George Boeree | Re: [europidgin] Re: EP/LFN example text

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Autor: George Boeree (“cgboeree”)
Tema: Re: [europidgin] Re: EP/LFN example text
Data: 2002-09-18 16:35
Mesaje: 142 (a supra, presedente, seguente)

Alo, Lori, e salute!

The trouble with using other words for a simple past tense is that it
takes that word out of circulation.  If ja is now the past tense,
how do we say "I sing already" -- Io canta ja -- or "I sang already" --
io cantada ja?  Heri is of course fine, and one thing we could do
is to make the tense indicator (whatever it turns out to be) optional.
There is a problem with doing that, though:  All the European languages,
every single one of them, has mandatory tense!  It would require effort
to NOT indicate the past tense when "heri" is already there.  The
past participle is the same as the past tense in English, but not in any
other European language (correct me if I am wrong!).  The two have
very different meanings, with the "past" participle really being a passive
adjective (albeit with past implications).

Before anyone gets annoyed at me, I am not just trying to shoot down
ideas -- just tell you the thought processes I already went through when
making certain choices in LFN.  After working on it for thirty years
plus, I am sure you can understand that most of the suggestions being made
here were things I already considered at some point or another!  Of
course, that was LFN -- this is Europijin!  Again, I am just a member
of the group voicing opinions.

Con amia,

George

adinspect wrote:
>  In europidgin@y..., "europidgin" <europidgin@y...>
> wrote:
> > I think that showing past tense by "e" will become a so
> called "false friend", i.e. you think you know the meaning and
> then
> it is somthing else. I think people will mistake e = past and i
> = and.
> > What do you think?
> > Bjorn
>
> Yes, the similiarity of e to "and" in many languages would be a
> problem. But using other words to point out the tense is an easy
> solution...
>
> one could say "ja" io ja canta = I already sing for "I sang"
> Or yesterday "heri me canta"
>
> The past participle can also be used.
>
> best to you all,
> Lori
>
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C. George Boeree, PhD
cgboeree@...
www.ship.edu/~cgboeree

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