Slovura 13 - Comparison

Slovura compares qualities using the whole-word modifiers po and ti.

Because they modify the complete word before them, they work with both simple words and compounds.

Comparative: -po

Add po to express more of a quality:

sta — big

stapo(sta) pobigger

The same pattern can be used with other qualities when comparison makes sense.

Superlative: -poti

Add ti after the comparative:

stapoti

((sta) po) ti

biggest

-poti is not a separate indivisible ending. It is two stacked whole-word modifiers:

word + po + ti

First po forms the comparative. Then ti applies to that complete comparative form.

ti Without po

ti also works independently. As a whole-word modifier, it means all members or the entirety of the preceding concept.

ka — person

kati(ka) tiall people / everyone

Compare:

kate — multiple people

kati — all people / everyone

So ti is not inherently a superlative marker. The superlative emerges from combining po and ti.

Comparison with Compounds

Comparison applies after the compound has been constructed:

ABCpo(ABC) po → more of ABC

ABCpoti((ABC) po) ti → most of ABC

The Pattern

Form Structure Meaning
X X X
Xpo (X) po more X
Xpoti ((X) po) ti most X
Xte (X) te multiple X
Xti (X) ti all X

sta → big

stapo → bigger

stapoti → biggest

Remember

Summary

  • -po forms a comparative: stastapo.
  • Adding -ti to the comparative forms a superlative: stapostapoti.
  • -poti is -po + -ti, not a separate ending.
  • po and ti work with compounds because they have whole-word scope.
  • ti can also stand alone as a whole-word modifier meaning all or entirety.
  • kate means multiple people; kati means all people.