Basic
Grammar
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| Lojsk grammar is extremely simple. The basic unit of communication is a fraz (a phrase or sentence). A 'well formed' fraz begins with a grar vi tiin dji fraz (a phrase 'beginning' grar) which you can identify because it ends in the vowel "a". The 'well formed' fraz terminates with a grar vi kiin dji fraz (a phrase 'ending' grar), which you can identify because it begins in the vowel "q". Lojsk is based on Predicate Logic. Thus the 'well formed' fraz consists of a fanc (a function), and a number of supporting jba6k (arguments), along with their respective grar (grammatical markers) that designate their relationships within the fraz. Let us example the following example of a simple fraz: ex1[ENG]: I walk to the house. ex1[LOJ]: :a dzo2 le mih tcwe has q: This simple phrase is formed from one function, and two arguments. Utilizing the symbols (f) for function and (ar) for argument, we can identity them in the phrase: :a dzo2(f) le mih(ar) tcwe has(ar) q: Note the function in the phrase: dzo2 (motion by means of one's limbs) This is the function of the phrase. It communicates the main activity being undertaken, and 'in focus'. The function is ALWAYS the first keyword of a phrase. Note the arguments of the phrase: mih (first person singular pronoun, me, I) has (house, domicile, structure whose primary purpose is as a domicile) These two words are the arguments of the "dzo2" function word. Arguments restrict the meaning of the function by supplying such things as the initiator of the activity, the recipient of the activity, the place the initiator started from, the place the initiator ended up at the end of the activity, the time the activity took place, or even if the activity spanned a period of time. The order of arguments is not restricted in Lojsk, and no special constructs or words are necessary if they happen to be rendered in an 'unconventional' order. Typically, arguments are arranged with the 'executive' or 'subject' argument first, followed by the 'object' or 'recipient' argument and then other arguments are added as needed.
The grammatical markers (grar) of the phrase: a The phrase's beginning grar performs two very important duties. First, it marks the beginning of the phrase. When it appears attached to another grammatical marker in a phrase (the construct is usually '_e._a' or '_i._a', where "_" represents an appropriate grar beginning), it marks the beginning of a sub-phrase, or sub-ordinate clause. Being that the first keyword in any phrase is ALWAYS a function, the 'a' grammatical marker also announces the position of the function. le If we split this grar into its components we have 'l' and 'e'. The 'e' tells us that this grar proceeds and announces an argument of the function. The 'l' tells us that this argument is actually the 'executive'/'initiator' argument or more commonly known, the 'subject' of the phrase. tcwe If we split this grar into its components we have 'tcw' and 'e'. The 'e' tells us that this grar proceeds and announces an argument of the function. The 'tcw' tells us that this argument is actually the 'final position/place' with respect to the action in this phrase. (Basically it says "(going/moving) TO...") q (q in Lojsk is pronounced as the first 'a' in 'again') The phrase's ending grar marks the ending of the phrase. When it appears attached to a grar in a phrase (the construct is usually 'q._e' or 'q._i', where "_" represents an appropriate grar beginning), it marks the ending of a sub-phrase, or sub-ordinate clause. This grar often omitted at the end of simple phrases, although it is encouraged to include it. It MUST ALWAYS be included when denoting the end of a sub-phrase or sub-ordinate clause. (''q' is used when closing ALL sub-phrases together. It is used at the end of statement containing two or more nested sub-phrases. Otherwise, statements could and would end with 'q.q:' or even 'q.q.q:' structures. The ''q' is STRONGLY pronounced.) These four words give us the 'structure' of the phrase. They are the 'string' that holds the phrase together in a logical manner.
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copyright
2002-2003, Ari Reyes |