Seuna sentence structure

The basic sentence structure

The basic sentence structure is SVO. In the basic sentence, the subject is assumed to be definite and the object is assumed to be indefinite.

To show a subject is indefinite, the subject is put after the verb, so we have VSO.

To show an object is definite, the role.tag -s is added. This can be called the accusative case, but remember it only appears when the object is definite.

Outside of the nominative and accusative cases, every case is assumed to be definite untless it has the particle sa in front of it. I guess that this must be called an indefinite article. So Seuna is a language with an indefinite article but no definite article. Turkish is an example of a natural language with an indefinite article but no definite article.

the noun phrase

The basic noun phrase is NUMBER NOUN ADJECTIVE DETERMINER POSSESSOR (RELATIVE CLAUSE)

Nouns end.stick -n to show plurality. This end.tag is also extended to the adjective and the determiner.

kloga hai di = this red shoe.

@iga klogai hai din nan ta ... = these two red shoes of hers that ...

By the way di, din and hain can be used as nouns ( hain = the red ones). hai can not be used in this way, but the phrase ta hai can be.

?? Should any three shoes = ada san klogan or san ada klogan ?? What does the guy in that book say about the overlap between "any2 and "some". ??

the verb phrase

The basic verb phrase is VERB ADJECTIVE.

donoro saco = he walks quickly

If the adjective is moved to any other position other than immediately after the verb, the adjective must take the front.tag wi-.

wisaco donoro = quickly he walks

Adverbs are not regarded as a word class by SEUNIA linguists.

the 2 protagonist sentences

The relative word order of the two central nouns is fixed. The "doer" always precedes the "undergoer". Or put in another way the nominative case always precedes the accusative case.

the 3 protagonist sentence

Some sentences can be said to have three central nouns. These sentences usually have the verb give or a verb semantically close to give (i.e. award, present etc.).

In Seuna the following construction is possible (exactly as it is in English). Typically with the receiver being human and the thing given being inanimate.

lari jene kludas = I gave Janet the book

the "yo" role.tag

However if the receiver is given the "yo" (dative) end.tag they are free to appear anywhere in the sentence.

jeneyo lari kludas = I gave the book to Janet lari jeneyo kludas = I gave the book to Janet lari kludas jeneyo = I gave the book to Janet

A second major use of this tag is to indicate the end point of some motion. For example ;- ??

A third major ......... It is cold to me

role.tags

-yo is an example of a role.tag. There are nine role.tags in Seuna. Actually seven of them fit this name very well. Two : -s and -ge, less so.

-s even though it only occurs in the accusative case is more a definiteness indicator.

-ge turns a noun into something that is very nearly an adjective. Not quite an adjective (because, for one thing it doesn't take the -n end.tag for plurality in the noun phrase) but very close to an adjective.

The seven role.tags (-wa,-yo,-le,-u,-ho,-ji and -fi) give the the words that they are attached to great mobility with in a sentence.

the "le" role.tag

This tag is used when making comparisons. For example ;- aro jutus yule = I am bigger than you.

A second major use of this tag is to indicate the start point of some motion. For example ;- ??

Participant tracking in dialogue

some ......... some other ..........

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