Datapoint Nahuatl (Tetelcingo) / Politeness Distinctions in Pronouns

Language:Nahuatl (Tetelcingo)
Feature:Politeness Distinctions in Pronouns by Johannes Helmbrecht
Value:Multiple politeness distinctions

Notes

mic-mo-

2nd sg. hon.

- the Nahuatl object pro have a 2nd pl obj form which

is made polite by addition of -mo;

- this form is only used when the actor is a 3rd person;

if the actor is a 1st person, another form is used for whichthere is a polite variant too

ne(n)-...-mo-

2nd pl. hon.

- in Nahuatl bound subject pro, there is a 2nd pl polite

form based on the 2nd pl prefix plus the original

reflexive marker –mo

nemehwan-cɩ-ci

2nd sg. hhon.

- this 2nd person polite independent pronoun is used

for the polite address of multiple addressees; the

politeness marker -ci is reduplicated;

- as a singular referential form, it expresses in

particular respect; this form may be used with godparentalrelations with the meaning 'you SG HHON')

nemehwan-cɩ-ci

2nd pl. hon.

nemo-mawisoh-ci

2nd sg. hhon.

- used on ceremonial occasions with the meaning 'you

SG HHHON'; etymology 'your:PL-honor-HON'

taha

2nd sg. fam.

- the 2nd sg familiar independent pronoun is probably

a form derived from the 1st pers. pl tehwa (a kind of

politeness shift which can be found in all Nahuatl

languages, probably very old)

tamɩc-mo-

2nd sg. hon.

- the Nahuatl object pronouns have a 2nd sg object

form which is made polite by addition of -mo; butthis

form is only used when the actor is a 1st person; if the

actor is a 3rd person, another form is used for which

there is a polite variant too

tehwa-ci

2nd sg. hon.

- this 2nd person sg polite independent pronoun is

identical to the 1st pl; the politeness marker -ci is

attached

ti-...-mo-

2nd sg. hon.

- in Nahuatl bound subject pronouns, there is a 2nd sg

polite form based on the 2nd sg prefix plus the original

reflexive marker –mo

References