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==Chinese and Japanese: topic and comment== | ==Chinese and Japanese: topic and comment== | ||
==Chinese: double negation== | ==Chinese: double negation== | ||
==Chinese and Russian: | ==Chinese and Russian: event as a whole == | ||
In Chinese and Russian you can easily distinguish between an event still going on (''imperfective''), and a verb indicating that an event is viewed as a whole (''perfective''). | |||
When in English we say ''I have spoken to the doctor'', we are also indicating that we have now finished doing so — we are after the end of the event. When we say ''I am speaking to the doctor'', on the other hand, we are also indicating that we are in middle of the event: the event is continuing, and is not yet over. | |||
Chinese uses the particle 了 （le） to express this perfectivity. | |||
To explicitly express perfectivity in Lojban we use the preposition '''co'i''', which treats an entire event, from the beginning to the end as one single point: | |||
{{mu|mi pu zi co'i penmi lo dotco prenu|I have recently met a German person.}} | |||
:''A little while ago, I was at the point in time where i met a German person.'' | |||
{{gl|penmi|x1 meets x2 at location x3}} | |||
==Spanish: this, that, that over there== | ==Spanish: this, that, that over there== | ||
este, ese, aquel | este, ese, aquel | ||
Revision as of 09:41, 15 July 2014
Different languages
Chinese and Japanese: topic and comment
Chinese: double negation
Chinese and Russian: event as a whole
In Chinese and Russian you can easily distinguish between an event still going on (imperfective), and a verb indicating that an event is viewed as a whole (perfective).
When in English we say I have spoken to the doctor, we are also indicating that we have now finished doing so — we are after the end of the event. When we say I am speaking to the doctor, on the other hand, we are also indicating that we are in middle of the event: the event is continuing, and is not yet over.
Chinese uses the particle 了 （le） to express this perfectivity.
To explicitly express perfectivity in Lojban we use the preposition co'i, which treats an entire event, from the beginning to the end as one single point:
| mi pu zi co'i penmi lo dotco prenu I have recently met a German person. |
- A little while ago, I was at the point in time where i met a German person.
- penmi = x1 meets x2 at location x3
Spanish: this, that, that over there
este, ese, aquel
Spanish: double negation is double
Spanish: estar and ser
The difference is usually idiomatic and is related to the verbs being used.
When it's a long term happiness you can say {mi ru'inai gleki}, with describing the current situation {mi ca gleki} or even {mi ca jarco lo ka gleki} (I demonstrate my happiness). When (nonsense but still) you were just born happy and will be happy forever then it'd be {mi se jinzi lo ka gleki}. As for feelings it'd be {mi cinmo lo ka gleki}. The simple {mi gleki} is just vague in this regard. Also "ser" might be expressed with {mi me lo gleki} (I am one of the happy ones). There is a lot of philosophy here. Usually in Lojban we just rely on what we mean, not on how it is expressed in a particular language. However, i just gave you some alternatives