Hand-book of Volapük/Idiomatic Expressions

by Charles E. Sprague

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IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS.

In English there are certain peculiarities of expression, which we do not notice until our attention is called to them by the study of other languages. It is therefore dangerous to translate literally into Volapük unless we first reflect upon the English phrase and are sure that it means literally and exactly what it says. It is safest, in regard to Volapük, as well as other languages, to frame sentences on the model of those which have been composed by authors of known correctness.

Correspondents of different nationalities may be or mutual assistance in pointing out phrases which are difficult to understand, and requesting a repetition of the idea in different words. This alteration will itself be a valuable exercise. The various Volapük periodicals give from time to time notices of societies in various cities an towns of Europe. By writing to the president of one of these societies a correspondent may be secured, probably interested in the same pursuits as the applicant.

A few cautions as to idiomatic expressions are given below:

1. The distinction between the verbs “have, be, do” etc., when used as principal verbs and as auxiliaries, must be carefully watched.

2. In such phrases as “there is, there are,” there, as already stated, is untranslatable. Yet it has a value; it shows that the verb to be has its meaning to exist, and that it is not a mere copula. For example:

There is a Volapük society in Constance;
The Volapük Society in Constance is famous.

Is in the latter sentence is a copula, attributing the quality famous to the Society; in the former sentence the affirmation is that such a society exists. It is allowed by usage in Volapük to mark this distinction by placing the verb before the subject, as,

1. Binom Volapükaklub in Konstanz, or
Volapükaklub sibinom in Konstanz.
2. Volapükaklub in Konstanz binom famik.

3. Besides the articles a, an, the, we use the words some and any as a kind of partitiv articles, and these are also omitted in Volapük, as they add nothing to the sense.

Have you any money? or, have you money?

$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ Li-labol moni?

I have some money, or I have money.

$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ Labob moni.

In the negativ we use no or not any.

I have no money, or, I have not [any] money.

$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$

No labob moni, or, Labob moni nonik.