From its original meaning of 'hitting the mark' the Hoyloy morpheme [dtyoQ=(+/-)] has developed into a variaty of usages, the primary one being the predicative adjective for the English equivalent of 'right' [dtyoQ=(+/-)] or 'that's right' [an-ne(i)=(-) dtyoQ=(+/-)]. This article provides a fairly comprehensive coverage of these usages with illustrative examples.
(A) Used as a predicative adjective
1. [lOng-(+)tzOng" paQ"/go_bpai"//qan-na-\nNg_bpai" u_/dtyoQ=(+/-)] 'There were five strikes in all. The mark got hit for only two times'; 2. [li" an=(-)ne(i)=(-) tzo(e)' dtyoQ=(+/-)] '(It is) right that you did like that'; 3. [dtyoQ=(+/-) m_dtyoQ=(+/-) ham_\gwa" bo-(_)/dti_dtai-] 'Right or wrong, it doesn't concern me'.
(B) Used for building a verb phrase to indicate the state of reaching a target by the action
4. [hit=dtai-(_)/tsya=(-) tzi(E)Ng-/dtyoQ_\tzit=dtai-(_)/bus]
'That car bumped into this bus';
5. [hit=dtai-(_)/tsya=(-) qa_\tzit=dtai-(_)/bus tzi(E)Ng=|dtyoQ']
Same as 4. lit. 'that car this bus (marked as object with the preposition [qa\-])*
bumped into';
6. [tzit=dtai-(_)/bus hO_\hit=dtai-(_)/tsya=(-) tzi(E)Ng=|dtyoQ']
Same as 4. lit. 'this bus got bumped into by that car';
7. [li" u_/tya~-/dtyoQ_\ qau" dti_de=\bpwi- bo']
'Do you hear some dog barking';
8. [gwa" u_/tya~=(-)|dtyoQ']
'I do hear (it)'.
*For description on the morpheme [qa\-] (see goalmarker).
As a special case related to the usage just illustrated, [dtyoQ=(+/-)] is used as a condensed form for the verb phrase [lun+|dtyoQ'] for 'to be (someone's) turn'. For example, [dtyoQ_/gwa"] for [lun-(_)/dtyoQ_\gwa"] (it's my turn).
(C) Used for building a phrasal verb to indicate the state of getting hurt or sick
9. [gwa=e-(_)/yo=(-) ki"/syam"|dtioQ']
'My waist got caught by a sprain';
10. [ti~-ki' hwan=(+)/li(E)Ng" e-(_)\si-(_)tzun- kaQ"\e-(_)/ki"/qam=(+)mO-|dtyoQ']
'It is easier to catch cold when the weather is getting cooler';
11. [John ki'|dtyoQ' bo-(_)ai"/ham_\Lisa qONg=(+)we-]
'John got upset and refused to talk with Lisa'.
Note that the morpheme [dtyoQ\=(+/-)] in all such phrasal verbs takes the enclitic tone as should be in the rolling-off format.
(D) Used for building an adverb phrase to indicate the good-enough-for condition
12. [dtyu_a" qo"\tzya~-(_)\tzap_/qaNg=(-) dtyoQ_\e_sai=(+)dtit=/qwaQ- lO']
'The rice will be ready for harvest about ten days later';
cf.12a. [dtyu_a" qo"\tzya~-(_)\tzap_/qaNg= tzyaQ_\e_sai=(+)dtit=/qwaQ-]
'The rice won't be ready for harvest until about ten days later';
13. [dtan=(+)/bo-(_)/qwi-(+)hun-(_)tzi(E)Ng=(-) h(/w)e=(+)tsya=(-) dtyoQ_\qau"wi- lO']
'Without waiting more than a few minutes, the train arrived';
cf.13a. [dtan=(+)/qwi-dtyam=(+)tzi(E)Ng-/qu" h(/w)e=(+)tsya=(-) tzyaQ"\qau"wi-]
'The train didn't arrive until (we) had waited for one full hour';
14. [hit=haNg- zap_/kO=(-) dtyoQ_\ho"//tzit=haNg- dtyoQ_ai" zap=gO_/kO=(-) tzyaQ"\
e_sai"|dit'] 'For that item, ten (Taiwan) dollars will do. For this item, it won't
do unless for fifteen (Taiwan) dollars'.
(E) Used for building a verb phrase for getting hit by something unusual
15. [sa~si"bpaQ"tzyaQ"/dtj=(-) dtyoQ_/tze=(-) tzo(e)"tzit_bpai" si=(+)/lyau=(+)lyau"]
'Three to four hundred pigs got hit by an epidemic and died all at once';
16. [gu(a)n=(+)/dtau=(-) tza-Ng=(-) dtyoQ_/tsat_tau=(-)//paNg"qi~(en)"/
tzit_dtai-(_)/tiQ"be"]
'Our/my house got hit by stealing, i.e. a thief came to steal, yesterday --
a bicycle got lost'.
(F) Used for building a phrasal verb that requires an adjective as complement
17. [qi"Ren+ li" qONg=(+)/dtyoQ=(+/-).tzin-/ho=(+)se'//
naQ"\bo_ai"/tzo(e)"/kwa~"bai-|de']
'Since you have so well said, why don't you try and do it';
18. [tzit=e-(_)/gin=(+)na" kwa~"/dtyoQ=(+/-).tzin-/li(E)Ng=(+)li-]
'This kid looks smart'.
(G) Used as an auxiliary
For positive expressions, the auxilliary is typically formed with [dtyoQ=(+/-)] and [ai'] (to want/like/love). But the phrase word may be condensed to [dtyoQ\=(+/-)]. For negative expressions, [dtyoQ\=(+/-)] is prefixed to words beginning with a negation morpheme [m-], [bo+] or [b(/w)e-].This auxilliary may appear in the main clause after an if/when-clause, or in the subordinate clause with the main clause introduced by the morpheme [tzyaQ\-] (then). Examples:
19. [na_\b(/w)eQ"/tzo(e)"/si(E)Ng-li" dtyoQ_ai"/u_bpun=(+)tzi~+]
'You need to have capital if you want to run a business';
20. [dtyoQ_ai"/u_/nNg_e+ tzyaQ"\e_dtaNg"/Tango]
'It takes two to tango';
21. [hONg-tai=(-) na_\u/lai+//Hayley dtyoQ_\bo_b(/w)eQ"/ki']
'If the typhoon comes, Hayley won't be going';
22. [nyau-a" bo-(_)dti-|de' nyau=(+)tsj" dtyoQ_\e_kyau-ka=(-)*]
'When the cat's away, the mice will play'.
* [kyau-ka=] sitting or lying relaxed with one leg placed upon the other.
23. [li" na"e_/bpwaQ_bpwaQ=(+/-)|dto'//m_dtyoQ_\qya~-(_)/hO,-\ho"]
'How come you tripped and fell. You should have watched your steps'.
Note that [m_dtyoQ=(+/-)] means 'wrong' (predicative adjective). But the quasi-word [m_dtyo\=(+/-)] doesn't have lexical meaning but grammatical function as demonstrated in sentence 23. It appears as the negative of [dtyoQ\=(+/-)] or [dtyoQ_ai\'] as an auxilliary, but is used as an equivalent to the Englsih subjunctive 'should have' in a reproachful or corrective expression.
-- For audio play of Hoyloy sentences 1 through 23, click here. --
(H) Some familiar words and phrases built with [dtyoQ\=(+\-)]
1. [wi_dtyoQ_\]* for 2. [ko=(+)lj_dtyoQ_\]* in consideration of 3. [dtai"nyam_/dtyoQ_\]* in consideration of (what makes someone deserving a favour) 4. [x hO_\ y dtai'|dtyoQ'] person y is to blame for person x's suffering 5. [dtyoQ_dtaQ-] (intranstive verb) to stumble 6. [dtyoQ_dtyau'] (intransitive verb) to get hooked 7. [dtyoQ_bpan=] = [dtONg-hwan=]/[dtONg-dtit=(+/-)] to be on duty by turn 8. [dtyoQ_qau+] literally, to act like a monkey (a term used to criticise someone jokingly when you see them suddenly act strangely such as laughing or crying out impulsively) 9. [dtyoQ_qip-] to be anxious 10. [dtyoQ_syO(a)Ng=(-)] to get hurt/damaged 11. [dtyoQ_tau+] in the right direction (for positioning an object) 12. [dtyoQ_tsi=] to get athlete's foot 13. [dtya~_dtyoQ=(+/-)] engagement; make an engagement 14. [bo-(_)/dtya~_dtyoQ=(+/-)] uncertain 15. [syu~-|dtyoQ'] a term used for laughing at someone's strange idea 16. [bo-(_)taNg-/dtyoQ_\(someone)]* no chance for someone to get it
*A backslash is deliberately placed behand the tone mark here to indicate that this is an irreversible linking tone.
-- Options for pronunciation guidance:syllabic tone patterns | vowels | consonants | practical symbols
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