Re: Referent Tracking

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005, 09:23 CET, Chris Bates wrote:

 > Since we're talking about Topics I'd like to share
 > something that I posted on the ZBB a while ago (and sadly
 > got few replies).

Who are you over there?

 > SWITCH REFERENCE SYSTEM
 > Basically works by indicating if some argument of the verb
 > (usually the subject) is the same as an argument of the
 > preceding or following clause. Usually switch reference
 > systems don't have a fully functional voice system for
 > promoting other arguments to the priledged role (subject)
 > since if they did it would kind of defeat the purpose of
 > the system.

This reminds me that Ayeri is still not really able to cope
with constructions such as

  I give the dog a cookie. It likes them very much.

In the second sentence it wouldn't be clear, to which
argument of the first sentence "it" refers, or rather, what
_à_ in the 3sg pronoun _-iyV_ would refer to -- the cookie
(given that it's animate, but edible things aren't usually)
or "it". I need some particle or something to indicate that
the agent of sentence B relates to the patient of sentence
A. Another, though less elegant way would be to say

  I give the dog a cookie. The dog, it likes them very much.

 > SWITCH FUNCTION SYSTEM
 > This is what one of the syntax books I read calls a system
 > with a reasonably well developed voice system (like
 > English) that is used to keep track of referents via
 > processes like zero anaphora. Eg in English, if you have
 > two consecutive clauses with the same subject you can
 > delete the second:
 >
 > the man went to the store and 0 bought a coke
 >
 > and you can use the voice system to maintain subject
 > continuity:
 >
 > the man went to the store but 0 was hit by a bus on the
 > way

Ayeri doesn't like such constructions and marks all verbs
for person and case (where you put the "0"), not just the
heading one. Should be possible in non-formal language,
though.

 > Although such voice changes can be used simply to delete
 > arguments,

No, not completely delete I think. Ask Henrik on Tyl Sjok
(IIRC).

 > *TOPIC* SYSTEM

Are (wannabe) trigger systems also Topic systems? (Not
intending to tread loose [lostreten?] a debate about trigger
systems)

 > This area doesn't seem to have been giving much thought or
 > through describing by people writing conlangs, which is
 > why it interests me. I mean, people say "I have a switch
 > reference system" or "I have a *topic* system" etc, but
 > they don't go into detail when it comes to the role such
 > systems play in things like reference tracking, and indeed
 > whether for a given system that is one of its functions
 > (Swahili, for instance, has a passive but does not use it
 > as a major reference tracking device).

What a long sentence. I already mentioned that I overlooked
the issue of tracking in Ayeri a bit up to now.

Cheers,
Carsten

--
"Miranayam cepauarà naranoaris."
(Calvin nay Hobbes)

Reply