lántas grammar tweaks

This commit is contained in:
Rhiannon Morris 2021-05-20 22:24:08 +02:00
parent 22b122285a
commit f148d06e03
2 changed files with 56 additions and 21 deletions

View File

@ -8,19 +8,24 @@ conlang: lántas
__TODO: intro__
The infinitive is unmarked (but always ends in a vowel), and is the citation form for verbs as well as being used in several constructions.
The infinitive is unmarked, but always ends in a vowel. A borrowing from another
language adds an `{a}` to the end if necessary. It is the citation form for
verbs as well as being used in several constructions.^[citation needed]^
# Tense
There is a distinction between two different past tenses, _recent_ and _distant_ past. The recent past is most commonly used, while the distant past is used to denote an action happening further in the past than to another action already expressed using the recent.
There is a distinction between two different past tenses, _recent_ and _distant_
past. The recent past is most commonly used, while the distant past is used to
denote an action happening further in the past than to another action already
expressed using the recent.
Stories are narrated in the present tense.
:::figure
------------------------ ----------
Distant past `!(DPST)!` `{sai}`
Distant past `!(DPST)!` `{saji}`
Recent past `!(RPST)!` `{si}`
Present `!(PRS)!` `{}`
Future `!(FUT)!` `{má}`
@ -43,8 +48,8 @@ Stories are narrated in the present tense.
---
- Ƶasim kalńḿt jaƶí{sai}.
- ƶasim kalńḿt jaƶí-sai
- Ƶasim kalńḿt jaƶí{saji}.
- ƶasim kalńḿt jaƶí-saji
- the:dog the:cat love-DPST
- The dog had loved the cat (until …).
@ -101,10 +106,18 @@ is expressed by using conjunctions of pronouns instead of suffixes.
# Voice
There is a four way voice distinction. The voice markers are placed between the tense and person markers.
__TODO replace this, probably__
- The _active_ voice is the default form of the verb and does not modify the roles of the arguments.
- The _passive_ voice promotes the direct object of the verb to subject position, leaving the former subject role unspecified. There is no way to specify the agent (i.e., no equivalent to _by_); to merely emphasise the object but keep the subject specified, the object can be moved to the beginning of the clause.
There is a four way voice distinction. The voice markers are placed between the
tense and person markers.
- The _active_ voice is the default form of the verb and does not modify the
roles of the arguments.
- The _passive_ voice promotes the direct object of the verb to subject
position, leaving the former subject role unspecified. There is no way to
specify the agent (i.e., no equivalent to _by_); to merely emphasise the
object but keep the subject specified, the object can be moved to the
beginning of the clause.
- The _reflexive_ voice indicates that the subject(s) act on themselves.
- The _reciprocal_ voice indicates that the subjects act on each other.
@ -163,6 +176,11 @@ a general sense. The definite form is also used for the verb of content
clauses, for example indirect quotations, and with auxiliary verbs such as
modals.
When the final part of the verb is a subject suffix ending in `{a}`, that `{a}`
is dropped and the `{–ḿ}` form of the definite is used instead, e.g.
`{!rusmánḿ}` "that I sleep" rather than `{!rusmánam}`. The definite form of
`{!ai}` "to be" is `{!am}` rather than `{!aim}`.
:::glosses
- hipsa{mł}
- hipsa-m-ł
@ -178,8 +196,8 @@ modals.
---
- Šikkúna{mat} ušminatul.
- šikkú-na-m-at ušmi-na-tul
- Šikkún{ḿt} ušminatul.
- šikkú-n(a)-ḿ-t ušmi-na-tul
- go-1SG-DEF-GEN want-1SG-NEG
- I don't want to go.
:::
@ -187,7 +205,9 @@ modals.
# Modifier forms
A verb form can be suffixed with `{ja}` to turn it into a noun modifier. This
__TODO: maybe replace `{ja}` with `{[ka]t}`? (or `{gu}`???)__
A verb form can be suffixed with `{!ja}` to turn it into a noun modifier. This
is used to make relative clauses.
:::glosses
@ -204,7 +224,9 @@ is used to make relative clauses.
- the lizard that sees the dog
:::
A relative clause can be made into a noun phrase of its own with `{–ƶ}`,
__TODO: probably remove and modify some word instead?__
A relative clause can be made into a noun phrase of its own with `{!–ƶ}`,
meaning 'the one who \_\_\_\_'.
:::glosses
@ -217,7 +239,8 @@ meaning 'the one who \_\_\_\_'.
# Pro-verbs
Pro-verbs are placeholders standing in for verb phrases; they are the verb equivalent of pronouns.
Pro-verbs are placeholders standing in for verb phrases; they are the verb
equivalent of pronouns.
The word for 'to do this' is `{mai}`, related to the [pronoun] `{mua}`. There
are also `{lai}` and `{ƶai}`, which are used only when contrasting between two
@ -242,7 +265,7 @@ options.
- {Ƶaim} ušmina.
- ƶai-m ušmi-na
- do_that-DEF want-1SG
- do_that want-1SG
- I want to take the bus.
:::
@ -251,6 +274,8 @@ There is also a negative pro-verb `{tulla}`, 'to not do this/that'.
# Polar questions
__TODO idk__
Polar (yes/no) questions add a `{ǧi}` clitic on the word or phrase being
questioned. The word being questioned receives the primary stress. If there is
no particular focus for the question, it is attached to the final word of the
@ -278,15 +303,13 @@ sentence.
:::
To answer a yes/no question, the verbs `{mai}` or `{tulla}`, respectively, are
To answer a yes/no question, the verbs `{!mai}` or `{!tulla}`, respectively, are
conjugated for person (but not tense, etc). Their literal meaning are as
[pro-verbs], 'to (not) do this'.
[pro-verbs]: #pro-verbs
:::figure
- `{Inlantimsasǧi šikkúmáha?}`\
- `{!Inlantimsasǧi šikkúmáha?}`\
Are you going to england?
- `{Maina/Tullana.}`\
- `{!Maina.}`/`{!Tullana.}`\
Yes, I am/No, I'm not.
:::

View File

@ -1810,11 +1810,23 @@ saunu:
d:
- wheel
- vehicle
- šámsaunu: car
- passaunu: bike
- t: {v: i}
d: turn
šámsaunu:
p: ˈʃaːm.sau.nu
t: n
d: car
n: '"fourwheel"'
see: [šasm, saunu]
pasaunu:
p: ˈpa.sau.nu
t: n
d: bike
n: '"twowheel"'
see: [pas, saunu]
lut saunu:
t: n
d: bus