Condition-consequence

Definition

Two envisaged events have a causal relationship between them; if the first happens, it will ‘cause’ the second to happen. Either both will be actualised, or neither will.

In English, it is communicated with the word if. The condition can be hypothetical (contrary to fact) or have a degree of uncertainty (potential fact).

English examples

• Contrary to fact: If John had washed the car, it wouldn't be dirty.
• If you had asked me, I would have helped you.
• I would have come earlier, if you had asked me.

• Potential fact: If John washes the car, it will be clean.
• If a will is not signed, it is not valid.
• If somebody kicks the ball into the net, it is a goal.

Kovol examples

Contrary to fact:

• Mohis tobogond aga, ege hongg aga.
  "If the men had come, we would have seen them. (but we haven't)"
• Hogot giliming nengge aga, ege agabi aga.
  "If the pig ate a lot, it would be big. (but it isn't)"
• hobol hubiyab anggom aga, nonong 9 ege obogom aga.
  "If I talked a lot, I would have got level 9. (but I didn't)"
• mu umut aga, ong endetengg mu ege igungg aga.
  "If he didn't die, we wouldn't be like him. (but we are)"

Potential fact:

These examples are suggested by Steve looking at old grammar work on HA without access to language helpers.

• Nonng mena om singgu teleb ogotogong o. Nagig ege nis.
  "(If) you just throw food and leave it, bugs will eat it."
• Sib mu ege lebing. Ege yanim.
  "(If) it does not rain, I will go."

This example is from Philip's hortatory DA under Alternation. Steve thinks it is better filed here as condition-consequence.

• “Me munum ege esing. Wig nom, sinde yab wondob palib egeme tesi, egeme leb ege libing.”
  “He will give me money (the bride price). If not that, I will go inside (his house) and beat him and pick him up and throw him out, and he will come outside and come up (to pay the bride price).”

Kovol description

The Kovol language can do a contrary to fact condition-consequence relationship.

A hypothetical condition can be given as a proposition followed by aga. The consequence that does not happen is also followed by an aga.

condition (that didn't happen) aga consequence (that didn't happen) aga.

A potential to fact condition-consequence relation may be established by the juxtaposition of clauses in the future tense.

Degree of certainty

Medium (Contrary to fact)

Contrary to fact condition-consequence relationships were part of Steve's final CLA grammar check. He didn't get it at the time, but Silas used an aga construction that Steve then looked into and found a pattern. Looking back it was seen in a DA text.

Steve and Philip didn't see much in DA.

Low (Potential fact)

Potential fact condition-consequence relationships are intuited by the team. In English we would use the word if for these sentences, and that makes us think there might be an implicit relationship there.

Our instinct is that the juxtaposition of two clauses can communicate an if relationship. Saying something like "it will not rain, I will go. It will rain, I will not go." might work.