Chapter 18 Discourse flow
Discourse flow
Conjunctions connect elements inside one Phi sentence. Discourse markers begin a new sentence and state how it relates to what came before: as a conclusion, a counterpoint, an example, or another defined move.
English has phrases such as "therefore," "however," "for example," and "in other words." Phi gives seven such relations their own words and one fixed position.
Say the seven aloud, thelao, whekai, sheno, phisu, shorela, shekoi, shelao, and notice how each begins: on one of the four fricatives, a consonant made of moving air. The design spends its audible breath where a conversation changes direction, so every turn of thought opens on a small turn of breath.
Position in the sentence
Every discourse marker follows any Slot 0 particle and precedes the subject. With no Slot 0 frame, the marker opens the sentence.
The pattern is: [Slot 0] [discourse marker] [subject] ... [verb]
mia to theo nela to shelomu. thelao mia so thumela.
1SG PST read COORD PST understand. CONS 1SG FUT teach.
mia to shonela. whekai mia shelomu ma nai.
1SG PST learn. CONTR 1SG understand NEG be.
In each second sentence, the marker comes before mia. thelao presents the sentence as a conclusion; whekai presents it as a turn against the preceding line of thought. Neither marker proves that the relation is sound.
How discourse markers differ from conjunctions
Conjunctions (nela, thona, sola) stand between grammatical equals inside one sentence.
Discourse markers look back across a period. They do not coordinate two grammatical elements; they give the new sentence a relation to earlier discourse.
Thus shiro nela peloru joins "tree and flower," while thelao cannot stand between those nouns. Conversely, a conclusion that begins after a period takes thelao, not nela.
The set contains seven markers. The next three lessons separate the neighbours that are easiest to confuse.