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The "wether or not" logical connector

by Ilmen, November 30, 2011

Messages: 25

Language: English

jkph00 (User's profile) January 24, 2012, 5:16:58 PM

sudanglo:Ĉu pluvos aŭ ne, ni iros.
This seems an elegant translation.

Now in American English we often express it with grim determination: "We're going whether it rains or not." Would that work in Esperanto? "Ni iras cxu pluvas aux ne?"

Dankon ankorauxfoje! rideto.gif

darkweasel (User's profile) January 24, 2012, 6:08:30 PM

jkph00:Now in American English we often express it with grim determination: "We're going whether it rains or not." Would that work in Esperanto? "Ni iras cxu pluvas aux ne?"
✔

erinja (User's profile) January 24, 2012, 6:22:31 PM

A small point, I'd say "ĉu pluvos aŭ ne" if we're talking about a point in the future.

As in, we are planning to go on Saturday, whether it rains [on Saturday] or not.

We use the present tense for this general situation in English, but future in Esperanto.

If it rains on Sunday, I will stay home. [present tense "rains"]
=
Se pluvos dimanĉon, mi restos hejme [future tense "pluvos"]

jkph00 (User's profile) January 24, 2012, 10:26:07 PM

erinja:A small point, I'd say "ĉu pluvos aŭ ne" if we're talking about a point in the future.

As in, we are planning to go on Saturday, whether it rains [on Saturday] or not.

We use the present tense for this general situation in English, but future in Esperanto.

If it rains on Sunday, I will stay home. [present tense "rains"]
=
Se pluvos dimanĉon, mi restos hejme [future tense "pluvos"]
A nice point, thank you! How do I include the "come heck or high water" implication of (American) English in that case? Would I perhaps say, "Ni iros certe (aǔ "ja"?) ĉu pluvos aŭ ne?" senkulpa.gif

erinja (User's profile) January 24, 2012, 11:14:04 PM

jkph00:A nice point, thank you! How do I include the "come heck or high water"
There's not such a colorful way to say it in Esperanto okulumo.gif but the word "nepre" is useful in that kind of context. The dictionary defines it as "without fail, definitely, absolutely"

I would render the expression on raining, therefore, as "Ni nepre iros, ĉu pluvos aŭ ne".

TatuLe (User's profile) January 24, 2012, 11:52:39 PM

jkph00:"Ni iros certe (aǔ "ja"?) ĉu pluvos aŭ ne?" senkulpa.gif
If I wanted say it very strongly I would say "Ni iros, eĉ se pluvegos." or, if it isn't about rain, "Ni nepre iros, kio ajn okazu."

erinja (User's profile) January 25, 2012, 7:12:48 PM

But the expression, "Come hell or high water" is an idiomatic way of saying, no matter what happens, nothing will stop me from doing whatever it is I'm talking about -- going, in this case. It doesn't really have anything to do with a lot of rain versus a little rain.

jkph00 (User's profile) January 25, 2012, 8:11:34 PM

erinja:
jkph00:A nice point, thank you! How do I include the "come heck or high water"
I would render the expression on raining, therefore, as "Ni nepre iros, ĉu pluvos aŭ ne".
That's a wonderful new addition to my vocabulary. It will be very useful when I yell at my teenagers about getting the chores done. Dankon! rideto.gif

jkph00 (User's profile) January 25, 2012, 8:14:48 PM

TatuLe:
jkph00:"Ni iros certe (aǔ "ja"?) ĉu pluvos aŭ ne?" senkulpa.gif
If I wanted say it very strongly I would say "Ni iros, eĉ se pluvegos." or, if it isn't about rain, "Ni nepre iros, kio ajn okazu."
I love it! I can use that one a million times a week! We have six boys and a girl, you see. okulumo.gif

Altebrilas (User's profile) January 25, 2012, 10:46:45 PM

In french, it would be "Nous y allons, qu'il pleuve ou non" (colloquially "on y va, qu'il pleuve ou non")

In esperanto, why not simply:
Ni iros, se pluvas aux ne

Another possibility:
Ni iros cxiukaze

It seems to me also possible to add "-ajn"
Ni iros, cxu-ajn pluvos aux ne, kiel-ajn veteros

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