Láadan/Lessons/13
Degrees
[edit | edit source]A Degree marker can be added to indicate some degree. There are neutral ones, as well as ones with a negative and positive emotion conveyed.
Neutral degree markers:
| Láadan | Description |
|---|---|
| -hel | to a trivial degree; slightly |
| -hil | to a minor degree; rather |
| (none) | to an ordinary degree |
| -hal | to an unusual degree; very |
| -hul | to an extreme degree |
| -háalish | to an extraordinary degree |
Negative degree markers:
| Láadan | Description |
|---|---|
| -hele | to a troublesome degree |
| -hile | to a severe degree |
| -hule | to an intolerable degree |
| -shule | an unbearable degree, would cause a catastrophic event; used as an emergency form. |
Positive degree markers:
| Láadan | Description |
|---|---|
| -théle | to a pleasing degree; fine |
| -thíle | to a more-than-pleasing degree; excellent |
| -thúul | to an extraordinarily pleasing degree; magnificient |
| -thúle | to the furthest degree of pleasingness possible; perfect |
Interrogative degree marker:
The interrogative marker, "-haba", can be used to ask "to what degree?"
(Amberwind (2012), Láadan Lessons, p. 295)
Examples
[edit | edit source]| Láadan | English | Vocab words |
|---|---|---|
| Báa íthi bo? | Is the mountain tall? | íthi = tall, bo = mountain |
| Báa íthihaba bo? | How tall is the mountain? | |
| Bíi íthihul bo wa. | The mountain is extremely tall. (Neutral) | |
| Bíi íthithúul bo wa. | The mountain is extremely tall. (Positive - it's great that it's tall!) | |
| Bíi íthithule bo wa. | The mountain is extremely tall. (Negative - it's awful that it's tall!) |