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Re: Using Case to Show Tense

From:Henrik Theiling <theiling@...>
Date:Wednesday, March 23, 2005, 11:50
Hi!

Patrick Littell <puchitao@...> writes:
> Wow, I like this a lot. I don't think ANAD at all! At least, not > where the tense is *deduced* from the case in such a way!
I also like it. Patrick: you should give the name of the original poster ('twas Edward).
> Here's my thoughts on possible streamlinings: >... > > Tense S A P > Past p n p > Present n a p > Future a a n
This looks very nice, yes. :-) Let me see, the original was:
> Tense System S A P > Past Erg X Y X > Present Tri Y X Z > Future Nom Z Z Y
This is also nice, because any of S, A and P get get assigned X, Y and Z. :-) Very obfuscated -- I think I like this more.
> Hmm, what else. Given the split-ergative system, I'd also lose the > verb-medial order and go with verb-initial or verb-final.
Why?
> If you're looking at case-suffixes, I'd say go with verb-final order > and let the speaker order the nominals as they please. Or... maybe > require an order in which the tense can be deduced from the first > word.
HAHA! :-)
>... > Say that you have the following personal prefixes: > > Case p = 1st: mu-, 2nd: yu-, 3rd hu- > Case n = 1st: ma-, 2nd: ya-, 3rd ha- > Case a = 1st: mi-, 2nd: yi-, 3rd hi- > > As soon as the sentence begins, you can deduce the > transitivity/intransitivity of the verb, the participants, *and* the > tense.
This is funny! :-) **Henrik

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Edward Miller <sewerbird@...>