Re: LONG: Latest Wenetaic Stuff

mathias writes:
>>>>>>
Dans un courrier dat? du 26/10/99 10:43:48  , Paul a ?crit :

> Generally, most roots are noun-based.   The verbal form of "x" is generally
>  translated "perform the action stereotypically associated with x".  It's a
> bit
>  rough and ready, and there's not much regularity beyond that rule.  The
verb
> of
>  "sun" is "shine", "wolf" <--> "hunt", "shovel" <--> "dig" and "fight" <-->
>  "fight".  There are exceptions where the noun seems to be "the end result
of
>  x-ing", eg, "wall" <--> "build" and "victory" <--> "win".  As long as you
> keep a
>  general idea of "act like an x" for the verbal form, and learn a few
> exceptions,
>  you'll understand and be understood.
>
er... yes, but.
take "hole" *kuru(k).
now does "*kukru" mean "to be a hole in" or "to be pierced a hole in" ?
and anyway, how do you derive "to be pierced", "to pierce", etc. ?
<<<<<<

*kukru would probably be "to make a hole in, to pierce".  There's no real
regularity in how it works, and I think the exact definitions depend fairly
largely on context.  They're learned forms, and potentially no more troubling
for a first language speaker than the semirandom connection of verb +
preposition in english to derive different verbs.

(Ob nitpick: the correct dictionary form of <*kuru(k)> would be <*kuru>, as the
additional consonant is the same as the inital consonant)

>>>>>>
[snip very interesting fragment of tunu, I'm reading the grammar with
interest...]
so if you can do without these, i'm interested in knowing how.
maybe you use auxiliaries like "to be", "to do", "to get ...ed", etc. ?
<<<<<<

I think Wenetaic is going to try and exist with neither (true) copula nor
passivity.  If a man bites a dog, it's a single event in semantic space, to a
Wenetaar, "looking at it from another direction" would seem pointless and
tautological.  I'll probably have to give in and accept some auxiliaries,
though.  You've set me thinking... more later...






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