Re: Semantic content of 'thank you'

>"James W." <emindahken@...> wrote:
>In my current project, &#257;seka`eni, I need to come up with a
>way to express thanks. I'm interested in what you all have
>done in your own languages, or any natlangs you know of.
Senjecas uses the concept of indebtedness.  IIRC, this is the
concept of the Portuguese "obrigado."

mus tum cêla.

m-us t-um cêl-a.

1.sg-NOM 2.sg-MOT indebted.to-IND.

I am indebted to you.  "To be indebted to" is a transitive verb in
Senjecas.

MOT = motive case, the case for change of place, used also for the
direct object.
<c> = /k/

The expression for "please" is also a complete sentence.

mus túsïo o mêlða.

The first "o" is elided: mus túsï' o mêlða.

m-us t-úsïo o mêlð-a.

1.sg-NOM 2.sg-STA to pray/beseech/beg/etc.-IND.

I pray/beseech/etc. you.

STA = stative case, the case for no change of place, used also for
the indirect object.

ï = palatalization.

Charlie