Siáe Lagaeltmunfa Taaevodiél: view article

Menu 1. The Imperative in Form 2. Usage with Pronouns 3. Politeness The imperative (lagaeltmunfa, "command word form") in Edievian is unique in its interaction with pronouns and its deviation from standard Edievian pronunciation-orthography. The imperative only exists for the second person singular and plural, though the first person plural can take on a hortative quality when used in similar situations as the imperative.

[edit] [top]The Imperative in Form

In form, the imperative is simple. Like all verb forms, the infinitive ending -ae is removed, and the appropriate ending is affixed:

2SSecond person singular (person) addressee (you)	2PSecond person plural (person) addressee (plural)
-ad /a/	-ed /e/

Take note that both imperative endings, while spelled with a final <d>, are pronounced without it:

Suffix	IPA	Example (with siáomae, "to eat")
-ad	/ʃɔma/	siáomad - eat (singular)
-ed	/ʃɔme/	siáomed - eat (plural)

Any verbal prefixed added to an imperative verb are to be in the "standard" form, i.e., the form added to all verb forms excluding the singular gnomic. These are:

Gloss	Prefix	Example (with siáomae, "to eat")
NEGNegative (polarity) not	na-	nasiáomad - don't eat
PASSPassive voice (valency) be verb-ed	bao-	baosiáomad - be eaten
DESDesiderative (mood) wishes, desires, wants	ciáe-	ciáesiáomad - want to eat
NEGNegative (polarity) not.PASSPassive voice (valency) be verb-ed	naob-	naobsiáomad - don't be eaten
NEGNegative (polarity) not.DESDesiderative (mood) wishes, desires, wants	náic-	náicsiáomad - don't want to eat

Middle voice verbs use their prefixes, which mirror those of regular verbs, but passived:

Gloss	Prefix	Example (with baofeiae, "to shut up")
NEGNegative (polarity) not	naob-	naobfeiad re - don't shut up
DESDesiderative (mood) wishes, desires, wants	ciáob-	ciáobfeiad re - want to shut up
NEGNegative (polarity) not.DESDesiderative (mood) wishes, desires, wants	naciáob-	naciáobfeiad re - don't want to shut up

[edit] [top]Usage with Pronouns

The imperative is unique among verb forms in that t allows pronouns to become clitics and attach to the verb. Like English imperatives, the subject is not said in imperative statements. This leaves any direct objects to follow the verb directly. If a direct object is a pronoun, special forms are used:

	SGSingular (number) one countable entity	PLPlural (number) more than one/few
1First person (person) speaker, signer, etc; I	'g	gaeb*
2Second person (person) addressee (you)	'd	dub*
3Third person (person) neither speaker nor addressee.ANAnimate (gender/class) alive, moving	'l	'i
3Third person (person) neither speaker nor addressee.INANInanimate (gender/class) inanimate, sessile	'n	'in
REFLReflexive (valency) argument acts on itself	'r	'r
*No change from usual form

Examples:

Written	IPA	English
popcad'g	/popkag/	kiss me
nanaled'n	/n̪an̪al̪en̪/	don't touch it
naoblaegrad'r	/n̪ɔbl̪ɛgɾaɾ/	don't panic

[edit] [top]Politeness

The imperative on its own is not particularly rude nor polite - it's perfectly acceptable to use in most situations. For added formality, the irrealis particle ne can be added:

Ne tiágad siáe slap?	Would you pass the wine?
Ne nascaolad sernéis vaeteb.	Please do not look through the windows.

Even more polite is to fully leave the imperative and instead use either the present or future tense along with ne. This is used in extremely formal situations or with very high-up superiors.

Ne tiágéis siáe slap?	Would you pass the wine? (As spoken to the prime minister)
Po snest, ne scaolab siáe fabrec uam o seem.	On the left, please look/take notice of our silk factory. (As spoken to several honoured guests)

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