THEORY: NATLANGS: Pro-Forms
From: | Eldin Raigmore <eldin_raigmore@...> |
Date: | Wednesday, May 24, 2006, 15:15 |
Various content-full words or phrases can be represented in various
languages by "pro-forms".
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-form
for hints.
The most famous ones, of course, are pronouns, which can stand for full
noun phrases. Greenberg has a universal that states that every language
has pronouns.
Probably the second most famous are "pro-verbs" (not the official term).
"Correct" Modern English has "do" as the pro-form verb; several related
languages use related words.
"Not-so-correct" "very-Modern" English uses "go" as a pro-form verb.
Several languages use a verb whose other meaning is "say" as a pro-form for
verbs.
The Wikipedia article also mentions "pro-sentences".
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Here're my questions, then;
1) What other "parts of speech" have pro-forms in various natlangs?
--
In particular:
2) Does any natlang have one or more pro-adposition(s)?
3) Does any natlang have one or more pro-conjunction(s)?
4) Does any natlang have one or more pro-interjection(s)?
4a) Does that question even make sense?
5) Does any natlang have one or more pro-pronoun(s)?
5a) Wouldn't that be gilding the lily and carrying coal to Newcastle?
6) Does any natlang have one or more pro-adjective(s)?
7) Does any natlang have one or more pro-adverb(s)?
--
8) What other lexically content-full meanings are there of verbs which also
have a grammatical use as pro-verbs, in various natlangs?
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9) ObConLang: What conlangs have pro-forms other than pronouns, "pro-
verbs", and "pro-sentences"? And what are those pro-forms?
9a) Pro-adjectives?
9b) Pro-adverbs?
9c) Pro-adpositions?
9d) Pro-conjunctions?
9e) Pro-interjections?
9e') Why, for goodness's sake?
9f) Pro-pronouns?
9f') Really? How do you use them?
10) ObConLang: What conlangs have pro-form verbs? Do these verbs also have
lexically content-full uses? Please, describe and explain.
11) ObConLang: What conlangs have "pro-sentences"? Is there anything
noteworthy or remarkable about one of these you think I or someone else on
this list would like you to point out?
12) Is there anything noteworthy or remarkable about some natlangs' "pro-
sentences", you think I or someone else on this list would like you to
point out?
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Thanks,
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eldin
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