Re: [tied] German "ge-" before participe perfect

>in very stylish German it is possible to leave out the
> finite form of 'have' in composite tenses in subordinate clauses.
> Perf. ptc. withou ge- and 3rd sg. pres. (when with -t) are similar.
> You have to come up with something to distinguish them in that type
> of clauses (so either get rid of the 3rd sg -t or slap ge- on to the
> perf. ptc.)

This cannot be the origin of the prefixing of ge-. Languages have no real
problem with some ambiguities; English copes well with ambiguity between
Perf. ptc. without ge- and 3rd sg. pret.; any ambiguity is caused only by
the omission of the verb, which is not normal, and the ambiguity can be
cured instantly by restoring the verb.

Ge- comes to signify entry into an act, or completion of an act, and it is
this completive sense that leads to its use in perfectives but not
preterites. A link should probably also be made to its use on nouns for
collectives.

Peter