Re: time distinctions

On Thu, 24 Aug 2000 23:16:40 -0700 Jim Grossmann <steven@...>
writes:
> Hi, all,
>
> I don't know about natlangs, but there's no reason why a conlang
> couldn't
> scrap imperatives.   Future tense declaratives could be interpreted
> as
> predictions or commands according to context or sentence intonation.
>   Ditto
> for questions about the listener's future actions.
>
> In fact, I've heard "You will sit down and be quiet," in English
> used as a
> command.
>
> Jim
-

The boss at my summer job had a habit of not using imperatives - he would
just say, like you just mentioned, stuff like "you'll find files A, B,
and C, and then...".  I was never quite sure whether that was more polite
or more rude than just saying "find files A, B, and C, and then..." .

And in other languages, i've heard that in Israel they barely use the
Hebrew imperative forms at all, and just use the future forms.


-Stephen (Steg)
  "You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment
  that you touch perfect speed.  And that isn't flying a thousand
  miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light.
  Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn't have
  limits.  Perfect speed, my son, is being there."
                    ~ _jonathan livingston seagull_