Re: Partially-heard words. (or phrases?)
| From: | Roger Mills <rfmilly@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Monday, July 14, 2008, 17:42 |
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> On Sun, Jul 13, 2008 at 21:43, Eldin Raigmore <eldin_raigmore@...>
> wrote:
>> Are there any natlangs in which, by hearing the last part of a word, you
>> can
>> get an idea how long the first (unheard) part was?
>>
>> Are there any natlangs in which, by hearing the first part of a word, you
>> can
>> get an idea how long the last (unheard) part was?
>
This would not be unlike the problems encountered with manuscripts, clay
tablets, stone/metal inscriptions that have been damaged in some way, torn,
broken etc. In many though not all cases it's possible to figure out what
the word was, and from context to guess what part of speech/word form was
intended, even if prefixes/suffixes/case endings are the missing part.