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Bearlandic: Difference between revisions
→Modality: One of the sample sentences is remarkably appropriate at this late hour...
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''My phone '''has been stolen'''. | ''My phone '''has been stolen'''. | ||
=== | ===Modality=== | ||
Modality is expressed using a variety of modal auxiliary verbs. The main ones are basic auxiliaries ''kuss'' "can", ''mut'' "must", ''will'' "want", ''mogg'' "may", as well as ''tyē, yē, hyē, wylē'' and ''kynē'', which are remnants of old optative forms of ''tú'' "do", ''iss'' "be", ''heppt'' "have", ''will'' and ''kuss'' respectively. | |||
After the basic auxiliaries one can choose between two possible constructions: SVOV using an infinitive and SVVO using the base form. These two constructions differ slightly in meaning in some contexts and are known as the "definite" and "uncertain" mood respectively. An optative may only be followed by an infinitive when used as an auxiliary. Thus one may say: | |||
* ''Ig kuss dē túē.'' (definite) | |||
* ''Ig kuss tú dē.'' (uncertain) | |||
* ''If kynē dē túē.'' (optative) | |||
The choice between these forms is a complicated matter and varies considerably between dialects and even between different speakers of the same dialect. Some guidelines are presented below, but the reader should bear in mind that the actual usage is considerably more complicated than can be shown here. | |||
====''Kuss''==== | |||
''Kuss'' indicates an ability or a possibility. In affirmative sentences, it normally takes the definite mood. | |||
''Ig '''kuss''' dē Bʉrnlannts '''prattē'''.''<br> | |||
I '''can speak''' Bearlandic. | |||
In negative sentences, the definite mood indicates a "stronger" impossibility that the uncertain mood. | |||
''Hissē '''kuss nikkt flikē'''.''<br> | |||
Houses '''cannot fly'''. | |||
''Ig '''kuss nikkt les''' oss dē tē dorrk zyt.<br> | |||
I '''can't read''' because it's too dark. | |||
====''Mut''==== | |||
Just like ''kuss'', ''mut'' usually takes the definite mood in affirmative sentences. | |||
''Ig '''mut''' oss itē '''slapē'''.''<br> | |||
I '''should get''' some '''sleep'''. | |||
In negative sentences, the definite mood indicates something which is disrecommendable, while the uncertain mood indicates something which is possible but not necessary. | |||
''Man '''mut gyn''' rʉtig gʉmless '''ytē'''.<br> | |||
You '''shouldn't eat''' rotten fruit. | |||
====''Will''==== | |||
With ''will'', the definite mood implies determination or immediacy, whereas the uncertain mood may imply hesitation or hindrance. | |||
''Ig '''will pratt''' oss emm, mar hi bigryf miess spraking nikkt.''<br> | |||
I '''want to talk''' to him, but he doesn't understand my dialect. | |||
====''Mogg''==== | |||
''Mogg'' usually indicates permission, but occasionally it may indicate a possibility instead. In affirmative sentences it usually takes the uncertain mood. | |||
In negative sentences, it indicates something which is forbidden and typically takes the definite mood. | |||
====The optative==== | |||
As mentioned above, there exist five synthetic optatives. All other optatives are made by using one of these as an auxiliary verb. Note that although ''wylē'' derives from the ancient optative of ''will'', it functions as a separate verb in modern Bearlandic rather than as a form of "want". | |||
The optative can be used in several ways, two of which will be discussed in this section. Firstly, it may be used to express a wish. In this case, the optative verb comes at the beginning of the sentence, and ''tyē'' is used when the subject can control the action, whereas ''wylē'' is used when it can't. | |||
'''''Yē''' his oss hirr!''<br> | |||
'''If only''' he '''were''' here! | |||
'''''Tyē''' hi '''ytē'''!''<br> | |||
'''May''' he '''eat'''! | |||
'''''Wylē''' dē zoll '''sgynē'''!''<br> | |||
'''May''' the sun '''shine'''! | |||
The optative may also be used to express a possibility. In this case, the normal word order (SVOV) is used and the auxiliary verb is ''kynē''. | |||
''Ig '''yē''' túpig.''<br> | |||
I '''may be''' mad. | |||
''Ig '''kynē''' dē '''túē'''.''<br> | |||
I '''could do''' that. | |||
The optative also appears in certain conditional clauses. These uses are explained [[#Conditionals|here]]. | |||
===Verbal prefixes=== | ===Verbal prefixes=== | ||