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.
aga klogan hain din nage 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
- Introduction to Seuna
- Seuna : Chapter 1
- Seuna word shape
- The script of Seuna
- Seuna sentence structure
- Seuna pronouns
- Seuna nouns
- Seuna verbs (1)
- Seuna adjectives
- Seuna demonstratives
- Seuna verbs (2)
- Asking a question in Seuna
- Seuna relative clauses
- Seuna verbs (3)
- Methods for deriving words in Seuna
- List of all Seuna derivational affixes
- Numbers in Seuna
- Naming people in Seuna
- The Seuna calendar
- Seuna units
