Hungarian language, indefinite vs. definite conjugation

by Don  

Hungarian, like English, has indefinite and definite articles that indicate whether you are speaking about a specific object or a non specific object. For instance,

Indefinitea caregy autó
Definitethe caraz autó

Now here is a bit of fun. Hungarian also indicates by verb endings whether the object of the verb is definite or indefinite. Observe:

IndefiniteI see a carLátok egy autó
DefiniteI see the carLátom az autó

Isn't that curious? The definiteness of the direct object is double coded. This distinction of definite/indefinite for the direct object is coded in all the verb forms. For instance, here is the complete conjugation of the verb ‘see’ in the present tense:

IndefiniteDefinite
SingularPluralSingularPlural
1stlátoklátunklátomlátjuk
1st to 2ndlátlak
2ndlátszláttoklátodlátjátok
3rdlátlátnaklátjalátják

Lots of languages double code things, but this is the first time I've encountered it for definiteness in the verb. It's quite common to double code negativity in languages. For instance,

SpanishNo sé nada.Not I know nothing.I don't know anything.
RussianНичего не знаю.Nothing not I know.I don't know anything.

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