Re: linguistics questions

The passive (as such) is not very popular in French (and how can you have a
passive in an intransitive sentence?): one tends to say "on m'a vu" for "I
was seen", or sometimes you employ a reflexive where there is no danger of
confusion. (For instance, you wouldn't say "Il s'est blessé" for "he was
hurt" because it could also mean "he hurt himself (on purpose)"
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Campbell Nilsen" <cactus95@...>
To: <CONLANG@...>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 8:47 PM
Subject: linguistics questions


> Why does the IPA have no symbols for retroflex implosives?
> How is the passive voice formed in French? Surely the distinction, at
> least in intransitive sentances, needs to be made.
> If I put my toungue between my upper lip and upper teeth, I can form
> nasals and plosives, and without my tongue, fricatives. Not only are there
> no IPA symbols, this POA doesn't even seem to have a name. As it may be
> used in a future conlang, this is not good.
>
> "Define 'cynical'."-M. Mudd
>
>
>
>
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