Re: EAK Adjectives, Article & Pronouns

Philip Newton wrote:
> On 5/13/07, R A Brown <ray@...> wrote:
>
>> The two very common irregulars, μέγας "great' and πολύς "much" (plural:
>> "many"), simply use the neuter nom. & acc. thus:
>> μέγας μεγάλη μέγα ---> μέγα "great"
>> πολύς πολλή πολύ ---> πολύ "much, many"
>
>
> I would like to recommend that you consider _μεγάλο_ (megálo) as the
> EAK form of "great".
I did - tho I didn't say so.

> While it's true that there are compounds with mega- as the first
> component, there are also such with megal(o)-,
[snip]
> On the other hand, πολύ sounds just fine as the combining form and,
> hence, as the EAK form.
I am certain πολύ (polú) must the EAK form. While there are a few
ancient Greek compounds with pollo-, the vast majority are with polu-/poly-.

I wanted to be consistent and treat these two anomalous adjectives the
same way; but on checking, I find that while there are some compounds
with mega-, the majority of compounds, even in the ancient language, are
with megalo-. So it seems the Greeks themselves were not consistent in
this regard. So, yes:

EAK for "much/many" remains πολύ (polú) -  French _u_  :)
But EAK for "great" will be μεγάλο (megálo)

--
Ray
==================================
ray@carolandray.plus.com
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
==================================
Nid rhy hen neb i ddysgu.
There's none too old to learn.
[WELSH PROVERB]