11. Peculiarities of the Tibetan Article: Difference between revisions

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== .1 ==
What have been called Articles by Csoma and Schmidt, are a number of little affixes: ''[[pa]]'' ''[[ba]]'' ''[[ma]]'' ''[[po]]'' ''[[bo]]'' ''[[mo]]'', and some similar ones, which might perhaps be more adequately termed denominators, since their principle object is undoubtedly to represent a given root as a [[Noun|noun]], [[Substantive|substantive]] or [[Adjective|adjective]], as is most clearly perceptible in the instance of the roots of the verbs, to which ''[[pa]]'' or ''[[ba]]'' impart the notion of the [[Infinitive]] and [[Participle]], or the nearest abstract and nearest concrete nouns that can possibly be formed from the idea of a verb. These affixes are not, however, - except in this case - essential to a noun, as many substantives and adjectives and most of the pronouns are never accompanied by them, and even those which usually appear connected with them, will drop them upon the slightest occaision.
 
== .2 ==
Almost the only case in which a syntactical use of them, like that of the English [[Definite Article|definite Article]], is perceptible, is that mentioned [[20. Remarks#.3|20.3]]; a formal one, that of distinguishing the [[Gender]], occurs in a limited number of words, where ''[[mo]]'' denotes the female, ''[[po]]'' the masculine.<BR><BR>
 
Thus: ''[[rgyal po]]'' ,king', ''[[rgyal mo]]'' ,queen'. Or, if the word in the masculine (or rather common) gender has no article, ''[[mo]]'' is added: ''[[seng ge]]'' ,lion', ''[[seng ge mo]]'' ,lioness'.
 
== .3 ==
In most instances, by far, their only only use is to distinguish different meanings of [[homonym|homonymous]] roots, [[Abbreviations|e.g.]] ''[[ston pa]]'' ,teacher'; ''[[ston mo]]'' ,feast'; ''[[ston kha]]'' ,autumn'. Even this advantage, however, is given up, as soon as a composition takes place, and then the meaning can only be inferred from the context, or known from usage: ''[[ming ston]]'' (from ''[[ston mo]]'') ,name feast' (given on the occaision of naming or christening an infant); ''[[ston zla]]'' (from ''[[ston kha]]'') ,autumnal month'. In some instances the putting or omitting of these articles is optional; more frequently the usage varies in different provinces.
 
== .4 ==
The peculiar nature of these affixes is most clearly shown by the manner in which they are connected with the indefinite article [[13. The Indefinite Article|13]].
 
 
<BR><BR>Click here to go to the front page of the [[Second Edition of H.A. Jaeschke's 'Tibetan Grammar']]

Revision as of 21:15, 26 February 2006

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