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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] We and us

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  • From: David Kummerow <farmerjoeblo AT hotmail.com>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] We and us
  • Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 09:59:55 +1100


We are discussing it in this way because it has been suggested in the literature that the choice between the forms is one of politeness. It is the main real functional difference that anyone has suggested. This is the reason for the discussion of politeness (other proposals in the literature have mainly revolved around a diachronics without any discussion of function).

The discussion of the function of pronouns in other languages has bearing if one accepts that typology can guide to some extent analysis of dead languages. You may not accept the typological argument and that's fine. But even if you don't accept it, others do, and those others see benefit therefore in discussing it. Comparing with other languages, if one accepts typology, does get somewhere; I disagree with you.

Regards,
David Kummerow.


Why are you all so hung up on the 'politeness' function in the
difference between )NY / )NKY ? I suspect that it is a grammatization
of another function, but what it is I don't know yet. Both words are
used hundreds of times, and by comparing all their usages the
functional differences may become apparent. But just arguing and
comparing with other languages gets nowhere.

This would be a good subject for a Master's thesis. Professors, assign
a grad student to get working. If there is a functional difference,
many contexts may find both uses interchangeable. But if a common
action can be found in which only one of the terms is used, and
another where only the other is used, we have started on the road to
understanding.

Karl W. Randolph.







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