Re: Lahabic Syntax

Rik Roots wrote, quoting The Gray Wizard:

> > An adjective that occurs in a post-verbal or predicative position.
> > 'The wizard is gray' as opposed to within a NP or attributive
> > position. 'The gray wizard'
>
> This caused me huge problems a few years ago - I came up with a
> grammar rule saying "all adjectives must be attached to a noun or
> pronoun", then realised I couldn't say simple things like "the cat is
> black". In the end I solved the problem by inventing something I
> called a "universal pronoun" which was untranslatable, but pretended
> to be a pronoun...
I still think [gza'rOnd@n]'s solution of 'byverbial adjectives' is an
elegant one.

Revision time:

Basically, the 'byverbial' suffix (-l or -ll) on an adjective indicates
that the verb explains how the adjective came to be attached to the noun.

  Gz. grammar:  I-past WET-byverbial SWIM TO THE SHORE
  English:      I, wet because of this, swam to the shore.

By working in conjunction with the verb 'ykk' (is), byverbial adjectives
can serve as predicate adjectives:

  Gz. Grammar:  THE-present CAT BLACK-byverbial IS
  Intermediate: The cat, black because of this, 'is-so'.
  English:      The cat is black.

Byverbial adjectives also hold the key to Gzarondan passive sentences.
The generic verbspace marker 'kkat' is similar to the English 'do/did
[it]'. In passive sentences, however, it serves a unique role. The
English phrase '... underwent an interaction involving ...' is the
nearest possible equivalent.

  Gz. Grammar:  I-past PUSHED-byverbial VERBMARKER YOU
  Intermediate: I, pushed because of this, (underwent an interaction
                involving) you.
  English:      I was pushed by you.

The above examples should demonstrate that byverbial adjectives are a
very powerful, flexible and elegant idea. They are probably the
grammatical feature that I am most proud of.

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