Re: Laranao modals, aspects, etc.

>From: Matt Pearson' <jmpearson@...>'
>Daniel Andreasson wrote, in response to me:
>
>>> There are actually two kinds of "some" in English,
>>> and it's not clear which kind corresponds to
>>> "eto"/"etao":
>>>
>>>    There are some people in the garden.
>>>       (= an indefinite/non-specific number)
>>>
>>>    Some people like salsa music.
>>>       (= more than none, but less than all)
>>
>Well, not necessarily.  The difference is this:
>"some" can mean either
[1]>"more than one but not all"
>or
[2]>"an indefinite number, fewer than many, but
>possibly all".
I can't find either of these definitions verbatim in my dictionary. Yet
I used to believe with Matt that [1] was the definition of "some";
prior to my exposure to the logic communities. So I assume that it is a
usage that is not acceptable to dictionary writers and logicians. It's
great to see the sense of [1] embodied in conlangs. Two "somes" seem
like a very good idea to me, but one which the simple grammar of
predicate calculus cannot handle as basic quantifiers. One of the
reasons conlanging is actually needed, is to make language correspond
with thought, instead of vice-versa. To me both [1] and [2] seem very
natural categories of thought.

xxx dragons.
>
>Tokana distinguishes the two meanings:  The
>quantifier "sepe" can only be used to mean "less
>than all".  To denote an indefinite number without
>implying less than all, "mah" must be used.
>
>Matt.
>