MrMojo
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:18 |
|
I came across this in Wikipedia recently and was amazed. It seems that English is entirely lacking in some grammatical constructions other languages take for granted.
Answer me this, you native English speakers.
"How would you ask a boy who has several brothers 'which' (or 'which-th'!) son of his parents he is, such that his reply would be something like: 'I am the third son'?" |
_________________ My post count
Jesus loves me this I know, 'cos my Bible tells me so. |
|
celas
Joined: Aug 02, 2003
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:24 |
|
How about, what order were you born in? Or perhaps, what was the order in which you and your brothers came in to the family? |
_________________ Northern Wastes League
Last edited by celas on %b %17, %2006 - %14:%Mar; edited 1 time in total |
|
pizzamogul
Joined: Jun 13, 2005
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:24 |
|
"How many older brothers do you have?"
Then we do some math. |
_________________ "Don't expect mercy."
-Woodstock |
|
pac
Joined: Oct 03, 2005
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:26 |
|
MrMojo wrote: | "How would you ask a boy who has several brothers 'which' (or 'which-th'!) son of his parents he is, such that his reply would be something like: 'I am the third son'?" |
We don't have large enough families that this would be a very useful question very often. Two hundred years ago or more, I'm sure there would have been a common colloquial way of expressing this, but now? |
_________________ Join us in building Blood Bowl Sixth Edition.
In other news, the Hittites are back. Join us in #fumbbl.hi |
|
DukeTyrion
Joined: Feb 18, 2004
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:29 |
|
So, where do you come in the line up then? |
|
|
MrMojo
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:31 |
|
celas wrote: | How about, what order were you born in? Or perhaps, what was the order in which you and your brothers came in to the family? |
Those questions aren't very practical, are they?
There are languages which have an exact word for "which-th", such as Finnish mones and Latin quotus, or the German wievielte.
EDIT: Duketyrion's is a great colloquial expression. |
_________________ My post count
Jesus loves me this I know, 'cos my Bible tells me so. |
|
celas
Joined: Aug 02, 2003
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:33 |
|
Wow that's fascinating! Have you ever considered sticking to topics about pie? ;P |
_________________ Northern Wastes League |
|
MrMojo
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:35 |
|
There's no need to be sarcastic, just asking while making mental notes for possible future translations. |
_________________ My post count
Jesus loves me this I know, 'cos my Bible tells me so. |
|
SideshowBob
Joined: Aug 02, 2003
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:39 |
|
This was interesting. I don't think we have a word for "which-th" in Swedish either. Maybe I can invent one and become rich this way? |
|
|
MrMojo
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 14:42 |
|
mångte? |
_________________ My post count
Jesus loves me this I know, 'cos my Bible tells me so. |
|
SideshowBob
Joined: Aug 02, 2003
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 15:27 |
|
"vilkende" sounds better. |
|
|
Macavity
Joined: Nov 23, 2004
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 15:32 |
|
English is largely acknowledged as the most poorly constructed language around. Anyone who says differently problably cannot speak even IT correctly.... |
_________________ When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up. -C.S. Lewis |
|
EvolveToAnarchism
Joined: Aug 02, 2003
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 15:58 |
|
"Are you the eldest?" or "Are you the youngest?" with the assumption that they'd elaborate on the answer is a common way of doing it.
Evo |
_________________ Ignorance is Strength quis custodiet ipsos custodes As Always, Evolve To Anarchism |
|
xcver
Joined: Mar 10, 2005
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 16:02 |
|
THrow in a couple of sisters and it get's even more funny
"Which is your sibling birth order number in reference to your parents?" |
_________________ "Power without perception is virtually useless and therefore of no true value!" - Ryouken - Master of the Hokuto no Ken Martial Arts |
|
Arktoris
Joined: Feb 16, 2004
|
  Posted:
Mar 17, 2006 - 16:05 |
|
"which number are you?" Is what most say to me
"I'm the second son." |
_________________ Hail to Manowar! The latest charioteer to DIE for bloodbowl! - Slain, by Ghor Oggaz |
|
|