Re: Degrees of volition in active languages (was Re: Chevraqis: asketch)

On Sat, Aug 12, 2000 at 11:26:46AM +0200, Jörg Rhiemeier wrote:
[snip]
> I note an interesting feature here, namely, the use of definite articles
> with proper names.  This strikes me as odd, because it is so redundant.
> But then, there all sorts of odd redundant things done in languages.
This isn't very odd at all. Classical Greek habitually uses articles with
proper names. For example, when referring to Socrates, it is "ho Swkrates"
(literally, "The Socrates") not merely "Swkrates". (I can't recall now if
using "Swkrates" without the article is even allowed -- probably not.)


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