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A scalar is a verb or quantity word that denotes a scale of comparison and a direction of comparison. The direction of comparison has 3 possibilities; these are labeled positive, negative, and normative, so there are usually 3 verb stems for each scale of comparison. The term normative refers to a range of neutral values, while positive refers to greater values and negative refers to lesser values. Note then that scalar (arithmetic) positives and negatives are not the same as polar (logical) positive and negative.
Some scalars have only positive stems.
The subject of comparison refers to the entity being compared with respect to the scale of comparison and the standard of comparison refers to what it's compared to. The various scalar functions differ mainly in how the standard of comparison manifests.
The term tolerance refers to how wide or narrow the normative range is. Numerous adverbs are used in translating tolerance into English.
The scalar difference represents the absolute value of the difference between the value of the subject of comparison and that of the standard of comparison, expressed using some unit of measurement appropriate to the scale of comparison.
| Word | Tag | Name | Description or Glosses | Slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self | Self | "self" | Noun | |
| Cmp | Comparative | Verb | ||
| Pst | Relative Past | "former" | ||
| Fut | Relative Future | "future" | ||
| Nar | Narrow or Tight | "slightly", "precisely", "by a little" | Tolerance | |
| Wid | Wide or Loose | "very", "roughly", "by a lot" | ||
| Max | Maximal-minimal | "as X as possible" | ||
| Sat | Satisfactive | "X enough", "so X" | Modifier | |
| Exc | Excessive | "too X" | ||
| SQ | Interrogative | "how X?" | ||
| Abs | Absolute Value | |||
| Rst | Result | Conjunction |
Tolerance is provided by a particle following the polarity particle, if any, and preceding any other scalar modifier.
When the scalar verb is normative, narrow tolerance may be translated as "precisely" and wide tolerance as "roughly". When modifying a superlative, narrow tolerance may be translated as "by a little" and wide tolerance as "by a lot". Tolerance is medium if unmarked and no scalar difference is specified.
For the maximal kind, the Max verb appears before a positive scalar verb, while for the minimal kind, it appears before a negative scalar verb. These are both translated as "as X as possible", where X is the scalar root's translation. Note that these are treated as marked tolerance.
A scalar difference phrase consists of a measurement unit noun followed by a quantity specifier. Note that some scalars have no possible measurement units. The phrase appears immediately after the scalar. Scalar difference clauses preclude tolerance.
A manner adverbial specifies the manner in which an action is performed. It consists of a scalar verb (not all scalar verbs are useful here) as a univalent auxiliary preceding the action verb.
For a normal (or relative) scalar, the standard of comparison is always some implicit norm whose value is appropriate to the subject of comparison. A normative stem indicates that the scalar value is more or less the same as the norm while a positive stem indicates a greater value and a negative stem a lesser value.
Either tolerance or scalar difference is possible. With a positive or negative scalar, narrow precision may be translated as "slightly" and wide precision as "very".
To indicate that the scalar is absolute (based on a zero point rather than a norm), the particle Abs appears in the modifier position. Scalar difference is required.
A scalar value question requests a scalar answer (not necessarily an absolute value), as in "how hot?". The particle SQ appears in the modifier position. Tight or loose tolerance is possible, but not scalar difference.
A comparative is an explicit comparison and may be one of equality (using a normative) or inequality (using a positive or negative). The scale of comparison may apply to
A comparative is indicated as such by the presence of the relational verb Cmp. The location argument always represents the standard of comparison and the locatee argument always represents the subject of comparison. A 3rd person locatee is denoted by the person marking on Cmp, which coreferences a phrase appearing in the scalar matrix clause.
Either tolerance or a scalar difference clause is possible. If the comparative is one of inequality, narrow tolerance may be translated as "(by) a little" and wide tolerance as "(by) a lot" (there are other translations).
The subject of comparison's referent may be compared to an earlier or later instance of itself or it may instead be compared to an earlier or later instance of some other entity. In the first case, Self appears as the noun of the standard of comparison. In both cases, either Pst or Fut appears as an attribute qualifying the standard of comparison.
A satisfactive comparison is used to affirm or question the suitability of the subject of comparison for some actual or potential result, with respect to the scale of comparison while an excessive comparison is used to deny or question the suitability of the subject of comparison for some actual or potential result, with respect to the scale of comparison. The scalar is preceded by either Sat or Exc (following any polarity particle). In both cases, the standard of comparison is represented by the following result clause (using the conjunction Rst).
If the result is contrary-to-fact, the verb of the result clause has relative tense and irrealis mood. If the result is actual, that verb has relative tense and realis mood. For a potential result, the verb has absolute tense and irrealis mood.
Either tolerance or a scalar difference clause is possible.
page started: 2022.Mar.05 Sat
current date: 2022.Mar.06 Sun
content and form originated by qiihoskeh
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