Re: GROUPLANG: Pronouns

Carlos Thompson wrote:
> I've suggested we have a compulsory gender/class dictintion with other
> optional "genders" or markers which would be needed for agreement
> differenciation or extention of the meaning.  I've post sex being one of
> them, deixis or another referencial mark as another one.  Number would be an
> optional mark also.  Politeness would be also optional.
I don't know about all these "optional" features.  I don't know of any
language where such a thing is optional.  And politeness couldn't be
optional.  By having no indication of politeness level, that in itself
would say something, just as in English, not saying "please" says
something.  And optional number just seems odd.  If we're going to have
a number system, we oughta make it mandatory.  Please, let's not have an
obviously artificial language.  We're not re-inventing NGL here.  (I
intend no disrespect to NGL, my point was that NGL is obviously
artificial, and unnatural; I'm hoping to have a natural-looking lang)

As for the cases, I really don't like the proposal.  Is it set in stone
yet?  I'd like to propose another system.  This isn't all-or-nothing, of
course

1.  Absolutive
2.  Ergative
    These might be in a mixed system, thus more accurately
    absolutive-nominative
3.  Genetive
4.  Dative
5.  Instrumental
6.  Role (I don't know the term)
7.  Comitative (with; co-agent)
8.  Aversive (avoidance; he avoided *the fire*, he fears *fire*)
    Of course, this could be handled by other cases, perhaps local cases
9.  non-Comitative (I don't remember the term; without)
10. Associative (non-possessive genetive, e.g., *his* illness)
11. Partative
12. Vocative
13. Comparative (he is older *than me*)
14. Various local cases - I'm not particularly attached to any specific
    system, but the more cases, the better, as far as I'm concerned.

Perhaps think about multiple case-marking?

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