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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: can an IAL really work?
Message-ID: <elnaE6nDMu.LHq@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <853605030.2652@dejanews.com> <7fsp2ewb94.fsf@phoenix.cs.hku.hk> <elnaE6K1qE.3Cs@netcom.com> <331D188E.711C@scruznet.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 00:35:18 GMT
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Sender: elna@netcom14.netcom.com

Mike Wright <darwin@scruznet.com> writes in a recent posting (reference <331D188E.711C@scruznet.com>):
>
>Do you have a few examples of English grammar that is derived from
>French?
>
The normal plural -s.  Germanic -en is only residually used. Eyen ==> eyes.

The use of "to do" in interrogatives, in imitation of "est-ce que" and
replacing normal Germanic inversion.

As already mentioned, the use of "to" in marking most infinitives, 
following French use of "de" and "a".

Use of preposition to replace genitive.

Tendency to keep compound verb structures together. Germanic languages
cast some to the end of clauses.

To be sure, I am speculating on causality here. I am still hoping for 
some more informed examples to be offered...


-- 
Miko SLOPER              elna@netcom.com              USA  (510) 653 0998
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