Re: Shaquelingua and Teonaht (was: discussion of verbless languages)

Sally Caves scripsit:

> I got some criticism for that when I first joined CONLANG... someone
> described it as "counterproductive."
Sounds like a typical auxlanger remark.  :-)

> Teonaht has three different ways to express "having" something;
> something you have nonvolitionally by virtue of its being an innate
> thing, such as a body part, a disposition, or a family member; something
> you own by having taken or bought it volitionally; and something that
> is with you presently, like a pencil, but which you acquired somewhat
> indifferently.
Lojban has the same three grades, but the middle grade is more broadly
defined and doesn't require legal or customary ownership.  Rather,
the defining concept is specific-ness of possession:  if it's mine
(in this middle sense) it can't be yours too.  In the first grade, it's
strictly impossible that it be both yours and mine; in the third grade,
it can easily be both yours and mine.  The middle grade compromises.

--
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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