Re: Go and come

In the most polite/formal mode of Japanese some common verbs are replaced
completely, not just conjugated differently. The same verb replaces the
normal verbs for come and go.

I assume there are standard ways to indicate which is intended, (mention of a
source or destination would do it, of course) but the classes I took were
mainly aimed at tourists and business-people. They didn't try to teach how to
use the hyper modes, just how to recognize them.

Or possibly, it is impolite to be that specific about the actions of someone
you are referring to in that mode. hmm, possible thought for a con-culture
even if it doesn't apply in our world.

On Friday 18 February 2005 01:15 pm, Jean-Fran�ois Colson wrote:
> The verbs "go" and "come" have very similar meanings.
>
> Are they really indispensable?
>
> For example if a lang has the following words:
> - dep = to move
> - da = to (direction)
> - xi = here
> - mow = home
> it would be possible to use "dep da xi" for "come here" and "dep da mow" for
> "go home".
>
> Are there natlangs which don't use different words for "go" and "come"?
>
> JF
>
--
Elyse Grasso

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