Tracing the Origins of a Distinctive Grammar Error
Chapter 8
‘The steady addition of a constant of amount of new coins”. This phrase contains a distinctive grammatical error that likely results from direct translation from another language. The error specifically lies in the construction “constant of amount of,” which is unnatural in English and suggests literal translation from a source language.
8.1. Germanic Language Possibility
The most likely source appears to be German or another Germanic language. The construction closely mirrors German syntax patterns:
German: “Die stetige Zugabe einer konstanten Menge neuer Münzen”
– “konstanten Menge” (constant amount) could be literally translated as “constant of amount”
– The genitive construction in German often translates to English using “of”
– This could lead to overcorrection when translating to English
Similar patterns exist in other Germanic languages:
– Dutch: “De gestage toevoeging van een constante hoeveelheid nieuwe munten”
– Swedish: “Det stadiga tillägget av en konstant mängd nya mynt”
This grammatical error provides strong evidence for Germanic language influence, particularly German. The specific nature of the error – the double use of “of” in a genitive construction – is highly characteristic of Germanic language speakers writing in English. This aligns with other evidence suggesting the author has a Germanic language background or received significant education in a Germanic language environment.
The error stands out precisely because the rest of the document shows such high English proficiency, suggesting it slipped through during a moment of direct translation from the author’s native or primary academic language.
Founder and Managing Partner of Skarbiec Law Firm, recognized by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna as one of the best tax advisory firms in Poland (2023, 2024). Legal advisor with 19 years of experience, serving Forbes-listed entrepreneurs and innovative start-ups. One of the most frequently quoted experts on commercial and tax law in the Polish media, regularly publishing in Rzeczpospolita, Gazeta Wyborcza, and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. Author of the publication “AI Decoding Satoshi Nakamoto. Artificial Intelligence on the Trail of Bitcoin’s Creator” and co-author of the award-winning book “Bezpieczeństwo współczesnej firmy” (Security of a Modern Company). LinkedIn profile: 18 500 followers, 4 million views per year. Awards: 4-time winner of the European Medal, Golden Statuette of the Polish Business Leader, title of “International Tax Planning Law Firm of the Year in Poland.” He specializes in strategic legal consulting, tax planning, and crisis management for business.