Fnetxum, ke

Started by Blue Elf, April 23, 2013, 12:40:09 PM

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Blue Elf

Approximately month ago there was discussion about fnetxum and ke in dictionary thread. As no solution was found, I asked our biggest authority, Paul. Here are his answers:
Quote from: Blue ElfAbout a month ago there was small discussion about fnetxum, which is defined as "allergic" (adjective). However we do not understand why it is adjective. Seems that words is created as fne-txum, literally kind/type of-poison, so base word is noun and result should be noun as well, as this is productive process.
Sample sentence is Oeri lu X fnetxum -> I'm allergic to X (but literal translation sounds strange: As for me, X is allergic. More logical would be IMHO:
X-ri oe lu fnetxum - > As for X I'm allergic)

However, this type of sentences allows two usages:
X<noun> lu Y<adjective>
X<noun> lu Y<noun>
This supports idea that fnetxum could be noun, with meaning like "allergen (thing which causes allergy)" :

Oeri lu X fnetxum. = "I am allergic to X'." -> As for me, X is allergen

Our discussion lead to no result, and probably nobody else sent you question about this matter; so I dare to do this. Can you give us explanation why fnetxum is adjective and if it wouldn't be more appropriate to change it to noun?
Response from Paul:
About fnetxum: You're absolutely right--it's not an adjective, it's a noun. The label in the dictionary is wrong. I'll notify Mark Miller about that. As you realized, fnetxum basically means "kind or variety of poison," but it's also used to mean "allergen." A literal translation of "Oeri lu X fnetxum" would be, "As for me, X is an allergen," but of course a much more idiomatic translation into English is "I'm allergic to X."

Quote from: Blue ElfAnd one more simple question: In our community dictionary I noticed ke is defined as an adverb, although IMHO it should be particle (to create negative verbs). Is it correct? This question also wasn't solved in discussion.
Answer from Paul:
As for ke, well, I admit it's an unusual adverb. But dictionaries typically treat negative particles as adverbs. In a way, the negative element comments on or modifies the verb. If you say, for example, "He does not swim," you're saying "In what way does he swim? In no way at all!" So we can consider ke as an adverb modifying the verb. Of course it has other uses as well. Perhaps a more complete designation would be, "ADV, PART." I'll think about that.

So, another piece of knowledge we have got.
Oe lu skxawng skxakep. Slä oe nerume mi.
"Oe tasyätxaw ulte koren za'u oehu" (Limonádový Joe)


Toruk Makto

Good one!  Dictionary corrected. New version 12.95!

Lì'fyari leNa'vi 'Rrtamì, vay set 'almong a fra'u zera'u ta ngrrpongu
Na'vi Dictionary: http://files.learnnavi.org/dicts/NaviDictionary.pdf

Tanri

Irayo ngaru nìtxan ma Blue Elf!
Lahea 'it tìomumä srung soli lora relur fìlì'fyayä fte sliveiu law nì'ul... :)
Tätxawyu akì'ong.

Kamean

Tse'a ngal ke'ut a krr fra'uti kame.


Tìtstewan

Irayo ngaru ma Blue Elf!
Seysonìltsan!

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