[lojban] Re: NMS: glosses and YOU

["Jorge Llambías" <lojban-out@lojban.org>]

On 3/28/06, John E Clifford <clifford-j@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >From what I have read, I gather that the usual
> response in these kinds of cases is to claim
> allolexy: that the manifestation of a prime may
> be in different lexical items conditioned by the
> situation.

According to this:
<http://www.une.edu.au/arts/LCL/disciplines/linguistics/Goddard_Ch1_2002.pdf>

"the term "allolexy" was coined to designate situations in which
several different words or word-forms (allolexes) express a single
meaning in complementary contexts."

"a claim of allolexy hinges entirely on a claim that the expressions
which are supposed to be in an allolexical relationship do not differ
in meaning in any paraphrasable way."

So, "tú" and "usted" are not really allolexes. They can both occur
in the same contexts (unlike, for example "I" and "me" which occur
in complementary contexts: in this case syntax forces the choice
of which one to use, not semantics).

> In the instant case, I assume that
> YOU is represented by "tu" in informal situations
> between intimates (and real or implied major
> differences in rank) and "usted" elsewhere (and I
> suppose there are other details I haven't
> covered).

There is huge variation from place to place and even from
person to person. Another major factor is age difference
(for example, I would hardly ever use "usted" to address someone
of about my age or younger). But in any case, both forms are
always grammatical and the choice between them is not determined
by syntax. Saying that they are allolexes is like saying that "he"
and "she" are allolexes in English. They obviously differ in meaning
in a paraphrasable way.

> This seems to me to be a bit of a
> cop-out, but, if the conditions can really be
> specified, is in line with Linguistics in other
> areas.

The conditions for the choice between "he" and "she" are relatively
much easier to specify than between "tú" and "usted". Does that make
"he" and "she" allolexes for a "third person singular pronoun" meaning?

mu'o mi'e xorxes


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