Re: "Abilitative" aspect?

Ian Maxwell <umlaut@...> 2002.10.24. 23:12:56 +10h-kor írta:

> 'Allo,
>
> Apparently I've been thinking about conlanging in my sleep, because I
> just invented a new verb aspect. Or re-invented it, more likely.
>
> Specicifically, I'm conceiving of an aspect that marks having the
> ability to do something. So, it would turn "to run" into "to be able to
> run". There could also be a seperate aspect for being allowed to do
> something, so that it would become "to be allowed to run". And, while
> we're at it, there could be one for willingness ("to be willing to run").
>
> Does anyone know of an existing language (conlangs included) that marks
> any of these? If not, I nominate the terms abilitative, permissive,
> and... um, I don't know. Any suggestions for the third?
>
Well I think Hungarian has something like the first and the second one. The affix
-hat/-het is used to express ability.
For example: tesz "(he/she/it) does" vs. tehet "(he/she/it) is able to do" or "can
do" or "(he/she/it) is allowed to do"

Note: Some young Hungarian students often confuse it with the conditional. (as I
experienced during grammar lessons)
--
Mau
Ábrahám Zsófia alias Mau Rauszer
| http://www.hiaqimau.tk | http://www.longwer.tk |
"Yú lawe ta mau, yibali taqe amissi qi ú neb dagu tawiy iq." - Kilping

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