Re: THEORY: third-person imperatives

Tom Wier <artabanos@...> wrote:

> Hey, I was just wondering how people here handle the third
> person imperative.  In my Greek class, we're getting things like
>=20
> timat=F4 oun ho ge d=EAmos ton Hom=EAron kai ton Euripid=EAn
> "Therefore, have the people honor Homer and Euripides"
>=20
> (I know, I know, a really contrived sentence... but it serves
> the point.)
I'm not sure if I've come across *that* in Drasel=E9q.
My first reaction would surely be using the subjunctive
(same as in Spanish, as Carlos explained earlier). If
the emphasis is on the imperative sense (I mean, it's
not a wish [subjunctive] but a *command*), then I'll
probably use the future =3D imperative, as usual in Drasel=E9q.

I mean, in Drasel=E9q you say "You will be silent" for
"You, be silent!", so it would be quite normal to say
it in the 3rd person. You can optionally use a word
that denotes an obligation, like _f=FAdhdentan_ "forced,
guided into". (BTW this is how I handle "have to"
constructions). And you can use a formal hierarchic
marker on the verb too:

_r=EAlaqai_ "he will see" (you'll see to it)
_f=FAdhdentan r=EAlaqai_ "forced he will see" (make him!)
_r=EAlalaqai_ "he will see" (with hierarchic marker,
"I command you to make sure that he will see").


--Pablo Flores

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
En gian idgrivar fr=FAmneltel frasi=E9rraser gian pavonn
be i malladhar siqged=FCer.

"Don't blame your enemy for your disgrace=20
 if you've just given them a chance."

(Traditional Dr=E1selhadh saying)