(1) láta; (2) number accord of verbs with multiple subjects

From: llama_nom
Message: 5172
Date: 2005-04-17

> 'láta', on its own, ever be used in the sense of "permit",
> I wonder, or would a preposition be required, or would 'lofa' be
> more likely, or maybe if granting a request 'unna' or 'veita'
> or 'játa'?

Another word in the semantic vecinity: 'leyfa' "allow".


I recently read an article about the practice of having a singular
verb with two individual subjects. The article mentioned this in
the context of Gothic, though without mentioning that it's quite
common in koine Greek, from which almost all of the Gothic corpus is
translated. I have a memory of seeing this in Old English too,
although I can't think of any examples. I was wondering, does it
often happen in Old Norse and, if so, are there any preferred
circumstances or limits to its use?

Þar til himinn og jörð líða undir lok
"till heaven and earth pass away"
(Mt 5,18)

því ótti og ofboð var yfir þær komið
"for fear and confusion had come over them"
(Mk 16,8)

In the first of these examples, both Greek and Gothic have
singular. In the second, Gothic has singular, but Greek plural.

Llama Nom

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