The goal marker for a direct or indirect object of verb
In Hoyloy a direct object of verb may follow the verb or be moved to the front by the goal marker [qa\-]. But an indirect object of verb, except for the benefactive case marked by the morpheme [hO\-], is constantly introduced by the goal marker and goes before the verb. For English translation of the examples given below for illustration, the goal marker for indirect object of verb is rendered into a preposition with similar meaning and that for direct object of verb indicated with the symbol gm.
1. [tzit=lo- dtai_tzi' li" m_taNg-/qa_\a-bu" qONg"]
such matter you can't to mother speak
It is not desirable that you tell Mom about such a thing;
2. [li" m_taNg-/qa_\tzit=lo- dtai_tzi" qONg=(+)/hO_\a-bu" tya~=]
you can't (gm) such a matter speak let mother hear
It is not desirable that you tell such a matter to let Mom hear;
2a.[li" m_taNg-/qONg=(+)/tzit=lo- dtai_tzi" hO_\a-bu" tya~=]
you can't speak such a matter let mother hear
It is not desirable that you tell such a matter to let Mom hear;
3. [Ki" qam=(+)a=dtyam' qa_\a-bpa= b(/w)e=(+)/tzit_bpau-/hun=]
go grocer' store for father buy a pack cigrette
Go to the grocer's store (and) buy a pack of cigrette for Daddy;
4. [a-i(E)Ng=a' ki"/qe"bpyaQ- qa_\a-m" to=(+)/lNg_lyap-(_)a=/swan"tau+]
A'yeng go next door from Auntie ask for a couple some garlic roots
Go next door, A'ying, and ask for some garlic roots from Auntie;
5. [bpat_laNg-(+).e-(_)/dtai_tzi' mai"/qa,Ng-(_)*\tsap-]
others 's business don't for them meddle in
Don't you meddle in others business for them
*[qa,Ng\+] = contraction of [qa\-] and [laNg\+];
6. [hONg= tzin-/tau' taNg-a=mNg+ qa,-*\qwi~=|ki'lai'//ho"|bo']
wind very tough window (gm it) close up all right?
It's very windy. Do you mind having the window closed?
*[qa,\=] = contraction of [qa\-] and the reduced third person singular pronoun [i=].
Conversion between the goal marker and the agent marker
When the goal marker is used to introduce a direct object of verb, it is the converse of the agent marker [hO\-] which is used for some passive constructions. Examples:
7. [a-i(E)Ng= qa_\swan"tau+ teQ=(+/-)|dtNg'lai'a']
A'yeng (gm)garlic roots taken for home
A'yeng has brought the garlic roots home;
7a. [swan"tau+ a-i(E)Ng= qa,-\teQ=(+/-)|dtNg'lai'a']
garlic roots A'yeng (gm them) take for home already
A'yeng has brought the garlic roots home;
7b. [a-i(E)Ng= teQ_/swan"tau+ dtNg"|lai']
A'yeng brought (some) garlic roots home;
8. [swan"tau+ hO_\a-i(E)Ng= teQ=(+/-)|dtNg'lai'a']
garlic roots by A'yeng taken for home already
The garlic roots have been brought home by A'yeng.
Sentences 7 through 7b exemplify three positions a direct object of verb may take for the active voice. Sentence 8 is the counterpart in passive voice for sentence 7a.
Ambiguity
Because the goal marker introduces an either direct or indirect object of verb, the meaning of an expression may be construed ambiguously as illustrated by the following dialogues.
9. Child: [bpNg li(E)Ng=(+)li(E)ng)"//gwa" tzyaQ_/b(/w)e_/loQ=(+/-)|ki']
The rice is cold. I can't swallow (it);
Mother: [bo-(_)/qa_\gwa=/tun=|lo'ki' b(/w)e_/sai"|dtit']
No choice but swallow me/No choice but swallow (it) for me.
10. A: [tzat_a" biQ"/dti_\hya=]
The thief is hiding over there;
B: [qa_\gwa=/lyaQ=(+/-)|ki'lai']
Catch me/catch (him/her) for me.
Addendum:[qaNg\-] in stead of [qa\-]
In some accent of Hoyloy [qaNg\-] is used in stead of [qa\-] for the goal marker*. In the lyrics of the southern school of traditional Hoyloy music, named as [nam-(_)qwan"] in Taiwan, the kanji written for this morpheme has the lexical meaning of 'together'. In colloquial Hoyloy it is used in the phrase [dtau"sa~-qaNg-] for 'helping each other'. Nowadays on Taiwan we hardly hear anybody using [qaNg\-] for the goal marker.
*Carstairs Douglas 1873: Amoy Dictionary p188.
-- Options for pronunciation guidance:syllabic tone patterns | vowels | consonants | practical symbols
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