[tlhIngan Hol] is De' "data, information" countable ?

[SuStel]

On 7/10/2020 11:08 AM, Lieven L. Litaer wrote:
> Am 10.07.2020 um 16:09 schrieb mayqel qunen'oS:
>> True ! In fact, the reason I've wondered about all this in the first
>> place, is because in greek the word "information" is countable, and it
>> would sound wrong to say "we obtained valuable information (singular)".
>
> That's very interesting, because in German it's quite normal to say
> "I've got one important information (singular) here for you." but also
> "This book contains many informations (plural)" 

In English, the word /data/ occupies a strange place as far as plurals 
go. It's a relatively late entry from Latin, where /data/ is the plural 
of /datum./ In English, /datum/ has largely fallen out of use, with 
/data/ taking over both singular and  plural, but some people still 
prefer to use /datum/ for singular, especially in certain scientific and 
technical areas. English plural /data/ can be used both countable and 
uncountably, although circumstances you can use the countable version 
are limited. You can say /these data,/ but you cannot say /four data./ 
/These data/ (countable) and /this data/ (uncountable) are 
interchangeable, though the countable version is also falling out of 
use, but less so than the word /datum/ has.

In English, the word /information/ is strictly uncountable and has no 
plural. /This book contains much information./ (/Many/ signals a 
countable noun, /much/ an uncountable noun.)

-- 
SuStel
http://trimboli.name

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