Glossary of Terms

There are multiple conventions for describing the parts of a Cherokee word. Hover over each terminology mode below to see more details about what they offer.

Aspectual Suffixes

PRS – Present Aspectual Suffix
The Present Continuous (PRC) or Present (PRS) stem indicates that an action or state is happening at the time of speaking. (CRG: 67-68)
IMPF – Imperfective Aspectual Suffix
The Incompletive (INC) or Imperfective (IMPF) stem indicates that the action is not completed. (CRG: 68-69)
PFT – Perfective Aspectual Suffix
The Completive (CMP) or Perfective (PFT) stem indicates a past or future completed action. (CRG: 72-74)
PCT – Punctual Aspectual Suffix
The Immediate (IMM) or Punctual (PCT) stem presents an action that took place in the recent past; it can also be used as a command to express an action that should be done in the near future. (CRG: 69-72)
INF – Infinitive Suffix
The Infinitive (INF) has many different uses; for most of these functions it appears with another verb rather than alone. One of the most common uses of this stem is the Infinitive complement function: to serve as an object to another verb. (CRG: 74-77)

Prepronominal Prefixes

IRR – Irrealis Prepronominal Prefix
The Irrealis (IRR) prepronominal prefix references an action that has not occurred and/or might occur. One of the most important functions of this prefix is negation. (CRG: 106-109)
TRNSL – Translocative Prepronominal Prefix
The Translocative (TRNSL) prepronominal prefix indicates a motion away from the speaker as well as an action that is taking place at a distance from the speaker. (CRG: 104-106)
PART1 – Partitive 1 Prepronominal Prefix
The ni- or Partitive prepronominal prefix has two forms: NI1 (PART1) and NI2 (PART2). This prefix has several different functions. (CRG 283-288; 339-340)
PART2 – Partitive 2 Prepronominal Prefix
The ni- or Partitive prepronominal prefix has two forms: NI1 (PART1) and NI2 (PART2). This prefix has several different functions. (CRG 283-288; 339-340)
DIST1 – Distributive 1 Prepronominal Prefix
The Distributive prepronominal prefix has two forms, DIST1 and DIST2. Its two basic meanings are to indicate the presence of a nonsingular object or the distribution and/or multiplication of an action. (CRG: 109-113;140; 304-305)
DIST2 – Distributive 2 Prepronominal Prefix
The Distributive prepronominal prefix has two forms, DIST1 and DIST2. Its two basic meanings are to indicate the presence of a nonsingular object or the distribution and/or multiplication of an action. (CRG: 109-113;140; 304-305)
CISL1 – Cislocative 1 Prepronominal Prefix
The Toward or Cislocative prepronominal prefix has two forms: TOW1 (CISL1) and TOW2 (CISL2). This prefix indicates an action that is facing or approaching the speaker.
CISL2 – Cislocative 2 Prepronominal Prefix
The Toward or Cislocative prepronominal prefix has two forms: TOW1 (CISL1) and TOW2 (CISL2). This prefix indicates an action that is facing or approaching the speaker.
ITER1 – Iterative 1 Prepronominal Prefix
The Iterative prepronominal prefix has two forms, ITER1 and ITER2. This prefix indicates that an action has been repeated. (CRG: 293-296)
ITER2 – Iterative 2 Prepronominal Prefix
The Iterative prepronominal prefix has two forms, ITER1 and ITER2. This prefix indicates that an action has been repeated. (CRG: 293-296)
REL – Relative Prepronominal Prefix
The Relativizer or Relative (REL) prepronominal prefix has several important uses. Its main use is to indicate that a verb is part of a relative clause. It is also used to indicate a definite past time frame in which the verb took place. (CRG: 279-282)
NEG – Negative 1 Prepronominal Prefix
The GA or Negative (NEG) prepronominal prefix has several uses. The most common use of this prefix is to indicate that something has not happened for a certain period. (CRG: 297-300)
ANS – Animate Nonsingular Prepronominal Prefix
For some speakers the Animate Nonsingular (ANS) prepronominal prefix gaa- is used to reference third person nonsingular animate objects; other speakers use the Distributive prefix dee-. (CRG: 117)
COM – Command Prepronominal Prefix
The Command (COM) prepronominal prefix appears with negative commands in certain contexts. (CRG: 113-115)
TOC – Toward Command Prepronominal Prefix
CISL2 – Cislocative 2 Prepronominal Prefix

Clitics

AQ – Alternative Question Clitic
The "Or" Question (OQ) postfix presents a choice between two alternatives. lt also appears on question words either to emphasize the question, as in (85a), or to alter the question itself. (CRG: 198-199)
CS – Concessive Clitic
The Concessive (CS) postfix is typically translated as ‘but’; when attached to a question word, however, it often expresses ‘I wonder’. (CRG: 209)
CN – Conjunction Clitic
The Conjunction (CN) postfix serves to link two words together and is often translated as ‘and’; another important function is to announce the topic of the sentence. (CRG 206-208)
CQ – Conducive Question Clitic
The Conducive Question (CQ) postfix is used to ask questions to which a ‘yes’ answer is expected. (CRG: 198-199)
BUT – Contrastive Clitic
The Contrastive (CT) postfix usually occurs following -sgo to question an assertion. (CRG: 203-204)
DT – Delimiter Clitic
The Delimiter (DT) postfix often has the meaning ‘only’ or ‘just’ and is often emphatic. (CRG: 200-202)
EQ – Echo Question Clitic
F – Focus Clitic
The Emphatic (EM) postfix used to emphasize a word, usually at the beginning of a clause. It is often not translated. (CRG: 204-205)
FOC2 – Focus2 Clitic
The Focus (FC) postfix indicates focus on the word to which it attaches. (CRG: 205-206)
OS – "Or" Statement Clitic
The "Or" Statement (OR) postfix is typically translated as ‘or’ and attaches to statements. (CRG: 202-203)
Q – Interrogative Clitic
The Yes/No Question (Q) postfix appears on the word that is being questioned when a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer is expected. (CRG:199-200)

Modal Suffixes

HAB – Habitual Modal Suffix
ASR – Assertive Modal Suffix
REP – Reportive Modal Suffix
FUT.PROG – Future Progressive Modal Suffix
FUT.IMP – Future Imperative Modal Suffix
MOT – Motion Modal Suffix
IND – Indicative Modal Suffix
NEG.P – Negative Participle Modal Suffix
MOT – Motion Modal Suffix

Nominal Suffixes

NOM/SH – Superhigh Nominal Suffix
ASR/SH – Assertive Superhigh Suffix
PP/SH – Passive Participle Suffix
POSS/SH – Possessive Suffix
ADJ/SH – Adjective Suffix
LOC/SH – Locative Suffix
IND/SH – Superhigh Indicative Suffix
DIM/SH – Diminutive Suffix
INT – Intensifier Suffix
AUG – Augmentative Suffix
CHR – Characterizer Suffix
NOM – Nominal Suffix
NOM/SH – Superhigh Nominal Suffix

Pronominal Prefixes

1SG.A – Set A 1SG Pronominal Prefix
2SG.A – Set A 2SG Pronominal Prefix
3SG.A – Set A 3SG Pronominal Prefix
1DU.IN.A – Set A 1DU IN Pronominal Prefix
1DU.EX.A – Set A 1DU EX Pronominal Prefix
2DU – 2DU Pronominal Prefix
1PL.IN.A – Set A 1PL IN Pronominal Prefix
1PL.EX.A – Set A 1PL EX Pronominal Prefix
2PL – 2PL Pronominal Prefix
3PL.A – Set A 3PL Pronominal Prefix
1SG>AN – Set A 1SG AN Pronominal Prefix
2SG>AN – Set A 2SG AN Pronominal Prefix
1DU.IN>AN – Set A 1DU IN AN Pronominal Prefix
1DU.EX>AN – Set A 1DU EX AN Pronominal Prefix
2DU>AN – Set A 2DU AN Pronominal Prefix
1PL.IN>AN – Set A 1PL IN AN Pronominal Prefix
1PL.EX>AN – Set A 1PL EX AN Pronominal Prefix
2PL>AN – Set A 2PL AN Pronominal Prefix
1SG.B – Set B 1SG Pronominal Prefix
2SG.B – Set B 2SG Pronominal Prefix
3SG.B – Set B 3SG Pronominal Prefix
1DU.IN.B – Set B 1DU IN Pronominal Prefix
1DU.EX.B – Set B 1DU EX Pronominal Prefix
1PL.IN.B – Set B 1PL IN Pronominal Prefix
1PL.EX.B – Set B 1PL EX Pronominal Prefix
3PL.B – Set B 3 PL Pronominal Prefix
3B.IP – Set B 3 Impersonal Pronominal Prefix
3A.IP – Set A 3 Impersonal Pronominal Prefix
1B.FAM – Family Pronominal Prefix
EMP.PRO – Emphatic Pronoun
3PL>1SG – 3PL>1SG Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>2SG – 3PL>2SG Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>3SG – 3PL>3SG Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>1DU.IN – 3PL>1DU.IN Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>1DU.EX – 3PL>1DU.EX Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>2DU – 3PL>2DU Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>1PL.IN – 3PL>1PL.IN Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>1PL.EX – 3PL>1PL.EX Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
3PL>2PL – 3PL>2PL Combined Nonsingular Subject Prefix
2/1SG – 2/1SG Combined Local Pronominal Prefix
2/1DU – 2/1DL Combined Local Pronominal Prefix
2/1PL – 2/1PL Combined Local Pronominal Prefix
1/2SG – 1/2SG Combined Local Pronominal Prefix
1/2DU – 1/2DL Combined Local Pronominal Prefix
1/2PL – 1/2PL Combined Local Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>1SG – 1SG Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>2SG – 2SG Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>3SG – 3SG Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>1DU.IN – 1DU IN Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>1DU.EX – 1DU EX Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>2DU – 2DU Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>1PL.IN – 1PL IN Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>1PL.EX – 1PL EX Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>2PL – 2PL Object Focus Pronominal Prefix
UNSP>3PL – 3PL Object Focus Pronominal Prefix

Personal Pronouns

1PRO – 1st Person Personal Pronoun
2PRO – 2nd Person Personal Pronoun
POS.PRO – Possessive Pronoun

Derivational Suffixes

DAT – Dative Derivational Suffix
DAT:PRS – Present Dative Derivational Suffix
DAT:IMPF – Imperfective Dative Derivational Suffix
DAT:PFT – Perfective Dative Derivational Suffix
DAT:PCT – Punctual Dative Derivational Suffix
DAT:INF – Infinitive Dative Derivational Suffix
INST – Causative Derivational Suffix
INST:PRS – Present Causative Derivational Suffix
INST:IMPF – Imperfective Causative Derivational Suffix
INST:PFT – Perfective Causative Derivational Suffix
INST:PCT – Punctual Causative Derivational Suffix
INST:INF – Infinitive Causative Derivational Suffix
AND:PRS – Present Andative Derivational Suffix
AND:IMPF – Imperfective Andative Derivational Suffix
AND:PFT – Perfective Andative Derivational Suffix
AND:PCT – Punctual Andative Derivational Suffix
AND:INF – Infinitive Andative Derivational Suffix
VEN – Venitive Derivational Suffix
VEN:PRS – Present Venitive Derivational Suffix
VEN:IMPF – Imperfective Venitive Derivational Suffix
VEN:PFT – Perfective Venitive Derivational Suffix
VEN:PCT – Punctual Venitive Derivational Suffix
VEN:INF – Infinitive Venitive Derivational Suffix
AMB – Ambulative Derivational Suffix
AMB:PRS – Present Ambulative Derivational Suffix
AMB:IMPF – Imperfective Ambulative Derivational Suffix
AMB:PFT – Perfective Ambulative Derivational Suffix
AMB:PCT – Punctual Ambulative Derivational Suffix
AMB:INF – Infinitive Ambulative Derivational Suffix
REP:PRS – Present Repetitive Derivational Suffix
REP:IMPF – Imperfective Repetitive Derivational Suffix
REP:PFT – Perfective Repetitive Derivational Suffix
REP:PCT – Punctual Repetitive Derivational Suffix
REP:INF – Infinitive Repetitive Derivational Suffix
DUP – Duplicative Derivational Suffix
DUP:PRS – Present Duplicative Derivational Suffix
DUP:IMPF – Imperfective Duplicative Derivational Suffix
DUP:PFT – Perfective Duplicative Derivational Suffix
DUP:PCT – Punctual Duplicative Derivational Suffix
DUP:INF – Infinitive Duplicative Derivational Suffix
INCEP – Inceptive Derivational Suffix
INCEP:PRS – Present Inceptive Derivational Suffix
INCEP:IMPF – Imperfective Inceptive Derivational Suffix
INCEP:PFT – Perfective Inceptive Derivational Suffix
INCEP:PCT – Punctual Inceptive Derivational Suffix
INCEP:INF – Infinitive Inceptive Derivational Suffix
COMP – Completive Derivational Suffix
COMP:PRS – Present Completive Derivational Suffix
COMP:IMPF – Imperfective Completive Derivational Suffix
COMP:PFT – Perfective Completive Derivational Suffix
COMP:PCT – Punctual Completive Derivational Suffix
COMP:INF – Infinitive Completive Derivational Suffix
ACC – Accidental Derivational Suffix
ACC:IMPF – Imperfective Accidental Derivational Suffix
ACC:PFT – Perfective Accidental Derivational Suffix
ACC:PCT – Punctual Accidental Derivational Suffix
ACC:INF – Infinitive Accidental Derivational Suffix
MLT:PRS – Present Multiplicative Derivational Suffix
MLT:IMPF – Imperfective Multiplicative Derivational Suffix
MLT:PFT – Perfective Multiplicative Derivational Suffix
MLT:INF – Infinitive Multiplicative Derivational Suffix

Reflexive Prefixes

REFL – Reflexive Prefix
MID – Middle Prefix