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Subclause Reform: Difference between revisions
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(Explain why the word order of content clauses is the way it is) |
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In official Toaq, [[Content clause|content clauses]] have the exact same grammar as the main clause of a sentence, and can appear wherever a [[determiner phrase]] might appear. But this grammar actually turns out to be ambiguous! Consider the following sentence: | In official Toaq, [[Content clause|content clauses]] have the exact same grammar as the main clause of a sentence, and can appear wherever a [[determiner phrase]] might appear. But this grammar actually turns out to be ambiguous! Consider the following sentence: | ||
{{Example|Feq jí ꝡä za ruqshua râo ní nuaq.}} | {{Example|Feq jí ꝡä za ruqshua râo ní nuaq.}} | ||
Which verb does the adjunct {{T|râo ní nuaq}} modify? It's not clear where the subclause ends. This example could mean either "I remember that tonight, it's going to rain" or "Tonight, I remember that it's going to rain" | Which verb does the adjunct {{T|râo ní nuaq}} modify? It's not clear where the subclause ends. This example could mean either "I remember that tonight, it's going to rain" or "Tonight, I remember that it's going to rain". | ||
Another tricky thing is that in official Toaq, you can underfill verbs, for example by using a transitive verb intransitively: | Another tricky thing is that in official Toaq, you can underfill verbs, for example by using a transitive verb intransitively: | ||
{{Example|Leo nháo da.}} | {{Example|Leo nháo da.}} | ||
Now how would we say "It delights me that they tried"? If we allow verbs in subclauses to be underfilled, this also creates ambiguity | Now how would we say "It delights me that they tried"? If we allow verbs in subclauses to be underfilled, this also creates ambiguity: | ||
{{Example|Jaıca ꝡä leo nháo jí.}} | {{Example|Jaıca ꝡä leo nháo jí.}} | ||
Again, it's not clear where the subclause ends, because {{T|jí}} could belong to either the inner or outer clause, depending on which verb is underfilled. Clearly, we need a better solution. | Again, it's not clear where the subclause ends, because {{T|jí}} could belong to either the inner or outer clause, depending on which verb is underfilled. Clearly, we need a better solution. | ||