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Scellan/Syntax: Difference between revisions
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A mostly-analytic language, Eevo ( | A mostly-analytic language, Eevo (Scellan) is focus-prominent and strongly head-initial (with exceptions in poetry), like Salishan and Polynesian languages. | ||
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==Topic-prominence== | ==Topic-prominence== | ||
Fundamental to Skellan syntax is its topic-prominent V2 word order, a unique feature among Talman languages. Sentences usually, but not always, use the following word order in main clauses: | Fundamental to Skellan syntax is its topic-prominent V2 word order, a unique feature among Talman languages. Sentences usually, but not always, use the following word order in main clauses: | ||
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** In colloquial speech, pronouns referring to the topic can be omitted whenever the relation and the topic are clear: ''Fiar þyl a leeð, naw jyçár a leeð.'' | ** In colloquial speech, pronouns referring to the topic can be omitted whenever the relation and the topic are clear: ''Fiar þyl a leeð, naw jyçár a leeð.'' | ||
*Weather: ''Dy tøøh ñwi.'' = It's raining. | *Weather: ''Dy tøøh ñwi.'' = It's raining. | ||
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==Noun phrase== | ==Noun phrase== | ||
Scellan uses an unusual article system from the perspective of other Talman languages. It has a specific article (like Windermere) but no definite article (unlike Windermere and other Talmic languages), and number is only marked for specific nouns. | |||
*no article for non-specific or collective (number neutral) | *no article for non-specific or collective (number neutral) | ||
*''a(ð)'' for specific singular | *''a(ð)'' for specific singular | ||
*''na'' for specific plural | *''na'' for specific plural | ||
Singulative and plurative (called "singular" and "plural" below for convenience) refer to one resp. more than one specific instances of the noun. A noun in the collective form refers to "[noun] in general" or "the set of all [noun]". This distinction also applies to abstract nouns (which often use unmarked collectives). A non-specific abstract noun refers to the quality in general, and the singulative and plurative refer to one or more specific instances or manifestations of the abstract noun. For example, the collective ''fosgu'' means 'valor (in general)'; the singulative ''a fosgu'' means 'a/the valiant deed'; the plurative ''na fosgu'' means '(the) valiant deeds'. | Singulative and plurative (called "singular" and "plural" below for convenience) refer to one resp. more than one specific instances of the noun. A noun in the collective form refers to "[noun] in general" or "the set of all [noun]". This distinction also applies to abstract nouns (which often use unmarked collectives). A non-specific abstract noun refers to the quality in general, and the singulative and plurative refer to one or more specific instances or manifestations of the abstract noun. For example, the collective ''fosgu'' means 'valor (in general)'; the singulative ''a fosgu'' means 'a/the (specific) valiant deed'; the plurative ''na fosgu'' means '(the) valiant deeds'. | ||
Non-specific nouns are referred to with plural pronouns. | Non-specific nouns are referred to with plural pronouns. | ||
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#:That was the year in which they entered. | #:That was the year in which they entered. | ||
#''Membership'' is expressed using ''X COP dyb Y (PRON)'' (etym. "X is in all Y's"). This asserts "X is-a Y", i.e. "X is in the set of all Y's". | #''Membership'' is expressed using ''X COP dyb Y (PRON)'' (etym. "X is in all Y's"). This asserts "X is-a Y", i.e. "X is in the set of all Y's". | ||
#:''''' | #:'''''Dyb croð Soocrátees, dyb baryçtá bo croð. Ceeda dyb paryçta Soocrátee..''''' | ||
#: | #: is_a human Socrates, is_a mortal COL human. therefore is_a mortal Socrates. | ||
#:Socrates is human; humans are mortal. Hence Socrates is mortal. | #:Socrates is human; humans are mortal. Hence Socrates is mortal. | ||