Comment on why
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 2 days agoIn general it’s the positive or negative of the verb though - were you? I was. Did you? I did. Will you? I will. Did she? She did etc.
So the verb has a negative declension, or is it just some kind of conjunction that negates the verb?
Either way, that’s kind of beautiful. English has a problem where one can ask a compound question, and replying “no” doesn’t clarify a damn thing. This would be impossible in Irish, since you’d have to pick one or some combination of questions to reply to, as the verb-form is required.
khannie@lemmy.world 2 days ago
You repeat the verb but in the positive or negative form if that makes sense?
Like “Do you understand?” is “I understand”.
I’m teaching my youngest lad Irish and I’ll regularly ask him “An dtuigeann tú” (on diggin too) and he’ll respond with “tuigim” (“tigim” - “I understand” (which is strictly a contraction)).
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 2 days ago
This is a better response than I could have hoped for; consider my curiosity sated, and I am now fascinated. Thank you for sharing this.
khannie@lemmy.world 2 days ago
You’re very welcome :)