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Verbal System: I'd like comments. :)

From:Chris Bates <chris.maths_student@...>
Date:Tuesday, November 16, 2004, 9:42
I'd like opinions on this proposed verbal system (which is a work in
progress, but complete enough to be useful). Okay:

VERB STRUCTURE

root-[derivational affixes]-aspect-evidentiality-switch

here I have used [] to indicate a list of 0 or more affixes (this might
not be standard notation, it's just what I use in my notes, with ()
indication one optional affix rather than a sequence).

DERIVATIONAL AFFIXES

I have a couple so far:

-(r)uŋ- This creates a stative passive from transitive dynamic verbs. It
can also be used to make dynamic intransitives stative
-(a)bi- This makes an active passive from a transitive dynamic verb.

ASPECT MARKERS

unmarked this is the habitual aspect for dynamic verbs, and the stative
aspect for stative verbs
-(d)ù- perfective aspect
-(a)me- iterative aspect
-(n)e- progressive aspect

EVIDENTIALITY

-r- visual direct evidence
-m- non-visual direct evidence
-s- inference
-ta- general knowledge
-gùn- hearsay

SWITCH SYSTEM

AND THEN WHILE
SAME SUBJECT - -im
DIFF. SUBJECT -u -à

So for instance:

dugadùru
[du'gadu?ru]
duga-dù-r-u
hit-perf-vis.dir-diff.then

And then someone else hit (?)

After the sound changes I'm planning this would become:

dugaduru = [du'gadu?ru] => [du'aDu:ru] => ['dwaDu:ru] = dwađúru = dwa-dú-r-u
dugadùrim = [du'gadu?rim] => ..... => ['dwaDu:rym] = dwađúrüm = dwa-dú-r-im

đ was the closest I could get this mail program to produce to thorn.

*hums* Anyway, this is all subject to change especially if anyone feels
like making a suggestion. My basic plan is to start off with something
relatively simple and straightforward and then turn it into an irregular
mess via the miracle of sound change. At the moment I'm trying to decide
if I should make some of the markers (like the evidentiality ones) longer.

Reply

Rodlox <rodlox@...>Tagalog & trigger idea: I'd like comments. :)