- Forum >
- Topic: Turkish >
- "Bir elma ve su"
24 Comments
Since Turkish isn't related to Indoeuropean languages maybe some phrases could be given with explanations if needed, to avoid ambiguities.
When I read this phrase, I try to think as simply as possible, to get rid of the Indoeuropean framework.
To me this sentence it looks like an apple and some water (I don't know anything else yet). Is this what this means?
329
You are right a bit in my humble opinion, In Turkish, "some" is more specific than English, i may say it defines the quantity as in "some" and "a lot". So if a person does not want to stress on the quantity of water (as in this sentence), s/he doesn't use the word "some".
Also, i may say that there is no indefinite article as "a" or "an", so if there is "bir" in front of any word, you may easily say that it is "one". However, to translate better and more correctly, as you don't say "one apple and water", you may decide to say "an apple and water".
Really? How interesting! I would never have guessed. (About the obesity rates in Turkey, that is -- the French level of healthiness is legendary. :))
I know Turkish sweets are drenched in sugar, and eating out there probably is too much focus on large slabs of meat, but when I think of my friends' home cooking, it's all salads and veggies and pulses and generally very healthy indeed. If I had to find issues with it, all I could come up with was quite a lot of white carbs. And then I am sure both cultures' emphasis on social eating must be super healthy. So do you think this is to do with industrialization and social change through working mums and such?
Sorry, I can't find a 'reply' button.
Regarding the answer 'it is the number 1. :) You do have to use it sometimes, but it is decidedly not an article in the Western European sense.'
When you hover over the word 'Bir' in the questions it says 'a/an/one', which is why I questioned it, slightly confusing?