Nagayama

See also: ∅ and -∅

Dena'ina

Prefix

∅-

One of four classifier prefixes appearing on all Dena'ina verbs. The ∅-classifier appears primarily in intransitive verbs.
eshchegh (esh-∅-chegh) ― I'm crying

gheshyuł (ghe-esh-∅-yuł) ― I'm walking

Usage notes

In passive verbs and in the presence of the prefixes hu-, nił-, and nu-, this classifier is voiced to the d-classifier.

References

Tenenbaum, Joan Marsha (1978), Morphology and Semantics of the Tanaina Verb, Columbia University, pages 120-26

Lower Tanana

Prefix

∅-

One of four classifier prefixes mandatory on all Lower Tanana verbs. The ∅-classifier appears primarily in intransitive verbs, but also on some transitive verbs.

Usage notes

In the presence of the iterative prefix no-, this classifier is voiced to the de-classifier.

Derived terms

Lower Tanana terms prefixed with ∅-

baxudhetroth

be'eɬ ch'etadht'a'

bet'oxwdiɬt'a neghw nighwniyh

bets'e ch'etadheyonenh

ch'etthigho' xot'odhenh

References

Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 548

Navajo

Etymology 1

Prefix

∅-

the ∅- classifier (valence-change prefix), which is the absence of a prefix and usually marks an active verb as intransitive
yibéézh ― it’s boiling (yi-∅-béézh)

yiłbéézh ― he’s boiling it (yi-ł-béézh)

naʼniyęęsh ― something flows about in a meandering fashion (naʼni-∅-yęęsh)

naʼniłhęęsh ― he’s making it flow about in a meandering fashion (naʼni-ł-yęęsh)

siʼą́ ― a roundish object lies in position (-∅-ʼą́)

séłʼą́ ― I keep a roundish object in position (-ł-ʼą́)

Etymology 2

Prefix

∅-

represents a third-person singular subject, which does not have any explicit marking on Navajo verbs.
yi∅ltłʼééł ― he/she/it is jogging/trotting along

Usage notes

As this marker represents the absence of a subject marker, it is not actually written in Navajo texts.

	singular	plural
1st person	es-	tsʼ-
2nd person	i-	oh-
3rd person	∅-	ku-, k-
3rd person obviate	y-
4th person	cʼ-
Areal	ko-