Join islands
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Scope islands
A join takes every same-role item before it. When English groups a small list inside a bigger one of the same role (Azozon and (just water)), wrap the small list and its join in { … }, called a scope island. The join inside the island takes members only from between those marks. One island per clause; material outside needs its own outer join. An island holds at most one phrase and may close partway through it (scope islands).
| Ageben | English |
|---|---|
zazozon { zowulal zal } zam | Azozon and (just water) |
zazozon { zal } zam | Azozon and nothing |
{ zowulal zal } | just water (alone in the slot) |
zazozon { zowulal zal } zam.[z-Azozon | SCOPE[z-water | z-and] | z-and.open]
"Azozon and (just water)."
Compare with: an island limits only what a join or an /h/ word covers.
Named phrase -n
When a list is a familiar set phrase (Stop–Drop–Roll), end its join with -n (under /z/, /d/, or /b/). The -n names the whole list as one title, the way it names a person (titled phrases). Members keep their usual endings unless a member is itself a name.
zobodel zubudal zan.NAME[z-bread | z-butter | z-and]
"bread and butter" (the familiar bundle)
Standalone …an (no items) is null / void. Under /ɡ/ /h/, -n forms join-derived relations; see Join across roles.
Compare with: clause xan is and then, not a named list.
Allowed joins by role letter
A join has at most two vowels. Which endings it can take depends on its role letter:
| Role | Join endings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
/z/ /d/ /b/ | -l / -m / -n / -r ( -r only on a / o / e / u), -rx | phrase lists; -n is a named package; -rx is an unnamed group |
/w/ | none | not a phrase list: the only /w/ before a join word is wubam, with -l or -m |
/ɡ/ /h/ | same series as restrictors allow | restrictors; -n forms are join-relations |
/v/ | -l / -m / -r, each with -x | -x is one shared act; parallel -n forms are join-act verbs |
/th/ | -l / -m / -r ( -r only on a / o / e / u) | stance joins on stance words (not because…) |
/x/ | -l / -m / -n / -r ( -r only on a / o / e / u) | between clauses, not after them (clause joins); forms: Join across roles |
Word shape: phonology.
Constraints
These limits apply to every join.
| Limit | Pattern |
|---|---|
| One slot per chain | one subject, object, plain /b/ recipient, /ɡ/ stack, or /w/ / /h/ / /th/ unit; hosted /b/ stays on its /ɡ/, /h/, or /th/ |
| Matching role letter | every item head and the join share the first letter |
| One right-close per flat list | nest as fence nesting |
| Shared modifiers | only immediately after each join |
| Phrase -r | only …ar / …or / …er / …ur, plus -x for a group on /z/ /d/ /b/ |
| Join -x | after -r on /z/ /d/ /b/ (a group); after any ending on /v/ (one shared act) |
| Verb+object packages | verb-phrase /v/; full sentences use /x/ (forms) |
| Revising one item | in-clause including / rather / instead / except are hooks |
Several manners on /h/ /w/ | juxtaposition (hadurol halozul) |
Compare with: prefix-less al / am / … are hooks. Under /h/ /w/, the unit is a restrictor, not sibling and.
Because / if use /th/ plus /b/ blarl. An /h/ or /th/ word between the items of a noun, adjective, or /b/ list does not end the list. For how far an /h/ reaches in a verb list, see VP and clause forms. Each item of a clause join is a full clause.
Practice
Short drills for Advanced. Try each item before opening Show answer.
Setting: a treaty table
New words:
| English | Ageben | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| dove | udozel | 🕊️ |
| imprimatur | ezazem | 🦭 from seal: the stamp of approval |
Review:
| English | Ageben |
|---|---|
| Azozon | azozon |
| Alazun | alazun |
| Ahelan | ahelan |
| page | obonol |
| pen | ebewol |
| see | vayebel |
English → Ageben
1. a page or a pen (the familiar set phrase)
Show answer
zobonol zebewol zen.
NAME[z-page | z-pen | z-or-exactly-one]
2. Azozon and (just Ahelan)
Show answer
zazozon { zahelan zal } zam.
[z-Azozon | SCOPE[z-Ahelan | z-and] | z-and.open]
3. null / void
Show answer
zan.
NAME[z-and]
4. Alazun sees something other than the dove.
Show answer
zalazun dudozel dur vayebel.
z-Alazun | [d-dove | d-something-else] | v-see
Ageben → English
1. zoen.
Show answer
NAME[z-equal-rank]
It's a draw. (the stock phrase)
2. zazozon { zal } zam.
Show answer
[z-Azozon | SCOPE[z-none] | z-and.open]
Azozon and nothing
3. zezazem zobonol zur.
Show answer
[z-imprimatur | z-page | z-something-else]
something other than the seal and the page
4. zalazun dobonol debewol dan vayebel.
Show answer
z-Alazun | NAME[d-page | d-pen | d-and] | v-see
Alazun sees “Page-and-Pen”. (the familiar pair)
Pick one
1. Azozon and (just the dove) zazozon { zudozel zal } zam. or zazozon zudozel zal zam.
Show answer
zazozon { zudozel zal } zam.
[z-Azozon | SCOPE[z-dove | z-and] | z-and.open]
The island keeps zal on the dove alone; without braces it closes Azozon and the dove together.
2. “Page and Pen” (the familiar set phrase) zobonol zebewol zan. or zobonol zebewol zal.
Show answer
zobonol zebewol zan.
NAME[z-page | z-pen | z-and]
-n names the list as one set phrase; -l is an ordinary a page and a pen.
Reference tables
Lookup grids that restate forms taught above; nothing here is new.
Rare arities and edge readings
Most other phrase joins need two or more items. These edge readings keep a defined sense at every arity, or mix two joins by nesting.
| Ageben | Use | English |
|---|---|---|
| …ul / …um / …un | deny at every arity | standalone no; one item not X; multi none of |
| …ar / …or / …er / …ur | unspecified member at every arity | unspecified -r |
| …oen / …en / …an standalone | stock empty rank / named empty | it's a draw; no favorite (stock); null / void |
| …ual / …uol standalone | empty invert | everything; anything (goes) |
zeyel vs zeyel zar | content -l vs join -r | a person vs some person, unknown who |
A B C zer vs … zor | menu vs rank unspecified | any of them is fine vs pick by ranking |
A B zar / zur / zual | among / leftover / invert | some one among; some one other than; everything but |
A B zol vs A B zaol | rank vs sequence | A matters more than B vs A, then B |
zedudal zogudal zowulal zer.[z-tea | z-coffee | z-water | z-anything]
"any of tea, coffee, or water is fine."
For except, use: hook ul / um (hooks). Prefixed zur is unspecified something else. Nest when you need a rare mix (pick one of a closed list, but the pick is optional: zedudal zogudal zel zem).