Da: Difference between revisions
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For example, the verb ''mia'' (to move) may take an object -- the thing that is being moved. Therefore, the composite verb ''daimia'' (to think, lit. "to move in one's head") also takes a direct object, and, unlike in English, the phrase ''Du daimia kú'' (I am thinking '''of''' you) needs no prepositions. | For example, the verb ''mia'' (to move) may take an object -- the thing that is being moved. Therefore, the composite verb ''daimia'' (to think, lit. "to move in one's head") also takes a direct object, and, unlike in English, the phrase ''Du daimia kú'' (I am thinking '''of''' you) needs no prepositions. | ||
On the other hand, the verb ''sáttí'' (to learn, lit: "to come to know") has the second root ''tí'' (to come, to become) which in this form is intransitive (the transitive form of ''tia'' means "to bring") and the first root sá (to know). Therefore, ''sáttí'' should also have one direct object, and in ''Du sáttí Dau'' (I am learning Da) no adverbial is required before ''Dau''. | On the other hand, the verb ''sáttí'' (to learn, lit: "to come to know") has the second root ''tí'' (to come, to become) which in this form is intransitive (the transitive form of ''tia'' means "to bring") and the first root sá (to know). Therefore, ''sáttí'' should also have one direct object, which is grammatically "attaching" to its first part, and in ''Du sáttí Dau'' (I am learning Da) no adverbial is required before ''Dau''. | ||
====''Genitive''==== | ====''Genitive''==== | ||
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In particular, when used with Locative, ''-t-'', ''-s-'' and ''-x-'' attach after the locative marker and have the meaning of "to", "from" and "through", respectively. E.g. ''Du mí hui'''t''''' (I go home) vs. ''Du mí hui'''s''''' (I am leaving home) vs. ''Du mí nomimi'''x''''' (I am walking on a path); ''Karmel nessa taoruru dei'''t''' taolono'' (She put the pencil on the desk) vs. ''Karmel hassa taoruru dei'''s''' taolono'' (She took the pencil from the desk), etc. | In particular, when used with Locative, ''-t-'', ''-s-'' and ''-x-'' attach after the locative marker and have the meaning of "to", "from" and "through", respectively. E.g. ''Du mí hui'''t''''' (I go home) vs. ''Du mí hui'''s''''' (I am leaving home) vs. ''Du mí nomimi'''x''''' (I am walking on a path); ''Karmel nessa taoruru dei'''t''' taolono'' (She put the pencil on the desk) vs. ''Karmel hassa taoruru dei'''s''' taolono'' (She took the pencil from the desk), etc. | ||
''-s-'' and ''- | ''-s-'', ''-t-'' and ''-x-'' are doubled when they are used as infixes after a vowel. | ||
''-s-'' and ''-t-'' can also be used with Genitive (e.g. ''huomen duo'' "my husband" vs. ''huomen du'''ss'''o'' "my ex-husband") but such usage is more rare. | ''-s-'' and ''-t-'' can also be used with Genitive (e.g. ''huomen duo'' "my husband" vs. ''huomen du'''ss'''o'' "my ex-husband") but such usage is more rare. | ||
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===Verb=== | ===Verb=== | ||
Verbs in | Verbs in Da receive the endings ''-a'' (transitive) and "-i" (intransitive). As with other endings, if the root ends with the same vowel, it is not duplicated but receives the accent instead. Verbs do not conjugate. | ||
A large percentage of | A large percentage of Da verbs are ergative and change their meaning depending on whether they are used as transitive or intransitive verbs. For example: ''mí / mia'' (vi: goes, vt: moves /something/), ''tí'' / ''tia'' (vi: comes, vt: brings /something/), ''keli / kela'' (vi: errs, vt: breaks /something/) etc. | ||
Similarly, many verbs have a different meaning when used as ''modal'' verbs, that is, verbs followed by a ''t-''-adverbial. E.g. the word ''xí'', when used as an adjective, means "necessary", but the meaning is changed to "need, have to" when it is used as a modal verb: ''pa xí'' "necessary work" --> ''to xío pat'' "what has to be done". | Similarly, many verbs have a different meaning when used as ''modal'' verbs, that is, verbs followed by a ''t-''-adverbial. E.g. the word ''xí'', when used as an adjective, means "necessary", but the meaning is changed to "need, have to" when it is used as a modal verb: ''pa xí'' "necessary work" --> ''to xío pat'' "what has to be done". | ||
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There are no verb tenses in Da, but there are aspects. Unmodified verbs are assumed to be in imperfective aspect. The infixes ''-t-'' and ''-x-'' put them into prospective and perfective aspects, signifying the action that is about to start or has been completed. Quite often these aspects are translated into other languages using future and past tenses: ''Du si'''ss'''a tou síotenoxui duo!'' (I have seen it with my own two eyes!) or ''Ku kam'''t'''i pas katou!'' (You will pay for (doing) this!). On the other hand, a narrative like ''Palsunotei moi korudamen pali...'' (Once upon a time there lived a king...) usually does not require an aspect change. | There are no verb tenses in Da, but there are aspects. Unmodified verbs are assumed to be in imperfective aspect. The infixes ''-t-'' and ''-x-'' put them into prospective and perfective aspects, signifying the action that is about to start or has been completed. Quite often these aspects are translated into other languages using future and past tenses: ''Du si'''ss'''a tou síotenoxui duo!'' (I have seen it with my own two eyes!) or ''Ku kam'''t'''i pas katou!'' (You will pay for (doing) this!). On the other hand, a narrative like ''Palsunotei moi korudamen pali...'' (Once upon a time there lived a king...) usually does not require an aspect change. | ||
The infix ''- | The infix ''-x-'' produces the progressive aspect: compare ''Du maxxa sunoteoporomau katei'' (I am eating lunch now) and ''Du má honokanu sunotei pani'' (I eat meat every day). | ||
The prospective aspect is also used as imperative: ''Titti kanait!'' "Come here!" | The prospective aspect is also used as imperative: ''Titti kanait!'' "Come here!" | ||
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===Intransitive Verbs as Adjectives=== | ===Intransitive Verbs as Adjectives=== | ||
Da adjectives, from the grammatical point of view, do not differ from intransitive verbs. In a way, all Da adjectives are participles. They end with ''-i'' and go after the noun. | |||
Adjectives often play the role of a verb in a sentence, requiring no copula. For example, ''losí'' (beautiful) can be used in ''Ku nunmelo losí'' (You are a beautiful girl) as well as ''Nunmel ká losí roi'' (This girl is very beautiful). | Adjectives often play the role of a verb in a sentence, requiring no copula. For example, ''losí'' (beautiful) can be used in ''Ku nunmelo losí'' (You are a beautiful girl) as well as ''Nunmel ká losí roi'' (This girl is very beautiful). | ||
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''Du sai ku ríssiu du tonathiat paltou'' -- I know you wanted to tell me something (compare with: ''Ku rissi du tonathiat paltou'' "You wanted to tell me something" and ''Du tonta paltou'' "I will hear something"). | ''Du sai ku ríssiu du tonathiat paltou'' -- I know you wanted to tell me something (compare with: ''Ku rissi du tonathiat paltou'' "You wanted to tell me something" and ''Du tonta paltou'' "I will hear something"). | ||
''John | ''John maxxi té xentú tuo tío huit'' -- John was eating when his friend entered the house (compare with ''Xentú tuo tí huit'' "His friend enters the house"). | ||
The case in which the supine is placed determines the relationship between the main word and the subordinate clause: | The case in which the supine is placed determines the relationship between the main word and the subordinate clause: | ||
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[[Category:Languages]] | [[Category:Languages]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Languages]] | ||
[[Category:Cha]] | [[Category:Cha]] | ||