Main verb tone: Difference between revisions
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The '''main verb tone''' or '''F-tone''' | {{Hatnote|This page was written for [[Toaq Gamma]]. It describes a feature that did not end up being included in the latest version of Toaq, [[Toaq Delta]].}} | ||
The '''main verb tone''' or '''F-tone''' was a hypothetical new tone that would mark the main verb of a clause or sentence. | |||
This would make {{tone|4}} purely a "post-determiner and serial-verb-making tone." | This would make {{tone|4}} purely a "post-determiner and serial-verb-making tone." | ||
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* Main verbs get {{tone|6}}, with {{tone|3old}} as an optional allotone. | * Main verbs get {{tone|6}}, with {{tone|3old}} as an optional allotone. | ||
* Content clauses get {{tone|7}} or {{tone|3}} (they can merge to a single creaky tone). | * Content clauses get {{tone|7}} or {{tone|3}} (they can merge to a single creaky tone). | ||
== Eventual fate == | |||
In December 2022, [[Toaq Delta]] was released, which reduced the number of tones even further, but did not include a main verb tone. | |||
* Gamma {{t|la}} has been replaced by {{t|ꝡa}}. Officially, {{t|da}} and {{t|ꝡa}} "fences" between sentences are still mandatory today. | |||
* Gamma {{t|na}} has been removed. We now have tone marking on [[connective]]s. | |||
* The frequency of the falling tone is addressed by [[tone sandhi]] and some other tonal reshuffling. | |||
* What was analyzed as "FP" (focus phrase) in Gamma is now analyzed as "𝑣P" ([[little v]] phrase). | |||
Latest revision as of 21:29, 7 August 2023
The main verb tone or F-tone was a hypothetical new tone that would mark the main verb of a clause or sentence.
This would make 
purely a "post-determiner and serial-verb-making tone."
It is marked in this article with an "m above" diacritic. For example: Jaͫq chỏ jí ní sỉo da.
Introducing such a tone would have a few benefits:
- No more mandatory da or la fences between sentences, as this tone itself marks (the verb of) a new sentence. Dỉo da, nủaq da can just be Dıͫo, nuͫaq.
- It allows for coordinating clauses without a need for na, for example: gî ní na ru jỏe súq → gî ní ru joͫe súq.
- The falling tone becomes less common.
- It works nicely in the syntax: this tone is the "F" head of an "FP" (hence its second name).
The cost, of course, is "one more tone". It would be balanced out by merging adverbial tones (see Full Arguments).
Proposed reallocation
In August 2022 Hoemaı proposed a reallocation of the tones that includes a main verb tone.
https://discord.com/channels/311223912044167168/311223912044167168/1010869237331546162
In summary:
- Adverbials get
. - Variables get
(as before). - Serial tails get (as before).
- Relative clauses get
. - Main verbs get
, with 
as an optional allotone. - Content clauses get
or 
(they can merge to a single creaky tone).
Eventual fate
In December 2022, Toaq Delta was released, which reduced the number of tones even further, but did not include a main verb tone.
- Gamma la has been replaced by ꝡa. Officially, da and ꝡa "fences" between sentences are still mandatory today.
- Gamma na has been removed. We now have tone marking on connectives.
- The frequency of the falling tone is addressed by tone sandhi and some other tonal reshuffling.
- What was analyzed as "FP" (focus phrase) in Gamma is now analyzed as "𝑣P" (little v phrase).