Datapoint Yoruba / Politeness Distinctions in Pronouns

Language:Yoruba
Feature:Politeness Distinctions in Pronouns by Johannes Helmbrecht
Value:Binary politeness distinction

Notes

2nd sg. hon.

- the 2nd pl subject pronoun is used for a polite address; it isused to address a superior individual, an older person, or a personof higher social status

è̩yin

2nd sg. hon.

- this is a form of pronominal which belongs to a series of freepronouns which occur exclusively in non-verbal clauses and beforeverbs such as ‘where is?’, ´nkó̩ ‘what about?’etc.;

- in other structures, pronominals can replace ordinary pronounsand then indicate emphasis;

- these pronominals behave more like nouns than likepronouns;

- used to address a superior individual, an older person or aperson of higher social status

References