Verse:Mwail/Old Gloob: Difference between revisions

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====Summary of the gender-number-state system====

Nouns have ~~up to three possible~~ ''states'': indefinite, definite and predicative (~~the last one~~ is arguably a case). There is no definiteness distinction in the collective; collective nouns are automatically definite.

Nouns can have ''states'', including indefinite, definite and predicative (which is arguably a case). There is no definiteness distinction in the collective; collective nouns are automatically definite.

Nouns are divided into three classes/genders:

*Animate ~~nouns~~: Many animate nouns have all three numbers. Animate nouns include not only humans or animals, but also many body parts, some plants, "active" natural processes such as rain, and heavenly bodies.

*Animate: Many animate nouns have all three numbers. Animate nouns include not only humans or animals, but also many body parts, some plants, more "active" natural processes such as rain and storms, and heavenly bodies.

*Inanimate ~~nouns~~: The countable inanimate nouns have all three numbers. Some inanimate nouns are mass nouns, and thus only have a generic number and a singulative number.

*Inanimate: The countable inanimate nouns have all three numbers. Some inanimate nouns are mass nouns, and thus only have a generic number and a singulative number.

*Abstract ~~nouns~~: Singulative and plurative abstract nouns denote specific instantiations or manifestations of the abstract concept. (So a noun meaning 'kindness' in the collective could be rendered as 'act of kindness' in the singulative.)

*Abstract: Singulative and plurative abstract nouns denote specific instantiations or manifestations of the abstract concept. (So a noun meaning 'kindness' in the collective could be rendered as 'act of kindness' in the singulative.)

*Honorific ~~nouns~~: Honorific nouns are essentially abstract nouns made countable, i.e. abstract nouns in singulative and plurative forms, and their morphology generalized to the collective distinction.

*Honorific: Honorific nouns are essentially abstract nouns made countable, i.e. abstract nouns in singulative and plurative forms, and their morphology generalized to the collective distinction.

In third-person possessed forms, ~~Themsarian makes a distinction, realized tonally,~~ between the ''absolute'' possessed form, which indicates a noun possessed by a pronoun, and the ''conjunct'' possessed form, used to indicate a possessive relationship between two nouns and agreeing with the gender of the possessor.

Themsarian also makes a state distinction in third person possessed forms, namely between the ''absolute'' possessed form, which indicates a noun possessed by a pronoun, and the ''conjunct'' possessed form, used to indicate a possessive relationship between two nouns and agreeing with the gender of the possessor. This distinction is marked with tone changes or zero.

Proper names are indeclinable, i.e. they are always definite, and cannot be possessed.

@@ Line 553: / Line 553: @@
 ====Summary of the gender-number-state system====
-Nouns have up to three possible ''states'': indefinite, definite and predicative (the last one is arguably a case). There is no definiteness distinction in the collective; collective nouns are automatically definite.
+Nouns can have ''states'', including indefinite, definite and predicative (which is arguably a case). There is no definiteness distinction in the collective; collective nouns are automatically definite.
 Nouns are divided into three classes/genders:
-*Animate nouns: Many animate nouns have all three numbers. Animate nouns include not only humans or animals, but also many body parts, some plants, "active" natural processes such as rain, and heavenly bodies.
+*Animate: Many animate nouns have all three numbers. Animate nouns include not only humans or animals, but also many body parts, some plants, more "active" natural processes such as rain and storms, and heavenly bodies.
-*Inanimate nouns: The countable inanimate nouns have all three numbers. Some inanimate nouns are mass nouns, and thus only have a generic number and a singulative number.
+*Inanimate: The countable inanimate nouns have all three numbers. Some inanimate nouns are mass nouns, and thus only have a generic number and a singulative number.
-*Abstract nouns: Singulative and plurative abstract nouns denote specific instantiations or manifestations of the abstract concept. (So a noun meaning 'kindness' in the collective could be rendered as 'act of kindness' in the singulative.)
+*Abstract: Singulative and plurative abstract nouns denote specific instantiations or manifestations of the abstract concept. (So a noun meaning 'kindness' in the collective could be rendered as 'act of kindness' in the singulative.)
-*Honorific nouns: Honorific nouns are essentially abstract nouns made countable, i.e. abstract nouns in singulative and plurative forms, and their morphology generalized to the collective distinction.
+*Honorific: Honorific nouns are essentially abstract nouns made countable, i.e. abstract nouns in singulative and plurative forms, and their morphology generalized to the collective distinction.
-In third-person possessed forms, Themsarian makes a distinction, realized tonally, between the ''absolute'' possessed form, which indicates a noun possessed by a pronoun, and the ''conjunct'' possessed form, used to indicate a possessive relationship between two nouns and agreeing with the gender of the possessor.
+Themsarian also makes a state distinction in third person possessed forms, namely between the ''absolute'' possessed form, which indicates a noun possessed by a pronoun, and the ''conjunct'' possessed form, used to indicate a possessive relationship between two nouns and agreeing with the gender of the possessor. This distinction is marked with tone changes or zero.
 Proper names are indeclinable, i.e. they are always definite, and cannot be possessed.