Definition
A comarative construction, as used in this article, indicates that the target of comparison (symbolized as T) equals, or ranks above or below the basis of comparison (symbolized as B) with respect to certain characteristic (symbolized as Ch). Examples:
1. We had more visiters today than yesterday
[nan" qin-na=(+)Rit=(+/-).e-(_)/laNg-(_)ke' bpi=(+)\tza-Ng= kaQ"\tz(/w)e-]
our of today visiters comparing yesterday more many;
2. We had less visiters today than yesterday
[nan" qin-na=(+)Rit=(+/-).e-(_)/laNg-(_)ke' bpi=(+)\tza-Ng= kaQ"\tzyo"]
more few;
3. We had as many visiters today as yesterday.
[nan" qin-na=(+)Rit=(+/-).e-(_)/laNg-(_)ke' ham-(_)\tza-Ng= bpi~-(_)\tz(/w)e-]
with yesterday equally many;
4. Among the three brothers, the youngest is the tallest
[tzit=sa~-e-(_)/hya~-dti_a" lai_bin- syONg_s(/w)e'|e' syONg_qai"\dtwa_han']
these three brothers inside most small most tall.
Sentences 1 through 3 are typical comparative constructions, where T is 'today'; B, 'yesterday'; and Ch,
'quantity of visiters'. Sentence 4 is an example of superlative construction which, if treated as a special
comparative construction, indicates T, 'the youngest' in this case, as ranking above (or below) all other
members of B, 'the three brothers' in this case, with repect to certain characteristic, 'tallness' in this case.
Based on this definition, we shall discuss how a comparative construction in Hoyloy contrasts with that in English in terms of the comparative marker for Ch and the way T correlates with B. Variation in complexity due to language specific features will be dealt with as we move along with our discussion.
Comparative construction of inequality
The marker of inequality
The comparative marker of inequality [kaQ\-] in Hoyloy is equivalent to that of 'more' or the suffix 'er' as
in 'better', 'heavier' and 'quicker'. Examples:
5. [Linda.e-(_)/ho_lo=(+)we- qONg=(+)dtyoQ=(+) bpi=(+)\li=(+)e-(_)/i(E)Ng-gj(u)=# kaQ"\ho"] 'Linda speaks better Hoyloy than you speak Englsih'; 6. [tzit=tzyaQ"/gu+ bpi=(+)\hit=sa~-tzyaQ"/yu~-(_)a" kaQ"\dtaNg-] This cow/ox weighs heavier than those three goats/sheep'; 7. [kaQ"\qin"|de' qyONg_b(/w)eQ"\syu~-wa~'|lO'] Hurry up (lit. be quicker) (it will be) too late soon.
For comparative marker modified with 'much', [kaQ\-] is sometimes replaced or preceded by [qe\=] (lit. to increase) or [qo\'] (lit. over/again). Examples:
8. [gwa" tzit=ma" bpi=(+)\kaQ"tza" qe-tzin-\qen_kONg=] 'I now comparing earlier much truly healthy' 'I am now much healthier than earlier'; 9. [lin-(+)/dtau=(-) bpi=(+)\gun=(+)/dtau=(_) qe-kaQ"\su"si_/tzin-tz(/w)e-] 'Your home comparing our home more comfortable very much' = 'Your home is much more comfortable than ours'; 10.[tza-Ng= u_/qau"\liNg"//qin-na=(+)Rit=(+/-) qo"kaQ"\liNg"] 'Yesterday (it was) really cold; today (it is) even colder'.
While being generally similar in function, the comparative marking is different from that in English in three ways. In the first place, the Hoyloy marking is solely periphrastic but the English marking can be periphrastic or inflectional. Secondly, 'more' and 'less' are sometimes used to indicate 'a bigger quantityof ' and 'a smaller quantity of', for which the counterparts in Hoyloy are [kaQ"\tz(/w)e-] (more many/much) and [kaQ"\tzyo"] (more little/few). And thirdly, there is no antonym for [kaQ\-] in Hoyloy as 'less' for 'more' in Englsih and compounds such as [kaQ"\tzyo"] (more little) [kaQ"\bo+] (more not-having) and [kaQ"\b(/w)e-] (more not-capable) are used instead. Examples:
11. [qin-ni+ hO_tzwi" bpi=(+)\qu_ni+ kaQ"\tzyo"]
'This yr rain comparing last yr more little' =
'There is less rain for this year than last year';
12. [tzi=e-(_)/hwan_tzya" bpi=(+)\i=(+)tzi(E)Ng+ kaQ"\bo-(_)/wi_kau"]
'This patient comparing before more not-having appetite' =
'This patient has less appetite than before';
13. [h(/w)e=(+)q(/w)e=(-) bpi=(+)\go(ya)-(_)a" kaQ"\b(/w)e_/dtwa-]
'Turkeys comparing geese more not-capable grow/ =
'Turkeys are less capable to grow than geese'.
Correlating T and B
The relationship between the target of comparison, T, and the basis of comparison, B, is indicated
by the subordinating conjunction 'than' in English and the similar job is taken up by [bpi"] (to compare)
in Hoyloy. Take note, however, that the combination of the Hoyloy verb [bpi"] for this purpose and
the basis of comparison for its object representing the phrase of 'comparing with the basis of
comparison' is in effect the reduced form of a subordinate clause of comparative condition as
illustrated by the examples given below.
14. [nam-(_)bpO- hO_tzwi" bpi=(+)\bpaK=bpO- kaQ"\tzyo"]
'Rain of southern part comparing with northern part more-little' =
'There is less rain in the southern area than the northern area';
14a.[ham_\bpaK=bpO- bpi" nam-(_)bpO- hO_tzwi" kaQ"\tzyo"]
'As compared with the northern part rain of southern part more-little' =
'Comparing with the northern area there is less rain in the southern area';
14b.[nam-(_)bpO- hO_tzwi" ham_\bpaK=bpO- bpi" kaQ"\tzyo"]
'Rain of southern part as compared with northern part more-little' =
'There is less rain in the southern area than the northern area'.
As illustrated by sentences 14a and 14b, the subordinate clause of comparative condition, [ham_\bpaK=bpO- bpi"] in this case, can be positioned at the beginning or inserted after the target of comparison, but the reduced form, [bpi=(+)\bpaK=bpO-] in this case, is typically epenthetic.
For the construction in English by contrast, the posterior comparative clause introduced by the conjunction 'than' is treated as either modifier of Ch which is marked for comparison, or complementation of the comparative marker*.
*R. Quirk et al 1985: A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, 15.75 p1144.
As a feature particular to the comparative construction in Hoyloy, combination of the comparative marker [kaQ\-] with the morphem [q(/w)e'] (to pass) may be used for introducing the basis of comparison. For some idiomatic usages the comparative marker alone may serve the same function. Examples:
15. [u_e-(_)/tza-bo"/laNg+ kaQ"\qut=lat_/q(/w)e"\dta-bpO-laNg+]
'Some women more strength-exerting over men'
15a.[u_e-(_)/tza-bo"/laNg+ bpi=(+)\dta-bpO-laNg+ kaQ"\qut=lat=(+/-)]
'Some women comparing men more strength-exerting' =
'Some women work harder than men';
16. [tsat_a" kaQ"\OK=/laNg+]
'Thief more furious (over)people' =
'The thief is (spitefully) more irritable than (innocent) people;
17. [hm-(_)laNg-(_)/tzi~+ kaQ"\tz(/w)e_q(/w)e"\pi(E)Ng"qim-le"] 'more money is
paid to the matchmaker than what will be sent to the bride's family for
betrothment'/'too much spending for a business with too little profit';
18. [gwa" q(/w)e"/qyo+ kaQ"\tz(/w)e_/li" qya~-(_)lO=] 'the bridges I have
passed make up more mileage than that you have walked on the roads' =
exaggeration for 'I am far more experieanced than you are'.
-- to be continued --
-- Options for pronunciation guidance:syllabic tone patterns | vowels | consonants | practical symbols
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