Pragmatics
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Various things about Jutean pragmatics
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 23 Jan 2019, 13:10.
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7. Lesson of Iki
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11. Pragmatics
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12. Prehistory of Jute
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14. Songs in Jutean
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16. Syntax in Jutean
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17. Verbs in Jutean
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?FYI...
This article is a work in progress! Check back later in case any changes have occurred.
This article is a work in progress! Check back later in case any changes have occurred.
There are three levels of politeness or formality in Jutean: The formal register, also called the 'humble' one, the neutral, and the informal or casual one.
Formal is used for the person you are married to or are dating, elders or anyone you want to be particularly polite to (like customers, guests of honor or people you just like a lot).
▼ Main differences
Neutral is the "normal" and most common option for everyday conversation or politics and the failsafe when you don't know what to use.
▼ Main differences
Informal is used for casual conversations between friends (unless there is an elder present), often with or among children and between young or middle-aged relatives, especially of the same age.
▼ Main differences
Additionally, some words are only used with one or two of the speech registers, such as onekivo, a slang term for 'tooth', with the neutral/formal term being memuata. Where this is the case, it is noted in the dictionary entry.
For greetings and other common phrases, please consult this article.
There's no single, simple way to answer them, instead it differs based on social context, the speakers and some other things. (as in English, with yes/yeah/nah/no and even yay/nay, to name some)
The neutral and most common form to answer such a question is to repeat the verb, and negate it when needed. Either the verb, the pronoun or both can be negated by adding -l/-al in that case. It is almost always appropriate, except when 'Not ehe ji' (see below) would be used.
Ato na, haa? Are you coming/Will you come?
Come 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you), QInterrogative
question.?
Ato ta! (Atol ta!) I will (not)!/I will (not) come/I am (not) coming.
Come(-NEGNegative (polarity)
not) 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I(-NEGNegative (polarity)
not)!
In casual settings 'hee' (/he:/) or 'ee' (/e:/) can be used sometimes to express a "yes", especially if a "don't you/wouldn't you/shouldn't you/couldn't you" or a "right?" particle would be used in English, (but not with "... do you/would you/should you/could you?"). It's less strong of an affirmative and can have the connotation of "yeeeeaaah... maybe?"
Saiho na a me ta ma, haa. Are you thinking of me? / You are thinking of me. aren't you?
Think 2SSecond person singular (person)
addressee (you) of OBLOblique (argument)
indirect or demoted object 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I OBLOblique (argument)
indirect or demoted object, QInterrogative
question.
(The difference is indicated by tone, a neutral tone would be used for the former, a falling for the latter)
(H)ee... Yes/Yeah...
(indicated by the length of the "e". /h/ is nonpresent in some dialects. A rising tone can signify some kind of shame/embarrassment/bashfulness, a falling one annoyance/reluctance)
When used to agree to an offer, it can be preceded by an 'uke' which sounds more polite, or alternatively (depending on the tone being used) more urgent or pleading.
Saimoke na lesiti, haa? Would you like (some) tea? - Uke, hee! Yes, please!
Want-COND 2S tea-IDR, Q
Then there's the negated form, 'heel' (/he:l/), used in the sense of "yeah, no", "yes, but still/ but that doesn't mean..." or similar. It's used for agreeing in part with a statement. It can be both reassuring (English "yeah, but don't worry", "nah, it's fine") or accusatory ("Yeah, no! No way [that will happen just because ...]") depending on context,
Saimo jasof ta he. I think I should really be studying now. - Heel! Nah. (I guess you should, but you don't have to do it right now, do you?)
Think study_hard-HORTHortative (mood)
'let's...' 1SFirst person singular (person)
speaker, signer, etc.; I now
The more common informal way of expressing disagreement or rejecting or denying a sentence is by the word 'alal' (/ɐlɐl/). In polite or formal contexts it would usually be seen as abrasive and rude. An 'uke' can be added after it to make it sound less unfriendly. Alternatively, the 'uke' can come first to a bit more polite.
Saimo na lesiti, haa? Do you want some tea? - Alal(, uke)./Uke, (moji) alal. No (thanks)/ No, (but) thanks.
In formal contexts, sometimes 'dekio ta' (/dekiɑ tɐ/, 'I agree') can be used, when affirming a previous sentence that wasn't framed as a question, and with some questions that weren't directed at the speaker personally, especially rhetorical questions, or with any leading questions expecting a yes. (Negating the phrase to 'dekiol tal' is a polite way to show disagreement in similar cases).
It does not work with questions that expect more than a simple "yes" when answered affirmatively, for example when answering a waiter.
No vuha a uke. It's a good/nice day. - Dekio ta. Yes/I agree.
Be day of goodness
Saihoko la mihinidohi, haa. He/She/They (Sg.) likes/like sleeping, doesn't/don't he/she/they? - Dekio ta. Yes/I agree.
Like 3SThird person singular (person)
neither speaker nor addressee sleep.GERGerund
verbal noun, QInterrogative
question.
(again, a falling tone would mark it as a question with an anticipated answer, and a question mark can be omitted in writing.)
An even more formal way of showing agreement, especially used by e.g. waiters or other people working for someone is 'Not ehe ji' (/nɑt ehe ji/, "It shall be like this") or slightly less formal 'Not ji' ("This shall be"). The English equivalent would be roughly "As you wish". Alternatively, it can also be used to strongly agree with something, however this cannot be a question.
Not to be used in casual settings, as it will come across as arrogant and condescending if not used humorously.
Saimoke hao ta lesiti. I would like (some) tea - Not ehe ji. It shall be like this./As you wish.
Want-COND ask 1S tea-IDR
Tefot fa ajavi! We shall win today! - Not ehe ji! This shall be/We shall!
Win-SUBJ 1.COL today
An equivalent of 'Not (ehe) ji' for affirming negating sentences politely, agreeing to negative requests or answering leading questions expecting a no is 'Not al ji', the English equivalent being "As you wish" again. It can also be used to express e.g. indignation, strongly agree with a negative statement or strongly disagree with a statement.
However, the last one might be seen as very insolent and disrespectful, and be the cause for some indignation with the listener, who might say 'Nuhenuheo ji!' ("Don't you dare!", lit. "Don't (even) try this"). Similarly, it would be very rude to use it to reject an offer or a request.
Saimoke mo haomo ilikio al fanal. We would like to not be disturbed.
want-CONDConditional (mood)
would ANTIPAntipassive voice (valency)
valency is decreased by one ask-ANTIPAntipassive voice (valency)
valency is decreased by one be_distubed NEGNegative (polarity)
not 1PFirst person plural (person)
we (inclusive or exclusive).EXCLExclusive (person)
speaker's group, not listener;SG
Not al ji. This shall be [referring to the not being disturbed]/As you wish.
The formal and polite way to turn down an offer or deny a request would be either 'Hokolukee, teo tovoheo ji' (/hɑkɑluke: teɑ tɑʋɑheɑ ji/, "Unfortunately, this needs to be turned down") or 'Hokolukee, eeol no ji' (/hɑkɑluke: e:ɑl nɑ ji/, "Unfortunately, this is not possible"). Which one is used usually depends on which one is more fitting in a given context.
Other uses exist, too.
No, haa? ('Are you sure?') is used if the speaker isn't sure whether to believe an answer to a question.
Memo na, haa? ('You said, what?') is the informal way to ask someone to repeat something, Memotilof mo fab, haa? (Could you (formal) repeat [that]?) is the formal way, 'Memotilof mo fan, ukainoke fan? ('Could you (formal) repeat [that], you would be thanked') is the very formal way to do that.
It's polite to use "fan" (2.COL) when addressing someone you don't know or who is older than you, and ask questions with the conditional mood by adding -ke to verbs, and use the subjunctive for affirmations or praises. (The subjunctive should not be used in informal speech in that way, as it will come across as weird, humorous or even arrogant.)
When making a request after an offer has been made, 'Ukainot na' (/ukɐinɑt nɐ/, "You shall be honored/thanked") is put at the end of the sentence, taking the role of "please" in "I'll take four, please". To be more polite, it can be preceded by a verb repetition first (see above). This is uncommon in less formal environments, e.g. markets, where the request alone can serve as agreement.
Saimoke hao fan fivati, haa? Would you like some eggs?
Want-COND ask 2.COL egg-IDR, Q?
(Saimoke hao ta kiovif.) Teo ta ja a du, ukainot na. (I would like some.) I need four of them, you shall be thanked.
Want-COND ask 1S some.C Need 1S this.C of four, be_thanked-SUBJ 2S
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