131
edits
Dama Diwan: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
→THE SUFFIXED -N / mibo -n
SostiMatiko (talk | contribs) |
SostiMatiko (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 102: | Line 102: | ||
===THE SUFFIXED -N / mibo -n=== | ===THE SUFFIXED -N / mibo -n=== | ||
All the 3 suffixes can be extended by a final nasal, which is best pronounced as velar if possible to the speaker. The final nasal is the connecting indicator: it goes between the | It is indeed possible to use the Dama language without the suffixed -N. In such a usage, Dama does not lose its ability to express things, but it loses its flexibility: the word order should then be strict SVO, and the subject must always be present (even as a dummy, e.g. TO "person", NO "thing" etc.); some people may think such a usage to be easier; for me, it is too hard; all my experience shows that the easiest way to start a sentence in Dama is to start with the object. Also, the final -N on verbs is extremely practical in showing different kinds of object (e.g. a whole sentence can be a verb's object), and so, even if you thing that it is easier without the suffixed -N, you may find it much more difficult if you try to use Dama without that -N. | ||
All the 3 suffixes can be extended by a final nasal, which is best pronounced as velar if possible to the speaker. The final nasal is the connecting indicator: it goes between the governed word (called SUTO) and its governing word (SUTE) to connect them. | |||
A mnemonic device to remember the role of -n is the word "next", as -n joins primarily with the next word. In Dama, the mnemonic word is "NUJO" (catching), as it "catches" the next words, or "NUTO" (fruit, result), as it connects to the result (object) of the word. The -n can be considered as an abbreviated form of "NO" (thing): it is understood as "the thing, which...". | A mnemonic device to remember the role of -n is the word "next", as -n joins primarily with the next word. In Dama, the mnemonic word is "NUJO" (catching), as it "catches" the next words, or "NUTO" (fruit, result), as it connects to the result (object) of the word. The -n can be considered as an abbreviated form of "NO" (thing): it is understood as "the thing, which...". | ||
:So, between a noun object and its verb: BASON NUJE = "fish-catches" = "s/he catches fish", while BASO NUJE = the fish catches (prey). If the verb goes first, NUJEN BASO "s/he catches fish". But in NUJE BASO, "baso" canNOT be the object, so it is the case of a verb modifier to a noun: "the catching fish", the fish that catches (prey). | :So, between a noun object and its verb: BASON NUJE = "fish-catches" = "s/he catches fish", while BASO NUJE = the fish catches (prey). If the verb goes first, NUJEN BASO "s/he catches fish". But in NUJE BASO, "baso" canNOT be the object, so it is the case of a verb modifier to a noun: "the catching fish", the fish that catches (prey). | ||
Not only verbs, but also adverbs, conjunctions and adpositions have their objects, so the -n also | Not only verbs, but also adverbs, conjunctions and adpositions have their objects, so the -n can also join the adposition or adverb to its object. | ||
The suffix -a is used when the adverb is used as a POSTposition, or more generally to show that the adverb is connected primarily with the PREVIOUS words before the meaning is joined to the following. | The suffix -a is used when the adverb is used as a POSTposition, or more generally to show that the adverb is connected primarily with the PREVIOUS words before the meaning is joined to the following. | ||
| Line 112: | Line 114: | ||
UNTIL 2016 MARCH 03, the suffix -an was used to mark that the adverb is used as a PREposition or conjunction, or more generally to show that the adverb connects primarily to the FOLLOWING word and not to the previous. | UNTIL 2016 MARCH 03, the suffix -an was used to mark that the adverb is used as a PREposition or conjunction, or more generally to show that the adverb connects primarily to the FOLLOWING word and not to the previous. | ||
AFTER 2016 MARCH 04, it has been discovered that the most proper use is to abolish the use of PREpositions (except IN, UN, AN) and use only POSTpositions, which, anyway, have always been preferred in Dama. | AFTER 2016 MARCH 04, it has been discovered that the most proper use is to abolish the use of PREpositions (except IN, UN, AN) and use only POSTpositions, which, anyway, have always been preferred in Dama. The primordial meaning of the suffix -AN is to form the genitive of nouns, although the genitive can have a connotation of ablative and may still be marginally used as a preposition. | ||
The "genitive" with the ending -AN broadly means relation, usually translated by Engligh "of", including "in relation to", "about", so e.g. "MAWA KIWE" = "they talk in a manly way", while "MAWAN KIWE" = "they talk of men, about men". Of course, MUTAN MUSO = "women's clothes", MAWAN JATO = "a man's bag"; | The "genitive" with the ending -AN broadly means relation, usually translated by Engligh "of", including "in relation to", "about", so e.g. "MAWA KIWE" = "they talk in a manly way", while "MAWAN KIWE" = "they talk of men, about men". Of course, MUTAN MUSO = "women's clothes", MAWAN JATO = "a man's bag". | ||
Although there are formally no prepositions in Dama, if we consider a phrase like: "BASO AN MARA KAN JASE" ("the fish is getting near of-intention biting"), "of-intention biting" cannot mean but "with an intention to bite"; such is the function of all adverbs that can be used as postpositions, especially RASA (from), MA (to), KA (in order to; must); so it is quite logical and in correct grammar to use them as prepositions in the form RASAN, MAN, KAN, although this usage is discouraged, yet it is another proof that Dama can imitate the usages of all languages. | |||
Sometimes -AN (genitive) and -A (pure adverb) can refer to the same thing; e.g. SUBAN SAMO "the house's furniture" means the same as SUBA SAMO "the furniture in the house"; SUBAN NAJO "opposite of the house" is really the same as SUBA NAJO "opposite to the house". But there can be a significant difference, as -AN can show a thing as "origin", while -A can show the same thing as "destination": WOSA TUWE "by a rope - stabilize" is "to tie up"; but WOSAN TUWE "from a rope - stabilize" is "to hang". | |||
Although there are formally no prepositions in Dama, if we consider a phrase like: "BASO AN MARA, KAN JASE" ("the fish is getting near, of-intention biting"), "of-intention biting" cannot mean but "with an intention to bite"; such is the function of all adverbs that can be used as postpositions, especially RASA (from), MA (to), KA (in order to; must); so it is quite logical and in correct grammar to use them as prepositions in the form RASAN, MAN, KAN, although this usage is discouraged, yet it is another proof that Dama can imitate the usages of all languages. A phrase started with such a preposition (-AN) should be separated from the rest of the text by two commas (or other two punctuation marks). | |||
'''In general it is advisable to use the -n as sparingly as possible'''. | '''In general it is advisable to use the -n as sparingly as possible'''. | ||
And yet a prepositional syntax can also be imitated with the help of the indeclinable | And yet a prepositional syntax can also be imitated with the help of the indeclinable prepositional IN: the most normal way is to say, e.g. SURA SURA TARO IN RABO KUTA or SURA SURA TARO, RABAN KUTA = "the monkey is up the tree", or: SURA SURA TARO, RABO KUTA, but we can also say the same as SURA SURA TARO, KUTA IN RABO. | ||
IN is really used as a | IN is really used as a connector: IN RABO means "on/at the tree" and the adverb KUTA "up" makes the position more specific. But as RABO KUTA means already "on the tree", IN is superfluous unless for separating SURA SURA TARO from RABO KUTA; a comma too can act in the role of separating words grouped together on either side of it. The final -N in general and the JUNAN WOMO SIJO (see next) are all used as separators and connectors. | ||
=== Other parts of speech / junan womo sijo === | === Other parts of speech / junan womo sijo === | ||