Phi pamphlets — Part 5: Slot 1: evidence and modality

pheralu hi lepa. says that direct perception is the claimed source for the rain. pheralu po lepa. says that rain may fall. Evidentiality and modality occupy neighbouring ranks, but one concerns source and the other possibility or necessity.

01Evidentiality: one claimed source

Particle	Claimed source
`hi`	direct perception
`ke`	inference from case-specific evidence
`ti`	a report received from another source
`ho`	assumption or supposition

An evidential follows tense, aspect, and voice. It precedes modality and negation. Each clause permits one evidential, so two source claims require two clauses. An unmarked assertion names no source.

pheralu so ho lepa.

rain FUT ASSUM fall.

(I assume rain will fall.)

The four particles classify sources, not credibility. A hi claim may be mistaken, while a report marked with ti may be excellent. Each particle records the kind of source being claimed.

02Modality: po and na

po marks possibility or ability. na marks necessity or obligation.

mia po shonela.

1SG POT learn.

(I can learn.)

mia na naphe.

1SG NEC help.

(I must help.)

thia so ho po naphe.

2SG FUT ASSUM POT help.

(I assume you will be able to help.)

Neither modal identifies the source of an ability, permission, constraint, or obligation. Those details belong in the surrounding account when they matter.

03Modality and negation

ma follows the modal rank. The two fixed readings are:

po ma V means cannot. Possibility or ability is denied.
na ma V means must not. Necessity applies to refraining from the event.

Absence of obligation is not made by changing the particle order. Phi uses a freedom construction:

thia lila wepu ralu nai. (You need not go. Literally, you are free with regard to going.)

Practicechoose the needed ranks

Choose an evidential, a modal, both, or neither. Mark only what each prompt asks you to claim.

You directly hear rain falling and want to name that direct source.
The path is wet; you did not perceive the rain. Say that rain fell, as an inference.
Say that you are able to help.
Say that you are obliged to give water to the garden.
Rain is usual in this season, and you assume it will come.
Say that a friend cannot come, without pretending the sentence names the reason.

Answers: 1 pheralu hi lepa. 2 pheralu to ke lepa. 3 mia po naphe. 4 mia wei thepalu phialu na loa. 5 pheralu so ho lepa. 6 melu po ma shua. The sixth answer denies ability or possibility; a second clause is needed if the reason also matters.