Position 8: Gender and Thematic (derivational)

Certain verb stems fall into a pattern called a stem class.

Morphemes at other positions such as position 8 indicate noun like meaning and

thus this position is referred to as a noun classificatory system.

It consists of four morphemes Ø, de, ne, and dene.

When combined with the stem class identified below, they take on the following meanings: (see section 420)

Stem class	Ø	d	n	dn
single compact object	bass, trap, cap cache, sun	egg, song	berry, bread, fish egg, coiled rope	rock, ring, mirror
long ridged object, empty container	bow, needle, boat, hard times	pole, plate, pot, cane, quill, pencil	dentalium necklace	mirror
enclosed object	knife, full sack, rolled sleeping bag	pillow, mattress, lake	sack of berries, flour, fish eggs	box of rocks, suitcase
fabric-like object	blanket, paper, open sleeping bag	skin object, caribou skin mattress
object in open container	full bucket, sugar, water, mud in container	sand in container, eggs	box of berries, fish eggs, rocks	box of coal
mush object	mud, fish, meat		fish eggs
single animate object	person, dog, doll
plural object, rope object	boots, dogs, balls	eggs, plates, tobacco, pencils, gossip	rope, beads, berries, fish eggs	rocks, gravel, rings, blocks of wood

Semantic class Markers

In addition position 8 may include a set of morphemes that indicate a certain class of object.

These are called semantic class markers. They are organized as follows:

fire, light, the sun

actions of the hand involving a tool or instrument

actions of the head and eyes

refers to the mouth or voice

perceptions of sound

actions involving wood, paper, or grass

visual or tactile perceptions, including color

mental perceptions and actions usually having to do with awareness or knowledge

ne refers to the fact or surface of the head

rope-like object usually sinew or rawhide

feelings, unusual mental states, judgements

refers to travel by boat or vehicle

refers to internal qualities

dene strong sound, taste or tactile perception

physical or metaphorical protrusion or forwardness

heaviness or density