Re: Types of Compounds

On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:37:42 +0000, Douglas Koller <laokou@...>
wrote:

>From: Jeffrey Jones <jsjonesmiami@...>
>
>> >> One of the things I neglected to handle in MNCL was a method of
>> >> compounding (MNCL has plenty of derivation). MNCL5 has inherited this
>> >> deficiency, which I'm now trying to rectify. I could assign one of the
>> >> unused (except for particles) final suffixes to each of the types of
>> >> compounds. But first, what are all the different types? There's adjective
>> >> + noun, of course, like "redbird".
>
>> I've read it and I've been trying to put together a coherent summary, but
my
>> ability to concentrate has gotten worse lately. In the meantime, there's at
>> least one type of compound that doesn't need any new endings, but can
>> possibly use the genitive construction:
>
>> hundo husa -- "doghouse"
>
>> Another can use the genitive with a role-inversion suffix -t-:
>
>> Zo foglo teila ruye. -- "The bird's tail is red."
>> Ma videk ruyo teilto foglok. "I saw a red-tailed bird."
>> The -o on ruy- is the genitive singular ending. The -o on teilt- is adjectival.
>
>From the examples given, it's hard to tell, but why would genitive sing. and
>adjectival necessarily be mutually exclusive?
>
>Kou
I'm not sure I understand the question. Maybe this will help.

A phrase in MNCL5 consists of one or more components. Each component
consists of a head word and possibly a preceding genitive object (which is
itself a phrase). The head word of the last component of a phrase takes the
case/number ending. The head words of preceding components take the
adjectival ending.

If that doesn't help, maybe you could suggest what kind of examples would
clear it up?

Jeff