Re: "There can be"

Hello

Matahaniya ang Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>:

> How do langs with various other idiomatic renderings of
> "there is/are" convey the idea "there can be"? (c.f.
> Favorite catchphase of fantasy-struck boy-children of the
> 80's, "there can be only one"). Would "se puede hacer"
> send the right message in Spanish?  What the heck can you
> do with "I'll y a" in French - "I'll y peux avoir"?
In French that should be _il y a_ /i.'ljA/

German:

(1) Es       gibt    nur  einen.
    3s:n.NOM give.3s only one-ACC.m
    'It gives only one.'

(2) Es       kann     nur  einen     geben.
    3s:n.NOM can(.3s) only one-ACC.m give(.INF)
    'It can give only one.'


Ayeri:

(1) Yomaya  menyāng-nama.
    be-3s:m one.NMNLZ-AGT=only
    'Only one is/exists.'

(2) Ming yomaya  menyāng-nama.
    Can  be-3s:m one.NMNLZ-AGT=only
    'Only one can be/exist'


Regards
Carsten

--
Siruena, Dirlem 24, 2317 ya 24:42:32 pd
Friday, April 11, 2008 at 03:45:03 pm