Relational nouns play the same syntactic role as English prepositions but are inflected as nouns. Unlike the locative prepositions chi and pa, relational nouns are always possessed. They mark a relationship of belonging, causality, reflexivity, temporality or spatiality between two phrases.

A) -ECH

It indicates a relationship of possession, association or purpose. The possessor may be emphasized by being followed by a Set B pronoun (absolutive pronoun). It may also be contracted as can be seen in the examples below.

We(ch) (in)                             mine

Awe(ch) (at)                       yours

Re(ch) (ri are)                        his/hers

Ech la (lal)                              yours (formal)

Qe(ch) (oj)                              ours

Iwe(ch) (ix)                             you all’s

Ke(ch) (ri a’re’)                        theirs

Ech alaq (alaq)                        you all’s (formal pl)

 

Possession

Wech in le tz’ib’ab’al. The pencil is mine. Ronojel le ulew ech alaq. All this land is yours (formal pl)

“Association”- The possessor is generally non-agentive and does not “own” the object but rather expresses a close association between them.

Sib’alaj utz kinwil le atz’yaq rech Nahuala. I really like the clothing of Nahuala. Jawi k’o wi le wuj re le qatijonik? Where is the paper with/about/concerning our lesson?

Purpose/beneficiary (dative)

Constructions in which (ch)–ech expresses the recipient/indirect object: Xloq’ ulew chiwech ix. The land was bought for you all. Maltyox chiwe. Thank you all. Jas kub’ij chwe? What is s/he saying to me? Kuya’ le wuj chqe. S/he is giving the book to us.

Other functions

(Ch)-ech also introduces oblique objects after antipassive verbs.

In combination with rumal after intransitive verbs and passive forms, it introduces indirect causes:

Following a nominal, -ech indicates a quality or state of the corresponding person: Utz awe la’! Lucky you! You have it good! Sidenote: The shortened form e is used as the word for girlfriend/boyfriend La k’o awe? Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? B) –UK’ It is equivalent to English with, but can also be a locative as in the last two examples below. Kinch’aw ruk’ le nunan pa le ch’aweb’al. I am speaking with my mom on the phone. Awuk’ xb’e wi ri ala. The boy went (together) with you. Kimb’e ruk’ le ajkun. I am going to the doctor. Kel b’i ruk’ le ajkun. He leaves from the doctor. C)–UMAL The noun –umal introduces agents in passive constructions: by, by agency of … , because of… Xkamsax le me’s rumal le tz’i’. The cat was killed by the dog.

It also introduces indirect causes, beneficiaries, or instigators in intransitive clauses.

D) –ONOJEL This noun is a quantifier meaning all (pl) or every (sg).

Saqirik iwonojel! Good morning you all!/Good morning everybody! Ronojel q’ij kinch’aj le nuware. I brush my teeth everyday. E) -TUKEL -tukel means by oneself; alone. The referent appears as the possessive marker. Utukel kakanaj kan pa ja. S/he stays behind in house all alone. Nutukel kimb’ek. I am going alone.

F) -ij The relational noun -ij introduces verbal goals. It is comparable to English “after” in “He threw himself after her.”

The relational noun -ij can also be used in the sense of “about” as in “to talk about  something.” For example, “xojch’aw chirij ri nuwakatem pa Xela” (we talked about our trip to Xela)

We will learn about a few other relational nouns in later units.

k’olb’al wuj	library
rikil	dish (of prepared food)
nimaq’ij	party, holiday
kos(ik) (vit)	to become tired
kosnaq	tired
ki’kot(ik) (vit)	to be(come) happy
b’ison(ik)	to be(come) sad
sik’ij (vtr)	To invite, to call to read (sik’ij uwach)
tz’ib’aj (vtr)	to write
ch’aweb’al	telephone
E-achi’il	classmate; friend

Translate the following phrases into K’iche’:

1. Are you going to the library alone?
2. The cat is ours.
3. I go to work everyday.
4. I am tired because I have a lot of work.
5. Do you want to go to the park with us?

Answers

1. La atukel katb’e pa le k’olb’al wuj?
2. Qech oj le me’s.
3. Kimb’e pa nuchak ronojel q’ij.
4. In kosnaq rumal k’i le nuchak.
5. La kawaj katb’e quk’ pa le uxlanb’al?

Translate the following phrases into English:

1. Sib’alaj utz kinna’ le wa rech Iximulew.
2. Na kojb’e ta pa k’ayb’al rumal maj le qarajil.
3. Kaqab’an le rikil re le nimaq’ij.
4. Chwe’q kimb’e pa le juyub’ kuk’ le e wachi’il.
5. Kinb’ison rumal na karaj ta le nunan kab’e wuk’ pa le tinamit.

Answers

1. I really like food from Guatemala.
2. We are not going to the market because we do not have money.
3. We are making the food for the party.
4. Tomorrow I am going to the mountain with my friends.
5. I am sad because my mother does not want to go with me to the town.