Greetings All,
I hœp all is well with you. I have a ling/natlang question. I was reviewing comparatives in my Intermediate Spanish classes a few days ago. I was wondering:
Is there a special linguistic/grammatical term for »diminishing comparisons« ? In other words, has anyone come across a term specifically for when an ADJ is less-ADJ?
E.G.
menos alto 'less tall'
minus sapientem 'less wise'
Is "comparative" the only moniker for this lot?
It seems like the -er/more COMPARs ought to be 'augmentative' comparatives, while the less+ADJ COMPARs ought to be something like 'diminishing' comparatives.
I wondered the same for the least+ADJ superlatives.
E.G.
ἵππον ἥκιστα δρομικóν ᾽least fast horse'
Do those kinds of superlatives have their own specific linguistic/grammatical term?
BTW, had a devil of a time scaring up examples of these in and , among other langs, in google/googlebooks searches.
And ideas
RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives
- Creyeditor
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives
I have definitely seen a special term used for it but can't recall the exact wording. I use the term diminutive as a modifier in my Kobardon grammar (e.g. 'diminutive comparative' or 'diminutive elative', etc.) and this gets some google hits, but idk.
Creyeditor
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- mongolian
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives
Less tall: contrastive
The least tall: sublative
I started using CNTR and SUBL in my Kankonian grammar after learning these terms on this board.
The least tall: sublative
I started using CNTR and SUBL in my Kankonian grammar after learning these terms on this board.
♂♥♂♀
Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels
My Kankonian-English dictionary: 87,413 words and counting
31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels
My Kankonian-English dictionary: 87,413 words and counting
31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives
@ Creyeditor & Khemehekis:
Gram-gram!! / Lamtvum vitam barambim! / Izar non! / ˤeuǯewiriθ! /Thank you!
You guys are helping with an up-coming conlang translation exercise I will be posting concerning the same.
Gram-gram!! / Lamtvum vitam barambim! / Izar non! / ˤeuǯewiriθ! /Thank you!
You guys are helping with an up-coming conlang translation exercise I will be posting concerning the same.
- Creyeditor
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives
Wow
You remember how to thank me in Pøplish and Mamambam. Impressive
You remember how to thank me in Pøplish and Mamambam. Impressive
Creyeditor
"Thoughts are free."
Produce, Analyze, Manipulate
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Ook & Omlűt & Nautli languages & Sperenjas
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"Thoughts are free."
Produce, Analyze, Manipulate
1 2 3 4 4
Ook & Omlűt & Nautli languages & Sperenjas
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- mongolian
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives
♂♥♂♀
Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels
My Kankonian-English dictionary: 87,413 words and counting
31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels
My Kankonian-English dictionary: 87,413 words and counting
31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
-
- mongolian
- Posts: 3885
- Joined: 14 Aug 2010 09:36
- Location: California über alles
Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives
In my Kankonian grammar, I also use the gloss COMPCOMP:
From the glossing abbreviation list at the bottom:
COMPCOMP - increasing comparative or contrastive
Telemas ad is inyas dumi re almonas.
student-PL to 1s become-PRS COMPCOMP COMP smart
My students are becoming smarter and smarter.
Shuyes oiras, ham yizeli inenas dumi hi afas.
across year-PL that comic_strip become-PST-PRS COMPCOMP CNTR funny
Over the years, that comic strip has become less and less funny.
From the glossing abbreviation list at the bottom:
COMPCOMP - increasing comparative or contrastive
Telemas ad is inyas dumi re almonas.
student-PL to 1s become-PRS COMPCOMP COMP smart
My students are becoming smarter and smarter.
Shuyes oiras, ham yizeli inenas dumi hi afas.
across year-PL that comic_strip become-PST-PRS COMPCOMP CNTR funny
Over the years, that comic strip has become less and less funny.
♂♥♂♀
Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels
My Kankonian-English dictionary: 87,413 words and counting
31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels
My Kankonian-English dictionary: 87,413 words and counting
31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!