Namtrik
Language of the Misaks (Guambianos) is called either namtrik, which refers to “the spoken
language”, or namui wam, which translates “our own language”.
To the year 2000, the community of speakers counted about 15 000.
The language reflects the fact that the existence is never thought in an abstract way. Space, time
and the mode of movement is always reflected in the verbs of the sentence. For example, there
doesn`t really exist verb to be on its own.
In the namtrik language there also isn`t an equivalent to the word “time” in its abstract meaning.
The closest word to our “time” is ete , which serves more as an indicator of movement linked to the
subject. In the same way, the abstract word for “to live” is missing,  it is always expressed in a
way that somebody is living while doing something in a certain  position, for example while
sitting, resting, walking or even while being stopped, hanging upside down etc.

The tenses in namtrik are not expressed grammatically, but  lexically.
To say that something happened in the past, we use the word metrap, which also means ahead, in
front of.
To say that something is going to happen in the future, we use the word wente, which also means
behind and symbolizes everything that is unknown and uncertain, for we can`t see it. It is placed
behind us not only in time, but also in place.

To give an examples:
wap means “to be sitting, to be contained in something, to live, to exist in a place”.
tsup means “to be lying, to stay reclined, to live, to stay, to exist in a place”.
pasrap means “to be stopped, to be in a vertical position, to exist”.
mekap means “to be suspended from something, to hang from something, to exist”.
Ex.
kilkape pirau tsun
kilka-pe/pira-u/tsu-n
papel-top/piso-locat/estar acostado-no loc.
“El papel está (acostado) en el suelo.”
kane umpu wan
kane/ umpu/ wa-n
Pron. (se usa solamente entre esposos)/dentro/estar sentado-no loc.
“Mi mujer está (sentada) dentro.”

nape uyu war
na-pe uyu wa-r
1.p.sg-top/aquí/estar sentado-loc.sg
“Yo estoy (sentado) aquí.” o “Yo vivo aquí.”
waara tulyu tsun
waara/tul-yu/tsu-n
vaca/potrero-loc/estar acostada-no loc.
“La vaca permanece en el potrero.”
yaumera nak pala melan
yau-mera/ nak/ pala/ mel-an
carne-pl/fogón/encima/estar colgado-no loc.
“La carne está (colgada) encima del fogón.”

To express the meaning of “there is, there are, to exist somewhere” we use following patterns (once
again we must be specific what the thing that is present somewhere is doing and in which position
it is).
kushimera jauyu putran
kushi-mera/ yau-yu /putr-an
gusano-pl/carne-locat/estar sentados.
“Hay gusanos en la carne.”
pura pasra?
pura/pasr-a-?
maíz/estar parado-nzr-marca de pregunta
“¿Hay maíz?”
e pura pasran
e/pura/pasr-an
sí/maíz/estar parado-no loc.
“Sí hay maíz.”

Verbs of movement are also often used to express spacial meanings (where somebody is and how he got
there etc).
uñip means “walk”,“to be moving”.
ip means “go” movement away from the centre of attention.
atrup means “come”, moving towards the centre of attention.
wap “to be sat, to live, to stay, to remain”.
na uyu uñar
na/uyu/uñ-ar
1.p.sg/aquí/estar andando-loc. sg.
“Yo estoy aquí (de paso).”
marikkualen yautumai yar
marikkualen /yautu-mai / ya-r
ayer/Popayán-dir / ir-loc. sg.
“Ayer estuve en Popayán.” o “Anduve en Popayán.”

tamarepik atrun
tamar-ep-ik/ atr-un
curar-dur-nzr+sg/venir-no loc.
“Viene el curandero.”
nape kasrak war
na-pe/kasrak/wa-r
1.p.sg-top/contento/ estar sentado-loc. sg.
“Estoy contenta (en este momento).”
marikkualPmkutri kuantrP uñar
marikkualPm-kutri / kuantrP/ uñ-ar
ayer-desde/enfermo/andar-loc.sg.
“Desde ayer estoy enfermo.”