• Syntax

    Verbal focus in sentences
    a. Agent focus: Non-future

    M
    AF
    -in
    -NFUT
    -alap
    -get
    nog
    ERG
    kayu
    firewood
    og
    ABS
    bata
    child
    ‘The child got (some) firewood.’
    b. Theme focus: Non-future
    In
    TF.NFUT
    -alap
    -get
    nog
    ERG
    bata’
    child
    og
    ABS
    kayu.
    firewood
    ‘The child got the firewood.’
    c. Benefactive focus: Non-future
    Ping
    NFUT
    -olap
    -get
    -an
    -BF
    nog
    ERG
    bata’
    child
    og
    ABS
    gina’
    mother
    nog
    OBL
    kayu
    firewood
    .
    ‘The child got (some) firewood for the mother.’
    d. Locative focus: Non-future
    Pig
    NFUT
    -olap
    -get
    -an
    -LF
    nog
    ERG
    bata’
    child
    og
    ABS
    lotinan
    woods
    nog
    OBL
    kayu.
    firewood
    ‘The child got (some) firewood in the woods.’
    e. Goal focus: Non-future
    In
    NFUT
    -oit
    -bring
    -an
    -GF
    nog
    ERG
    gina’
    mother
    og
    ABS
    bata’
    child
    nog
    OBL
    ponganon.
    food
    ‘The mother brought the child food.’
    f. Referential focus: Non-future
    Pik
    NFUT
    -susi
    -argue
    -an
    -RF
    nilan
    3.PL.ERG
    og
    ABS
    ponganon.
    food
    ‘They argued about the food.’

    Language Documentation Training Center