RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

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Lambuzhao
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RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

Post by Lambuzhao »

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.

:esp: menos alto 'less tall'
:lat: 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.

:grc: 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 :grc: and :lat:, among other langs, in google/googlebooks searches. :wat:

And ideas :?: :?:
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Creyeditor
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

Post by Creyeditor »

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.
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Khemehekis
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

Post by Khemehekis »

Less tall: contrastive
The least tall: sublative

I started using CNTR and SUBL in my Kankonian grammar after learning these terms on this board.
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Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels

My Kankonian-English dictionary: 86,336 words and counting

31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
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Lambuzhao
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

Post by Lambuzhao »

@ Creyeditor & Khemehekis:

[+1] 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. [B)]
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Creyeditor
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

Post by Creyeditor »

Wow [O.O]
You remember how to thank me in Pøplish and Mamambam. Impressive [:O]
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Khemehekis
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

Post by Khemehekis »

Lambuzhao wrote: 22 Apr 2022 16:41 Izar non!
Ar os kuless!
♂♥♂♀

Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels

My Kankonian-English dictionary: 86,336 words and counting

31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
Khemehekis
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Re: RE: Lesser Comparatives, and the Least of All Superlatives

Post by Khemehekis »

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.
♂♥♂♀

Squirrels chase koi . . . chase squirrels

My Kankonian-English dictionary: 86,336 words and counting

31,416: The number of the conlanging beast!
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