Re: Test and more.

Fabian wrote:
>
> > Fabian wrote:
> > > <lil> is an odd word here, as it can mean 'to the' or 'to a'.  A flaw in
> > > Maltese disambiguation not found in other particles.
> >
> > What's the origin of this {lil}?  I'd assume that, since Maltese is
> > derived from Arabic, that in the sense "to the" it comes from a
> > contraction of something with "al"?  Perhaps something like "li al" or
> > "lil al"?
>
> I double checked, since it seemed so odd. Here is the definitive
> explanation:
>
> lil hanut - to a shop
> lil-hanut - to the shop
>
> lil tifla - to a girl
> lit-tifla - to the girl
>
> lil uviera - to an egg-cup
> lill-uviera - to the egg-cup
>
> Explanation: the final L assimilates with certain consonants (those
> pronounced in the dental/alveo-dental position), if the definite article is
> present.
        That seems to me a good evidence that it comes from Arabic li-l
(li-al), as it seems to exhibit the behaviour of the Arabic article:
assimilation of the l with certain consonnants (I don't remember which
ones).

--
        Christophe Grandsire

        Philips Research Laboratories --  Building WB 145
        Prof. Holstlaan 4
        5656 AA Eindhoven
        The Netherlands

        Phone:  +31-40-27-45006
        E-mail: grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com