Re: verbal classifiers

Matt Pearson <mpearson@...> wrote:.
>
> The idea is for a conlang (call it Awari - I like that name), in which
> all verbs are formed from two parts, a PREVERB (or VERBAL CLASSIFIER)
> and a ROOT.  The preverb gives information about the argument structure
> and type of event the verb refers to, while the root provides the
> semantic content.
[snip very interesting system]

This immediately reminded me of Georgian preverbs,
tho their have a different function and are more
restricted. I quote:

 The primary function of the preverb is to indicate
 direction when used with verbs of motion. It  has
 the secondary functions of indicating the perfective
 aspect, and of changing the basic meaning of a verb
 stem. The preverb has also acquired additional functions
 which are not considered here. The more common preverbs
 with their directional meanings are: mi- ('hither'),
 mo- ('thither'), a(gh)- ('up'), ga(n)- ('out, away, off'),
 ga(r)da- ('over, across, through'), da- ('down'), she-
 ('in'), cha- ('(in and) down'), ts'a(r)- ('away, off').
 Compound preverbs, formed by adding -mo- to any but the
 first two in this list, result in a reversal of direction
 from 'away from' the speaker to 'towards' the speaker.
 Examples of the use of directional preverbs are mi-di-s
 ('he goes'), gad-mo-tsur-a ('he swam across to here')
 (the final -a of gada- is dropped before -mo-).

 Preverbs can qualify the basic meaning of a verb root
 and, on occasions, the resulting verbs may have apparently
 totally unrelated meanings, e.g. cha-rt-av-s ('he will
 switch it on'), mo-rt-av-s ('he will decorate it'),
 she-rt-av-s ('he will marry him to her', 'he will mix
 it with it').


--Pablo Flores