> >From: Garrett Jones <alkaline@A...>
>
> >So which of the following meanings of the english words 'for' do you have
> >unique words for in your conlangs, and which of the meanings do you collapse
> >together?
There's an Obrenje word that has a quite general benefactive/purposeful
function, |bla|. It seems to fit the core functions of the English
word rather well. Let's see:
> >A. usage, purpose
> >- a tool for hammering, a room for sleep
I guess |bla| would be in order here: A room for the sake of sleeping
etc.
> >B. in place of
> >- I'm wearing blankets for clothes
Here you would use |muj| "as; in the function of, representing".
> >C. representing
> >- I am speaking for him
Both |bla| and |muj| would work here. |Bla| emphasized the benefactive
aspect (I speak for his sake) while |muj| is more of an function (I
speak in his place).
> >D. beneficiary
> >- I'm washing the dishes for her
Definitely |bla|.
> >E. intended recipient
> >- These are flowers for a girl.
Very similar to D, so |bla| as well.
> >F. in defense of, in favor of
> >- They are fighting for a cause.
Either |bla| (benefactive) or |laq| (comitative), or maybe a word
for "pro-" that I have yet to create.
> >G. the amount of
> >- bill for $50
Maybe |muj| "as, representing" or |ur| (descriptive, non-possessive genitive).
> >H. in exchange for
> >- I sold it for $20,000
Hmmmm. I don't know yet. =P
Again, You can use |bla| for the benefactive aspect (I sold it for
the sake of the $20'000 I'd receive for it), but surely there must
be another way to say "in exchange for".
> >I. in proportion to
> >- two pennies earned for every penny spent
That's another hard one. Neither |bla| nor |muj| nor |vin| "about
(a topic), compared with, concerning, with respect to" would fit.
It would be very useful to have a word or expression for that.
> >J. time span
> >- she slept for two hours
Easy: |roj| "through".
> >K. distance
> >- we walked for two miles
Again, |roj|.
> >L. because of
> >- she is famous for her stupidity
That would be |vin| "concerning, wrt".
> >M. in spite of
> >- for all his wealth, he is still unhappy.
|Menju| "despite, in spite of, still".
> >N. with respect to the standard ~
> >- she is clever for a child
|Vin| "wrt" coupled with the categorical quantifier |ny|:
Tsanni moe vin ny zun.
clever be:3i wrt CAT child
/"tsanni mo: vin ny zMn/
"She is clever with respect to children in general."
> >O. regarding
> >- for this problem, add one.
|Vin| "wrt".
> >P. in favor of
> >- i'm all for beating him up.
I'd use the same hitherto uncoined word for usage I, or a verb like
|kwo-| "want", |vikke-| "plan, intend" or |sen-| "allow, let".
> >Q. intended destination
> >- he is destined for greatness
Future active solid participle of |mo-| "be":
Mjem voronje moe.
be:FUT:PTC lordlike be:3i
/mjEm vO"rOnj@ mo:/
"He is to be lordlike."
Summary:
A: |bla|
B: |muj|
C: |bla| or |muj|
D: |bla|
E: |bla|
F: |bla| or |laq|
G: |muj| or |ur|
H: |bla| or something else. =P
I: ?
J: |roj|
K: |roj|
L: |vin|
M: |menju|
N: |vin|
O: |vin|
P: verb
Q: future active solid participle
-- Christian Thalmann