Oh Language –17

 Oh Language –17

The present episode is devoted to consider ‘opposites’ with the prefix ‘In’.  Consider how these words differ from those with prefix ‘Im’. Can you pick up some feature typical to these opposites?

 Inadequate X Adequate, Incapable X Capable,

Incompetent X Competent, Inefficient X Efficient 

Incongruent X Congruent, Indecent X Decent

Infertile X Fertile, Insufficient X Sufficient

As could be readily recognized, each pair of words represents the opposite form of each other. Let us decipher some critical features.

‘Adequate’ means ‘enough’ or ‘good enough’ to satisfy the present requirement. So, ‘Inadequate’ implies insufficiency in quantity or quality or both.

The next 2 pairs of words based on capability and competence have to be learned in detail. Apparently the two refer to skill, in that ‘capable’ means the skill or ability of a person to do a thing.

Competence also means the ability or skill to do a thing, but with ease and comfort. For example we say [S]he is a competent teacher. At times ‘competent’ may refer to the official authority vested in a cadre for decision making-- as in “The district collector is the competent authority to issue the order”.

Given the meaning of these words, an ‘incapable person’ lacks the ability to do a thing while an ‘incompetent person’ fails to complete a task and brings about displeasure. 

Inefficient X Efficient

Efficient [Efficiency (n)] refers to the skill of executing a work in quick time. The work done by an efficient person is both quick and complete. Any person falling short of these is inefficient requiring more time and help from others. Efficiency is a product relating to ‘input’ and ‘output.’ Greater output is a mark of efficiency, while low output relative to input is a case of inefficiency. There is another term ‘EFFICACY’ that differs from efficiency. While efficiency relates to the skill of executing a work ‘efficacy’ refers to effective performance. These two can be understood from the statement “The efficiency of the doctor can be seen from the ‘efficacy’ of the drugs [s] he prescribes.

Incongruent X Congruent

To understand the term, some situation has to be conceived. In a broad sense, the term refers to ‘suitability’ of something for a situation. Something has to be of a certain physical/ functional status to fulfill a requirement. For example, asking an old man to immediately run four kilometers in about half-an hour to catch a train is an incongruent suggestion. Instead, asking the person, to avail of a taxi is a more congruent idea. 

Indecent X Decent

To go about explaining this pair looks indecent to me and I am more than clear this pair calls for any dilation.

Infertile X Fertile

‘Fertile’ can imply different things under different contexts. In general it stands for ‘productive ability’. So, fertile implies greater potential as in

“Investing on this piece of land is worthy, for , it is fertile enough for agriculture”.

“The script-writer has a fertile imagination and no wonder movie-makers are waiting for his script”.

In the examples given above ‘fertile’ suggests a healthy output and in biological interpretation, ‘fertile’ refers to the ability to ‘reproduce’ its kind.

Any act or attempt that fails to generate results is ‘Infertile’. 

Insufficient X Sufficient

‘Sufficient’ is an expression of satisfactory state meaning ‘enough’ for the need on hand.  “We have sufficient reserves of essential commodities for distribution over the next three months.”

If the quantity of an item is less than what is needed –it is ‘insufficient’.

Often ‘sufficient’ goes with quantity. [Adequate may imply aspects of quantity and some features of quality like purity or standard]. ‘He is sufficiently qualified but not adequately equipped’.

So, ‘sufficient’ and ‘adequate’ cannot be indiscriminately interchanged in writing or in speech.  

What are your perceptions about the terms with prefix ‘Im or ‘In’. Please make it convenient to express your understanding of these. I hope these are intelligible.