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Cumbraek: Difference between revisions
→Focussed Sentences
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====Focussed Sentences==== | ====Focussed Sentences==== | ||
Cumbraek makes considerable use of the ability to focus information by moving a word or phrase to the beginning of a sentence. This can be used for emphasis, in the same way English uses stress, but it is also a common way to introduce new information into a conversation. For example, a response to the question ''peth iw de anuw?'' "what is your name?" would naturally be ''Riwallon iw mun anuw'' "Riwallon is my name" rather than the normal order ''Is Riwallon mun anuw''. | |||
When the '''subject''' of the verb (a noun or pronoun) is focussed, the order of elements is [Subject] + ''a''<sup><small>L</small></sup> + [3sg Verb]. | |||
* ''Cundiarn a drigas ing nGlaskow'' <br /> "Kentigern lived in Glasgow" | |||
* ''Hwi a gulm er lovan'' <br /> "You are tying the rope" | |||
* ''Merthin am hurdhas'' <br /> "Martin pushed me" | |||
To focus the ''direct object'' the order is [Direct Object] + ''a''<sup><small>L</small></sup> + [Personal Verb] (+ [Subject]). Here the verb must agree with the subject. | |||
* ''Ev a garav'' <br /> "I love him" | |||
* ''Er gurthdroidhon a worchuvugsant'' <br /> "They defeated the rebels" | |||
* ''Pel a dewlis er map'' <br /> "The boy threw a ball" | |||
In sentences like the final one, where there is possibility of confusion over whether the object or subject is being focussed (this sentence could equally be interpreted as "A ball threw the boy"), an object pronoun can be infixed agreeing with the preceding object, e.g. ''Pel as tewlis er map''. | |||
When an '''indirect object''' or an '''adverbial''' is focussed, the order is [Indirect Object/Adverbial] + ''e(dh)'' + [Verb] (+ [Subject] + [Direct Object]). | |||
* ''In er ti em gwelas Yossef'' <br /> "Joseph saw me in the house" | |||
* ''Pop didh e can-hi òpera'' <br /> "She sings opera every day" | |||
* ''War er roudh ey pogyas Youdhas'' <br /> "Judas kissed him on the cheek" | |||
All focussed sentences are negated by placing ''ned'' at the start. | |||
* ''Ned Cundiarn a drigas in Nin Edin'' <br /> "Kentigern did not live in Edinburgh" | |||
* ''Ned pel as tewlis er map'' <br /> "The boy did not throw a ball" | |||
* ''Ned pop didh e can-hi òpera'' <br /> "She does not sing opera every day'' | |||
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[[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:A posteriori]] [[Category:Celtic languages]] [[Category:Languages]] [[Category:Brythonic Celtic languages]] | [[Category:Conlangs]] [[Category:A posteriori]] [[Category:Celtic languages]] [[Category:Languages]] [[Category:Brythonic Celtic languages]] | ||