Would (insistis) 481, 855, (kutimis) 899c, 1056–1057, 944c
X, Transcription of, 31*
Appendix.
A Storm in a Tea-Cup
For many years controversy has raged over this question. On both sides equally, eminent Esperantists have written thousands of pages, with no sign of reaching agreement. One side appeals to frequent Zamenhofan usage: the other to logic and the Fundamento, and to Zamenhof’s words: “En la lingvo internacia oni devas obei sole nur la logikon”.
I venture to suggest that both sides are right, but not exclusively. Often -ata and -ita are equally possible: the choice depends on circumstances, e.g., the context, the thought in the speaker’s mind, the meaning of the verb.
If naskiĝi means “enter the world”, and Peter’s birth took place from 3 to 4 p.m., then in the morning he was naskota, in the afternoon he was naskata, and in the evening he was naskita. Thus, in the same day he was nask-ota, ‑ata, and -ita.
I moved to a new house in December 1961. In January 1962 I ordered a telephone: it was then instalota. In February workmen dug a trench and brought in a wire: the telephone was instalata. Only in March was it ready for use. In April ĝi estis instalita jam unu monaton. Thus, in 1962 the telephone was instal-ota, ‑ata, and -ita.
If the enemy okupis (= eniris) the town in the morning, it was then okupata, and in the evening it was okupita. If the enemy okupis (= enloĝadis) the town from 1914 to 1916, during those two years it was okupata (and also okupita), Zamenhof translated “I am busy” by Mi estas okupita. Nevertheless, if my affairs are still weighing heavily upon me, Mi estas okupata well expresses my present situation.
To return to our opening sentences. Both forms Petro estis naskata (was being born), and Petro estis naskita (had been born) are possible and correct. But both are uncomfortably over-precise. The English ‘medial’ forms “was born” and “was installed” are comfortably less precise, and may carry either meaning according to context. The ‘medial’ forms Petro naskiĝis (oni installs la telefonon) — equally unprecise — are a perfect translation of the English, and are usually preferable to the compound tenses.
M.C.B.