Maciamo
先輩
- 17 Jul 2002
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I have always used the word "lack" in English to mean "insufficience" or "deficiency". But yesterday CC1 and MarsMan (two of the people who most often misunderstand what I write), mentioned in my thread Japan's lack of seasons and biodiversity that "lack" usually mean for them "absence" or "inexistence", so that my title clearly meant that Japan had no seasons, while my intention was to say that they were not clear-cut enough, or not balanced enough (too long Summer, too short Spring, Autumn and Winter).
I use the word "lack" (or "to lack") as a translation for the French "manque" (or "manquer"), which only means "not being enough", "being deficient". In both French and English, I would use the words "lack" and "manque" to mean absence only when I say "complete lack" or "utter lack" (manque complet).
After checking the examples in the dictionary, I still feel that my usage of "lack" is correct. A "lack of money" means not having enough money, not being completely broke or indebted. A "lack of skills", means not having high skills enough in something, NOT having no skill at all.
Please let me know who you think is right and what is the most common meaning of "lack" for you.
Thanks.
I use the word "lack" (or "to lack") as a translation for the French "manque" (or "manquer"), which only means "not being enough", "being deficient". In both French and English, I would use the words "lack" and "manque" to mean absence only when I say "complete lack" or "utter lack" (manque complet).
After checking the examples in the dictionary, I still feel that my usage of "lack" is correct. A "lack of money" means not having enough money, not being completely broke or indebted. A "lack of skills", means not having high skills enough in something, NOT having no skill at all.
Please let me know who you think is right and what is the most common meaning of "lack" for you.
Thanks.