I am in the middle of doing something

Started by Blue Elf, April 14, 2012, 03:14:07 PM

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Blue Elf

There was quite interesting question in another thread:
QuoteLikewise, if one is in the middle of doing something, is it permissible to use kxämla+verb? Or would you use kxamtseng?
As an example was used: I am in the middle of a song/I am in the middle of singing.

Of course what questioner proposed doesn't work - kxamlä is adposition, so it can't connect to verb (not mention that meaning is not "in the middle", but "through the middle of").
Kxamtseng probably is not good solution too; *Oel tok kxamtseng tìrolä sounds too strange. Yesterday I came with:
Mawl tìrolä ftem (half of the song pass by), today I though more a created these examples - can be considered as correct?

Oe lu mì kam kemä a ... => I'm in the middle of action, which is... (I'm in the middle of <action description>)
Oel tok kxamtsengit tìsopä => I'm in the middle of journey (here kxamtseng would work well)
Mawl tìkangkemä lu hasey => Half of the work is done (I'm in the middle of work)

Any other ideas related to topic?
Oe lu skxawng skxakep. Slä oe nerume mi.
"Oe tasyätxaw ulte koren za'u oehu" (Limonádový Joe)


Tirea Aean

Interesting question and attempts at a solution.

Though I believe that you have hit the wall of translating an idiom directly.

"I'm in the middle of <VERB>ing" is rather idiomatic.

Personally, I typically say for example Oe 'ìn set. (Oel) 'uot fwerew.
I'm busy now. (I'm) looking for something.

of course that is not to declare my way the only correct way to say it. ;) just my $0.02, nìngay.