Kämpya: Difference between revisions

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You weren't abandoned by the dog.
You weren't abandoned by the dog.
==Responses to Polar Questions==
To answer a polar question in the negative, the particle /nâ̰/ is used e.g.
A) /kʰwèi̤ dú=káiʔk gáʔɾ/
2PS.ACC=POLQ=bite dog
Did the dog bite the lizard?
B) /nâ̰/
no
No
Answering a polar question in the affirmative is more complicated. There is no single word corresponding to English "yes". The answer depends on why the speaker believes the answer to be true.
If the speaker has seen or participated in the action, then they simply repeat whatever came after /du/ in the question e.g.
A) /kʰwèi̤ dú=káiʔk gáʔɾ/
2PS.ACC=POLQ=bite dog
Did the dog bite the lizard?
B) /káiʔk/
bite
Yes (I saw it)
But in other cases, there are special particles (related to the evidential/mood clitics). If the speaker believes the answer to be yes because someone told them so, then the particle /hḭ̂/ is used e.g.
A) /kʰwèi̤ dú=káiʔk gáʔɾ/
2PS.ACC=POLQ=bite dog
Did the dog bite the lizard?
B) /hḭ̂/
REP
Yes / I've heard so.
If the speaker believes the answer to be yes because there is direct physical evidence, they use the particle /gè̤/ e.g.
A) /kʰwèi̤ dú=káiʔk gáʔɾ/
2PS.ACC=POLQ=bite dog
Did the dog bite the lizard?
B) /gè̤/
INFR
Yes / It looks like it (maybe there is a bite mark on the lizard)
If the speaker believes the answer to be yes because of their experience with similar situations, or because it is general knowledge, they use the particle /hlḛ̂/ e.g.
A) /kʰwèi̤ dú=káiʔk gáʔɾ/
2PS.ACC=POLQ=bite dog
Did the dog bite the lizard?
B) /hlḛ̂/
ASS
Yes / I believe so (maybe because the dog regularly bites the lizard)
If the question entails an assumption that the speaker wishes to deny the truth of, then a special particle /plàṳ/ is used e.g.
A) /jó=mjà̤ jô̰ báˈsjàʔp dú=hóuʔt/
2PS.GEN=wife 2PS.ERG beat.INF POLQ=stop
Have you stopped beating your wife?
B) /plàṳ/
CHALLENGE.PRESUPPOSITION
I wasn't beating my wife.
If the speaker doesn't know the answer to a question, they can answer with the particle /dṵ̂/ e.g.
A) /kʰwèi̤ dú=káiʔk gáʔɾ/
2PS.ACC=POLQ=bite dog
Did the dog bite the lizard?
B) /dṵ̂/
POLQ
I don't know either.