---
title: babel — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «babel» in the school dictionary: The Tower of Babel is a story in Genesis where people tried to build a tower up to heaven; God mixed up their language so they could not understand each other, and they spread over the earth. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# babel

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Tower, people, God, babel, many voices, work · **What happens:** be, try, build up, mix up, not understand, spread · **To what, where:** story, Genesis, tower, language, each, earth · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«babel» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [babel in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/babel.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: Bible — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Tower of Babel is a story in Genesis where people tried to build a tower up to heaven; God mixed up their language so they could not understand each other, and they spread over the earth.

<!-- fold The tree, 37 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:m1:1
# text = The Tower of Babel is a story in Genesis where people tried to build a tower up to heaven; God mixed up their language so they could not understand each other, and they spread over the earth.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Tower	Tower	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Babel	Babel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Genesis	Genesis	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
10	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
11	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	nsubj	_	_
12	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	build	build	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	up	up	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	heaven	heaven	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
21	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	nsubj	_	_
22	mixed	mix	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	_
23	up	up	ADP	RP	_	22	compound:prt	_	_
24	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	25	nmod:poss	_	_
25	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
26	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	30	mark	_	_
27	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	30	nsubj	_	_
28	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	30	aux	_	_
29	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	30	advmod	_	_
30	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	advcl	_	_
31	each	each	DET	DT	ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp	30	obj	_	_
32	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	31	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	36	punct	_	_
34	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	36	cc	_	_
35	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	36	nsubj	_	_
36	spread	spread	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	22	parataxis	_	_
37	over	over	ADP	IN	_	39	case	_	_
38	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	39	det	_	_
39	earth	earth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	36	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
40	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Tower of Babel | a story |  | Genesis |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **try** | past | people |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **build up** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | people *not said here* | a tower |  |  |  | to heaven *result* | vn caused\_calibratable\_cos-45.6.2-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.initial\_state PP.result»: agent=Patient tower=Extent to heaven=Result |
| 4 | **mix up** | past | God | people's language |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent language=Patient |
| 5 | **not** **understand** | could | people | each |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer each=Stimulus |
| 6 | **spread** | present | people |  |  | the earth |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme over earth=Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A babel is a confused noise of many voices talking at once.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:m2:1
# text = A babel is a confused noise of many voices talking at once.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	babel	babel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	confused	confused	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	_
10	talking	talk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	acl	_	_
11	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a babel | a confused noise |  |  |  | of many voices | tree rules |
| 2 | **talk** | gerund | many voices *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The people of Babel wanted a tower that reached the sky.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:x1:1
# text = The people of Babel wanted a tower that reached the sky.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Babel	Babel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	reached	reach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | the people of Babel | a tower |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot tower=Theme |
| 2 | **reach** | past | a tower | the sky |  |  |  |  | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent sky=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
God confused their language, and work on the tower stopped.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:x2:1
# text = God confused their language, and work on the tower stopped.
1	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	confused	confuse	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
7	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	_
11	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **confuse** | past | God | their language |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent language=Patient |
| 2 | **stop** | past | work on the tower |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The station was a babel of voices in many languages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:x3:1
# text = The station was a babel of voices in many languages.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	station	station	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	babel	babel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	voices	voice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the station | a babel |  |  |  | of voices in many languages | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our classroom became a babel when the teacher left.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:x4:1
# text = Our classroom became a babel when the teacher left.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	babel	babel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	xcomp	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **become** | past | Our classroom | a babel |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **leave** | past | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We built a Tower of Babel from paper cups.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:x5:1
# text = We built a Tower of Babel from paper cups.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	built	build	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	Tower	Tower	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Babel	Babel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	cups	cup	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **build** | past | We | a Tower of Babel |  | paper cups |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP.product PP.material»: agent=Agent tower=Product from cup=Material |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The story of Babel explains why people speak different languages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:babel:x6:1
# text = The story of Babel explains why people speak different languages.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Babel	Babel	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	explains	explain	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	speak	speak	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	languages	language	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | present | the story of Babel |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | present | people | different languages |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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