“LESS” and more of it

 

“LESS” and more of it

English language is quite rich by its terms, their implications if used singly or in conjunction with another term. At times, this comes in the way of ‘non-native speakers’ who attempt to convey something.

In a Restaurant

On an occasion the guest told the waiter to get a cup of coffee sugar less; the waiter placed the cup of coffee and after a sip the guest screamed- it is bitter; the waiter came running and the guest yelled “no sugar in this?” 

Waiter—‘Yes Sir; the guest: -did I not tell you less sugar?

Waiter: Sir, you said sugarless, guest: yes sugar –less

Now the waiter got what was said and brought out one with some sugar in it.

“Less” before a term and the same after a term can mean drastically different things.

In India, further confusion sets in from regional practices in Indian languages. ‘Less’ as used in English, is used less in regional languages. That doesn’t any way mean that ‘less’ is useless; it is used less in Indian languages. In place of “less” different terms are employed to signify the quantity in respect of the specific item or activity.  Several different qualifying expressions in Indian languages ably work in place of ‘less’ as conceived by native speakers of English.

So, languages of either the Orient or the occident are no ‘less’ in presenting an idea. Struggling for the right use generally arises from the user’s familiarity with the culture in a language. Obviously, the one who struggles --[s]he is ‘less’ familiar with  that domain.

It is not our mission to project ‘less’ any less or lesser than its value/ relevance. However, the glory of the word holds its forte in certain typical statements as under

1 He was honoured by no less a person than the President. 2You are required to furnish a certificate of fitness executed by an authorized Medical officer not lower in rank [less] than a Dean of District HQ hospital.

So, the term ‘less’ is no less in laying down stiff restrictions or emphatic stipulations required for an occasion.

Another occasion is when the two antonyms share parity. These are ‘more’ and ‘less’. Each of them signifies respectively ‘higher’ or lower magnitude or dimension. Yet, they enjoy parity in statements suggesting ‘more or less’ as a clarifying component.

The two opponents were more or less identical in talent.

Before anyone starts cursing me more for ‘LESS’, let me take leave of you for now.