Re: Esperanto and Interlingua

On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:20:20 +0100, Ruud Harmsen
<realemailonsite@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:14:07 +0100: Ruud Harmsen
<realemailonsite@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: in sci.lang:

12 Mar 2007 04:49:39 -0700: "Peter T. Daniels"
<grammatim@xxxxxxxxxxx>: in sci.lang:

Is malgranda = small also 'dangerous, evil'?

If the language has no way of distinguishing between "small" and "not
big," then it's a pretty piss-poor language.

Malgranda doesn't mean "not big" but "the contrary of big", i.e.
small. Cf. malvarma = cold.

And (in my opinion, but perhaps those who really know Esperanto
disagree):
varmega = very hot
malvarmega = very cold
varmeta = rather hot, warmish
malvarmeta = a bit cold, coldish
fimalvarma = unpleasantly cold, f***ing cold.

For that sense, better "malvarmacxa". "Fimalvarma" implies that's
it's an evil cold, which of course would be sayable but isn't the same
thing. By the way, "It's cold" comes out "Estas malvarme." Note the
adjective in one language and the adverb in the other. Esperanto
assumptions that fit some languages well can't possibly fit all
languages well.

etc.
and arguably perhaps even:
warmacxja, warmetacxja = pleasantly warm, spring-like.
although -cxj is probably meant to reserved for people.

Yes, for forming affectionate nicknames. It strikes me as one of the
clunkier bits of nia kara lingvo. Anyway if somebody's name was Varmo
('Hot'), the -cxj- form should be something like "Vacxjo".


These possibilities are rarely used, because most users employ the
language is ways resembling their own language. But the mechanisms
exist in Esperanto, which is what makes it unique.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Esperanto and Interlingua
    ... If the language has no way of distinguishing between "small" and "not ... Cf. malvarma = cold. ... but perhaps those who really know Esperanto ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Esperanto and Interlingua
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  • Re: OT:P Hannah
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  • Re: Esperanto and Interlingua
    ... If the language has no way of distinguishing between "small" and "not ... Cf. malvarma = cold. ... small," then it's a pretty piss-poor language. ...
    (sci.lang)
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