Dal'qörian reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns reflect the 'action' of a verb back to the subject or, rarely, the object of a sentence. Dalcurian reflexive pronouns are identical to the accusative. Word order denotes whether an accusative pronoun is truly objective, or whether it is reflexive. If the accusative pronoun is in the subject position, then it's reflexive and will always be followed by a verb:
- Mæöra qlasédria. He is washing himself. Lit: Himself (is) washing/himself washes.
- Iádas, érenöra déatäør. They dress themselves every day. Lit: Daily, themselves dress.
- Ädas, mæöra scalaÞr. He shaves every morning. Lit: Mornings, himself shaves.
However, with a real noun, a reflexive pronoun is still required:
- Ädas, Mæcal scalaÞr mæöra'. Michael shaves every morning. Lit: Mornings, Michael himself shaves.
Ommiting the reflexive pronoun leaves the sentence incomplete as there is no subject for the verb to reflect its action on:
- Ädas, Mæcal scalaÞr. Lit: Mornings, Michael shaves [shaves what?])
Reflexive pronouns are also used in sentences such as:
- Siöra nöacr lenandrax. She can’t help herself. Lit: Herself can help not.
and in sentences where, in English, we use the phrase on ones own meaning by myself/herself etc:
- Diöra mösár görax! You mustn't go on your own/by yourself! Lit: Yourself must go not.
- Binöra nöacr maquirax siÞ. I can't do it on my own. Lit: Myself can do not this.
- Diöra maquirax taÞ! You mustn’t do that by yourself! Lit: Yourself does not that!.
The general rule is: where no other person or object is acted upon by the action of the verb, use the reflexive pronoun.
