ISMS_Syntax

syntax
version 0.1.0

The Idrani Standard Metalinguistic Specification v 0.4.1 is the only official description of the Idrani language as created by Trent M. Pehrson. All information in this document is the sole property of Trent M. Pehrson unless otherwise specified. For information on terms of use use and copyright policies, click on the link labeled 'terms of use' in the navigation bar at the top of this page.

Syntax:

Syntax Overview
Sentence Types

comparative sentences
deed sentences
existential-equivalence sentences
topic-comment sentences

Phrase Types

Syntax Overview

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Idrani Syntax

In the field of linguistics, as in the domain of constructed language, there are a variety of hypotheses and methodological standards for modeling and describing syntax. The creator of Idrani has chosen to describe Idrani syntax in a way and by definitions which are, for the most part, proprietary to this specification document.

This has been done because Idrani is not acurately described when forced to conform to the conventions of any one theoretical or hypothetical framework-- including Chomskian ones. Some may think that such a statement is outrageous at best. However, one must acknowledge that expecting a phnomenon to conform to a description, rather than creating a description that explains the phenomenon is illogical. So, to those who will say that Idrani should be crammed into this theory or that, or that it should be described using this term or that-- or for those who will go further and claim that Idrani cannot be a language because it does not conform to some rule-- to such we offer the following advice. You don't have to continue reading this. Idrani is what it is with or without your permission and it will be described in a manner that can contain its scope without re-designing it. Further, it should be noted that Idrani is a functioning and implemented language. Accordingly, the theoretical frameworks which cannot accomodate it and other languages like it are not general enough to be called descriptions of human language and are certainly not sweeping enough to describe all language. It is not, therefore, language that does not conform, but the methods of description.

Notational Conventions

Since Idrani is an agluttinating tongue, some syntactic prescriptions apply at the sub-word level and some apply at the sentence level. In this description, sub-word level constituents are represented with symbols in the form 'Xxx' while sentence level constituents take the form 'XXX'. It should also be noted that, when written in romanized form, sub-word level constituents are almost always concatenated without spaces, whereas sentence level constituents are concatenated with spaces.

Much of the taxonomy and the abbreviations thereof are unique to this specification. A full list of syntactic taxonomy and abreviations is provided in this section of the specification.

Scope

Only several of the most common sentence structures and their respective constituents are disclosed in this section of the specification. However, mastery of these syntactic structures provides a strong mastery of the syntax of Idrani.

Sentence Types
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Sentences Overview There are four main sentence Types in the Idrani language, namely deed sentences, topic-comment sentences, equivalence sentences and existential sentences. The list below contains descriptions of each with links to further analysis of each sentence type.
comparative sentences	Comparative sentences are sentences which compare two things and express which of the two have more or less of the quiality or attribute and by how much.
deed sentences	Deed sentences are sentences which essentially elaborate on the performance of a deed. They may include constituents which indicate agent, patient or recipient, instrument or cause, modality, temporal diexis, and descriptive modification of the same.
existential-equivalence sentences	Existential-equivalence sentences are sentences which assert the existence of a thing and which may assert the state of existence or as what the thing exist. They may include constituents which indicate agent, patient, instrument or cause, modality, temporal diexis, and descriptive modification of the same.
topic-comment sentences	Topic-comment sentences are sentences which essentially state and elaborate. They may include constituents from the other sentence types and may even contain entire sentences from the other sentence categories. However, Idrani topic-comment sentences may also be analagous to various English sentences which are characterized as incomplete.

Phrase Types
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Phrases Overview Phrases are constituents in sentences and are constituted by morphemic constructions. Following is a list of all the major Idrani phrase types with descriptions and links to examples of each.
agent phrase (AP)	An agent phrase is any nominal phrase which serves as an agent in the syntax of a sentence. Agent is a null marked nominal or pronominal constituent i.e. agent is the default case for a nominal or base pronominal.
comment phrase (COM)	A comment phrase is a phrase which follows and which gives further specification upon a topical phrase. A sentence, modifier phrase or nominal phrase may each be a comment phrase when they follow a topical phrase.
deed phrase (DP)	A deed phrase serves as the description of the action of a sentence. A deed phrase is constituted of a variety of components which may indicate ideas related to temporal diexis, social diexis, quantification or qualification of the action, context, aspect, agent, patient, instrument and modality.
existential-equivalence phrase (EP)	An existential-equivalence phrase asserts or describes the existence of something and may or may not assert or describe the manner of existence. An existential-equivalence phrase is constituted of a variety of components which may indicate ideas related to temporal diexis, social diexis, quantification or qualification of the existence, context, aspect, agent, instrument and modality.
modal phrase (MOD)	A modal phrase classifies the modality or conditions under which a sentence is being stated as from the point of view of the speaker.
modifier phrase (MP)	A modifier phrase is a phrase which in some way modifies another phrase. Modifier phrases always follow the phrases which they modify.
nominal phrase (NP)	A nominal phrase is a phrase with a nominal at its core. A nominal phrase may also include constituents which modify that nominal.
patient phrase (PP)	A patient phrase is a nominal phrase marked as a patient which serves as the recipient of the deed in a sentence, or as the thing being acted upon or toward.
topical phrase (TP)	A topical phrase is a phrase which preceededs and which is elaborated upon by a comment phrase. A nominal phrase or pronominal amy serve as topical phrases when marked by the topic marker morpheme.

The Comparative Sentence
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Overview of the Comparative Sentence Comparative sentences are sentences which compare two things and express which of the two have more or less of the quiality or attribute and by how much. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.
Basic Syntax for a Comparative Sentence Following is a structural representation of a comparative sentence. S --> (MOP) + NP + Com + NP + MP + (Qmm + NP) hwath, ehinpu bi atmatiya djetlo'i ba riya in truth - imy dog - than - your cat - age ish more - in the quantity of - year a truely, my dog is a year older than your cat
KEY CONSTITUENTS: modifier phrase (MP) nominal phrase (NP)

The Deed Sentence
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Overview of the Deed Sentence Deed sentences are sentences which essentially elaborate on the performance of a deed. They may include constituents which indicate agent, patient or recipient, instrument or cause, modality, temporal diexis, and descriptive modification of the same. The defining constituent of the deed sentence is the deed phrase. The defining constituent of the deed phrase is the deed word. A sentence is not a deed sentence without these constituents. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.
Basic Syntax for a Deed Sentence Following is a structural representation of a deed sentence with a nominal agent and a nominal patient. S --> (MOP) + AP + PP + DP hwath, ehinpu attedab pish in truth - my dog - toward your father - preference does my dog truely likes your father Following is a structural representation of a deed sentence with nominal agent and no patient. S --> (MOP) + AP + DP hwath, ehinpu dih in truth - my dog - ingestion did my dog really did eat Following is a structural representation of a deed sentence with no nominal agent and a nominal patient. S --> (MOP) + PP+ DP hwath, ehinpub dih in truth - my dog upon - ingestion was done my dog really was eaten Following is a structural representation of a deed sentence with a sub-word level, pronominal agent and patient. Notice that in the case where pronominals are used the pronominal constituents are morphemes in the deed word of the deed phrase. In this case, 'no' is the agentive pronominal and 'kh' is the patient pronominal. S --> (MOP) + DP hwath, nokhpish in truth - it toward him preference does it truely likes him Following is a structural representation of a deed sentence with a sub-word level, pronominal agent and no patient. Notice that in the case where pronominals are used the pronominal constituents are morphemes in the deed word of the deed phrase. In this case, 'no' is the agentive pronominal. S --> (MOP) + DP hwath, nodih in truth - it ingestion did it truely ate Following is a structural representation of a deed sentence with a sub-word level, pronominal patient and no agent. Notice that in the case where pronominals are used the pronominal constituents are morphemes in the deed word of the deed phrase. In this case, 'no' is the agentive pronominal. Also notice that 'no' is marked with the morpheme 'b' to mark it as patient. S --> (MOP) + DP hwath, nobdih in truth - upon it ingestion was done it truely was eaten
KEY CONSTITUENTS: agent phrase (AP) deed phrase (DP) patient phrase (PP)

The Existential-Equivalence Sentence
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Overview of the Existential-Equivqlence Sentence Existential-equivalence sentences are sentences which assert the existence of a thing and which may assert the state of existence or as what the thing exist. They may include constituents which indicate agent, instrument or cause, modality, temporal diexis, and descriptive modification of the same. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.
Basic Syntax for an Equivalence Sentence Following is a structural representation of an existential-equivalence sentence with a nominal phrase. S --> (MOP) + EP + NP hwath, ehinpu'ush qadiya in truth - my dog existence does - [as] animal an in truth, my dog is an animal Following is a structural representation of an existential-equivalence sentence with a modifier phrase. S --> (MOP) + EP + MP hwath, ehinpu'ush keltitth in truth - my dog existence does - yellowish in truth, my dog is yellow Following is a structural representation of an existential-equivalence sentence which is stating existence. S --> (MOP) + EP hwath, ehinpu'ush in truth - my dog existence does in truth, my dog is (my dog exists)
KEY CONSTITUENTS: existential-equivalence phrase (EP) modifier phrase (MP) nominal phrase (NP)

The Topic-Comment Sentence
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Overview of the Topic-Comment Sentence Topic-comment sentences are sentences which essentially state and elaborate. They may include constituents from the other sentence types and may even contain entire sentences from the other sentence categories. However, Idrani topic-comment sentences may also be analagous to various English sentences which are characterized as incomplete. The defining constituents of the deed sentence are the topic and comment phrases. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.
Basic Syntax for a Topic-Comment Sentence Following is a structural representation of a topic-comment sentence. S --> (MOP) + TP + COM hwath, ehinpu zhu, atteda pish in truth - my dog [as a topic]- your father- preference does regarding my dog, your father really does like (it)
KEY CONSTITUENTS: comment phrase (COM) topical phrase (TP)

The Agent Phrase (AP)

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Overview of the Agent Phrase (AP)
An agent phrase is any nominal phrase which serves as an agent in the syntax of a sentence. Agent is a null marked nominal or pronominal constituent i.e. agent is the default case for a nominal or base pronominal. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for an Agent Phrase

Following is a structural representation of an agent phrase.

AP --> NP

ehinpu
my dog [as an agent]
my dog

The Comment Phrase (COM)

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Overview of the Comment Phrase (COM)
A comment phrase is a phrase which follows and which gives further specification upon a topical phrase. A sentence, modifier phrase or nominal phrase may each be a comment phrase when they follow a topical phrase. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for a Comment Phrase

Following is a structural representation of an comment phrase composed of a modifier phrase.

COM --> MP
chuichetlo'i
much redish
very red

Following is a structural representation of an comment phrase composed of a nominal phrase.

COM --> NP

ehinpu
my dog
my dog

Following is a structural representation of an comment phrase composed of a sentence.

COM --> S

ehinpu attedab pish
my dog toward your father preference does
my dog likes your father

The Deed Phrase (DP)

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Overview of the Deed Phrase (PP)
A deed phrase serves as the description of the action of a sentence. A deed phrase is constituted of a variety of components which may indicate ideas related to temporal diexis, social diexis, quantification or qualification of the action, context, aspect, agent, patient, instrument and modality. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for a Deed Phrase

Following is a structural representation of a basic deed phrase consisting of a deed-word.

DP --> D
henpish
I toward it preference do
I like it

Following is a structural representation of a basic patient phrase.

DP --> D + (MP)
henpih yaitlo
I toward it preference did - yesterday ish
I liked it yesterday

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase using multiple deed phrases and a deed conjunction.

DP --> DP₁...DP_n + Dc + (MP)
dih pilsih khuh in antitlo
ingestion did slumber did accounting did - and - not cesation ish
ate, slept, and drank without ceasing

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase consisting of a pair of conditional deed phrases. The first deed phrase is optional only when the sentence is a response to a previously stated condition.

DP --> (DP) + DP
f'tanstrov t'ramoem
provision being you upon it construction will do - result being they visit will do [imparative]
if you build it, they will come

The Existential-Equivalence Phrase (EP)

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Overview of the Existential-Equivalence Phrase (EP)
A deed phrase serves as the description of the action of a sentence. A deed phrase is constituted of a variety of components which may indicate ideas related to temporal diexis, social diexis, quantification or qualification of the action, context, aspect, agent, patient, instrument and modality. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for an Existential-Equivalence Phrase

Following is a structural representation of a basic existential-equivalence phrase consisting of an existential-word.

EP --> E
ehinpu'ush
my dog does existence
my dog is

Following is a structural representation of a basic existential-equivalence phrase containing an existential-word and a modifier phrase.

EP --> E + (MP)
ehinpu'ush keltitlo
my dog does existence - yellow ish
my dog is yellow (i.e. exists in a yellow state)

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase using multiple deed phrases and a deed conjunction.

EP --> EP₁...EP_n + Dc + (MP)
he'esh, ehinpu'ush moma'ash in iphatlo
I existence do, smy dog existence does, mother existence does - and - not happiness ish
mother, mydog and I are happy (i.e. exist in a state of hapiness)

Following is a structural representation of a existential-equivalent phrase consisting of a pair of conditional existential-equivalent phrases. The existential-equivalent phrase is optional only when the sentence is a response to a previously stated condition.

EP --> (EP) + EP
f'kha'ash t'daja'(a)em
provision being he existence does - result being chaos existence will do [imparative]
if he is, then chaos must be (i.e. where he is, there is chaos)

The Modal Phrase (MOD)

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Overview of the Modal Phrase (MOD)
A modal phrase classifies the modality or conditions under which a sentence is being stated as from the point of view of the speaker. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for a Modal Phrase

Following is a structural representation of an modal phrase composed of a modal.

MOD --> Mod
hwath
as a truth
in truth, honestly, actually...

Following is a structural representation of an comment phrase composed of a adpositional modifier.

MOD --> AM

ehkenok
my care along with
with caring, out of care...

Following is a structural representation of an comment phrase composed of two or more modal phrases.

MOD --> MOD + MOD

hwath ehkenok
in truth - my care along with
in truth and with caring, truely and out of caring...

The Modifier Phrase (MP)

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Overview of the Modifier Phrase (MP)
A nominal phrase is a phrase with a nominal at its core. A nominal phrase may also include constituents which modify that nominal.. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for a Modifier Phrase

Following is a structural representation of a basic modifier phrase.

MP --> M
ichetth
red ish
red

Following is a structural representation of a modifier phrase with multiple modifiers.

MP --> M + MP
khitlo hichetth
alargeness ish - redness ish
large, red

Following is a structural representation of a modifier phrase with multiple modifiers, where one modifer modifies another.

MP --> MP + Mam + MP
ehinpun a qabitlo
my dog's - [following modifier modifies last word with las vowel 'a'] - fat ish
my fat dog's (i.e. belonging to my fat dog)

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase using multiple stems and an inflected nominal conjunction.

NP --> RelO + S + RelC + (MP)
k' hekhkruh ko lamitlo
[rel] - I him upon death did - [rel] - smallness ish
a the little guy that I killed

The Modifier Phrase (MP)

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Basic Syntax for a Modifier Phrase

Following is a structural representation of a basic modifier phrase.

MP --> M
ichetth
red ish
red

Following is a structural representation of a modifier phrase with multiple modifiers.

MP --> M + MP
khitlo hichetth
alargeness ish - redness ish
large, red

Following is a structural representation of a modifier phrase with multiple modifiers, where one modifer modifies another.

MP --> MP + Mam + MP
ehinpun a qabitlo
my dog's - [following modifier modifies last word with las vowel 'a'] - fat ish
my fat dog's (i.e. belonging to my fat dog)

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase using multiple stems and an inflected nominal conjunction.

NP --> RelO + S + RelC + (MP)
k' hekhkruh ko lamitlo
[rel] - I him upon death did - [rel] - smallness ish
a the little guy that I killed

The Nominal Phrase (NP)

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Overview of the Nominal Phrase (NP)
A nominal phrase is a phrase with a nominal at its core. A nominal phrase may also include constituents which modify that nominal.. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for a Nominal Phrase

Following is a structural representation of a basic nominal phrase.

NP --> N + (MP)
ehinpu ichetth
my dog - redish
my red dog

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase using multiple nominals and a nominal conjunction.

NP --> N₁...N_n + NC + (MP)
pochowa tlaiya eksiya hai bilotlo
an axe a knife a saw - and - dullness ish
a dull axe, knife and saw

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase using multiple stems and an inflected nominal conjunction.

NP --> N₁...N_n + NC + (MP)
pocho tlai eksi haiya bilotlo
axe knife saw - and a/an - dullness ish
a dull axe, knife and saw

Following is a structural representation of a deed phrase using multiple stems and an inflected nominal conjunction.

NP --> RelO + S + RelC + (MP)
k' hekhkruh ko lamitlo
[rel] - I him upon death did - [rel] - smallness ish
a the little guy that I killed

The Patient Phrase (PP)
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Overview of the Patient Phrase (PP) A patient phrase is a nominal phrase marked as a patient which serves as the recipient of the deed in a sentence, or as the thing being acted upon or toward. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.
Basic Syntax for a Patient Phrase Following is a structural representation of a basic patient phrase. PP --> P + (MP) ehinpub ichetth my dog [as a patient] - redish upon/toward my red dog
NOTES: In cases where the patient phrase is expresses after teh deed word, that syntactic position indicates that the phrase is a patient phrase, thus iliminating the need for the patient marker 'b'.

The Topical Phrase (TP)

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Overview of the Topical Phrase (TP)
A topical phrase is a phrase which preceededs and which is elaborated upon by a comment phrase. A nominal phrase or pronominal amy serve as topical phrases when marked by the topic marker morpheme. The Idrani samples and the structural representations below contain alternately colored constituents for matching the constituents in the structure to the constituents in the sample. Constituents in parenthesis are optional to the structure. In the non-italic translation of each sample, the hyphen represents the end of one constituent and the beginning of the next in the same relative order as they exist in the Idrani sample.

Basic Syntax for a Topical Phrase

Following is a structural representation of a pronominal topical phrase.

TP --> Pron + Tpm
he zhe
I - [as a topic]
I, ...

Following is a structural representation of a nominal topical phrase.

TP --> NP + Tpm
ehinpu zhu
my dog - [as a topic]
my dog, ...