Re: word poll #2: articles

Garrett inquires:

>so, how do you translate the following meanings into your conlangs? I can
>see several constructions possible:
>
>THE:
amman iar definite determiners distinguish four levels of definiteness.

1) identifiable definite determiners : At this extreme, we have complete
identifiability of the referent.  This form may only be used when the
speaker presupposes that the hearer can uniquely identify the entity being
spoken of.  The identifiable definite determiner is also always used with
nouns used to refer to personal names, place names, clan names, historical
periods, racial groups, religions, et. al.

 i dhraug = the wolf
 in drug  = the wolves

2) definite superset determiner : Farther down the hierarchy, amman iar
distinguishes partial identifiability.  This form may only be used when the
referent of the NP has been delimited by specifying a certain set, which can
be identified.

 mina dhrug  = one of the wolves
 risan drug  = some of the wolves

 This is clearly differentiated from the indefinite form.

 draug bemin = one wolf

3) relevant definite determiner : Farther down the hierarchy, amman iar
distinguishes relevant identifiability.  This form may be used to suggest
that the referent of the NP, while not immediately identifiable is important
or relevant for the discourse as a whole.   This form is often used to
introduce new information into discourse.  Once a NP has been introduced
with a relevant definite determiner, a speaker or writer may use one of the
other definite determiner forms or an appropriate pronoun to refer to this
entity.

 e dhraug = the wolf
 en drug   = the wolves

If a discourse started with "aini galdran e dhraugon henniarth = Galdor saw
the wolf.", then we would expect the wolf to recur in the discourse.

4) indefinite determiner : At the bottom of the definiteness hierarchy,
identification of the referent is neither possible nor relevant.  The
indefinite determiner is the unmarked form, therefore

 megil may mean 'sword' or 'a sword' according to context.

Stay curious,
David

David E. Bell
The Gray Wizard
www.graywizard.net
AIM: GraWzrd

"Wisdom begins in wonder."