Re: Degrees of comparation

> I recently realized that from an internal POW, it'd make a lot of sense for
> Tairezazh to have "negative" degrees of comparation, that is inflections
> signifying "less" and "least". So, taking _dair_ "beautiful" as example, the
> full range of comparation 'd be:
>
> tshedair    most beautiful
> dadair      more beautiful
> dair        beautiful
> medair      less beautiful
> sizdair     least beautiful
>
> (All to be stressed on the _ai_)
>
> Are there any natlangs with a similar system?
>
This was discussed earlier this year (or late last year) on the list -
might be worth checking in the archives.

From that discussion I expanded the system Gevey was using to the
following (lifted from the website):

"Adjective anchors [special pronouns in Gevey] are also used when
forming the various forms of adjective comparisons. Gevey has a
multitude of anchors for managing comparisons and fitness for purpose,
the most common of which are:

*zhi* positive adjective anchor, zhi-jarhe = large
*zhoudi* equalitative adjective anchor, zhoudi-jarhe = as large
*zhani* comparative adjective anchor, zhani-jarhe = larger
*zhasti* superlative adjective anchor, zhasti-jarhe = largest
*zhaevdi* hyperlative adjective anchor, zhaevdi-jarhe = largest of all
*zhambi* diminutive adjective anchor, zhambi-jarhe = not large enough
*zharhi* selective adjective anchor, zharhi-jarhe = just large enough
*zhoili* excessive adjective anchor, zhoili-jarhe = too large

As with equative assignations, comparative and fit-for-purpose clauses
tend to be built with the principle objects being compared or tested
taking the subject role, the anchor-adjective compound acting as the
direct object, and any other objects involved in the comparison cast
as indirect objects: Examples:

My dog can run faster than your dog
Tuusrhe tem brav zdrime zhani-vite ba'tuusrhez den
     tuusrhe = dog [subject]
     tem = my [genetive 1s personal pronoun]
     brav = can [verb condition particle]
     zdrime = run [verb]
     zhani = more [direct object]
     -vite = fast [adjective]
     ba' = [comparative/fit for purpose preposition]
     tuusrhez = dog [indirect object]
     den = your [genetive 2s personal pronoun]

The apples are just sweet enough to eat
Ápeluush cat áfosuu sekee zharhi-coerhuush
     ápeluush = apples [subject]
     cat = for [coordinating conjunction]
     áfosuu = the eating [subject]
     sekee = are, have become [equative verb]
     zharhi = just enough [direct object]
     -coerhuush = sweet [adjective]

Rik

--
   The Gevey language reference
   http://www.kalieda.org/gevey/index.html