zipcpi: scalar modifiers
This table describes a plan to have a system of scalar modifiers for selbri and sumtcita, to replace or provide an alternative for common usage of {mutce}, {milxe} etc. tanru.
Experimental cmavo added by me has a single asterisk; experimental cmavo added by others has a double asterisk.
Note: {va'e} may also be substituted with {va'ei**}; difference is that {PAva'e} acts as a selbri, while {PAva'ei} acts as a tense/sumtcita (tagged sumti, if present, indicates the scale or subjective frame of reference)
Description | Gloss | NAhE | NAI/CAI | PAva'e | selbri |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
polar negator | "un-" / "opposite of" | to'e | ne'e** | ni'uva'e | dukti |
denial negator | "not" / "other than" | na'e | nai | nova'e? | natfe |
liminal negator | "not really X, not really to'e-X" | no'e | cu'i | nova'e? | ? |
scalar affirmative | "is" / "indeed is" | je'a | ja'ai | su'ova'e / ma'uva'e | jetnu |
scalar abator | "slightly" / "not very" | rei'e* | ru'e | so'uva'e | milxe |
scalar normative | "normally" | noi'e* | na'oi** | no'ova'e | cnano |
scalar intensifier | "very" | sai'e* | sai | so'iva'e | mutce |
strong scalar intensifier | "extremely" | cai'e* | cai | so'isaiva'e / so'icaiva'e | tcetce |
scalar question | "how very?" | pai'e*‡ | pei'a*† | xova'e | - |
‡ Already defined as {je'ai}; but somehow it doesn't seem like a question-word to me.
† Initially suggested by la ctefa'o as an attitudinal intensity question, but not added. May also be used for that purpose.
Note that though attitudinals use NAI/CAI as well, they do not follow this system, but have their own defined scales; in particular, {nai} tends to more often act as a polar negator rather than a denial negator with them.