Dec04 –  A Constructed Language

Dec04 Usage

Legend: Definitions, Terms, <Text>, [IPA], -Tags-, and "Glosses".

Quantity and Number

The interpretation of quantity and number depends on the type of word. For a scalar verb quantity specifies degree while for any other verb it specifies quantity of action or approximate pluractionality. For a noun, quantity, approximate number, or exact number is specified. A verb may instead be negated (indicating an absence of the action or quality) while a noun may be non-referential (i.e. no specific referent(s)). The satisfactive applies to both verbs and nouns and indicates sufficiency for some result.

For count nouns:

  1. Singular number by itself is exactly 1.
  2. Plural number indicates plurality, neither particularly small or large.
  3. A small quantity indicates a plurality of less than normal size.
  4. A large quantity indicates a plurality of more than normal size.

For mass nouns:

  1. Singular number indicates a normal-sized amount.
  2. A small quantity indicates an amount of less than normal size.
  3. A large quantity indicates an amount of more than normal size.

For action verbs:

  1. Lack of quantity marking specifies exactly 1 occurrence.
  2. A normal quantity indicates pluractionality, neither particularly small or large.
  3. A small quantity indicates either a pluractionality of less than normal size or a small overall amount of action.
  4. A large quantity indicates either a pluractionality of more than normal size or a large overall amount of action.

For scalar verbs:

  1. If quantity isn't marked, the positive degree is indicated.
  2. A normal quantity indicates a normative degree.

However, in the context of a comparison (all word types):

  1. A normal quantity or plural number is equative.
  2. A large quantity is comparative.
  3. A small quantity is reverse-comparative.

Tense and Action Type

The past, present, and future tenses are basically relative to some temporal point of reference. When this is the moment of utterence, such as in a final clause, the tense is effectively absolute.

Event verbs are interpreted as being progressive at the moment of utterence and usually as aoristic elsewhere. Process verbs are typically progressive, but can be aoristic when the tense isn't absolute. State verbs are stative (or perfect if a prior change of state is implied by the presence of an agent or instrument).

Evidentials

The evidentials include the evidentially indirect epistemic modals.

page started: 2017.Dec.09 Sat
current date: 2017.Dec.12 Tue
content and form originated by qiihoskeh

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