Lulian basic clauses
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Overview of noun cases, verb valency, word order, etc
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 4 Dec 2016, 06:18.
[comments] llhclausesnouncaseverbtransitivityvalencypassivevoicetripartite
2. Lulian numbers
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4. Lulian pronouns
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5. Lulian verbs
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Lulian is a tripartite language that uses three main case marking particles to indicate the role of nouns in a clause. All verbs are classed as either intransitive or transitive. Intransitive verbs take a single noun argument or "subject", marked in the absolutive case. Transitive verbs take two arguments: the agent or "subject", marked in the ergative case, and the object, marked in the accusative case.For example, in Lulian the verb "die" is intransitive:
xxt'
ABSAbsolutive (case)
TRANS object, INTR argument uqx̣'zq'illkx'
animal tc'sskx'urtc'
dies
'The animal dies.'
While the verb "bite" is transitive:
ssk'
ERGErgative (case)
TRANS subject; agent uqx̣'zq'illkx'
animal tc'sskx'urtc'
bites lltc'
ACCAccusative (case)
TRANS direct object; patient irrǂullq'
person
'The animal bites the person.'
Lulian makes regular use of passive voice, which reduces the valency of transitive verbs, making them function like intransitives. A transitive verb takes the passive particle ɬ'rr and its object is promoted to a passive "subject" in the absolutive case:
ɬ'rr
PASSPassive voice (valency)
be verb-ed tc'iyyx̣'ts'st'
bite xxt'
ABSAbsolutive (case)
TRANS object, INTR argument irrǂullq'
person
'The person is bitten.'
The original agent/subject (in this example, "animal") is either omitted or moved to an oblique case, such as causative or instrumental—in short, the agent is demoted to a minor and perhaps vague role. In addition the word order is relatively free:
xxt'
ABSAbsolutive (case)
TRANS object, INTR argument irrǂullq'
person ɬ'rr
PASSPassive voice (valency)
be verb-ed tc'iyyx̣'ts'st'
bite yyǂ
CAUCausal (case)
'because (of)' uqx̣'zq'illkx'
animal
'The person is bitten, because of the animal.' ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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