Word Order and Information Structure

The analysis of Tao (Yami) word order reveals that the language follows a strongly Predicate-Initial typology, where the predicate—containing new information—appears at the beginning of the clause. Tao grammar uses word order dynamically to manage information flow, tense, aspect, and syntactic relations.

I. Basic Sentence Structures

Tao clauses typically fall into five major types: declarative, imperative, interrogative, existential, and thematic. Word order varies depending on the type.

Sentence Type	Typical Word Order	Key Features
Declarative	Predicate (V) → Subject (o/si NP)	Basic order is VS. The predicate normally appears first.
SV / Progressive	Subject Pronoun → Predicate → Object	If a bound pronoun (e.g., ko “I”) is placed at the beginning, the clause expresses progressive aspect or recent past.
Interrogative	Question Word → Subject → Predicate	Interrogative words like ikong (“what”) and sino (“who”) always appear clause-initial.
Imperative	Verb Root → Other Constituents	The verb appears first; subject is omitted. Negative imperatives use jya before the verb.
Existential	Existential Verb → Subject → Locative	Uses amyan (“there is”) or abo (“there isn't”). Word order: Existential Verb → Nominative NP → Locative.
Thematic	Topic (NP + ya am) → Clause	The topic is fronted to signal continued discourse or highlight old information.
ka- Structure	ka- Verb → Other Constituents	Special attitude-focus structure; verb with ka- functions as predicate.

II. Word Order inside the Noun Phrase

The Noun Phrase (NP) has consistent internal ordering rules:

1. Case Markers: Case markers (o/si, no/ni, do, so) always appear before the NP.
2. Adjectival Modifiers: Words functioning as adjectives (stative verbs) appear before the noun and require the linker a.
lilikey a among.

“small fish”
3. Numerals/Quantifiers: Numerals precede the noun and typically require the linker a ka.
asa a ka among.

“one fish”
4. Possessive & Deictics: Genitive pronouns and demonstratives follow the noun.
o ayob ko ori.

“my clothes there”

III. Word Order within the Predicate

Predicate-internal order is determined by the interaction among auxiliaries, bound pronouns, and adverbial particles.

1. Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliaries appear before the main verb:

ji — negation
to / toda / todey — continuation / sequence
ya — present / ongoing

ya often appears at the very beginning of the clause:

ya ko ma-snek

“I feel shy.”

2. Pronoun Placement

When the subject is a bound pronoun, it is attracted to a fixed position immediately after an auxiliary (e.g., ji or to). This results in a stable pattern:

to na nita yaken a.

“He keeps looking at me.”

3. Adverbial Particles

Adverbial particles occur between the auxiliary and the verb.

na / rana “already”
pa “still, first”

rana often appears immediately after the subject pronoun when the event is recent:

ko rana nimai.

“I already came back.”

IV. Complex Structures and Linkers

1. Linker a

The linker a connects:

modifier → noun
verb → verb (serial verbs)
clause → clause (complements)

2. Subordinate Clauses

Temporal/conditional clauses are introduced by:

no — distant time / unreal condition
si — near future / real condition

When a subordinate clause is fronted, it is followed by the topic marker am.

Summary of Core Characteristics

Predicate-Initial syntax: verbs and auxiliaries begin the clause.
Flexible word order enables topicalization and discourse control.
Functional word–driven rules (auxiliaries, focus, TAM) shape ordering.
Modifier-after-noun structure appears inside NPs.

Tao word order is both structurally principled and pragmatically flexible. It reflects the verb-centered nature of the grammar and the information-driven discourse style typical of Austronesian languages.

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