Am 28.11.01, Muke Tever yscrifef:
> > Is it related to the word for "language"? -ese is not, of course, as
> > it's simply an adjective forming suffix meaning "of".
>
> I wouldn't say it means "of". "From", maybe, or "after the style produced in",
> e.g. "Japanese table".
OK. It means more than just "of". Sorry to take that for granted!
> But as a productive *noun*forming suffix I think -ese pretty clearly does mean
> "language" or "manner of speech". Say "X-ese is a ____"...
Could be argued, but is moot, as -ese still doesn't have anything
to do with the words "language" or "tongue".
Padraic.
> *Muke!
--
Bethez gwaz vaz ha leal.