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>
> 2. Verbs must have all their argument slots filled (likewise,
> in English, verbs like <put> need objects: *"I put the book." is
> ungrammatical without "on the table".). Look at the Kat-Eng
> dictionary examples to see what verbs require what nouns.
>
Sorry, but this is not a good example, since English "put" requires an
oblique argument. In Katanda, oblique arguments are never required.
Only core arguments are required. A better example would be:
Why did you wear a coat?
*Why did you wear?
In Katanda, you can always use the anti-middle or anti-passive voice to
elide the object, even if the corresponding English verb does not allow
it.
Also, English allows many verbs to be either intransitive or transitive,
but with different semantics:
1. John opened the door. (the subject is the agent)
2. The door opened. (the subject is the patient)
In Katanda, a middle voice change is needed to convert (1) to (2);
i.e. (1) requires "pegompa", while (2) requires "mapegompa".
By the way, can anyone translate "I put the book on the table" into
Katanda?
Regards,
Rick Morneau
http://www.srv.net/~ram
http://www.eskimo.com/~ram