Re: Trigger language?

CONLANG@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU writes:
>What IS a trigger language?  In fact, what are all those other kinds of
>languages that have been mentioned (there are so many I can't remember
>them
>all).  Is there a concise guide out there somewhere?
Here's how I understand it. I will not use linguistic formulae, or complex
terms to confuse you :)

A trigger language is one in which the verb focuses on a noun phrase and
shows what role it has in the sentence.

The verb is altered using affixes in order to show what the role of the
topic (or focus) of the sentence is.

So, you can have the verb focusing on:

- the actor - who performed the verb
- the patient - that which was affected by the verb
- the location - where the verb takes place
- who the verb benefited - who the verb was for
- the instrument - what was used to perform the verb

The focus of the sentence is marked by a trigger particle. Other nouns are
marked by a particle as well.

In Tagalog, word order is usually: VSO, but the "formal" way is SVO.
Interestingly with the formal version, a special linking particle is used
between the subject and the verb (as if it's felt the subject needs to be
connected to the verb much more clearly).