Inclusive, Exclusive, Recusive (fwd)

[Rory M Larson]

> Yeah, this is the "let's" that Paul Hopper (I think it is) writes "lets"
without the apostrophe.  He calls it the "hortative" -- a product of
grammaticalization.  It can be second person, as in John's examples.  It
can be 1st sg. as in "Lets help you get that tire changed."  There are
many contexts in which it cannot be representing "Let us".

It seems like a pattern of softening commands and second person
references through use of a pluralizing/abstracting device.  Do
we ever use this for third person or other situations where the
listener is not involved?

Rory
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