• Ignisnex
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    English
    91 year ago

    Man, language is wild. If I heard “It’s not grave”, after assuming English as a second language, I’d immediately jump to assuming something like “it’s not vital” complete with emphasis. Similar to saying “nobody will die if this isn’t done, but we’d all really rather it was done” as the subtext.

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      21 year ago

      Sounds correct Im wondering if it instead comes from latin infact in italan witch is the most similar language we have the same word grave (with a different pronunciation ) to mean something important (not grave something not that important ) but grave its also an old word meaning something heavy like in old physics experiments … So maybe it became to be as something like it’s not a weight that heavy for me to carry if u don’t do this thing … more tied to the metaforical uncomfortableness given by a heavy weight … feel free to correct me I have never done latin at school … ( fun fact Yes more Italian than u think has done at least 5 years of latin )

      • @Jeanschyso
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        11 year ago

        Coming from French, grave means a low note all the way to the left on the piano, or a significant negative adjective. For example, an injury can be “grave” as in it can be significant, like losing a finger. Breaking a nail wouldn’t be “grave”.

        I think your description of assigning weight to a matter is spot on.

        • @[email protected]
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          fedilink
          11 year ago

          Yeah we use it for the piano too … it would be cool to take into comparison the different pronunciation … its interesting how we have been able to pass between cultures a specific order of characters with an associated meaning but everyone chose it’s pronunciation… in italian is so different … (From the English one)