Talk:μικρό δαχτυλάκι

Tautology

@Saltmarsh, Sarri.greek: this seems pleonastic: I would expect δαχτυλάκι (dachtyláki) alone, or μικρό δάχτυλο (mikró dáchtylo), but not this, which literally means "little little finger". What do you think? --Barytonesis (talk) 11:38, 8 December 2017 (UTC)

@Barytonesis, Sarri.greek: Well Google:books finds (a) δαχτυλάκι (1860), (b) μικρό δάχτυλο (459), (c) μικρό δαχτυλάκι (229) — so the (a) would certainly be a more appropriate term, but all three exist. To say in English "I do not want no meat" would be bad grammar, but in some languages it would have a reinforcing effect. Diminutives can be used to convey affection and familiarity, not just small size — so not a tautology? — Saltmarsh. 06:26, 9 December 2017 (UTC)

Having second thoughts — μικρό δάχτυλο might be more appropriate as I think (a) is ambiguous. — Saltmarsh. 06:34, 9 December 2017 (UTC)

Wonderful @Barytonesis, Saltmarsh:. A greek pianist should be able to answer this one. 1) δάχτυλο, diminutive δαχτυλάκι the normal senses. 2) μικρό δάχτυλο synonym to δαχτυλάκι & anatomy: periphrastic for the rare learned, used in medicine ωτίτης (calque adj. functioning as noun, -adj. to δάκτυλος). music: For pianists it is the 5th finger, for string players, the 4th (they dont' count the thumb). 3) μικρό δαχτυλάκι: =δαχτυλάκι² (hence pleonasm) but is used as such in the stereotypic expressions δεν κούνησε ούτε το μικρό του δαχτυλάκι (he made no effort whatsoever) & δεν τον φτάνω ούτε στο μικρό του δαχτυλάκι (I cannot compare with him -in dexteriry, talent-). Note, that 'δεν κούνησε το μικρό του δάχτυλο' and 'δεν κούνησε το δαχτυλό του/το δαχτυλάκι του' are OK, but err...Im missing the pleonasm, which is the key-charm of the expression. (I rarely google-count, because most greeks -the older ones- do not use internet) [Also, have to look for 'μικρό του δαχτυλάκι' 8970 'μικρό τους δαχτυλάκι' 1750 'μικρό * δαχτυλάκι' etc & 'μικρό του δάχτυλο' 1620 'μικρό * δάχτυλο'....]. I'd rather lemmatize?refer to? the expressions, not the ingredient μικρό δαχτυλάκι. Ταχυδακτυλουργικό lemma sarri.greek (talk) 01:46, 10 December 2017 (UTC)