Re: sostenido/bemol

[Christopher A. LaFond]

Manuel wrote:
> You are right, but
>
> nota sostenida
>
> doesn't sound correct, since it is equivocal.

However, it is being used everywhere, it seems, to mean "sharp" as its 
principle meaning. Shouldn't usage dictate "correctness" if it becomes 
fairly universal? The other use of the word -- "sustained" -- is much 
less common, even in musical parlance, and could be explained when 
necessary ("la nota sostenida más larga", "una nota sostenida en el 
aire", "una nota sostenida de trompeta"). Again, a Google search reveals 
that the *vast* majority of the use of the expression "nota sostenida" 
means a "sharp" note.

> > If you do a Goolge search for "nota bemol", you will see that it is 
> > also used in common speech all the time.
> >
> > Also, "cómo", as well as many other words, only bear a written accent 
> > when used in an interrogative (as a few others have pointed out).
>
>
> No, not quite so. See the common expressions:
>
> ¡Cómo es posible!

Yes, I forgot the exclamatory statements. There are also one-syllable 
words where one form takes a written accent and one does not (e.g. tú 
vs. tu). My point was that in a comparison or simile, it does not bear a 
written accent.
> No sé cómo hacer
This is an interrogative usage (even though it's not a direct question).



--
         °
Chris    °
          °
 ><((((°>

Christopher A. LaFond  address@hidden  http://www.celticharper.net

"So tell me, just how long have you had this feeling that no one is 
watching you?" (Christopher Locke: Entropy Gradient Reversals)