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Grammatical Concept: Active Verb and Stative Particle
Asaxi distinguishes between Essential Identity (what something is fundamentally) and Dynamic States (what something is doing or experiencing). This is handled by a split-copula system:
- The Stative Particle (xiŕa / nèŕa): Defines unchangeable facts.
- The Active Verb (ů / ůná): Defines temporary conditions, professions, and behaviors.
Rules
1. The Stative Particle (xiŕa / nèŕa)
This particle marks Essential Identity. It asserts that the subject is the complement by nature, definition, or unalterable physical law. It is also used for pure Existence.
- Use for: Species, Names, Inherent physical traits (e.g., material composition), Origin.
- Existence: When used with a location or alone, it means “exists” or “is there.”
- Negation: Replace
xiŕawithnèŕa(Does not exist / Is inherently not).
The Stative Particle xiŕa may be dropped from the sentence. The implied meaning of the dropped particle is “Existence”.
John shá. (John (exists as) a human.) Shěso. (A book (exists).)
2. The Active Verb (ů / ůná)
This verb marks States and Activities. It asserts that the subject is currently performing, experiencing, or maintaining a condition.
- Use for: Professions (seen as a role one plays), Emotions, Temporary physical states (illness, temperature), Pretending/Dissembling.
- Commands: Only
ůcan be used in the imperative (e.g., “Be quiet!”). - Negation: Append
nátoů(Is not currently / Refuses to be).
2.1 Modes of Verbalization (The -ů Construction)
When turning a Noun or Concept into a verb, you must select a Mode Infix (Bridge) that defines the logic of the conversion.
Formula: [Noun] + [Mode Infix] + [ů] = [Active Verb]
| Infix | Mode | Definition | Example (Root: apo) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -n- | Performance | To use / Function | aponů | To use/eat the apple. |
| -x- | Interaction | Do X to / Force | apoxů | To throw/give an apple. |
| -w- | Semblance | Act like | apowů | To act like an apple. |
| -k- | Transformative | Turn into | apoků | To turn (something) into an apple. |
| -ŕ- | Generative | Create / Produce | apoŕů | To grow/create an apple. |
| -sh- | Privative | Remove / Strip | aposhů | To remove/deplete apples. |
| -ch- | Subjective | Feel like (Belief) | apochů | To believe one is an apple. |
| -j- | Visual | Look like | apojů | To look like an apple. |
| -s- | Auditory | Sound like | aposů | To sound like an apple. |
| -ng- | Olfactory | Smell like | apongů | To smell like an apple. |
| -p- | Tactile | Feel like (Touch) | apopů | To feel like an apple. |
| -zh- | Gustatory | Taste like | apozhů | To taste like an apple. |
| Morphological Rule A: Syllabic Reduction If the source noun ends in a syllabic nasal (-mm, -nn, -nŋ), the double consonant is reduced to a single consonant before adding the bridge. |
- Example:
kamm(Building) → kamnů (To use a building).
Morphological Rule B: Reduplicative Reduction If the source noun consists of a fully reduplicated syllable (C1V1C1V1), the second syllable is dropped before adding the bridge.
- Logic:
C1V1+C1V1→C1V1. - Example:
mimi(Ear) → minů (To hear/Use ear).
2.2 The Standalone Active Copula (ů)
When ů stands alone without being attached with infixes to nouns, it simply means the subject “is” (in a dynamic or temporary sense).
It connects the Subject to an Adjective or State.
- Usage: Describes properties that are true right now but are not essential definitions of the object.
- Structure:
[Subject] + [Adjective] + ů.
Example:
To apo gadă ů. “The apple is (presently) big.”
- Nuance: It is big right now, but it could be eaten (made smaller). Bigness is treated as a current state, not an immutable definition of the apple’s species.
Past Tense Construction: When other particles, like the tense particle zè- (Past) attaches before the root ů (Active Be), the bridge consonant -b- is used instead of the standard -x-.
- Rule:
zè+b+ů→ zèbů. - Meaning: “Was being / Used to be / Acted as.”
3. Imperatives
You cannot command xiŕa because you cannot command facts. You can only command ů. See: 11_Imperatives & Causatives for more information.
- Valid: “Happy ůè!” (Be happy!)
- Invalid: “Human xiŕa!” (Be a human!)
Syntactic Structure
Asaxi is strictly predicate-final. Both the particle and the verb appear at the very end of the clause, following the adjective or noun complement.
Formula: [Subject] + [Adjective/Noun] + [xiŕa/ů]
Examples
1. Essential Identity (Stative)
John shá xiŕa. John is a person. (Species/Fact) John shěso nèra. John is not a book.
2. Dynamic State (Active)
She sad ů. She is sad. (Current emotional state). John happy ůná. John is not happy. (He is not currently performing happiness). He doctor ů. He is a doctor. (He performs this role).
3. Minimal Pair Comparison
| Sentence | Gloss | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Anna mother xiŕa. | Anna mother EXIST | Anna is a mother. (Biological fact / Kinship relation). |
| Anna mother ů. | Anna mother ACT.BE | Anna is being motherly. (She is parenting right now). |
| John stone xiŕa. | John stone EXIST | John is a stone. (He is literally a rock). |
| John stone ů. | John stone ACT.BE | John is being a stone. (He is standing still / acting emotionless). |
4. Modifying the Stative (Validity Particles)
Because xiŕa functions as a “stamp of fact,” you can modify the validity or strength of that fact by placing specific particles immediately before it. This creates a “Validity Chain.”
The Order of Validity
[Polarity] + [Emphasis] + [xiŕa]
- Polarity: Is it true or false? (e.g., ná)
- Emphasis: How strong is the assertion? (e.g., xă)
- State: The core particle (xiŕa)
Forms and Fusion
A. Simple Negation (The Blend)
- Structure:
ná+xiŕa - Result: nèŕa (Is not / Does not exist).
B. Emphatic Negation (The Chain)
- Structure:
ná(Not) +xă(Indeed) +xiŕa(Is) - Result: náxăxiŕa
- Meaning: “Is intrinsically Absolutely not” (It is a fact that it is absolutely not so).
Example Comparison
Standard: John hyena xiŕa. (John is a hyena.) Negative: John hyena nèŕa. (John is not a hyena.) Emphatic: John hyena náxăxiŕa! (John is absolutely NOT a hyena!)
4. Additional Examples (Modes of Verbalization)
1. Semblance (-w-)
To John shějýnsháwů.
SUBJJohnteacher-SEMB-ACT“John acts like a teacher.”
2. Performance (-n-)
To wo kjèkiŕnů.
SUBJ1SGaxe-PERF-ACT“I use the axe.” / “I am axing.”
3. Interaction (-x-)
To John wo apoxů.
SUBJJohn1SGapple-INTER-ACT“John apples me.” (Context: He throws an apple at me or forces an apple on me).
4. Subjective Feeling (-ch-)
To wo gadăchů.
SUBJ1SGgiant-SUBJ-ACT“I feel like a giant.”
5. Visual (-j-)
To fwoo gajýnnjů.
SUBJcloudwere-hyena-VIS-ACT“The cloud looks like a were-hyena.”
6. Auditory (-s-)
To xő jýnsů.
SUBJHehyena-AUD-ACT“He sounds like a hyena.”
7. Gustatory (-zh-)
To onă topo apozhů.
SUBJDEF.WARMrainapple-GUST-ACT“This rain tastes like apples.”
8. Transformative (-k-)
To [Wizard] John gajýnnků.
SUBJ[Wizard]Johnwere-hyena-TRANSF-ACT“The wizard turns John into a were-hyena.”
9. Generative (-ŕ-)
To kjèpo apa jýnma ja apoŕů.
SUBJtreeappleshyenasANDapple-GEN-ACT“The tree grows apples and hyenas.”
10. Privative (-sh-)
To wo [table] shěsoshů.
SUBJ1SG[table]book-PRIV-ACT“I clear the books from the table.”