Re: "......I have a banana in my ear" (was: Re: Weekly Vocab 6: to know)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Muke Tever" <muke@...>
To: <CONLANG@...>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 9:04 PM
Subject: Re: "......I have a banana in my ear" (was: Re: Weekly Vocab 6: to
know)


> From: "Robert B Wilson" <han_solo55@...>
> > > >I can't swim. - I haven't learned how.
> > > >vs.
> > > >I can't swim. - I have a red hot poker jabbed into my thigh.
> > >
> > > French has the same distinction, using "savoir" vs. "pouvoir":
> > > Je ne sais pas nager: I can't swim - I haven't learned how.
> > > Je ne peux pas nager: I can't swim - they cut my legs and arms.
> >
> > tolkien's quenya also has this distinction:
> > lá istan <swim>: i can't swim (i don't know how)
> > lá polin <swim>: i can't swim (i am physically unable)
> > as well as:
> > lá lertan <swim>: i can't swim (what exactly would this mean?)
>
> Possibly "I can't swim (it's forbidden me)" ?
>
>     *Muke!
>
Probably more accurately(not colloquially) translated as "I may not swim"