THEORY: language and philosophy [was Re: A question and

Andy Canivet scripsit:

> As for terms of address, pronouns and such - I aglso
> agree.  These terms refer to relationships between people, and only the mgost
> relevant difference or relationship will be worthy of it's own linguistic
> reflection; so kinship terms on the basis of faith would seem pretty
> bizarre.
Not altogether.  English has "godfather" and "godmother", but no terms for
"two people of whom one is the father/mother, one is the godfather/mother
of a specific person" (Sp. "copadres/comadres") still less for "the
social institution consisting of overlapping family relationships based
on godparentship" (Sp. "compadrazgo").

--
John Cowan <jcowan@...>     http://www.reutershealth.com
I amar prestar aen, han mathon ne nen,    http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
han mathon ne chae, a han noston ne 'wilith.  --Galadriel, _LOTR:FOTR_