Re: One And A Half

On Wednesday, October 13, 2004, at 04:39 , Muke Tever wrote:

> On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 18:32:25 +0300, Dan Sulani <dansulani@...>
> wrote:
>>     Are there natlangs where there _are_ simple terms for things like
>> "one and a half"? How about anyone's conlang(s)?
>
> Isn't that "sesqui" in Latin?
Yes - there is apparently just one instance of it used as an independent
adverb in Classical Latin. Its normal use is as a prefix, for example:
sesquicyanthus [m.] = 1.5 cyanthi (a cyanthus was about 45 ml)
sesquihora [f] = an hour and a half
sesquilibra [f.] 1.5 pounds [weight] (Roman pound was 12 oz. similar to
the troy pound, about 340 grammes)
sesquipes (gen. sesquipedis) [m.] = 1.5 feet (Roman foot was about 300mm,
slightly shorter than the American & Brit foot)

But it wasn't used only with measures. We also find, for example:
sesquiplaga [f.] = one and half blows [from a whip]

There was also a guy nickamed 'Sesquiculus' (1.5 buttocks!)

It could also be prefixed to ordinal numerals to denote an integer plus
the fraction denoted by the ordinal, for example:
sesquitertius [adj.] = containing one and one third, having a ration of
four to three.
sesquiquartus [adj.] = containing one and a quarter, having a ratio of
five to four
sesquiquintus [adj.] = containing one and one fifth, having a ration of
six to five
etc.

Also:
sesquialter [adj.] = containing one and a half, having a ratio of three to
two ('alter, altera, alterum' was the normal Latin for 2nd)

But the latter meaning could also be denoted by:
sescuplex (gen. sescuplicis) [adj.]_or_ sescuplus = containing one and a
half.


[ENGLISH]
On consulting my English dictionary I find that the prefix sesqui- does
occur in English also. the dictionary also lists 'sequialter' as an
adjective with the meaning of 'having a ratio of three to two' and
'sesquialtera' apparently is used in music to denote a perfect fifth.
'Sesquipedal' and 'sesquipedalian' are adjectives meaning 'a foot and half
long'. There are also some other uncommon words beginning sesqui- which I
won't list here as dictionaries are not too hard to come by.

Maybe we could coin 'sescuple'   :)

[ANCIENT GREEK]
As far as remember, there is no Greek prefix meaning one-and-a-half. But
epi-/ep-/eph- (from preposition 'epi' = "on") could be prefixed to
ordinals with the same meaning as the Latin sesqui- plus ordinal. for
example:
epitritos [adj] = containing one and one third, having a ration of four to
three.
epitetartos [adj.] = containing one and a quarter, having a ratio of five
to four
epipemptos [adj.] = containing one and one fifth, having a ration of six
to five
ephektos [adj.] = containing one and one sixth, having a ration of seven
to six
etc.

but for some reason _epideuteros_ did not mean "one and a half"; it meant
"secondary, of minor rank".

[OTHER LANGUAGES]
The only other language that comes to mind is Urdu which has
/d`er`h/ = one and half.
/d`hai/ = two and half

But I am sure there are other languages as well.

Ray
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