"Indisputably" or "Undisputedly"

Question

Here's the sentence fragment that gives rise to my questions: "Esperanto is (indisputably/undisputedly) easier to learn than..."

Is one of those words to be preferred in this context over the other? And why? My sense is that "indisputably" works better here, but I can't say just why.
Thanks!

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Here's the sentence fragment that gives rise to my questions: "Esperanto is (indisputably/undisputedly) easier to learn than..." Is one of ... context over the other? And why? My sense is that "indisputably" works better here, but I can't say just why.[/nq]
My sense of the words is that "in"disputable connotes something that is beyond dispute (in the mind of the speaker) while "un"disputed(ly) connotes something that has never been disputed (to the speaker's knowledge).

dg
(Now I'll look them up)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Here's the sentence fragment that gives rise to my questions: "Esperanto is (indisputably/undisputedly) easier to learn than..." Is one of ... context over the other? And why? My sense is that "indisputably" works better here, but I can't say just why.[/nq]
Indisputably suggests that no one could (in future) dissent. Undisputedly suggests that no one has yet or in the past dissented: e.g. Nelly Smith is the undisputed rose- growing champion of our village.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Usenet · Answer

In alt.english.usage on 7 Sep 2004 12:24:45 -0700
[nq:1]Here's the sentence fragment that gives rise to my questions: "Esperanto is (indisputably/undisputedly) easier to learn than..." Is one of ... context over the other? And why? My sense is that "indisputably" works better here, but I can't say just why.[/nq]
It depends what the facts are. The first means that no one is able to dispute what you are about to say. (whether anyone wants to or not.)

The second means that no one does dispute what you are about to say. (whether it would be possible to do so or not.)
I haven't heard the rest of the sentence. If it ends in "Chinese", I would say that both adverbes are generally true (except for those who grow up in China).
If it ends in "all other languages", I'd say both are false.
[nq:1]Thanks![/nq]
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
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Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
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Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Here's the sentence fragment that gives rise to my questions: ... "indisputably" works better here, but I can't say just why.[/nq]
[nq:1]It depends what the facts are. The first means that no one is able to dispute what you are about ... (except for those who grow up in China). If it ends in "all other languages", I'd say both are false.[/nq]
Here's the sentence: "Esperanto is (indisputably/undisputedly) easier to learn than learn than "historically grown" languages (French, English, etc.)."
As you point out, he probably ought to say "... most "historically grown" languages..."

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]It depends what the facts are. The first means that ... ends in "all other languages", I'd say both are false.[/nq]
[nq:1]Here's the sentence: "Esperanto is (indisputably/undisputedly) easier to learn than learn than "historically grown" languages (French, English, etc.)." As you point out, he probably ought to say "... most "historically grown" languages..."[/nq]
Because the "undisputedly" alternative is probably false (for any language, regardless of whether Esperanto is easier to learn or not, you are likely to find at least one person willing to defend the opinion that Esperanto is not easier to learn), you're left with the "indisputably" alternative.
But the statement "Esperanto is easier to learn than (some language)" is testable, for at least some practical definitions of "easier to learn". So in the absence of widely-accepted experimental results demonstrating that Esperanto is easier to learn than every other language of interest, "indisputably" is not only false but gives the impression that the writer is willing to ride roughshod over anyone willing to offer facts in dispute of the point.
In the OP's context, "undisputedly" and "indisputably" are argumentative, impractical to substantiate, and likely to offend many readers. In short, neither belongs: the sentence is better off without either one.

Chris Green

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Here's the sentence fragment that gives rise to my questions: "Esperanto is (indisputably/undisputedly) easier to learn than..." Is one of ... context over the other? And why? My sense is that "indisputably" works better here, but I can't say just why.[/nq]
I use "indisputably" and "undisputed". I would never use "undisputably" or "indisputed" (Are they words?). I can not remember ever using "undisputedly", but it does not offend my ear.
GFH

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Here's the sentence fragment that gives rise to my questions: ... "indisputably" works better here, but I can't say just why.[/nq]
[nq:1]I use "indisputably" and "undisputed". I would never use "undisputably" or "indisputed" (Are they words?). I can not[/nq]
"Undisputably" and "indisputed" are listed in The Century Dictionary of
1895 ( www.century-dictionary.com ). It shows "undisputably" to be rare and"indisputed" to be obsolete. Noah Webster lists "indisputed" as an entry in his 1828 dictionary, with no usage label or note. He does not have "undisputably," but he has "undisputable," which he defines as "a. Not disputable. (But the word now used is indisputable.)"
[nq:1]remember ever using "undisputedly", but it does not offend my ear. GFH[/nq]
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com

"Indisputably" or "Undisputedly"

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