[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: lujvo preti



>Can the lujvo 'tolxamgu' can be in English as "bad",
>and 'nalxamgu' as "not-good"? I am trying to understand the
>application of polar vs. scalar negation.

I would take tolxamgu as being not merely bad, but as far from good as
possible on the unspecified scale. nalxamgu is also "bad", but is more
akin to xlali - having the full range of other-than-good. The typical
English semantics of "not good" can include either na'e xamgu or no'e
xamgu. A "C" grade on a test is not good, but neither is it bad (unless
you fall short of honors or grad school admission as a result).

lojbab