Dal'qörian Inherent and non-inherent adjectives
back to main page
Most attributive adjectives denote some ‘attribute’ of the noun which they modify. For instance, the phrase a red car may be said to denote a car which is red. In fact most adjective-noun sequences such as this can be loosely reformulated in a similar way:
- an old man-a man who is old
- difficult questions-questions which are difficult
- round glasses-glasses that are round
This applies equally to postpositive adjectives:
- something understood-something which is understood
- those responsible-those who are/were responsible
In each case the adjective denotes an attribute or quality of the noun, as the reformulations show. Adjectives of this type are known as INHERENT adjectives. The attribute they denote is, as it were, inherent in the noun which they modify. However, not all adjectives are related to the noun in the same way. For example, the adjective small in a small businessman does not describe an attribute of the businessman. It cannot be reformulated as a businessman who is small. Instead, it refers to a businessman whose business is small. We refer to adjectives of this type as NON-INHERENT adjectives. They refer less directly to an attribute of the noun than inherent adjectives do. Here are some more examples, showing the contrast between inherent and non-inherent:
Inherent
- distant hills
- a complete chapter
- a heavy burden
- an old man
Non-inherent
- distant relatives
- a complete idiot
- a heavy smoker
- an old friend
One can clearly see the difference in meaning between an inherent and a non-inherent adjective. For example, an old man is a man who is old, whereas an old friend is not a friend who is old, but a friend who you have known for some time.
In dal'qörian, attributive adjectives are never used as non-inherent adjectives. This is because, in dal'qörian, almost all attributive adjectives carry only an attributive meaning. For example, to say literally ni vätös sécösatrátsi-a heavy smoker, would imply that the ‘smoker’ was of a ‘heavy stature’. Again, the adjectives must be avoided but there are a number of ways in which non-inherent formations can be rendered. One way is to verbalize the sentence and modify it with an adverb that relates to the adjective:
- mæ vätösas sécösatr. He smokes heavily. (see Adverbs for word order)
Although this does not directly describe an attribute of ‘the smoker’ himself, it still describes an attribute of his smoking which, in turn, tells us more about ‘him’.
- ni qömpal qvéamø di äda-épø. An old friend. (lit: A friend out of the past).
- tev’araciev, binä máriÞvehitøamria ni qömpal qvéamø äda-épø. I’m meeting with an old friend later. (lit: Later, I am meeting with a friend out of the past).
- geræÞ tamlájel. Distant relatives. In dal'qörian, these are known as slight relations.
Unfortunately, there is no ’list’ that depicts each and every equivalent of an English non-inherent phrase. Through your learning of dal'qörian, it will become apparent as to which words can be replaced or used, and how sentences can simply be re-formed.
