Re: NATLANG: Dutch (jara: Has anyone made a real conlang?)
| From: | John Cowan <cowan@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Thursday, April 24, 2003, 13:29 |
|---|
Jan van Steenbergen scripsit:
> In German, the verb that changes when you put the sentence in the past tense
> (how do you call that? In Dutch it is "persoonsvorm")
The "finite verb". Infinitives, participles, and such are "non-finite".
> Dutch: "Als ik niet kan gaan vissen, blijf ik thuis."
> German: "Wenn ich nicht fischen gehen kann, bleibe ich zu Hause."
English of course parallels Dutch: "If I can't go fishing, I stay home."
but is relentlessly SVO in all non-question clauses.
--
And through this revolting graveyard of the universe the muffled, maddening
beating of drums, and thin, monotonous whine of blasphemous flutes from
inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond Time; the detestable pounding
and piping whereunto dance slowly, awkwardly, and absurdly the gigantic
tenebrous ultimate gods -- the blind, voiceless, mindless gargoyles whose soul
is Nyarlathotep. (Lovecraft) John Cowan|jcowan@reutershealth.com|ccil.org/~cowan
Reply