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Re: Comparison of adjectives (dumb question department)

From:R A Brown <ray@...>
Date:Thursday, March 20, 2008, 8:48
ROGER MILLS wrote:
> I wrote: >>> > Sorry to ask this, but I've forgotten, and can't find the answer on >>> google >>> > or wikipedia.... >>> >>> > In a sentence like : John is older than Henry -- which is the >>> comparandum, >>> > which the comparatum? > =================================== >
[snip]
> In a more specific discussion of comparatives, I also found that in e.g. > "John is older than Henry", John is the _target of comparison_ and Henry > is the _standard of comparison_. That's still hard to relate to > comparandum--comparatum.
Naming the _target of comparison_ the 'comparandum' makes perfect sense; the target is what one is aiming for, so the _target of comparison_ must, presumably, be the 'thing to be compared' (i.e. comparandum). So I guess the _standard of comparison_ might be termed the 'comparatum' (thing which has been compared), i.e. "John" is the person who is-to-be-compared with some one else, and "Henry" is that some one else who-has-been-compared with John. I must stress the above is mere guess work based on the meaning of the Latin terms. I know I've seen those terms used in relation
> to comparative constructions!! Quite likely here on Conlang-L..... > > Help! Ray Brown-- does Trask's dictionary of Ling. Terms have anything > on this??
Nope - and I've consulted Crystal's book as well. Neither book lists 'comparandum' and 'comparatum' (tho both do, of course, explain 'comparative :) -- Ray ================================== http://www.carolandray.plus.com ================================== Frustra fit per plura quod potest fieri per pauciora. [William of Ockham]

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Eric Christopherson <rakko@...>