5

I have been wondering about the word Zamenhofa (e.g., here or here). I am very sure it is the only proper name I have seen converted to an adjective with an -a ending – but then again I haven't seen that much yet. Is this just another form of a possessive? Would I be understood (or, if the answer to the previous is "no", what would that mean), if I said, e.g., Tomasa? Or is perhaps L. Zamenhof the only one whose -a form entered a wide usage?

Improve this question
3
  • Mi certe ne pensas ke estas la sama demando. Cxi tiu demando neniel temas pri posedado. Zamenhof ne posedas la zamenhofan tagon.
    – Antonia Montaro
    Commented Jan 15, 2017 at 15:02
  • I have the impression the question is about the meaning of a proper name + a. It is not about how to build a "possesive" specifically. Other users should be able to add other less specific answers.
    – Vanege
    Commented Jan 15, 2017 at 19:36
  • The linked question has possessives in name but I agreed that the answers applied here. It probably does not make too much difference whether it's "patrina koro" or "Zamenhofa koro".
    – La Vo-o
    Commented Jan 15, 2017 at 19:58

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
3

This came up under this question here: Using adjectives to denote possession

I've certainly seen people use Tomasa as something like a possessive. Keep in mind, though, that Zamenhofa doesn't mean "belonging to Zamenhof" but rather "related to Zamenhof" - perhaps "Zamenhofian."

Improve this answer
2
  • Thank you! I actually had seen that question earlier but did not realize just how relevant its answers were here. I wonder why they'd say "Zamenhofaj tekstoj", though.
    – La Vo-o
    Commented Jan 14, 2017 at 23:23
  • Zamenhofian texts. ;-)
    – Tomaso Alexander
    Commented Jan 15, 2017 at 1:56
0

I think there is already a nice suffix '-es' So why don't we utilize it?

  • "libroj de Zamenhof"

tio cxi estas la standarda uzo, sed gxia vico ne kongruas al iuj naciaj pensmanieroj- ekzemple mi estas cxinlingva parolanto mi ne tre preferas tion cxar gxi maltauxgas por mia natura penso;

  • "Zamenhof-es libroj" (mia stilo ;)

mi inzistas la uzon (mi malofte vidas tion en Esperantujo, sed laux principalo de Esperanto, kial ne ni provu?)

  • "Zamenhof-aj libroj"

    hm mi pensas ke gxi kauxzos miskomprenojn: cxu la libro apartenas al Zamenhof aux cxu la libro havas Zamenhof-es karakterojn?

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    The -es you mention is not a suffix. It's one of the parts of the system of correlatives. The possessive in Esperanto for pronouns is formed with -a (lia, nia, ilia), and with nouns by "de" (la libro de Miko". "Zamenhofaj libroj" would be books by or about Zamenhof, but not Zamenhof's books.
    – Lee
    Commented Jan 16, 2017 at 15:19
  • "Zamenhofaj libroj" would be books by or about Zamenhof, but not Zamenhof's books- konziderante tion cxi, "-a" ne plu esprimas posedecon se gxi estas je fino de iu nomo.
    – Urso
    Commented Jan 16, 2017 at 16:51

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.