Re:A Simple Structure Unites All Human Languages
by StrangeDoctor on Saturday September 21, 2019 @02:29PM
(#21037034)
In German, speaking in different registers actually changes the verb grammatically. Kanst du vs Können Sie vs Könnten Sie.
Could you (low register to someone of equal or lower status) vs Could you (medium register to someone of higher status) vs Might you (highest register to someone of higher status). In English I had to change to a different verb, non grammatically. In German these are all the same verb with a different rule applied.
Could you (low register to someone of equal or lower status) vs Could you (medium register to someone of higher status) vs Might you (highest register to someone of higher status). In English I had to change to a different verb, non grammatically. In German these are all the same verb with a different rule applied.