Hesitation Pronouns

Pronouns like ᐊᐃᐦ aih are used when a speaker cannot think of a particular noun. They act as placeholders for that noun. They are inflected, like other pronouns, indicating that the speaker is aware of the gender (animate or inanimate), number (singular or plural) and obviation status of the missing noun.

Proximate

Obviative

singular

plural

singular

plural

Animate

ᐊᐃ

ai

ᐊᐃᒡ

aich

ᐊᐃᐦ

aih

ᐊᐃᐦ

aih

Inanimate

ᐊᐃ

ai

ᐊᐃᐦ

aih

ᐊᐃᔫ

aiyuu

ᐊᐃᔫᐦ

aiyuuh

Example:

ᐊᐃᒡ᙮᙮᙮᙮ ᒌ ᑕᑯᔑᓂᒡ᙮᙮᙮᙮ ᐁᓛ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒫᕐᑭᕇᑦ᙮

aich… chii takushinich…elaa kiyaah maarkiriit.

Uh… they arrived… Ella and Marguerite.