Memniq syntax

Main article: Memniq

This page gives an extensive description of Memniq syntactical features.

Main clause and word order

Memniq is a mainly VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) language.

jaťre̥ke ʔinu̥r o̥sfem 
the man sees the dog

The case system, which clearly distinguishes between the subject and the direct object, allows every other possible word order to some extent, but most of them prove to be very marked and infrequently used. The only word order with a clear role and a frequent usage is VOS (Verb-Object-Subject), which is used to emphasize the direct object.

jaťre̥ke o̥sfem ʔinu̥r
it's the dog the man sees

The other elements in the sentence are usually placed in the order “time-cause-manner-place”, although they are basically freer than the main elements. An object in the dative case, when conveying the indirect object, tends to be placed after the direct object of the sentence.