Messages: 36
Language: English
sudanglo (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 12:17:40 PM
When I use 'must' I am insisting on things from my point of view. When I use 'ought' (or have to) I am externalising the devo.
It is strange to say I must go but I won't. (this is self-contradictory)
Quite natural though to say I ought to go but I have decided not to.
And whilst 'have to' carries the idea of externally imposed necessity, 'ought' is more linked to the idea of moral obligation or debt and is something which you could ignore.
I think 'devus' will suffice in many cases for 'ought'.
sudanglo (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 12:31:04 PM
"Mi devus forlasi vin en via malfeliĉo,” diris la vulpo, “sed mi kompatas vin kaj ankoraŭ unu fojon mi vin savos.
Miland (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 1:03:47 PM
sudanglo:Here's a Zamehofa example..What's the source?
Roberto12 (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 1:24:19 PM
sudanglo (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 1:27:02 PM
sudanglo (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 1:29:12 PM
Miland (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 2:04:53 PM
sudanglo:One of the Grimm fabeloj, Miland. Serĉu Tekstaron.Dankon, in that context devus appears to be used like "should". I came across one or two in the FK as well.
Roberto12 (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 2:22:08 PM
sudanglo:Fair enough Robert. If you are not convinced let's hear your counter arguments.Simply that whereas "ought" generally concerns moral obligations (of variable force), "must" also covers them. The concepts overlap a lot, and I think the diminutive relationship works.
Chainy (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 2:26:08 PM
Roberto12:... and I think the diminutive relationship works.I reckon you'll have a hard time trying to find anyone else using any forms of 'dev/et/i'.
Roberto12 (User's profile) December 19, 2010, 2:49:00 PM
Chainy:I mean that it works logically; I wasn't talking about Esperanto usage in particular.Roberto12:... and I think the diminutive relationship works.I reckon you'll have a hard time trying to find anyone else using any forms of 'dev/et/i'.