Object Verb Subject: Difference between revisions
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'''Object Verb Subject''' (OVS) is one of the [[permutation]]s of expression used in [[linguistic typology]]. OVS denotes the sequence '[[ | '''Object Verb Subject''' (OVS) is one of the [[permutation]]s of expression used in [[linguistic typology]]. OVS denotes the sequence '[[Object]] [[Verb]] [[Subject]]' in unmarked expressions: ''Oranges ate Sam'', ''Thorns have roses''. While these sentences remain grammatically correct in English, unlike those written in [[Subject Object Verb]], their meaning is lost. But English and other [[Subject Verb Object]] languages frequently use an Object-Verb-Subject type sentence order when writing in the [[passive voice]], for example ''The oranges were eaten by Sam''. | ||
<!-- Note: the kind of [[permutation]] meant here is clearly the kind used in mathematics described in the first section of the permutation article. Some work will definitely have to be done to make that section of the permutation article a little more intelligible and interesting for language oriented people. So remains to be done :-) . --> | <!-- Note: the kind of [[permutation]] meant here is clearly the kind used in mathematics described in the first section of the permutation article. Some work will definitely have to be done to make that section of the permutation article a little more intelligible and interesting for language oriented people. So remains to be done :-) . --> | ||
OVS is a class of languages used in the classification of languages according to the dominant [[sequence (linguistics)|sequence]] of these [[constituents (linguistics)|constituents]]. In this case the sequence of the constituents is Object Verb Subject. This sequence is the rarest of the six possible orderings of Subject, Verb, and Object. Examples of human languages that use it include [[ | OVS is a class of languages used in the classification of languages according to the dominant [[sequence (linguistics)|sequence]] of these [[constituents (linguistics)|constituents]]. In this case the sequence of the constituents is Object Verb Subject. This sequence is the rarest of the six possible orderings of Subject, Verb, and Object. Examples of human languages that use it include [[Guarijio]] and [[Hixkaryana]]. | ||
Although not dominant, this sequence is also possible when the object is stressed in languages that have relatively free word order due to case marking. [[ | Although not dominant, this sequence is also possible when the object is stressed in languages that have relatively free word order due to case marking. [[Romanian]], [[Basque]], [[Esperanto]], and, to some extent, [[German]] are examples. Some languages, such as [[Swedish]], which normally lack any extensive case marking, allow such structures when [[pronoun]]s (which are marked for case) are involved. | ||
This sequence was chosen for the [[artificial language]] [[ | This sequence was chosen for the [[artificial language]] [[Klingon]], a language spoken by the [[extraterrestrial]] [[Klingon race]] in the fictional universe of the [[Star Trek]] series, in order to make the language sound deliberately alien and counterintuitive. Thus, Klingon uses the rarest permutation of expression, which is expected given the designers' goals. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 02:52, 26 June 2009
Object Verb Subject (OVS) is one of the permutations of expression used in linguistic typology. OVS denotes the sequence 'Object Verb Subject' in unmarked expressions: Oranges ate Sam, Thorns have roses. While these sentences remain grammatically correct in English, unlike those written in Subject Object Verb, their meaning is lost. But English and other Subject Verb Object languages frequently use an Object-Verb-Subject type sentence order when writing in the passive voice, for example The oranges were eaten by Sam.
OVS is a class of languages used in the classification of languages according to the dominant sequence of these constituents. In this case the sequence of the constituents is Object Verb Subject. This sequence is the rarest of the six possible orderings of Subject, Verb, and Object. Examples of human languages that use it include Guarijio and Hixkaryana.
Although not dominant, this sequence is also possible when the object is stressed in languages that have relatively free word order due to case marking. Romanian, Basque, Esperanto, and, to some extent, German are examples. Some languages, such as Swedish, which normally lack any extensive case marking, allow such structures when pronouns (which are marked for case) are involved.
This sequence was chosen for the artificial language Klingon, a language spoken by the extraterrestrial Klingon race in the fictional universe of the Star Trek series, in order to make the language sound deliberately alien and counterintuitive. Thus, Klingon uses the rarest permutation of expression, which is expected given the designers' goals.
See also
This article incorporates text from Wikipedia, and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
For the original article please see the "external links" section.
Wikipedia:Object Verb Subject
