Verse:Mwail/Ryooteq: Difference between revisions

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humans > infants/big animals > midsize animals > small animals > insects > natural forces > inanimate objects/plants > abstractions

Generally, the most animate noun in a sentence must occur first while the noun with lesser animacy occurs second. If both nouns are equal in animacy, then either noun can occur in the first position. So, both example sentences (1) and (2) are correct. The ''n-'' prefix on the verb indicates that the 1st noun is the ~~subject~~ and ''i-'' indicates that the 2nd noun is the ~~subject~~.

Generally, the most animate noun in a sentence must occur first while the noun with lesser animacy occurs second. If both nouns are equal in animacy, then either noun can occur in the first position. So, both example sentences (1) and (2) are correct. The ''n-'' prefix on the verb indicates that the 1st noun is the agent and ''i-'' indicates that the 2nd noun is the agent.

: ''Upwe unɛń nzoo.'' (1)

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: ''Upwe unɛń izoo.'' (2)

: boy girl PROX-look

: 'The ~~girl~~ is being looked at by the ~~boy~~.'

: 'The boy is being looked at by the girl.'

But example sentence (3) sounds wrong to most Ryooteq speakers because the less animate noun occurs before the more animate noun:

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 humans > infants/big animals > midsize animals > small animals > insects > natural forces > inanimate objects/plants > abstractions
-Generally, the most animate noun in a sentence must occur first while the noun with lesser animacy occurs second. If both nouns are equal in animacy, then either noun can occur in the first position. So, both example sentences (1) and (2) are correct. The ''n-'' prefix on the verb indicates that the 1st noun is the subject and ''i-'' indicates that the 2nd noun is the subject.
+Generally, the most animate noun in a sentence must occur first while the noun with lesser animacy occurs second. If both nouns are equal in animacy, then either noun can occur in the first position. So, both example sentences (1) and (2) are correct. The ''n-'' prefix on the verb indicates that the 1st noun is the agent and ''i-'' indicates that the 2nd noun is the agent.
 : ''Upwe unɛń nzoo.'' (1)
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 : ''Upwe unɛń izoo.'' (2)
 : boy girl PROX-look
-: 'The girl is being looked at by the boy.'
+: 'The boy is being looked at by the girl.'
 But example sentence (3) sounds wrong to most Ryooteq speakers because the less animate noun occurs before the more animate noun: