case

this time i saw a presentation about typology of the dative case.

maybe if you like languages you like cases.

i didn't know about two cases.  now i know about two more than i knew before.

they are ADESSATIVE and ALLATIVE.

also there is a type of inflection for verbs.  we were supposed to name it using our imaginations.  imagineering.  i said PRECIPITATIVE.  the correct answer is INCHOATIVE.

here is the example from my colleague's presentation:

Garnus looked at her legs.

the presentation didn't have to do with English, but to do with German and Estonian.

in German, as in Spanish, the equivalent sentence, if translated word for word is

Garnus (her-DATIVE) legs looked.

legs would be in the accusative case, "to her" would be represented by the dative case if it were german.

according to the presenter, using the dative construction means that Garnus is a pervert.  if it was presented in the "internal possessive" as in the usual English form, it is neutral and Garnus is simply curious.

Estonian has two cases that cover the ground of the german dative: adessative and allative.

so a word-for-word translation from the estonian form would be:

Garnus (her-ADESSATIVE) looked legs.

but Garnus is not implied to be a pervert.  just curious.

if it is

Garnus (her-ALLATIVE) looked legs.

then it means that Garnus used an X-ray to look into her legs.  he is a doctor and less a pervert by degrees.

i ate fried fish and whisky for dinner because i am tired of working.  i think that everyone is insensitive and clearly at fault.  you don't know how i feel!  that is because i had to work for five consecutive days.  i took a picture of the fried fish but can't find the cable to connect the camera.  

better to spend your time on the schoolwork.  only at the school, of course!  and then maybe one day you can become PRESIDENT OF THE FUTURE.