Re: SV: Re: Tempus

Hi!

Mefistofeles <mefistofeles@...> writes:
> >I'm also currently working at a language that is supposed to be
> >simple, but it won't be easy, because I think it can't be for
> >everyone.  The structure was indeed inspired by Mandarin, but actually
> >now it turned out to be totally different. :-)
> >
>
> How come?
I started to think that when using some principles of Mandarin
grammar, a very nice and simple structure could be constructed if the
principles were used consistently without exception.  But when
starting with these idealised principles, not with Mandarin grammar,
this led to a structure quite different from Mandarin, although the
principles were inspired by (but not totally taken over from)
Mandarin.

The following example shows that the structure is quite different:

English:   You life, as it has been, is over.

Tyl-Seok:  kek  ly  nil    xyt   nein   ti  xou        ?eo.
           PERF DET manner birth please you last-until I

Structure: [[PERF DET manner].V
            [birth.AGT please.V you.PAT].PAT
           ].AGT
           last-until.V
           I.PAT

           (AGT=agent/controller, V=verb, PAT=patient,
           [...]=phrase structure)

Literally: The (now over) manner that your birth has used to
           please you existed until now.

Yes, this is a citation from Startrek. :-)

**Henrik