Re; Question on questions

[Logical Language Group <lojbab@ACCESS.DIGEX.NET>]

>> Likewise, what does "ma xu tavla" do (if anything)?
>
>Probably about the same, since setting the focus to a question word
>is pretty much like not setting it at all.


I disagree.  The focus here is being placed not only on the question word,
but on the x1 place as well.  I would thus interpret this as having the
focussed emphasis on the presumed existance of a talker:
"I could swear I heard someone - was there someone talking?"

Change the sentence and this might be more clear, since in English we tend to
be very fixated on the agents of verbs.

do tavla ma xu vau

(the vau added to make it clear that the xu is attached to the ma specifically
rather than the whole sentence)

"There doesn't seem to be anyone around (paying attention to you).  Are you takk
talking to anyone, or just mumbling?"

I often have to use something like the latter to my kids %^)

So as long as the predicate has multiple places, a place-focussed xu will
convey some amount of additional focus, generally of the sort we would
typically convey by tone of voice in English. The question word then asks
for the actual value of the place to be filled in.  And in the case of
the last example, I think we can sense a clear attitudinal sense to
go'i do
Yes, I am talking to YOU.
nago'i do
If I am talking, it is NOT to YOU.

lojbab