Re: Is conlang a generator of conlangers? or a sustainer? (was: Oops!)

At 11:42 AM 10/8/98 -0700, Matt Pearson wrote:
>(Incidentally, I just finished yet another major revision to the
>Tokana Reference Grammar, in case anybody's interested.  I've completely
>redone the section on prepositions, reworked the case-marking system,
>and made a few other minor - but crucial - changes and adjustments
>here and there...)
I'm interested! =20

Incidentally, although I didn't comment on your redesign of Tokana's case
system at the time you first mentioned it on the list, I actually think it's
kind of nifty.  I was particularly interested in the way you use the
distinction between telic and atelic verbs to disambiguate a polysemous case
marker.  I had recently read some stuff about telic vs. atelic verbs in
connection with the aspect system in Russian.  I previously hadn't been
aware of that distinction; I'd thought only in terms of stative vs. dynamic
verbs, a distinction which I now realize is quite distinct from the telic
vs. atelic distinction (though related to it, in that a stative verb can
only be atelic, although a dynamic verb can be either, if I understand
correctly).  Anyway, that combined with what you said about the new Tokana
case system to start me on a whole new train of thought about how this kind
of thing might be used to solve some problems in some of my conlangs.  In
particular, in Neo-Anglic (a fictional future language descended from an
English-based creole), I wanted there to be only a few prepositions,
including one (_lo_, from English "along") which combines dative, allative,
locative, and (for specific animate direct objects only) accusative
functions.  It occurred to me that with verbs of motion, the telicity or
atelicity of the verb would make it clear whether _lo_ is being used in its
allative or its locative function.  Furthermore, the example you gave --
"run" (telic) vs. "run around" (atelic) -- suggested that in Neo-Anglic,
"around" could have evolved into a fully productive affix _raun_ capable of
turning any telic verb into an atelic one.  Thus, to use an example much
like yours:

l=E9di idanr=E1n lo b=FAx =3D "the woman ran to/into the woods"

l=E9di  i-  dan- r=E1n lo    b=FAx
woman 3SG-PAST-run to/at woods

l=E9di idanr=E1nraun lo b=FAx =3D "the woman ran (around) in the woods"

(same gloss except for the addition of _-raun_ to the verb)

Not for the first time, I'm indebted to you for this insight, and hope you
don't mind my stealing your ideas.
-------------------------------------------------
Tim Smith
timsmith@global2000.net

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
-- The Wizard of Oz (MGM, 1939)