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NGL: Voice modals

From:Gerald Koenig <jlk@...>
Date:Sunday, September 20, 1998, 3:07
I need comments and criticism on this new bit of grammar I have just
written. As has happened before, Stephen made me do it.

FIU type of modals.
fiu::- when x1, the first argument of P, is the subject of P and
        the patient in P; P is true.
        Abel fiu pa kill Cain.
        Abel(the patient) was killed by Cain.

        Abel fiu pa kill.
             fiup
        Abel(victim) was killed.

hia::- when x1, the first argument of P, is the subject of P and the
        agent in P; P is true.
        Cain hia pa kill Abel.
              hiap
        Cain (agent) killed Abel.

        Cain hia pa kill.
        Cain (perpetrator) killed.

"Patient is a 'semantic role' that is usually the surface object of the
Verb in a sentence. [Cain has the semantic role of agent in both aboves.]
A semantic role is the underlying relationship that a participant has
with the main verb in a clause. Semantic role is the actual role a
participant plays in some real or imagined situation, apart from the
linguistic encoding of those situations" [ie subject or object.]
------------------------------

Gerald Koenig, for the NGL project. (and your project)
Vector Tense Makes Sense.  (if not would you please let me know?)