prefer X to Y

Started by Plumps, October 04, 2013, 05:18:47 AM

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Plumps

A few days ago, I asked about this construct in the Intermediate Section.

I got a response from K. Pawl about that:


QuoteSo . . . preferring X to Y.

I thought about that a lot, but in the end I think the simple solution that you gave is the best one:

Oel payti nulnew to swoat.

(I prefer to separate X and Y by nulnew, since it avoids the possible ambiguity of what the to attaches to.

My analysis was something like this:

Nulnew, obviously, comes from nì'ul + new, 'want more.'

So how would you say, "I want X more than Y"? Here the "more" applies to a verb.

Well, a related construction would be,

Oe ngato yom nì'ul. 'I eat more than you (do).'

So similarly, 'want more' would be:

Oel X-ti to Y-ti new nì'ul.

But new nì'ul > nulnew.

So we have:

Oel X-ti to Y-ti nulnew. Or: Oel X-ti nulnew to Y-ti.

Simple as that :D and wonderful.

Tìtstewan

Tewti! :D
Txantsana fmawn ulte irayo ma Plumps!

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Eana Unil

Wou, irayo ma Plumps :) Interesting, especially Paul's thoughts behind this.

Tirea Aean

Irayo ma Plumps! Txantsana fmawn. I'm glad it came out to be the most natural, expected way.

`Eylan Ayfalulukanä

Irayo, ma Plumps. I like it when things are simple and logical!

Yawey ngahu!
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