xut
Keywords: edge conjunctions
| Pronunciation (IPA): | ʃut |
|---|---|
| Part of Speech: | conjunction |
| Class: | edge |
| Forms: | xut, xut/hanja |
| Glosses: | if |
Description:
The edge conjunction 'xut' introduces a clause as a hypothetical argument. Xut causes the verb in the object clause to be in the irrealis mood. It is often omitted and the irrealis mood used alone, but can be used for emphasis. It may be followed by a 'hanja' clause, the consequence of the 'xut' statement is true, which will be in the realis mood (and therefore the hanja may also be omitted).
Example:
Xut ja pikki tini slek a skitrem, hanja a pocuk se an citit.
If the cat eats the mouse, the child will be happy.
The use of 'xut' forces the verb slek to be in the irrealis mood, expressed with the no-past imperfect 'tini'. The if-true consequence introduced by 'hanja', 'then' is in the realis mood and the non-past impect. Note that the conjunctions add flow and emphasis to this statement, but aren't strictly necessary, because the verb mood conveys much the same idea with them:
Ja pikki tini slek a skitrem, a pocuk se an citit.
The(ERG) cat hit(IR.NP.PF) eat the(ABS) mouse, the(ABS) child stand(NP.IM) be happy.
The above idiomatically means essentially the same as the sentence using the conjunctions. This pattern of verb conjugation for if/then sentences is characteritic of Common and contrary to the way the subjunctive or other irrealis mood might be used in other languages. There is a consideration for whether the statement in the if-clause is considered possible or contrary to presently known facts. If viewed as possible, the then clause will be in the realis. However, if viewed as contrary to fact, the then clause will be in the irrealis mood as well.
When the conjunctions xut/hanja are explicitly used, they may be reordered for the hanja clause to go first (and the hanja can be omitted). If the conjunctions are omitted, however, it is generally necessary to put the 'if' cause first and the 'then' clause second.