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Scellan/Syntax: Difference between revisions
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Fundamental to Skellan syntax is its topic-prominence. Sentences usually, but not always, use the following word order in | Fundamental to Skellan syntax is its topic-prominence. Sentences usually, but not always, use the following word order in | ||
topic verb ... focus | topic verb ... focus. | ||
==Noun phrase== | |||
Skellan 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) | |||
*''a(ð)'' for specific singular | |||
*''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'. | |||
Non-specific nouns are referred to with plural pronouns. | |||
Exception: Family members don't take the specific article when possessed. For example, ''Ny pab'' means "my dad" | |||
==Faulty accusative== | ==Faulty accusative== | ||