Questions
Questions in Arcadia are formed using a question particle, followed by sentence with the unknown part omitted.
- Yes/no questions → Indicated by rising intonation in spoken Arcadia.
- Open-ended questions → Use interrogative particles, which combine with prepositions and declensions as expected.
Question Particles
Particle | English | Meaning |
---|---|---|
cu | Yes/no question | |
ce | Who/what | Generic inquiry |
cuál | Which | Choice selection |
cove | Where | Location-based |
cuando | When | Time reference |
cuót | How much/how many | Quantity inquiry |
cume | How | Manner inquiry |
- Interrogative words can combine with prepositions, allowing expanded meanings:
- pro ce → "Why"
- por ce → "For whose benefit"
Handling Unknowns
In Arcadia, asking a question causes affected suffixes to drop:
- **"cuót"** removes **quantity markers**, simplifying nouns.
- **"cuando"** drops **time suffixes** when asking about duration.
- **"ce"** removes **person suffixes** when querying the subject of a verb.
Examples
-
Yes/No Question:
- cu donavi ta librion meil? → "Are you giving the book to me?"
-
Method Inquiry:
- cume donavi ta librion meil? → "How are you giving the book to me?"
- Explanation: Asking about the method—e.g., by hand, by post.
- cume donavi ta librion meil? → "How are you giving the book to me?"
-
Location Inquiry:
- cove donavi ta librion meil? → "Where are you giving the book to me?"
-
Subject Inquiry:
- ceil donavi ta librion? → "To whom are you giving the book?"
- ceon donavi meil? → "What are you giving to me?"
-
Specific Selection:
- cuál librion donavi meil? → "Which book are you giving to me?"
-
Temporal Reference:
- cuando donovi ta librion meil? → "When are you going to give the book to me?"
- Explanation: Implies it is in the future.
- cuando donovi ta librion meil? → "When are you going to give the book to me?"
-
Quantity Inquiry:
- cuót librion donavi meil? → "How many books are you giving to me?"
Asking for the Subject of the Verb
- Keeps only the known parts, ensuring clarity in reference.
Sentence | Translation | Explanation |
---|---|---|
ceis donav ta librion meil? | "Who is giving the book to me?" | No indication about who or how many are involved. |
cesis donaves ta librion meil? | "Who is giving the book to me?" | Third-person plural—multiple people, excluding you or me. |
cesis donavis ta librion meil? | "Who among you (plural) is giving the book to me?" | Used as a follow-up question when the subject is unclear. |
Common Questions
- cei seve de ve namis? → "What's your name?"
- cume savi? → "How are you?"
- ex cove sevi? → "Where are you from?"