Test Sentences, 13

Continuing with Gary’s list, and still experimenting with a one-a-day format:

32. The two boys are working together.

Hmm. “are working”. That definitely implies motion, though it is motion in place. I suppose this can be expressed with a “to be” verb, using an abstract noun like “labor” as the destination: The two boys are standing in labor together. Yes. I like that. OK.

“Two boys” is the subject: kodna ɛnna. The verb is sɛdɛ, which is the default “to be” when humans are the subject. Labor, or rather “work, project”, is a class IV noun, kɛbɛdan, in the sessile singular. “Together” is the adverb nɨki:

32. kodna ɛnna sɛdɛ kɛbɛdan nɨki.

The two boys are working together.

In Kēlen:

32. ñatta jakēwīke jānīke ā mamōīñi ēnne;

The two boys are working together. (The two boys are making joint work.)

Questions?