Re: Ethical Dative, was Re: Polysynthetic Languages
| From: | Costentin Cornomorus <elemtilas@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Monday, September 29, 2003, 17:27 |
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--- John Cowan <jcowan@...> wrote:
> > Of course, it doesn't help
> > explaining the French and Basque ethical
> dative, but I hope my explanation
> > above has helped people understand something
> which seems very foreign to
> > English.
>
> Like the familiar/polite 2nd person
> distinction, it's something we had but
> got rid of a few centuries ago.
Actually, that's one we didn't really develop
that well. According to my source (Moissé), after
the 13th century such a tendency for class
distinct usage began to appear (you = from lower
to upper, from upper to upper ; thou = from lower
to lower), its use was highly irregular. It was
not at all uncommon to find you and thou in the
same sentence in reference to the same person and
amongst all levels. You'll note also that IB
English does it this way, when I'm talkin to
thee.
Certainly a distinction has developped - I think
based on readily available Bibles - of normal you
and thou to address god.
Padraic.
=====
- Per y celles ke 'n al noef chluys feronte y vruxt la mezer; a Ddon et Dde lor
gouertus, renothe y nusteor pheticièn
- A Ddon ten mezer!
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