cases
From: | Mathew Willoughby <sidonian@...> |
Date: | Thursday, March 4, 1999, 20:43 |
Wow!
I'm really impressed with how much people on this list know about linguistics!
I could sure use some help.
I am working on a series of lessons for my conlang and I am unsure what to call
the various cases that are used in it. Being a fiction writer, and not a
professional
linguist, I invented the language first and am analyzing its grammar now.
One case that I am having the most trouble naming describes the source, origin or
composition
of the action or of another noun. It serves as the instrumental case but also has
several other
functions. For example: "The ring [nom.] is (made of) gold [case x]." Or, "Joe
[nom.] is reading
a book [acc.] by Sartre [case x]." "Schmoe [nom.] is scared of dogs [case x]." I
don't think that
ablative is the right word to describe this case because I have a separate case
that marks movement
or action out of, away from or before something. Here's an example: "Denise
received a
letter from Joe [case x] from the mailman [ablative].
What do you call a case that combines features of Comitative ("Joe [nom.] danced
with
Schmoe [com.].), Inessive ("Joe [nom.] is inside the car [ine.]."), Adessive ("Joe
[nom.] is
standing near the tree [ad.].") and Locative ("Joe is in the mall [loc.].")? I'm
thinkng of
just calling this one Locative or Adessive, but I'm not sure which (if either) is
more
appropriate.
What do you call a case that combines features of Allative ("Joe [nom.] is going
to
the office [all.].") and Illative ("Joe [nom.] is walking into the building
[ill.].")?
What do you call a case that combines features of Ablative ("Joe [nom.] coming
home
from work [abl.].") and Ellative ("Joe [nom.] is walking out of the building
[ell.].")?
This case is the inverse of the case above. It indicates motion or action away
from
or before something.
Thanks,
Sid
(the URL to lessons in oyAlevain is forthcoming.)