{"id":3087,"date":"2018-03-19T19:46:32","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T19:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/esperanto\/?p=3087"},"modified":"2018-03-19T19:46:32","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T19:46:32","slug":"sinprezento-or-memprezento-self-as-prefix-in-esperanto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/esperanto\/sinprezento-or-memprezento-self-as-prefix-in-esperanto\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinprezento or Memprezento? Self-as-prefix in Esperanto"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just when I thought that I had said everything I could say about si<\/em> and mem<\/em> – the two words for “self” in Esperanto, a question came in about using sin<\/em>– and mem<\/em>– as prefixes. As a result, we’re continuing the series. This is the third part (see also: part 1<\/a>\u00a0and part 2<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Sinprezento or Memprezento?<\/h2>\n
\"Is

Is introduction a sinprezento or a memprezento?\u00a0 \u00a0 Photo credit SamLitvin on Flickr<\/p><\/div>\n

Not only can si(n)<\/em> and mem<\/em> be used as free-standing words, they can be used as prefixes – sometimes with a similar meaning. The Esperanto word for “introduction” (as in a few words you might write or say to let people know who you are) can be translated to something like “self-presentation” – but is it sinprezento<\/em> or memprezento<\/em>?<\/p>\n

I chose this word as my first example because it seems to be the most difficult one. You see fluent speakers using both terms, sometimes interchangeably in the same text. I do believe there is a right answer here, but it would be easier to start with some less troublesome examples.<\/p>\n

Clear examples for mem<\/em>–<\/h2>\n

One common meaning for mem<\/em> used this way is to show that something happened with no outside help. This gives us words like\u00a0\u00a0memvole<\/em> (by one’s own will), meminstruito<\/em> (a self-taught person), memlerninto<\/em> (someone who learned with no outside help), memdisciplino<\/em> (nobody else is going to do it for you), memstara<\/em> (independent – literally self-standing), memevidenta<\/em> (self-evident).<\/p>\n

Another common usage\u00a0 is “confidence” or memfido<\/em>. That is, trust in yourself.<\/p>\n

Sin<\/em>– as prefix<\/h2>\n

Take an expression like doni sin <\/em>(to give (of ) oneself). A person who does this can be said to be sindona<\/em> (generous.) The prefix sin<\/em>– in this case represents the object of the verb doni<\/em>. (Note, when used this way, we always use\u00a0si<\/em>. We never say something like “Vi estas tre vindona<\/em>“. It’s always sindona<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

Singarda<\/em> (defensive) is another clear example where we use sin<\/em>– and not mem<\/em>-. We are guarding something – and that something is ourselves. We never say memgarda<\/em> because that would imply that the thing is guarding all on its own. (Of course, now that I’ve said this, I found one author who does use this word; he’s lucky I’m not his editor!)<\/p>\n

Fuzzier cases<\/h2>\n

In some cases you can use either prefix without really changing the meaning. The word for suicide (from Latin “self-killing”) can be either memmortigo<\/em> or sinmortigo<\/em>. (Sinmortigo<\/em> seems more logical to me and avoids the double-m, but memmortigo<\/em> seems slightly more common.) Generally if it can go either way, it’s better to use sin<\/em>– especially if there’s any chance of there being confusion with the other meaning of mem<\/em>– (happening with no outside help.)<\/p>\n

I’m reminded of the memtaksilo<\/em> (self-evaluation form) such as one might do before selecting a level at NASK<\/a> or on a KER exam.<\/a> One could argue that you are evaluating someone, that is, yourself (sin taksi<\/em>) but more likely you would say that the evaluation is happening with no outside help. Either way, we might still prefer\u00a0memtaksilo<\/em> to avoid a collision with sintakso<\/em> (syntax.)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, what about “introduction”?<\/h2>\n

My first piece of advice is if you hear someone say one and you’re expecting the other, keep calm and keep the conversation going. That said, my preference is for sinprezento<\/em><\/strong>. It’s far more common, and makes more sense logically.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"Is

Just when I thought that I had said everything I could say about si and mem – the two words for “self” in Esperanto, a question came in about using sin– and mem– as prefixes. As a result, we’re continuing the series. This is the third part (see also: part 1\u00a0and part 2). Sinprezento or…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":149,"featured_media":3088,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[7736],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3087","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-esperanto-language"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t