Re: Prepositional phrases

daniel andreasson wrote:

> Làtae Matthew Pearson:
>
> > Itaul lokau -- "The(ABL) forest-ABL"
> > Itaul himau loka -- "The(ABL) interior-ABL forest"
> > Ite' ysmai loka -- "The(DAT) exterior-DAT forest"
> >
> > (There's probably a slight difference in meaning between these
> > last two expressions, but I haven't worked out what it is yet...)
>
> Perhaps it might be a difference of focus. _Itaul himau
> loka_ could focus on being / having been inside the forest,
> and _ite' ysmai loka_ might focus on the fact that you
> finally get out of the forest.
Another thing that just occurred to me is that the difference could be
one of point of view.  If the speaker of the sentence is standing near
the edge of a forest, and sees a deer emerge, s/he would probably say
"Laisne ete sten itaul himau loka" = "A deer just came out of [i.e.,
from the interior of] the forest".  On the other hand, if the speaker is
standing in the forest, and sees the deer wander out, s/he would say
"Laisne ete sten ite' ysmai loka" = "A deer just left [i.e., went to the
exterior of] the forest".


> On a more general comment on the prepositional system
> of Tokana, I must say it's absolutely brilliant. It's
> so neat and pure. And seems to depend a great deal on
> context. Very natlangy! I like it. :)
Nioktet ante telanko io!  [May your much kindness return to you!]

Matt.