Serial verb: Difference between revisions

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A '''serial verb''' is created when two or more [[verb]]s are linked together. They 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.
A '''serial verb''' (or '''serial''') is created when two or more [[verb]]s are placed together. This process is called '''serialization'''.
 
== 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”.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Serial verb examples
|+ Serial verb examples
! {{t|juoq guaı}}
! {{t|deq koı}}
| should  work
| can · walk
| A modal auxiliary verb, like in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|deq koı}}
! {{t|pu koı}}
| can  walk
| 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 to · express
| Many serials correspond to “(verb) to (verb)” in English.
|-
! {{t|jaq  chuı}}
| very · early
| Other serials correspond to adverbs in English.
|-
|-
! {{t|bu  suaojıe}}
! {{t|bu  suaojıe}}
| not care.about
| not · care about
| 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 ==
When joining two verbs together into one, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]].
When joining two verbs together into one, their definitions are merged according to the [[serialization algorithm]].
All of the behaviors in the table above arise from a handful of rules:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Property slot “merge-away”
|+ Property slot: “merge-away”
|-
|-
! leo
! leo
Line 43: Line 67:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Event slot “merge-into”
|+ Event slot: “merge-into”
|-
|-
! le
! le
Line 59: Line 83:
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is probably underneath ___
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is probably underneath ___
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Transitive verb: “merge-with-[[baq]]”
|-
! cho
| ___ likes
| style=color:red | ___
|-
! rua
|
| style=color:red | ___
| is a flower
|-
! cho rua
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ likes flowers
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Adjective: “describe-head”
|-
! sao
| style=color:red | ___
| is big
|-
! paq
| ___
| is a part of ___
|-
! sao paq
| colspan=4 align=center style=color:green | ___ is a big part of ___
|}
== Long serials ==


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 (shaı guaı)))|possibly (already (have (stopped working)))}}
{{Example|le (haı (luı (ceo guaı)))|probably (already (have (started working)))}}
 
== 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 {{tone|4}}:


{{Example|Dẻq kỏı súq moq?|Can you walk?}}
{{Example|Dẻq kỏı súq moq?|Are you <u>able to walk</u>?}}
{{Example|Bủ sủaojıe jí ní da.|I don't care about that.}}
{{Example|Bủ sủaojıe jí ní da.|I <u>don't care about</u> that.}}
{{Example|Shẻo lẻo rủo hủaq cảq 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 {{tone|4}}.


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

Revision as of 23:52, 21 October 2021

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

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 verb examples
deq koı can · walk A modal auxiliary verb, like in English.
pu koı did · walk A tense auxiliary verb, like in English.
sheo fıeq regret · inventing A less familiar auxiliary verb: sheo “regret”.
leo kuaq try to · express Many serials correspond to “(verb) to (verb)” in English.
jaq chuı very · early Other serials correspond to adverbs in English.
bu suaojıe not · care about Even negation can be done with a serial verb.
taq loı self- · hate Serialization can be used to make reflexive verbs.
sao meı big · mountain An “adjectival” serial verb (adjective-noun).
joaı haq seek · food A “genitival” serial verb (verb-baq-noun).

Merging definitions

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

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

Property slot: “merge-away”
leo ___ tries to satisfy property ___
baı ___ builds ___
leo baı ___ tries to build ___
Event slot: “merge-into”
le it is probable that ___
guq ___ is underneath ___
le guq ___ is probably underneath ___
Transitive verb: “merge-with-baq”
cho ___ likes ___
rua ___ is a flower
cho rua ___ likes flowers
Adjective: “describe-head”
sao ___ is big
paq ___ is a part of ___
sao paq ___ is a big part of ___

Long serials

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

sheo (leo kuaq)
regret (trying to express)

le (haı (luı (ceo guaı)))
probably (already (have (started working)))

Usage

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

Dẻq kỏı súq moq?
Are you able to walk?

Bủ sủaojıe jí ní da.
I don't care about that.

Shẻo lẻo rủo hủaq cảq 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 lỏı
self-hater

täq lỏı
… who self-hates

jãq dẻ
very beautifully

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