Re: OT: Punctuation
| From: | Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Monday, December 6, 1999, 3:15 |
|---|
Barry Garcia wrote:
> Both the Saalangal and Daga Bundogs have question particles that can be
> used to mark questions, but, nothing for exclamation. Context would sho=
w
> commands, and excitement, but it's not shown through punctuation.
Similar to Watakass=ED. Yes/no questions are indicated by the clitic
_bu_, usually attached to the verb, but it can be attached to any other
word to "emphasize" it, for instance (using verbatim translations)
"Lives-QUEST house-LOC green-LOC" would be the neutral "Does he live in
the green house?" while "Lives house-LOC green-LOC-QUEST" would mean
"Does he live in the GREEN house?" (i.e., as opposed to another color)
And wh-questions are, of course, indicated by the appropriate word (all
charactarized by the precense of the ending -baa). So, there's no need
for a question mark.
--=20
"Old linguists never die - they just come to voiceless stops." -
anonymous
http://members.tripod.com/~Nik_Taylor/X-Files
http://members.tripod.com/~Nik_Taylor/Books.html
ICQ: 18656696
AIM Screen-Name: NikTailor