meNprefixes

MeNprefixes are a class of prefix morphemes described in discussions of the constructed language MeN. They attach to verb stems and are used to encode aspects of tense, aspect, and evidential stance within clauses. In the MeN grammar, the meN-prefix set is treated as a small, closed inventory of prefixes that appear at the front of the verb, before the root and any other prefixes, to modify the meaning of the verb in a way that complements subject agreement and tense marking.

Morphology and syntax

The meN prefixes are prefixed directly to the verb root and typically co-occur with other verbal affixes, such as subject agreement markers and tense or mood suffixes. In most descriptions, the primary function of meN- is to indicate perfective aspect, signaling completed actions. Some analyses also assign a secondary role to certain meN variants in marking evidentiality, indicating whether the information is witnessed, reported, or inferred. Phonological realization can vary with the following allomorphs: meN- surfaces as [men-] before consonant-initial stems and as [mɛn-] before vowel-initial stems, with minor adjustments for phonotactics.

Examples

Hypothetical MeN examples illustrate the concept. meN-kita means “has written” (perfective, evidentially indicated). meN-dori means “has seen.” meN-walo means “has eaten.” These forms are intended as illustrative illustrations of how the meN-prefix system operates within a verb-centered morphology in MeN.

Notes

The term meNprefixes is used primarily within discussions of constructed languages and linguistic typology. It is not established as a term for a widely attested feature in natural languages, and examples above are hypothetical constructs used to demonstrate the mechanism of prefixal aspect and evidential marking. See also prefixes in constructed languages and evidentiality in morphology.