Re: NATLANG: Dutch (jara: Has anyone made a real conlang?)

Jan van Steenbergen scripsit:

> But as I wrote earlier, I dare to say that a majority of the Dutch are not
> aware of the different spelling;
Since we are talking about subtle errors that foreigners make, there is one
in the above sentence:  "I dare to say" should be "I dare say".  This is
because "dare" mostly operates as an ordinary verb with an infinitive
complement nowadays, but sometimes shows traces of its former status as a
modal verb.  There are sentences in which either works and means the
same thing (with the modal form being more formal):

        He dared (to) open the door.

with derived variants:

        Dared he open the door? (archaic)
        Did he dare open the door? (fairly normal)
        Did he dare to open the door? (normal)

        He dare not open the door (normal)
        He dared not open the door (archaic)
        He doesn't dare (to) open the door (both normal)
        He didn't dare (to) open the door (both normal)

In the Scottish Tragedy (it's thought to be excruciatingly bad luck to
name it), Macbeth says, when Lady Macbeth challenges him,

        I dare do all that may become a man;
        Who dares do more, is none.

This is pure modal use; "become" = "be appropriate to", now lost except
in the adjective "becoming" = "fitting, appropriate; attractive, beautiful".
I had occasion to quote this yesterday.

But in this case, "I dare say" means "I say with confidence" whereas
"I dare to say" suggests that someone has threatened you with something
bad if you do say it!

So hoping that you are not going to receive a nasty visit from the Society
Against Slander of Dutch Literacy,

--
John Cowan        http://www.ccil.org/~cowan          jcowan@reutershealth.com
Please leave your values                Check your assumptions.  In fact,
   at the front desk.                      check your assumptions at the door.
     --sign in Paris hotel                   --Cordelia Vorkosigan

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