Re: [Corpora-List] Lesser (sic) used languages

From: Peter K Tan (PeterTan@leonis.nus.edu.sg)
Date: Fri Feb 11 2005 - 05:08:24 MET

  • Next message: Peter K Tan: "Re: [Corpora-List] Lesser (sic) used languages"


    Speaking as a non-white English speaker in Singapore, I think of the phrase as being equally cringe-causing. I operate with the simple rule: 'lesser' is not an adverb (it's an adjective), 'less' can be an adverb! Thus we have the Genesis account of the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night.

    Peter

    At 00.50 11/2/2005 +0700, Doug Cooper wrote:

    Hans provides an excellent argument against deriving usage rules
    from corpora ;-).  Rather than a long-winded discussion of grammar,
    I'll just point out that 'less' would not be a meaningful substitution
    for 'lesser' in any of the cases cited:

    > "lesser extent" (402), "lesser degree" (109), "lesser of" (31),
    > "lesser mortals" (29), "lesser spotted  (eagle/woodpecker etc.)" (25).

      "Lesser used languages" strikes me as a typical PC construction,
    prompted by the same motivation as 'less-abled,' 'less well-abled'
    and so on.  My guess is that a less-well-educated writer (see, it's
    infectious!) first derived it from the definitely un-PC 'lesser languages.'
    I'm all for the sentiment, but as far as this particular phrase goes,
    count me in as another cringing native speaker.

        Doug Cooper

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Hans Lindquist" <hans.lindquist@hum.vxu.se>

    > I don't know if native speakers cringe, but this is the established
    technical term for this area of study, as can be seen on Google.
    >
    > Quirk et al 1985 § 7.83c say: "Lesser is sometimes used in comparison to a
    lower degree: lesser-known, in the same way as less well-known."
    >
    > Checking out 2-grams with a frequency of 3 or higher in the BNC through
    Bill Fletchers PIE database, one finds "lesser developed" (38 instances) and
    "lesser known" (36) plus about 90 other 2-grams with lesser + noun or other
    word classes. The most common of those are "lesser extent"
    > (402), "lesser degree" (109), "lesser of" (31), "lesser mortals" (29),
    "lesser spotted  (eagle/woodpecker etc.)" (25).



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