Here are the words that utilize 'special' word classes (0x002, x004 & x008) in the vocab in the template game (I suppose we should check some of Sierra's games to make sure none have been missed). From the SCI specs, in the parser section, footnote 2:
The three special classes are apparently used for words with very specific semantics, such as "if", "not", "and" etc. It is unknown as of yet whether they receive special treatment by the parser.
Here are the ones known to us (note that class 0x002 is not referenced)
Word | Word Class |
and | 004 |
but | 004 |
if | 004 |
nor | 004 |
or | 004 |
about | 008 |
for | 008 |
until | 008 |
while | 008 |
with | 008 |
without | 008 |
I believe that these words must be handled specially by the parser, otherwise why wouldn't they just have a 'compound' (or multiple) class like other words? Unless the 'special' moniker is just a subclass of a compound class - for example I was thinking that perhaps the 008 class could be a preposition/adjective class. Examples:
take ball with stripes // 'With' is an adjective (or noun)
dance with troll // 'With' is a preposition
However, in my mind a word class of 050 would work just as well (010 (prep) + 040 (adj) = 050) - or if you like a class of 110 (010 (prep) + 100 (noun) = 110).
EDIT: Interesting. I cannot get the examples above using 'with' to work unless I explicitly set 'with' to a preposition.