---
title: mumble — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mumble» in the school dictionary: To speak quietly and not clearly, so that people find it hard to understand you. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# mumble

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, you, we, He, She, her · **What happens:** speak, find, understand, not mumble, hear, mumble · **To what, where:** it, you, sorry, something, sleep, mumble · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mumble» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 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: [mumble in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mumble.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To speak quietly and not clearly, so that people find it hard to understand you.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:m1:1
# text = To speak quietly and not clearly, so that people find it hard to understand you.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
3	quietly	quietly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	so	so	SCONJ	IN	ExtPos=SCONJ	11	mark	_	_
9	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	8	fixed	_	_
10	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
11	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	xcomp	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | to-infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  | quietly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **find** | present | people | it |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |
| 3 | **understand** | to-infinitive |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |

<!-- .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}

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

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Quiet, unclear speech.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:m2:1
# text = Quiet, unclear speech.
1	Quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	unclear	unclear	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't mumble; speak clearly so we can hear you.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x1:1
# text = Don't mumble; speak clearly so we can hear you.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	mumble	mumble	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
5	speak	speak	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
6	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	advcl	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **mumble** *speech: other* | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hear** | can | we | you |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer you=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He mumbled «sorry» and looked at the floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x2:1
# text = He mumbled «sorry» and looked at the floor.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mumbled	mumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
8	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mumble** *speech: other* | past | He | sorry |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sorry=Topic |
| 2 | **look** | past | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | at the floor | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent at floor=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She mumbled something in her sleep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x3:1
# text = She mumbled something in her sleep.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mumbled	mumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	sleep	sleep	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mumble** *speech: other* | past | She | something |  | her sleep |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 2 | **sleep** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom sleep «state intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I couldn't understand his mumble.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x4:1
# text = I couldn't understand his mumble.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	mumble	mumble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **understand** | could | I | his mumble |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer mumble=Stimulus |
| 2 | **mumble** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mumble «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shy boy mumbled his name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x5:1
# text = The shy boy mumbled his name.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	shy	shy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	mumbled	mumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mumble** *speech: other* | past | the shy boy | boy's name |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Topic |
| 2 | **name** |  | boy |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop mumbling and say it again loudly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x6:1
# text = Stop mumbling and say it again loudly.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	mumbling	mumble	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	xcomp	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	_
6	again	again	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	loudly	loudly	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Affector clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **mumble** *speech: other* | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* | it |  |  | again | loudly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandpa mumbled into his beard.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x7:1
# text = Grandpa mumbled into his beard.
1	Grandpa	Grandpa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	mumbled	mumble	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	beard	beard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mumble** *speech: other* | past | Grandpa |  |  | Grandpa's beard |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent into beard=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
“What are you mumbling to yourself?” asked the Fairy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mumble:x8:1
# text = “What are you mumbling to yourself?” asked the Fairy.
1	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	5	obj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	mumbling	mumble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	yourself	yourself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=2|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
10	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	Fairy	fairy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mumble** *speech: other* *in a quote* | present · progressive | you |  | yourself |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP PP.recipient»: agent=Agent what=Topic to yourself=Recipient |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the Fairy |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

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**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.

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