Specific-generic

Last updated: Dec. 16, 2025

Definition

A specific statement precedes a classifying one.

English examples

  • She swept, mopped and dusted; she really cleaned up well.

Kovol examples

  • Me me, hombol ta.. ege tebis o. Teb nombo teb ta walasi, obug eb, musu endete obob tologot endet nom pigemind.
    "The things, the fish.. will come. They come and they come there and they are blocked. Wanting to get them, they got that idea, and they put the fence like that (underwater)."
  • Hiyol ogo wendemind. Endete nalasi...
    "Some people hit/beat (the vines). Like that they did it..."
  • Mondu mondu om isim wonda yoguwa.. om endet wi hala,
    “The smaller (rafters) in the middle you hit/place it and it goes down.. it’s like that and (when) it’s done”
  • Teme hobol ama, nong salame. Nong hobol ama, ong salaming. (specific) Yogol egende simogu hot pigeb agambi
    “When your wife speaks, you listen. When you speak, your wife will listen. You yourselves be carefully putting your foreheads together”
  • Teme sibinag pigeb galas hogu obob egeme taga. Ab bili tugolo mehamong endetengg naga.
    "The woman swept, threw out the kaukua peelings. She did the work of cleaning the place like that."

Kovol description

Following a specific statement a generic statement consisting summarizing the manner can be given. Endetengg and Endet are common words for summarizing the manner.

Statement 1 like that statement

Degree of confidence

Low

Endet was suggested as communicating Means-result. Is it doing double duty, or have we not identified the relationships clearly?