Re: "Register" a grammatical term

On 2008-08-21 ROGER MILLS wrote:
> I've been meaning to say: I think "style(s)"
> and/or "level(s)" have sometimes been used.
I don't like "style", as there are (as far as we
know ATM) no special open-class vocabulary
associated with these pronominal/verbal
distinctions, and one may want to reserve this
word for what is more commonly referred to as
matters of style.

"Level" might work in English, but its Swedish
translation _nivå_ doesn't feel right in this
context at all (although Andreas may differ on
this point...).

Since the meaning of "register" as a grammatical
term is at least moot I now feel that I can
actually use it.

> BTW, except for dual number, all the
> distinctions you mention above exist in
> Malay/Indonesian (and in Kash, though most of
> the high-level forms are falling into disuse),
> and most certainly in Javanese, which in many
> cases even has distinct vocabulary depending on
> familiar - respectful - ultra-respectful. And I
> think some special vocab for use in the palaces
> of the few remaining Sultans, and when referring
> to the pre-Islamic gods.
I know. The presence of an inclusive/exclusive in
a language which otherwise relies so heavily on
Indo-European and European models has always been
a bit puzzling. I have long suspected that Tolkien
in his youth came across some book about, or
mention in a book about, these distinctions in
some Indonesian language, possibly Javanese, and
been intrigued by them.

/BP 8^)>
--
Benct Philip Jonsson -- melroch atte melroch dotte se
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