User:JorisvS/sandbox

Imperfections in Ithkuil
Ithkuil has many features that make explicit many aspects that remain implicit in natural languages. There are, however, several features that are rather haphazard and so could be better.
 * The assignment of the meaning of the holistic and complementary stems is rather arbitrary, which means that these have to be learned and cannot be inferred. An extreme example is with -kss-, 'hadron', whose second holistic stem means 'nucleon' with its two complementary concepts, 'proton', and 'neutron'.
 * The SSD suffix is used to increase the number of concepts to which a root can refer, but it does so in a very haphazard manner and the meaning of the SSD suffixes must be learned for each root separately.
 * Several grammatical categories that are indicated on the verbal formative carry information about the entire utterance: illocution, sanction, validation, and bias.
 * The existence of verbal adjuncts means that many more forms must be learned for the same number of grammatical categories. It should be possible to have sufficient euphony without having verbal adjuncts.
 * There is no numeral '0', yet that has a central role in much of mathematics. No modern language can do without it.

Analyzing the semantics of the lexicon

 * There are a number of distinct distributions of the holistic and complementary stems with a matrix-like semantic patterning:
 * East vs. west / north vs. south and directional vs. geographical/political and (formal) vs. within a formal coordinate system (-cm- and -sr-)
 * Initiating vs. complementary partner's act/state/relationship and act/state/relationship itself vs. the effect (consequences/benefits/implications) of the act/state and (formal) vs. expected or natural role (patterned after -kh-)
 * Exterior part vs. interior part and bodily location vs. function (✅) and (formal) of animal entity vs. of non-animal entity or figuratively (only -bw-)
 * Male vs. female (✅) and via one's mother vs. via one's father and (formal) vs. through one's step-parent (-fn- and -qţ-)
 * Male vs. female (✅) and parent vs. child (✅) and (formal) in-law vs. foster (only -jm-)
 * Male vs. female (✅) and parent vs. child (✅) and (formal) biological vs. stepfamily (only -mm-)
 * Upper vs. lower part [trunk/torso–abdomen–chest/thorax; note the mistake in usage of the words on the lexicon page] and body part vs. function (✅) and (formal) vs. applied to midsection of a non-animal entity (only -fš-)
 * Food vs. drink and action vs. item consumed and (formal) general vs. referring to processed items (e.g. meals) (only -gr-)
 * Course/trajectory vs. movement (of quasi-linear translative movement) and away from a point vs. toward a point and (formal) vs. deliberately (e.g. a journey) (patterned after -k-) [check whether properly interpreted]
 * atomic nucleus vs. atomic electron cloud and physical object itself vs. behavior or effect and (formal) vs. specific instance (of chemical element–nuclide–atomic orbital) (only -kth-)


 * There are those that almost have a full matrix-like semantic patterning
 * Male vs. female (✅) and wild vs. domesticated/bred (✅) and (formal) vs. as a resource and [symmetry breaking] as prey vs. derived resource or processed product (patterned after -sk-, -vr- and -fţ-; -by-; -çkhw-; -kţr-)
 * supernatural spirit: (neutral vs.) good vs. bad and male vs. female (✅) and (formal) vs. ~of Christianity/Abrahamic religions, but [symmetry broken] angel–God–the Devil (only -lth-)


 * Most stems have a partially simple matrix-like semantic patterning, but with one dimension not having a simple pattern of two complementary concepts and a holistic one:
 * Color–light–dark (✅) and something that has a color vs. the color itself (✅) (formal) unpainted/unstained vs. painted/stained (✅) (patterned after -xt'-; -kw- (the actual patterner))
 * [possibly patterned] and effort vs. result and (formal) non-mechanical vs. mechanical (only -čh-)
 * [unpatterned] and ontological aspect vs. metaphysical aspect and (formal) vs. epistemological context (only the stem -c-)
 * [unpatterned] and toward one side vs. toward 'other' side and (formal) vs. toward an "end point" (patterned after -f-)
 * [unpatterned] and abstract archetype (only the shape) vs. an object that has such a shape and (formal) solid volume vs. wireframe (only the stem -ct'-)
 * [unpatterned] and emotional process vs. the quale (emotional state itself) and (formal) vs. formal/institutionalized/symbolic emotional expressions (patterned after -pk-; -ch-)
 * [unpatterned] and component vs. function (✅) and (formal) inalienable vs. alienable (patterned after -g-)
 * [unpatterned] and process vs. result and (formal) knowledge vs. technology (only -bv-)
 * [unpatterned] and process vs. content and (formal) real vs. fictional (only -bz-)
 * flow of water–sprinkle/shower–free-falling water and water component vs. course/channel component and (formal) vs. naturally occurring (river–rain–waterfall) (patterned after -kl-)
 * [unpatterned]?? and boundaries vs. space and (formal) container vs. room (only -çt-)
 * [unpatterned] and act vs. effect and (formal) vs. by default appendages (only -č-)
 * [unpatterned] and higher/more difficult/more dangerous vs. lower/easier/safer and (formal) vs. authoritative/permanent or social (only -čk-)
 * [unpatterned] and action vs. object used or prepared and (formal) vs. in commercial settings (patterned after -sx-)
 * [unpatterned] and reference vs. referent and (formal) vs. in formal contexts (only -d-)
 * [unpatterned] and underlying condition vs. symptoms and effects and (formal) chronic vs. acute (patterned after -sxh-)
 * [unpatterned] and entry vs. exit and (formal) vs. through official or primary point [possibly not fully patterned] (only -č'-)
 * [unpatterned] and body part itself vs. function (✅) and (formal) vs. something functionally equivalent in a non-animal entity (-dl-, -gd-)
 * as manipulator–as support–as ambulator and body part itself vs. function/use (✅) and (formal) ("arm") of non-animal entity (patterned after -pr-)
 * [unpatterned] and behavior/act vs. emotion and (formal) ? (only -dn-)
 * [unpatterned] and leader's part vs. follower's part and (formal) vs. of formal organizations, incl. of governments (only -dr-)
 * [unpatterned] and organic vs. non-organic or synthetic and (formal) vs. unusual/unexpected (patterned after -kv-)
 * sigh–squeal/groan–gasp and pleasure/satisfaction-based vs. pain/distress-based and (formal) affective/non-volitional vs. volitional (only -ff-)
 * moment/instant–a while–a portion of the day and focus on elapsed time vs. during which something happened/was done/... and (formal) vs. in exact time units (i.e. second–100 seconds–10,000 seconds) (only -fr-)
 * general weakness (age-/illness-related)–specific physical disability/abnormality–lame/crippled/handicapped and underlying condition vs. physical effect/manifestation/symptoms and (formal) chronic vs. temporary (only -fř-)
 * state of health/well-being–illness–injury/trauma and effect vs. cause and (formal) physical vs. mental (only -gl-)
 * condoning–forgiveness–atonement and seeking vs. granting and (formal) vs. by formal institution/state (only -kč)
 * dimensional property: static–decreasing–increasing and spatial vs. temporal context and (formal) vs. in reference to an applied contextual gestalt (-kp-; patterned after -lb-)
 * equilibrium motion based on pressure–gravitational equilibrium (e.g. Lagrangian points)–orbit and the object in motion vs. act/state and (formal) natural vs. technological means (only -kt')
 * fool–buffoon–nerd and for laughing vs. sorrowful/poignant and (formal) vs. included with a social system (i.e. village fool–clown–jester) and [slight symmetry breaking] entertainment context vs. as parody or foil (only -kš-)
 * stone–sand–clay and substance vs. substrate/ground and (formal) vs. rock–gravel–lava (only -kt-)
 * to one(self)–to another entity–[reminder] and appearance/physical characteristics vs. purpose/function/behavior (✅) and (formal) similarity vs. sameness [slight symmetry breaking: Stem 3 has reminder vs. copy/replacement] (only -kţ-)
 * general vocal utterance–speak/spoken utterance–rhetorical utterance and the physical production of sound vs. the communication/conveying of content and [formal] vs. its meaning (only -l-)
 * musical note–consciously select note–beat/measure and sound vs. production/selection and (formal) vs. applied to song/the human voice (only -lm-)
 * marsupial–ovoviviparous mammal–placental mammal and male vs. female (✅) and (formal) vs. tamed/bred/domesticated/pet (✅) (only -lř-)
 * sound made by mouth–by throat–by non-oral non-vocal body part and production vs. sound itself and (formal) non-linguistic vs. linguistic, but with [symmetry breaking]: consonant–vowel–phoneme a more logical ordering would be phoneme–consonant–vowel or phoneme–vowel–consonant (only -lż-)
 * element–area–natural piece of territorywhat is this supposed to mean? and feature vs. as natural habitat and [formal] geographical vs. geopolitical3rd holistic stem is "piece of property" (simply as geopolitical counterpart?), but [symmetry breaking] focus on political entity vs. on political borders (only -mb-)
 * experience of awe–humbleness caused by awe–cause of awe and process vs. experiential state and (formal) vs. formal/institutionalized/symbolic expressions of awe (i.e. worship) (only -mn-)
 * [transfer of possession]direct–indirect–over distance and give vs. take and temporary/circumstantial/incidental and (formal) (quasi-)permanent/official (only -mr-)
 * terrestrial/avian animal–waterlife–amphibian and domesticable vs. undomesticable and (formal) vs. domesticated/bred and [necessary symmetry breaking]: as pets vs. as resource (only -mt'-)
 * season–associated weather–associated condition of flora/fauna and timeframe vs. context and (formal) vs. associated behavior/custom (only -mx-)


 * There are those that have a somewhat matrix-like semantic patterning, but with two dimensions not patterned:
 * species-specific natural way of moving (walk/fly/crawl)–rapid species-specific way of moving–unnatural/affected way of moving and way of movement vs. the translation involved and (formal) formal way of moving (e.g. marching)–purposely rapid movement (e.g. fleeing)–deliberately unnatural movement (only -gw-)
 * [unpatterned] and physical entity vs. function (✅) and (formal) [unpatterned] (only -cp'-)
 * [unpatterned] and feeling vs. object desired and (formal) [unpatterned] (only -b-)
 * set of [...]–having [...] facets/aspects/usages–[...]th in a sequence and multiplication vs. division–[...] iterations vs. [...] parts–raise to the [...]th power vs. raise to the −[...]th power and (formal) vs. in official, permanent, or authorized contexts (the numerals: ..., -ks-, ..., -cq-, ..., -fy-, ..., -mř-, ..., -čkh-)
 * one/unit–alone–unique and no other instance existing vs. being undivisible and [formal] singular–isolated–independent/self-sufficient (only -ll-)
 * [unpatterned] and [un-/semi-patterned] and (formal) vs. professional clothing (uniform, costume) (patterned after -gv-)
 * [non-matrix pattern] and manifestation vs. substance itself [partially unpatterned] and (formal) [unpatterned] (patterned after -xl-)
 * [unpatterned] and plant itself vs. edible part/in edible state and (formal) [semipatterned] vs. dish and dish itself vs. consumption of dish (patterned after -qw-)
 * faculty of sensing–sensation itself, function–sensory organ, imagined sensation faculty–sensation and (formal) sensory examination use–outcome, sensory device use–device itself, act of creating a sensory experience–externally induced sensory experience [holistic = complementary 1 + complementary 2 applies] (only -dy-)
 * general imaginary creature–winged imaginary creature–reptilian/saurian imaginary creature and physical form/presence vs. personality/character or communication with the creature and (formal) mythological–legendary (i.e. allegedly real)–extraterrestrial (only -gb-)
 * 2D outline general outline–horizontally elongated–vertically elongated and shape vs. object and (formal) generic vs. distorted: generically distorted–obliquely elongated–medially pinched (patterned after -gm-)
 * [unpatterned] and capacity or faculty vs. external object and (formal) [unpatterned] (only -čn-; includes the note "Stems from this root are used in conjunction with various degree indicator affixes such as the EXN, EXD and SUF affixes from Sec. 7.7.6 in order to distinguish which polarity (awake vs. asleep) is implied.")
 * itch–tingle–sting and effect or sensation vs. cause and (formal) crawling sensation–tickle–chill feeling (only -kç-)
 * plant–leaf–bark and wood vs. seed/fruit–root vs. flower–branch vs. sap these 'complementary' roots really have nothing to do with each other and with their holistic stems?! and [formal] as food (comp 2)/resource (comps 1&2)/product (hol) (only -ky-)
 * oriented upright (with the long axis vertically)–protrude–~perpendicular (orientation with right angles) and position itself vs. object in that position and [formal] vertical–position of maximum contrast/alertness/readiness/action–stretched/pulled/configured to maximum height perpendicularly (only -lch-)
 * (make) written symbol–written message–compose by writing/(to )author and physical act vs. the informational content (message/communication) and (formal) vs. written record–document–visible surface with writing and physical document vs. its content (only -lt-)
 * [a single] breath(e)–yawn–"pump (by air)" and transfer of gas vs. physiological action/motion involved and [formal] vs. inflate with air–blow (passage of air through narrow opening)–suck(le)/siphonthe formal meanings do not have a simple correspondence with their informal forms, although the basic distinction appears to be biological vs. mechanical, though it is unclear what the "pump (by air)" should then mean (only -ļ-)
 * appearance–on the face of it–superficiallywhat are these latter two really supposed to mean and how could these be used as full formatives? and thing giving an impression vs. the impression of the observer and [formal] ostensiblysame as the previous comment–resemble–façadehow do their meanings contrast with their informal stem? (only -m-)
 * bite–chew–suck and physical movement vs. what is being consumed and (formal) place in mouth–swallow–accurately taste (moving the food around the mouth) (only -mk-)
 * pillar–external wall–floor and form vs. function (✅) and (formal) vs. strut–partition–roof (only -mp')
 * usefulness/applicability–emotional valuableness–financial valuableness and intrinsic vs. actualized value and (formal) cost assessment–expenditure–payment (rate or determination system) and quoted/agreed cost vs. actual amount payed (only -ms-)
 * dirt/ground/soil–mud–organic ground cover (e.g. leaves) and substance vs. function (✅) and (formal) peat–dirt (soil making something unclean)–fertilizer (only -mth-)


 * Semantically "rogue" stems that nonetheless have some semantic patterning:
 * [unpatterned] and body part itself vs. function (✅) and (formal) [unpatterned] (only -dk-) (refers to all kinds of specific things)
 * all kinds of life forms grouped together because they are perceived as being "lower life forms"; e.g. 'holistic' "microbe" with 'complementary' virus and exoskeletal animal (e.g. insect) (!) and (formal) vs. used as resource (only -kc-)
 * tooth–nail/claw–hard growth of skin (wart, callus, bunion, scar, ...) and physical tissue vs. function (✅) and (formal) of the skin vs. hairs: head hair–facial hair/whiskers–pubic+armpit hair (only -kf-)
 * [unpatterned] and plant parts themselves vs. flower/seed/fruit/spore parts and (formal) vs. as a resource (only the stem -cn-; there are also semantic anomalies: this stem means 'plant types', yet the third stems refer to either moss or fungi, even though fungi are phylogenetically closer to animals than to plants; moreover, the SSD suffix has very different meanings depending on whether it is attached to stem 2 or to stem 3)
 * extension of bodily function–means of "defying nature" (incl. e.g. 'wheel'!)–supply-like resource/implement and physical tool/instrument vs. its function (✅) and (formal) vs. more-advanced way (refined task, mechanical/electric/motorized implement); SSD derivatives are semantically quite different when used with the informal vs. formal (e.g. wrench vs. scissors) (only -kr-)
 * sunlight/-heat–the Sun–star and as light(source) vs. as energy/heat source these are nothing "complementary", but two different parts of a whole spectrum with many other parts and [formal] 'vs. non-solar', but necessarily with symmetry breaking: light/heat (not from the Sun)–flame–artificial source of light/heat (only -k'-)
 * endoskeletal–exoskeletal–soft-bodied creature and its "complementary" stems have nothing to do with either each other nor with their "holistic" stems": jellyfish (which is soft-bodied) vs. gilled/finned fish (which are indeed endoskeletal), crustacean (which are indeed exoskeletal) vs. fish with a 'non-standard' shape (which are endoskeletal), shellfish (which are exoskeletal) vs. sea mammals (which are endoskeletal) and (formal) vs. tamed/bred/domesticated/pet (✅) (only -lqh-)
 * mammal–invertebrate–avian/reptile and insect vs. molluscmost are marine animals; would this mean only the terrestrial molluscs?–worm vs. bird–arthropod vs. reptilethese "complementary" stems have absolutely nothing to do with each other nor with their 'holistic' stems (only -ļn-)
 * smell (use vs. odor)–nose (functional organ vs. facial element (✅) )–imagined smell (action vs. odor) and (formal) examine via smelling–sniffer (device)–create an odor (action/device vs. odor) (only -mp-)


 * Fully unpatterned (grouped by semantic correspondence with other stems):
 * -dh-, -ckh-
 * -kss- (all kinds of hadrons)

Next: -mxh-

Extracting semantic elements
Very common distinctions for complementary stems are:
 * The physical element of something (form) vs. its function/purpose vs. substance itself
 * Male vs. female
 * Parent vs. child
 * Wild vs. domesticated/bred

Other meanings for the meaning-affixes to replace the complementary and formal stems:
 * Analogous structure:
 * Navel (of mammals) + analogous structure → (e.g.) a navel of a fruit; to indicate specifically the one of a fruit, incorporate the noun for fruit
 * Colors:
 * Hue, saturation (colorfulness, i.e. how much grey mixed through), brightness (i.e. from black to the full color to white: brightness at one half is the full color)
 * Something that has a color vs. the color itself
 * Unpainted/unstained and painted/stained things with the color
 * Objective color vs. color experience

Distinctions in vocabulary

 * Dizziness: Lightheadedness (presyncope) vs. vertigo (sensation of spinning) vs. disequilibrium (sensation of being off-balance)