Re: NATLANG: Irish greeting

Stephen Mulraney scripsit:

> This strikes me as odd. The name in English is "O'Neill", while in
> Irish it's "Ó Niall". The form "Ui Niaill" (with the change "Ó" to
> "Ui" and the slenderisation of "Niall" to "Niaill") is the genitive
> of the Irish name, presumeably a shortened form of "Clann Ui Niaill"
I think you've nailed it here.

> "Ui Niaill" is short for a specific way to referring to the whole
> lots of them folk (using the genitive, as is decent and natural in any
> self-respecting IE language :).
Well, suuuuuure.  But we *like* being able to say "electronic ground
automatic destruct sequencer" (the thingy that blows up a rocket if it
veers too much off course -- check the acronym).  Syntax, what's that?

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