Re: Got to thinkin' about word order

From: Peter P
Message: 21699
Date: 2003-05-10

Kauniisti sanottu kyllä, mutta...

I guess Finnish is flexible in that it has found it prudent to borrow
extensively from often more advanced IE speaking neighbours. Also
speaking a language considerably differently than it is written must
add flexibility. The logic of retaining a cumbersome, archaic case
system certainly adds challenge, but whether it is an asset in itself
is doubtful, especially when viewed from the perspective of other
modern languages that have become greatly more simplified.

Personally, I don't think a particular language is the influence,
which provides the ability of a society to develop technology or
advance in other ways. There are electronics industries all over the
world.

Probably the only reason for even discussing Finnish on this list is
that it can be viewed as a potential model of and old language, and
with a rich stock of borrowed IE words it provides some clues to
older, now lost or changed, words in IE languages. If we take Uralic
back to Nostratic or some other older grouping, Finnish may also be
useful as a window into the distant past.

I took the "case" discussion to be humor. At least I found it that
way. I find this list very interesting and a dash of wit injected
into otherwise serious discussion is very welcome, at least for me.
I rest my case.

PeterP


--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "aquila_grande" <aquila_grande@...>
wrote:
> I am myself a Norwegian, but I amire to some extend the finnish
> language and the grammatical logic of that languages.
>
> Finland is the most inovating nation in the world in the field of
> electronics (Nokia) and is a leader in design and architecture.
>
> And- actually - I think this is partly due to the very flexibel
> logical capabilities of the finnish language.
>
>
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Glen Gordon" <glengordon01@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Peter:
> > >The "Finnish Empire" thriving on the partitive case?
> >
> > Tsk, tsk. You know what they say... United we stand, divided we
> fall.
> > Doesn't look like Finnish'll last very long as an empire >:)
> >
> >
> > - gLeN
> >
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