Re: How to do "But/However"

On Wed, 15 Mar 2006 22:42:33 +0200, John Vertical
<johnvertical@...> wrote:

>> >>In Finnish, there are two words for "but" and the choice of which to
use
>> >>depends on the degree of contrast.
>> >
>> >Two? I can't think of anything else than "mutta".
>>
>>vaan
>
>Doh. Of course. :)
>
>I wouldn't say it's a question of the degree of contrast, however; my gut
>feeling is that "vaan" is used only in "not A but B" constructions, and
>"mutta" in other (conjunctive) contexts.
>
>John Vertical
>=========================================================================
I think the best way to look at it is to consider:
mutta=but
vaan=but on the contrary

following an affirmative clause the difference is not
very noticeable.

following a negative clause, mutta indicates a concessive
alternative whereas vaan indicates the complete opposite

Examples:

En ole sairas, mutta heikko olen.
I am not sick, but I am weak.

En ole sairas, vaan aivan terve.
I am not sick, but (on the contrary) am quite well.

This is why I wrote that it depended on the degree of contrast.

H.Ensle

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