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Da: Difference between revisions
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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 ''Kasunotei du mie | 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 kasixhaohuit'' (Today I am going to the store) instead of ''Du mie kasixhaohuit kasunotei'' (I am going to the store today). | ||
Da adjectives are virtually indistinguishable from intransitive verbs. | Da adjectives are virtually indistinguishable from intransitive verbs. | ||
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A noun in Nominative has zero ending: ''su'' (water),'' dunotó'' (toy), ''punsé'' (tree), ''kokemihan'' (airplane). Note that with words in Nominative, the stress is always on the last syllable. | A noun in Nominative has zero ending: ''su'' (water),'' dunotó'' (toy), ''punsé'' (tree), ''kokemihan'' (airplane). Note that with words in Nominative, the stress is always on the last syllable. | ||
Composite verbs may have several subjects, all in nominative. This usually applies to causative verbs. | |||
Nominative is also used for the subjects of a sentence or a subordinate clause. | Nominative is also used for the subjects of a sentence or a subordinate clause. | ||
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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. | 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 ''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''. | 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 also have one direct object, and in ''Du sáttí Dau'' (I am learning Da) no adverbial is required before ''Dau''. | ||
====''Genitive''==== | ====''Genitive''==== | ||
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|Moving through, being in a state | |Moving through, being in a state | ||
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In particular, when used with Locative, ''-t-'', ''-x-'' and ''-k-'' have the meaning of "to", "from" and "through", respectively. E.g. ''Du mí | In particular, when used with Locative, ''-t-'', ''-x-'' and ''-k-'' attach after the locative marker and have the meaning of "to", "from" and "through", respectively. E.g. ''Du mí hui'''t''''' (I go home) vs. ''Du mí hui'''x''''' (I am leaving home) vs. ''Du mí nomisi'''k''''' (I am walking on a path); ''Karmel nexa taoruru dei'''t''' taolono'' (She put the pencil on the desk) vs. ''Karmel haxa taoruru dei'''x''' taolono'' (She took the pencil from the desk), etc. | ||
''-x-'' and ''-t-'' can also be used with Genitive (e.g. ''huomen duo'' "my husband" vs. ''huomen du'''x'''o'' "my ex-husband") but such usage is more rare. | ''-x-'' and ''-t-'' can also be used with Genitive (e.g. ''huomen duo'' "my husband" vs. ''huomen du'''x'''o'' "my ex-husband") but such usage is more rare. | ||