--- title: The soothsayer told him that there was no way of killing the sea-mai… — Celtic Fairy Tales · tree and pragmatics description: The soothsayer told him that there was no way of killing the sea-maiden but the one way, and this is it--"In the island that is in the midst of the loch is the white-footed hind of the slenderest legs and the swiftest step, and though she be caught, there will spring a hoodie out of her, and though --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7885/21/157/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Celtic Fairy Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7885/) / [The Sea-maiden](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7885/21/) / 157 # Celtic Fairy Tales, The Sea-maiden, sentence 157 The soothsayer told him that there was no way of killing the sea-maiden but the one way, and this is it--"In the island that is in the midst of the loch is the white-footed hind of the slenderest legs and the swiftest step, and though she be caught, there will spring a hoodie out of her, and though the hoodie should be caught, there will spring a trout out of her, but there is an egg in the mouth of the trout, and the soul of the sea-maiden is in the egg, and if the egg breaks, she is dead." **Who acts:** soothsayer, way, this, island, egg, soul · **What happens:** tell, be, kill, catch, spring, break · **To what, where:** man, sea maiden, soothsayer, midst, footed hind, way · **Speech:** someone speaks here This is a sentence of «Celtic Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs, The Sea-maiden. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (soothsayer, way, this, island), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree. **Parsed by Mova, not checked by a teacher.** This tree is Mova's own parse (the `en` model, on the CPU, when the site is built); it may be wrong. ## The tree {#tree} ```conllu # sent_id = book:pg7885:21:157 # text = The soothsayer told him that there was no way of killing the sea-maiden but the one way, and this is it--"In the island that is in the midst of the loch is the white-footed hind of the slenderest legs and the swiftest step, and though she be caught, there will spring a hoodie out of her, and though the hoodie should be caught, there will spring a trout out of her, but there is an egg in the mouth of the trout, and the soul of the sea-maiden is in the egg, and if the egg breaks, she is dead." 1 The the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 2 det _ _ 2 soothsayer soothsayer NOUN NN Number=Sing 3 nsubj _ _ 3 told tell VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 0 root _ _ 4 him he PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 3 iobj _ _ 5 that that SCONJ IN _ 7 mark _ _ 6 there there PRON EX PronType=Dem 7 expl _ _ 7 was be VERB VBD Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin 3 ccomp _ _ 8 no no DET DT PronType=Neg 9 det _ _ 9 way way NOUN NN Number=Sing 7 nsubj _ _ 10 of of SCONJ IN _ 11 mark _ _ 11 killing kill VERB VBG VerbForm=Ger 9 acl _ _ 12 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 15 det _ _ 13 sea sea NOUN NN Number=Sing 15 compound _ SpaceAfter=No 14 - - PUNCT HYPH _ 13 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 15 maiden maiden ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 11 obj _ _ 16 but but CCONJ CC _ 19 cc _ _ 17 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 19 det _ _ 18 one one NUM CD NumForm=Word|NumType=Card 19 nummod _ _ 19 way way NOUN NN Number=Sing 15 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 20 , , PUNCT , _ 43 punct _ _ 21 and and CCONJ CC _ 43 cc _ _ 22 this this PRON DT Number=Sing|PronType=Dem 24 nsubj _ _ 23 is be AUX VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 24 cop _ _ 24 it it PRON PRP Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 43 nsubj _ SpaceAfter=No 25 -- -- PUNCT , _ 24 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 26 " " PUNCT `` _ 29 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 27 In in ADP IN _ 29 case _ _ 28 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 29 det _ _ 29 island island NOUN NN Number=Sing 43 nsubj _ _ 30 that that PRON WDT PronType=Rel 34 nsubj _ _ 31 is be AUX VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 34 cop _ _ 32 in in ADP IN _ 34 case _ _ 33 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 34 det _ _ 34 midst midst NOUN NN Number=Sing 29 acl:relcl _ _ 35 of of ADP IN _ 37 case _ _ 36 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 37 det _ _ 37 loch loch NOUN NN Number=Sing 34 nmod _ _ 38 is be AUX VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 43 cop _ _ 39 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 43 det _ _ 40 white white ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 42 amod _ SpaceAfter=No 41 - - PUNCT HYPH _ 40 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 42 footed footed ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 43 amod _ _ 43 hind hind NOUN NN Number=Sing 3 parataxis _ _ 44 of of ADP IN _ 47 case _ _ 45 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 47 det _ _ 46 slenderest slender ADJ JJS Degree=Sup 47 amod _ _ 47 legs leg NOUN NNS Number=Plur 43 nmod _ _ 48 and and CCONJ CC _ 51 cc _ _ 49 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 51 det _ _ 50 swiftest swift ADJ JJS Degree=Sup 51 amod _ _ 51 step step NOUN NN Number=Sing 47 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 52 , , PUNCT , _ 61 punct _ _ 53 and and CCONJ CC _ 61 cc _ _ 54 though though SCONJ IN _ 57 mark _ _ 55 she she PRON PRP Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 57 nsubj:pass _ _ 56 be be AUX VB VerbForm=Inf 57 aux:pass _ _ 57 caught catch VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 61 advcl _ SpaceAfter=No 58 , , PUNCT , _ 57 punct _ _ 59 there there PRON EX PronType=Dem 61 expl _ _ 60 will will AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 61 aux _ _ 61 spring spring VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 43 parataxis _ _ 62 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 63 det _ _ 63 hoodie hoodie NOUN NN Number=Sing 61 obj _ _ 64 out out ADP IN _ 66 case _ _ 65 of of ADP IN _ 66 case _ _ 66 her she PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 61 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 67 , , PUNCT , _ 78 punct _ _ 68 and and CCONJ CC _ 78 cc _ _ 69 though though SCONJ IN _ 74 mark _ _ 70 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 71 det _ _ 71 hoodie hoodie NOUN NN Number=Sing 74 nsubj:pass _ _ 72 should should AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 74 aux _ _ 73 be be AUX VB VerbForm=Inf 74 aux:pass _ _ 74 caught catch VERB VBN Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass 78 advcl _ SpaceAfter=No 75 , , PUNCT , _ 74 punct _ _ 76 there there PRON EX PronType=Dem 78 expl _ _ 77 will will AUX MD VerbForm=Fin 78 aux _ _ 78 spring spring VERB VB VerbForm=Inf 61 conj _ _ 79 a a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 80 det _ _ 80 trout trout NOUN NN Number=Sing 78 obj _ _ 81 out out ADP IN _ 83 case _ _ 82 of of ADP IN _ 83 case _ _ 83 her she PRON PRP Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 78 obl _ SpaceAfter=No 84 , , PUNCT , _ 87 punct _ _ 85 but but CCONJ CC _ 87 cc _ _ 86 there there PRON EX PronType=Dem 87 expl _ _ 87 is be VERB VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 43 parataxis _ _ 88 an a DET DT Definite=Ind|PronType=Art 89 det _ _ 89 egg egg NOUN NN Number=Sing 87 nsubj _ _ 90 in in ADP IN _ 92 case _ _ 91 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 92 det _ _ 92 mouth mouth NOUN NN Number=Sing 89 nmod _ _ 93 of of ADP IN _ 95 case _ _ 94 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 95 det _ _ 95 trout trout NOUN NN Number=Sing 92 nmod _ SpaceAfter=No 96 , , PUNCT , _ 108 punct _ _ 97 and and CCONJ CC _ 108 cc _ _ 98 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 99 det _ _ 99 soul soul NOUN NN Number=Sing 108 nsubj _ _ 100 of of ADP IN _ 104 case _ _ 101 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 104 det _ _ 102 sea sea NOUN NN Number=Sing 104 compound _ SpaceAfter=No 103 - - PUNCT HYPH _ 102 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 104 maiden maiden NOUN NN Number=Sing 99 nmod _ _ 105 is be AUX VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 108 cop _ _ 106 in in ADP IN _ 108 case _ _ 107 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 108 det _ _ 108 egg egg NOUN NN Number=Sing 43 conj _ SpaceAfter=No 109 , , PUNCT , _ 118 punct _ _ 110 and and CCONJ CC _ 118 cc _ _ 111 if if SCONJ IN _ 114 mark _ _ 112 the the DET DT Definite=Def|PronType=Art 113 det _ _ 113 egg egg NOUN NN Number=Sing 114 nsubj _ _ 114 breaks break VERB VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 118 advcl _ SpaceAfter=No 115 , , PUNCT , _ 114 punct _ _ 116 she she PRON PRP Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs 118 nsubj _ _ 117 is be AUX VBZ Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin 118 cop _ _ 118 dead dead ADJ JJ Degree=Pos 108 advcl _ SpaceAfter=No 119 . . PUNCT . _ 3 punct _ SpaceAfter=No 120 " " PUNCT '' _ 3 punct _ _ ``` ## Pragmatics {#pragmatics} | # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | the soothsayer | | man | | | | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent he=Recipient clause=Topic | | 2 | **be** | past | no way | | | there | | | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme | | 3 | **kill** | gerund | no way *not said here* | the sea maiden but the one way | | | | | vn remove-10.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent maiden=Theme | | 4 | **is a** | present | this | soothsayer | | | | | tree rules | | 5 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the island | | | the midst | | of the loch | tree rules | | 6 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | soothsayer | the footed hind and the egg | | | | of the slenderest legs and the swiftest step | tree rules | | 7 | **catch** *in a quote* | infinitive · passive | | way | | | | | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme | | 8 | **spring** *in a quote* | future | | a hoodie | | there | | out way | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location hoodie=Theme | | 9 | **catch** *in a quote* | should · passive | | the hoodie | | | | | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme | | 10 | **spring** *in a quote* | future | | a trout | | there | | out way | vn run-51.3.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Initial\_Location trout=Theme | | 11 | **be** *in a quote* | present | a egg in the mouth of the trout | | | there | | | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme | | 12 | **is** *in a quote* | present | the soul of the sea maiden | | | the egg | | | tree rules | | 13 | **break** *a condition, not said to happen, in a quote* | present | the egg | | | | | | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient | | 14 | **is** *in a quote* | present | egg | | | | | dead *property* | tree rules | 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. **Text:** «Celtic Fairy Tales» by Joseph Jacobs, Project Gutenberg book 7885 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order. - ← previous: [sentence 156](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7885/21/156/) - next →: [sentence 158](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7885/21/158/) - ↑ back to [The Sea-maiden](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg7885/21/)