en:grammar:noun_phrases
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en:grammar:noun_phrases [2022-02-07 09:44] – Adjust to use object marker instead of obligatory verb marker christian | en:grammar:noun_phrases [2022-11-06 22:31] – [Determiners] Mention "xi" in order christian | ||
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- | ====== | + | {{page> |
+ | |||
+ | ====== Noun phrases ====== | ||
**Noun phrases** identify and describe people, things, places, concepts, and other entities. Noun phrases are made up of several parts, which occur in the following order: | **Noun phrases** identify and describe people, things, places, concepts, and other entities. Noun phrases are made up of several parts, which occur in the following order: | ||
- | > quantifiers and selectors | + | > determiners |
Except for the **head noun**, all elements are optional. | Except for the **head noun**, all elements are optional. | ||
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Note that there are no **articles** – and English words ' | Note that there are no **articles** – and English words ' | ||
- | **Mi den laste miru o kat. Kat li side ni sima yane.** – Yesterday I saw a cat. The cat sat on a roof. | + | **Mi miru kat den laste . Kat li side ni sima cat.** – Yesterday I saw a cat. The cat sat on a roof. |
In the first sentence, since no **kat** was mentioned before, one can assume – if there is no additional context – that the cat is not yet known: 'a cat'. In the second sentence, since **kat** is mentioned again and there is nothing to suggest otherwise, one can assume that the same cat is meant: 'the cat'. | In the first sentence, since no **kat** was mentioned before, one can assume – if there is no additional context – that the cat is not yet known: 'a cat'. In the second sentence, since **kat** is mentioned again and there is nothing to suggest otherwise, one can assume that the same cat is meant: 'the cat'. | ||
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Though this might feel unfamiliar at first, usually no articles are needed to get the meaning across. | Though this might feel unfamiliar at first, usually no articles are needed to get the meaning across. | ||
- | Should you on occasional really feel the need to make it clear that something not yet known is meant (' | + | Should you on occasional really feel the need to make it clear that something not yet known is meant (' |
Should you feel to need to make it clear that something is already known and identifiable, | Should you feel to need to make it clear that something is already known and identifiable, | ||
- | **Kat li side ni sima ta yane.** – The cat sat on a that roof / the roof (over there). | + | **Kat li side ni sima ta cat.** – The cat sat on a that roof / the roof (over there). |
However, such needs will probably arrive rarer than you might think at first. | However, such needs will probably arrive rarer than you might think at first. | ||
- | ===== Quantifiers and selectors | + | ===== Determiners |
- | **Quantifiers** express | + | **Determiners** give information about how many, how much, or which entities the phrase that follows refer to. In Lugamun, most determiners can be used with verbs as well as with nouns – but in this section we will cover their meaning before nouns. They always precede the word to which they refer. |
- | //Note:// The decision to place quantifiers before the noun follows Indonesian. It allows placing cardinal numbers before the noun and ordinal numbers after it. | + | In Lugamun, two types of determiners can be distinguished. |
- | Cardinal numbers such as **un** ' | + | |
+ | | ||
+ | |||
+ | Lugamun' | ||
- | * **ingi** – many, much, a lot, very | ||
- | * **malo** – few, little | ||
- | * **xie** – some (a certain, not exactly specified part or proportion of) | ||
* **no** – no | * **no** – no | ||
* **ol** – all (the), the whole of, completely, fully | * **ol** – all (the), the whole of, completely, fully | ||
+ | * **xi** – indeed. This doesn' | ||
* **yo** – plurality indicator that can be used if plurality is important and not already indicates in any other way – indicates that two or more individuals or items are meant: **yo kat** – '(the) cats'. | * **yo** – plurality indicator that can be used if plurality is important and not already indicates in any other way – indicates that two or more individuals or items are meant: **yo kat** – '(the) cats'. | ||
+ | * **ingi** – many, much, a lot, very | ||
+ | * **malo** – few, little | ||
+ | * **xye** – some (a certain, not exactly specified part or proportion of) | ||
+ | |||
+ | The first four quantifiers are also called "short quantifiers" | ||
- | The first three quantifiers | + | **Xi** and **no** |
XXX Translate samples showing how these quantifiers can be used: | XXX Translate samples showing how these quantifiers can be used: | ||
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* for **no**: No man is an island | * for **no**: No man is an island | ||
* for **ol**: All my friends hate her. All visitors must register in advance. We were all alone. | * for **ol**: All my friends hate her. All visitors must register in advance. We were all alone. | ||
- | * for **xie**: Some pupils didn't show up. | + | * for **xye**: Some pupils didn't show up. |
- | **ol** can be followed by a number to express | + | Numbers such as **un** 'one', **do** 'two', **tri** ' |
- | XXX Trans: All three restaurants in this stress are excellent. | + | **Ol** can be followed by a number to express 'all of the given quantity', |
- | **Selectors** indicate to which individuals a noun phrases refers: | + | XXX Trans: All three restaurants in this street are excellent. |
+ | |||
+ | Lugamun' | ||
* **si** – this, these. This refers to things or persons that are nearby (physically or conceptually). | * **si** – this, these. This refers to things or persons that are nearby (physically or conceptually). | ||
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* **sama** – same | * **sama** – same | ||
- | The last two selectors (**otra** and **sama**) are also called " | + | The last two selectors (**otra** and **sama**) are also called " |
XXX Translate samples: | XXX Translate samples: | ||
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* for **sama**: ? | * for **sama**: ? | ||
- | Like most quantifiers, | + | Since **eni** and **aru** refer to subgroups rather than expressing quantities, they can be combined with the quantifiers **malo, |
- | + | ||
- | **Ti li miru o ta?** – Did you see that? | + | |
- | + | ||
- | Since **eni** and **aru** refer to subgroups rather than expressing quantities, they can be combined with the quantifiers **malo, | + | |
XXX Translate samples: | XXX Translate samples: | ||
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XXX Order – usually at most one element of each group is present: | XXX Order – usually at most one element of each group is present: | ||
- | * specific/ | + | * specific/ |
* general selectors: si, ta, ke, eni, aru, kada | * general selectors: si, ta, ke, eni, aru, kada | ||
- | * broad/long quantifiers (malo, | + | * broad/long quantifiers (malo, |
* identity selectors: otra, sama | * identity selectors: otra, sama | ||
- | A long quantifier may be followed by a (rounded) number, e.g. **ingi mil** – 'a few thousand' | + | A long quantifier may be followed by a (rounded) number, e.g. **malo mil** – 'a few thousand' |
- | Note that especially **ingi** is also used as an intensifier adverb, hence combinations such as **malo ingi** 'very few, very little' | + | XXX Explain better and more consistently how selectors are used " |
- | Other quantifiers may likewise be used as advers, e.g. **xie** somewhat. | + | Note that especially **ingi** is also used as an intensifier before other words (verbs, adjectives or adverbs), hence combinations such as **malo ingi** 'very few, very little' |
+ | |||
+ | Other quantifiers may likewise be used before verbs and other words, e.g. **xye** 'somewhat'. | ||
(XXX Probably don't allow/ | (XXX Probably don't allow/ | ||
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* **malo si** – few of these) | * **malo si** – few of these) | ||
- | //Note:// We place quantifiers and selectors | + | //Note:// We place determiners |
- | Except for **no** and **yo**, all quantifiers can also be used standalone as **pronouns**, | + | Except for **no** and **yo**, all quantifiers can also be used standalone as **pronouns**, |
XXX Translate examples: | XXX Translate examples: | ||
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XXX Trans: 'She liked none of her gifts' | XXX Trans: 'She liked none of her gifts' | ||
- | Quantifiers | + | Like most quantifiers, |
+ | |||
+ | **Ti li miru ta?** – Did you see that? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Determiners can be used in front of arbitrary nouns. Among the nouns they are most commonly used with are **jen** 'human being, person' | ||
* **no jen** – no one, nobody, anyone, anybody (in negated sentences) | * **no jen** – no one, nobody, anyone, anybody (in negated sentences) | ||
* **malo jen** – (a) few people | * **malo jen** – (a) few people | ||
- | * **xie jen** – some people, several people | + | * **xye jen** – some people, several people |
* **ingi jen** – many people | * **ingi jen** – many people | ||
* **ol jen** – everyone, everybody | * **ol jen** – everyone, everybody | ||
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* **kada jen** – each one, each person | * **kada jen** – each one, each person | ||
- | The quantifiers | + | They are also frequently combined with **xos** ' |
- | 115; APiCS 102): | + | |
* **no xos** – nothing, anything (in negated sentences) | * **no xos** – nothing, anything (in negated sentences) | ||
* **malo xos** – (a) few things | * **malo xos** – (a) few things | ||
- | * **xie xos** – some things, several things | + | * **xye xos** – some things, several things |
* **ingi xos** – many things | * **ingi xos** – many things | ||
* **ol xos** – everything | * **ol xos** – everything | ||
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Note that when the subject or object of a clause is negated, the verb is negated as well – **eni** is not used in negated sentences: | Note that when the subject or object of a clause is negated, the verb is negated as well – **eni** is not used in negated sentences: | ||
- | **Mi li no miru o no jen.** – I didn't see anyone. | + | **Mi no li miru no jen.** – I didn't see anyone. |
Note that the absence of quantifiers does not mean that just one entity is meant. **kat** may mean 'a/the cat' or '(the) cats', depending on context. If you want to unambiguously express the idea of just one cat, say **un kat**; if you want to express that there are two or more, say **yo kat** (or use another suitable quantifier). | Note that the absence of quantifiers does not mean that just one entity is meant. **kat** may mean 'a/the cat' or '(the) cats', depending on context. If you want to unambiguously express the idea of just one cat, say **un kat**; if you want to express that there are two or more, say **yo kat** (or use another suitable quantifier). | ||
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**yo Molina** – the Molinas/the Molina family | **yo Molina** – the Molinas/the Molina family | ||
- | All quantifiers can also be used as [[adverbs#Quantifier adverbs|adverbs]]. | + | XXX Explain how determiners are used before other words (verbs, adjectives, |
===== Modifier words ===== | ===== Modifier words ===== | ||
- | Nouns and verbs can be placed after a noun, modifying the meaning of the main noun. Often such combinations have a more or less idiomatic meaning that's listed in the dictionary, e.g. **yumi sora** ' | + | Nouns and verbs can be placed after a noun, modifying the meaning of the main noun. Often such combinations have a more or less idiomatic meaning that's listed in the dictionary, e.g. **kaus sora** ' |
Even if not explicitly listed, the named of animal species and similar groups can be used as such **modifier words** in expressions such as **kulin kat** 'cat food' or **haki jen** 'human right(s)' | Even if not explicitly listed, the named of animal species and similar groups can be used as such **modifier words** in expressions such as **kulin kat** 'cat food' or **haki jen** 'human right(s)' | ||
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**haki jen = haki de jen** – right(s) of human(s) = human right(s)\\ | **haki jen = haki de jen** – right(s) of human(s) = human right(s)\\ | ||
**kulin kat = kulin a kat** – food for cat(s) = cat food\\ | **kulin kat = kulin a kat** – food for cat(s) = cat food\\ | ||
- | **yumi sora = yumi ni sora** – bow in the sky = rainbow | + | **kaus sora = kaus ni sora** – bow in the sky = rainbow |
If the modifier is a verb, the main word and the modifier can be considered as having the selector **ke** ' | If the modifier is a verb, the main word and the modifier can be considered as having the selector **ke** ' | ||
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**jen safiri = jen ke safiri** – person who travels = traveler | **jen safiri = jen ke safiri** – person who travels = traveler | ||
- | More on modifier words can be found in the section on [[word formation# | + | More on modifier words can be found in the section on [[word formation# |
===== Adjectives ===== | ===== Adjectives ===== | ||
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Several adjectives can follow the same noun. The most specific adjective is usually placed first. | Several adjectives can follow the same noun. The most specific adjective is usually placed first. | ||
- | **wanita inglis | + | **wanita inglis |
In this case, ' | In this case, ' | ||
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On the other hand, adjectives such as **sola** 'only, sole' are quite nonspecific – they don't tell you much about the noun to which they refer as such, but rather about its position in the world. Such adjectives are usually placed near the end of the noun phrase, after more specific adjectives. | On the other hand, adjectives such as **sola** 'only, sole' are quite nonspecific – they don't tell you much about the noun to which they refer as such, but rather about its position in the world. Such adjectives are usually placed near the end of the noun phrase, after more specific adjectives. | ||
- | **Ya i [doctor] hau sola ni [town].** – She's the only good doctor in town. | + | **Ya xi [doctor] hau sola ni [town].** – She's the only good doctor in town. |
- | When two adjectives are considered similarly specific, a comma or a conjunction such as **e** ' | + | When two adjectives are considered similarly specific, a comma or a conjunction such as **wa** ' |
- | **wanita inda e [intelligent]** – a beautiful and intelligent woman | + | **wanita inda wa daki** – a beautiful and intelligent woman |
- | If there are three or more such adjectives in a row, **e** is usually only used between the last two of them, while a comma is used otherwise. | + | If there are three or more such adjectives in a row, **wa** is usually only used between the last two of them, while a comma is used otherwise. |
- | **wanita inda, [intelligent] e [rich]** – a beautiful, intelligent, | + | **wanita inda, daki wa tari** – a beautiful, intelligent, |
Note that each adjective refers to the nearest noun to the left of it. This is still the case if a noun phrase is attached to another noun phrase using a preposition such as **de** ' | Note that each adjective refers to the nearest noun to the left of it. This is still the case if a noun phrase is attached to another noun phrase using a preposition such as **de** ' | ||
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**[lover] de buku grande** – a lover of great books | **[lover] de buku grande** – a lover of great books | ||
- | **Ya i mama de si tri [child wonderful].** – She is the mother of these three wonderful children.\\ | + | **Ya xi mama de si tri [child wonderful].** – She is the mother of these three wonderful children.\\ |
- | **Ya i mama [wonderful] de si tri [child].** – She is the wonderful mother of these three children. | + | **Ya xi mama [wonderful] de si tri [child].** – She is the wonderful mother of these three children. |
XXX The following is likely obsolete – better find another (new?) particle to use here. | XXX The following is likely obsolete – better find another (new?) particle to use here. | ||
- | While adjectives typically follow nouns, they can also be used after **ke** 'that, who(m), which' | + | While adjectives typically follow nouns, they can also be used after the impersonal pronoun |
- | **Mi yau o ke hara.** – I want the green one.\\ | + | **Mi yau yan hara.** – I want the green one.\\ |
- | **Ke gran xiande | + | **Yan gran xyende |
- | **Tina [drive] o [car] akai, [while] mi [drive] | + | **Tina [drive car] lal, [while] mi [drive] |
- | //Note:// Most languages allow adjectives to be used without noun and without any marking (WALS 61). This works well in languages with articles, such as Spanish (//Quiero el verde// – 'I want the green one'), but without articles it could be ambiguous and hard to understand. The next most frequent option is to have such adjectives marked by a preceding word, which therefore seems preferable. In adopting the relative clause marker **ke** for this purpose we follow the Indonesian model. This solution doesn' | + | //Note:// Most languages allow adjectives to be used without noun and without any marking (WALS 61). This works well in languages with articles, such as Spanish (//Quiero el verde// – 'I want the green one'), but without articles it could be ambiguous and hard to understand. The next most frequent option is to have such adjectives marked by a preceding word, which therefore seems preferable. |
===== Possessive noun phrases ===== | ===== Possessive noun phrases ===== |
en/grammar/noun_phrases.txt · Last modified: 2022-11-14 19:59 by christian