Seuna serial verb construction: Difference between revisions

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The serial verb construction (SVC) is used when two verbs (on occasion it can be more than two verbs) can be thought of as representing one single action.  
The serial verb construction (SVC) is used when two verbs (on occasion it can be more than two verbs) can be thought of as representing one single action.


In this construction one verb comes first and then the second verb directly follows. The first verb is given the full markings for tense, etc. etc. but the second verb has its final vowel deleted and the ending '''ia''' added. For example ;-
===how it works===
 
In this construction one verb comes first and then the second verb directly follows. The first verb is given the full markings for tense, etc. etc. but the second verb has its final vowel deleted and the ending '''i''' added (however when the verb is monosylabic, the ending '''ia''' is added). For example ;-


'''donori mia''' = "he walked here" or more accurately "he walked in this direction"
'''donori mia''' = "he walked here" or more accurately "he walked in this direction"
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Two words very commonly used as second verbs in SVC are '''mia''' and '''gia''' :  '''mai''' meaning that the action happened towards the speaker, and '''gia''' meaning that the action happened away from the speaker. For example ;-
Some examples ;-


he telephoned (to this location) = wire-speak'''ori mia'''
he telephoned (to this location) = wire-speak'''ori mia'''
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to returned a call = wire-speak '''wia'''
to returned a call = wire-speak '''wia'''


These eight words often corespond to prepositions in English. As with prepositions they are often followed by nouns to which they relate to.
These eight words often corespond to prepositions in English. As with prepositions they are often followed by nouns to which they relate.


===the copula in SVC===
===the copula in SVC===
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In Seuna "he painted the green house" would mean the same as "he painted the house green" because of word order. Therefor to avoid confusion we must say "he painted the house to be green". "to be" in this position is treated as a normal second element in a SVC. It is represented by '''ya''' which is a sort of modified '''ia'''.
In Seuna "he painted the green house" would mean the same as "he painted the house green" because of word order. Therefor to avoid confusion we must say "he painted the house to be green". "to be" in this position is treated as a normal second element in a SVC. It is represented by '''ya''' which is a sort of modified '''ia'''.


===old stuff===
===other stuff===
 
Five words very commonly used as second verbs in SVC are '''sia''' up, '''tia''' down, '''fia''' through, '''dwia''' along and '''cwia''' across, However often used as first verbs when the second element is '''mia''' or  '''gia'''.
 
Note that the words '''palia''' (to enter) and '''malu''' (to exit) are most often used as first verbs.


Note ;-
Note ;-
In the Seuna writing system '''ia''' is represented by the active verb symbol (i.e. "r") unadorned with a vowel subscript.
In the Seuna writing system '''ia''' is represented by the active verb symbol (i.e. "r") unadorned with a vowel subscript.


Often Seuna uses SVC where English would use a preposition. For example ;-
Some more example ;-


she ran across the street = ran'''ori cwɘ''' street
he broke into the bathroom = break'''ori''' enter the bathroom


he walked along the street = walk'''ori dwɘ''' street
normally when the first verb is a word of motion, the word "enter" is not used.


the barrel roled down the hill = barrel role'''ori jɘ''' hill
'''donori pidwolo''' = "S/he walked in the house" or "S/he walked into the house"
 
the above three example can be stated with less detail by missing out the means of locomotion.
 
she crossed the street = '''cwori''' street
 
he went along the street = '''dwori''' street
 
the barrel went(somehow) down the hill = barrel '''jori''' hill
 
Some more example ;-
 
she ran screaming out of the house = run'''ori''' scream'''ə''' '''fə dwolo'''
 
he broke into the bathroom = break'''ori pə''' bathroom


However with "break", which is not a verb of motion, you use "enter".


===prepositions not supplanted by the SVC===
she took an axe and hit it = '''oyori''' axe '''timpə''' it
she took an axe and hit it = '''oyori''' axe '''timpə''' it


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Notice that in the above two examples, the two verbs of the SVC do not stand next to each other.
Notice that in the above two examples, the two verbs of the SVC do not stand next to each other.
the English word "against" is the shwa form of "oppose" in Seuna.


the English word "for" is the shwa form of "give" or the shwa form of "help" in Seuna.
the English word "for" is the shwa form of "give" or the shwa form of "help" in Seuna.

Revision as of 04:21, 28 May 2009

The serial verb construction (SVC) is used when two verbs (on occasion it can be more than two verbs) can be thought of as representing one single action.

how it works

In this construction one verb comes first and then the second verb directly follows. The first verb is given the full markings for tense, etc. etc. but the second verb has its final vowel deleted and the ending i added (however when the verb is monosylabic, the ending ia is added). For example ;-

donori mia = "he walked here" or more accurately "he walked in this direction"

Here mia is a second verb indicating motion. There are eight verbs of motion very commonly used as the second element in SVC.

the 8 SVC verbs of motion

along lia to follow l???
across dia to cross d???
through dwia to go through dw??
up sia to ascend s???
down jia to descend j???
back wia to return w???
away from speaker gia go g??
towards speaker mia come m???


Some examples ;-

he telephoned (to this location) = wire-speakori mia

he telephoned (from this location) = wire-speakori gia

to returned a call = wire-speak wia

These eight words often corespond to prepositions in English. As with prepositions they are often followed by nouns to which they relate.

the copula in SVC

In Seuna "he painted the green house" would mean the same as "he painted the house green" because of word order. Therefor to avoid confusion we must say "he painted the house to be green". "to be" in this position is treated as a normal second element in a SVC. It is represented by ya which is a sort of modified ia.

other stuff

Note ;- In the Seuna writing system ia is represented by the active verb symbol (i.e. "r") unadorned with a vowel subscript.

Some more example ;-

he broke into the bathroom = breakori enter the bathroom

normally when the first verb is a word of motion, the word "enter" is not used.

donori pidwolo = "S/he walked in the house" or "S/he walked into the house"

However with "break", which is not a verb of motion, you use "enter".

prepositions not supplanted by the SVC

she took an axe and hit it = oyori axe timpə it

she hit it with an axe = timpori it useə axe

Notice that in the above two examples, the two verbs of the SVC do not stand next to each other.

the English word "for" is the shwa form of "give" or the shwa form of "help" in Seuna.

deliberate and accidental actions

swela by itself means "to pounce on","to jump on", to swoop down on", "to fall on"

toko by itself means "to fall"

sweli after a verb means that that verb was done deliberately

toki after a verb means that that verb was done accidentally

Index

  1. Introduction to Seuna
  2. Seuna : Chapter 1
  3. Seuna word shape
  4. The script of Seuna
  5. Seuna sentence structure
  6. Seuna pronouns
  7. Seuna nouns
  8. Seuna verbs (1)
  9. Seuna adjectives
  10. Seuna demonstratives
  11. Seuna verbs (2)
  12. Asking a question in Seuna
  13. Seuna relative clauses
  14. Seuna verbs (3)
  15. Methods for deriving words in Seuna
  16. List of all Seuna derivational affixes
  17. Numbers in Seuna
  18. Naming people in Seuna
  19. The Seuna calendar
  20. Seuna units
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