Re: Back!

Date sent:              Sat, 9 Dec 2000 13:13:19 -0700
From:                   dirk elzinga <dirk.elzinga@...>

> On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Paul Bennett wrote:
>
> > VPs in Thagojian take an obligatory proclitic which coordinates /
> > indicates a whole big grab-bag of information.  I need a concise and
> > descriptive name for this particle, based on the following
> > descriptions:
> >
> > [snip]
>
> This particle seems to do lots of auxiliary-type things, so why
> not call it Auxiliary?
>
I've unfortunately kinda somewhat co-opted the term Auxiliary already.
FWIW, it's currently assigned to a crucial part of the "nifty and slightly scary
pro-anything system" to which I aluded in my original post.

I'm about due another rewrite (as it seems I've done more rewriting then
writing so far ;-) and "Auxiliary" has a good sound to it, but I'd always
intuited the role of the proclitic as being closer to pronomial or as part of the
verbal agreement system.

The fact that I'm still tending to write conlangs 'by feel', and that I'm very
much stuck in 'native speaker intuition' mode when I try to codify them is a
real pain in the mikta.  I spose I oughtta try and get a sketch and some
translations posted to the list, and let everyone do their usual excellent job
of smoothing off the rough edges.

Stay tuned for the Thagojian version of the Babel text, the Jabberwocky and
anything else I can get done, but don't hold your breath...

One thing I can throw to the mob right away is:

ta sasat'u ka"ni p'e"mu, sa wunawade" na?
/thV sVsVtu kEni p7mu sV wunVwVd7 nV/
NEW sit.IRR dog tree, YOU see.NONFUT.IRR it_VERB?
Hast thou never seen a dog sitting in a tree?

(This shows approximately how far behind in catching up with the list I am,
by the way ;-)


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Pb