Summary: number in personal pronouns

[Willy Vandeweghe]

> At 16:10 22-4-03 -0500, Colin Masica wrote:
> >I don't know if anyone has pointed this out yet, but if not it is time
> >someone did: it is not only in Russian, African & Australian languages,
> >etc. that wives and husbands are referred to as "mother" and "father" by
> >their spouses -- but also, and quite normally, in rural  American
English!
> >(I just heard it again last night...)
> >
> >Colin Masica
>
> And, for that matter, in rural Southern Dutch, and quite possibly in other
> parts of the Dutch-speaking world... I know that my parents did this. My
> impression is that it is gradually going out of style, though, possibly
> because, nowadays, not even children tend to refer to their parents as
"Mom
> "or "Dad"; they use the first names instead.
>
> Leon Stassen.

And in the even more southern Dutch of the northern part of Belgium (aka
'Flemish') as well! My parents did it as well. Leon is right in pointing out
that it is gradually on the exit, but it was quite normal in the generation
raising kids in the fifties and sixties, and in many many generations
before.

Willy Vandeweghe
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
>
>