FAQ: Difference between revisions

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: <b style=color:red>Note:</b> Some of the information presented on this page may be inaccurate or out of date. We recommend following the links to other articles on this wiki for up-to-date content.
__NOEDITSECTION__
This page answers some '''frequently asked questions''' about Toaq.


=== The grammar seems very simple. Am I overlooking something? ===
== Getting started ==
✅ 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.
=== Where do I start learning? ===
Try [[Toaq with Ease]] or the [[Grammar overview]]. The most complete resource is the [[refgram]].


=== How many tones are there? ===
=== "Complementizer"? "Covert"? I don't understand the refgram at all! ===
✅ 6 full tones and 1 neutral tone.
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]].


=== What does tone X do? ===
=== How do I type the tone marks/symbols/diacritics? ===
✅ See the following table:
See [[Input methods]].
{| class=wikitable
 
! #  !! Name                !! Mark      !! Creates/Used with
=== What's the word for... ===
|-
You can look it up on [[Toadua]], the community dictionary.
| 2️⃣ || Rising tone         || {{tone|2}} || argument phrase
 
|-
== Speaking and writing ==
| 3️⃣ || Rising glottal tone  || {{tone|3}} || relative clause
=== 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}}-->
| 4️⃣ || Falling tone         || {{tone|4}} || predicate phrase
 
|-
=== How do you pronounce…? ===
| 5️⃣ || Rising-falling tone  || {{tone|5}} || content clause
Please refer to https://toaq.net/refgram/phonology/.
|-
 
| 6️⃣ || Low tone            || {{tone|6}} || preposition
=== 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).
| 7️⃣ || Low glottal tone    || {{tone|7}} || adverbial phrase
 
|-
=== What's with the ı / i without dot / dotless i? ===
| 8️⃣ || Neutral tone        || {{tone|8}} || particle
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]].
|}
 
; See article: [[Tone]]
== 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>?) ===
While not an exact equivalent of Lojban’s <code>FA</code>, if you need to access the last slot of a verb, you can use [[Object incorporation]]. Alternatively, 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).
 
A more elaborate unofficial number system is described at [[User:Loekıa/Numbers]].
 
=== How do I refer back to {{t|sá}} without a following verb? Does it bind {{t|ráı}}? ===
No, you have to use {{t|hụ́sa}}.
 
<!--
 
=== What's the difference between an indirect question and a {{t|ꝡé}} phrase? ===
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 do you pronounce X? ===
=== How can I join the [[Discord]] server? ===
✅ Please refer to this tool: http://toaq.org/letters/
Use [https://discord.gg/qDqDsH9 this invite link].


=== Is there a way to check whether my sentence is correct? ===
=== Is there a frequency list? ===
✅ Yes, using one of the online parsers:
Yes! See [https://github.com/toaq/corpus/blob/main/frequency-list.txt frequency-list.txt] in the [https://github.com/toaq/corpus/ corpus] repo.
: http://toaq.org/parser/  
: http://toaq.herokuapp.com/
If you're on [[Discord]] or Telegram, you can also use the <code>%miu</code> command to talk to the parser [[Nuogaı|bot]].


=== How do I type the tone marks/symbols/diacritics? ===
=== Is there a list of translated sentences? ===
✅ Please see http://www.toaq.org/#autohotkey and https://github.com/acotis/autokey-toaq-tones
[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. <!--  
; See article: [[Input methods]]


=== 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"? ===
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=== 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? ===
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| nho || zı
| nho || zı
|-
|-
| jẽo || bũ
| Nu da. || Bu nu da.
|-
|-
| Jẻo hóq da. || Bủ hóq 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 {{t|ä}} and {{t|ã}} tones? ===
=== 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}}? ===
=== What's the difference between {{t|ceo}} and {{t|sho}}? ===
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{{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.
{{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.
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: {{t|tıqshoaı}}
#; 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 {{t|arane}}, 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? ===
; See article: [[Discord]]
✅ 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? ===
Go to https://toaq.net/zugai/ and select logic. Note that Zugaı is still in development, so some things may not work as expected.
✅ 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? ===
; See article: [[Zugaı]]
✅ Please refer to this table:
{|
! Structure !! Terminator
|-
| mı        || {{t|ga}}
|-
| po        || {{t|ga}}
|-
| mo        || {{t|teo}}
|-
| kıo      || {{t|kı}}
|-
| lu        || {{t|ky}}
|-
| prenex    || {{t|bı}}
|-
| statement || {{t|cy}}
|}
; See article: [[Terminator]]
 
=== Is there an automatic interpreter of Toaq? Is there a translator from Toaq to logic notation? ===
✅ Indeed there is!
Go to http://toaq.herokuapp.com/, hit the blue button, then select LOGIC.
; See article: [[Mıu]]


=== 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 {{t|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 {{t|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, {{t|Juqguo}} ("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".
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:    {{t|Juqguogua}}, "China".
:    {{t|Juqguogua}}, "China".
:    {{t|Faraqsegua}}, "France".
:    {{t|Faraqsegua}}, "France".
To refer to a language, add toaq ("language").
To refer to a language, add zu ("language").
:    {{t|Faraqsezu}}, "the French language".
:    {{t|Faraqsezu}}, "the French language".
:    {{t|Juqguozu}} is ambiguous between the many languages of China, "a Chinese language".
:    {{t|Juqguozu}} is ambiguous between the many languages of China, "a Chinese language".
Line 202: Line 215:
| 90 || = || {{t|neıheı    }}
| 90 || = || {{t|neıheı    }}
|-
|-
| 21 || = || {{t|guheıshı }}
| 21 || = || {{t|guheı shı }}
|-
|-
| 34 || = || {{t|saqheıjo }}
| 34 || = || {{t|saqheı jo }}
|-
|-
| 83 || = || {{t|roaıheısaq}}
| 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? ===
; See article: [[Latin writing system]]
✅ 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 ({{tone|5}} 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."
: {{t|Rủaq hó bû tỉ hó chíejıo}} "She says [that] she isn't at school."
: {{t|Dủatua hó jí tî hó hı rảı}} "He told me where he is."
: {{t|Dủasue hó jí bûa jí hı rảı}} "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:
{|
| {{t|ḿ}} || > || huh?, wonder, surprise
|-
| {{t|m̉}} || > || roger, gotcha, ok
|-
| {{t|m̂}} || > || aha!, discovery
|-
| {{t|m̀}} || > || slight disappointment
|-
| {{t|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 253: Line 244:
=== 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
| {{t|jı   }} || ''"to be me",                          '' || {{t|jí }} || ''"I"  ''      
| me          || colspan=4 |                || = || {{t|jí}}   || ''I, me''
|-
| colspan=2 | || you        || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|súq}} || ''you''
|-
| colspan=2 | || you        || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|súna}} || ''you'' (plural)
|-
|-
| {{t|suq  }} || ''"to be you",                        '' || {{t|súq}} || ''"you" ''      
| colspan=4 |                || they        || = || {{t|nháo}} || ''they/them, he/him, she/her''
|-
|-
| {{t|nhao }} || ''"to be him/her/them",                '' || {{t|hó }} || ''"they"''      
| colspan="4" |
|they
|=
|{{T|nhána}}
|''they/them'' (plural)
|-
|-
| {{t|muy  }} || ''"to be us (you + me)",              '' || {{t|múy}} || ''"we"  ''      
| colspan="2" | || you         || + || they  || = || {{t|súo}} || ''you all''
|-
|-
| {{t|mıy  }} || ''"to be us (him/her/them + me)",      '' || {{t|míy}} || ''"we"  ''      
| me          || + || you    || colspan=2 | || = || {{t|úmı}} || ''we, us''
|-
|-
| {{t|may  }} || ''"to be us (you + me + him/her/them)",'' || {{t|máy}} || ''"we"  ''      
| me          || colspan=2 | || + || they  || = || {{t|íme}} || ''we, us''
|-
|-
| {{t|suo  }} || ''"to be you (you + him/her/them)",    '' || {{t|súo}} || ''"you" ''      
| me          || + || you   || + || they  || = || {{t|áma}} || ''we, us''
|}
|}
{{t|súq}} and {{t|nháo}} can be singular or plural. When necessary, plurality can be expressed by using {{t|puq}} (e.g. {{t|púq nhảo}} "they").
; See article: [[Pronoun]]
; 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 {{t|shı}} ("one") as the head of a serial predicate.
* To specify a singular, use {{t|nẹshı}} ("one") as an adjective.
:: Example: {{t|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: {{t|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: [[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 {{tone|4}} and {{tone|8}}. Both 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 a contentive (predicate word / root word), it carries the {{tone|4}} tone.
* If the syllable is a particle, it carries the {{tone|8}} tone.
Examples:
: {{t|Kaı jí da}} → {{t|Kảı jí da}} ("I write")
: {{t|Kaqgaı súq hı ráı moq}} → {{t|Kảqgaı súq hı ráı moq}} ("What do you see?")
: {{t|De ní rua}} → {{t|Dẻ ní rủa}} ("This flower is beautiful")
This style of writing remains fully unambiguous. It can be seen as a less formal way of writing, useful if one is lazy or if one doesn't have easy access to {{tone|4}} 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 {{t|da, ba, ka and moq}} have the same grammar, and their class is named {{class|da}}. We say, for instance, that "{{t|moq}} is in {{class|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.
 
; See article: [[Particle]]
 
These are the classes and their members:
{|
| {{class|da}}  || {{t|da}}, {{t|ba}}, {{t|ka}}, {{t|moq}}, {{t|nha}}, {{t|go}}
|-
| {{class|sa}}  || {{t|sa}}, {{t|sıa}}, {{t|tu}}, {{t|tushı}}, {{t|ja}}, {{t|ke}}, {{t|hı}}, {{t|co}}, {{t|baq}}, {{t|tuq}}, {{t|hoı}}
|-
| {{class|ru}}  || {{t|ru}}, {{t|ra}}, {{t|ro}}, {{t|rı}}, {{t|roı}}
|-
| {{class|to}}  || {{t|to}}
|-
| {{class|la}}  || {{t|la}}, {{t|ma}}, {{t|tıo}}
|-
| {{class|je}}  || {{t|je}}, {{t|keo}}, {{t|tıu}}, {{t|nhu}}
|-
| {{class|bı}}  || {{t|bı}}
|-
| {{class|po}}  || {{t|po}}, {{t|jeı}}, {{t|mea}}
|-
| {{class|ju}}  || {{t|ju}}, {{t|la}}
|-
| {{class|ku}}  || {{t|ku}}, {{t|beı}}, {{t|mao}}, {{t|tou}}, {{t|juaq}}
|-
| {{class|hu}}  || {{t|hu}}, {{t|jıy}}
|-
| {{class|kıo}} || ({{t|kıo}}
|-
| {{class|kı}}  || {{t|kı}}
|-
| {{class|mı}}  || {{t|mı}}, {{t|mıru}}
|-
| {{class|mo}}  || {{t|mo}}
|-
| {{class|teo}} || {{t|teo}}
|-
| {{class|shu}} || {{t|shu}}
|-
| {{class|na}}  || {{t|na}}
|-
| {{class|ga}}  || {{t|ga}}
|-
| {{class|cy}}  || {{t|cy}}
|-
| {{class|ky}}  || {{t|ky}}
|}
 
=== 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 {{t|k, g, l, m, n, r, f, h, s, sh}}, and at the end of a breath group.
: Before {{t|t, d, c, ch, j}}, it is pronounced [n].
: Before {{t|p, b}}, it is pronounced [m].
: Examples:
: {{t|kaqgaı}} → [kʰaŋ.gaɪ] ("to see")
: {{t|jaq de}} → [d͡ʑan.dɛ:] ("to be very beautiful")
: {{t|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:
Line 402: Line 325:
| December  || {{t|heıgujue}}  
| December  || {{t|heıgujue}}  
|}
|}
-->


=== What's the difference between an indirect question and a "lú" phrase? ===
<!--
✅ 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|Dủa jí chî súq hı rảı}} – I know what you believe
# {{t|Dủa jí lú chỉ 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 [God exists], because I know that which you believe.
 
=== 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 />
-->

Latest revision as of 23:35, 25 September 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.

What's the word for...

You can look it up on Toadua, the community dictionary.

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?)

While not an exact equivalent of Lojban’s FA, if you need to access the last slot of a verb, you can use Object incorporation. Alternatively, 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.

How do I refer back to sá without a following verb? Does it bind ráı?

No, you have to use hụ́sa.


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.




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