Re: THEORY: The fourth person

Hi!

Danny Wier <dawiertx@...> writes:
>...
> I wonder if there could be such thing as a FIFTH person... maybe in
> bitransitive verbs, like something translating to "he sent him to him"?
I know a conlang that has it: Fukhian. :-)

The system is as follows: in any subordinate structures (possessed
nouns or subordinate clauses), the system of persons shifts by two
persons for the persons mentioned in the matrix clause.  I.e. first
person matrix clause becomes 3rd person subordinate, second becomes
4th and third becomes 5th.  By this, you can express the following
shades in reporting one of the following situations:

Direct speech:
   a) John says to Peter: 'Mary will come'.
   b) John says to Peter: 'Bob will come'.
   c) John says to Peter: 'I will come'.
   d) John says to Peter: 'You will come'.
   e) John says to Peter: 'He will come', referring to Montgomery.

In reported speech Mary may tell Bob in Fukhian:

   a) misd gehnoz. (1st person inflection in subordinate verb)
      He said, I (Mary) would come.

   b) misd gehgoz. (2nd person)
      He said, you (Bob) would come.

   c) misd gehdoz. (3rd person)
      He said, he (John) would come.

   d) misd gehoGoz. (4th person)
      He said, he (Peter) would come.

   e) misd gehinoz. (5th person)
      He said, he (Montgomery) would come.

Whether this is feasible for natlangs, I don't know, however.

**Henrik

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