Serial verb: Difference between revisions

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A '''serial verb''' (or '''serial''') is created when two or more [[verb]]s are placed together. This process is called '''serialization'''.
A '''serial verb''' (or '''serial''') (Toaq: {{t|jeotoachue}}) is created when two or more [[verb]]s are placed together. This process is called '''serialization'''.


== Examples ==
== Examples ==
Serial verbs are a very powerful construct in Toaq grammar: any verb with a “satisfies property…” or “is the case” slot can essentially act as an auxiliary verb to another. With other verbs, the result is like “adjective-noun”, or “verb-[[baq]]-object”.
Serial verbs are a powerful construct in Toaq grammar.


Any verb with an “event/proposition”, “property”, or “relation” slot at the end can essentially act as an auxiliary verb. See [[Frame]] for how to recognize these slots.
Here is a list of examples to demonstrate the sort of thing serial verbs let you express in Toaq.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Serial verb examples
|+ Serial verb examples
! {{t|deq  koı}}
! {{t|deq  koı}}
| can · walk
| can walk
| A modal auxiliary verb, like in English.
|-
! {{t|pu  koı}}
| did · walk
| A tense auxiliary verb, like in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|sheo  fıeq}}
! {{t|sheo  fıeq}}
| regret · inventing
| regret inventing
| A less familiar auxiliary verb: {{t|sheo}} “regret”.
|-
|-
! {{t|leo  kuaq}}
! {{t|leo  kuaq}}
| try to · express
| try expressing
| Many serials correspond to “(verb) to (verb)” in English.
|-
! {{t|guaı kaı}}
| work on writing
|-
! {{t|tua cuaı}}
| make wet
|-
|-
! {{t|jaq  chuı}}
! {{t|jaq  chuı}}
| very · early
| very early
| Other serials correspond to adverbs in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|bu  suaojıe}}
! {{t|joe suaq}}
| not · care about
| be skilled at singing
| Even negation can be done with a serial verb.
|-
|-
! {{t|taq  loı}}
! {{t|taq  loı}}
| self- · hate
| self- hate
| Serialization can be used to make reflexive verbs.
|-
! {{t|sao  meı}}
| big · mountain
| An “adjectival” serial verb (adjective-noun).
|-
! {{t|joaı  haq}}
| seek · food
| A “genitival” serial verb (verb-[[baq]]-noun).
|}
|}


== Merging definitions ==
== Merging definitions ==
When joining two verbs together into one, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]].
When joining two verbs together into a serial, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]].
 
Verbs that are treated the same in this algorithm are said to belong to the same “[[frame#Serial frames|serial frame]]”.


All of the behaviors in the table above arise from a handful of rules:
All of the behaviors in the table above arise from a handful of rules:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Property slot: “merge-away”
|+ Event/proposition slot: “merge-into”
|-
! chı
| ___ believes that
| style=color:red | ___
| is the case
|-
! zudeq
|
| ___
| speaks language
| ___ 
|-
! chı zudeq
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ believes that ___ speaks language ___.
|}
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Property slot: “merge-away one”
|-
|-
! leo
! leo
Line 67: Line 79:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Event slot: “merge-into”
|+ Relation (binary property) slot: “merge-away two”
|-
! noa
| ___ is difficult to be in relation
| style=color:red | ___
| with
|-
|-
! le
! lım
| it is probable that
| ___
|  
|  
|-
| style=color:red | ___ understands ___
! guq
|  
|  
| ___
| is underneath
| ___ 
|-
|-
! le guq
! noa lım
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is probably underneath ___
| colspan=3 align=center style=color:green | ___ is difficult to understand.
|}
|}


<!--
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Transitive verb: “merge-with-[[baq]]”
|+ Transitive verb: “merge-with-[[baq]]”
Line 101: Line 113:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective: “describe-head”
|+ Adjective: “describe”
|-
|-
! sao
! sao
Line 114: Line 126:
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is a big part of ___
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is a big part of ___
|}
|}
-->


== Long serials ==
== Long serials ==
Line 119: Line 132:
For more than two verbs, this merging process is right-grouping:
For more than two verbs, this merging process is right-grouping:
{{Example|sheo (leo kuaq)|regret (trying to express)}}
{{Example|sheo (leo kuaq)|regret (trying to express)}}
{{Example|le (haı (luı (ceo guaı)))|probably (already (have (started working)))}}
{{Example|le (taoshao (ceo guaı))|probably (intend to (start working))}}


== Usage ==
== Usage ==


The result can be used as a verb by saying each word in {{tone|4}}:
The result can be used as a verb by saying each word in {{Done|1}}:


{{Example|Dẻq kỏı súq moq?|Are you <u>able to walk</u>?}}
{{Example|Ma <u>deq koı</u> súq?|Are you <u>able to walk</u>?}}
{{Example|Bủ sủaojıe jí ní da.|I <u>don't care about</u> that.}}
{{Example|<u>Bujuı suaomıu</u> jí ní da.|I <u>barely care about</u> that.}}
{{Example|Shẻo lẻo rủo hủaq cảq jí nháo da.|I <u>regret trying to act more strong than</u> them.}}
{{Example|<u>Sheo leo ruo huaq caq</u> jí nháo da.|I <u>regret trying to act more strong than</u> them.}}


Only the first word is conjugated for tone, and everything else stays in {{tone|4}}.
Only the first word is conjugated for tone, and everything else stays in {{Done|1}}.


{{Example|táq lỏı|self-hater}}
{{Example|táq loı|the self-hater}}
{{Example|täq lỏı|… who self-hates}}
{{Example|jâq de|very beautifully}}
{{Example|jãq dẻ|very beautifully}}

Latest revision as of 11:45, 27 August 2024

A serial verb (or serial) (Toaq: jeotoachue) is created when two or more verbs are placed together. This process is called serialization.

Examples

Serial verbs are a powerful construct in Toaq grammar.

Any verb with an “event/proposition”, “property”, or “relation” slot at the end can essentially act as an auxiliary verb. See Frame for how to recognize these slots.

Here is a list of examples to demonstrate the sort of thing serial verbs let you express in Toaq.

Serial verb examples
deq koı can walk
sheo fıeq regret inventing
leo kuaq try expressing
guaı kaı work on writing
tua cuaı make wet
jaq chuı very early
joe suaq be skilled at singing
taq loı self- hate

Merging definitions

When joining two verbs together into a serial, their definitions are merged according to the serialization algorithm.

Verbs that are treated the same in this algorithm are said to belong to the same “serial frame”.

All of the behaviors in the table above arise from a handful of rules:

Event/proposition slot: “merge-into”
chı ___ believes that ___ is the case
zudeq ___ speaks language ___
chı zudeq ___ believes that ___ speaks language ___.


Property slot: “merge-away one”
leo ___ tries to satisfy property ___
baı ___ builds ___
leo baı ___ tries to build ___
Relation (binary property) slot: “merge-away two”
noa ___ is difficult to be in relation ___ with
lım ___ understands ___
noa lım ___ is difficult to understand.


Long serials

For more than two verbs, this merging process is right-grouping:

sheo (leo kuaq)
regret (trying to express)

le (taoshao (ceo guaı))
probably (intend to (start working))

Usage

The result can be used as a verb by saying each word in falling tone:

Ma deq koı súq?
Are you able to walk?

Bujuı suaomıu jí ní da.
I barely care about that.

Sheo leo ruo huaq caq jí nháo da.
I regret trying to act more strong than them.

Only the first word is conjugated for tone, and everything else stays in falling tone.

táq loı
the self-hater

jâq de
very beautifully

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