Re: Isolating syntax, agglutinating grammar

On Thu, 6 Apr 2006 veritosproject wrote:
>
> Has anyone done a language where the structure is mostly isolating but
> the grammar has the form of a more agglutinating language?  In other
> words, instead of case endings on a word, you would just have a
> particle for each case?
>
> One thing I like about this syntax is that it lets you combine cases
> somewhat easily--just throw on more particles.
>
> This might be an idea for past items on the list (namely isolating
> Finnish).  Mine works somewhat like this, but it doesn't have much
> work on it yet as I'm currently living out of a hotel room for the
> next couple days.

No, I haven't tried this yet, but ... how stable would
such case particles be?  Wouldn't they rather quickly,
er ... agglutinate?

If so, I can see a scenario for an SF story:
Bunch of conlangers gets dropped on a remote
island / planet / Amazon backwater, subject to
food (or other) rewards if and only if they build,
and use, such a language.  (Think Big Brother on
steroids.)  But, of course, after a few months, it
all goes horribly wrong: the supply chain breaks
down and they're all thrown on their own resources.
Meanwhile, they've got so used to talking 'Isosyn
Aggram', they use it by preference and ... (take it
from here!)

Regards,
Yahya

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