34 Strong, Weak, and Zero Stems
Models
| 1) | ȽIȾET. | ‘cut it.’ |
| 2) | ȽȾITEṈ. | ‘is cut.’ |
| 3) | XÁĆET. | ‘dry it.’ |
| 4) | XÁĆETEṈ. | ‘is dried.’ |
| 5) | ŚJET. | ‘hit it.’ |
| 6) | ŚJETEṈ. | ‘is hit.’ |
‣ 1 A SENĆOŦEN word is composed of a stem or root and may have one or more suffixes or prefixes. A SENĆOŦEN stem typically has two consonants and one vowel. So, for example, the stem ȽIȾ‑ meaning ‘cut’ with the ‑ET transitive suffix makes the word ȽIȾET ‘cut it,’ shown in model 1.
‣ 2 As far as we have been able to determine, there are three basic kinds of stems in SENĆOŦEN: weak stems, strong stems, and zero stems. The difference among these types has to do with what happens to the stressed vowel when suffixes are added.
‣ 3 In weak stems the stressed vowel moves to the right, switching places with the consonant to the right. ȽIȾ‑ ‘choose’ is an example of a weak stem. When a suffix is added, the I and the Ⱦ change places, that is, the I moves to the right of the Ⱦ. So, ȽIȾET ‘cut it’ in model 1 becomes ȽȾITEṈ ‘is cut’ in model 2 when the passive suffix is added.
‣ 4 Notice that when the vowel shifts to the right in model 2, it comes next to the E of ȽIȾET. We might expect *ȽȾIETEṈ, but as was noted in the Notes on Pronunciation section in point 8, E drops if it is preceded by another vowel. So we get ȽȾITEṈ as shown in model 2.
‣ 5 In strong stems the stressed vowel does not move. An example of a strong stem is XÁĆ‑ ‘dry.’ When a suffix is added to this stem, the vowel stays where it is. So XÁĆET ‘dry it’ in model 3 becomes XÁĆETEṈ in model 4 when the passive suffix is added.
‣ 6 In zero stems there is no stressed vowel. An E gets inserted after the stem. An example of a zero stem is ŚJ‑, shown in model 5. The transitive becomes ŚJET ‘hit it.’ The passive, shown in model 6, is ŚJETEṈ ‘is hit.’
‣ 7 Sometimes an E will occur between the two consonants of a weak stem when the vowel shifts out. So, for example, model 2, ȽȾITEṈ is sometimes pronounced ȽEȾITEṈ with an E between the first two consonants.
‣ 8 Take another look at the list of noncontrol transitive verbs given in §32.2 point 7. The words there that have ‑NOW̱ are zero stems. The root has no vowel of its own, so stress goes to the underlying vowel of the suffix. With strong or weak stems, the vowel of the root maintains its stress and the suffix reduces to ‑NEW̱. Review the Notes on Pronunciation section point 7 on vowel reduction.
‣ 9 On zero stems, the noncontrol suffix is ‑NOW̱, and the noncontrol passive suffix is ‑NOṈ.
‣ 10 For some younger L1 speakers of SENĆOŦEN the distinction between weak and strong stems is variable. They do not always shift the vowel when suffixes are added. So, for them, ȽIȾETEṈ is as acceptable as the form shown in model 2, ȽȾITEṈ.
‣ 11 It is not only the passive suffixes that trigger the vowel shift. The ‑ES main clause transitive subject (§1.2), all the subordinate subject suffixes (§17, §30.1), reflexive (§13.1, §45.1), and reciprocal (§13.2, §13.3) suffixes all trigger the vowel shift in weak stems.
 | ȽIȾET E SW̱ TŦE SĆÁÁNEW̱? | ‘Did you cut the salmon?’ |
 | EWE. ȽȾITEṈ ¸E TŦE NE MÁN. | ‘No. It was cut by my father.’ |
| XÁĆET E SE¸ SW̱? | ‘Will you dry it?’ |
| EWE. XÁĆETEṈ SE¸ TŦE SĆÁÁNEW̱ ¸E TŦE NE MÁN. | ‘No. The salmon will be dried by my father.’ |
34A. Use the SENĆOŦEN dictionary to find one other weak stem that shows a shifting vowel pattern.
34B. Use the SENĆOŦEN dictionary to find one other strong stem. You will need at least two words such as an active and passive pair to show this.
34C. Use the SENĆOŦEN dictionary to find one other zero stem. You a noncontrol transitive, reflexive, or reciprocal to show this.