Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: SunkenCiv
Eheu! This is fun. I'm actually doing it. Came upon a stumbling block.

1. An Brutus Caesarem occidit? Is Brutus killing Caesar?

2. An Caesarem Brutus occidit? Is Brutus killing Caesar?

Why isn't the second one, Is Caesar killing Brutus?

32 posted on 09/29/2004 7:04:23 PM PDT by my_pointy_head_is_sharp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: my_pointy_head_is_sharp

It has to do with the suffixes... She's showing that word order isn't always as important as it is in English. Or should I say, order always word as is important English not it is as in.


34 posted on 09/29/2004 7:07:47 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("All I have seen teaches me trust the Creator for all I have not seen." -- Emerson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies ]

To: my_pointy_head_is_sharp
Because it's an inflected language. The word endings indicate case, not the order. In Brutus, the ending "us" indicates the nominitive (subject), not the accusative (direct object).
36 posted on 09/29/2004 7:15:54 PM PDT by 4CJ (Laissez les bon FReeps rouler)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson