91
edits
Da: Difference between revisions
m
→Syntax
m (→Examples) |
m (→Syntax) |
||
| Line 78: | Line 78: | ||
Da is an SVO language. Verbs are placed after the subject, adjectives follow the noun, and adverbs follow the verb. | Da is an SVO language. Verbs are placed after the subject, adjectives follow the noun, and adverbs follow the verb. | ||
It is not uncommon, however, to place a word or phrase in front of the sentence for additional emphasis. E.g. one would say '' | It is not uncommon, however, to place a word or phrase in front of the sentence for additional emphasis. E.g. one would say ''Kasunotei du mie kasixhaohuti'' (Today I am going to the store) instead of ''Du mie kasixhaohuti kasunotei'' (I am going to the store today). | ||
Da adjectives are virtually indistinguishable from intransitive verbs. | Da adjectives are virtually indistinguishable from intransitive verbs. | ||
| Line 99: | Line 99: | ||
Accusative denotes the direct object of a transitive -a verb, and follows the verb. In composite verbs (and the majority of verbs in Da are composite) the ''signature'' of the verb is defined by its parts that and with -a (as long as the composite word does not include the object as well). Thus a composite verb with several -a components can have several direct objects. Vice versa, an intransitive verb (an -e verb) never has direct objects. | Accusative denotes the direct object of a transitive -a verb, and follows the verb. In composite verbs (and the majority of verbs in Da are composite) the ''signature'' of the verb is defined by its parts that and with -a (as long as the composite word does not include the object as well). Thus a composite verb with several -a components can have several direct objects. Vice versa, an intransitive verb (an -e verb) never has direct objects. | ||
For example, the verb ''mia'' (to move) may take an object -- the thing that is being moved. Therefore, the composite verb '' | For example, the verb ''mia'' (to move) may take an object -- the thing that is being moved. Therefore, the composite verb ''daimia'' (to think, lit. "to move in one's head") also takes a direct object, and, unlike in English, the phrase ''Du daimia kú'' (I am thinking '''of''' you) needs no prepositions. | ||
On the other hand, the verb '' | On the other hand, the verb ''sáttí'' (to learn, lit: "to come to know") has the second root ''tí'' (to come, to become) which in this form is intransitive (the transitive form of ''tia'' means "to bring") and the first root sá (to know). Therefore, ''sáttí'' should have one direct object, and in ''Du sáttí Dau'' (I am learning Da) no adverbial is required before ''Dau''. | ||
====''Genitive''==== | ====''Genitive''==== | ||
| Line 108: | Line 108: | ||
Genitive in Da carries a wide range of semantic meanings, from possession to having a quality to being related to the main word in some way or another. Overall the range of cases when Genitive is used in Da is similar to those where you use possessive or the preposition "of" in English. | Genitive in Da carries a wide range of semantic meanings, from possession to having a quality to being related to the main word in some way or another. Overall the range of cases when Genitive is used in Da is similar to those where you use possessive or the preposition "of" in English. | ||
Da nouns in Genitive can also serve as a Verb of a sentence, replacing the use of a copula. Genitive in this role expresses belonging to a group ("is a" relationship), e.g.: ''Du meno!'' (I am a man!), ''Ka punseo | Da nouns in Genitive can also serve as a Verb of a sentence, replacing the use of a copula. Genitive in this role expresses belonging to a group ("is a" relationship), e.g.: ''Du meno!'' (I am a man!), ''Ka punseo dei'' (This is a tall tree) etc. | ||
====''Locative / Instrumentalis / Essive''==== | ====''Locative / Instrumentalis / Essive''==== | ||
Locative / Instrumentalis nouns receive the ending ''- | Locative / Instrumentalis nouns receive the ending ''-i''. | ||
When used as Locative, it indicates place or time: ''sue'' (in water), '' | When used as Locative, it indicates place or time: ''sue'' (in water), ''punseolani'' (in a forest), ''kokemihani'' (on an airplane), ''sorsunotei'' (yesterday), ''xortei'' (soon; lit. "in a short time"). Usually locative does not denote possession; e.g. compare ''Ku du áthata taoruolanu ká'' (Give me this book, i.e. for me to have) vs. ''Ku tita duti taoruolanu kai'' (Bring this book to me, i.e. to my place). | ||
If the location needs to be specified more precisely, e.g. "'''on''' the desk" vs. "'''under''' the desk", or "'''near''' the house" vs. "'''in''' the house", Cha uses a position indicator + Genitive to express that: '' | If the location needs to be specified more precisely, e.g. "'''on''' the desk" vs. "'''under''' the desk", or "'''near''' the house" vs. "'''in''' the house", Cha uses a position indicator + Genitive to express that: ''dei taoruo'' (on the desk, lit. "on top of the desk"), ''deri taoruo'' (under the desk), ''neri huo'' (outside the house), ''nertenki huo'' (around the house), ''nei huo'' (in / inside the house), ''hui'' (at the house, home). As you can see, all these constructions follow the pattern "at" (expressed as Locative) "position" (e.g. top, under, outside etc.) "of" (expressed as Genitive) original word. The position indicators are grammatically nouns, although they are usually translated into English as prepositions. | ||
To form a sentence indicating an object / person location, e.g. "The boy '''is''' in the house", Cha speakers would use the verb '' | To form a sentence indicating an object / person location, e.g. "The boy '''is''' in the house", Cha speakers would use the verb ''nai / ná'' (vi: "be located", vt: "put"): ''Nunmen nai nei huo''. One can also say ''Nunmen nei hui'', using the root ''ne'' as a verb with meaning "be inside". | ||
When used as Instrumentalis, the same form indicates a tool or object with which an action is done. This usage usually translates into English with the help of preposition "with", although not always: ''Nunmen | When used as Instrumentalis, the same form indicates a tool or object with which an action is done. This usage usually translates into English with the help of preposition "with", although not always: ''Nunmen kai lodani rurixo-lodaniolai'' (This boy plays a violin). In Da, it is interchangeable with a phrase that includes the word ''lai'' (using): ''Damen tala saraotutirhonu seoruri'' (The master beats the dog '''with''' a stick) can be said as ''Damen tala saraotutirhonu lai seoruru'' (The master beats the dog '''using''' a stick). | ||
Finally, this case can be used as the verb of a sentence to express the "is the" relationship (Essive): Ku | Finally, this case can be used as the verb of a sentence to express the "is the" relationship (Essive): Ku meni du síxao sorsunotei! -- You are the man I saw yesterday! | ||
Although different uses of Locative / Instrumentalis share the same ending, it is usually quite obvious whether the place, time, or tool is meant in each given case. | Although different uses of Locative / Instrumentalis share the same ending, it is usually quite obvious whether the place, time, or tool is meant in each given case. | ||