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Minhast: Difference between revisions
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→Degrees of Comparison
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An example can be illustrated using the English sentence "The dog is bigger than the cat". Here, the Comparee is ''dog'', because it is the entity being compared. The adjective ''big'' is the property that is used for implementing the comparison. The suffix ''-er'', attached to the adjective ''big'', is the Marker. Finally, the role of ''cat'' is that of the Standard; it is the entity that is being compared to. | An example can be illustrated using the English sentence "The dog is bigger than the cat". Here, the Comparee is ''dog'', because it is the entity being compared. The adjective ''big'' is the property that is used for implementing the comparison. The suffix ''-er'', attached to the adjective ''big'', is the Marker. Finally, the role of ''cat'' is that of the Standard; it is the entity that is being compared to. | ||
To express the Comparative, Minhast employs a very different structure than English. Minhast uses a two-clause construction is used. The Comparee occurs in the first clause and is in the Absolutive, with the Standard either expressed as an oblique Dative argument, or it may be dropped from the sentence altogether. The verb for that clause is an intransitive stative verb. This verb serves as the Quality and is linked to the second clause with the General Subordinative clitic ''=mā''. The second clause of the construction contains either the verb ''annuk-an'' (to have the greater portion) or ''isp-an'' (to have the lesser portion). This verb in the second clause serves as the Marker. To illustrate, the sentence ''Anyar Narramitaran šimūzabammā annukaban>> *Anyar=ABS (Narramit=DAT) to.be,hungry-IMPF-INTRANS=SUBORD have.greater.share-IMPF-INTRANS. | To express the Comparative, Minhast employs a very different structure than English. Minhast uses a two-clause construction is used. The Comparee occurs in the first clause and is in the Absolutive, with the Standard either expressed as an oblique Dative argument, or it may be dropped from the sentence altogether. The verb for that clause is an intransitive stative verb. This verb serves as the Quality and is linked to the second clause with the General Subordinative clitic ''=mā''. The second clause of the construction contains either the verb ''annuk-an'' (to have the greater portion) or ''isp-an'' (to have the lesser portion). This verb in the second clause serves as the Marker. To illustrate, the sentence ''Anyar Narramitaran šimūzabammā annukaban'' >> *Anyar=ABS (Narramit=DAT) to.be,hungry-IMPF-INTRANS=SUBORD have.greater.share-IMPF-INTRANS. | ||
From the Minhast perspective, there is nothing remarkable about the structure of this sentence. The sentence follows the standard rules of using an S/O pivot when co-reference between a PRO-dropped Absolutive argument must be established with that of the preceding clause. The argument, marked with the Dative clitic, is optional as all oblique arguments are, hence why dropping of the Dative argument is permissible, especially if it can be recovered from previous discourse or context. | |||
=== Word Order === | === Word Order === | ||