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From: deb5@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: German postpositions [was Re: preposition->postpostion
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References: <DDxzLD.E5n@crash.cts.com> <43uju0$1tr@clarknet.clark.net> <43upmc$7kg@bone.think.com> <43vhsq$1j3@ixnews6.ix.netcom.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 1995 00:38:34 GMT
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In article <43vhsq$1j3@ixnews6.ix.netcom.com>,
donald phillips  <philldon@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>In <43upmc$7kg@bone.think.com> sandee@Think.COM (Daan Sandee) writes: 
>>
>>In article <43uju0$1tr@clarknet.clark.net>, gusty@clark.net (Harlan
>Messinger) writes:
>>|> Daniel von Brighoff (deb5@kimbark.uchicago.edu) wrote:

>>|> : However, the trend is in the opposite direction.  Besides "nach"
>(which
>>|> : is usually prepositional), the only German postposition I can
>think of in
>>|> : common use is "entlang".  "wegen" used to belond to this category
>as well,

>>|> Also, "gegenueber".

Ah, thank you (and thanks to the person who sent me these over email)!
I knew I was missing a common one.
>>
>>Also, gemaess (gem) and zuwider.

"gemaess" can also be used prepositionally, although it is more often an
adjective, either simple (e.g. "Das Kartenspiel ist ihm gemaess") or 
compound ("berufsgemaess", etc.).  Used postpositionally, it reeks of
Juristendeutsch to me, as does "zuwider."

>Here's another: halber (Ex. der Gesundheit halber)

Here's one I've never heard in conversation.  I would probably say
"wegen der Gesundheit" ("der Gesundheit wegen" sounds so archaic to
me), although some would say "um der Gesundheit willen."

In any case, the point is German postpositions are definitely on the way 
out, Mr. Guy's possible hopes to the contrary notwithstanding.
-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
