Clauses and Clause Structure

Motion Particles

The primary predicates in Kenda Soro are a set of twelve particles that convey how their subject moves. These particles, called motion particles, take only one argument, the subject, and so are all intransitive. Furthermore, due to the fact that they are all single syllable, they attach directly to the end of their subject forming a single phonological word subject to phonological rules.

ra (go)

The motion particle ra conveys motion to, from, or towards a location or on a path. Its subject is the person or object in motion. By itself, it is usually translated as "go" or "leave".

Ra is usually accompanied by at least one other argument: an attained destination marked with =s,

a destination that is not yet attained marked with =du,

a point of origin of the motion marked with =nda,

and/or a path along which the motion is happening marked with =za.

Additionally, if the motion is being caused by another entity, that causer, if included in the clause, is marked with =ya if rational and animate or with =nda otherwise.

Less tangible entities can also go or be made to go:

no (come)

The motion particle no is the equivalent of ra, but the motion is towards a being with greater or equivalent animacy. By itself, it is usually translated as "come" or "arrive".

Since no involves something coming to an entity of higher animacy, it is the particle to use for sensing, feeling, and thinking. The being that is sensing, feeling, or thinking is marked as an attained destination with =s.

This usage for sensing persists even if the entity being sensed is of higher animacy than the senser.

lo (up) & ta (down)

The motion particles lo UP and ta DOWN are the equivalent of ra, but the point of reference for the motion is the ground. UP is away from the ground and DOWN is towards the ground.

Less tangible entities can also INCREASE and DECREASE. These entities have to already exist in order to go UP or DOWN.

ka (touch)

The motion particle ka involves motion plus contact, with an emphasis on the contact. The location or object contacted is marked as an attained destination with =s.

Attempted contact is marked with as an attempted or not yet attained destination with =du.

Since the emphasis is on contact, this particle is often used to express holding or grasping. Since it is the hands that are grasping, and fingers have length, the particle =za is used instead.

And from there it is no stretch to use ka for possession or control, again with =za.

ki (by)

The motion particle ki involves motion deliberately past a location. The location or object bypassed is marked as an attained destination with =s even though it is never attained.

As an extension of this sense of no contact, ki is used for the negation of grasping, having, or possession.

vi (out)

The motion particle vi involves motion outwards in more than one direction simultaneously. Thus, the subject of vi has to be something emittable or spreadable: a gas, liquid, sound, sensation, or abstraction. Since speech is primarily sound, this particle is often used for speech. The destination of the emission or audience of speech is marked with not yet attained marker =du. The content of the speech is marked with the path marker =za. The instigator of the speech is marked with =ya since speech is what marks rationality in this language. Otherwise the source of emission is either =ya or =nda depending on animacy. Finally, the attained destination marker =s can be used when the subject of vi is spreadable. Then =s marks the thing or area over which the subject is spread.

The example below uses vi first with an emittable noise and second with a spreadable abstraction:

me (into)

The primary meaning of the motion particle me is of multiple people or objects coming together to do an activity or to create something. The creation or activity is the actual subject of me. The source of the creation, the material, is marked with =nda.

ŋi (move)

The primary meaning of the motion particle ŋi is motion in place or internal motion. So, moving a limb, shaking, trembling, breathing, are all conveyed by ŋi.

Since animate things breathe and move on their own, ŋi is the motion particle to use when saying something about an animate or rational animate being, such as expressing an identity, group membership, or an attribute.

The argument particle =s conveys location (an attained destination is where one is currently located), =nda conveys an origin or location from, and =za conveys location near. The particle =du does, as expected, convey location towards. This allows for multiple extensions of meaning: =du as "like" and =du as a means of directing one's sensory organs and actively sensing a scene.

The phrasal particle =nen can also be used with ŋi to convey behavior, speech, feeling, or thought.

se (stay)

The primary meaning of the motion particle se is non-motion or staying in place. However, only inanimate nouns can truly be non-moving, and so se is used to express something about inanimate entities in the same way ŋi is used for animate ones.

pe (fail) & vu (not)

The primary meaning of the motion particle pe is failure to move, or failure to reach the attended destination. This particle functions as the negative of ra, no, ka, and ŋi, and with the addition of the adverbs oloyo (upwards) and atada (downwards), it also negates lo and ta.

The motion particle vu acts as a negation of se.

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