---
title: For example, demijons (which are brought up river from Calabar fille… — Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria · tree and pragmatics
description: For example, demijons (which are brought up river from Calabar filled with rum) are used every day in most of the towns for tombo, and glass tumblers are also quite common, and it is easily conceivable that a native, who is accustomed to using these articles, in relating a story might say in his lan
---

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# Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria, Opening, sentence 105

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For example, demijons (which are brought up river from Calabar filled with rum) are used every day in most of the towns for tombo, and glass tumblers are also quite common, and it is easily conceivable that a native, who is accustomed to using these articles, in relating a story might say in his language the equivalent for “The pourer-out then took the demijon of tombo and poured some into a glass which he gave to the chief,” instead of saying, “The pourer-out then poured some tombo from the calabash into the drinking-horn which he handed to the chief.”

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**Who acts:** glass tumblers, tombo, relating, equivalent, glass, pourer out · **What happens:** bring up, fill, use, be, accustom, relate · **To what, where:** demijons, Calabar, most towns, articles, story, language · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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This is a sentence of «Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria» by Elphinstone Dayrell, Opening. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (glass tumblers, tombo, relating, equivalent), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

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**Mova's own parse.** This tree may be wrong.

## The tree {#tree}

```conllu
# sent_id = book:pg70959:1:105
# text = For example, demijons (which are brought up river from Calabar filled with rum) are used every day in most of the towns for tombo, and glass tumblers are also quite common, and it is easily conceivable that a native, who is accustomed to using these articles, in relating a story might say in his language the equivalent for “The pourer-out then took the demijon of tombo and poured some into a glass which he gave to the chief,” instead of saying, “The pourer-out then poured some tombo from the calabash into the drinking-horn which he handed to the chief.”
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	demijons	demijon	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	aux:pass	_	_
8	brought	bring	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
9	up	up	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
10	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	from	from	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	Calabar	Calabar	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
13	filled	fill	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
14	with	with	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	rum	rum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	_
17	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	aux:pass	_	_
18	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
19	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	20	det	_	_
20	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl:unmarked	_	_
21	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
22	most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	25	amod	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	towns	town	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obl	_	_
26	for	for	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
27	tombo	tombo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
29	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	35	cc	_	_
30	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	31	compound	_	_
31	tumblers	tumbler	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	35	nsubj	_	_
32	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	35	cop	_	_
33	also	also	ADV	RB	_	35	advmod	_	_
34	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	35	advmod	_	_
35	common	common	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	41	punct	_	_
37	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	41	cc	_	_
38	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	41	nsubj	_	_
39	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	41	cop	_	_
40	easily	easily	ADV	RB	_	41	advmod	_	_
41	conceivable	conceivable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	conj	_	_
42	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	44	mark	_	_
43	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	44	det	_	_
44	native	native	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	41	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
45	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	48	punct	_	_
46	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	48	nsubj	_	_
47	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	48	aux:pass	_	_
48	accustomed	accustom	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	41	parataxis	_	_
49	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	50	mark	_	_
50	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	48	advcl	_	_
51	these	this	DET	DT	Number=Plur|PronType=Dem	52	det	_	_
52	articles	article	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	50	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
53	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	55	punct	_	_
54	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	55	mark	_	_
55	relating	relate	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	59	csubj	_	_
56	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	57	det	_	_
57	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	55	obj	_	_
58	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	59	aux	_	_
59	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	48	parataxis	_	_
60	in	in	ADP	IN	_	62	case	_	_
61	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	62	nmod:poss	_	_
62	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	59	obl	_	_
63	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	64	det	_	_
64	equivalent	equivalent	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	72	nsubj	_	_
65	for	for	ADP	IN	_	70	case	_	_
66	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	70	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
67	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	70	det	_	_
68	pourer	pourer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	70	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
69	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	68	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
70	out	out	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	64	nmod	_	_
71	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	72	advmod	_	_
72	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	62	acl:relcl	_	_
73	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	74	det	_	_
74	demijon	demijon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	72	obj	_	_
75	of	of	ADP	IN	_	76	case	_	_
76	tombo	tombo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	74	nmod	_	_
77	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	78	cc	_	_
78	poured	pour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	72	conj	_	_
79	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	78	obj	_	_
80	into	into	ADP	IN	_	82	case	_	_
81	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	82	det	_	_
82	glass	glass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	78	obl	_	_
83	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	85	nsubj	_	_
84	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	85	nsubj	_	_
85	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	82	acl:relcl	_	_
86	to	to	ADP	IN	_	88	case	_	_
87	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	88	det	_	_
88	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	85	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
89	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	78	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
90	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	78	punct	_	_
91	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	93	mark	_	_
92	of	of	ADP	IN	_	91	fixed	_	_
93	saying	say	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	78	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
94	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	101	punct	_	_
95	“	"	PUNCT	``	_	101	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
96	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	99	det	_	_
97	pourer	pourer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	99	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
98	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	97	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
99	out	out	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	101	nsubj	_	_
100	then	then	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	101	advmod	_	_
101	poured	pour	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	93	ccomp	_	_
102	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	103	det	_	_
103	tombo	tombo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	101	obj	_	_
104	from	from	ADP	IN	_	106	case	_	_
105	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	106	det	_	_
106	calabash	calabash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	101	obl	_	_
107	into	into	ADP	IN	_	111	case	_	_
108	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	111	det	_	_
109	drinking	drinking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	111	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
110	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	109	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
111	horn	horn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	101	obl	_	_
112	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	114	nsubj	_	_
113	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	114	nsubj	_	_
114	handed	hand	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	111	acl:relcl	_	_
115	to	to	ADP	IN	_	117	case	_	_
116	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	117	det	_	_
117	chief	chief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	114	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
118	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
119	”	"	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bring up** | present · passive |  | demijons |  |  |  | river *obj* | tree rules |
| 2 | **fill** | participle |  |  |  | Calabar |  | with rum | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with rum=Instrument |
| 3 | **use** | present · passive |  | demijons |  | the most towns for tombo | day | for example | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: subject=Theme for example=Eventuality |
| 4 | **is** | present | glass tumblers |  |  |  |  | common *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **is** | present | tombo |  |  |  |  | conceivable, easily *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **accustom** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  | who *nsubj* | tree rules |
| 7 | **use** | gerund |  | this articles |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent article=Patient |
| 8 | **relate** | gerund |  | a story |  |  |  |  | vn involve-107.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent story=Theme |
| 9 | **say** *speech: assert* | might | relating |  |  | article's language |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent in language=Manner |
| 10 | **take** *in a quote* | past | the equivalent for the pourer out | the demijon of tombo |  |  | then |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent demijon=Theme |
| 11 | **pour** *in a quote* | past | the equivalent for the pourer out *not said here* | some |  | a glass |  |  | vn pour-9.5 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent some=Theme into glass=Destination |
| 12 | **give** *in a quote* | past | a glass |  | the chief |  |  | equivalent *nsubj* | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to chief=Recipient |
| 13 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund | the equivalent for the pourer out *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 14 | **pour** *in a quote* | past | the pourer out | some tombo |  | the calabash | then | into the drinking horn | vn pour-9.5 «NP V NP PP.initial\_location PP.destination»: agent=Agent tombo=Theme from calabash=Initial\_Location into horn=Destination |
| 15 | **hand** *in a quote* | past | the drinking horn |  |  | the chief |  | out *nsubj* | vn send-11.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent to chief=Destination |

<!-- .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.

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**Text:** «Ikom folk stories from Southern Nigeria» by Elphinstone Dayrell, Project Gutenberg book 70959 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

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