Detail #135: A set of copulas

Pretty much every conlanger, I bet, knows that Spanish has two copulas. Copying the Spanish model would be an easy way of getting more than one copula, but let us go further than that, and invent an entirely different set of distinctions.

First, let's have a copula that basically correlates pretty well with English 'is' in basic statements of the nature X is Y. Our distinction will not deal with the aspectual or temporal nature of how the subject (X) has its quality (Y) - so not at all like Spanish.

Instead, we'll have a look at how the subject's having its quality interacts with the rest of the sentence.

Let us consider, for instance, comparisons - less than, more than, like, as, in the manner of, ... all these take verbs that are derived from demonstrative pronouns. Which demonstrative pronoun depends on a few things.

If the thing compared to is in the presence of the speaker, and the subject is not, the verb is derived from this:

your dad this_ed skilful you.CASE = your dad was as skilful as you are

If the object of comparison is absent, the verb is derived from that instead.

 you that(verb) beautiful Marilyn Monroe.CASE = you are as beautiful as Marilyn Monroe.

 This also happens when there's no actual object of reference - x is later > x that_s late. The complement can be specified by adverbs signifying 'less' or 'more'.
 The comparison can also be a description - I that(verb) strong to carry it - I am strong enough to carry it. The regular copula never has such descriptions.

Further, we have the causative versions of both the regular copula and the demonstrative copulas. These are formed like regular causatives, but have a slightly different meaning - the subject has a quality and this causes something. This is a bit similar to how 'so' is used in the 'yo momma so fat ...' genre of jokes.

she is.caus beautiful every woman get jealous

This is somewhat similar to the descriptive comparison given above, but tends to be a) more causal, b) much less conditional and way more indicative.

Thus, one central distinction could be pointed out thus:

he is strong - he is strong

he thiss strong - as you can see from what he's doing, he's strong

he thiss strong John.CASE - he is as strong as John, whose strength you can see for yourself

he thats strong - you can, based on previous anecdotes given, conclude how strong he is

he thats strong to carry it - he is strong enough to carry it

he was.caus strong to carry it - he was strong enough and did carry it

he thated strong to carry it - he was strong enough to carry it (but we're not saying he actually did carry it)

he is.caus strong to carry it - he is strong enough, he can (keep on) carry(ing) it