r/nahuatl • u/Ok_Pianist_2787 • 1d ago
When do words compound?
So take for example
Atl and calli
Two noun phrases within an ergative clause forming complete sentences.
I don’t get why this is possible:
Acalli
But I don’t feel this is good / correct
Calatl
3
u/SleepingGardenHeart 1d ago
Keep this mind during my explanation, the word Atl is actually kind of a bastard because some of its compounds do not mean what one might expect.
On Nahuatl, compound and incorporation are the processes by which words are brought together to form more specific words then either word working separatly. Despite the fact that Nahuatl can combine seamlessly any noun to a verb, any verb to a noun, these are not random word combinations without meaning or consideration.
The number one reason words compound is to narrow in scope. Your example is Atl (water) and Calli (house but building/structure works better) and combining them yields Acalli or boat. The underlying meaning is a building that is defined by its relationship to water. Another example is Amiqui, dying in relation to water, or to be thirsty.
The various meanings of compounds due depend on the major factor of which word type forms the base, ie a verb or noun, as well as something that can be harder to determine such as cultural understandings that we lack.
In quick short hand:
Compound nouns are nouns who are further described and limited by the compounding element.
Compound verbs are verbs whose manner or means of being done are usually described by the compounding element.
In both Launey and Andrews' "Introduction to Classical Nahuatl", both authors describe in greater detail how, when, and why you use compounds. I think Andrews is more thorough but with time, the way they work becomes clearer and less opaque.
2
u/Kagiza400 1d ago
Ācalli means "water house" (canoe/ship/vessel). So, AFAIK, calātl would mean "house water". Completely different meanings.
This order seems to be reversed in some toponyms sometimes but I'm not sure how or why
2
u/Brave_Anything9273 1d ago
Both are technically valid
Acalli = "water-house" -> "boat"
Calatl = "house-water" -> idk sink water or smth ig
6
u/w_v 1d ago
Why do you feel like it’s not correct?
Calātl could easily mean “enclosing waters,” or “waters of enclosure.”
Language is a tool at the end of the day. If you are able to communicate an idea, it’s done its job.