Re: Saalangal affixes (it's been a while)

From: Barry Garcia [mailto:barry_garcia@CSUMB.EDU]

> > This is an interesting one. I think I'll steal it for
> > Itakian and Maggel :)) .
> > Were you inspired by a natlang or did you invent it yourself (I would
> > really like to know if there's a natlang with such an affix :) ).
>
> I stole the idea from Ilonggo, which is a Filipino language.
> I thought the idea was cool to have. At least in Saalangal,
> it indicates something that two people take part in that goes
> back and forth between them. Ligáskud can also mean an arguement,
> or a debate, depending upon context.
>
> For ilonggo, the affix is: -ay: baisay - to argue, debate, discuss.
>
> It appears to derive from "-anay", which seems to be a verbal
> affix, and means similarly:
>
> nagahigugmaanay sila - they love each other
>
> naga - indicates an action that has begun and hasnt completed
>
> higugma - to love
>
> anay - indicates the action is reciprocal
I'm not sure if this is exactly the same, but Ternaru lets you
do something like that:

an-a-yéq tak - The are hitting each other.

You can also make yéq the topic by moving the case particles
onto the verb:

yéq an-a-tak - It's them who are hitting each other.

yéq     - 3pl.
tak     - hit
an(i)-  - Ergative Case Particle
a(l)-   - Absolutive Case Particle

Being able to load case particles like that is pretty
nifty, I think.

I'm not entirely sure if Térnaru uses a trigger system,
but it smells a bit like one, but not quite.