‘Man’ is often used in the same way as ‘mankind’ which is how I’ve usually seen the quote interpreted. Clearly the preposition ‘a’ makes a very big difference but it still makes sense.
Yes, which is why without the “a” doesn’t work. He wasn’t saying “A small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind” because that’s nonsensical.
He was saying he (a man) was literally taking a step with his leg, but it was a figuratively large step for the species because of where/how he was taking that step.
“a” is an indefinite article, not a preposition. Prepositions are how a verb relates to an indirect object. “The bunny hopped over the fence, around a tree, and down a hole.” The italicized words in this sentence are prepositions. In, on, at, near, etc… You get the idea…
Anyway, the quote is kinda contradictory without the “a”. Is it a small step or a giant leap? Oh, it’s a giant leap for mankind, and a small step for a man. Makes so much sense now.
Thank you. I had a feeling I was wrong about that. Couldn’t even think of the word article though so I assumed maybe it was a weird kind of preposition.
usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
It “works” in that we know what he meant, but it literally doesn’t work without the “a”.
Ziglin@lemmy.world 2 months ago
‘Man’ is often used in the same way as ‘mankind’ which is how I’ve usually seen the quote interpreted. Clearly the preposition ‘a’ makes a very big difference but it still makes sense.
usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
Yes, which is why without the “a” doesn’t work. He wasn’t saying “A small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind” because that’s nonsensical.
He was saying he (a man) was literally taking a step with his leg, but it was a figuratively large step for the species because of where/how he was taking that step.
athatet@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Yeah that’s why DIDN’T fucking say mankind TWICE. Fuckin chill!
wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
“a” is an indefinite article, not a preposition. Prepositions are how a verb relates to an indirect object. “The bunny hopped over the fence, around a tree, and down a hole.” The italicized words in this sentence are prepositions. In, on, at, near, etc… You get the idea…
Anyway, the quote is kinda contradictory without the “a”. Is it a small step or a giant leap? Oh, it’s a giant leap for mankind, and a small step for a man. Makes so much sense now.
Ziglin@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Thank you. I had a feeling I was wrong about that. Couldn’t even think of the word article though so I assumed maybe it was a weird kind of preposition.