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Valian: Difference between revisions
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==Syntax== | ==Syntax== | ||
Unlike its distant relative [[Elasian]], Valian [[w:syntax|syntax]] does not adhere to a [[w:subject-object-verb|subject-object-verb]] basic word order but instead uses as its most common and unmarked form the same as English, i.e the [[w:subject-verb-object|subject-verb-object]] word order. Adjectives and adverbs generally follow their heads (e.g. ''pead miris'' lit. 'sparrow red') although an inversion may occur for adverbs in poetry. | Unlike its distant relative [[Elasian]], Valian [[w:syntax|syntax]] does not adhere to a [[w:subject-object-verb|subject-object-verb]] basic word order but instead uses as its most common and unmarked form the same as English, i.e the [[w:subject-verb-object|subject-verb-object]] word order. Adjectives and adverbs generally follow their heads (e.g. ''pead miris'' lit. 'sparrow red') although an inversion may occur for adverbs in poetry. In more formal speech it is common to see the adjective precede the noun to mark definiteness, e.g. ''müotte malmesin kasgelodin'' ('I hunt sorrowful sperm whales'). | ||
Valian verbs are able to encapsulate pronouns in an agglutinative fashion. It is therefore sometimes also possible to find sentences using a word order different from the default SVO if context is able to disambiguate, e.g. if it is known that the person speaking is doing so to another human, then ''taevakanu varra aas'' for what usually is ''aas taevaka varra'' ('Girl, thou consecratest the chalice') becomes a perfectly valid sentence. Needless to say, distinguishing between the many options available for interpretation is one of the more confusing aspect of Valian to the beginner. | Valian verbs are able to encapsulate pronouns in an agglutinative fashion. It is therefore sometimes also possible to find sentences using a word order different from the default SVO if context is able to disambiguate, e.g. if it is known that the person speaking is doing so to another human, then ''taevakanu varra aas'' for what usually is ''aas taevaka varra'' ('Girl, thou consecratest the chalice') becomes a perfectly valid sentence. Needless to say, distinguishing between the many options available for interpretation is one of the more confusing aspect of Valian to the beginner. | ||