Re: Comparison Terminology

Jeff Jones wrote:


> I also see that the dictionary uses "degree" in
> the terms "positive degree", "comparative degree", "superlative degree",
That is indeed the traditional usage.

> 1) the "comparative" is an explicit comparison of one entity (or set of
> entities) to one other entity,
The Lojban analysis is that a comparison has four components: x1 (subject) exceeds,
is less than, or is the same as x2 (standard) in quality x3 (scale) by amount x4
("degree").  Obviously x4 is not present in comparisons of equality, as in
"John is equal to George in height".  The directionality is expressed by
using distinct words, not by adding a fifth component.

>  2) the "superlative" is a comparison of one entity to a number of others
> within the same group, and
A superlative also has four components: x1 is superlative in property x2, being
at the x3'th extremum of range x4.  Here the "most vs. least", the extremum,
*is* expressed as a term.

--
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