Inclusive, Exclusive, Recusive (fwd)

[Rankin, Robert L]

This is Paul Hopper's book "Grammaticalization", which ought to be in the UNL library.  He has a bunch of examples.  I added a lot more from my native "Southern English" for my classes.  I'll try to find the handout.  I don't have any trouble myself using "lets" with a 3rd person.  For example, I can say:  "Lets him drive the Ford and I'll take the Chevy."  "Lets you take the Ford. . . ." is even better.
 
I misspoke in my earlier post.  Hopper's term for this usage of "lets" is 'adhortative' rather than just 'hortative'.  
 
Bob

________________________________

From: owner-siouan at lists.colorado.edu on behalf of Rory M Larson
Sent: Thu 3/8/2007 8:43 AM
To: siouan at lists.colorado.edu
Subject: RE: Inclusive, Exclusive, Recusive (fwd)



> 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