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Case Summary

We’ve now seen all the cases used by Láadan. Case is nothing more nor less than the relation of a noun phrase to the verb—and sometimes to the Subject. However, if you are, perhaps, still uncomfortable with the idea of case, the following summary will illustrate and, hopefully, clarify:

Subject
	who/what performs the action of the VERB
	–Ø	Bíi wida Méri anath wa.	Mary carries food.
	bebáa	Báa wida bebáa anath?	Who carries food?
	radal, rawith	Bíi wida rawith anath wa.	No-one carries food.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida hi anath wa. Bíi wida Méri hi anath wa.	This/that carries food. This/that teacher carries food.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida beye anath wa. Bíi wida Méri beye anath wa.	Someone/something carries food. Some (one) teacher carries food.

Identifier
	no VERB; identifies the SUBJECT as something
	–m	Bíi Méri hothulem wa.	Mary is a grandparent.
	bebáam	Báa Méri bebáam?	Who/what is Mary?
	ram	Bíi Méri ram wa. Bíi Méri hothul ram wa.	Mary is no-one/nothing. Mary is anything but a grandparent.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi Méri him wa. Bíi Méri hothulem hi wa.	Mary is this/that. Mary is this/that grandparent.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi Méri beyem wa. Bíi Méri hothulem beye wa.	Mary is something/someone. Mary is some grandparent.
	úmú	Bíi wida Méri anath úmú thulana wa.	Mary carries food that is soup.

Object
	who/what receives the action of the VERB
	–th	Bíi wida Méri anath wa.	Mary carries food.
	bebáath	Báa wida Méri bebáath?	Mary carries what? What does Mary carry?
	radal, rawith	Bíi wida Méri radaleth wa.	Mary carries nothing.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri hith wa. Bíi wida Méri anath hi wa.	Mary carries this. Mary carries this food.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri beyeth wa. Bíi wida Méri anath beye wa.	Mary carries something/someone. Mary carries some food.
	úthú	Bíi wida Méri úthú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries what the boss requests.

Manner
	how the VERB is done
	–nal	Bíi wida Méri anath dozhenal wa.	Mary carries food easily.
	bebáanal	Báa wida Méri anath bebáanal?	How does Mary carry food?
	ranal	Bíi wida Méri anath ranal wa. Bíi wida Méri anath dozh ranal wa.	Mary carries food in no way. Mary carries food using otherwise than easily.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hinal wa. Bíi wida Méri anath dozhenal hi wa.	Mary carries food thus (in this/that way). Mary carries food in this/that easy manner.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyenal wa. Bíi wida Méri anath dozhenal beye wa.	Mary carries food somehow. Mary carries food in some easy manner.
	únalú	Bíi wida Méri anath únalú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food how (in the manner that) the boss requests.

Instrument
	what the SUBJECT uses in doing the VERB
	–nan	Bíi wida Méri anath dimodenan wa.	Mary carries food with (using) a bag.
	bebáanan	Báa wida Méri anath bebáanan?	Using what does Mary carry food?
	ranan	Bíi wida Méri anath ranan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath dimod ranan wa.	Mary carries food using nothing. Mary carries food using something other than a bag.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hinan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath dimodenan hi wa.	Mary carries food using this/that. Mary carries food using this/that bag.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyenan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath dimodenan beye wa.	Mary carries food using something/someone. Mary carries food using some bag.
	únanú	Bíi wida Méri anath únanú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food using what the boss requests.

Associate
	who/what accompanies the SUBJECT in doing the VERB
	–den (neutral) –dan (pleasure)	Bíi wida Méri anath laneden wa. Bíi wida Méri anath lanedan wa.	Mary carries food along with a friend. Mary carries food along with (pleasurably) a friend.
	bebáaden bebáadan	Báa wida Méri anath bebáaden? Báa wida Méri anath bebáadan?	With whom/what does Mary carry food? With (pleasurably) whom/what does Mary carry food?
	raden radan	Bíi wida Méri anath raden wa. Bíi wida Méri anath lan raden wa.	Mary carries food along with no-one/nothing. Mary carries food along with someone/something other than a friend.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hiden wa. Bíi wida Méri anath hidan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath laneden hi wa. Bíi wida Méri anath lanedan hi wa.	Mary carries food along with this/that. Mary carries food along with (pleasurably) this/that. Mary carries food along with this/that friend. Mary carries food along with (pleasurably) this/that friend.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyeden wa. Bíi wida Méri anath beyedan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath laneden beye wa. Bíi wida Méri anath lanedan beye wa.	Mary carries food along with someone/something. Mary carries food along with (pleasurably) someone/something. Mary carries food along with some friend. Mary carries food along with (pleasurably) some friend.
	úndenú	Bíi wida Méri anath údenú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food along with whom/what the boss requests.

Goal
	where the VERB is done to, at or toward
	–dim	Bíi wida Méri anath áathamedim wa.	Mary carries food to church.
	bebáadim	Báa wida Méri anath bebáadim?	Whither carries Mary food? Where does Mary carry food to?
	radim	Bíi wida Méri anath radim wa. Bíi wida Méri anath áatham radim wa.	Mary carries food to nowhere. Mary carries food to elsewhere than church.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hidim wa. Bíi wida Méri anath áathamedim hi wa.	Mary carries food to this/that place. Mary carries food to this/that church.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyedim wa. Bíi wida Méri anath áathamedim beye wa.	Mary carries food to somewhere/someplace. Mary carries food to some church.
	údimhú	Bíi wida Méri anath údimú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food to where the boss requests.

Source
	where the VERB is done from
	–de	Bíi wida Méri anath bethede wa.	Mary carries food from home.
	bebáade	Báa wida Méri anath bebáade?	Whence (from where) does Mary carry food?
	rade	Bíi wida Méri anath rade wa. Bíi wida Méri anath beth rade wa.	Mary carries food from nowhere. Mary carries food from elsewhere than home.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hide wa. Bíi wida Méri anath bethede hi wa.	Mary carries food from this/that place. Mary carries food from this/that home.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyede wa. Bíi wida Méri anath bethede beye wa.	Mary carries food from somewhere/someplace. Mary carries food from some home.
	údehú	Bíi wida Méri anath údehú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food whence (from where) the boss requests.

Place
	where the VERB is done
	–sha	Bíi wida Méri anath wethesha óobe wa.	Mary carries food along the road.
	bebáasha	Báa wida Méri anath bebáasha?	Where does Mary carry food?
	rasha	Bíi wida Méri anath rasha wa. Bíi wida Méri anath weth rasha óobe wa.	Mary carries food nowhere. Mary carries food elsewhere than along the road.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hisha wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wethesha hi óobe wa.	Mary carries food at this/that place. Mary carries food along this/that road.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyesha wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wethesha beye óobe wa.	Mary carries food somewhere/someplace. Mary carries food along some road.
	úshahú	Bíi wida Méri anath úshahú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food where the boss requests.

Time
	when the VERB is done
	–ya	Bíi wida Méri anath náaleya wa.	Mary carries food at night.
	bebáaya	Báa wida Méri anath bebáaya?	When does Mary carry food?
	raya	Bíi wida Méri anath raya wa. Bíi wida Méri anath náal raya wa.	Mary carries food nowhen. Mary never carries food. Mary carries food elsewhen than at night.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hiya wa. Bíi wida Méri anath náaleya hi wa.	Mary carries food at this/that time. Mary carries food on this/that night.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyeya wa. Bíi wida Méri anath náaleya beye wa.	Mary carries food somewhen/sometime. Mary carries food on some night.
	úyahú	Bíi wida Méri anath úyahú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food when the boss requests.

Beneficiary
	on whose/what’s behalf the VERB is done
	–da (neutral) –daá (accident) –dá (coercion) –dáa (duty)	Bíi wida Méri anath wíithameda wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wíithamedaá wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wíithamedá wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wíithamedáa wa.	Mary carries food for (neutral/voluntary) the clergy. Mary carries food for (accident) the clergy. Mary carries food for (coercion) the clergy. Mary carries food for (duty/obligation) the clergy.
	bebáada	Báa wida Méri anath bebáada?	For whom (on whose behalf) does Mary carry food?
	rada	Bíi wida Méri anath rada wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wíitham rada wa.	Mary carries food for no-one/nothing in particular. Mary carries food against (opposed to the interests of) the clergy.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hida wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wíithameda hi wa.	Mary carries food for this/that. Mary carries food for this/that clergy.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyeda wa. Bíi wida Méri anath wíithameda beye wa.	Mary carries food for someone/something. Mary carries food for some clergy.
	údahú	Bíi wida Méri anath údahú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food for whom/what the boss requests.

Purpose
	purpose for which the VERB is done
	–wan	Bíi wida Méri anath duthawan wa.	Mary carries food in order to heal.
	bebáawan	Báa wida Méri anath bebáawan?	Why (for what purpose) does Mary carry food?
	rawan	Bíi wida Méri anath rawan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath dutha rawan wa.	Mary carries food purposelessly. Mary carries food to hinder healing.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hiwan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath duthawan hi wa.	Mary carries food for this/that purpose. Mary carries food for this/that healing.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyewan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath duthawan beye wa.	Mary carries food for some purpose. Mary carries food for the purpose of some healing.
	úwanú	Bíi wida Méri anath úwanú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food for the purpose the boss requests.

Cause
	because of what the VERB is done
	–wáan	Bíi wida Méri anath éeyawáan wa.	Mary carries food due to illness.
	bebáawáan	Báa wida Méri anath bebáawáan?	Why (because of what) does Mary carry food?
	rawáan	Bíi wida Méri anath rawáan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath éeya rawáan wa.	Mary carries food from no cause. Mary carries food because of something other than illness. Mary carries food despite illness.
	hi, hizh, hin	Bíi wida Méri anath hiwáan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath éeyawáan hi wa.	Mary carries food because of this/that. Mary carries food because of this/that illness.
	beye, beyezh, beyen	Bíi wida Méri anath beyewáan wa. Bíi wida Méri anath éeyawáan beye wa.	Mary carries food because of something/someone. Mary carries food because of some illness.
	úwáanú	Bíi wida Méri anath úwáanú dibóo hu wa.	Mary carries food because the boss requests.

Word Order

The upshot of the foregoing is that it is possible to have a simple sentence with many case phrases.

Bíi wida Méri anath dozhenal dimodenan lanedan áathamedim bethede wethesha óobe náaleya wíithamedáa duthawan éeyawáanwa.

Mary carries food easily with (using) a bag with (pleasurably) a friend to the church from home along the road at night out of duty to the clergy to promote healing because of illness.

You may notice that the order of the case phrases in the English feels awkward. The standard word order in Láadan is different than that in English, but it seemed more transparent to transpose the Láadan case elements in order, despite the awkwardness of the English.

Regarding the Láadan standard word order in active sentences (Passive construction in Láadan is different and has its own future lesson) is as follows:


	• Type-of-Sentence Word. May have Mood Suffix applied.
	• Verb Phrase
		∘ optional Auxiliary
		∘ (plural) Verb —OR— (plural) Verb Complex —OR— Identifier’s Ø-Verb
		∘ optional Negative
	• Case Phrases. It is axiomatic that any Case Phrase ∘ may be expanded into a possessive phrase, ∘ may contain relativized verb(s) as appropriate, and/or ∘ may include a following quantifier and/or other postposition as needed.
		∘ Subject
		∘ Identifier —OR— ∘ Object
		∘ Manner
		∘ Instrument
		∘ Associate
		∘ Goal
		∘ Source
		∘ Place
		∘ Time
		∘ Beneficiary
		∘ Purpose
		∘ Cause
	• Evidential

The above is the standard order of Case Phrases (linguist-speak: the “unmarked order”). In natural case-languages, the order of case phrases is quite fluid. When, as we hope, Láadan goes out into the world and becomes a living language, the native speaker will have reasons—ranging from emphasizing one Case Phrase over another to poetic needs such as meter or rhyme, and so on—to reorder the Case Phrases. This grammar is in no way sufficiently advanced to cover these eventualities.


You may have noticed some groupings of similar cases in the above list. Since almost all cases relate to the expression of the Verb (with the remainder relating to the Subject), the broad groups are:
	1) Subject, Identifier/Object;
	2) Manner (the case most purely related to the Verb);
	3) Instrument, Associate (the English “with” pair);
	4) Goal, Source, Place, Time (the four “locatory” cases);
	5) Beneficiary, Purpose, Cause (the “motivational” set).

Cased Quantifiers

Quantifiers—like “woho” (#All), waha” (#Any), “menedebe” (#>5), “nedebe” (#2-5)—and numbers—like “rano” (#0), “nede” (#1), “shin” (#2), “thab” (#10), “thabeshin” (#20)—do not formally take case suffixes. However, informally, it would be perfectly understood to say “wohosha” (everywhere), “menedebedim” (to many— ambiguous as to whether to many places or to many people), “nedebedá” (for the benefit of few, by coercion), “nedenal” (singly; one-by-one), or any of a number of other cased quantifier formations. With the exception of “nedenal”, all of these are shorthand for longer phrases involving “with” (person) or “dal” (thing) or “hath” (time) or “hoth” (place). If there should be any confusion, the more fully-expressed phrase would likely be necessary to resolve the ambiguity.

Case Summary

Subject

Identifier

Object

Manner

Instrument

Associate

Goal

Source

Place

Time

Beneficiary

Purpose

Cause

Word Order

Cased Quantifiers