[YG Conlang Archives] > [katanda group] > messages [Date Index] [Thread Index] >
[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]
different meanings for "batsa"
- From: BestATN@hidden.email
- Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 18:08:31 EDT
- Subject: different meanings for "batsa"
- To: katanda@yahoogroups.com
Rick,
K-E defines "batsa" thus:
>batsa - be, be equal to, be the same as.
It seems that "batsa" is a symmetric relation: "Batsa A B" = 'A is the same as B', which implies "batsa B A". In many sentences though, this is not true.
[in K-E under "kobe":]
>Vikobe batsa gebisaw gevya = Strictly speaking, whales are mammals. (All whales are mammals, but not all mammals are whales.)
[under "fugo":]
>Batsa byo fugo niju te monyo memyu gepebyo = That sitting person with the yellow ruler is an astronaut. (Not all astronauts are that sitting person with the yellow ruler.)
And in all of the following sentences, the focus is more general than the patient, so the patient and focus cannot be interchanged. Thus they do not "batsa" (i.e., they aren't the same). I think "futsa" = 'be an example of' fits the way these sentences are used, despite the English translation using "to be".
[with generic focus]
Batsa Kapedebyo gebyo vibento xeva = Peter is a very credulous person.
Batsa sekobyo gebyo fobenzo xeva = The professor is a very skeptical person.
Batsa Kapedebyo gemetabyo xonzasno = Peter is a capable mathematician.
Batsa sekobyo gemetabyo vikogo = The professor is a brilliant mathematician.
[with indefinite focus]
Batsa Kajobyo byo badambo va = John is an honest person.
Batsa Kajobyo byo busesinto va = John is a greedy person.
Batsa Kajobyo byo fusinto xeva va = John is a very happy person.
Batsa Kapedebyo byo bufusinto xeva va = Peter is a very sad person.
Batsa Kajobyo kocabyo xekogo va = John is a smart student.
Batsa Kapedebyo cibyo kozda va = Peter is a skilled pilot.
Batsa fajunti lante tinsa xeva va = That's a very thick tree.
[with negative indefinite focus]
Batsa kobyo tufoy metabyo buva = Your teacher is no mathematician.
Steven