Nik Taylor wrote:
>
> Christophe Grandsire wrote:
> > Just like Japanese which makes its plural pronouns regularly by
> > suffixing '-tachi' to some singular pronouns (this suffix means "... and
> > others" and can be used on names to mean "X and others").
>
> I thought there was another suffix which could also be used?
>
Except the suffix -ra, used with kare: him, I can't find any other
suffix. But my Japanese is still pretty basic :)
> > But Japanese don't use them very often (seeing their length, that's not
> > a surprise :) ).
>
> Do you mean that "watashi" can mean "we" as well as "I"?
>
No, they don't use any pronoun at all. "Watashi" is as seldom used as
its plural counterpart "watashitachi". And I'm not talking of "anata"
which is even considered rude when used with people other than near
family and close friends (it's as rude as pointing one's finger to
someone else in France).
--
Christophe Grandsire
Philips Research Laboratories -- Building WB 145
Prof. Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Phone: +31-40-27-45006
E-mail: grandsir@natlab.research.philips.com