Re: I have an opinion! (Changing the subject)

On Mon, 2 Apr 2001, David Peterson wrote:

>In a message dated 4/2/01 8:19:53 PM, milo@WINTERNET.COM writes:
>
><< I'd be very surprised if that was true about your last three, because
>"compsci", "polisci" and even "scifi" predated e-mail. >>
>
>I think I already said that people don't say "compsci" at all where I'm from,
>they say "C.S.", but that's largely irrelevant.  And also, predation has
>nothing to do with it.  But anyway, I was wondering.

>My cognitive science
>professor, the other day, mentioned that verbs code things such as tense,
>aspect, person, number, mood, gender et cetera.  But they don't code things
>such as the color of clothes the speaker wears, whether or not that person
>ate breakfast that morning, how old that person, and other "odd" things like
>that.  Hence, my question: Does anyone have any odd codings for verbs in
>their language?  I, personally, have really wanted to make a language in
>which you have different endings for different colors of shirts the speaker
>wears, or no shirt at all (so, just by means of a verb, a female speaker co
>uld make VERY interesting claims).  So, that's my (hopefully) non-insulting
>question.
Curious segue. Anyway, your cogsci prof can look into verbal systems
of other languages. English isn't a monolith - there are plenty of
"odd things like that" that _are_ coded in verbs of other languages.
Perhaps not colour or choice of breakfast items, but certainly
things that English verbs don't code for. And your prof can also be
educated in that the majority of people in the world probably think
that the things English verbs do code _are_ "odd things like that"!

If that's a kind of feature you want to put into a conlang - then
by all means do it! [And please report back here!]

'Prabutro wantam!' o madesh lisnamro m madesh; 'Prabutnu esam!' el-es
lisnamnu.

1st.pers-seize-[carniverous priestly caste] night-[passive nominal]
and (one) priest-[active nominal] non.1st.pers-say-[carn. pr. caste]
toward (other) priest-[active nominal]; 1st-.pers-sieze-[herbiverous
pr. caste] day-[passive nominal] [empty particle]-who
non.1st.pers-say-[herb. pr. caste]

Verbs inflect for person and social caste, but nothing else. Nouns
inflect for innate activity or passivity. All clauses require a
particle in the Wackneragel position.

Padraic.

>-Jenesis

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