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Word order

Word order. Part of knowing what a possible sentence is knowing the right order of words/morphemes Word order differences between English and Witsuwit’en 1. In English, the verb can be followed by a prepositional phrase . In Witsuwit’en, the verb is normally the last word in the sentence.

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Word order

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  1. Word order • Part of knowing what a possible sentence is knowing the right order of words/morphemes • Word order differences between English and Witsuwit’en 1. In English, the verb can be followed by a prepositional phrase. In Witsuwit’en, the verb is normally the last word in the sentence. • English: count for me • Witsuwit’en: spe c’otw for me you (sg.) count

  2. Word order 2. In English, adjectives precede nouns. narrowrope In Witsuwit'en, an adjective follows a noun: t'otet‘fine babiche’ rope narrow

  3. Witsuwit’en • PP  NP P • [lethAn t’Ats] st’E skewer by it cooked

  4. Word order 3. In English, the possessor noun normally precedes the possessed noun.  my friend's house but can follow the possessed noun: the house of my friend In Witsuwit'en, the possessor noun always precedes the possessed noun: sq'aqhE pyX ‘my friend’s house’ my friend his/her house

  5. Word order 4. Subject of sentence: instigates action (transitive verbs), undergoes action or state (intransitive verbs) In both Witsuwit'en and English, subjects precede verbs: Driftwoodis floating around. tznt driftwood it is floating around

  6. Word order • (Direct) (undergoes action of verb) object only in sentences with transitive verbs. • In English, the direct object follows the verb. • We bought food. • In Witsuwit'en, the direct object precedes the verb: • t'anets'ottqht • food we bought

  7. Attested word order patterns (S = Subject, O = Object, V = Verb):

  8. Frequency of each type < Sample of 402 languages.

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