Determiner: Difference between revisions

From The Toaq Wiki
(update for Delta)
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
A '''determiner''' is a particle that consumes a predicate phrase and produces a noun phrase.


For example: {{t|sa}} “some” is a determiner, {{t|bỉo}} “…is a cup” is a predicate phrase, and {{t|sa bỉo}} is a noun phrase meaning “some cup(s)”.
A '''determiner''' is a particle that consumes a [[verb form]] and produces a [[noun form]] — specifically, a [[determiner phrase]].


Semantically, these particles tend to correspond to logical '''quantifiers''' over a now-bound variable, plus an occurence of that variable. For example, the {{t|sa}} determiner corresponds to the <math>\exists</math> quantifier. The tagged predicate phrase doubles both as a ''domain'' and a ''name'' for the variable.
For example: {{t|}} “some” is a determiner, {{t|bıo}} “…is a cup” is a predicate phrase, and {{t|sá bıo}} is a noun form meaning “some cup(s).
 
In short, {{t|sa bỉo}} does three things:
# <span style="color:brown">introduces</span> an existentially bound variable {{t|bío}} to the clause;
# <span style="color:chocolate">specifies</span> that it refers to a cup (or some cups: see [[plural logic]]);
# acts in its place in the sentence as an <span style="color:teal">instance</span> of this variable.
 
<blockquote>
{{t|Hẻaq jí <u>sa bỉo</u>.}}<br>
<math>
  {\color{brown}    \underbrace{\exists \textsf{bio}:}_{1}}
\; {\color{chocolate} \underbrace{\textrm{Bio}(\textsf{bio}) \mathop\wedge}_{2}}
\; \textrm{Heaq}(\textsf{ji},
    {\color{teal}    \underbrace{\textsf{bio}}_{3}}
  )
</math><br>
I'm holding some cup(s).
</blockquote>


== Determiner particles ==
== Determiner particles ==
Line 27: Line 9:
! Word !! Meaning
! Word !! Meaning
|-
|-
| {{t|sa}} || some X
| {{done|2}} || X (bound; see below)
|-
| {{t|}} || some X
|-
|-
| {{t|tu}} || every X
| {{t|}} || every/each single X
|-
|-
| {{t|tushı}} || each X
| {{t|tútu}} || every group of X-es (see below)
|-
|-
| {{t|tuq}} || all X
| {{t|túq}} || all the Xs together
|-
|-
| {{t|sıa}} || no X
| {{t|sía}} || no X
|-
|-
| {{t|ke}} || the X
| {{t|}} || this/that X
|-
|-
| {{t|hoı}} || the aforementioned X
| {{t|}} || endophoric determiner
|-
|-
| {{t|baq}} || X in general, X-[[kind]]
| {{t|}} || exophoric determiner
|-
|-
| {{t|}} || which X?
| {{t|báq}} || X in general, X-[[kind]]
|-
|-
| {{t|ja}} || λX
| {{t|}} || λX, see [[Property]]
|-
| {{t|hí}} || which X?
|}
|}


Additionally, {{tone|2}} can be analyzed as a tonal pseudo-determiner that refers to bound variables, or falls back to "implicitly-bound" {{t|ke X}} if there is no earlier binding.
== Semantics ==
Formally, grammatical determiners tend to correspond to logical '''quantifiers''' over a now-bound variable, plus an occurrence of that variable. For example, the {{t|sa}} determiner corresponds to the <math>\exists</math> quantifier. The tagged predicate phrase doubles both as a ''domain'' and a ''name'' for the variable.
 
In short, {{t|sá bıo}} does three things:
# <span style="color:brown">introduces</span> an existentially bound variable {{t|bío}} to the clause;
# <span style="color:chocolate">specifies</span> that it refers to a cup (or some cups: see [[plural logic]]);
# acts in its place in the sentence as an <span style="color:teal">instance</span> of this variable.
 
<blockquote>
{{t|Heaq jí <u>sá bıo</u>.}}<br>
<math>
  {\color{brown}    \underbrace{\exists \textsf{bio}:}_{1}}
\; {\color{chocolate} \underbrace{\textrm{Cup}(\textsf{bio}) \mathop\wedge}_{2}}
\; \textrm{Heaq}(\textsf{ji},
    {\color{teal}    \underbrace{\textsf{bio}}_{3}}
  )
</math><br>
I'm holding some cup(s).
</blockquote>


=== Every, each, all ===
=== Every, each, all ===
{{t|tu bỉo}} quantifies over the range of "cups-es". The possible values of {{t|bío}} include not only individual cups, but also groups of cups. A group of cups is also a {{t|bỉo}}, after all.
{{t|tú bıo}} quantifies over single cups, i.e. each individual cup. This is often what we want to say, despite not being the "purest" form of for-all quantification in [[plural logic]]; after all, ''groups'' of several cups are also {{t|bio}}. The expression {{t|tútu bıo}} quantifies over the range of "cups-es": the possible values of {{t|bío}} then include not only individual cups, but also groups of cups.
 
This can lead to surprising behavior (TODO example), and you want to say {{t|tushı}} instead.


{{t|tushı bỉo}} quantifies over "cups-es that are one", i.e. '''each''' individual cup. It's like {{t|tu bỉo ru shỉ}}.
You can read {{t|tútu bıo nä …}} as: "for all ''xx'', if ''xx'' are some cups…"


{{t|tuq bỉo}} doesn't make a "for-all" statement. Instead it refers to the single entity "all cups (together)".
{{t|túq bıo}} doesn't make a "for-all" statement. Instead it refers to the single entity "all cups (together)".

Latest revision as of 22:41, 5 February 2024

A determiner is a particle that consumes a verb form and produces a noun form — specifically, a determiner phrase.

For example: “some” is a determiner, bıo “…is a cup” is a predicate phrase, and sá bıo is a noun form meaning “some cup(s).”

Determiner particles

Word Meaning
rising tone X (bound; see below)
some X
every/each single X
tútu every group of X-es (see below)
túq all the Xs together
sía no X
this/that X
endophoric determiner
exophoric determiner
báq X in general, X-kind
λX, see Property
which X?

Semantics

Formally, grammatical determiners tend to correspond to logical quantifiers over a now-bound variable, plus an occurrence of that variable. For example, the sa determiner corresponds to the quantifier. The tagged predicate phrase doubles both as a domain and a name for the variable.

In short, sá bıo does three things:

  1. introduces an existentially bound variable bío to the clause;
  2. specifies that it refers to a cup (or some cups: see plural logic);
  3. acts in its place in the sentence as an instance of this variable.

Heaq jí sá bıo.

I'm holding some cup(s).

Every, each, all

tú bıo quantifies over single cups, i.e. each individual cup. This is often what we want to say, despite not being the "purest" form of for-all quantification in plural logic; after all, groups of several cups are also bıo. The expression tútu bıo quantifies over the range of "cups-es": the possible values of bío then include not only individual cups, but also groups of cups.

You can read tútu bıo nä … as: "for all xx, if xx are some cups…"

túq bıo doesn't make a "for-all" statement. Instead it refers to the single entity "all cups (together)".