User:Victor.bogren/sandbox
Syntax[edit]
Batak Karo often alternate between the actor preceding the predicate and the predicate preceding the actor for transitive clauses, although the preference is for Actor Voice clauses. Predicate-Undergoer-Actor is a common word order when the undergoer is replaced by an interrogative pronoun. In contrast, while it is possible for patient voice clauses to place the subject (the undergoer in patient voice clauses), a predicate initial word order is more frequent, with the undergoer subject placed after both the predicate and the actor. [1]
Embun
cloud
‘Thick
me-kapal
ADJ-thick
cloud
N-tutup-i
AV-cover-APP.LOC
obscured
matawari.
sun
the
sun.’
Subject-Initial AV clause Mismatch in the number of words between lines: 4 word(s) in line 1, 4 word(s) in line 2, 5 word(s) in line 3 (help);
Matawari
sun
i-tutup-i
PV-cover-LOC.APP
embun
cloud
me-kapal.
ADJ-thick
‘The sun was obscured by thick cloud.’
I-tima-i
PV-wait-LOC.APP
raja
Raja
acéh
Aceh
denga
still
putri
Putri
hijau.
Hijau
‘Raja Aceh still waited for Putri Hijau.’
Woollams, Geoff (2005). "Karo Batak". In Alexander Adelaar; Nikolaus P. Himmelmann (eds.). The Austronesian Languages of Asia and Madagascar. London: Routledge. pp. 534–561.