ProtoLanguage-Primer.htm

N.B. THIS ESSAY IS BEING PERIODICALLY REVISED. * PCR

THE PROTO-LANGUAGE

PRIMER



by Patrick C. Ryan

(6/20/97)

I. Phonology





A. Consonants





B. Vowels





C. Tone





D. Stress-Accent







II. Topic





A. Near Object

1. Patient

A) Patient Substitutions (Inactive)





2. Target




B. Distant Object

1. Agent

A) Agent Substitutions (Active)





C. Number

1. Unspecified Plural (‘)

2. Specified Plural (‘-CV)





D. Object Modification

1. By Topics ("-$É)

A) Essive ("-T[?]A)





2. By Comments

A) Gentilic (-HHE-HHE)

B) Non-Gentilic (-R[H]O, etc.)







III. Comment





A. Punctuality

1. Animate (Intransitive)

A) Reflexive: Momentary -"HHA; Durative -"F[H]A; Stative "-?A





2. Inanimate (Transitive)

A) Non-Reflexive

1) with expressed near object: Momentary {-'} / Durative {'-}

A)) Perfective -"$A; Imperfective -"FA

B)) Other Aspects

2) with no expressed near object: Momentary -"$A; Durative -"FA





B) Middle







IV. Syntax





A. Definite / Indefinite







V. Basic Vocabulary

return to

The Proto-Language

(5) ?, (4) ?, (3) ?, (2) ?, (1) ?,

or (INDEX) ?

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