[Lexicog] Digest Number 193

[Jimrem at AOL.COM]

My colleague Bruce Pearson and I, working on the Lenape (Delaware Indian 
language), have noted that this language, spoken in an egalitarian society, lacks 
many honorific terms.  Pearson, who has previously studied Japanese, spoken in 
a society that traditionally has been highly stratified, has noted numerous 
honorifics.

As an example, the common reply In Lenape to "Wanìshi! (Thank you!)" is 
"Yuh!" which means something like "O.K.!"  There is no exact term for "You're 
welcome!"

We have also had inquiries about how to say "Welcome!" in the sense of 
welcoming someone to your home.  The usual word used is "Tëmike! (Come in!)."  When 
speakers have been pressed to say something more like "Welcome!" the usually 
have to create a sentence like "Nulelintàm eli paan! (I am glad that you 
came!)." 

We wonder if other members of this list have equated the lack of honorific 
terms in a language they speak or work with to that language being used in a 
more egalitarian society?

Jim Rementer

Lenape Language Project
The Delaware Tribe
220 NW Virginia Avenue
Bartlesville OK 74003
918-336-5272, ext. 503 (work)
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