Re: Rating Languages

Quoting John Cowan <jcowan@...>:

> David Peterson wrote:
>
> > Oh, but that's not really
> > reflexive, so much as...ditransitive, is it?  I don't understand it at
> all.
> > If you say it's straightforward, then teach it to me.
>
> I don't see much difference between "John washes himself the hands"
> and "George bought himself a new suit".  In both cases, "himself" is
> benefactive, although the benefit may actually be for someone else.
Right -- which is the reason why German tends to avoid a construction
like "Hans wäscht seine Hände", but rather tends the equivalent of
your phrase above: "Hans wäscht sich die Hände"

==============================
Thomas Wier <trwier@...>

"Aspidi men Saiôn tis agalletai, hên para thamnôi
  entos amômêton kallipon ouk ethelôn;
autos d' exephugon thanatou telos: aspis ekeinê
  erretô; exautês ktêsomai ou kakiô" - Arkhilokhos