Translation help needed: order of adjectives - French Language2024-03-29T06:28:50Zhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/forum/topics/translation-help-needed?commentId=3179028%3AComment%3A92533&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIncidentally, irrespectively…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-16:3179028:Comment:926182012-08-16T17:29:15.684ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
<p>Incidentally, irrespectively of the existence of "belle-soeur" etc, there's an interesting observation that across languages, the ordering of adjectives tends to be roughly similar.</p>
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<p>There's a general tendency across languages for adjectives relating to 'quality' to come before adjectives relating to 'quantity' which could in itself account for the ordering seen in French here.</p>
<p>Incidentally, irrespectively of the existence of "belle-soeur" etc, there's an interesting observation that across languages, the ordering of adjectives tends to be roughly similar.</p>
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<p>There's a general tendency across languages for adjectives relating to 'quality' to come before adjectives relating to 'quantity' which could in itself account for the ordering seen in French here.</p> Yep, that's how I'd understan…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-16:3179028:Comment:925332012-08-16T07:23:44.668ZChristinehttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/ChristineGuinchard
<p>Yep, that's how I'd understand it. "Ma belle petite soeur" sounds a lot more natural too. Same if you go with other adjectives ("ma jolie petite soeur", ma magnifique petite soeur"...). I think it's because "petite soeur" already has a meaning by itself, but I'm not sure it's the reason. (But if you really want to use the other way for some reason, at least use a comma: "ma petite, belle soeur" so it will sound less weird.)</p>
<p>Yep, that's how I'd understand it. "Ma belle petite soeur" sounds a lot more natural too. Same if you go with other adjectives ("ma jolie petite soeur", ma magnifique petite soeur"...). I think it's because "petite soeur" already has a meaning by itself, but I'm not sure it's the reason. (But if you really want to use the other way for some reason, at least use a comma: "ma petite, belle soeur" so it will sound less weird.)</p> 'ma petite belle-sœur " could…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-15:3179028:Comment:925272012-08-15T23:20:36.575ZGeorge Hunthttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/GEORDIEHOUND
<p><em>'ma petite</em> <span id="result_box" lang="fr" class="short_text" xml:lang="fr"><span class="hps"><em>belle-sœur</em> "</span></span> could mean "<em>my little sister-in-law"</em> (as well as '<em>my beautiful little sister'</em> )</p>
<p>So I think it would be better to say <em>'ma belle petite soeur' </em> to avoid ambiguity.</p>
<p><em>'ma petite</em> <span id="result_box" lang="fr" class="short_text" xml:lang="fr"><span class="hps"><em>belle-sœur</em> "</span></span> could mean "<em>my little sister-in-law"</em> (as well as '<em>my beautiful little sister'</em> )</p>
<p>So I think it would be better to say <em>'ma belle petite soeur' </em> to avoid ambiguity.</p>