Re: Nitpicking, and some political theory

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, "Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@M...> wrote:
On Mon, Oct 18, 2004 at 01:05:39AM -0500, Thomas R. Wier wrote:
> From:    Muke Tever <hotblack@F...>
> Subject: Re: re Periphrases?  Re    Re Question about Latin.
>
> > >  what's a periphrase?
> >
> > The singular of "periphrases" is "periphrasis".
>
> Except for most English speakers, for whom the paradigm goes
> "periphrase : periphrases".
No, I don't believe that's true.  Most English speakers don't have
"periphras[ei]s" in their vocabulary at all; they use the word
"paraphrase", normally as a verb, but sometimes as a noun.  For those
who do have "periphrases" in their vocabularly, it is the plural of
"periphrasis".

-Marcos
--- End forwarded message ---

Some of my messages don't seem to be getting through.

We are dealing here with two different meanings.  To paraphrase,
paraphrase, paraphrases, paraphrastic = a restatement of a passage in
another form or other words, often to clarify meaning, e.g., "he is
recalcitrant," -> "he is stubbornly resistant."  Etymology: to show
alongside.

Periphrasis (accent on the "i"), periphrases, periphrastic (no verb)
refers to the use of separate words instead of inflections to express
the same grammatical relationship.  E.g., pretty, prettier, but
beautiful, more beautiful. Etymology: to show around.

The words are not interchangeable.

Charlie