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Re: Novel ConGrammar

From:Ray Brown <ray.brown@...>
Date:Tuesday, September 28, 2004, 17:44
On Monday, September 27, 2004, at 10:36 , Rodlox wrote:

> hopefully, this isn't #6. > > >>> inspired by an actual archeological object. >>> >>> This language appears to be SVOn (subject-verb-object-number), in which >>> the >>> number can be an actual number, or simply "possession of (#)". >> >> SVO i understand. But what does 'number' relate to? > > the number of something - it automatically is shunted to the end of the > sentance, regardless of which category it otherwise would have been in). > >> By position it would >> seem to imply it relates to the object. Does this mean that only the >> object can be singular or plural and/or can be possessed? > > yep. (unless the subject is a group of people who possess eight carrots) > .
Sorry - I am still unclear how this 'number' category works. Could you give actual examples? [snip]
>>> ) >> >> I don't understand the third one: present (definite & indefinite?). Could >> you explain? > > I wasn't sure if there'd be one Present tense (both of them), or two > Present tenses.
Yes - but what I am not clear about is what you understand the difference is between "present indefinite" & 'present definite".
>>> indefinate future (farther than one can think) >>> definate future (fore-sight & planning) >> >> I fail to see how the future can ever be definite. Foresight & planning >> can do much to increase the likelihood of a situation - but it can never >> be definite. > > the heat death of the universe, is an example of a definite future event.
In that case "farther than one can think" has very little meaning :) But nope - it's a future _possibility_ according to one theory (or maybe several theories). I have seen it also argued that the universe is indefinitely expanding; and I am sure there are other scientific theories. Who knows what other theories will emerge as our understanding grows? But in any case, it would seem perverse to build a tense into a language so that you can refer to the death of the Universe. You seem to be having a three-way tense system with definite & indefinite aspects. However, with regard future, I think you have think in terms of probabilities, i.e. relatively high probability ~ unknown probability. But many languages, including English, do not have a future tense (in the proper sense of 'tense'), but use a mood expressing prediction, intention, volition etc. In English we commonly used the _modal_ auxiliaries _will_ (preterite _would_) and _shall_ (preterite _should_). I am not suggesting that you do this, merely suggesting something else to think about ;)
>> Exactly what is this archaeological fragment? > > a block from Chatalhoyuk. > >> It seems to be very scant on >> some features, for example the consonant inventory, > > WIP. > >> but can apparently >> give use complete picture of the tense system. How can this be? > > because I'm basing a conlang on an otherwise unknown language. :)
Right - so let me get this right. You are using an actual fragment from a block at Çatal Hüyük in Asia Minor. Then from the fragmentary inscription you will construct a conlang? Interesting. If I've got it right, it would be helpful to know what the fragment is and to distinguish between what is based on the fragment and what is invention. Ray =============================================== http://home.freeuk.com/ray.brown ray.brown@freeuk.com =============================================== Anything is possible in the fabulous Celtic twilight, which is not so much a twilight of the gods as of the reason." [JRRT, "English and Welsh" ]

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Paul Bennett <paul-bennett@...>