tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Thu Mar 11 16:42:44 1999

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RE: -moH Curiousity {was Re: deep structures}



jatlh HomDoq:

>> A noun with /-vaD/ and
>> 
>> 1. Any verb without /-moH/: the noun is the regular beneficiary/indirect 
>> object (in your words, "beneficiary of the root verb").
>> 
>> 2. An intransitive verb with /-moH/: the noun is still the regular 
>> indirect object.
>> 
>> 3. A transitive verb with /-moH/: the noun is the "beneficiary of the
>> causation", or the object which is compelled by the subject to perform 
>> the verb.

> all right. jIyajchu'.

>> For 2. and 3., the prefix trick can be used to replace /jIHvaD/ or 
>> /SoHvaD/. This doesn't change them into direct objects; they are 
>> still the beneficiaries. This is just a short-hand way to refer to 
>> them.

> here I disagree to the extent that you cannot use the prefix trick
> if there is no explicitly stated Direct Object.

I'm not so sure about that. If I'm looking at a book someone is holding with
my hand out, I would probably not say <paq HInob>; I would just say <HInob>.

> otherwise {muHoHmoH} would again be ambiguous, as it could mean
> both "She makes (someone) kill me" or, as a shortcut for 
> {jIHvaD HoHmoH}, "She makes me kill"...

Natural languages have ambiguity - this is not Lojban. If you're terribly
worried about the ambiguity, just be more explicit. If Maltz is the other
person involved, just use <jIHvaD matlh HoHmoH> or <matlhvaD jIH muHoHmoH>.


pagh
Beginners' Grammarian



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