Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2007 November 5

= November 5 =

Superlative adjectives
It is my understanding that when we are comparing two things, we would use terms such as "cold" and "colder" ... but we would not use "coldest". That is, we use the comparative form of "cold" (colder) and not the superlative form (coldest). When we are comparing more than two things, we would use terms such as "cold", "colder", and "coldest". That is, the superlative form of "cold" (coldest) is used when comparing three things (or more). There was a question (posted above) on this Reference Desk about whether a 19-year-old male should be called a man or a teenager. So, we have a total of only two choices: man and teenager. Therefore, it would be proper to write a sentence such as this: The better word to describe a 19-year-old like Henry Smith would be "man." Now, would it be proper / improper / acceptable / unacceptable to write: The best word to describe a 19-year-old like Henry Smith would be "man". ...? That is, if we only have two choices (man versus teenager, with no third word), can we ever employ the superlative "best word" or must we stick only with the comparative "better word"? Is use of the superlative wrong or incorrect or is it perfectly fine? The following conversation sounds perfectly fine to me ... but, it would seem to violate grammar rules. Or no? Ann says: "I can't decide which word to use to describe my cousin Henry ... should I use man or teenager?" And then Bob replies: "Oh, yes, I know Henry very well.  The best word in that case would be man." Is that incorrect? (Joseph A. Spadaro 05:10, 5 November 2007 (UTC))


 * It's both okay for Bob to say "better" and "best". When Bob says "the best", we'd think he's more than two words in mind (not just "man" and "teenager"); when he says "the better", we'd think he's comparing the two words given ("man" vs. "teenager"). Of course one may accuse poor Bob of not answering the question very literally - but I think Bob couldn't care less the accusation.--K.C. Tang 06:31, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Yes, "best" refers to the best option of all the words in the English language -- not just better than "teenager", but better than "woman", "cat", "sniffle", and "antidisestablishmentarian" as well. Powers T 18:54, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * It was good enough for Winston Churchill: "Of two cigars pick the longest and strongest." "Longer and stronger" would have sounded overcorrect. It's a judgement call. Trust your ear while keeping an eye out for the right meaning. --Milkbreath 19:05, 5 November 2007 (UTC)

Many thanks for the input. (Joseph A. Spadaro 19:42, 11 November 2007 (UTC))

latin
"hoc est de divisionibus". What does it mean? Omidinist 11:41, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * "This is about divisions", I guess...we'd need a little more context. Adam Bishop 18:54, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Context here. This refers to the title of a philosophical treatise by David of Dinant, De tomis, hoc est de divisionibus.  "Hoc est" simply means "that is."  De tomis means "Concerning divisions," but the word tomis is a Greek-derived not Latin term (introduced by Eriugena).  Thus some explanation is called for, and "hoc est" means "i.e., in Latin."  The title "Concerning Divisions" probably refers to something related to Plato's method of definition by division (see Diaeresis#Plato's method of definition and Sophist (dialogue)), esp. given Copleston's follow-up mention of differentiae.  Wareh 23:47, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thank you, Adam Bishop and Wareh. This "tomis" is still a puzzle. I may ask someone who knows philosophy. Omidinist 05:18, 6 November 2007 (UTC)


 * I meant to resolve that puzzle with my answer already; I'll try again. Tomis is a Greek-derived word, a noun from the verbal root meaning "to cut" (cf. English words ending in -tomy, very common in the field of surgery! also a-tom, something uncuttable or indivisible).  It is neither normal Latin nor normal Greek, but philosophical jargon borrowed from Eriugena.  (There was a huge vogue for vaguely Greek diction among Western Medieval Platonists.)  De tomis means On cuts, in other words, since each division is a "cut," On divisions.  De tomis, hoc est, de divisionibus is exactly like referring to Aristotle's De anima, that is, On the soul.  Wareh 14:23, 6 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thank you so much, Wareh, for your further explanation. I thought you might be in doubt. Omidinist 06:23, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

Endogeny/endogeneity ?
What is the correct noun form of the adjective endogenous - is it endogeny or endogeneity, or either, or something else ? Similarly for exogenous - exogeny or exogeneity ? (In case anyone is interested, this arose as a minor side-issue at an AfD and I was curious) Gandalf61 14:10, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * According to the OED, endogeneity is the word for "the fact of being endogenous"; endogeny is a synonym of endogenesis ("the production of structures or bodies within the organism"). Wareh 17:52, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thank you for the response. Gandalf61 09:56, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

list of language schools (teaching English) in a city in Italy
I have an interview for a job in Lucca, and I'd like to line up more interviews while I'm there in case it doesn't work out. I don't know Italian or I would try their version of the yellow pages. I haven't had luck finding a list of language schools (teaching English) in Florence, Pisa or Lucca (the cities I'm going through for the interviews I have scheduled), maybe someone here can help. Thank you!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.238.88.73 (talk) 19:23, 5 November 2007 (UTC)

italian
I dont think this is the rite place to ask this but can some one tutor me on italian. The only languages my school teaches are spanish and french i am curently taking french but I would rather take italian. thanks --Sivad4991 20:04, 5 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Yes, you are right. This is not the right place to ask that. But if you can't find a tutor, you may want to learn it on your own, in that case the Italian language article will be a good starting place. Cheers.--K.C. Tang 01:44, 6 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Some good resources are available at UniLang. -Elmer Clark 17:23, 6 November 2007 (UTC)