Compound words and sentences in XAS
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Copied from Gramuary 2020 explanation
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 6 Dec 2022, 17:09.
[comments] xassentencescompoundsagglutination
2. Alsoran idioms
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9. xas translaprils
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In its standard, formal form, Alsora Sector Common has free word order, with subjects and various types of objects determined by circumfixes, and verbs determined by the lack of circumfixes.However, Common has many compound words, which are written with spaces instead of hyphens as in English, and there isn't free root order within compound words. Instead, compound words such as tis·i aiz "tomorrow-see", kjuu gjan symf "same-gender-be_attracted" = "be gay", or or·too gai dhuus lang "bus-spaceship-park-place" = "shuttle bay" are head-final.
The basic order is:
[ temporal adverb ][[ adpositional phrase applying to verb ][[ adjective* modifying object ] direct object ][ manner adverb ] verb acting as gerund ] [adjective* modifying subject ] subject.
* These adjectives should strictly speaking be inherent qualities, not transient qualities, but in informal speech this isn't necessarily the case. Also, strictly speaking the direct object should be enclosed in accusative e- -e circumfixes, but people don't do that informally.
All bracketed parts are optional and can be multiple. Also, any word except circumpositions can fill any role, whether noun, adjective, verb/gerund, or adverb.
The versatility of compound word formation means that in many cases, you can make your entire sentence a single compound word. And when speaking informally, native Common speakers do this all the time.
Note that the final element, labeled "subject" above, is actually a verb when used like this, since it has no case markers. In the absence of a defined verb meaning, verbing a noun generally means "____ exists"/"there is ____".
An absolutely nonsense example:
nen = person, one who ___
vjaal nen = female person, one who is female = woman
kan·dll vjaal nen = find female person = finding-woman = The woman finds [something].
laax kan·dll vjaal nen = sun find female person = sun-finding woman = The woman finds the sun.
laax flii kan·dll vjaal nen = sun fast find female person = sun-quickly-finding woman = The woman quickly finds the sun.
tet laax flii kan·dll vjaal nen = red sun fast find female person = red-sun-quickly-finding-woman = The woman quickly finds the red sun.
hi-jaan-hi tet laax flii kan·dll vjaal nen = LOC-void-LOC red sun fast find female person = in-void-red-sun-quickly-finding-woman = The woman quickly finds the red sun in hell.
ens hi-jaan-hi tet laax flii kan·dll vjaal nen = PT LOC-void-LOC red sun fast find female person = then-in-void-red-sun-quickly-finding-woman = The woman quickly found the red sun in hell.
Or, translated with a view to the "parts of speech" actually present: Back then, there is a woman quickly finding the red sun in hell. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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