Advanced patterns and nesting

This section explores complex structures: nested embeddings, interactions between complementizer types, complementizers inside relative clauses, and multi-level constructions. These patterns are less common in everyday speech but essential for expressing sophisticated thoughts.

Nested declarative clauses

When we think about what others think, or know what others know, we nest mena/meno clauses:

Two levels

mia mena thia mena shia to wepu meno phaelo meno shelomui
1SG DECL.COMP 2SG DECL.COMP 3SG PST go DECL.COMP.CLOSE feel DECL.COMP.CLOSE understand
(I understand that you feel that they left.)

Structure:

mia mena [thia mena [shia to wepu] meno phaelo] meno shelomui
    └────────────────────────────────────────────┘
              └─────────────────────┘

Each mena has its own meno. They nest like parentheses.

Three levels

shia mena mia mena thia mena melu to wepu meno sano meno nohero meno to haolu
3SG DECL.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG DECL.COMP friend PST go DECL.COMP.CLOSE know DECL.COMP.CLOSE believe DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST speak
(They said that I believe that you know that the friend left.)

This is grammatically correct but approaches the limit of comfortable processing. In practice, speakers break complex nestings into separate sentences:

melu to wepu. thia mena melu to wepu meno sano. mia mena thia sano meno nohero. shia mena mia nohero meno to haolu
friend PST go. 2SG DECL.COMP friend PST go DECL.COMP.CLOSE know. 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG know DECL.COMP.CLOSE believe. 3SG DECL.COMP 1SG believe DECL.COMP.CLOSE PST speak
(The friend left. You know that the friend left. I believe that you know. They said that I believe.)

Both express the same meaning; the second is easier to follow.

Nested interrogative clauses

Wondering about wondering:

mia wela thia wela shia so turema welo phaelo welo remo
1SG INT.COMP 2SG INT.COMP 3SG FUT return INT.COMP.CLOSE feel INT.COMP.CLOSE think
(I'm thinking about whether you wonder whether they will return.)

Each wela pairs with its own welo.

Mixing complementizer types

Different complementizer types can nest within each other:

Declarative inside interrogative

mia wela thia mena shia to wepu meno sano welo phaelo
1SG INT.COMP 2SG DECL.COMP 3SG PST go DECL.COMP.CLOSE know INT.COMP.CLOSE feel
(I wonder whether you know that they left.)

Structure:

mia wela [thia mena [shia to wepu] meno sano] welo phaelo
    └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘
              └──────────────────────┘

The mena/meno pair is inside the wela/welo pair.

Interrogative inside declarative

mia mena thia wela shia to wepu welo phaelo meno sano
1SG DECL.COMP 2SG INT.COMP 3SG PST go INT.COMP.CLOSE feel DECL.COMP.CLOSE know
(I know that you wonder whether they left.)

Quotative inside declarative

mia mena shia shola mia so turema sholo haolu meno shelomui
1SG DECL.COMP 3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG FUT return QUOT.COMP.CLOSE speak DECL.COMP.CLOSE understand
(I understand that they said: "I will return.")

Declarative inside quotative

shia shola mia mena thia towe nai meno sano sholo to haolu
3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG well be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak
(They said: "I know that you are well.")

Relative clauses containing complementizers

Relative clauses (rena) can contain embedded clauses:

Relative clause with mena/meno

rena mia mena towe nai meno sano miona
REL 1SG DECL.COMP well be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know person
(the person whom I know is well)

Here, the relative clause contains an embedded declarative. The structure:

[rena mia mena [___ towe nai] meno sano] miona

The head noun miona closes the relative clause and fills the gap inside the embedded clause: the relativized element can sit arbitrarily deep. The mena/meno pair is fully contained within the relative clause.

Relative clause with wela/welo

rena thia wela towe nai welo phaelo miona
REL 2SG INT.COMP well be INT.COMP.CLOSE feel person
(the person about whom you wonder whether (they are) well)

Relative clause with shola/sholo

rena shola mia so turema sholo to haolu miona
REL QUOT.COMP 1SG FUT return QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak person
(the person who said: "I will return")

Complementizers containing relative clauses

The embedded clause can itself contain a relative clause:

mena/meno containing relative clause

mia mena rena nophi kealo miona to wepu meno sano
1SG DECL.COMP REL story create person PST go DECL.COMP.CLOSE know
(I know that the person who creates stories left.)

Structure:

mia mena [[rena nophi kealo] miona to wepu] meno sano

The relative clause rena nophi kealo modifies miona, and the whole noun phrase is subject of the embedded clause.

wela/welo containing relative clause

mia wela rena mia to nila shelu shewo nai welo phaelo
1SG INT.COMP REL 1SG PST see book true be INT.COMP.CLOSE feel
(I wonder whether the book that I saw is true.)

shola/sholo containing relative clause

shia shola rena mia kealo nophi phelora nai sholo to haolu
3SG QUOT.COMP REL 1SG create story beautiful be QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak
(They said: "The story that I created is beautiful.")

Multiple embeddings at the same level

A sentence can contain multiple embedded clauses that are not nested:

Coordinated embedded clauses

mia mena shia towe nai meno sano nela mia mena shia so turema meno nohero
1SG DECL.COMP 3SG well be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know COORD 1SG DECL.COMP 3SG FUT return DECL.COMP.CLOSE believe
(I know that they are well, and I believe that they will return.)

Different embedding types in sequence

mia mena shia towe nai meno sano thona mia wela shia so turema welo ma sano
1SG DECL.COMP 3SG well be DECL.COMP.CLOSE know ADVRS 1SG INT.COMP 3SG FUT return INT.COMP.CLOSE NEG know
(I know that they are well, but I don't know whether they will return.)

In every one of these patterns the embedded clause is the object of a main verb; that is where Phi puts embedded thought.

Processing strategies for complex structures

When encountering or producing complex nested structures:

For comprehension

Track the openers: each time you hear mena, wela, or shola, note that a clause has opened. Each meno, welo, or sholo closes the most recent unmatched opener of the same type. The verb after the outermost closer is the main verb. Then build meaning from the inside out: understand the innermost clause first, and see how it functions in the next level out.

For production

Start with meaning: what do you ultimately want to say, and what is embedded inside what? Open in order, beginning with the outermost structure, and close in reverse order: the last opened clause is the first closed. Before you finish, count that each opener has its closer.

Simplification strategies

When a structure becomes too complex, break it into sentences, expressing each level separately. Refer back to established information with pronouns. Sometimes a different organization is simply clearer; reorder.

Limits of nesting

Grammatically, Phi places no limit on nesting depth. Practically, human processing limits apply: one or two levels of embedding are comfortable, three is challenging, and four or more is difficult for anyone.

Beyond two levels, consider restructuring. The grammar supports complexity, but communication serves understanding.

Examples of maximal complexity

For the ambitious learner, here are grammatically correct but demanding examples:

Three-level mixed nesting

mia mena thia wela shia mena melu so turema meno sano welo phaelo meno shelomui
1SG DECL.COMP 2SG INT.COMP 3SG DECL.COMP friend FUT return DECL.COMP.CLOSE know INT.COMP.CLOSE feel DECL.COMP.CLOSE understand
(I understand that you wonder whether they know that the friend will return.)

Relative clause with nested embedding

rena mia mena thia mena towe nai meno phaelo meno sano miona
REL 1SG DECL.COMP 2SG DECL.COMP well be DECL.COMP.CLOSE feel DECL.COMP.CLOSE know person
(the person about whom I know that you feel that they are well)

Quotation of complex content

shia shola mia mena melu so turema meno nohero sholo to haolu
3SG QUOT.COMP 1SG DECL.COMP friend FUT return DECL.COMP.CLOSE believe QUOT.COMP.CLOSE PST speak
(They said: "I believe that the friend will return.")

Summary

The advanced patterns show the regularity of Phi's complementizer system. Nesting is unlimited: each opener pairs with its closer, regardless of depth. The three types can nest within each other, and relative clauses can contain complementizers or be contained by them. Through all of it, the opener-closer matching keeps the structure parseable.

In practice, prioritize clarity over complexity. The system supports whatever depth meaning requires, but simpler expression usually serves communication better.

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