FAQ: Difference between revisions

From The Toaq Wiki
(another crude copý)
 
m (Add missing word)
(29 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
=== The grammar seems very simple. Am I overlooking something? ===
__NOEDITSECTION__
✅ It is simple! You do not need to learn a lot of rules to be able to say a lot. More bang for your buck.
This page answers some '''frequently asked questions''' about Toaq.


=== How many tones are there? ===
== Getting started ==
✅ 7 full tones and 1 neutral tone.
=== Where do I start learning? ===
Try [[Toaq with Ease]] or the [[Grammar overview]]. The most complete resource is the [[refgram]].


=== What does tone X do? ===
=== "Complementizer"? "Covert"? I don't understand the refgram at all! ===
✅ See the following table:
Don't worry, that's okay! It was written for an audience of linguists, not language learners. Focus on the example sentences if you feel lost in the jargon. If you don't understand a concept, try searching this wiki. You can also ask questions on [[Discord]].
#    Name                          Mark      Creates/Used with
1️⃣ Even tone                  :t1:          compound
2️⃣ Rising tone                :t2:          argument phrase
3️⃣ Rising glottal tone    :t3:          relative clause
4️⃣ Falling tone                :t4:          predicate phrase
5️⃣ Rising-falling tone    :t5:          content clause
6️⃣ Low tone                    :t6:          preposition
7️⃣ Low glottal tone      :t7:          adverbial phrase
8️⃣ Neutral tone              :t8:          particle


=== How do you pronounce X? ===
=== How do I type the tone marks/symbols/diacritics? ===
✅ Please refer to this tool: http://toaq.org/letters/
See [[Input methods]].
 
== Speaking and writing ==
=== How many tones are there? What does each tone do? ===
There are four tones, but each one has various uses depending on the part of speech they are used with. Simplifying things a lot, {{Done|1}} is for particles and verbs, {{Done|2}} is for particles and (pro)nouns, {{Done|3}} marks subordination, and {{Done|4}} is for adverbs. See [[Tone]] for a thorough overview. <!--{{Tone table}}-->
 
=== How do you pronounce…? ===
Please refer to https://toaq.net/refgram/phonology/.
 
=== What's up with the letter {{t|q}} in this language? Pronunciation of {{t|q}} ===
{{t|q}} is somewhat special and its pronunciation may not be immediately obvious. It is pronounced like English ⟨ng⟩ (IPA [ŋ]). The use of the letter Q is a nod to [https://loglangs.wiki/Ceqli Rex May’s Ceqli], an international auxiliary language with loglang elements; it’s also found in natural languages such as Fijian (where it represents [ᵑɡ], to be exact).
 
=== What's with the ı / i without dot / dotless i? ===
Writing ı without the dot distinguishes it more from an i that carries a tone mark, it also makes more room for an adjacent tone mark. Overall, it just makes things easier to read. See [[Latin writing system]].
 
== Grammar ==
=== Can I fill fewer slots than a verb has? ===
Probably! See [[Underfilling]].
 
=== How do I skip slots? (What's the equivalent of Lojban's <code>FA</code>?) ===
Toaq intentionally doesn't have this feature. Just fill the slots with [[pronoun]]s.
 
=== How does {{t|bọ}} work? What is the meaning / place structure of {{t|bọdo}}? ===
Semi-officially, it moves the direct object to the front, and removes the old subject. See [[bo-]].
 
=== How do numbers work? ===
The official number system is that numbers are just verbs: {{t|saq}} means "___ are three in number", so {{t|Saq jío}} means "the buildings are three" and {{t|sá jıo saq}} means "some buildings that are three" (three buildings).


=== Is there a way to check whether my sentence is correct? ===
A more elaborate unofficial number system is described at [[User:Loekıa/Numbers]].
✅ Yes, using one of the online parsers:
<!--
: http://toaq.org/parser/
: http://toaq.herokuapp.com/
If you're on Discord or Telegram, you can also use the %miu command to talk to the parser bot.


=== How do I type the tone marks/symbols/diacritics? ===
=== What's the difference between an indirect question and a {{t|ꝡé}} phrase? ===
✅ Please see http://www.toaq.org/#autohotkey and https://github.com/acotis/autokey-toaq-tones
The distinction is extremely important logically speaking, but English usually conflates the two, so many people overlook the difference. The following example illustrates the difference:
# {{t|Dua jí ꝡä chı súq hí raı.}} = "I know ''what'' you believe"
# {{t|Dua jí ꝡé chı súq hóa.}} = "I ''know'' what you believe"
Let's say that what you believe is [God exists].
# says that I know that you believe [God exists], because I know what it is that you believe
# says that I know that [God exists] is true, because I know that which you believe to be true.
-->
 
== Tools and resources ==
 
=== Is there a way to check whether my sentence is correct? / Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation? ===
You can use [[Kuna]]'s web interface [https://toaq.net/kuna/ here].
 
=== How can I join the [[Discord]] server? ===
Use [https://discord.gg/qDqDsH9 this invite link].
 
=== Is there a frequency list? ===
Yes! See [https://github.com/toaq/corpus/blob/main/frequency-list.txt frequency-list.txt] in the [https://github.com/toaq/corpus/ corpus] repo.
 
=== Is there a list of translated sentences? ===
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bCQoaX02ZyaElHiiMcKHFemO4eV1MEYmYloYZgOAhac/edit#gid=1395088029 This spreadsheet] has up-to-date example sentences in the "Refgram examples" and "A sentences" sheets. <!--  


=== Where does the Toaq logo come from? ===
=== Where does the Toaq logo come from? ===
✅ It's original.
✅ It's original.
=== Are the Toaq logo, flag, or colors based on the transgender flag? ===
✅ No, it's a coincidence that they share the same colors.<ref>Quote from Hoemaı on Discord: <blockquote>
This comes up a lot, so maybe I should tell the whole story of how those colors came to be.<br>It was around 2015 while I was working on/planning my second Lojban album (which was originally meant to "just" be an EP). One of the cover designs had pink and light blue text on a black background (neon style), and it was then that I realized how much I liked that color combo. Coincidentally, it wasn't much later that I had to pick colors for Toaq, and so I picked those. This was long before I had ever seen the trans flag. So the answer to the common question "is it a coincidence that they share the same colors?" is Yes.
</blockquote>
</ref>


=== Is "Toaq" based on the word "tongue" or "tone"? ===
=== Is "Toaq" based on the word "tongue" or "tone"? ===
Line 36: Line 77:


=== How are roots created? ===
=== How are roots created? ===
✅ A priori, based on my intuition. I usually have to think long and hard and feel my options out before I decide what root to assign to a concept.
✅ The author described the process as: "A priori, based on my intuition. I usually have to think long and hard and feel my options out before I decide what root to assign to a concept."
 
Recently, many words are created by community consensus on [[Toadua]], including root words, using a variety of methods.


=== Where can I find a dictionary? ===
=== Where can I find a dictionary? ===
✅ Here: http://www.toaq.org/dictionary/ and here: https://uakci.pl/toadua/#. The latter is a collaborative dictionary to which everyone can contribute.
✅ Here: http://www.toaq.org/dictionary/ and here: https://uakci.pl/toadua/. [[Toadua|The latter]] is a collaborative dictionary to which everyone can contribute.


=== How do I answer a yes/no question in Toaq? ===
=== How do I answer a yes/no question in Toaq? ===
✅ In ascending order of verbosity and formality:
✅ In ascending order of verbosity and formality:
Yes                  No
{| class="wikitable toaq" lang=toaq
 
| nho || zı
jẽo                  bũ
|-
Jẻo hóq da.         Bủ hóq da.
| Nu da. || Bu nu da.
|-
| Juna hóq da. || Sahu hóq da.
|}


=== Is Toaq easy/difficult/hard? ===
✅ If you can handle the tones, which I believe anyone can, then it's really not a difficult language to become decent at.


=== X seems to be missing from the language. Why does Toaq not have X? ===
=== X seems to be missing from the language. Why does Toaq not have X? ===
✅ Part of the philosophy behind the initial design was that I didn't want to over-engineer the language. Lojban (to name a random example) started out with a boatload of complicated rules that turned out not to be beneficial. I would rather start out with too few rules and only add extensions when it's clearly needed, avoiding clutter.
✅ Part of the philosophy behind the initial design was that I didn't want to over-engineer the language. Lojban (to name a random example) started out with a boatload of complicated rules that turned out not to be beneficial. I would rather start out with too few rules and only add extensions when it's clearly needed, avoiding clutter.
In doing so, I'm also giving the language the chance to grow organically with the help of its speakers.
In doing so, I'm also giving the language the chance to grow organically with the help of its speakers.


=== Is there really a glottal stop in the ã-tone? ===
=== Is there really a glottal stop in the {{t|ä}} tone? ===
✅ Yes.
✅ Yes.


=== How new/old is Toaq? ===
=== How new/old is Toaq? ===
✅ The current version was published in September 2017. The very first version alpha version was published in 2013.  
✅ The current version was published in December 2022. The very first version alpha version was published in 2013.
 
=== What's the difference between {{t|ceo}} and {{t|sho}}? ===
✅ {{t|sho}} means something undergoes a change such that it ends up satisfying the second place.


=== What's the difference between ceo and sho? ===
{{t|ceo}} says that a thing begins to be the case, which can be said of things that don't priorly exist or are the case. {{t|sho}} on the other hand can be said of things that already exist; they merely undergo a change that makes them become such that they now have a certain property they previously did not.
✅ sho means something undergoes a change such that it ends up satisfying the second place.


ceo says that a thing begins to be the case, which can be said of things that don't priorly exist or are the case. sho on the other hand can be said of things that already exist; they merely undergo a change that makes them become such that they now have a certain property they previously did not.
Both are appropriate in most situations.
Both are appropriate in most situations.


=== What's the process for creating taxonomic vocabulary (animals/plants)? ===
=== What's the process for creating taxonomic vocabulary (animals/plants)? ===
✅ The process follows these steps:
✅ The process follows these steps:
; Find the scientific name of the animal or plant  
#; Find the scientific name of the animal or plant  
:   Let's use butterfly and spider as examples.
#: Let's use butterfly and spider as examples.
; Check the etymology of the name.
#
:  For "butterfly" the order is called "Lepidoptera", for "spider" we get "Araneae"
#; Check the etymology of the name.
; If the name is a compound, make a calque of the compound.
#:  For "butterfly" the order is called "Lepidoptera", for "spider" we get "Araneae"
:  This is the case for "Lepidoptera", which is put together from λεπίς (lepís, "scale") and πτερόν (pterón, "wing").
#
Translating "scale wing", we arrive at the Toaq word for butterfly: tiqshōaı.
#; If the name is a compound, make a calque of the compound.
; If the name is not a compound, follow the etymology as far back as possible, then borrow that word.*
#:  This is the case for "Lepidoptera", which is put together from λεπίς (lepís, "scale") and πτερόν (pterón, "wing").
:  This is the case for "Araneae", which can be traced back to Ancient Greek ἀράχνη (arákhnē). Toaq-ifying yields arānē, which is our word for spider.
#: Translating "scale wing", we arrive at the Toaq word for butterfly: {{t|tıqshoaı}}
#
#; If the name is not a compound, follow the etymology as far back as possible, then borrow that word.*
#:  This is the case for "Araneae", which can be traced back to Ancient Greek ἀράχνη (arákhnē). Toaq-ifying yields {{t|arane}}, which is our word for spider.


=== What's the vowel order? ===
=== What's the vowel order? ===
✅ A U I O E Y
✅ {{t|A U I O E}}
-->


=== How can I join the discord server? ===
<!--
✅ Use this invite link: https://discord.gg/qDqDsH9
=== What's the terminator of X? ===
✅ Unlike some other loglangs like Lojban and Loglan, modern Toaq doesn't feature any terminators at all! Instead, clauses can be closed by [[Auto-terminating clauses|filling every argument]], [[cleft]] structures, and connecting with a [[conjunction]] to another clause in the same scope.


=== How can I join the Telegram groups? ===
=== Is there an automatic interpreter of Toaq? Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation? ===
✅ Use these invite links:
✅ Indeed there is (for a slightly outdated version of Toaq called [[Toaq Gamma]])!
; ☑ general: https://t.me/joinchat/CWpuWUMl0JeW7-TdO6PnAQ
; ☑ chiejio: https://t.me/joinchat/CWpuWUPKUdAiT7KR6SiE7w
; ☑ toaq-only: https://t.me/joinchat/CWpuWUSC9pqnzPyufkQsrA
; ☑ toashuaq: https://t.me/joinchat/CWpuWUvrHSdLL3JneDjp9Q
; ☑ off-topic: https://t.me/joinchat/CWpuWVJC8_-EMukIAjMfYQ
 
=== What's a tonal pangram? ===
✅ In the broadest sense, a tonal pangram is a sentence that contains each tone at least once. In a more narrow sense, it is a sentence that contains each tone exactly once. The latter is a form of Toaq poetry.


=== What's the terminator of X? ===
Go to https://toaq.net/zugai/ and select logic. Note that Zugaı is still in development, so some things may not work as expected.
✅ Please refer to this table:
Structure  Terminator
mı        ga
po        ga
mo        teo
kıo        kı
lu        ceı
prenex    bı / pa
statement  na


=== Is there an automatic interpreter of Toaq? Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation? ===
; See article: [[Zugaı]]
✅ Indeed there is!
Go to http://toaq.herokuapp.com/, hit the blue button, then select LOGIC.


=== How do you say "I'm making some coffee" in Toaq? ===
=== How do you say "I'm making some coffee" in Toaq? ===
✅ 404
☕ 404 ({{T|Baı jí báq kafe.}})


=== What does ku ("focus") mean?  ===
=== What does {{t|kú}} ("focus") mean?  ===
✅ Here's an explanation: https://toaqlanguage.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/on-the-logic-of-ku/
✅ Here's an explanation: https://toaqlanguage.wordpress.com/2018/06/01/on-the-logic-of-ku/


=== Is there a way to mark contrastive focus or emphasis? ===
=== Is there a way to mark contrastive focus or emphasis? ===
✅ Yes, by using beı in front the word.
✅ Yes, by using {{t|béı}} in front the word.


=== What's the system for referring to nationalities/languages/countries? ===
=== What's the system for referring to nationalities/languages/countries? ===
✅ This is the system:
✅ This is the system:
Take the country's native name or the native adjective describing the nationality and borrow it. This borrowing now refers generically to anything having to do with the country or its culture.
Take the country's native name or the native adjective describing the nationality and borrow it. This borrowing now refers generically to anything having to do with the country or its culture.
:    For example, Juqgūo ("China") means "to be Chinese, to be of China, its languages or people".
:    For example, {{t|Juqguo}} ("China") means "to be Chinese, to be of China, its languages or people".
:    Farāqsē means "French".
:    {{t|Faraqse}} means "French".
To refer more specifically to the country, add gua ("country").
To refer more specifically to the country, add {{t|gua}} ("country").
:    Juqgūogūa, "China".
:    {{t|Juqguogua}}, "China".
:    Farāqsēgūa, "France".
:    {{t|Faraqsegua}}, "France".
To refer to a language, add toaq ("language").
To refer to a language, add zu ("language").
:    Farāqsētōaq, "the French language".
:    {{t|Faraqsezu}}, "the French language".
:    Juqgūotōaq is ambiguous between the many languages of China, "a Chinese language".
:    {{t|Juqguozu}} is ambiguous between the many languages of China, "a Chinese language".


=== What are the numbers from 1 to 10? ===
=== What are the numbers from 1 to 10? ===
✅ They are as follows:
✅ They are as follows:
1⃣ shı
{|
2⃣ gu
| 1️⃣ || {{t|shı}}
3⃣ saq
|-
4⃣ jo
| 2️⃣ || {{t|gu}}
5⃣ fe
|-
6⃣ cı
| 3️⃣ || {{t|saq}}
7⃣ dıaı
|-
8⃣ roaı
| 4️⃣ || {{t|jo}}
9⃣ neı
|-
1⃣0⃣ heı
| 5️⃣ || {{t|fe}}
|-
| 6️⃣ || {{t|cı}}
|-
| 7️⃣ || {{t|dıaı}}
|-
| 8️⃣ || {{t|roaı}}
|-
| 9️⃣ || {{t|neı}}
|-
| 1️⃣0️⃣ || {{t|heı}}
|}


=== What are the numbers from 20 to 99? ===
=== What are the numbers from 20 to 99? ===
✅ They are as follows:
✅ They are as follows:
20 = guhēı
{|
30 = saqhēı
| 20 || = || {{t|guheı    }}
40 = johēı
|-
50 = fehēı
| 30 || = || {{t|saqheı    }}
60 = cıhēı
|-
70 = dıaıhēı
| 40 || = || {{t|joheı    }}
80 = roaıhēı
|-
90 = neıhēı
| 50 || = || {{t|feheı    }}
21 = guhēıshī
|-
34 = saqhēıjō
| 60 || = || {{t|cıheı    }}
83 = roaıhēısāq
|-
| 70 || = || {{t|dıaıheı  }}
|-
| 80 || = || {{t|roaıheı  }}
|-
| 90 || = || {{t|neıheı    }}
|-
| 21 || = || {{t|guheı shı  }}
|-
| 34 || = || {{t|saqheı jo  }}
|-
| 83 || = || {{t|roaıheı saq}}
|}
-->


=== What's with the ı / i without dot / dotless i? ===
<!--
✅ Writing ı without the dot distinguishes it more from an i that carries a tone mark, it also makes more room for an adjacent tone mark. Overall, it just makes things easier to read.
=== How do I do an indirect quote? ===
✅ Use {{T|ꝡä}}+predicate with {{T|ruaq}} or {{T|duatua}} for indirect assertions and {{T|duasue}} for indirect questions:


=== How do I do an indirect quote? ===
* {{t|Ruaq hó ꝡä bu tı hó chíejıo.}} = "She says [that] she isn't at school."
✅ Use lû or the fifth tone (:t5: tone) on a predicate and use it with ruaq or duatūa for indirect assertions and duasue for indirect questions:
: {{t|Duatua hó jí ꝡä tı hó hí raı.}} = "He told me where he is."
Examples:
: {{t|Duasue hó jí ꝡä bua jí hí raı.}} = "They asked me where I live."
: Rủaq hó bû tỉ hó chíejīo "She says [that] she isn't at school."
: Dủatūa hó jí tî hó hı ráı "He told me where he is."
: Dủasūe hó jí bûa jí hı ráı "They asked me where I live."  


=== Is there a memrise deck? ===
=== Is there a memrise deck? ===
✅ There is: https://www.memrise.com/course/1974691/toaq-simple-predicates-2018-06-03/
✅ There is, but it is outdated: https://www.memrise.com/course/1974691/toaq-simple-predicates-2018-06-03/
 
-->
=== Is there a frequency list? ===
✅ Why yes! Look here: http://toaq.org/chatlogs/frequencylist.txt
Newer frequency list (2019/02/02): https://gist.githubusercontent.com/ciuak/d233979c99f83017158e8b97fbbda8f9/raw/f09ec94dc01f3a9cd017f744639f874494d7e451/freqlist-2019-02.txt
 
=== What is the meaning of an m with a tone mark? ===
✅ If you see an m with a tone mark, chances are it's used as an interjection of sorts. We're still experimenting with it. One suggestion was the following:
    m̄ > uhm, thinking...
    ḿ > huh?, wonder, surprise
    m̌ > yeah, agreement
    m̉ > roger, gotcha, ok
    m̂ > aha!, discovery
    m̀ > slight disappointment
    m̃ > no, disagreement
 
=== Is there a list of translated sentences? ===
✅ We are working on it!
See: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bCQoaX02ZyaElHiiMcKHFemO4eV1MEYmYloYZgOAhac/edit#gid=1395088029


<!--
=== Is there a subreddit? ===
=== Is there a subreddit? ===
✅ Yes: https://old.reddit.com/r/Toaq/
✅ Yes: https://old.reddit.com/r/Toaq/
Line 198: Line 237:
=== What are the personal pronouns? ===
=== What are the personal pronouns? ===
✅ Toaq's 'pronouns' are verbs. Instead of a word for "I/me", there's a verb meaning "to be me". These are the personal reference predicates:
✅ Toaq's 'pronouns' are verbs. Instead of a word for "I/me", there's a verb meaning "to be me". These are the personal reference predicates:
 
{| class=wikitable
jı  "to be me",                                  jí "I"
| me         || colspan=4 |                || = || {{t|jí}}  || ''I, me''
suq "to be you",                            súq "you"
|-
  ho  "to be him/her/them",         hó "he/she/they"
| colspan=2 | || you         || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|súq}}  || ''you''
maq "to be it (the object)",          máq "it"
|-
hoq "to be it (the situation)",      hóq "it"
| colspan=2 | || you        || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|súna}} || ''you'' (plural)
  suqjī "to be us (you + me)",         súqjī "we"
|-
suqhō "to be you (you + him/her/them)", súqhō "you"
| colspan=4 |                || they        || = || {{t|nháo}} || ''they/them, he/him, she/her''
 
|-
súq, hó, máq and hóq can be singular or plural. When necessary, plurality can be expressed by using puq (e.g. púq hỏ "they").
| colspan="4" |
|they
|=
|{{T|nhána}}
|''they/them'' (plural)
|-
| colspan="2" | || you        || + || they  || = || {{t|súo}}  || ''you all''
|-
| me          || + || you    || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|úmı}} || ''we, us''
|-
| me          || colspan=2 | || + || they  || = || {{t|íme}} || ''we, us''
|-
| me          || + || you   || + || they  || = || {{t|áma}} || ''we, us''
|}
; See article: [[Pronoun]]


=== How do you make a plural? How do you pluralize a noun? ===
=== How do you make a plural? How do you pluralize a noun? ===
✅ Toaq nouns are not inflected for grammatical number. Any noun can refer to one or more things. When necessary, singular and plural can be made explicit:
✅ Toaq nouns are not inflected for grammatical number. Any noun can refer to one or more things. When necessary, singular and plural can be made explicit:
: To specify a singular, use shı ("one") as the head of a serial predicate.
* To specify a singular, use {{t|nẹshı}} ("one") as an adjective.
:: Example: shí jỉo "the [one] building" (explicit singular)
*: Example: {{t|jío nẹshı}} "the [one] building" (explicit singular)
: To specify a plural, use puq ("multiple") as the head of a serial predicate.
* To specify a plural, use puq ("multiple") as an adjective.
:: Example: púq jỉo "the [more than one] buildings" (explicit plural).
*: Example: {{t|jío puq}} "the [more than one] buildings" (explicit plural).
Marking number is never required. It is usually obvious (or not terribly important) whether something is one thing or more than one thing. When in doubt, read a bare noun as plural unless context suggests otherwise.  
Marking number is never required. It is usually obvious (or not terribly important) whether something is one thing or more than one thing. When in doubt, read a bare noun as plural unless context suggests otherwise.  
-->


=== Why do I sometimes see words ending with consonants other than q? / What is vietoaq? / What are these weird word shapes? ===
<!-- Unlike previous versions of Toaq, {{t|q}} does not have any allophonic variation - that is, it is always [ŋ] - because syllables may also end with {{t|m}}, which needs to stay distinct. -->
✅ Vietoaq is a way of encoding tones without diacritics. Each tone is marked via a specific consonant at the end of a syllable. For closed syllables (q in the coda), the voiced equivalent of the same consonant is used.
; See: https://uakci.pl/wiki/vietoaq
; Lıq's Vietoaq practice tool: http://foldr.moe/vietoaq/
 
=== Why are some tones missing from this text and some are not? Sparse tonal marking ===
✅ It was discovered that it's possible to write Toaq without explicitly distinguishing :t1:, :t4: and :t8:.  Each of those three tones can be written as a diacritic-less syllable and the tone of the syllable can be deduced by the following rules:
* If the syllable is not the first syllable of a space-separated block, it carries the :t1: tone.
* If the syllable is a contentive (predicate word / root word), it carries the :t4: tone.
* If the syllable is a particle, it carries the :t8: tone.
Examples:
; Kaı jí da -> Kảı jí da ("I write")
; Kaqgaı súq hı ráı moq -> Kảqgāı súq hı ráı moq ("What do you see?")
; De ní rua -> Dẻ ní rủa ("This flower is beautiful")
As long as the text retains spaces between words, it remains fully unambiguous. This style can be seen as a less formal way of writing, useful if one is lazy or if one doesn't have easy access to :t1: and :t4: diacritics on one's input device.
 
=== What does it mean when a function word is written in all caps? / What function word classes are there? ===
✅ In discussions about Toaq grammar, a function word in all caps usually refers to a function word class. Function words that share the same grammar are grouped together in a class. This class is usually named after its most prominent member. For example, the words da, ba, ka and moq have the same grammar, and their class is named DA. We say, for instance, that "moq is in DA".
 
Knowing these classes is useful, because once you have learned how to use one member of a class, you automatically know how to use every other member of the same class, too (syntactically speaking). If a sentence is grammatically correct with one member of a class, then substituting it with any other member of the same class will retain the same grammatical structure. The grammar does not distinguish between individual members of a class.
 
These are the classes and their members:
: DA (da, ba, ka, moq)
: SA (sa, sıa, tu, ja, ke, hı, co, baq, hoı)
: RU (ru, ra, ro, rı, roı)
: TO (to)
: LU (lu, lı, ma, tıo)
: JE (je, keo, tıu)
: BI (bı, pa)
: PO (po, jeı)
: JU (ju, la)
: GO (go, cu, ta)
: KU (ku, beı)
: HU (hu)
: KIO (kıo)
: KI (kı)
: MI (mı)
: MO (mo)
: TEO (teo)
: SHU (shu)
: NA (na)
: GA (ga)
: CEI (ceı)
 
=== What's up with the letter ⟨q⟩ in this language? Pronunciation / allophones of ⟨q⟩ ===
✅ ⟨q⟩ is somewhat special and its pronunciation may not be immediately obvious. It is usually pronounced like English ⟨ng⟩ (IPA [ŋ]), but it has the optional allophones [n] and [m], following these rules:
: The default pronunciation is IPA [ŋ], and it keeps this pronunciation before k, g, l, m, n, r, f, h, s, sh, and at the end of a breath group.
: Before t, d, c, ch, j, it is pronounced [n].
: Before p, b, it is pronounced [m].
: Examples:
: kaqgaı -> [kʰaŋ.gaɪ] ("to see")
: jaq de -> [d͡ʑan.dɛ:] ("to be very beautiful")
: baq bego -> [bam.bɛ.go] ("beech trees in general")
Again, these allophones are optional; it is acceptable to use [ŋ] in all positions.


<!--
=== What are the words for the days of the week and for the months? ===
=== What are the words for the days of the week and for the months? ===
✅ The names for the days of the week are based on the colors of the rainbow, starting with red on Monday and ending with purple on Sunday:
✅ The names for the days of the week are based on the colors of the rainbow, starting with red on Monday and ending with purple on Sunday:
; Mon: kıachāq
{| class=wikitable
; Tue: narāqchāq
| Mon || {{t|kıachaq}}
; Wed: luechāq
|-
; Thu: riqchāq
| Tue || {{t|naraqchaq}}
; Fri: kuaochāq
|-
; Sat: miochāq
| Wed || {{t|luechaq}}
; Sun: loachāq
|-
The months use compounds of the number of the month + jūe ("month"):
| Thu || {{t|riqchaq}}
; January: shıjūe
|-
; February: gujūe
| Fri || {{t|kuaochaq}}
; March. saqjūe
|-
; April: jojūe
| Sat || {{t|miochaq}}
; May: fejūe
|-
; June: cıjūe
| Sun || {{t|loachaq}}
; July: dıaıjūe
|}
; August: roaıjūe
; September: neıjūe
; October: heıjūe
; November: heıshījūe
; December: heıgūjūe


=== What's the difference between an indirect question and a "lú" phrase? ===
The months use compounds of the number of the month + {{t|jue}} ("month"):
✅ The distinction is extremely important logically speaking, but English usually conflates the two, so many people overlook the difference. The following example illustrates the difference:
{| class=wikitable
: 1) Dủa jí chî súq hı rảı - I know what you believe
| January  || {{t|shıjue}}
: 2) Dủa jí lú chỉ súq hóa - I know what you believe
|-
Let's say that what you believe is [God exists].
| February  || {{t|gujue}}
: 1) says that I know that you believe [God exists], because I know what it is that you believe
|-
: 2) says that I know [God exists], because I know that which you believe.
| March    || {{t|saqjue}}
|-
| April    || {{t|jojue}}
|-
| May      || {{t|fejue}}
|-
| June      || {{t|cıjue}}
|-
| July      || {{t|dıaıjue}}
|-
| August    || {{t|roaıjue}}
|-
| September || {{t|neıjue}}
|-
| October  || {{t|heıjue}}
|-
| November  || {{t|heıshıjue}}
|-
| December  || {{t|heıgujue}}
|}
-->


<!--
=== Does Toaq have a flag? ===
=== Does Toaq have a flag? ===
✅ This is a candidate design:  
✅ This is a candidate design:  


https://media.giphy.com/media/ggK1ZflC7o7OLMJ3Xk/giphy.gif
https://media.giphy.com/media/ggK1ZflC7o7OLMJ3Xk/giphy.gif
== References ==
<references />
-->

Revision as of 22:26, 25 July 2024

This page answers some frequently asked questions about Toaq.

Getting started

Where do I start learning?

Try Toaq with Ease or the Grammar overview. The most complete resource is the refgram.

"Complementizer"? "Covert"? I don't understand the refgram at all!

Don't worry, that's okay! It was written for an audience of linguists, not language learners. Focus on the example sentences if you feel lost in the jargon. If you don't understand a concept, try searching this wiki. You can also ask questions on Discord.

How do I type the tone marks/symbols/diacritics?

See Input methods.

Speaking and writing

How many tones are there? What does each tone do?

There are four tones, but each one has various uses depending on the part of speech they are used with. Simplifying things a lot, falling tone is for particles and verbs, rising tone is for particles and (pro)nouns, glottal tone marks subordination, and hiatus tone is for adverbs. See Tone for a thorough overview.

How do you pronounce…?

Please refer to https://toaq.net/refgram/phonology/.

What's up with the letter q in this language? Pronunciation of q

q is somewhat special and its pronunciation may not be immediately obvious. It is pronounced like English ⟨ng⟩ (IPA [ŋ]). The use of the letter Q is a nod to Rex May’s Ceqli, an international auxiliary language with loglang elements; it’s also found in natural languages such as Fijian (where it represents [ᵑɡ], to be exact).

What's with the ı / i without dot / dotless i?

Writing ı without the dot distinguishes it more from an i that carries a tone mark, it also makes more room for an adjacent tone mark. Overall, it just makes things easier to read. See Latin writing system.

Grammar

Can I fill fewer slots than a verb has?

Probably! See Underfilling.

How do I skip slots? (What's the equivalent of Lojban's FA?)

Toaq intentionally doesn't have this feature. Just fill the slots with pronouns.

How does bọ work? What is the meaning / place structure of bọdo?

Semi-officially, it moves the direct object to the front, and removes the old subject. See bo-.

How do numbers work?

The official number system is that numbers are just verbs: saq means "___ are three in number", so Saq jío means "the buildings are three" and sá jıo saq means "some buildings that are three" (three buildings).

A more elaborate unofficial number system is described at User:Loekıa/Numbers.

Tools and resources

Is there a way to check whether my sentence is correct? / Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation?

You can use Kuna's web interface here.

How can I join the Discord server?

Use this invite link.

Is there a frequency list?

Yes! See frequency-list.txt in the corpus repo.

Is there a list of translated sentences?

This spreadsheet has up-to-date example sentences in the "Refgram examples" and "A sentences" sheets.




Retrieved from "https://toaq.me/index.php?title=FAQ&oldid=2057"