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11_Imperatives & Causatives

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Grammatical Concept: The Imperative Particle (hè)

Asaxi utilizes the particle hè to issue direct orders. By itself, this particle always marks the verb as a Command (Imperative Mood), regardless of whether it appears as a prefix or a suffix.

1. Imperatives (Commands)

Commands can be formed by attaching hè to either end of the verb, depending on the desired emphasis.

A. Suffix Position (Standard Command)

The most common way to give an order. The command lands at the end of the sentence.

  • Rule: [Verb] + hè.

  • Phonotactics:

    • Vowel-Ending: kata + hè → katahè!
    • Consonant / Diphthong Ending: h elision occurs. ů + hè → ůè!

  • Example:

    Na, Shěsonůè! You, read-IMP “You, read!”

B. Prefix Position (Emphatic Command)

Used to signal the order immediately. Placing hè- at the front creates a “Front-Loaded” command, often used for urgency or military-style orders.

  • Rule: hè- + [Verb].
  • Example:

    Hèshěsonů! IMP-read “Read! / Do read!”

C. The Fused Imperative (-wë)

When the Suffix hè attaches to a verb ending in the Universal Verbalizer -ů, they fuse into a single syllable. This is the standard form for Non-Past commands.

  • Fusion Rule: ů + hè → wë.
  • Pronunciation: /weː/
  • Example:

    Shivënů (Show off) + hè → Shivënwë! (“Show off!“)

2. Prohibitions (Negative Commands)

To forbid an action, the negation particle ná is inserted before the imperative.

A. Standard Prohibition (“Don’t”)

  • Structure: [Verb] + ná + hè.
  • Example: Xůnáhè. (“Don’t do it.“)

B. Explicit Ban (“No X-ing”) Used for laws or strict forbiddance. Stacks the emphatic particle xă.

  • Structure: [Verb] + náxăhè.
  • Example: Aśù náxăhè! (“NO Walking / No Trespassing!“).

3. Causatives (The Agency Spectrum)

The Causative Voice (“Making/Letting someone do X”) is formed using specific Particle Compounds attached to the front of the verb root.

The “Causer” is marked by the instrumental particle bă.

The Spectrum:

PrefixComponentsMeaningNuance
băhè-bă (Means) + hèPermissiveTo allow / To enable / To let.
xăhè-xă (Force) + hèCoerciveTo force / To compel / To make.
Negation of Imperatives:
  • nábăhè-: To not allow / To withhold permission.
  • náxăbăhè-: To explicitly prohibit / To ban someone from doing X.

Syntactic Structure

Formula:

[To Doer] + [bă Causer] + [Tense]-[Voice]-[Verb]

Example Sentences

1. Forced (Coercive)

To John bă shějýnshá zèxăhèshěsonů. “The teacher forced John to read.”

2. Allowed / Enabled (Permissive)

To John bă shějýnshá zèbăhèshěsonů. “The teacher allowed John to read.”

3. Prohibited (Active Restriction)

To John bă shějýnshá zènáxăbăhèshěsonů. “The teacher prohibited John from reading.”

4. Emphatic & Switch Commands

For extreme emphasis or to command a sudden switch in action, the speaker can use a Circumfix Construction (marking both ends of the verb).

Structure:

[nåhè-] + [Verb] + [-è / -wë]

  • Prefix: nåhè- (Now-Command / Switch).
  • Suffix: Standard Imperative (-è or -wë).
  • Meaning: “Do it NOW!”, “Switch to this immediately!”

Examples:

Nåhèshivënůè! “Show off right now!”

Nåhèshivënwë! “Show off!” (Fused variant).

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