Nouns: Inflectional Distinctions

Nouns in Northern East Cree appear in various forms. Prefixes and suffixes (called inflection) are added to the stem to create different meanings.

• Number inflection for singular and plural
• Gender inflection for animate and inanimate categories
• Obviative inflection indicates information about third persons
• Locative inflection indicates place
• Person inflection indicates relationships between people and things (including possessions)
• Vocative inflection to speak to a person directly
• Diminutive inflection indicates that something is considered small or cherished
• Simulative inflection indicates likeness

Noun paradigm tables show the basic inflections that various nouns can take. Some nouns have special stem shapes, creating changes in the inflectional forms.