Legend: Definitions, Terms, <Text>, [IPA], -Tags-, and "Glosses".
The possible elements of a scalar construction are the scale of comparison, the direction of comparison, the subject of comparison, the standard of comparison, the degree of comparison, the precision of comparison, and the comparison function.
The scale of comparison is the quality according to which the comparison is made; it's represented by the scalar verb. The direction of comparison is either positive, negative, neutral, or absolute. Each scalar verb is inherently positive or negative (scalar verbs tend to come in pairs of opposites, e.g. farga "heavy" and tiuga "light"). The suffix -sa (-NA) derives a form used for both neutral and absolute directions. It's most often applied to the positive scalar root, e.g. fargaton "possessing weight".
The subject of comparison is the entity being compared and the standard of comparison is the entity that the subject (of comparison) is compared to. The subject is represented by a noun phrase, a pronoun, or a verb prefix. How the standard is represented depends on the specific construction. Some functions use a noun phrase or pronoun in the locative case.
The degree of comparison is an optional amount and may be represented by a degree adverb or a phrase specifying a quantity along with the appropriate unit noun. Note that what is traditionally called the degree is handled by the comparison function here. The degree adverbs include hankemo "to a normal degree", tashimo "to the same degree", sassamo "to the maximum extent", dokkamo "to a sufficient degree", "enough", and chammo "to what degree?", "how?".
The precision of comparison modifies the degree and is either tight, medium, or loose. Tight and loose precision are represented by the preceding adverbs jissai (TP) and gansai (LP), respectively, while medium precision is null. The translation of these adverbs depend on the function.
Except for the superlative of selection, which is phrasal, all of these are clausal (sometimes with non-comparison elements). The positive and the normative may also appear as participles.
The positive uses the positive or negative verb and an implicit standard signifying a norm appropriate to the subject of comparison. The degree doesn't appear, but precision is possible with TP translatable as "slightly" and LP translatable as "very".
The normative is like the relative positive but uses the neutral-absolute verb with the adverb hankemo signifying a neutral or "normal" quality. Precision is possible with TP translatable as "precisely" and LP translatable as "roughly".
The absolute uses the neutral-absolute verb to name the scale. The degree is required, specifying an absolute value. There is no standard. Precision is possible with TP translatable as "precisely" and LP translatable as "roughly".
The superlative of capacity (traditionally called absolute superlative) uses the positive or negative verb with the adverb sassamo signifying an extreme degree. There is no standard and precision doesn't appear.
The interrogative uses the neutral-absolute verb with the adverb chammo. There is no standard and precision doesn't appear.
The satisfactive involves the positive or negative verb with the adverb dokkamo signifying sufficiency for some event specified elsewhere. Precision is possible with TP translatable as "just" and LP translatable as "by a large margin".
The explicit equative uses the neutral-absolute verb with the adverb tashimo signifying that the subject of comparison is the same in quality as the standard, which appears in the locative case. Precision is possible with TP translatable as "precisely" and LP translatable as "roughly".
The implicit equative uses the neutral-absolute verb with the adverb tashimo signifying that the subject of comparison is the same in quality as the standard, which is the subject of comparison at an earlier time. Precision is possible with TP translatable as "precisely" and LP translatable as "roughly".
The explicit comparative involves the positive or negative verb. The comparative function is indicated by the presence of an explicit standard in the locative case. If the degree appears, it represents the amount by which the subject of comparison exceeds the standard (if positive) or is exceeded by it (if negative). Precision is possible with TP translatable as "precisely" and LP translatable as "roughly".
The implicit comparative uses the positive or negative verb in the infinitive form, which is followed by the verb shen "increase". The implicit standard is the subject of comparison at an earlier time. If the degree appears, it represents the amount by which the subject of comparison exceeds the standard (if positive) or is exceeded by it (if negative). Precision is possible with TP translatable as "precisely" and LP translatable as "roughly".
The superlative of selection uses the positive or negative verb in the perfect participle form followed by the nominalizer ? and preceded by a genitive phrase.
The following table summarizes the syntax of the clausal functions.
| Name | Standard | Notes | Degree | Direction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute | - | required | -sa | ||
| Positive | - | optional? | pos/neg | ||
| Comparative | Explicit | required | optional | pos/neg | |
| Implicit | - | shen | |||
| Superlative of Capacity | - | no precision | sassamo | pos/neg | |
| Satisfactive | - | dokkamo | pos/neg | ||
| Interrogative | - | chammo | any | ||
| Normative | - | hankemo | any | ||
| Equative | Explicit | required | tashimo | any | |
| Implicit | - | ||||
page started: 2016.Jun.18 Sat
current date: 2016.Jun.26 Sun
content and form originated by qiihoskeh
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