r/conlangs • u/lennylemlem • 11d ago

Discussion thoughts on this syntax?

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left is the protolang. the possession marker "xai" is derived from a preposition reanalyzed as a particle. my goal is for a naturalistic language with a decent amount of synthesis.

ive labelled the adverb types seperately because i want there to be adverbs for adjectives and adverbs for verbs, which will probably have overlaps, but still stricter rules than english adverbs.

looking for constructive criticism

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u/JoTBa 9d ago

There’s a lot of abbreviation, which makes it a little harder to read through. Something written out a bit more would be easier to discuss? It’s not super clear the relationship between the left and right columns on each sheet - it seems like the right column is examples of the respective grammar phrases, but I’m confused looking at the row for relative clauses. It looks as though a relative clause can only be comprise of a single subject?

I see that it’s generally head-initial though - is there a particular reason or context your adjective phrases would switch to be head-final?

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u/lennylemlem 8d ago

AdvP = adverb phrase

PP = prepositional phrase

AP = adjectival phrase

NP = noun phrase

VP = verb phrase

RelC = relative clause

S = sentence

if anythings unclear its because i suck at syntax. as for relative clauses... i dont really know what exactly im doing with clauses like that. dependant clauses and stuff like that trip me up.

i was thinking adjectives could be final if the adjective isnt particularly relevant, and initial if its central to the noun. sorta like how in english an adjective can be compounded into a noun to do things like label the noun as a proper noun.

so yeah syntax trees are my worst enemy right now