Tengarsa: Word Order
May. 26th, 2011 02:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nyxelestiaThere are four word orders to know – the ones used in spell craft, and the ones used in conversation.
The spellcraft one came first, with the conversational one coming later so untrained sorcerers didn’t accidentally cast spells within day to day communication. In both types, there is the statement or indicative word order, and then the word order used in questions.
While most case-declined languages have a free form word order, in Tengarsa the word order is still necessary, and reinforced, as case and word order can determine whether or not it's a spell, and if it's a question or a statement.
The rare object-first word order of Tengarsa is derived from the spells tendency to name first the receiver or target of the spell, then the spell or command itself, with the agent coming last.
Here, the verb is placed first to emphasize action (at least according to the magic community).
In both modes, object order is direct objects, then indirect objects.
The degree of restrictiveness of an adjective in relation to the noun is determined by the word order. A restrictive adjective precedes the noun it is modifying, while a non-restrictive adjective will follow the noun it is modifying.
The spellcraft one came first, with the conversational one coming later so untrained sorcerers didn’t accidentally cast spells within day to day communication. In both types, there is the statement or indicative word order, and then the word order used in questions.
While most case-declined languages have a free form word order, in Tengarsa the word order is still necessary, and reinforced, as case and word order can determine whether or not it's a spell, and if it's a question or a statement.
Spellcraft Word Order
- Statements: Object-Verb-Subject
- Questions: Object-Subject-Verb
- (rare form – you don’t really ask questions often when casting spells)
The rare object-first word order of Tengarsa is derived from the spells tendency to name first the receiver or target of the spell, then the spell or command itself, with the agent coming last.
Conversational Word Order
- Statements: Verb-Object-Subject
- Questions: Verb-Subject-Object
Here, the verb is placed first to emphasize action (at least according to the magic community).
Order of Objects
In both modes, object order is direct objects, then indirect objects.
Adjectives
The degree of restrictiveness of an adjective in relation to the noun is determined by the word order. A restrictive adjective precedes the noun it is modifying, while a non-restrictive adjective will follow the noun it is modifying.
