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Person: Difference between revisions

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'''Person''' is a classification of people or things by their relation to the speech act.  Many languages encode person in [[FrathWiki:Pronoun|pronouns]] or verbal inflections.
'''Person''' is a classification of people or things by their relation to the speech act.  Many languages encode person in [[pronoun]]s or verbal inflections.


The conventional division of persons is as follows:
The conventional division of persons is as follows:
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Some languages go further and combine persons.  The most common ways are to combine first and second person (''inclusive'') or first and third person (''exclusive'').   
Some languages go further and combine persons.  The most common ways are to combine first and second person (''inclusive'') or first and third person (''exclusive'').   


Some languages add an extra category, '''fourth''' person.  This usually means either [[FrathWiki:indefinite|indefinite]] reference (''someone'' shot the man) or [[FrathWiki:obviative|obviative]], a second third person (''he<sub>1</sub>'' shot the man and ''he<sub>2</sub>'' ran away screaming).   
Some languages add an extra category, '''fourth''' person.  This usually means either [[indefinite]] reference (''someone'' shot the man) or [[obviative]], a second third person (''he<sub>1</sub>'' shot the man and ''he<sub>2</sub>'' ran away screaming).   


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Revision as of 12:39, 23 May 2004

Person is a classification of people or things by their relation to the speech act. Many languages encode person in pronouns or verbal inflections.

The conventional division of persons is as follows:

  • First person is the speaker, the person referred to by "I".
  • Second person is the listener, the person referred to by "you".
  • Third person is all other people.

Some languages go further and combine persons. The most common ways are to combine first and second person (inclusive) or first and third person (exclusive).

Some languages add an extra category, fourth person. This usually means either indefinite reference (someone shot the man) or obviative, a second third person (he1 shot the man and he2 ran away screaming).


This article is a stub. If you can contribute to its content, feel free to do so.