Re: Adjectives, Particles, and This ( etc ), and Conjunctions...

dirk elzinga wrote:
>Shoshoni
>has a highly articulated demonstrative system; here's how it
>works.
>
>Demonstratives consist of two parts, a proximal prefix and a
>demonstrative stem. Most prefixes come in pairs, one with an
>initial s- and one without. The s- forms are more definite and
>are used for previously mentioned referents. Each pair shows
>relative distance--spatial, temporal as well as psychological.
>Here are the prefixes with the demonstrative stem -tyn (/y/ is a
>high central unrounded vowel):
>
>        si-, i- 'near' (sityn 'this')
>        se-, e- 'not quite so near' (setyn 'this')
>        sa-, a- 'far, but in sight' (satyn 'that')
>        su-, u- 'not in sight, usually far' (sutyn 'that')
>        ma- no distinction (matyn 'this, that')

It is magnificent! The distance is proportional to the wave-length of the
vowel!
I wonder why there is not:
*so-, *o- 'not quite so far'.    :-)


        Pavel