Mea gotcha: Difference between revisions

From The Toaq Wiki
(Document it)
 
m (each tree)
 
Line 3: Line 3:
If you are referring to plural ''somethings'', or to stuff that's {{t|róı}}-ed together, {{t|mea}} is correct. But if you are talking about a singular word ending in {{t|me}}, it's probably wrong.
If you are referring to plural ''somethings'', or to stuff that's {{t|róı}}-ed together, {{t|mea}} is correct. But if you are talking about a singular word ending in {{t|me}}, it's probably wrong.


For example: {{t|muaome}} means "forest", so {{t|múaome}} means "the forest(s)", and {{t|tú mea múaome}} means "every (forest) of/among the forest(s)". It can not refer to one tree.
For example: {{t|muaome}} means "forest", so {{t|múaome}} means "the forest(s)", and {{t|tú mea múaome}} means "every (forest) of/among the forest(s)." It cannot refer to "each tree."


This may seem obvious, but the same applies to words like {{t|póqme}} "the group of people", where it's a far easier mistake to make. The phrase {{t|tú mea póqme}} means "some (group) among the groups of people"; it does not mean "every person in the group."
This may seem obvious, but the same applies to words like {{t|póqme}} "the group of people", where it's a far easier mistake to make. The phrase {{t|tú mea póqme}} means "some (group) among the groups of people"; it does not mean "every person in the group."

Latest revision as of 12:36, 20 September 2024

The mea gotcha refers to the fact that mea can look inside plural constants, but not inside words that mean a group.

If you are referring to plural somethings, or to stuff that's róı-ed together, mea is correct. But if you are talking about a singular word ending in me, it's probably wrong.

For example: muaome means "forest", so múaome means "the forest(s)", and tú mea múaome means "every (forest) of/among the forest(s)." It cannot refer to "each tree."

This may seem obvious, but the same applies to words like póqme "the group of people", where it's a far easier mistake to make. The phrase tú mea póqme means "some (group) among the groups of people"; it does not mean "every person in the group."

  • If you want a word like mea that looks "inside" aggregates, there's mem — you can say mem póqme.
  • To actually say "every person among the people", you say mea póq.
  • If you don't want to think too hard about it, you can always just say po.

See also